Taking The Long View On How To Enhance Your Home’s Setting

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Striking views and stunning landscapes are, in many ways, the golden ticket of housing. Forget looking out at parking lots and city streets; we’re talking ocean vistas, riverside settings, and even countryside as far as the eye can see.

It’s a reality that can make any home for sale more appealing, as is evidenced by the fact that fantastic views, particularly of water, can enhance value by 15-80%. And yet, as is often the case when we take things for granted, those of us who have access to such views often neglect them. It’s all too easy to shut the doors on the outside and entirely forget about location. Before you know, you may have gone months without even glancing up at those rolling hills or lapping waves.

As well as being a crying shame, this is a significant waste of money. Remember, you’re likely paying for that view, and you should get the most for your buck by taking the time to enjoy it in the following ways.

The more windows, the better

A view has the undeniable ability to take your house to the next level, but you first need to make sure that you can see it. Otherwise, there’s nothing giving your property an edge over any other on your street. Unsurprisingly, then, we’re starting this list with mention of windows. Look at getting custom windows for your home.

Large bay windows that look directly out onto whatever view you have access to are guaranteed to make a massive difference to your property. As simple as that, you make it impossible to ignore the fact that you live in such a fantastic vista. Instead, those windows will act much like a feature wall in truly drawing the eye, and adding a touch of interest that you’d struggle to achieve any other way.

Even better, these windows in themselves will add a modernist and futuristic aspect to your home that’s guaranteed to go down well with any looking to improve interior and exterior style in one hit.

Reflections can enhance a space

As much as you want to open that view up, you also want to make sure that you’re bringing it into your home as much as possible. And, mirrors offer a fantastic opportunity to do that. According to Phillip Thomas of Phillip Thomas Inc, “Not only do they [mirrors] help to push natural light into a space, but they also help to amplify the landscape/view outside the house by allowing you to see straight ahead and from the sides.”

You don’t have to go mad with this, but incorporating mirrors on the opposite wall to your windows, for instance, is guaranteed to enhance the natural beauty outside. Even better, this addition means that you needn’t look directly at those new feature windows to get the most from this benefit.

Let your view inform your home style

Even if you’re keen to bring a view firmly to the forefront at home, you might not consider it in relation to decor. Yet, this can often be the best place to truly tie things together in a way that works. And, when you remember that a well-framed waterfront view, for instance, can add up to 80% value, that’s a quest well worth undertaking.

Something as simple as tying color schemes together with your outside vista could work wonders here. Or, you may want to go all out with a full-on sea theme for your waterside location. You could even use wallpaper or painting styles that mimic the landscape your view centers around. Or, you could simply highlight a countryside setting with natural wood furniture and accessories. The world is your oyster, so have fun playing around. Then, sit back and enjoy a room that’s guaranteed to enhance even the best view.

A shifting furniture focus

Often, we arrange furniture towards key features such as a fireplace or television. But, if you want to make your house great, then you could benefit from shifting that focus with your view in mind. After all, a lakeside setting is guaranteed to beat even the most elaborate fireplace or TV you could think of.

As such, you should focus your pieces towards those new, view-worthy windows instead. By merely turning seats to face this way, you can finally draw the eye here as soon as you enter the room. That’s going to make a huge difference, not only for adding a sense of space to the area but also for ensuring that your view gets the attention it deserves at last.

Steps To Planning A Self-Build

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Building your own home is something that is growing and growing in popularity, as homeowners want to have their perfect home, designed with just them in mind. It can be a great way to get what you want, as well as save money on getting your ideal home. Creating a home that is tailored to your needs is often a better option than buying a home that is old and in need of a lot of work. You can choose the exact style and size of a custom home, and think about all of the other aspects of your property.

This is never a simple and straightforward process, though, as there is a lot to consider, as anyone like real estate developer Roger O’Steen would tell you. So in order to give you a guiding hand, here are some of the things that you can do to plan for a self-build, and to help you get into it, without the stress.

The Design

The design of the home that you want to build is going to be one aspect of the first steps in the process. It is worth having a professional help you out with the design, unless you have experience in this area, as there can be some ins and outs that won’t work (as well as ones that will). You have to think about the space that you’re working with, as well as the budget that you have to work with. There may be some planning permissions to apply for too, which is good to look at in this step of the process. Look at triple pane windows for a better look.

The Resources

A self-build is going to require a lot of materials in order to make the dreams and designs a reality. All of which will come with a price. It is a good idea to speak with professionals for quotes, or at least to get some guidance in the area of homebuilding. Using tools and quotes to help you, it will give you a clear indication of if your budget will work with what you have in mind.

