No matter how excited you are to move into your new place, your first few weeks will probably feel foreign and, well, a little weird. Celebrating a birthday, planting a garden, or decorating for the holidays will help that "new-house feeling" fade, but waiting for a milestone requires a little too much patience. Here's how you can feel settled and happy — even while you're living among boxes. 1. Start with the closet. "I believe in living well from the moment you move in," says interior designer Nate Berkus. "Most people start unpacking the common spaces first, but I focus my efforts on my closet because Monday's are hard enough without having to search for your favorite sweater." 2. Priorit

Have you heard that you can sell your home with an agent for 1% of the sale price? Have you also read the fine print? There may be some info

It’s one of the age-old debates in real estate – single story versus double story. Both property styles have their own unique benefits and disadvantages which must be taken into account as you consider which type of property to purchase as an investment. Whether a one-story home is a better investment depends on many different factors, including personal taste, the local real estate market, and location. Benefits of Single Story Properties Some people believe that single level homes are more visually appealing than multi-story homes. However, this is highly subject to personal taste as well as the prevailing architectural style. From a more practical perspective, single story properties ma

We’ve all seen those photos on Instagram and Facebook, the ones with those lush, green indoor plants spilling all over the kitchen and living room of some loft in the city or adorable home in the suburbs. Although indoor gardens seem to be trending, people have been using plants and succulents as a way to decorate their homes for years now. An indoor urban jungle is a perfect way to add a little loveliness to your home without breaking the bank. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, plants also reduce the carbon dioxide levels in your home and boost your mood. If the thought of taking care of plants fills you with more anxiety than excitement, we’ve come up with a list of plants that

So you found a new place! It's all wonderful and exciting until you start to think about how much crap you have. 1. Pack an overnight bag containing all the essentials. Chances are, you'll be too tired to unpack your things. You'll want your essentials within easy access, including a change of clothes if you're going back to work the next day as well as all your toiletries. It's also a great way to transport a laptop, which could run the risk of getting stolen during a move. 2. Pack the items you will need FIRST in a clear plastic bin. This includes things like a box cutter, paper towels, trash bags, eating utensils, select cookware, power strips, phone chargers, toilet paper, tools, etc. Th

When it comes to making magic happen during a kitchen remodel, there is a lot that can be cooked up - there are oodles of options. There's also a lot that can go wrong. Here are my 10 key tips to avoid getting burned on a kitchen remodel: 1. Don’t Overspend Before you start planning, consider the market and decide whether a low-, medium-, or high-end kitchen remodel makes the most sense. Costs can run the gamut from $2,000 for a simple paint-and-hardware upgrade to $50,000 if you’re installing expensive countertops and luxury appliances. Knowing your neighborhood will help keep from overspending – you may not get your investment back installing travertine in your tiny starter – or worse, und

Most people want to become homeowners at some point in their lives, but many believe that owning a home is too expensive for them. Despite this perception, buying a house is one of the most important elements of achieving financial stability, even for people with relatively low incomes. Here are five of the top reasons you should stop paying rent and buy a home as soon as possible. 1. Renting is Far More Expensive Than Buying Renting is cheaper than buying, right? Actually, that concept is a complete myth. Not only is renting much more expensive in the long term, but in many cases it is even somewhat more expensive on a month-by-month basis. Although mortgage payments will come with interest

Often a neglected room when it comes to home makeovers, the laundry room has come into its own as a hub for organization, clean-up, storage, and doing the laundry, of course. Whether your laundry room is located in your basement, next to the kitchen or squeezed into an upstairs closet, here are some thrifty and efficient tips to consider when updating your laundry area. Location, Location, Location You're likely to find the washer and dryer hook-ups in the basement of older homes. While downstairs laundry rooms work just fine, many homeowners who can spare the space and expense of moving their laundry area prefer a main level laundry room closer to bedrooms or their kitchen. Here are the pro

Room for a nursery? Check. Good school district? Check. Home buyers with kids (or who hope to have kids soon) know to look for properties with certain kid-friendly characteristics ... but do you know all the things you should check? Confession: I actually ended up buying a home that I thought would be perfect for my family, but once I moved in, I realized it was missing certain things that could have made my life there a whole lot easier. So just to be safe, check out this list of features that parents should factor into their house hunt, but often miss. Make sure they're on your radar, so you don't buy a place you regret! 1. Bedroom placement When I was house hunting as a new mom, all that

10 Ways To Protect Your Home While On Vacation Keep your home from being a target with these easy tips. The season of long weekends and beach getaways is upon us, and the last thing any homeowner wants to imagine when they’re soaking in the sun or taking a dip at the lake is a burglar snooping around their empty home. While there is no use in being paranoid about your belongings while you’re away, home security shouldn’t be taken lightly. And it’s the right season to be wary: The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics has found that household burglary rates are highest in the summer. So whether you’re getting away for the day or weekend or taking an extended vacation, put these 10 summer holiday

Wondering if you should sell your parents’ home? Figuring out what to do with the home that your parents left to you can present you with financial and emotional issues. There are three options you can take. You can sell the house, move into it, or rent it out. It’s normal to feel uncertain about which path to take, especially while grieving. There are a lot of financial, legal, and technical issues to consider during this particularly difficult time. Making the wrong decisions upon inheriting a house can lead to problems down the line. It can cause serious financial hardships or even lead to family feuds. Here are some things to consider before deciding to sell your parent’s home: Find out