There is nothing worse than buying a new home only to have all the household appliances go out months, or even weeks after you’ve closed escrow. Whether you’re planning to purchase an existing home or are hoping for a new construction home, understanding the average life expectancy of your household appliances can help you plan and budget for needed maintenance and repairs. 

Related: Should You Buy a New Construction Home? Here’s a Few Perks

Range

One of the household appliances that has the longest life expectancy is your range. Regardless of whether your range is gas or electric, you can generally plan for it to last anywhere from 13-15 years. 

Fridge/Freezer

Your fridge and freezers are one of the most durable, and heavily used appliances within your home as they are running 24/7. Because these appliances are constantly in use, they are hardworking and naturally, one of the most expensive appliances you’ll own, lasting anywhere from 10-15 years. 

Microwave

Microwave ovens have one of the lowest life expectancies and generally only last 6-9 years, which can lead to regular replacements, luckily a microwave is also one of the more affordable appliances to replace. 

Oven

One of the longest lasting appliances, ovens can provide years of use. Electric ovens last on average 13 years, whereas gas ovens generally last 15 years. Much like with other appliances, with proper cleaning and care, you can not only lengthen the life expectancy, but also the functionality of your oven. 

Dishwasher

Pending on how often you run your dishwasher, as well as how gentle you are when loading it (to avoid bending or breaking prongs) this is one of the household appliances that you can easily extend the average life expectancy on, however, the average is generally between 9-10 years.

Washer and Dryer

Surprising to many, even if you buy your washing machine and dryer at the same time this doesn’t mean that they will need replacement at the same time as their life expectancy is different. For washers, 10-11 years and dryers 12-13 years. 

Related: Are Home Warranties Worth It?

HVAC Systems

Another large ticket item when it comes to replacement is your HVAC system, while these systems do generally last between 15-20 years, they are quite costly to replace which is why regular maintenance and cleanings are vital to the systems life expectancy and functionality. 

If you’re currently searching for a new home, are ready to sell your home and need a qualified seller’s agent to assist you, or if you have any further questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our officeat any time. 

 

Schedule a Consultation

Additional Tips for Buyers

• Why Your Offer May Not Be Accepted
• Why is Multigenerational Living Becoming so Common?
• House Broke: The Common First Time Buyer Mistake
• Why Was my Offer Rejected?
• 10 Tips for Moving Across the Country
• Buying a Vacation Home

There are so many wonderful household plants that can help freshen the air in our homes, reduce our blood pressure and stress levels and bring the joys of nature indoors. But, just like outside plants, there are many beautiful and beneficial household plants that shouldn’t be brought into our homes if we have furry friends in residence.

Popular household plants like pothos, ZZ plant, snake plant, aloe vera and philodendron have wonderful attributes and can enhance a home with their uniqueness and hardiness, but one thing these plants have in common is their toxicity to pets. Bypass these plants to help keep your pets healthy or, if you have a potentially dangerous plant that you want to keep, ensure that it is always out of reach and unable to be accessed—especially if it’s a draping variety!

Related: Is a No Closing Cost Refinance as Good as it Seems?

Plants to avoid and some safe alternatives

Pothos is one of those attractively draping, low maintenance plants that, if ingested by a dog or cat, causes burning and swelling in the mouth, drooling and vomiting. Another draping plant, Wandering Jew, is also toxic, causing skin and intestinal irritations. A Boston Fern doesn’t hang quite as low, but it is a pet-friendly alternative.

A popular plant nicknamed the ZZ plant (short for Zamioculcas zamiifolia) grows well in low light conditions and tolerates infrequent watering. Unfortunately, it causes vomiting and diarrhea if ingested by animals. If looking for a taller plant, try a safe areca palm or fun ponytail palm instead.

The tall and narrow snake plant is great for small spaces and is a very hardy plant. But if ingested by critters, it causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Instead, select a lovely orchid that isn’t toxic to animals. Keep the orchid happy and flowering by repotting it regularly and ensuring that its roots are watered but kept well-drained.

Aloe vera is loaded with health and medicinal benefits for humans and is a lovely succulent, but pets that make the mistake of chewing on it experience vomiting, diarrhea and tremors. A beautiful bromeliad is a better alternative.

Related: Plants That Thrive in the Bathroom

The low maintenance philodendron plant has fun tropical foliage, but animals suffer a burning and swollen mouth, drooling and vomiting if they nibble it. An exotic prayer plant or peacock plant can be just as stunning and safer for curious critters.

Lucky bamboo plants aren’t actually true bamboo (which is not toxic to animals), but they are easy and fun houseplants that thrive in spite of bad light, poor air quality and irregular watering. Unfortunately, drooling, vomiting and weakness are symptoms unlucky pets experience if they sample the plant. A very tolerant spider plant is an alternative that can survive in similar less-than-ideal environments.

Other plants to avoid

Lilies, some types of ivy, dieffenbachia, cyclamen, jade plants and fiddle leaf figs all have varying levels of toxicity for pets. Be aware that sago palms can be deadly, as can the cyclamen tubers, so it’s wise to avoid those plants entirely. And even though poinsettias are only mildly toxic, why risk your pet’s health? Many animals have innate sense to avoid poisonous plants, but an artificial poinsettia arrangement is so much cheaper than a trip to the veterinarian and the guilt of knowing you could have prevented your pet’s pain and suffering.

