7 Things People Forget to Do Before They Move

You packed everything perfectly, including that dining room chandelier, the big-screen TV, the vintage ’70s “Dukes of Hazzard” T-shirt collection. You even got your dog’s medical records from the vet. But something’s keeping you awake at night as your move draws nigh. You know you forgot something.

Don’t worry, keep packing. We assembled this handy checklist of things people often forget to do—or don’t even realize they should take care of—so you can make sure you’re covered and can move and settle down in your new digs with ease.

1 month before: Cancel recurring charges

Taking care of a gym membership or other subscription services may fall by the wayside during the madness leading up to moving day. Worse, those recurring charges will keep mounting on your credit card while you’re in the throes of unpacking. Get a jump on canceling these at least a month before your last expected day of use, especially since many gyms require a 30-day notice.

Can’t get out of your contract or transfer your gym membership to a facility by your new home? Sell it through online classifieds such as GymTransfer (yes, most gyms allow this!). Don’t forget to unload any prepaid class cards, too.

On the flip side, important recurring charges on your credit card—such as mail-order medications—might be canceled if your address change hasn’t caught up with billing information. So compile a list of charges and make the effort to call these companies and give them a heads up to avoid disruption in service.

2 weeks before: Call your car insurance company

The Department of Motor Vehicles advises people in the process of moving to closely manage their car insurance during the transition, as states have varying levels of required coverage. Even if you’re staying in the same city, rates can differ from neighborhood to neighborhood. So call your insurer well before the move to find out the parameters and deadlines for updating coverage at your new address.

2 weeks before: Change your address early

Most people know the U.S. Postal Service offers an online form to quickly change an address for all of your mail, but that doesn’t mean you should wait until the last minute to fill it out.

“To make sure mail arrives at your new home in time for your life there, complete the form about two weeks before your move,” says Desmond Lim, founder of QuikForce, an on-demand website that links people with professional movers. That way “you should see the first of your forwarded mail by the time of move-in.”

1 week before: Organize your finances

Important financial tasks are often forgotten in the whirlwind of moving, says consumer finance expert Kevin Gallegos, vice president of Phoenix operations for Freedom Financial Network. Since losing track of bills among piles of boxes is all too easy, Gallegos recommends setting up systems before a move that can easily transition from old home to new. For monthly bills such as phone, rent, or mortgage, it can really help to set them up for autopay, which you can typically do through your bank or the billing company.

“This can help ensure on-time payment during a hectic time,” he says. Whatever system you choose, decide which household member will be responsible for paying which bills. And as moving often incurs unexpected costs, be sure that you’ll have enough money in designated accounts at time of payment.

1 day before: Snap pictures of your electronics

Those cables in the back of your TV and modem that keep your life wired? They don’t make sense now and will make even less sense when they are tangled in a box. A simple solution is to snap a picture of the setup before you take your electronics apart—and coil the cords and label them with masking tape, for good measure.

1 day before: Pack your plants

Do you have a special plant (maybe that hydrangea you planted for your child’s birth or your mom’s prized azaleas)? To make sure you aren’t forced to leave it behind in your rush, make a list of what plants you want to take with you and put a plant plan in place. Don’t put your shovels into the moving van until the last minute—you’ll need them to carefully dig up root balls. Buy large buckets beforehand and use them to transport each plant.

1 day before: Stock a go-to box

Jen Sandlin, an agent with Cornerstone Real Estate in Boston, reminds movers to “set aside one box for the first 24 hours” in your new home. “Pack paper towels, cleaning supplies, clean sheets, towels, paper plates and silverware, toilet paper, and maybe even a bottle of bubbly to celebrate all your hard work, picnic-style.”

Shared from:  http://www.realtor.com/advice/move/things-to-do-before-moving-out/

10 Home Renovations That Offer the Best (and Worst) Return on Investment

Remodeling may be a labor of love, but it’s also an investment that can seriously boost the value of your home.  Only by how much? Well, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2016 Cost vs. Value Report, you’ll recoup an average of 64% of what you paid for a renovation if you sell your home this year.

To arrive at these figures, Remodeling asked consultants in various markets to estimate the average cost for 30 home improvement projects, from adding a bathroom to replacing a roof. Then, they asked real estate agents nationwide to estimate the expected resale value of these renovations so that readers could compare their out-of-pocket costs to how much money they’d get back when it came time to sell their home.

