7 Canadian Woods Rd, Marlboro, NJ, Marlboro, NJ
Your Marlboro Dream home has finally hit the market! Expanded Emerson Model with huge kitchen/family room addition is perfect for your family...
When you feel stressed, and you need a place to have a significant relaxation, your outdoor area will always serve as a perfect spot. So, investing in improving the look of your landscape is a fantastic treat for yourself. Nature's view has its unique and effective way of providing you a valuable tranquility. It can even make it easier for you to forget all the negative vibes around. After a busy weekday, it is ideal to put an effort visiting your garden area and recharge yourself. To make this more effective, providing your flower beds with landscape stone border can improve your experience. Here, you will be able to learn different ideas for your next landscape stone border project. So, how are you going to choose the right stone for your flower beds. Type of Edging Stones for BordersThere are different types of stone to choose from and each type has its unique characteristics. We can generally install any type of stone you prefer, but what we usually like to recommend is listed below:
Shape and TextureNatural stones are known for its rounded shape resulted from long exposure to water in the streams, rivers, lakes or ocean. Manufactured stones provide a shape which is intended to imitate the appearance of natural stones. You have no trouble choosing the best stones for your flower bed landscaping because there is already a wide variety of man-made stone that provides organic and attractive look. Thus, it offers a uniform size and shape, with various color options. With the help of a different type of landscape stone, it is made easier for you to create a more attractive look for your flower bed. Artistic Medium When you are deciding for landscape stone border design, you can play with your imagination. You may come up with a rock garden theme where you can use stones with a natural round shape and then choose plants that can enhance the overall look. Different Rock Features Landscape stones can be you to different landscape ideas where you can take advantage of different stone features to fulfill your creativity. In building a stone border, you can use either collection of pebbles and smaller stones or larger sizes within the gabion cages. This provides an attractive look while staying functional as a retaining wall. Learn how to build a stone retaining wall – pdf Water Feature Accent Landscape stones are attractive and artistically dry. However, if you combine it with a water feature, its beauty, color, and texture become full of life. For a natural look for your flower bed, you can use paddle stones because of its neutral colors. Thus, they are quite flexible when it comes to creating natural mosaic designs. There is no way for you not to try a landscape stone border to create an attractive and unique look for your flower bed. The next time that you will visit your garden, you will get more satisfaction with the view. For help with installing stone borders around your flower beds contact JC's Landscaping for a free estimate. The post Landscaping Stone Borders Around Flower Beds appeared first on JC's Landscaping LLC.
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***Written by Arlyn Hernandez I have a love-slash-kinda-hate relationship with the word “trend” and something tells me a lot of you do, as well. The idea that something is “trendy” has almost turned into a bad word in the design-o-sphere, and while I do get it and have often found myself wishing that something would stop being trendy so I could go about my business using it in my home without feeling “basic,” trends are a very real part of this industry, like it or not, and frankly, pretty fun to talk about regardless. We vow to never publish an article that says “throw out everything you own because it's now considered gross and buy all these new things” for several reasons (one being that that's pretty obnoxious and just not real life), so don't fret, but we absolutely will continue to talk about design ideas framed as trends because, well…that's what they are. You do you in your home but then come back here and have fun looking at new concepts that may or may not become a “thing” eventually. Okay, now that I'm done with that diatribe, it's time to talk, ahem, trends. Currently, we've already touched on bathroom and kitchen trends for 2019 (we'll give you a second to catch up…) …ready to roll? Good! We're excited. We all put our heads together and came up with a list of furniture and decor ideas we're actually loving, not just talking about so this is less of a straight-forward “report” and more a love list of trends we could actually see