A few more safe plant options

African violets, gloxinia and goldfish plants have pretty flowers. Baby’s tears are a pet-safe companion plant around the base of a nontoxic banana tree and can help keep pets from digging in the dirt. Peperomia and mosaic plants are other safe, attractive options. If unsure about the safety of a plant, do your research before bringing it home and help maintain a healthy co-existence for all the living organisms in your house.

If you’re currently searching for a new home, whether a new construction or existing home, are hoping to sell and need a local agent to assist you, or if you have any further questions regarding Sunset Beach and Coastal Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time.

You’ll often see tips and tricks to help boost your curb appeal come springtime and summer, however, there is so much you can do to help your home look it’s best even in the Fall and Winter months. As a bonus, many of these home improvements can also help keep your home looking its best all year round- providing a great boost in your curb appeal without the annual upkeep. While planting seasonal color or adding a great wreath and porch décor are indeed great ways to help your house look more like home, try one of these few ideas this Fall to boost your curb appeal well into next summer and beyond.

Front Door

Your front door is often a focal point, and thus, can help either boost or diminish your curb appeal. As the weather has cooled down, now is a great time to give your front door a little makeover. Whether you plan on replacing your front door completely, or simply giving it a new coat of paint, this upgrade can be enjoyed for years to come with little to no maintenance required. If you’re hoping to brighten up your home this Fall, try a brightly colored and bold color such as reds blues or even greens and yellows.

Related: The Cheapest, Simplest, and Best Home Improvement

Shutters & Window Coverings

If you have shutters on the exterior of your home, you’d be amazed at how stunning they can look with a good cleaning and a new coat of paint. Whether you plan to touch up your paint in a few areas or add a new pop of color to your shutters, freshly painted shutters are simply beautiful. Another great way to boost your curb appeal is match your shutters to your front door. Likewise, if you have large windows, try adding some new curtains to the inside of your home as often the colors of the curtains can be seen even from outside the house, creating a homey and inviting look.

Outdoor Lights

Another great option to boost your curb appeal and allow for little to no maintenance is to add outdoor lighting. Whether you choose to line the driveway with lights, add outdoor light fixtures to a covered porch, string lights across an outdoor seating area, etc. this will not only illuminate your home after the sun goes down, but will also help limit the risk of theft/burglaries and add a stunning design element to your home.

Related: The Best Decking Materials for Your New Home

If you’re currently searching for a new home, are ready to sell your home and need a qualified and local seller’s agent to assist you, or if you have any further questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time.

Additional Tips for Homeowners

• Creating the Perfect Backyard for Fall and Winter
• When to do Certain Upgrades
• This One Thing Might Decrease Your Home’s Value
• Dangers of Laminate Flooring
• Tips to Keep Your Guest Bathroom Clean
• Everything You Need to Know About Sunrooms

There are many home improvements or renovations that homeowners take great pride in accomplishing and while it is common for many homeowners to dream big or envision huge renovations both within and outside of their homes, often the one renovation that can make the biggest difference is quite small and even affordable. Paint. 

It’s no secret that many home improvements can be quite expensive, however, when it comes to painting your home, the upgrade is nearly always quite affordable, allowing for those with even smaller upgrade budgets to enjoy the upgrade. While there are a few variables that could play a role in your cost, such as paint quality as well as any needed materials ranging from painter’s tape to brushes or drip pans, or if you plan to hire painters or do the painting yourself, overall, the total cost to paint a home is quite low, making it an affordable home improvement for many homeowners. 

Related: Pot Fillers, Are They Being Phased Out?

Whether you’re hoping to brighten a room, add a pop of color, re-design or even paint the walls the same color they currently are, a fresh coat of paint instantly gives your home new life. From brightening the space, getting crisper and cleaner lines, removing/covering blemishes, or stains, you would be amazed at the instant upgrade that a fresh coat of paint provides. While many home improvements require skilled professionals, another huge perk to painting your home is that many homeowners can take on the project themselves. 

Interior paint is nearly always more affordable than exterior paint due to the longevity and weather proofing needed to withstand the elements, however, if you’re hoping to paint the exterior of your home, make sure to get a high-quality paint that will last and allow your upgrade to last for years to come. Many home improvements require deep pockets, contractor research, and a long span of time to conduct the needed work before the renovation is complete. However, when it comes to painting, a couple hundred bucks and a weekend of elbow grease allows your whole home to be transformed, providing a quick pay off for a small amount of work that is sure to help your home look it’s very best.  

Related: Renovation Mistakes to Avoid

If you’re currently searching for a new home, are ready to sell your home and are in need of a qualified seller’s agent, or if you have any questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time. 

Additional Tips for Homeowners

• Spring Cleaning
• When to do Certain Upgrades
• This One Thing Might Decrease Your Home’s Value
• Dangers of Laminate Flooring
• Tips to Keep Your Guest Bathroom Clean
• 5 End of Summer Home Maintenance Tips