Living comfortably during summer doesn’t have to be expensive. There are various ways to protect yourself from high temperatures without having to break the bank. Read below for tips that will help you cool your home and save money while doing it.

1. Keep the sun away from your home

While windows keep your home well ventilated, they also let sunlight inside which raises temperatures inside your rooms. Use blackout curtains and shades to block the sun from streaming into your home.  Placing plants in front of your window and using tainted windows can also be a useful way of keeping the sun away.

2. Check your appliance usage

Electrical appliances such as dishwashers produce heat. Limit the use of these appliances during summer and adopt alternative ways of getting work done such as grilling and drying laundry outside. Doing these activities outdoors will save your home from heat generated by dryers and ovens. Also, ensure that your appliances are unplugged when not in use, as they still produce heat even when not in use.

3. Find a cheap and convenient air conditioner

Find an affordable and efficient air conditioner such as LG 8000 BTU portable air conditionerreviews that serves both as an air conditioner and a dehumidifier thus saving you money.

4. Insulate and ventilate your attic

The attic maintains comfortable temperatures in homes during any season. In summer, it traps hot air and thus keeps your home cool. It is therefore essential to vent this space to let the hot air outside. There are several attic fans available in the market that are effective in ensuring that your attic is well ventilated.

Insulating the walls of your attic is also a convenient way to cool your home. This insulation minimizes the heat that flows to your home from the attic as well as the heat that enters the attic.

5. Use Fans

Fans are cost-effective ways of cooling your home during summer. Make sure to turn off your fan when you are not at home to save energy and money. Since moisture makes cooling tough, ensure that your fan is on when you shower and when cooking.

6. Get a Dehumidifier

Eliminating moisture from air lowers the temperatures in your home and makes it cool and comfortable. Air conditioners work more effectively on dry air than in a humid environment. A dehumidifier will, therefore, boost your air conditioner’s performance and hence cool your home.

7. Clean your air conditioner.

It costs a lot less to maintain your A/C system than to install a new one. Have your A/C professionally checked and serviced annually. Using an electrostatic filter and changing it after every three months is also a convenient way to maintain your A/C as it saves you the high costs of repairing a damaged air conditioner or buying another.

In conclusion, surviving the heat during summer does not necessarily require costly advanced technology. Simple habits such as taking cold evening showers, using cotton sheets and keeping the windows open in the evening can go a long way into ensuring that you stay comfortable.

Realty Executives International

Bringing a new pet into your home can be one of the most exciting life changes. Pets can bring so much joy and company, but they come with their fair share of responsibilities even before they arrive home for the first time. Here’s how you can prep your home for a new pet.

But first, here’s something to keep in mind…

When adopting a pet into your home, you should brace yourself for potential damages. A kitten or puppy can often have accidents in the house during training, so keep this in mind as you get your home ready for a new furry friend. Wood or linoleum floors and leather or vinyl furniture are the easiest to clean. As always, if you’re renting your home, be sure to check with your landlord before adopting a pet.

Clean your house from top to bottom

Just as you would want to clean your house before having visitors over, you’ll also want to clean before taking in a new member of your family. If you are introducing a pet into your home for the first time, it’s a good idea to start with a clean slate. We recommend cleaning your entire home from top to bottom. This way, you can go over every room and ensure that it is clean and orderly (and make sure there aren’t any forgotten messes or areas that your new furry friend may get into).

Pet proof your home

After giving your home a deep clean, it’s time to make it pet-proof. Much like baby-proofing a home, pet-proofing requires assessing the areas that your pet will be able to access and make sure they are safe. Ensure your cabinets aren’t easily accessed so your new pet can’t get into any food or harmful chemicals. If you can, opt for washable area rugs instead of carpet, in case your new pet has an accident. One of your main priorities should be to secure all door and window screens (and secure your yard or patio area, if you have one) to make sure your pet won’t be able to escape your home.

Organize a personal space for your new pet

Next, we recommend finding an area of your home that can be your new pet’s personal space. As humans, we value having areas in our home that are designated for relaxation, and your pet will value this, as well. Organize a sleeping area for your new pet, an area for their food, and an area for the litter box if your new pet is a cat. Having an official area for sleeping will help your pet feel right at home. If you’re adopting a cat, try purchasing a scratching post or tower to prevent damage to your furniture. If you’re adopting a dog, make sure you have plenty of toys.

Overall, pets can bring so much life and joy to a home, but keep in mind how much maintenance they can be.

