3 Reasons to Buy instead of Rent a Home

Credit:  Ketut Subiyanto - Pexels Buying a home can feel like a big, scary decision when compared with renting. However, it is crucial to consider the long term financial consequences of renting as well as the benefits of buying a home when weighing both options. This article outlines the 3 major reasons why buying a home may be a better choice for you than renting.   Establish wealth: Credit:  RDNE Stock project - Unsplash Buying a home is almost always a better long term financial decision then renting. A major reason for this is that owning a home allows your payments to go towards building equity, as opposed to paying rent. Renters receive typically no return on their costs, while a homeowner will receive a large return if they choose to sell their home. Homes also have the possibility to appreciate in value (around 3.5% per year nationally), making them a very good investment. There are also tax breaks available to make owning a home more affordable.   Personalization: Credit:  Anastasia Shuraeva - Unsplash While renting, you most likely will have to follow a lot of rules about what you can and cannot do with your living space. Painting a room, changing some tile, or even transforming an office into a nursery are all things you will likely not be able to do in a space you are renting. With owning a home comes the freedom to do whatever you want to personalize and make your home perfect for your lifestyle and preferences.   Privacy and Autonomy: Credit:  Karolina Grabowska  - Unsplash Owning a home comes with much more privacy autonomy then renting. No more sharing a wall with a loud neighbor, and the ability to do whatever you want in the privacy of your own home are major pros to homeownership. 

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Should I add a garage or a room? Best Additions for Resale

Credit: Blue Bird - Pexels When looking to update your home to sell, it is very important to consider which additions will have a high return on your investment, and which sellers will not be willing to pay extra for. Many homeowners look to add more space to increase the value of their home, either through adding or finishing a room, or adding or enlarging a garage.   Adding a Room: Credit: Andrew Neel - PexelsAdding a room, or finishing an area of the house into another room, can substantially increase the resale value of your home. Finishing an attic or basement into a bedroom or office will add square footage to your home, and open it up to larger families. This is the same case with adding a completely new room, although finishing an existing area can be less expensive and have a higher return on investment.    Adding a Garage: Credit: Loi Bui Trong - Pexels The addition of a garage or enlarging an existing garage will typically add less value to your home then adding a room will. In some cases, for example in an area with little to no street parking, the addition of a garage will have a larger impact on resale value. However, in most instances, garages have more limited uses then indoor rooms and therefore will not have as big of a return on investment. If your home has an existing garage you are thinking about expanding, you may want to consider getting a new garage door to boost curb appeal, which is a less expensive option with a much bigger impact.  

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Real Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Home Cool this Summer

There are dozens of ways to keep your home cool during the summer months, but there are some tried and true old-school methods that are more effective than others. This year is expected to be a hot one, and due to the surge of moves across the country, many homeowners are finding themselves in climates they aren’t familiar with, and maybe without air conditioning for the first time (what a nightmare).  So before you crank up that A/C and run up your utility bill, here are some solid ways to keep your home cool during the summer. Bring in the cool night air Photo Credit: Alistair Mcrobert   Opening up the windows to let in cooler night temperatures is an old method that has demonstrated itself as a consistently effective way to quickly cool down a home. The details change from region to region, so if you’re new to an area, take some time to check the nightly temperatures and install screens to keep bugs and other critters out. Take note of the amount of sunlight your home receives and when. Make it a habit to check where and when sunlight hits your home in the morning, afternoon, and evening. After a night of pulling cool air into the house, close the windows and curtains/blinds on the sunny side of the house once the sun comes up. The shade side can still bring in residual cool air until noon when you’ll need to close those up as well. Though tedious, this method has shown to extend cooler internal home temperatures further into the day.   Create a cross-breeze and use fans   Every home is a little different, but one of the most effective ways to maintain a cooler temperature is to keep the air moving. Early mornings and late evenings are best, but occasionally breezy/cloudy days are optimal too. This method works best by letting nature do most of the work, but pairing it with ceiling fans, box fans, and even table-top fans makes a huge difference. Pro tip: If you have ceiling fans, always set them to spin counterclockwise during the summer, to push cool air down. Then set it to spin clockwise during the winter to move warm air up. Make sure your home’s insulation is sufficient Insulation not only keeps your home warm during the colder months, but it also keeps it cool during the warmer months. The goal of proper insulation is to maintain the internal temperature of the home no matter how warm or cold it is outside. This is strongly determined by the region your home is located in. Find your state’s insulation codes and standards in this handy guide here.   Curtains, cellular shades, shutters, and more Image Source: Deconovo   Windows are a heavy source of heat and there are a few different options available. Here are some thoughts on each: Curtains are a common and attractive option. High-quality blackout curtains with high UV energy ratings are best. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), “studies demonstrate that medium-colored draperies with white-plastic backings can reduce heat gains by 33%.” Plantation shutters are an option that is both attractive and practical, plus they add to the overall value of the home. Roller and Roman shades are a less expensive option, but are better for blocking out sunlight and offer less insulation against heat. Blinds and cellular shades and their effectiveness against heat are strongly determined by the size of the window and the quality of the material. Work with your local blind consultant for best results. Window Films are an option best for homeowners who are seeking to lower heat gains without disrupting the view. These are best installed by a professional and require extra care. Awnings are most effective for west-facing homes. Studies done by the DOE found that window awnings can reduce solar heat gain in the summer by up to 65% on south-facing windows, and 77% on west-facing windows.   Plant greenery around your home   Studies show that planting trees and shrubbery around your home can reduce energy costs as much as up to 50%. This is especially true when there is an established tree canopy, but even recently planted trees and shrubbery can help provide a substantial amount of protection from the heat by absorbing sunlight and providing shade for the home’s foundation.   Upgrade to energy-efficient windows According to the DOE, about 76% of sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows enters to become heat. If you’re looking for a sound investment, energy-efficient windows are a huge plus. Although they tend to come with a heavy price tag, these types of windows not only help maintain your home’s temperature, but they add to its overall value.

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