So, what projects gets you the most bang for your home renovation buck? It may not be nearly as sexy (or fun!) as adding a chef’s kitchen or glam bathroom, but attic insulation gets the top spot. That’s right: Stuff some fiberglass insulation into the walls of a 35-by-30-foot attic, and you’ll pay an average of $1,268. But when you sell, you will rake in $116.90 for every $100. For you math-challenged out there, that’s a recoup of 116.9% of your costs. It’s the only home reno on this year’s report that redeems more money than you spend!

The next best-paying renovation on the list: manufactured stone veneer, offering a respectable 92.9% return.

Meanwhile—sorry, luxury tub fans—the home improvement project that reaps the worst ROI is the addition of a bathroom, at 56.2% (although the “added value” of an extra bathroom for anyone who’s ever had to wait their turn for one is, of course, priceless).

Take-home lesson? If you’re looking for a general rule of thumb, it’s that less is more: Lower-cost projects  generally reap bigger returns, with four of the five projects that cost less than $5,000 ranking among the top five for money back when you sell.

Check out the best (and worst) returns for home renovations in the two charts below, including how much you’ll pay and get back if you sell your home this year.

Shared from:  http://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/heres-how-much-remodeling-pays-off/

How to Save for a Home When All Your Money Is Going Toward Rent

Renters everywhere are feeling the constraints of rising rents. Higher rents erode your ability to save the cash you need to buy a home. Your living situation becomes a Catch-22: the longer you rent, the bigger percentage of your discretionary income you may need to save to offset rent increases.

Saving up to buy a home is no easy feat. You typically need at least a minimum of $20,000 to cover a down payment plus closing costs. That’s because you’ll need at least a 3.5% down payment to qualify for a mortgage and closing costs can be around $7,000 to $10,000 (about 2% to 3% of the purchase price). This goes without saying, but the higher the home price, the more funds you will need for the down payment.

(Keep in mind, you’ll also need a good credit score to qualify for the best mortgage rates. You can get your credit ready to buy a home by checking your free annual credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and looking at your credit scores for free each month on Credit.com.)

Picture this scenario: you’re diligently putting away at least 15% of your gross monthly income to buy a home in the near future. If your income is $8,333 per month ($100,000 a year) either from you or a spouse or combined, you would be saving $15,000 per year (or $1,250 a month) to meet that 15% mark.

Savings tip: A 15% home savings rate is a figure you may want to aim for if you make at least $60,000 a year and are looking to buy a house within the next two years. In some markets, however, your savings rate may need to be higher to be consistent with the cost of living in that area.

As demand for housing remains strong, monthly rents are subject to change commensurate with what the market will bear. Let’s say your rent payment is $2,200 per month now, but rises to $2,500 due to housing market changes. You would need to find a way to recover the $300 increase if that money was formerly going into your savings fund. How do you do it?

How to keep rent increases from ruining your plan

Taking no action and using the money you would be saving for a home to cover the higher rent payment will lengthen your home-buying trajectory as your savings rate diminishes. With the rent now at $2,500 and your annual income still at $100,000, your savings rate, as a consequence of losing that $300, falls to 11.4% a year.

You may still get you a home, but will perhaps have to look for one in a lower price range or a different neighborhood. Alternately, you can lengthen your timeframe for making your purchase. You can also cut expenses to offset the rent increase. Here are a few ways to possibly do so:

1. Cut an expense equal to the rent increase. Sounds obvious, but if you can find another spending area to cut back on (Daily Starbucks? A rarely used gym membership? Online shopping?) rather than diverting the home savings to cover your higher rent, you’ll be able to stay on track.
2. Look for a new place with a lower rental obligation. The process might be difficult, but could be worth it for the greater good of buying a home in the near future.
3. Move in with family to aggressively save for your new house. Going from $2,200 a month in rent to $0 can super-accelerate your home-buying timeline.
4. Get a roommate to help pay the rent and offset the increase.
5. Lock in your rental amount with a lease, keeping in mind that a lease binds you to the property. This contract, however, might not be such a bad thing if the term of the lease is consistent with your savings and home-buying plan.
6. Consider buying a home sooner, if you’re financially able to do so. Many 401(k) and retirement fund accounts allow for special privilege borrowing provisions to buy a primary residence. If you have a slush fund in your 401(k), this could be a good option and the money comes out of your paycheckpre-tax.
   ———
   This article was written by Scott Sheldon and originally published on Credit.com.