This post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. The point of view and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Realty Executives International. This post was written by Bailee Abell. Bailee Abell is a writer born and raised in California. A graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara, she loves reading classic literature, sipping warm beverages, and visiting theme parks every chance she gets. Find her at baileeabell.com.

Making your perfect Pinterest board is easy… buying everything to transfer that board into your living room, not so easy. Doing a makeover of an old space or decorating a new home is fun and refreshing but can also be stressful trying to ensure your vision comes out the way you wanted without breaking the bank. Check out these tips on how you can decorate your home just the way you want on a budget you can afford.

1. Plan your budget

It’s hard to stay on budget if you don’t have one! Set a maximum amount you are comfortable paying and stick to it. Make a list of “must-have” items before you start shopping and plan the look you are going for. This will not only help you stay on track style wise but also within price range. You can also look online for budget items or to see what stores have the best deals and if they have any upcoming sales.

2. Find furnishings to serve multiple purposes

It can be challenging to accommodate every purpose a house serves, including hosting holidays, parties or a small get-together with friends. Having enough seating, surface space and entertaining space can be a struggle, especially for smaller apartments or homes. You can fix this by filling your spaces with multi-functional pieces. Buy seating with built-in storage or tables with removable sections that can be added for more guests and then removed at the end of dinner.

3. Spiff up old or outdated furniture to fit your new look

Your taste and trends may change but that doesn’t mean you have to buy decor or furniture pieces new every time. A coat of paint or re-upholstering can give a new look to an old piece that can fit into your new style. Take something old and make it have a whole new function and work it into your new spaces.

4. Find local treasures

So many items that end up in thrift stores or antique shops can be put to good use with the right space. Old treasures can blend nicely with current pieces in your house. Finding items at local shops will also give you more unique pieces that no one else has and will bring a special personal touch to any room.

5. Don’t rush it

We tend to fall into the mindset that once we move into a new home, that each room needs to be put together and look flawless immediately, but that can get expensive – and fast. Take your time and pick one room at a time to focus on. You won’t get overwhelmed and won’t stretch your budget right from the start. Plus if you finish one room and like how it turned out, you will have a better idea of how you want the other spaces to turn out.

Whether it’s a new home or you are just wanting to revamp your current place, take these tips to get your dream look on your realistic budget.

Realty Executives International

UPDATED APRIL 5, 2019 REALTY EXECUTIVES INTERNATIONAL

It’s nothing new that home staging is a wise move. After all, it has the potential to increase the final sales price of your home by 6 to 20 percent. But what you may not realize is that it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to do it. After all, who needs more expenses when you’re moving? If you’re short on cash but want to speed up your home sale and possibly increase that final dollar amount, here are some budget-friendly home staging tips.

Declutter

The first step to home staging is about as budget-friendly as you can get — because it’s free. Donate or trash items such as clothes, extra furniture, books and knick-knacks – anything that’s not being used or that you no longer need. Go through the pantry and donate canned goods to a local food drive. Sift through piles of random papers and shred and recycle what you don’t need.

Hold a pre-moving sale

Hold a garage sale to get rid of what you won’t be taking with you when you move. Not only will you declutter, you’ll also make some extra cash for other home upgrades. Don’t feel like doing a traditional yard sale? Download OfferUp or another buy-and-sell marketplace app to sell your items.

Borrow from friends

A good rule of thumb with home staging is to furnish and stage every room in your home so that no room is left empty. To save costs, you can borrow furniture from friends and family, or you could split up the furniture in other rooms of your home to round out the less furnished rooms. Borrow the treadmill your sister no longer uses and the weight lifting bench in the garage to transform an empty bedroom into a home gym, or add a desk and cabinet to your guest room to help buyers envision both a guest room or home office in that space.

Consider portable storage

After getting rid of the items you no longer want, it’s time to empty your home of excess furniture items, quirky art, and any personal items that may be distracting to buyers. A portable storage container is a popular cost-effective option because it conveniently combines moving and storage.

Here’s how it works: A driver delivers your storage container to your home to fill at your leisure. Once you’ve loaded the items you’re storing, the driver picks up the container and takes it to a nearby storage facility. When your home is sold, have your container re-delivered to your door, fill it with the rest of your stuff, and ta-da! You’re all ready to move. Some portable storage providers can move your container long-distance. For instance, PODS can move your container to your new home even if it’s across the country, in Hawaii, or in some parts of Canada. A solution such as this that combines moving and storage can help reduce the costs of moving by eliminating the need to rent a storage unit or moving trucks multiple times. Moving long-distance with a container can also be significantly less expensive than using a traditional full-service moving company.

