10 Summer Projects That’ll Leave No Doubt Your Home Says ‘YOU’!

July 22, 2017

Here’s how to customize your house with your own personality and charm.

You started calling it yours the day you signed those closing documents.

OK, so maybe it was that giddy moment when you first saw its spacious, sunlight-drenched living room. (Make it mine, please!)

But when does a house really become yours?

You didn’t design it. You sure as heck didn’t build it. You’re probably not even the first person to live there.

Whether it’s a 1920s Cape Cod or a new build that’s oh-so-slightly different from the one next door, a house truly becomes your home when you pour your personality into it. The right projects — executed with the right soul-bearing spirit — can leave friends, guests, and (most importantly) yourself saying, “This place is so you!”

Here are 10 ways to get that validation:

#1 Upgrade a Wall With Personalized Materials:

Brittany Bailey of the “Pretty Handy Girl” blog was in a rut. She had a room of her own to do her crafting, but the blah atmosphere was uninspiring.

So she built her inspiration right into the walls. Bailey grabbed some wood scraps from previous art projects (could materials get any more personal?), added a little paint and stain, and covered an entire wall with them to create a cozy, personalized, uber-inspiring studio.

“It’s warm, rustic, and isn’t afraid to show its imperfections,” she says. (Just like her, she notes.)

Bonus: A built-in shelf provides space to display her favorite bottles, artwork, and mementos.

#2 Use Your Favorite Pattern in an Unconventional Way:

From siding to tile, houses are full of everyday patterns.

But the best way to use a beloved pattern is to break the mold with it. Jillian Rose, a REALTOR® in Austin, Texas, absolutely loves the zigzag look. She’d seen countless herringbone floors in her job, but never a countertop.

So when she planned a kitchen redo, she thought, why not zig where others have zagged? After some staining and sanding, her countertop has a unique antique-y look that happily pulls double duty by hiding dings and scratches.

#3 View Appliances as Opportunities for Expression:

Who doesn’t love polka dots?

Just like adorbs puppy videos, they’re instant mood elevators, especially in a room that isn’t known for generating gobs of excitement: the laundry room.

“Polka dots are timeless,” says Ginger Bowie of the blog “GingerSnap Crafts.” “They’re fun, simple, and cute, and I’d like to think I’m those things, too!”

With her handy Silhouette craft cutter, she cranked out sheets of vinyl dots and applied them to her washer and dryer in no time at all.

#4 Build a Murphy Bar to Show Off Your Cocktail Skills:

If you live for crafting your own bitters and herb-infused simple syrups, an outdoor cocktail space is a must-have home for your cocktail hobby. With a little creativity, your patio bar can be as quirky as your latest libation Check out this fun and very useful twist on a space-saving Murphy bed, which will say youwith every drink you serve.

#5 Paint and Decorate Your Ugly Rain Barrel:

When Lara Edge, a homeowner in Athens, Ohio, realized the best place for a rain barrel was going to be in her front yard for all to see, she started hunting for something that wouldn’t be an eyesore.

But the cost was a non-starter. Instead, she bought a cheap, plastic one, then painted it with colorful [she loves to be surrounded by colorful things] depictions of her dog and cockatoo — and even added a few favorite song lyrics.

Instead of an eyesore, now she’s got a focal point of pure personal joy.

#6 Hang an Outdoor Oasis for Your Book- and Nap-Loving Soul:

Indoor furniture, outdoor future — when you’re a Bohemian at heart, what’s the diff? Take your dreamy, summertime reading (or napping) habit to the trees with a swinging, outdoor bed.

This easy-to-build bed swing is made from a wooden pallet. Besides making your yard a personalized haven, you won’t get all smushed up and sweaty like you can in a hammock, making you feel more yourself before and after your sunny afternoon snooze.

#7 Upcycle Something You Love Into a Fence:

Love the idea of a fence, but want to tamp down the go-away-ish message it sends? Try ditching the boring, white-picket kind and turning your fence into a friendly work of art using upcycled materials that say a little something about you, like this one made of cast-off skis.