Shared from:  http://www.realtor.com/advice/finance/how-to-save-for-a-home-when-all-your-money-is-going-toward-rent/

My Movers Damaged My Landlord’s Property—Am I Responsible?

Moving day is always a pain, but it can be infinitely more so if you damage your landlord’s property while trying to skedaddle out of there with all your stuff. And It’s even worse if you aren’t the one who broke the $500 picture window.

If your mover was at fault, it should offer to pay—but things aren’t always that simple. Here’s what happens when movers won’t pony up.

Your landlord has the right to come after you

Don’t expect your landlord to do the legwork of filing a claim. You hired the movers and invited them into the property—from the landlord’s point of view, it’s your responsibility to pay for damages. So you might have to eat the security deposit while you try to get the money back from the moving company.

You’ll have to review your insurance—and theirs

Yeah, we know—you did the responsible thing and took out insurance to cover your goods. Right? The problem is it covers only your goods.

Typical insurance provided during a move—such as coverage of 60 cents per pound, per item— “would not cover any damage done to the landlord’s building or property,” says Kim Weaver, compliance manager at Relocation Insurance Group in St. Louis, MO.

Instead, the moving company would have to use its general liability insurance, or its auto insurance if the damage was done by vehicle. Some companies may have only cargo and auto insurance. When choosing a mover, you should search the U.S. Department of Transportation’s licensing and insurance page for any companies you’re considering, Weaver recommends. There, you can view details about what types of insurance the company is registered for.

Just don’t assume a mover has general liability insurance.

“In my experience, to get licensed in most areas, a mover has to have insurance,” says Troy Doucet, lawyer and owner of Doucet & Associates in Dublin, OH. “That doesn’t mean everyone has insurance.”

And therein lies another problem: If movers don’t have insurance—or are operating illegally—they probably don’t want you to find them. So how in the world can you get them to pay?

You try to track them down

If you used an unscrupulous mover, your “options for pursuing reimbursement will be limited,” says Pete Johnson, co-founder ofHireAHelper based in Oceanside, CA.

“The customer could tell the moving company they’re planning to take the issue to small-claims court,” Johnson says. “It might produce results and, if it doesn’t, then they can go ahead and file if they have an address for them.”

That’s a big “if.” Even otherwise official-looking movers may have websites without an office location or employee names listed, making it difficult or impossible to track them down. But if you can, here’s what you should do:

• Review copies of all the forms you signed (the moving company is required to give you copies, so make sure you hang on to them). Did you sign a liability waiver? Even if you did, “it may not be enforceable in your state,” says Alicia Dearn, CEO of Bellatrix Law and trial lawyer. This means the company may have tried to trick you into backing down.
• Get a lawyer—if only for a letter threatening litigation. “A situation like this is best resolved by negotiation—a letter from a lawyer can really work wonders in these disputes,” Dearn says.
• Photograph the damage for evidence.
• File a consumer complaint with the state’s attorney general office.

If the mover still refuses to pay, you’ll be looking at settling in small-claims court—it’s up to you to weigh the cost and decide if it’s worth pursuing.

Shared from:  http://www.realtor.com/advice/move/movers-damaged-my-landlords-property/

Home Design Tips from Ellen

Who knew? Ellen DeGeneres isn’t just an affable talk-show host and beloved comedian. She’s also an extremely prolific home designer and house flipper, as shown in her new book, “Home.”

“I wanted to be an interior designer when I was 13,” DeGeneres admits in her book—which explains why, over the past 25 years, she has bought and renovated nearly a dozen homes. Each home was an adventure and an education, she recalls. Below, from her book, are a few lessons she’s learned, as well as gorgeous photos of her interiors that illustrate her points.

Neutral colors make the best palette

“I like neutral colors with stronger colors in art, pillows, or a nice throw. Big color statements on walls or furniture can be fun, but limit the possibility of changes.”

———

Get a chalkboard in your kitchen

“Chalkboards make a great, fun statement in a home. You can draw on them or use them practically to make lists or write notes. You can write something like, ‘Remember to put away your shoes,’ just as a random, not-specific-to-my-life example.”

———

Less is more

“When finishing a room, I find it’s often useful to take one thing away. I always want to make sure it doesn’t look overdone or fussy.”

