Michele Smith

There comes a time when you wish to upgrade your style of living.  Maybe you are looking for a larger house, or you are ready to build a home that is custom designed for your needs.  If you've never sold a home before, you may need help getting started.

First, you will want to consider whether you will use a real estate agent or if you will sell by owner.  Hiring an agent could help you sell your home faster, and for a better price.  However, some people choose to sell their home by owner.

When you've decided how you are going to go about selling your home, either you or your realtor will set a sale price.  This can be based on the assessment of the home, the current market, and the going price for houses like yours in your area.  After setting a price, you or your realtor will list your property on the MLS, or Multiple Listing Service, to get the word out about your home.  Then, you will want to use other advertising opportunities.  Fliers, signage, and ads are the other common advertising tools used to sell a house.  

When you advertise, hopefully you will get people interested right away.  Start preparing your home to show people.  You can do this on your own, or hire someone to help you.  A professional staging company or even a real estate consultant will be knowledgeable about the different things homebuyers are looking for, and will help you implement those in your home. If you're looking for something stronger then a regular wood fence then you should contact Permacast Walls to get the cost of concrete fence.

After this, you are ready to start showing your home!  While you may be able to handle negotiations with potential buyers with some basic knowledge, you will want to hire a professional to handle the sale and closing.  If you follow the basic steps to sell your home, you will hopefully be moving into your new home or starting your plans to build in no time!

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Permacast Walls

Termites can cause severe damage in your home.  Florida has multiple high risk areas for termites, so knowing how to spot them is important.  If you can stop them early enough, you can stop the issue before it causes permanent destruction to your home.

Florida tends to be a breeding ground for termites because of its warm, moist climate.  The four common types of termites in Florida are the subterranean, dampwood, drywood and conehead termite.

There are some surefire ways to know if you have termites in your home.  One of the most obvious signs is that you'll begin finding termite wings around the house.  You might also see piles of dirt or dirt buildup where dirt would not normally gather.  You can also check for weak, warped, or collapsing wood.  Feces with a pellet-like quality are a sign as well.

To get rid of termites, you should call an exterminator.  Disturbing the termites could make the matter worse if you do not have the expertise.  However, prevention is the best way to fight termites.  If you move the builder will sometimes have relationships with companies that will treat the wood. Local movers in Tampa, Brothers EZ Moving, recommended a local business to all their clients that they helped move in the past if needed.  

Other recommendations to prevent termites include keeping plant life separate from your home, and making sure areas where water gathers are cleaned regularly.  Keep shrubs and plants a good distance from your walls and store firewood in an area separate from your home.  Make sure your plumbing is in working condition and not leaking, and keep your gutters clean and flowing properly.

Knowing what to look for when it comes to termites can save you irreparable damage to your home.  Having the knowledge to prevent termites is essential to protect your house from the serious effects these pests can have long term.  

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People tend to think of interior design when they think of home design trends.  However, with custom built homes becoming increasingly popular in today's market, there are some amazing construction trends that are coming into the forefront.

Open spaces have been “in” for a while, and they're not going anywhere.  The open floor plan is still the most desired layout for living room, dining area, and kitchen space.  The more that can be included in the open layout, the more favorable to designers.

Porcelain floors are another popular trend, and tile is starting to emerge as a flooring choice for all rooms in the house, not just the bathroom and kitchen.  Much of this is likely due to the increasing popularity of the wood grain tile, which mimics wood floors.

Energy efficient homes are in high demand, and people are really focusing on having new windows, doors, and other built in properties to ensure that they have an energy efficient home.  Not only is this in keeping with the green living phenomenon, but it saves the homeowner some major money in the long run. Going with top internet and cable providers that have the most updated technology always helps as well regarding your electric bill. I found that Hughesnet satellite internet from Brad's Electronics had the most out of pocket savings overall.

Multi-function formal living rooms are becoming popular, as televisions become centerpieces in every other room of the house.  People use their formal living room now as a social room to entertain, rather than just a show room.  Some ideas are to use it as a dining area as well, a playroom, or a library.

