Are toiletries cluttering your countertop? Corral them with a shallow, decorative tray. This keeps necessities such as skin care products, contact cases, perfumes and colognes, and jewelry in sight yet neatly contained. Avoid storing large items such as hair styling tools and bath linens on trays. Elegant glass canisters let you display cotton balls, cotton swabs and bath salts in a beautiful way. Glass jars are easily accessible, which makes them handy when guests use your bathroom. If you’re looking for a more stylish solution, get creative and hang a row of mason jars on a piece of wood to enhance your decor. They double as small storage containers for cotton swabs and makeup or toothbrushes.

The under-sink area is the ideal spot for products that aren’t used often. It’s best to keep the first-aid kit, plunger and cleaning supplies tucked behind cabinet doors. Gather cleaners and tools in a small caddy or two-tiered organizer that doubles on storage to maximize space. You may also want to keep a cumbersome waste basket out of sight by attaching it to the cabinet door underneath the vanity.

Whether your bathroom is big or small, these savvy storage ideas could help you add space and stay organized. For more ways on how to designate storage locations for items, see the accompanying resource.

Graphic created by Modern Bathroom.

Contact Frank and Karen Baker for all Sunset Beach NC homes for sale and beachfront property in Sunset Beach.

Looking to transform your outdoor space? From adding a sunroom to mounting a large-scale landscaping expedition or backyard renovation, there are numerous ways to liven up your outdoor living area. While enhancing the backyard could enrich family time spent outside — on top of increasing resale value — it can also be a costly mistake. Here is a brief look into certain backyard renovations you may wish to reconsider when investing in your family’s future.

A backyard revamp that may seem advantageous but could be undesirable is over-the-top landscaping. A backyard oasis filled with trees, comfy seating and the joys of nature can be the escape every homeowner wishes for … except when it’s overdone.

Costly, decorative landscaping might look like unwanted maintenance to a potential buyer. Similarly, certain do-it-yourself projects that you find attractive may not suit a buyer’s tastes. If you’re selling your house soon, it’s recommended to keep the garden beautiful but simple. Plant easy-to-care-for vegetation and ensure decorations can be easily removed.

Making the space your own can be an enjoyable adventure worth undertaking. However, before jumping in on the DIY home improvement game, be sure to research the best strategies to boost your home’s value. For more examples of costly backyard mistakes, please see the accompanying resource.

Investing Wisely: Backyard Renovations & Upgrades

Graphic created by Pool Troopers. Contact Frank and Karen Baker for all Sunset Beach NC homes for sale and beachfront property in Sunset Beach.

Home improvement projects are often thought of come Spring or even Summer, from clearing the gutters, re-staining a deck, and planting seasonal color in the garden, many homeowners tend to start their yearly projects as the weather warms up. Surprisingly, there are quite a few different projects that can, and should be tackled during the cooler months of Winter and Fall. 

Insulation

It’s time to check your attic! If your attic isn’t insulated, then chances are, you’ve been overpaying for your heating (and cooling) bill. Insulating your attic is one of the best home improvement projects when it comes to return on investment as it can often lower your energy bill and in some cases can even be eligible for tax credits. You’ll want to do your research to ensure that you insulate your attic properly.

Related: The Cheapest, Simplest, and Best Home Improvement

Interior Painting

Painting is a great option for a winter upgrade as it doesn’t require you to be outside. The only downfall to choosing this upgrade is that you may have some fumes from the paint lingering in your home unless you’re willing to crack a window or door for air circulation. Whether you plan on some touch up paint, repainting the whole interior, or adding a few accent walls, painting during the winter months is a great home improvement project to tackle.

Seal Openings

Naturally, you want to ensure that your home stays warm and is temperature controlled, especially during the cooler winter months. An easy way to do this is by sealing all openings or air leaks. Simply seal seams around your windows and doors with new caulking or sealant and add weatherstripping to door jams if needed. By doing this you can not only help keep your home warmer and save on your heating bill, but you are also reducing noise levels from outside and ensuring that your home sees less pollen, dust or insects that seem to work their way through the cracks and openings.

Related: Home Repairs and Upgrades – What to do When

Backsplash

One of the most versatile upgrades is backsplash. There are many different options, ranging in price as well as the amount of skill needed for installation, which allows those with all budgets and skill levels to give their kitchens and bathrooms a great upgrade that boosts the appearance and design of their homes.

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. 

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

If you didn’t purchase or sell a home in the last few months, chances are, you’ve considered a refinance with the near record low mortgage rates. While refinancing your home is a great way to help you save on revolving debts, and often allows you to lower your monthly overhead, there are generally always hefty fees that are included. Most of the time, these fees, or closing costs, for the new loan are between 2-5% of the mortgage amount. This means that if you are refinancing a home for $250,000 and are paying 3% closing costs (this percentage can vary), you’ll pay $7,500 in closing costs to secure the new loan.

Related: How do I Re-Finance my Home?

In recent months you may have seen a “no closing cost refinance.” Whether while scrolling social media, on the radio, billboards, televised commercials etc. the seemingly too good to be true option for homeowners is sweeping through the nation, leaving many homeowners wondering if the no closing cost refinance is too good to be true. Unfortunately, these advertised refinancing programs aren’t free, they’re simply structured in a different way than the more traditional route.

While it may still be a great option for some homeowners, generally when refinancing is advertised as a “no closing cost” option, those fees are then simply rolled into the final loan amount vs. paying the fees out of pocket. As an example, if you were to refinance your home loan at $250,000 with a 3% closing cost fee, you could expect the following:

• Traditional Re-Finance: Your new loan amount would be $250,000 and you would have to pay $7,500 out of pocket in fees/closing costs to secure the new loan
• No Closing Cost Option: You won’t be required to pay any out-of-pocket fees, thus alluring to the “no closing cost” promotion, however, your new loan amount would be $257,500 vs. $250,000 as mentioned above

Ultimately, each option can be beneficial pending on your person preferences and cash flow availability. It is important to note that generally a no closing cost refinance does come with a slightly higher interest rate than the more traditional route with the pre-paid fees, however, with rates at near historic lows, most homeowners are still saving tremendously on their home loans when choosing either option.

Related: Are Home Warranties Worth It?

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 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