Category Archives: buyers

DIY Advice for New Homeowners

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Courtesy of Pixabay

There’s a fine line between taking on a home improvement project yourself and getting in over your head. The prospect of upgrading a bathroom or kitchen is exciting, an opportunity to review scores of beautiful layouts and design options and envision how they would look in your own home. Do-it-yourself projects are very popular, and there are lots of resources that can help you do it right and tools that make it easier.

However, be very careful before committing to something that could leave you in need of professional help. Remember, a home upgrade is intended to add value to your house, not cost you twice what it would have if you’d simply gone with a professional contractor. Fortunately, there are many projects that even a first-time homeowner can handle with ease.

Painting

Painting your interior is one of the simplest of all DIY tasks. It’s also one of the most economical ways to add value to your home. As a new homeowner, you’ve earned the right to paint your home whatever colors you like. It’s an exciting opportunity to indulge your creativity and do something that’s daring and a little off the wall, so to speak, or to accentuate your design decor with a fresh coat of paint. Either way, you should shoot for a look that’s uniquely yours.

If you’re working in a room with a lot of items/furniture, consider purchasing drop cloths (Home Depot offers a roll of plastic sheeting for $10.98) to cover your possessions to prevent them from getting covered in paint in the event of an accidental spill. If you want extra peace of mind, consider renting a self-storage unit to store away these items. It might seem like an extreme idea, but at least you’ll know they’re safe and sound until you’ve finished.

Flooring

People often buy a new home with the aim of redoing the flooring according to their own personal taste. Maybe the previous owners left behind a frayed and yellowing carpet or hardwood flooring with scratches and gouges from years past that they never got around to fixing. Replacing carpeting is a job best left to professionals, as is putting down a new wood floor, a popular but often expensive option (costs an average of $4,240) for enthusiastic new homeowners. In some cases, having old carpeting professionally steam cleaned can make it look like new and freshen up your interior.

Lighting

Lighting is another easy-to-do DIY project. Dimly lit rooms can benefit significantly from a few well-placed lamps or some track lighting. Track lighting can be a good DIY project, unless you’re entirely unfamiliar with installing lighting, or if you’re uncomfortable working with electricity. Consider replacing incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs (a pack of 24 bulbs at Amazon will set you back $22.78), which last longer and are more economical. In general, it’s a good idea to go with a professional for anything that involves extensive electrical work. Electricians have certification and the knowledge to do it correctly and safely. Unless you have a lot of experience, any job that could result in a serious injury or worse should be left with the pros.

Landscaping

Your home’s landscaping design was probably one of the first things you noticed when you first saw your home. As such, you probably developed a strong impression of what you’d do with it even if you don’t have a green thumb. You don’t need to be a landscape architect to develop an attractive look, just some elbow grease, determination, and a clear idea of what you want.

Bathroom Upgrades

Bathrooms can be tricky when it comes to DIY. If you’re looking at a complete overhaul that involves your plumbing, you might be better off going with a professional contractor. However, there are some things you can do to dress up your bathroom without having to tear into the walls and reroute pipes. It’s amazing how much new faucet, shower head, lighting fixtures, and towel bars can do to make a bathroom look shiny and new. If you’re looking for something a bit more ambitious, you can upgrade your look by putting in a new vanity.

DIY projects are great opportunities to put a distinctive mark on your new home. Always seek advice and information before beginning an upgrade so you know what you’re getting into. Never be afraid to hand it over to a professional if you think you might be in over your head.

Buyers Checklist: From Contract to Closing in Florida

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Now that you have a house under contract, or just looking ahead, here is list of things to keep in mind and what typically happens pre-closing.

Immediately Upon Acceptance of the Final Contract:

  • Order a home inspection
    • Consider also ordering wind mitigation report to save money on homeowner’s insurance.
    • Order a Termite Clearance Letter (although no longer required, still recommended)
  • Provide your lender with a copy of the contract and discuss locking in your interest rate (Remember: You will usually have five days from the date of the contract to apply for the mortgage loan, which is why it’s important to be pre-approved before you start looking for a home)

During the Home Inspection:

  • Take any measurements for furniture, window treatments, appliances, etc. that you may need
  • Take any photos of the house, if desired
  • Ask the home inspector any questions you may have concerning the home’s condition or construction

One to Two weeks Following the Effective Date:

  • Reserve a moving truck or schedule a moving service
  • Schedule the closing date with the title company
  • Notify lender to order appraisal

Two Weeks Before Closing Date:

  • Contact insurance company to set up homeowner’s policy to be in effect day of closing
  • Call lender and inquire if additional information is needed
  • Get a change of address package from the post office and begin notification process

One Week Before Closing:

  • Make contact with lender to ensure that closing date is on schedule
  • Get directions to closing attorney’s office (Your agent will usually provide this information)
  • Schedule utility transfers

Three Days Before Closing:

  • Ask lender for final closing disclosure, new law requires that to be available 3 days before consummation, which is a new word for closing.
  • Consider purchasing a Home Warranty and discuss benefits with your real estate agent
  • Request all copies of the paperwork from the title company if you plan to read each one in detail, since there will not be time to read over everything at the closing itself

Day Before Closing:

  • Conduct a walk-through to verify the condition of the house is the same as when placed under contract
  • Be sure to double-check that inspection items have been addressed
  • Get wire sent for closing
  • Review the Closing Settlement to verify that the terms of the contract are correct

Day of Closing:

  • Bring photo ID
  • Bring copy of the wire receipt (recommended)
  • Bring copy of insurance policy (recommended)
  • Bring any additional documents requested by the lender

Celebrate!