———

Go vintage

“Vintage fabrics can help personalize your home. They can be used for throw pillows, upholstery on a headboard—even a dog bed.”

———

Let there be light—lots of it

“Every room needs more than one light source. Lighting can be harsh or insufficient if you just rely on ceiling lighting. I like soft, even lighting, and I think floor and table lamps are essential to creating the right mood.”

Shared from:  http://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/five-home-design-secrets-from-ellen-degeneres/

14 Foolproof Ways to Lower Your Living Expenses

We've all been there. Can't resist the new model year of your current car. Hey, it's only an extra $90 per month (plus an insurance bump of $37 a month, but who's counting?). Seduced by the cushy sectional that would pull the whole living room together and will only cost $60 per month. That great deal for upgraded Internet and all the move channels. What's another $23 a month?

Problem is, before you know it you're sinking in bills and your monthly payments have become a burden. Here are 14 ways to lower your monthly nut and get back to stress-free living.

1. Renegotiate everything

That means cable/satellite, phone and cell phone contracts, Internet service, bank fees, even your gym membership. You never know what's possible until you ask.

2. Lower your credit card rate

If you have decent credit, you might be able get your credit card company to lower your rate and/or maybe get rid of some of the fees. Transferring a balance to a card with a lower rate is another good trick for lowering payments and doesn't even require you to ask a representative for anything.

"If you don't have an account with a lower rate, shop for one," said CreditCards.com. "Also, see if an offer for a balance transfer might provide a lower rate. Before jumping at a balance transfer offer, though, run the numbers on a balance transfer calculator to make sure the deal makes sense after you consider the fees and the duration of the teaser rate."

3. Cut the cord

You could opt to get rid of your cable or satellite altogether and use streaming services instead. It's a growing option that can save you a good amount of money while still providing a wide variety of viewing options. For example: "Netflix and Hulu Plus both cost $7.99 per month each, while Amazon Instant Video will cost you $99 per year, which is $8.25 per month," said GottaBe Mobile. "This means the total cost for these three services all together would be $24.23 per month, which is a lot less than you'll ever pay for a cable subscription."

GIZMODO

How does that compare with your current bill? It's about one-sixth of what we're currently paying. Calling DISH in 3...2...1...

You can get more info about cutting the cord here.

4. Refinance your house

If you have enough equity in your house and rates have dropped since you bought (or refinanced the last time), you might be able to refi and lower your monthly payment. Remember that refinancing will add to what you owe, so if you were trying to pay your home off quickly, this would be counterintuitive.

5. Refinance your car

Refinancing your car could save you "hundreds of dollars each year and sometimes thousands over the life of the loan," said Bankrate. But only if you do it under the right circumstances. Check out their "5 situations when it makes the most sense to refinance your car" to see if you meet the criteria.

Drive Sure

6. Do a leak check

A leaky home is one you're paying too much for in heating and cooling bills. Do an energy audit to check for drafts coming in through window or under doors, among other places, and you could save more than $1,000, said RH Foster Energy.

7. Eat in

Or, at least bring your lunch to work a few days a week. According to Jeff Yeager, author of "The Cheapskate Next Door, a family that commits to eating at home can save $3,000 in one year and eat just as well," said ABC News.

8. Carpool

"The Daily Green calculated that the average American uses about 7 gallons of gas per week commuting to and from work," said abc News. "Share your ride and the gas bill with just one friend, you each save $650 a year. If four of you carpool, you each save nearly $1,000."

9. Shop smart

One of the greatest sources of waste in our household? Food that has to be throw away at the end of the week because it's gone bad. And we're not alone. USA Today says Americans trash $640 worth of food every year.

Nourishing the Planet

Meal plan, buy only what you need for a few days and hit the market again mid week, use coupons, freeze leftovers - all of these tips will help.

10. Check your balance

Hidden costs may be lurking - memberships you didn't realize you still had, anything you put on autopay that you're no longer using, old dating sites, gaming and iTunes charges you're unaware your kids are making. Look over your bank and credit card balances carefully to eliminate the riffraff.

11. Buy store brands

Some might be close to or equal to the name brand stuff you're buying. "Store brands often cost 25 to 30 percent less than name brand equivalents, which is an added benefit for customers," said CheatSheet. They can help you figure out which store brands are worth it, and when you should stick to the name brand.

12. Pay insurance and other bulk payments in full

Yes, coming up with large chunks of cash to pay for car insurance, home insurance, and home warranties can be rough. But some of these may end up costing you more if you have to pay a "convenience fee" for splitting up the payments.

