Vacation Budget Tips

good neighbor magazine

freedigitalphotos.net

Booking a last minute summer vacation? Check out these tips!
Lodging

• Look at websites that deal with vacation rentals. Often times, hotels or conference centers that deal primarily with business travelers have lower rates on the weekends. If renting a property, always read the entire listing and agreement before committing; don't miss any details or fine print.

Rental Car

• It is usually cheaper to rent in a less central location with a smaller company. Rent the cheapest car you can find and choose early morning pickup; it's very likely that yesterday's cars won't be returned yet so the company will have to offer you a larger car for the same price.
• Look over your existing insurance policy to see if you already have the right coverage for a rental car; if you do, think about skipping the rental company's policy.
• Don't rent a vehicle that is too small

Airline

• Follow major airlines on social media and make sure to join their rewards programs. Discounts can be earned over time and you will be able to keep up with promotions and sales.
• Invest in available package deals; these are a way for both airlines and hotels to book empty seats and rooms using low prices.
• Don't check air fares for just one day; if possible, be flexible and look around for a deal.

Location

• Consider local destinations and attractions. There are many national and state parks that may only be a few hours away that can provide a wonderful family getaway experience.
• Don't put a trip on a credit card if you can't truly afford it. Once interest payments start being made, that trip will end up costing a lot more than you originally planned on.

Happy Friday

The Do's And Don'ts Of Exterior Color

Flickr

Do

• Think about using color over neutrals
• Consider existing colors: When choosing colors for the exterior of your home, think about what colors are already there that cannot be changed, such as a color in the brick on your home or what shade your roof shingles are. When choosing an exterior color palette, keep these existing colors in mind and choose a palate that complements these.
• Use accent colors: Painting window trim and other details of the exterior can add both charm and character. 
• Get trendy: Exterior color trends stay around for quite awhile so colors that you choose now are likley to still be in style even 10 years from now. Although white is always a safe bet, many homeowners are now experimenting with tinted neutrals and other colors. If you need inspiration, try driving around your neighborhood and noting what others have done.
• Light or dark: Light colors make a home look larger while dark colors, especially on the bottom half of a home's exterior, can make the house look more substantial. 

Don't

• Misplace the accent: Accent colors can look great, but be careful to avoid using them incorrectly. Don't use accent colors to draw attention to less appealing aspects of your home such as the gutters or the air conditioner.
• Clash: While it's great to stand out, consider not choosing colors that will clash with your neighbor's color scheme.
• Test before painting: Try painting a small inconspicuous area of your home with the new colors you are wanting to use and see if they look good on your home before going all out and painting everything at once.

Financial Advantages Of Owning A Home

Redfin

 Freedigitalphotos.net

1. No inflation: If you rent an apartment for $1,800 a month and the inflation rate is about 3%, your monthly rent will increase to over $2,000 a month in just 5 years and you will have paid about $115,000 of your landlord's mortgage in that time. When you own a home and have a fixed mortgage, your payment will not change.
2. Personal wealth: When you rent, you are paying your landlord's mortgage. When you own a home, your mortgage balance decreases while your property value goes up. If you treat your home like an investment, you can sell it when the market conditions are right and make a great profit.
3. Both Federal and State tax savings: Under IRS code, interest from loans used to acquire, construct, or improve real estate is tax deductible up to a $1,000,000 mortgage. Interest on loans connected to real estate for any reason is deductible on up to a $100,000 mortgage.
4. Diversified Assets: When you purchase a home, you can live in it while the investment grows unlike a 401(k) or IRA.
5. Savings: When making payments on a mortgage, you lower the mortgage amount almost creating a forced savings account. With a mortgage of $1,800 a month, in 5 years you will have paid about $29,331 of the principal portion of your mortgage. If you were to sell your home at that point, that amount deducted from your principal would basically be put in your pocket.

Preparing Your Home To Sell

Flickr

Getting your home prepped and ready to enter the market can be a stressful time and many homeowners are unsure of where to begin and what the first steps are to accomplishing this task.