ourselves implementing in upcoming projects. It's a combo of what we've seen in published professional projects, things that have caught our both (both in editorial and design terms) on Instagram/Pinterest, and what we've seen pop up in the retail market from researching for future projects. And because we couldn't stop there, we also had our market team add lots of shoppable pieces to the “New Favorites” section of the Shop page so if you love something we bring up today, you can get the instant gratification of bringing it home. Alright, let's do this… FURNITURERust-Colored VelvetThe velvet sofa hit the mass-market design scene HARD about three years ago (a resurgence from previous decades) with a Crayola box of colors as options, and while jewel-toned blues and greens stuck from the get-go, there's a new cool kid in town. Rich rusts and terra-cotta shades have been trending since last year when the desert palette was all the rage for a bit there, but we're confident that this one is going to stick around for a bit. After all, you wouldn't want to drop $1,000+ on a piece of furniture only to turn around a few months later and feel like it feels dated and passé already. The range of rust extends from deep, nearly red tones to much less intense versions like this one here from TK. On a simple, streamlined silhouette, it's less POW in your face (unless, of course, you want that) and more liveable. As for what colors to pair this with, we like it with a mix of creamy neutrals and hints of blue, black and burgundy. Why we love it: It feels new and like something that could transition easily into the years to come. Biscuit TuftingSpeaking of sofas…and velvet…the biscuit tufted cushion is happening people and oh man is it fun. Tufting tends to take on a more traditional or mid-century vibe, but this overscale “puffy” biscuit tufting feels much fresher and “now” while adding really nice texture and dimension to a living room or den. It also works particularly well in a fabric with a high sheen like velvet because of how the light plays with all the nooks and crannies. I'm not entirely sure how comfortable this actually is for long-term lounging as I've only ever really sat on a handful of seating with this type of upholstery, but something I can report is they usually have a much “tighter” feel. Not firm, per se, just a little…clenched. Why we love it: It can take a straightforward silhouette and turn it into something special-a conversation piece. Thin Bench CushionsClearly, the seating category has a lot to talk about this year. This one comes straight out of Emily's mouth as something she's really jazzed about. In fact, we were standing around her kitchen, souping (because, what else?) while talking through things we wanted to include in this post, and she specifically mentioned all the thin cushions she's been seeing and loving and Pinning for mountain house inspiration. All of a sudden, a bowl-full of memories of beautiful room images featuring flat(ish) seat cushions came flooding into my mind and I knew she was right. This definitely speaks more to a minimal aesthetic, but it also works in a cozy, welcoming room like the one above with a more Scandi vibe. Another talking point here is the French seam on thin cushions, which takes it from feeling maybe “low market”(because let's get real, cheaper pieces of furniture tend to have thinner cushions) to cool, casual and lived in. I do wonder how less filling will hold up over time, though. Why we love it: Look, we'll never turn a blind eye to a super plush sectional or other seating, but we're on board with the informal and simple feel the thin cushion gives a room. The “It” Chair of 2019Sometimes, the trend is a design idea, color or silhouette, but other times, there's a specific item that comes up again and again and again, but in a way that excites you every time you see it. That's this armchair, originally designed by Pierre Jeanneret. First released in the 1950s and produced in mass quantities for Chandigarh, India (a “utopian” city that his cousin Le Corbusier designed), the V-leg chair only recently saw a resurgence thanks to antique dealers that dug them up from (basically) trash heaps and designers like Axel Vorvoordt using them in sky-high-end projects. It's funny to think that a for-anywhere-and-everyone chair made of teak and caning is now worth a fortune (good vintage authentic options run upwards of $10k+, but there are plenty of lower priced reproductions now). Why we love it: The Jeanneret V-leg chair adds so much sculpture and angularity to a room. It's like art and furniture had a pageant-worthy child, and that's a baby shower we absolutely will RSVP Yes to (okay, that analogy is a bit of a stretch, but we're giddy with feelings over