Grab your paint brush

Want to transform your home cheaply? Painting gives you the best bang for your buck if you if you’re looking to give your place a makeover. Light, neutral colors are great for staging. If you’re really tight on cash, opt for touch-ups or pick key walls in high-traffic areas to repaint.

Make tiny upgrades that make a big difference

Make your home feel fresh and new on the cheap with some inexpensive updates to hardware, lighting, and faucets. Even new outlet plate covers, vent covers, and kitchen cabinet hardware can give your place a facelift. You don’t even need to buy anything fancy – just shiny and new.

Decorate on a budget

Some simple décor updates can have a surprisingly effective impact on the way buyers view your home. Replace your old, boldly colored shower curtain with a cheap but tasteful curtain. Cover up stained or old couches and chairs with affordable slipcovers. Add some homey cushions to the living room. Just remember to keep things neutral – it’s not the time to express your unique personality! Save that for your new home.

While redoing your flooring or putting in new kitchen cabinets would be ideal, it doesn’t have to take much money to give your home a makeover and make it appealing to buyers. With a little time and creativity, you can turn your soon-to-be-sold home into a beautiful space and have some fun while you’re at it. Good luck with your move!

UPDATED JANUARY 23, 2019 REALTY EXECUTIVES INTERNATIONAL

The world of mortgage financing can be a little overwhelming for first-time home buyers.  

The good news is that there are professionals to guide you through the process of qualifying for a home loan. Lenders are happy to educate buyers on the different mortgage options. You just need to know a few basics so you can have a productive conversation with your lender.   

Here are finance basics for first-time buyers:

What’s included in my mortgage payment?

Your mortgage payment is more than just payments to repay the loan (that amount is called principal). Your mortgage payment also includes:

• Interest
• Property taxes
• Homeowner’s insurance premiums
• Any mortgage insurance premiums (if your down payment is less than 20%, you will need a mortgage insurance policy)

Lenders usually wrap all these expenses into one simple mortgage payment. It makes your life easier, and it assures the lender that your taxes and insurance are kept current.  

How do I qualify for a home loan?

Qualifying for a home loan might be easier than you think. You just need to prove to your lender that you’re able to repay the loan.  

Requirements vary slightly from one lender to the next, but here are the general home loan requirements:

• A down payment. You’ll need to pay a percentage of the purchase price upfront. Twenty percent is the old standard, but most first time buyers are qualifying for FHA Loans with as little as 3.5% down.
• Fairly good credit. Aim for a minimum credit score of 620. But if you have at least a 580, you could still qualify for an FHA Loan.
• Enough income to comfortably cover the mortgage payment. Lenders like to see your total mortgage payment stay under 28% of your gross income. And they like to see the mortgage plus all your other debts stay around 35% (or less) of your gross income.

To meet these requirements, you’ll need to provide financial documents like pay stubs, bank statements and tax returns.

Do I need to be pre-approved before starting my home search?

Sorting out your financing is actually step one in the house hunting process. There’s no point in spending weeks or months searching for a home if you don’t qualify for a mortgage loan. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage helps you understand how much of a loan you can qualify for so you know what price ranges to explore.

Plus, when you’re ready to make an offer on a home, your offer will be stronger if you’re pre-approved. The sellers will be able to accept your offer, knowing that you’ll be able to secure financing to close the deal.

It only takes minutes to get pre-approved online, and it will help your house hunting process go more smoothly.

What is the importance of interest rates?

Interest rates have an enormous impact on your mortgage loan. Lower interest rates mean your monthly payment will be lower, and you’ll pay less over the term of the loan.

Here’s how to get a low interest rate:

• Get your credit score up. First, check your report for simple mistakes and contact the credit bureaus to correct them. Then, if you have negative marks on your credit report, contact those lenders to see what you can do to remove those marks.
• Put more money down. A bigger down payment means a lower interest rate.
• Take a shorter loan term. A 15-year loan will have a lower interest rate than a 30-year loan.
• Shop around. Lenders offer different rates, so be sure to compare multiple lenders before making your final decision.

Financing your home doesn’t have to be difficult. Lenders are happy to explain the different finance options available to first-time buyers. So don’t hesitate to reach out to a lender and start the conversation today.

This post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. This post was written by Michelle Clardie. Michelle is a professional real estate blogger, specializing in ghostwriting Realtor® blogs. Her engaging content helps real estate agents become more visible online, generate more qualified leads, and increase their revenues. You can learn more at www.michelleclardie.com.