Here are a few helpful tips to getting the interior of your home ready:

1. Give each and every room a good cleaning. Remove any clutter that may detract from the beauty and functionality of your home. In order to do this, you may need to rent a storage space to store extra items.

2. It may be a good idea to hire a professional cleaner to come once every couple of weeks just while your home is on the market. This may be especially true for homeowners who are working full time and are busy outside the home.

3. Focus on the kitchen and remove any items from your counter tops that are not necessary or are seldom used. Doing so will make your kitchen appear cleaner and larger which is very important. If the cabinets are older, invest in attractive and modern knobs to give the cabinets an instant face lift. New window treatments in the kitchen can also go a long way with making the space appear newer.

4. Steam clean any carpets that are dirty or showing wear. Also, it is a good idea to paint any walls that have bright or loud colors on them with a paint color that is neutral and will lighten and brighten the room.

5. Repair any cracks or holes in the walls and check for cracks/dampness in the basement and make repairs as needed.

6. Replace leaking faucets and shower heads. Putting out new towels in the bathrooms for showings will also improve the overall look and feel of your home.

9 Ways To Improve Curb Appeal

 Freedigitalphotos.net 

Are you looking for ways to improve the curb appeal of your home without taking a big chunk out of your wallet? Here are 9 ways to do just that:

1. Add mulch: Mulch goes a long way in instantly giving your yard a face lift. The darker the mulch, the bigger the effect is. Not only does new mulch look nice, it saves water by cutting down on runoff. 
2. Improve the front door: Upgrading to new and modern hardware really improves the look of the door. You also want to make sure your front entrance is free of cob webs and other debris. Replacing the door bell, the door's kick plate, and the outdoor light fixtures can also really amp up your home's style.
3. Fence: Fix any discolor or wear by using a semitransparent stain on your fence. This will improve the look of your yard by giving it an all-over fresh feel. 
4. Pressure clean: Rent a pressure washer to clean up your home's exterior, driveway, walkways, patio, deck, stairs, porch, etc. Don't forget about your front door and mailbox; be sure to clean those by hand if they need some attention.
5. Accent color: Consider adding an accent color to your home's window casements, shutters, or front door. If you are unsure as to how to choose a good color, head to your local home improvement store and look at the color accent cards that large manufacturers provide.
6. Fill in your yard: Look for spaces in beds and borders and put in annual flowers. 
7. Cool-colored plants: It is a good idea to stick to plants in cool colors such as blue, purple, light pink, and white as people usually react in an emotional way to hot colors such as reds or yellows. Also, stick with either one color or one color with an accent color in order to create a polished and organized look. Planting flowers of many different colors may look too busy.
8. Mow and weed: Ensure your lawn is taken care of by mowing the grass and pulling out the weeds. A well taken care of lawn translates that the homeowner takes pride in their residence. 
9. Light it up: Add lights to walkways and near plants/trees that you want to highlight. Illuminating your yard looks great at night and you never know when a potential buyer will drive by.

Credit Scores

freedigitalphotos

      

Your credit score plays a large role in the type of financing you will be offered when looking to buy a home. Banks usually decide on the terms of a loan based on the credit score category that you fall in to. It is important to check into your credit score and to ensure that you take any necessary steps to improving your score as much as possible before deciding to finance a home. Here is a quick summary of how banks view your credit score in relation to financing:

• The lower the credit score, the more difficult it is to become approved for a loan and the loans that are obtained with a lower score will typically have a higher interest rate
• In order to qualify for conventional financing, a borrower must have a minimum score of 620; some lenders have raised the minimum score needed for conventional loans through overlays (rule overrides)
• The national average FICO score is 689

Below are the credit tiers according to Fannie/Freddie:

- 760 Plus New Tier 1 A

- 740-759 Old Tier 1 A

- 720-739 Fair Sub A

- 700-719 Fair

- 680-699 Average

- 660-670 Below Average

- 640-659

- 620-639

Roof Inspection

The Hearld-News Home life

Flickr

Many homeowners overlook their roofs, but it is important to inspect your roof twice a year in order to catch potentially costly problems early.