here about this chair). The Other “It” ChairWhile the Jeanneret chair is like the more showy head cheerleader at the popular table, Jean Prouvé's Standard chair is the less obvious cool girl that people are less afraid of and tend to gravitate more toward (who eventually goes on to become a badass CEO or a very important scientist making breakthroughs in quantum physics). Truly and honestly, I was saving pictures that “spoke” to me for months as I was looking for inspirations for my Makeover Takeover, and when I went back recently to see all my bookmarked picks, I was like “whoa…wait a minute.” I had ended up with 11 dogeared images with this chair in all kinds of applications: desk chair, side chair, dining chair, so I'm calling it…I declare the Standard chair “trending.” Why we love it: It's one of those furnishings that seems kind of unassuming, humble yet playful. Like the “nerdy” girl in a '90s teen rom-com that just needs to take off her glasses and pull her hair out of a messy bun and BAM she's “pretty”. Obviously, this chair isn't going through any makeover montages…it doesn't need it (but it does come in a handful of really fun colors that would transform a room). Chunky Wood-Framed FurnitureAny excuse to bring more wood into a wood, we'll give the thumbs up to. Wood adds soul and warmth, and we've been noticing more furniture pieces with super chunk and oversized wood bases and frames (like this chair up top that's total heart eyes, right?). Frankly, we haven't seen a ton of this on the big-box market (i.e. budget-friendly), but hopefully if we write about it enough, more people will start incorporating it into their homes, hence the retail sector will take notice and start making more pieces in line with this look. That's how it works…right?!? Why we love it: Delicate frames have had their time, bring on the chunk. Plus, it makes a quiet statement without all the bells and whistles of a bold paint or wallpaper or rug and sometimes, that's just nice. Mixed Modern Dining ChairsThis is not a new idea by any means, but it's typically done with an eclectic mix of vintage chairs. This new twist is much more contemporary because it uses a mix of mostly modern silhouettes, like in this dining room from TK full of mid-century favorites. Here's another take that's far artsier but just as cool. In studying it (and the previous shot), I think it's worth talking about some “rules” for making this look work for you. Some takeaways: use similar wood tones and materials (here you'll see two chairs are rattan) across a few different pieces, keep heights mostly consistent (but don't be afraid to break the rules a little…this is just a jumping off point) and finally, repeat forms where you can, for instance some of these chairs have more rounded silhouettes while others are very angular and sculptural. Why we love it: We're big fans of the eclectic over here, but more and more our collective style is being tailored and tightened, so this just feels like a natural step for us. Jess basically wants to move into the above photo, and Emily's temporary dining room situation in the mountain house is looking a lot like that first photo. BurlwoodSo burlwood was a little bit of a hard sell to some of the team but I'm not backing down here. I know burlwood (which was originally super popular in the '70s) came back in vogue like…maybe two years ago? but I promise I've seen it making the rounds again. It went into hibernation, but it woke up from its winter nap and everywhere I look, there's a nightstand or credenza or even a smaller decorative box being used in a fresh way (mostly with how it's styled). Also, not that what I'm about to say automatically makes something trendy or cool, but over Christmas, I went into CB2 to buy a gift for someone and they had a gift wrapping station that had burlwood wrapping paper and it was so surprisingly chic. That's all I have to say about that. Why we love it: Well, honestly it's kind of hard to tell. It's one of those things I honestly used to hate because it reminded me of horrible glossy casegoods from homes in the '80s but then all of a sudden, I'm finding myself wanting in my home. These things aren't always explained in words…it might be a cop-out but this is an “I like it because I just do, okay?” situation. ART & DECOR“Shapes” PillowsGlobally-inspired throw pillows have had their 15 minutes (in fact, it's been more like…1,827,524 minutes), and while we still very much love them over here, Jess was quick to point out that she's been noticing more “shapes” pop up. Pyramids, circles, triangles, shells…mostly seen right now in single-hued velvets, it's pretty fun and we'd love to see more people trying this out to see the breadth of styles it can handle. What do you think? Are