13. Clear out the clutter

You know what they say: One man's trash is another man's treasure. Do a sweep of your home, setting aside anything you don't need or want anymore. Whether you list it on eBay or Craigslist, have a yard sale, take any acceptable items to a resale store, or all of the above, you may be surprised at how much money you can make for stuff you didn't even like anymore.

14. Donate!

You won't get paid for donating your old clothes, household items, and the like, but you will get a tax write-off at tax time. Be sure to get or complete an itemized receipt.

Shared from:  http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/homeownersadvice1/item/39843-20151105-14-foolproof-ways-to-lower-your-living-expenses

Selling Your Home? Better Make Sure It’s Clean Before Moving Out!

Let’s face it: Now that you’ve found a buyer and scheduled the closing, you’re ready to be done with your old home. A clean break! The last thing you want to do is spend the weekend deep cleaning the place for someone else to enjoy. Besides, would it even matter?

Actually, yes, it does matter.

We feel for you—the temptation to skip out on those last few cleaning chores is strong. But don’t give in. How dirty you leave your home isn’t just about etiquette—it could also cause problems with the sale of your home.

While buyers may forgive you if you forget to sweep under the stove, more serious offenses can have serious consequences. Check your contract: Some sellers may stipulate that the place be spotless by the time they move in. If you agree to this (verbally or in writing) and don’t live up to your end of the bargain, you could be at risk for a lawsuit.

So if you leave a pile of filth, the new owner could delay closing—or even bail on the sale altogether.

“In a rare case I had someone walk away from the sale because of the condition of the home at the final walk-through,” says Darbi McGlone, a Realtor® in Baton Rouge, LA.

Odds are your buyer will be incredibly stressed out by closing day, and you don’t want to make matters any worse.

“It could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back,” McGlone says.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s bust out the yellow rubber gloves and get to work.

Work from the top down

When it comes to cleaning, starting early is easiest.

“I recommend doing a good scrubbing and decluttering before putting the house on the market—it can be very stressful to do at the last minute,” says Wendy Wrzos, certified interior redesign specialist and founder of The Blue Giraffe, a home staging and redesign company in New Jersey.

But if you didn’t start early, don’t panic. If you attack the job with a plan, it’ll get done faster. Try to clean room by room, working from the top down.

Dust the ceiling fans, wipe down the walls, and then sweep, vacuum, or mop. Clean the refrigerator (if it’s staying behind), and give a once-over to the oven and stove—including the drip pans. Check the air vents for filth or mold—and if you spot any, call in a professional. This won’t be a standard broom cleaning.

Once you’re done with one space, move on to the next. And don’t forget the details.

“Light fixtures are rarely cleaned,” McGlone says. “Wiping down cabinets and drawers inside and out would be nice also—not many sellers ever do it.​”

Take a deep breath

Cleanliness isn’t the only thing you have to worry about before the final walk-through.

“The first thing buyers always notice when they walk inside is if your home has any less-than-appealing smells, whether it is cat litter, a wet dog, garbage, or the fish you cooked two nights ago for dinner,” Wrzos says.

Reality check: Any strange odors—even if temporary—will make the buyers think the home is dirty. (And they may be right.)

Even if you’ve already moved out, go back into the home for a quick sniff before the walk-through. Bring a friend who might not be as nose-blind to your old home as you are, and ask for an honest opinion.

Air fresheners can minimize lingering odors, of course, but you can also try these innovative tips and tricks. When all else fails, call in a deodorization pro. Yes, they exist.

Take everything with you

Many sellers leave behind personal items, because either they think the new owner may get use out of them or they just don’t want to deal with them. But here’s the thing: “No one wants your old shower curtain and matching trash can,” McGlone says.

Unless the buyer specifically asked for something, take everything with you. Double-check attics, basements, storage closets, and the garage for anything you might have missed.

Shared from:  http://www.realtor.com/advice/sell/how-clean-should-sellers-leave-a-home-before-moving-out/

5 Biggest Home-Buying Fears (and How to Face Them)

Buyers’ biggest real estate fears sometimes hold them back from buying — not just around Halloween, but throughout the year. The scary thing is, these fears are sometimes well-founded.

Here are some of the issues that commonly keep home buyers awake at night, and what you can do about them.