The People

It is usually not very likely that you will be able to do the build yourself, unless you or family members have building experience. Which is why you will need to make sure that you choose the right people for the job, so that it can all run smoothly, and have the best job done possible. Reviews and personal recommendations are essential for this kind of thing, as you are putting a lot of responsibility in their hands. You want to get the results that you want, with a building team that can make it happen.

The Time

For many people, they will need to move out of where they are currently living, in order to afford to get the land and the build on its way. This isn’t likely to leave you with much space, but it can be important to get the build underway. Having a clear timeline from your construction team is important, so you can plan where you’ll need to be, and for how long.

The Pros And Cons Of Building Your Own Home

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Building your own home is a major project to take on. If you’re going to commit to this, you need to have patience, a pretty large budget, and you also need to be able to have the ability to visualize the house of your dreams. If you do pull it off, however, you’ll have a home that you’ve put your heart and soul into, and you’ll be glad that you didn’t take the conventional route of purchasing an existing house.

Here are some pros and cons of a self-built home, for those considering this option.

Pro: you can put your own stamp on it

One of the best things about building your own home is that you can add your own stamp onto it, without having to try to work with existing spaces, that are simply difficult to deal with. Every part of the build will include something that you love, and you’ll have made every single choice, down to the last details such as plug sockets, and lighting. Your home will be your piece of art!

Con: it’s pretty expensive

Let’s be honest, building your own home is not cheap. You need to pay for the architect, a structural engineer, and the builders. You also need to splash out for all of the supplies, and most importantly, you need to put your own time into it, which can be the most difficult thing. Whilst you can get help from somewhere like the Construction Loan Center, evaluate all of your options.

Pro: it will be well-equipped for modern challenges

When it comes to older homes, adding on more energy efficient technology can prove challenging. Some older houses simply aren’t suitable for things like solar panels, and if you build this tech in from the beginning, then you’ll be glad that you did so further down the line. Sure, it may cost you quite a lot now, but in the future, your outgoings will be minimal as a result.

Con: you have to be super patient

Your new build home is probably going to take a year – at the minimum – to build. There are going to be difficult times, and you’re sometimes going to believe that the whole thing isn’t worth it at all. You won’t be able to pick out some things that you like, and then move straight in, and that’s the most important thing to remember. It will be worth it, but you need to be patient!

Pro: you’re the first inhabitants of your home

When you build your own home, you know that you’re the first family to live inside its walls, and there’s something great about that. You know that nobody has stitched you up by telling you that there are no problems with it, when there are actually major ones beneath the surface. And you don’t have to go through that experience, where you feel as though you’re living in somebody else’s house.

Con: there’s a lot of paperwork

If you’re building your own home, there is a lot of paperwork to take on. You need to deal with insurance, taxes, and you need to get permission for your plot. You also need to sort out contracts with builders and architects, and you need to deal with the insurances that they require, too. You’re going to have a desk full of paperwork, and you need to be able to deal with it all sufficiently.

Pro: you can benefit financially

Whilst it may seem as though you are throwing a lot of money at your new build home, the likelihood is that you will get it all back – and more – in the future. This is because you will have a unique building (hopefully) which has all of the modern features that people are looking for. If you’ve built it on a big plot of land, then you’ll also have this upside, which will help you to sell it for a higher price.

Con: you can’t avoid the short-term costs

With an older home, you have some room for negotiation on the price. You can keep putting forward your offers to the seller, and as a result, they may let you have the property for a much lower price. However, whilst you can put offers in on land – and building supplies – for a new build home, you still need to remember that your opportunity to save is a lot lower than it may have been, particularly in the short-term.

So…

If you’re thinking about building your own home, then keep these pros and cons in mind before you take the plunge!

Can’t Find Your Dream Home? Create It Yourself!

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Have you been searching the market lately for a brand new home for your family? You probably have some key ideas about how you want this home to look or the features you would like it to include. A home is nothing short of a haven. So, we wouldn’t blame you if there were some very specific features that you wanted to be a part of it. This could be anything from luxury facilities such as a heated pool or jacuzzi to a balcony on the upper floor. Or, perhaps you would love a home with plenty of land that you can look after yourself.

It should be easy to find a home with all the key features that you want on the market right? Not so fast because there are a few speed bumps that you’ll need to get over first. For instance, it’s possible that the home you want is on the market but is nowhere near your budget. A home with a decent sized pool can sell for up to a million and then there’s the location.

If you do find it and can afford it, will it be where you need it? Likely not and many of us are tied down to a specific location when we buy a property. This could be due to personal or professional reasons. For instance, you’ll need to make sure that the home is within a suitable commuting distance to your work.