you into this or is it a hard sell? Why we love it: Plain and simple, it's just fun. So…why not? Mixing Framed and Unframed ArtWe'll gladly take any chance to talk about a “shake up” to a beloved design feature like a gallery wall. Gallery walls are here to stay, but we've seen them done every which way it feels like, but something we're noticing as of late is a mix of framed and unframed pieces. They can be propped against a wall, set atop other artworks if that works, heck, even taped if you're not afraid it'll ruin the piece. I think it works particularly well in a more modern set up with things like abstracts and line drawings…there's something about the simple and monotone vibe above that feels like the whole unframed thing adds to the art setup…it's part of the art, instead of looking like one of the many unfinished DIY projects you probably currently have waiting for you at home collecting dust (just me?). Why we love it: It's a new look at an old favorite that feels really unique and updated, plus…this one saves $$$ (no frame = more favorite friendly). Pleated LampshadesLet me give you a little insight into how this conversation about pleated lampshades went: Arlyn: Jess…what have you seen that's exciting right now? Jess: Pleated lampshades! Arlyn: ………………………….. Jess: No really! Call me crazy, but I think they're coming back. Arlyn: ……………………………………. Jess: ::deadpan stare off with Arlyn:: Arlyn: ::stares back:: And well….here we are, so we know who won this one. Emily was on board because that woman loves herself a little “weird” and okay fine. In a fun little print like the top left shot, it's pretty cute. Not everything has to be stiff and perfect with a linen drum shade, so sure…pleated lampshades for 2019. Why Rocks As DecorYou want weird? We'll give you weird…ROCKS. It's all about rocks. Okay, so I don't necessarily think that rocks as decor will become this big mainstream thing, but no kidding, everytime we walk into a posh decor boutique, there's a rock somewhere recently. Both Jess and I bought the same rock match holder/strike at Shoppe by Amber Interiors this fall during our work trip out to the Pacific Palisades, Michael is basically on the marketing team for rocks wrapped in leather, and this whole “rock meets brush” thing would be such a fun doodad to style with. Useless? Mostly, yes, but cool nonetheless. Why we love it: Like wood, stone has a way of adding a little soul to a room, so…bring on the rocks. Again, make sure to cruise through the “New Favorites” section of Shop to see some shop-right-now picks from us, and PLEASE chime in in the comments about what you think of these. We love to share things we're buzzing about, but love even more to hear from you guys about whether you're just as swoony as we are or are like “are these people off their rockers?” The post Is This What's Next in Furniture and Decor? (If So, We're Very, Very Into It) appeared first on Emily Henderson. As one of the most popular holiday flowers, Poinsettias are Less Is Best As with many desert dwellers and plants of the southwest, Warmth and Light The Phoenix climate is perfect for Poinsettias as they need Poinsettias and Pets Almost everyone has heard that Poinsettias are poisonous to Not only are Poinsettias a long time holiday tradition 7 Canadian Woods Rd, Marlboro, NJ, Marlboro, NJYour Marlboro Dream home has finally hit the market! Expanded Emerson Model with huge kitchen/family room addition is perfect for your family... 1 Tarot Ct, Marlboro, NJ, Marlboro, NJSpectacular 6,876 Sq. Ft. custom brick front colonial home in Marlboro's highly sought after estate neighborhood. Offering a perfect floor plan for... 2 Champion Way, Marlboro, NJ, Marlboro, NJThis Magnificent home sits on one of the highest points in Monmouth County. From the moment you enter you see the elegance & beauty combined with... 33 Canadian Woods Rd, Marlboro, NJ, Marlboro, NJDesirable 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bath Emerson split in ''Whittier Oaks'' features a two story foyer leading to a newer gourmet kitchen which includes 42... 