“The house has a cracked foundation, dry rot, or a leaky roof”

Renovating, fixing and repairing are on few buyers’ wish lists. When faced with the home of their dreams, they fear the inspection. What if there is dry rot, or a roof or foundation issue?

Most homes will need routine maintenance, and a good inspector will point this out. But it’s important not to let your fears get the best of you. Much of what the inspector comes up with during the inspection is for informational purposes only. Every problem does not need to be repaired right away.

The inspector’s job is to point out every issue he sees in the house. Ask him to explain how bad the issue is, and how long it can go before needing replacement or repair.

If an issue arises that needs immediate attention, go back to the seller and see if they will repair or credit you back to repair after you close.

“I’ll lose my deposit”

Buyers typically put in an earnest money deposit with a signed contract. Typically, this is 3 percent of the purchase price. The seller does not cash the check. Instead, the money sits in an escrow account and can’t be released without both parties’ signatures.

It’s nearly impossible for a buyer to lose their deposit. If you have an inspection, disclosure review or loan contingencies, work closely with your real estate agent to mark those timeframes.

If you need to remove these contingencies in writing, plan to firm things up a day in advance. If you are in negotiations around a contingency date, be sure to extend the contingency date to keep yourself under contract.

“I’ll lose the house”

If you find the home of your dreams, you may have to move fast. Particularly in competitive markets, many homes sell before the first open house to quick acting and super-motivated buyers.

If you see a new listing hit the market, be sure to let your agent know right away. Try to make an appointment to see the home as soon as possible.

Also, find out immediately how the seller’s agent plans to handle any offers received. Sometimes they will take the first offer, especially if it’s a good one. More often than not, the seller and the agent will have an offer date to review offers or ask for best and final offers by a certain day.

If you are travelling or busy with work, be sure not to miss out on your dream home. Be in constant contact with your agent, and flag potential homes that look like a great fit.

“My agent doesn’t have my best interest in mind”

Great agents are always on the prowl for new properties, checking out the market and protecting your best interest at all times.

Some buyers fear that their agent might have different motivations, or that they aren’t on the same page. If you have doubts, change agents. Never settle or take any random agent that comes along as your buyer’s agent.

You and your agent should be committed to each other. Sit down before you begin the process and speak to your agent, much like a job interview. And if you have any doubts about your agent’s abilities or motivations, find another agent.

“We’ll never find a house in time for…”

A real estate purchase should never be rushed. If you have a firm deadline creeping up, make a plan B.

For example, many buyers face an expiring lease or a school application deadline. If you are three months out from a deadline and you haven’t found a house, take the pressure off by putting an alternate plan in place.

Home buying is an expensive and complicated transaction. You don’t want to rush into a purchase and make a mistake. It’s much easier and safer to get another rental or find a temporary address or try some out-of-the-box idea. It may be a little inconvenient, but you can handle it.

If something scares you about a home, the buying process, or a third-party involved in the sale, voice your concerns. Listen to your voice of reason, and stick with your gut.

Many home buyers’ initial fears will fall by the wayside as the buyer gets into the market. Take it slow, and don’t be afraid to take a step back to allow time and space to think things through. It’s better to take your time than to let buying your dream home become a nightmare.

Shared from:http://www.zillow.com/blog/biggest-home-buying-fears-184728/

Unique Ways to Dress Up Your Kitchen Cabinets with Hardware

Hardware is the jewelry of the kitchen. In a well-designed space, it can add an important finishing touch. In a space that needs a little help, it can provide some sparkle to help distract from worn or outdated features that may be more difficult to update. And, it's an easy, inexpensive project you can do yourself.  

"Hardware is an often-overlooked accessory that can completely change the look of room (or even an exterior)," said Huffington Post. "Of course, we're referring to ‘hardware' in the design sense: Knobs, pulls, hooks, knockers, brackets, railings, handles an d any other metal flourish that can go in or on a home. It's a huge category, but few really give it a lot of thought."

Whether your taste runs to traditional, transitional, modern, vintage, or funky, hardware can help you express your style and add another distinctive element to your kitchen. And the good news is, you can take the hardware with you when you move. With all the talk about overpersonalizing and how it can hurt the salability of your home, this is one place you can go crazy.

Just beware of hardware that makes such noticeable holes in your cabinets they can't be easily repaired if you remove them when you sell your home.