It’s also possible that the home you want doesn’t actually exist on the market. At least, not with all the features that you hoped for. There’s a reason why Mr Blanding Builds His Dream House is often viewed as a classic. It’s celebrates a concept that we all hold dear. If we choose too, we can build a brand new dream home, perfect for all the family that suits every desire we have.

As we see it then, if you can’t get your dream home on the market, you have two options. You can either build it. Or alternatively, you can transform your current home into a dream place to live which you can find more info on at https://brightside.me/creativity-home.

Let’s start by looking at building your dream home.

Beginning To Build

The first step is finding out whether building your home matches your budget. A lot of people think that building from scratch will be cheaper than buying a property on the market. It’s true, when you build you will be cutting out human issues. You won’t have to worry about offers that people want or the speed that individuals need to move in and out. You will be more in control of your budget and spending but this will not necessarily mean that the cost will be lower.

Instead, it’s likely and indeed probable that overall you will pay more. Particularly if you have set ideas about what you want to be included. You will also need to secure a plot of land. The amount of land you require will depend on how large you want your home to be. You might be able to purchase land from a private seller. Or, alternatively, you could purchase part of a planned development.

The benefit of buying into a planned development is that this land has already been determined as a good place to build. As such, you won’t have to worry that you are building on a flood plain or perhaps on ground soil that is unsuitable. This is why when you are buying land you should always make sure that you complete a full land survey. This will tell you whether there are any issues you need to be aware of. The good news is that purchasing land is often far more simple than buying a home. Though, you will need to proceed through a variety of the same steps such as making an offer and putting down a deposit or arranging a cash payment.

Planning Permission

Next, you will need to get planning permission to build on the acquired land. Depending on where you are building, you will likely need permission from your local council or government body. Getting permission to build a new home will involve putting forward your plans. These plans will either be approved, rejected, or rejected with amendments. Assuming your ideas aren’t too crazy, it will likely be the latter option. This does mean you will need to compromise when building. Particularly, if you are creating a home near an already established residential area. For instance, it might need to share a similar aesthetic to the homes in this location. Discover more about planning permission on https://www.tepilo.com/blog.

You will find it far easier to get planning permission faster if you invest in the services of a profession contractor. Professional contractors can arrange anything from planning permission to drawing up full architectural documents. They can act as an agent through the entire build process. Of course, for this to occur, you do need to make sure that you are choosing the right company. With so many on the market, this can be quite difficult. So check reviews, take a look at portfolios and do make sure that you get a few different quotes. You should get a feel for a few different companies before you make your final decision.

When you do hire a contractor to complete the work on your home, it’s important that you do make sure everything is above board. For instance, they should be fully licenced. It can be tempting to use unlicensed workers instead but this will always be a mistake. Unlicensed workers could bring legal headaches later on. If there is an accident or incident involving the build or the quality of work, then you could find yourself liable and you don’t want that. You learn more about unlicensed workers on https://www.allpropertymanagement.com/blog.

Once you have found a contractor, they may recruit the builders for you. Or, you may require two separate teams and companies. While one will complete the technical aspects of the job, the other will work to build the property. Don’t be surprised if you need other specialists as well such as an electrician, plumber and more. This is going to depend on the expertise of your original company.

How Long Will It Take?

Usually, you can build a full home in a few months. However, it could take as many as six and this will typically depend on a few factors. For instance, there could be complications that may result in delays as your initial plan could be rejected. With the wind in the right direction though if you start building now, you could be handed the keys to your new home before the year is out.

If the building isn’t the right option for you, perhaps we should look at renovation and remodels.

Transform Your Home

You might want to think about taking the necessary steps to transform and change your home into a dream come true. To do this, you should pinpoint the key areas that you want to change or improve and determine whether these match your budget.

Again, you are going to need to hire a contractor or a company to complete the work for you. The difference is that they will be completing work on a specific area of your home. For instance, you might be keen to improve your roof. This will likely be for practical purposes due to durability or insulation. If you want your home to remain warm throughout the year, a roof improvement could be the best choice. According to https://www.erieconstruction.com/blog, metal roofing could be a great option and is available in a wide range of colours and shades to match a unique aesthetic.

Of course, you could be feeling far more adventurous. For instance, you could be interested in creating a whole new area of your home. For this, you will certainly need planning permission and you will need to nail down the budget before you start. If you don’t do this, there’s a good chance that the cost will balloon as you continue with it.

Or, how about building your new swimming pool? For this, there’s a whole range of issues to consider that might not be related to the original cost. With a pool, you also need to consider how much it’s going to cost you in the long term. Cleaning bills alone can be a few hundred a month. However, there are benefits too. Just think about how much more valuable your home will be when you finally put it on the market.