• Start with the interior: Before heading outside, check the interior of your home for signs pointing to potential roof damage. Look for marks on the ceiling which could indicate leaks. Attics should be inspected for wet insulation as well. Even if no visible water damage is found, a musty smell can signal moisture issues.
• Look at the roof: Using binoculars, check the exterior of the roof. Pay close attention to roof flashing and check to see if the flashing is damaged in any way; this can mean that moisture has settled in underneath. Sealant surrounding skylights or dormers can wear down, causing leaks. Check any masonry for spalling-porous materials can allow water to get it.
• Get on the roof: With an assistant, climb onto the roof while your partner holds the ladder. Carefully go around the perimeter of the roof and check for damaged shingles that are warped or coming apart, missing shingles, scrapes, or holes. If the roof is damaged at all, it needs to be fixed. Any issues found that are left alone can become much more expensive down the road. Some roof repairs are simply a matter of replacing a shingle using roof cement.
• Speak with a roofing expert: If you have any questions as to whether or not your roof needs to be repaired or replaced-call a roofing contractor. They will be able to analyze your roof and offer a professional opinion as to what the next steps should be.
• Don't forget about the gutters: While inspecting the roof, look at the gutters and downspouts and check for damaged gutters. Damaged gutters can cause water to run down the side of your home which could cause foundation damage. Clear any leaves or other debris out of the gutters to allow rain water to go through the gutters successfully.

3 Reasons Sellers Need A Realtor To Price Their Home

Flickr

1. Home evaluation tools can be inaccurate: Although there are several online tools that can give an estimate of your home's value, these tools are often incorrect by about 5-20%. These inaccuracies mean that you are losing out on both money and buyers if you strictly go by these tools. Realtors may use these tools to begin the home pricing process, but there is a lot more work that goes into the price than simply using online tools. Realtors perform a lot of ground work that the average homeowner may not be able to do.
2. There are many factors that go into the price of a home: Market data is just one component of property value that Realtors will use when coming up with a list price; the rest of the factors are very property specific. The age of the roof, home upgrades, neighborhood info, etc. all come into play when deciding on a listing price. The property specific data is not something that these online tools have access to which can make these home values very inaccurate. 
3. A Realtor's experience plays a big role: A Realtor does a comparative market analysis or "CMA" for every listing. CMAs involve going to a property and thoroughly inspecting both the home and the neighborhood to determine the best price. After completing a CMA, the Realtor will be able to effectively articulate the home's list price to potential buyers and their agents. A Realtor will use their experience and expertise to come to a well thought out price. 

Happy Friday

Helpful Hints For Small Spaces

elledecor.com

 Freedigitalphotos.net

• Too much stuff: Don't use too many furnishings or decor pieces in a small space; this can overwhelm the space and make it too busy. Instead, be sure to use furniture that counts and place it carefully. Large furniture isn't completely out of the question; if a small room has a tall ceiling, a tall dresser or other piece placed appropriately can draw the eye upwards creating the illusion of more space than there is. 
• Have a strategy: When working with a small space with multiple functions, divide the space in terms of task zones, such as sleeping, relaxing, dining, etc, can make arranging the room much easier.
• Think light: Choosing light colors for walls and flooring does automatically open up the space and make the room appear larger.
• Create a little gem: Often times, small spaces are overlooked and are seen as unusable. Instead of ignoring this  hidden gem, make it a unique and cozy place to relax. Create a reading room, a craft room, or a play room for your child. 
• Don't use over-sized sofas and chairs: Super-sized furniture may be comfortable and appealing for movie watching but try to avoid it for small spaces. Instead, try to choose furniture pieces that are smaller in scale and more size appropriate for the space.