10 Horseshoe Ct, Marlboro, NJ, Marlboro, NJCenter Hall Colonial. Fully updated and upgraded including gourmet kitchen with Sub-Zero. Addition put on that can be 5th bedroom, maid's... The cooler weather has now arrived across the region and you're now likely considering the best ways to keep your home clean for the months ahead. Our experienced team here at Sunrise Cleaning in Mississauga has a clear understanding regarding quality winter cleaning services, and within this new post, we'll provide our expert guide to keeping your home clean throughout the fall and winter seasons. Add Door Mats Throughout the Home Doormats are your home's first defense against the slush and the dirt that can erode carpeting and damage hardwood floors. Take the time to install doormats throughout the home so you don't face an expensive cleaning bill in the months ahead. For that extra layer of protection this winter season, consider using one doormat outside the home and one doormat inside. The added effort will be worth it when you see the reduction in cleaning costs! Use Boot Trays It's an item that's rarely considered until it's desperately needed. But boot trays can help to make your home look tidier and keep it cleaner this winter season. For the low maintenance boot tray option, there are plastic products available widely online and in retail stores. But for those who wish to blend the boot tray with their home decor, you can always use copper stamped products that feature unique decorative designs. Ensure You Keep Entrance Ways Clear One of the more common impediments for homeowners struggling to keep a clean property throughout the winter season is dirt in hallways and mudrooms. The slush and grime that sticks to the floor in these areas can be caught on socks and then tracked inside the house, causing a significant cleaning problem. It's important you take care to clean your foyers and mudrooms regularly as this will go a long way to keeping the rest of the home in the optimal clean condition. Enforce the No Shoes Rule It might be difficult at first, but you must try to ensure that your children don't bring their shoes inside the home during the winter time. One great way to help support your family in enforcing this rule is to place a laundry basket by your boot tray in the mudroom or foyer. Your family can remove their dirty shoes and boots and place them on the tray. Then they can remove their cold, wet socks and place them in the laundry basket ready for the washing machine. This process helps build a routine for arriving back at the home and will significantly reduce your cleaning work. Vacuum the Furniture With your family spending more time indoors during the fall and winter seasons, it's important that you take the time to vacuum your furniture. The furniture will quickly become dusty as a result of the contaminants being distributed throughout the home by your home heating system. Take the time to vacuum the furniture, as well as the carpet, to minimize the amount of dust and pet dander that settles in the home. Not only will this help in making your home look cleaner, but it will also reduce the level of allergens in the home space. Inspect Your Chimney There's often nothing better on those cool winter mornings than sitting around the fireplace and watching television or reading together with your loved ones. But many families don't recognize the potential hazard in their chimney. If there's a blockage in the space, and the fireplace is turned on, smoke could fill the home rather than being vented outside. Before you begin using your fireplace and chimney this season, have the area inspected professionally to determine it's in optimal working condition. Clean the Dryer Vent One mistake many homeowners make when cleaning around the home during the holidays is not considering their home dryer and the vents connecting the dryer to the exterior area of the property. The vents must be cleaned annually to ensure that heat can be vented from the dryer. When it becomes blocked, there's the potential for a dryer fire and for the dryer to break down over a short period of time. Steam Your Home Carpets It's now the time of year where the majority of the family will be spending more time together at home keeping warm. And so you should consider ways in which to make sure your home looks its best throughout the months to come. One area on which to focus is your home's carpets. Take the time to clean your home carpets carefully using steaming equipment. This can help to remove any animal odours or tough stains that might have been collected over past years. Turn to Sunrise Cleaning for Quality Winter Cleaning Services in Mississauga Our experts at Sunrise Cleaning can help you ensure your home is kept in peak clean condition for the months ahead and ready for 2019. Our full-service range includes the following:
We can visit your home for a one-time cleaning service designed to ensure professional cleaning is completed on an as-needed basis. We offer both a one-time basic cleaning service and a one-time deep cleaning service that includes the deep cleaning of carpets, bathtubs, showers, sinks, floors, and all areas throughout the home.
Our team also offers a regular recurring service, which can be designed according to your unique schedule and cleaning requirements. Our regular recurring cleaning service includes either one or two maids for ongoing cleaning work throughout your home.