Are big changes too much for your budget right now? Not to worry, there are small changes that you can make which will be more manageable. For instance, you can think about adding some tech to your home. Smart tech is completely affordable today and can make your home feel completely different. There are even systems that automatically change the environment based on your preferences when you enter a room. You can get these for under two hundred and have money to spare for new furniture or anything else you may desire.

We hope this helps you discover the answer of what to do if you can’t find your dream home anywhere on the market.

Finding Your Dream Home

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Are you happy where you live, or have you got grand plans to up sticks and find your dream home in the next few years? If your current home doesn’t quite tick all the boxes, and you’re looking to move, here are some tips to help you find the perfect property.

Focus on your finances

We all know that buying real estate, no matter where you are in the world, represents a major investment. Perhaps the most important thing to do when you’re first setting out on a property search is to set a budget. To do this, you’ll need to work out how much you can borrow based on how much you earn and how much you have available to put down as a deposit. You can get a rough idea using mortgage calculators online, but it’s really useful to sit down with a financial adviser, go through your figures, and get some more accurate quotes.

Not everyone will be able to afford the house of their dreams, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to find a home you love. If you’re finding it difficult to get onto the ladder or you’re looking for more affordable ways to rent, look at schemes that are designed to make property acquisition or renting more affordable like built-to-order flats, shared ownership, and initiatives that add interest to your deposit value. It’s worth doing some research in your local area and exploring all the options on the table.

If you have decided that you want to try and buy, use the information you have gathered to determine a viable budget and start your search, looking only at properties that fall within that range.

Creating a wish list

Most people go into a property search with a rough idea of what they’re looking for. In many cases, the perfect home just doesn’t exist, or it isn’t affordable. In this scenario, you have to learn to compromise if you don’t want to increase your budget. Figure out what is essential to you and prioritize these aspects when you’re looking at potential candidates for your short list. Is the garden more important than the house? Can you cope with 2 bedrooms rather than 3? Is your location set, or could you tolerate moving a mile or so in a different direction?

Choosing a location

When you start looking for properties, you’ll be asked to provide a location. Some people know exactly where they want to live down to a cluster of streets. Others have a much more expansive area. If you have a preference, enter that location, but be prepared to search around that spot too. It’s particularly beneficial to be open-minded if you don’t know the local area very well, as you might find that you actually prefer suburbs or parts of the city you’ve not explored in detail before. The location of a property can have a major bearing on its price, and sometimes, moving even a couple of blocks away can make properties much more affordable. You might find that you get a lot more for your money by being flexible. If you’re moving to a city or a town that’s new to you, take a bit of time to have a look around, talk to agents, and get some recommendations.

If you know where you want to live, but you can’t afford the kind of property you want, keep an eye out for up and coming locations nearby. If you’re buying in the city, for example, and you can’t afford established property hot spots, search for areas that are on the up. Look for signs of investment and regeneration like new housing developments, offices, restaurants, and shopping malls. Prices may be lower, which will enable you to buy a bigger, better property, and there’s also a good chance of making money on your investment when you come to sell.

Finding the right property

Unless you’ve got your heart set on a certain aesthetic or style of property, it’s a good idea to look at a range of options. Browse online, call local real estate agents to see what’s available, and book some viewings. You might rule some properties out before you’ve even stepped through the door, but you may be surprised how you feel when you view properties you didn’t necessarily think would interest you. You might think that you’re desperate for a new house, but if your stomach flips when you step into a characterful cottage, it may be worth considering a change of tack. Go with your instincts and use both your heart and your head. You want a home that works for you on a practical level, but it’s also important to get that positive vibe when you walk through the door.

If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, and you’re keen to add value to a property, don’t be afraid to look at homes that need TLC. Taking on a project is hard work, but it can be incredibly lucrative, and it also gives you the chance to put your stamp on your new home. If you are thinking of renovating a house or updating a flat, work out how much you would need to spend before you make an offer. You’ll need to ensure that the remodel costs combined with the purchase price don’t exceed your budget.

Are you thinking of moving? If so, you might be on the verge of starting a new property search. If you’re hunting for your dream home, it’s essential to try and use your head and your heart. Work out how much you can afford to spend first, and do some research into the local market. Create a wish list, contact agents, and have a look online to see what kinds of properties are available within your budget. Arrange some viewings, go back and see potential contenders, and look for potential if you can’t afford your dream home or your first-choice location. Before you make any final decisions, view the property again and make sure you’re 100% sure that it’s the right one for you.