Garages are becoming a larger focus, especially for people who are into cars.  The luxury style garage is becoming increasingly popular, and people are even installing car lifts in their personal garages.  Glass doors for the garage are another trend that focuses on the designer garage trend.

Staying attuned to the latest trends can keep your home fresh and, in some cases, increase the resale value of your home.  Some construction changes can be made easily and added to your existing home, while others you can incorporate into your design if you decide to build a custom home.

The state of Florida has beautiful botanical gardens, and this inspiration is currently making its way into people's homes.  Atriums in the home are constantly emerging in custome home design, especially in the state of Florida.

 

There are a lot of trends in design when it comes to atriums.  How you decorate your atrium will reflect your design personality.  Most people who add an atrium like the space because it gives them an outdoor feel, it's relaxing, and it provides a beautiful addition to any home.

 

If you prefer a meditative and minimalistic style, a Zen garden is the perfect setup for your atrium.  All you need is some gravel, larger stones, and some type of water feature if you like.  An expert like a gardener should be able to help you set up and create the perfect Zen garden for your home.

 

Others prefer a full, lush atrium with jungle like assets.  For this type of atrium, bring in tropical plants, lush greenery, and exotic animals such as lizards and parrots.  You can even include a vertical greenery wall.

 

Another popular option is to create a patio style atrium.  Using tile that looks like wood, create a floor and a retaining wall.  Plant a garden and some trees behind the small retaining wall, then add a fire pit and some patio furniture for a relaxing and social atrium style.

 

Some homes even use a small, non-access atrium.  Instead of the above options, where you are immersed in the atrium when you decide to walk through it, this is mostly enclosed and acts as more of a room centerpiece.   It adds an extra element of design to your home, without having to worry about utilizing a large space.

 

The home atrium allows for a comfortable area with ideal temperatures that still feels like you are in the outdoors.  New homes are adding these more and more, since their relaxed and social atmosphere appeals to homeowners and is sure to dazzle your guests every time.

Building a home from the ground up is a dream of many Americans.  The idea of designing one's own home is appealing, but the expense of outsourcing several contractors and an architect can be overwhelming.  

Thankfully, there are now companies that take care of everything when it comes to designing and building your home.  These are custom home builders, and they serve as a one stop shop to help you build your dream home.

When you choose a custom home building company, they are contracted to build you a home on your land.  You will sit down with a professional designer, who will show you a number of available custom options.  

You can choose everything about your custom home from the floor plan to the exterior finish.  This allows you to customize your own home without starting from nothing.  Your designer will be able to give you ideas, suggestions, and options.

There are several reasons that you may decide to build a custom home.  When you build a custom home, you can design it to fit certain specifications.  You can design it to accommodate a growing family, make it easier to live with a disability, fit to an unusually shaped piece of land, and much more.  

For example, if you wanted big walk in closets, that would typically be found in a larger home.  But if you customize and build your home, you can have your large closets and still keep a smaller home if you wish. You can get everything that you need, without compromising and taking things you don't need. That is the power of customization.

Having a brand new custom built homes also means that everything from the ground up is new.  That means the latest developments in design and building materials.

A new home is energy efficient, will most likely give you a good amount of time after purchasing where no repairs are needed, and is designed to your specifications, so you do not have any major modifications or remodeling in your immediate future.  

Because of this, a new home becomes a one time expense, rather than a series of investments and expenses to try to create a new home out of an existing property.

Building a home can take some time, but with the growing number of furnished apartment rentals available, it is now relatively easy to find temporary housing while you wait for your home to be built.  

This gives you the freedom to look for the perfect area and the neighborhood you want, so that you don't need to find a location and home you like at the same time.  You can search for a lot in your desired area, and then build the perfect home to match!

Building a custom home has several benefits for the homeowner.  Creating your own home based on your needs can give you more freedom of choice, a voice in your design, and more access to the locations you want to live in.