At Sunrise Cleaning, we present you with a full range of customized cleaning services designed to help you consolidate the cost of achieving that completely clean home. It's the ideal option for those with unique home maintenance challenges. To discover more about our team and our range of service options for your upcoming winter cleaning requirements, please call today! The post Your Expert Guide to House Cleaning in the Fall and Winter appeared first on Sunrise-Cleaning. But times have been changing for a while. Nowadays, it's very rare that you'll see any alcohol references in children's animation. BUT! When they weren't allowed to show alcohol, writers and animators have cleverly tried to cheat the filters by simply replacing it with something else, so they could still show comical drunkenness, bar scenes, or savage hangovers. Let's see if you can guess which “kid-friendly” substitutes these cartoons used. Even if you completely strike out on all 9, it's pretty interesting! What Was Used Instead of Alcohol? 1) The Secret Life of Pets (2016)Illumination Entertainment SAUSAGES 2) Adventure Time (2014)Cartoon Network CUCUMBER WATER 3) Phineas and Ferb (2008)Disney Channel MILKSHAKES 4) The Legend of Korra (2014)Nickelodeon NOODLES 5) All Hail King Julien (2016)DreamWorks Animation Television COCONUT MILK 6) Chip N' Dale's Rescue Rangers (1989)Disney Television Animation ROTTEN FRUIT 7) SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)Nickelodeon Movies ICE CREAM 8) Transformers (1985)Hasbro Studios ENERGY 9) My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (2018)Hasbro Studios CIDER QUIZ: Alcohol Cheats in Animation You didn't do so well, but the answers are interesting, right? Share your Results : QUIZ: Alcohol Cheats in Animation You did okay! Interesting answers, eh? Share your Results : QUIZ: Alcohol Cheats in Animation Super well done! Share your Results : QUIZ: Alcohol Cheats in Animation Wah wah! You scored a perfect zero. Share your Results : QUIZ: Alcohol Cheats in Animation NAILED IT! Impressive. Most Impressive. Share your Results : This honestly isn't to cast judgement on films or cartoons that show alcohol consumption. We all may have varying opinions on that, but we can probably ALL agree that cartoons aren't always the best teachers. Apparently, it's okay to animate someone comically misusing Talk to your kids early about responsible drinking, okay? Earlier than you probably think you'll need to. The world is already teaching them more than you know. – Thanks to Responsibiliy.org for sponsoring this post. Working with them has opened my eyes much wider to the importance of parents consciously working to stay engaged with their kids, and not just about school or Pokémon or the latest Pixar movie, but especially to have meaningful conversations about often overlooked topics like responsible drinking. As well as all the obvious bigger life stuff they'll need to have a good head on their shoulders about. Like wearing socks and sandals. Ugh. On average, people spend 26.3 years out of their lives sleeping or in bed. Making sure you're comfortable in your bed should be a no-brainer. Typically we should be replacing our mattresses every 8 years, but why is it that some of us never get new mattresses? Maybe it's budget, maybe it's the fear of change. However, there are some tell tale signs that it's time to upgrade to a new mattress. Let's explore them today. When did you buy your current one?As we previously stated, mattresses should be swapped at least once every 8 years, but this isn't set in stone. You may have to pick up a new one earlier if you notice a decline in your quality of sleep or if you are waking up with general soreness. If you go more than 3 or 4 days with the same body part aching in the morning, then it's time to visit the mattress store. Is your current mattress comfortable?
Do you have unwelcome guests inside the mattress?Think of your mattress like a sponge. When you go to bed, your mattress gradually absorbs all of your sweat and dead skin. Tiny critters like dust mites and bedbugs can potentially move in and feed off of this organic material that settles into your mattress and box spring. While dust mites are mostly harmless, bedbugs are a major concern. You'll need to make sure they're fully gone before shopping for a new mattress. Do you toss and turn all night?General restlessness and fatigue can be directly attributed to the quality of your bed and mattress. Sometimes it takes longer to fall asleep than other nights, but if it takes you an hour or more to fall asleep or to find the best resting position, then it is time for a change. Also, make sure to pay attention to your spouse's sleeping habits. They may not mention it to you but they may be struggling through their night's rest as well. I'm sure they'll appreciate having a fresh bed to sleep on instead. What color is it?As was previously mentioned, your mattress absorbs all of your sweat and dead skin (among other things, for those of us that eat or drink in bed). Over time, your mattress may become discolored because of this. The color of your mattress is a great indicator of its lifespan. Generally speaking, if your mattress is more coffee colored than white, then it has to go. If you are unhappy with how you've been sleeping lately, then definitely consider going shopping for a new mattress. Hopefully these tips have given you some pointers on what