Not into snow? Bicycles, wagon wheels, even old license plates are all worthy substitutes. But be careful: A fence that says you just might turn your house into the most popular one on the street.

#8 Turn an Unused Closet Into a Wine ‘Cellar’:

You are so the kind of amateur sommelier who was born to have their own wine cellar — you just weren’t born with the kind of trust fund necessary to set one up.

But you don’t have to keep your passion in the proverbial closet if you have an actual closet to spare. Check out this above ground wine “cellar” that can feed your inner oenophile and wow your guests.

It’s easy and cheap to build, and best of all, no cavernous basement expansion necessary! It just goes to show, when you have expensive tastes, there’s often a clever, budget-friendly way for your home to accommodate them.

#9 Create Personalized Features for Your Furriest Family Members:

It’s your home, but what’s yours is also your four-legged buddy’s.

When Michael Barber, of St. Louis, started house-training Kenji, his new Shetland sheepdog, he thought typical metal crates were too big — and an eyesore.

So he turned the wasted space under his stairs into a (totally adorable) kennel, going all out with vinyl flooring, a fan, LED lighting, and even a networked camera so he could keep an eye on his furry friend.

“It was probably one of the best projects I’ve ever built,” says Barber. When it’s for your best friend, how could it be anything but?

#10 Express Yourself With an Original Floor:

Anyone can paint a wall. But why stop personalizing at the baseboards? A creatively painted floor can make every inch of a space feel truly you. When Jenna LaFevor of the “Rain on a Tin Roof” blog decided to paint her porch floor, she wanted to convey her personality to guests and passersby. “It lets people know that we are fun and don’t take life too seriously,” she says.

Buy Your First Home in One Year: A Step-by-Step Guide!

July 20, 2017

The ultimate timeline ensures the smoothest of transitions.

A real yard. Closets bigger than your average microwave. The freedom to decorate however you darn well please! Making the switch from renting to owning is exhilarating, but many rookie homebuyers find the process trickier to navigate than they expected.

This is why we created our First-Time HomeBuyer Checklist. The 12-month timeline will help you sidestep common mistakes, like paying too much interest or getting stuck with the wrong house. (Yep, it happens!)

12 Months Out:

Check your credit score.Get a copy of your credit report at annualcreditreport.com. The three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) are each required to give you a free credit report once a year. A Federal Trade Commission study found one in four Americans identified errors on their credit report, and 5% had errors that could lead to higher rates on loans. Avoid last-minute bombshells by checking your score long before you’re ready to make an offer. And work diligently to correct any mistakes.

Determine how much you can afford. Figure out How Much House Can You Afford?Lenders are happy to lend you as much as your debt load allows. But will that amount make you house poor? Ask yourself, how much house do I really want to afford? Lenders look for a total debt load of no more than 43% of your gross monthly income (called the debt-to-income ratio). This figure includes your future mortgage and any other debts, such as a car loan, student loan, or revolving credit cards.

There are plenty of calculators on the web to help you determine what you can afford. If you’re pushing the limits, start reducing your debt-to-income ratio now. To get a reality check on what you may actually be spending every month, use this worksheet.

Make a down payment plan. Most conventional mortgages require a 20% down payment. If you can swing it, do it. Your loan costs will be much less, and you’ll get a better interest rate. If, however, you’re not quite able to save the full amount, there are many programs that can help. FHA offers loans with only a 3.5% down payment. But they require mortgage insurance premiums, which will drive up your monthly payments. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides a list of nonprofit homebuying programs by state. Also check with credit unions; and your employer might even have an assistance program.

As you’re planning your savings strategy, keep in mind that banks like you to “season” your money. That is, they like to see that you’ve had stable funds in your account for 60 to 90 days before applying for a loan. Don’t worry: You can still use a financial gift from a family member or bonus received near the time you buy.

9 Months Out:

Prioritize what you most want in your new home. What’s most important in your new home? Proximity to work? A big backyard? An open floor plan? Being on a quiet street? You’ll make a much better decision on what home to buy if you focus on your priorities. If it’s a joint decision, now is the time to work out any differences to avoid frustration and wasted time. Perhaps most important: Know what trade-offs you’re willing to make.