The Five Most Common Painting Mistakes

aol

 Freedigitalphotos.net 

1. Using cheap applicators: In order to do a nice job, it's important to invest in quality rollers and brushes.

2. Not preparing: Repair work needs to be done to the walls prior to painting in order to ensure your painting surface is clean, dry, and free of loose debris.

3. Overextending each dip of the brush or roller: Many painting novices will not dip the brush or roller frequently enough. When you don't dip enough, the paint can dry in the brush bristles and the roller material can mat down which makes for uneven application. As soon as you notice the paint breaking up, it's time to re-dip.

4. Breathing mistakes: When you are trying to be precise, such as when cutting in a corner, breathe out or hold your breath. When you breathe in your hands are not as steady.

5. Dried out touch up paint: In order to make water-based paint last longer, place clear plastic wrap directly onto the top of the paint and then reseal the container. For oil based, add a half inch of water to the top of the container before resealing.

5 Tips For Single Homebuyers

Freerangestock.com

1. Stay within your budget- Buy a home well within your means and ensure that you can afford it even during lapses in employment that you may experience.

2. Be aware of maintenance- If you are concerned about lawn care and other exterior maintenance, you may want to lean towards a home with a smaller yard or even in a newer community with homes requiring less up keep. If you are not interested in lawn manicuring or outdoor fixes you should look into a town home or a condominium.

3. Security- Being single means your home will be unoccupied more often than not and you want to ensure that you are in a safe neighborhood with a low crime rate so you can lock down your home before you leave and not have to worry about it.

4. Think about resale value- You may find yourself moving after a few years due to a job relocation or life change so when you are shopping for a home-keep the resale value in mind so that if you ever find yourself wanting to sell, you can do so easily.

5. Buy for the future- Although you are single now and may not need much room, plan for the future when you may add a spouse and children to your home. If you can afford it, it's a good idea to buy a home with an extra bedroom or two to spare.

Awesome Steak Marinade

Freedigitalphotos.net

Plans to grill this weekend? Try this great steak marinade!

World's Best Steak Marinade (lilluna.com)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup italian dressing
• 1/2 cup A1 (original)
• 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. lemon juice

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a gallon bag or tupperware container and mix well.
2. Add your steak (preferably top sirloin).
3. Let the meat marinate for 24-36 hours.
4. Grill and enjoy!

Happy Friday

Carpet Cleaning Tips From The Pros

Msn

Freedigitalphotos

• Blot the stain, don't rub it: Blotting puts little pressure on the stain while rubbing causes the stain to go further into the carpet fibers.
• Club soda: Beer and wine stains can be cleaned using a small amount of club soda on a cloth and then by blotting the stain. If that doesn't do the trick, try adding one part white vinegar with one part water and putting it into a spray bottle. Spray the stain, then let it sit for 10-15 minutes before you soak it up with a clean sponge.
• Shaving cream: While we don't normally think of putting shaving cream on carpet, it is effective at removing most stains. Apply the shaving cream directly to the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes. Once set, blot it with a dry white cloth and then finish by spraying the spot with the vinegar and water solution followed by wiping it away with a cloth.
• Gum: In order to get chewed gum out of carpet, hold an ice cube to the gum for 30 seconds in order to freeze it. Once the gum is frozen, use a spoon to lift the gum up and then use scissors to cut the gum out of the carpet, being careful to cut as close to the gum as possible.
• Grease spots: When dealing with grease stains on carpet, put a small amount of grease fighting dish detergent and some water in a spray bottle and coat the stain and then blot it up. The detergent will cut through the grease on your carpet just like it does on your dishes. 
• Pet accidents: Try an organic pet cleaner which can run about $10 a bottle. Spray the cleaner on the stain, scrub, and then blot it up with a cloth or some towels.
• Deep clean: It is recommended that you deep clean your carpet every 6 months to keep it looking clean and fresh.