to look for when it's time for a change. The post How to Tell It's Time for a New Mattress appeared first on King of Maids Blog. 1/6/2019 German Main East Side Lofts created by 1100 Architect as an artistic update to a pre-war buildingRead NowIn the centre of the beautiful Germany city of Frankfurt, a pre-war residential building has been given facelift in order to not just update it but transform it into a piece of veritable street art. Main East Side Lofts by 1100 Architect attracts the eye and plays with visuals in a way that's very unique indeed. View in gallery The Main East Side Lofts are part of a mixed-use building that.. The post German Main East Side Lofts created by 1100 Architect as an artistic update to a pre-war building appeared first on HomeDSGN. The new year is right around the corner, and many people are starting to think seriously about their New Year's Resolutions. And while the most popular resolutions aren't going anywhere (eat healthy, work out, spend less time in front of a screen), if you're looking to buy a home next year, at least a few of your resolutions should be of the financial variety. Starting the new year off on the right financial foot by making financial resolutions can set you up for success and help you get closer to your goal of buying a home. Here are four financial resolutions you should consider making if you want to buy a home in the new year: 1. Track your spendingvia GIPHYIt's impossible to get a handle on your financial situation if you don't know what this situation actually is. Which is why your first financial resolution needs to be to track your spending. Tracking your spending will give you a clear picture of how much money you're spending, where you're spending it, and where the opportunities to cut back are. The key to successfully tracking your spending is to track every single cent you spend. You can create a spreadsheet and manually input every purchase or you can use a money monitoring app like Mint; Mint connects to your debit and credit cards and then tracks and categorizes your purchases throughout the month. Once you've tracked your spending for a month, it's time to dive into the numbers. How much of your income are you spending on necessities (like living expenses and utilities)? How much is going towards paying down debt? How much are you saving? It's only when you have a clear idea of your financial situation that you can determine if you're ready to buy a home - and, if so, just how much home you can afford without putting yourself in a financially challenging situation. 2. Cut out unnecessary expensesvia GIPHYA great side effect of tracking your spending is that it allows you to see opportunities to cut back. Which leads into resolution #2: cut out any unnecessary expenses. If you're serious about buying a home, you need to rein in unnecessary spending and pad your savings account as much as possible. Are you spending a significant amount of money every month eating out at restaurants? Commit to eating out one or two times a month and making meals at home the rest of the time to save some cash. Is your coffee habit costing you $5 a day? Brew a cup in your kitchen before you leave for work. Are you spending a fortune on a gym membership you barely use? Cancel and use free workout videos on YouTube to get your exercise. Do you pay for premium cable when you'd be fine with basic? Downgrade and lower your bill. Now, keep in mind - even though you'll want to go into savings mode before you buy a home, that doesn't mean you shouldn't spend any money on yourself. If you don't spend any money on fun and entertainment, it can actually make it harder to stick to your budget. Allot a certain amount of money per month you can use as you please; that “fun money” will make it easier to stick to your budget the rest of the time. The more unnecessary expenses you cut out of your budget, the more you'll have to put in your savings account - and the faster you'll be able to make your dream of owning a home a reality. 3. Clean up your creditvia GIPHYAnother financial resolution to make if you want to buy a home? Clean up your credit. Your credit score plays a huge part in determining if you get a mortgage and, if so, how competitive your interest rates. A good credit score can save you thousands (even tens of thousands) of dollars over the course of your loan, which is why it's important to get it as high as possible before you purchase a home. First, you'll want to get a copy of your credit report and check for any errors. Errors are more common than you'd think, and even a small mistake can drag down your score. If you find an error on your report, you'll need to contact the credit bureaus to have it removed. Once your report is error free, it's time to do everything you can to boost your credit score. Paying down debt, paying all your bills on time, and keeping the percentage of credit used low can all help to increase your score - which will help you get a better deal on your mortgage when you apply. There are plenty of resolutions you can make in order to hit your goals in the new year. But if your goal is to buy a house, these financial resolutions are the key to getting there. Members: Sign in here to share this article with your branding. Sign in here.
The post 3 Financial Resolutions To Make If You Want To Buy A Home In The New Year appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate. |