Research neighborhoods and start visiting open houses. But now’s when the fun begins, too. Use property listing sites, such as realtor.com, to find out about neighborhoods, public transport, and cost of living.

Start visiting open houses to get an idea of what kind of homes are in your price range and what neighborhoods appeal the most. Seeing potential homes will also keep you motivated to continue reducing your debts and saving for your down payment.

Budget for miscellaneous homebuying expenses. Buying a home has some miscellaneous upfront costs. A home inspection, title search, propery survey, and home insurance are examples. Costs vary by locale, but expect to pay at least a few hundred dollars. If you don’t have the cash, start saving now.

Start a home maintenance account. Speaking of saving, start the good habit now of putting a little aside each month to fund maintenance, repairs, and home emergencies. It’s bad enough to have to call a plumber. It’s worse if you’re paying credit card interest on that plumbing bill.

6 Months Out:

Collect your loan paperwork. Banks are very particular when it comes to mortgage loans. They demand a lot of paperwork. What they’ll want from you includes:

• W-2 forms — or business tax return forms if you’re self-employed — for the last two to three years
• Personal tax returns for the past two to three years
• Your most recent pay stubs
• Credit card and all loan statements
• Your bank statements
• Addresses for the past five to seven years
• Brokerage account statements for the most recent two to four months
• Most recent retirement account statements, such as 401(k)

If you start collecting these documents now, it’ll lessen the stress when it’s time to get your loan. Bonus: Looking closely at your loan documents each month will also help you stay focused on saving for your down payment and keeping your debt-to-income ratio low.

Research lenders and REALTORS®. Start interviewing REALTORS®, specifically buyers’ agents. A buyer’s agent will work in your best interest to find you the right property, negotiate with the seller’s agent, and shepherd you through the closing process. Your agent also can be instrumental in finding a lender who’s familiar with first-time home buyer programs.

Even better, look for a mortgage broker, who will shop for a competitive loan rate for you among multiple lenders, unlike a bank, which can only offer its own products.

3 Months Out:

Get pre-approved for your loan. At this point, if you’ve been following this timeline, your credit score, paperwork, and down payment should be on track. You’ve done your research on lenders and buyers’ agents. Now it’s time to start working with them. First you’ll need to get pre-approved for a mortgage.

Make an appointment with your lender or mortgage broker and bring all your paperwork. He’ll run a credit check on you and tell you how much of a loan you’re approved for. It often makes sense to borrow less than the maximum the lender allows so you can live comfortably. Draft a budget that accounts for mortgage payments, insurance, maintenance, and everything else you have going on in your life.

Start shopping for your new home. One you’re pre-approved, the buyer’s agent you’ve chosen will be able to target homes that meet your priorities in your price range. This way you won’t be wasting time looking at homes you can’t afford.

2 Months Out:

Make an offer on a home.It usually takes at least four to six weeks to close on a home. So if you have a firm move-out date, allow enough time to deal with any hiccups that can delay closing.

Get a home inspection. One of the first things you’ll want to do after an offer is accepted is have a home inspector look at the property. If the home inspector finds something that needs repair, that’s a common example of something that can delay closing.

In the Last Month:

Triple-check that all your financial documents are in order and review all lending documents before closing. You’re in the home stretch! If you’ve been keeping your documents up to date, and your down payment is in reserve, these final steps are the easiest. Reviewing the mortgage documents is probably the most difficult. Your agent can help guide you through them.

Get insurance for your new home. Don’t forget to secure insurance before closing. You’ll need to bring proof of insurance to closing.

Do a final walk-through. Do a final walk-through of your new home, usually a day or two before closing, to make sure the home is in the shape you and the seller have agreed upon.

Get a cashier’s check or bank wire for cash needed at closing. Make sure you get an exact amount of cash needed for closing. You’ll get that number a few days before closing so you can secure a cashier’s check or arrange to have the money wired. Regular checks aren’t accepted.

That’s it. Congratulations!