Home Improvements That May Negatively Affect Home Value

The Herald News Home life

Flickr

1. Re-purposing rooms: Changing a room into an alternate space may work for you and your family but it can be a turn off to potential buyers. For example, converting your garage into an art studio  may work for you but buyers will see extra costs involved to convert the space back into a garage. 
2. Rooms painted in bright colors: It is usually best to stick with a neutral color scheme for your home. Buyers like to envision your home as a blank canvas and something that they can make their own.
3. Hot tubs: Even though many people enjoy hot tubs, it may not be an appealing feature for potential buyers. Many buyers see used hot tubs as unsanitary and don't want someone else's hot tub. Families with small children can also view hot tubs as a potential safety hazard. Choosing to remove a hot tub before selling can be costly as well.
4. Taking away closet space: Sometimes closets are removed for various reasons including to make a room larger. This choice may be a good one if you are planning on staying in the home but for most home buyers, the more closet space the better, so fewer closets or rooms without closets may be a drawback. 
5. Features galore: Some homeowners may add so many additional features and upgrades to their home that they over-improve for the area. When this home goes on the market, it may make things difficult because the home is no longer  similar to homes in the area.

Tips To Move Like A Pro

Consumer Reports

Freedigitalphotos.net

Each and every day, an estimated 130,000 Americans move into a new home (U.S. Census Bureau) and many of them are moving their possessions themselves. Here are some tips for moving some common items:

• China: Use clean paper to wrap each piece individually then bundle the China into groups of three and wrap those bundles with another layer of paper. Stand the bundled pieces upright and then put them in a box that has been lined with crumpled paper.
• Stemware: Use clean paper that has been crumpled to stuff the inside of the glasses and then also wrap each glass with paper. Use special tiered boxes called dishpaks to pack away stemware, stem-up.
• Electronics: Before packing, take pictures with your phone of the back of your electronics to make reconnecting in your new home much easier. It's best to pack each electronic item in its original packaging but if that's not possible, place them in a box that has been lined with packing material with extra padding on top of the item as well. Mark the outside of the box as "fragile."
• Books: Put them inside of a box laying flat, alternating the open side of the book and the spine. Put a piece of paper in between each book to prevent damage or sticking. It's best to place books in small boxes to avoid boxes being too heavy.
• Figurines: Wrap each of these in bubble wrap and then encase them with clean paper.
• Mirrors: These should be packed away in thin boxes after being wrapped in clean paper. The boxes should be labeled as fragile and should always be stood upright versus flat along with glass and pictures.
• Clothes and shoes: Pack clothes on their hangers and place them in wardrobe boxes and pack shoes away in their original boxes if possible. If you don't have the shoe boxes, wrap each shoe in clean paper for protection before packing away.

The Best Fruit Dip Ever

 Freedigitalphotos.net

Here is a great dip to enjoy with some sweet summer fruit!

The Best Fruit Dip Ever (iowagirleats.com)

Ingredients:

7 oz marshmallow creme

8 oz low fat or whipped cream cheese, at room temperature

2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate

Fruit dippers: strawberries, grapes, pineapple, apples, berries, melon

Directions:

• Spoon marshmallow creme into a large microwave safe bowl, and microwave for 20 seconds. Whisk in softened cream cheese and orange juice concentrate until smooth. Chill and then serve with fruit.

Have a Great Weekend!

What You Need To Know About Sinks And Faucets

Consumer Reports

Freedigitalphotos.net

• Materials matter over brand or price: Tests have found that stainless steel is the toughest sink material and the more expensive thicker gauge stainless steel sinks aren't necessarily better than thinner less expensive sinks. When looking at sound absorption, pads on the bottom of the sink's exterior worked better than spray-on coatings. As far as scratches go, matte finishes do a better job at hiding the damage than polished surfaces do.
• Go with an undermount sink: These are only appropriate for waterproof countertops; they create a clean look and also make for easy cleanup since spills and crumbs can be wiped right into the sink.
• Don't spend a lot on a faucet: Pick the style that you like since most faucets (except for the absolute cheapest) come with a lifetime warranty against leaks and stains. Ensure the faucet you choose is proportionate to the size of your sink. 