Huffington Post

Huffington Post's handy guide provides a list of websites for hardware options ranging from vintage to distinctive and different to classic looks.

The latest trends

Hardware is a great way to bring the latest trends into your kitchen. Because they can be easily changed out, you don't have to worry about your space becoming outdated when brass and golden-hued hardware is no longer the latest thing (again).

Freshome

These oversized pulls would look snazzy on any color cabinets, but really stand up to the bold red.

Café Galante

Classic and classy or modern and magnificent

In a high-end kitchen, the right hardware can offer just the right touch to bring it all together. Exposed hardware adds another unique element.

Café Galante

In this kitchen, modern lines accentuate the cabinet design, creating a standout, custom look.

Snipe righ

For some, kitchen hardware offers the perfect opportunity to express their individuality and creativity, with spoons turned handles....

Bob Vila

or even concrete. These knobs are "as easy as creating a form out of a something small, in the shape you desire for your knob," said Bob Vila. "Then fill it, and let the concrete set for a few minutes. Insert the head of a bolt, and let the concrete dry. Once removed from the mold, sand the knob smooth with silicon carbide wet/dry paper and rub the surface with talcum powder to create a shine."

Bob Vila

Artistic

Bring an artistic feel to your kitchen with a touch of glass…art glass, to be specific. Available in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, it might be just the right thing to bring a personal touch to your kitchen.

Or use metal in a different way. Who says it has to be linear? Take artistic license with shapes that contrast with the lines of your cabinets.

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Should You Rent Your Home To Others?

With rental prices rising, you may be wondering if now's the time to become a landlord. There are advantages to renting your current home while you purchase another to live in.

The advantage to renting your home is that you're likely paying a homestead mortgage interest rate, which will make it easier to make a profit than if you purchased rental property with a mortgage at a higher interest rate. As you've owned your home, it's likely appreciated in value, allowing your home to compete well in the rental market so you can use profits to put back into the home to keep it rentable.

Assuming you're current on your mortgage, have the credit scores to buy another home, and have saved enough cash for a down payment, now may be the ideal time to add a rental investment to your portfolio.

Real estate has always served as a hedge against inflation and against other investments, so the first thing to do is find out how rents compare to home prices in your area. Your real estate professional can provide you with market comparables that show you how much homes are renting for per square foot and how quickly they rent, as well as for what prices comparable homes are selling.

If the rental income is enough to cover your mortgage, you're in good shape, but there are other expenses to consider, such as income taxes, advertising, listing and management fees, and maintenance.

For income tax purposes, your current mortgage isn't considered a cost of doing business that you can deduct like office supplies or equipment purchases. You'll pay taxes on this gross amount, less repairs and management fees, if any. On the bright side, if you sell the property within five years and you've occupied the home two of those five years, you'll likely pay no capital gains at all up to $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a couple.

To qualify for a mortgage on another home, your ender follows a typical multiple home formula. Even though you may have your home rented, plan to deduct approximately 20% of rental income from your "investment." Why? Most homes have a period where they are not rented while they're on the market, which means no rental income. Your lender wants to make sure you can handle periods when your home isn't rented.

When you turn your home into a rental, it's no longer a homestead, but an enterprise. Tax laws require you to make a profit within three years of launching an enterprise, or otherwise you won't be able to take deductions associated with it. Also, expect to pay more in property taxes as you will also lose the homestead deduction rate, since you'll be applying for the homestead deduction on your new home.

On the other hand, one of the best ways to build equity is to have someone else pay your mortgage for you. The longer you own your home and the longer it's rented, the more the amortization tables turn in your favor. Every loan payment is made of principal and interest. The longer you own your home, the larger the percentage that goes toward reducing principal.

Based on the purchase price of your home, you can deduct "depreciation" from your income every year you rent it, but this amount decreases with time. You can also deduct some maintenance and improvement expenses which are not available to homesteaders. See your tax professional for more information.

There are other pros and cons of becoming a landlord. You'll be dealing with people who don't respect your home as much as you do and could cause damages. They may skip out without paying the final month's rent. You'll have two homes to maintain, and could get broken plumbing or appliance calls in the middle of the night. On the bright side, renters of single-family homes tend to be older, more responsible and remain occupants longer. Also many losses are tax-deductible to landlords.

Ask your real estate professional or someone else that you know who owns rental property for more insights. They'll be able to share real-life property management situations and costs that may help you to decide if this is the right step for you.

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