Signs You Are Buying In The Right Neighborhood

Credit: Freedigitalphotos.net 

• It meets points on your neighborhood checklist
• You hear good things about the area and like what you see when spending time in the neighborhood and visiting surrounding businesses 
• You see signs of home improvement such as nice landscaping, fences, decks, patios, etc. Home improvement efforts are usually indicative of pride in home ownership.
• There are neighborhood watches/meetings: This is a sign that the community is close knit. Try attending some of these gatherings to learn more about the area and to determine if it's a good fit for you.
• Crime numbers are low
• School scores are high: Schools are rated according to certain criteria such as standardized testing and those ratings can be seen at sites such as GreatSchools.org
• Ensure the area meets your needs for at least 5 years: Maybe you are a young couple without kids right now but what if you decide to have a family in a few years or you change jobs? It's a good idea to choose an area that will be able to accommodate such changes.
• Homeownership is strong: Areas with high homeownership rates are generally stable.
• Houses sell quickly

Fireworks Info And A Patriotic Treat

Freedigitalphotos.net

Fireworks

• Plainfield: July 3rd at Plainfield Central High School at dusk
• Joliet: July 4th at Memorial Stadium at dusk
• Channahon: July 4th, Community Park, at 9:15 pm
• Lemont: July 3rd, Centennial Park, at dusk
• Romeoville: July 3rd, Village Park, 9:15 pm
• Ribfest: July 4th, Knoch Park, 9:30 pm 
• Shorewood: July 4th, Cene's Four Seasons Park, 9 pm

Patriotic Strawberries 

thcomfortofcooking.com

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh strawberries, rinsed and patted dry
• 1 pint of fresh blueberries, rinsed and patted dry
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• graham cracker crumbs, optional

Directions

1. Using a small melon baller, cut out the strawberry stem and slightly hollow out the inside of the berry. Cut off a small part of the pointy tip of the strawberry so that the berry can stand. Put them all on a large baking sheet.
2. In a medium bowl, with either a standing or hand held mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla on medium speed for about 2 minutes or until fluffy. Place the mixture in a pastry bag (or large ziploc bag with a small corner snipped off) and pipe into each strawberry, adding a little extra filling on top. Place one blueberry on the top of each strawberry, nestling it gently into the filling.
3. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Lastly, sprinkle each berry treat with graham cracker crumbs, if desired.

Have A Great Holiday Weekend!

Choosing A Contractor

Consumer Reports

Freerangestock.com

• Don't completely rely on reviews: Not all online reviews are impartial so you need to be careful about not just going off reviews. Ask for referrals from people that you know and trust.
• Use word of mouth: It's always a good idea to get recommendations from people that you know and to inspect the job in person to see how it is holding up. Before selecting a contractor, check with the Better Business Bureau and the state's attorney general's office for any complaints that may have been made.
• Beware of the lowball: Although a contractor may have not given a low estimate as a way to manipulate, underestimating the cost of the job means that they will need to make up that difference somewhere-possibly on the installation.
• Shop around: Interview several contractors to find out what the going rate is for your project. Conducting interviews will also help you find someone that you trust and have good communication with.
• Steer clear of allowances: Allowances are open ended amounts in the contract that could end up costing a fortune. Stay with the budget once the work begins.
• Get everything in writing: Obtaining a contract for the job that includes what the project entails, all costs, and an approximate completion date is very important. 
• Don't apply for your own permits: Applying for permits should be the contractor's responsibility so beware of being asked to obtain them yourself. That could mean the contractor is in trouble with the local building department.
• Look into paperwork: Make sure that the contractor's license, insurance, and workers comp policies are up to date. Check contractors-license.org for more information.
• No cash: Many fraudulent contractors will ask for cash up front and then take the money and run. Most legitimate contractors will accept a check made out to the contracting company or a credit card.
• Use a payment schedule: Often times, 30% will be put down upon the delivery of materials. The remainder of the payment should only be made after the job is completed and you are happy with the work.