Tools Every Homeowner Needs

Owning a home begins when you sign the papers at closing – and never ends. There is always work to do and projects to tackle. This sort of personalization is what makes home ownership so much fun! You get to make your home your own.  You just need the right tools to do it.

So whether you consider yourself a regular handyman or you know just enough to be dangerous, here are some tools that every homeowner needs to have in their toolbox.

-        Ladder: For those hard to reach places, light bulb changes and paint jobs

-        Drill and Drill Bits: A must have for most home improvement projects

-        Tape Measure: Know how big the room is before you buy that new sofa

-        Level: Hang pictures just right!

-        Screwdrivers: For all types of DIY furniture projects or new purchases

-        Stud Finder: Hanging a heavy piece of art? This is a must have.

-        Extension Cord: Don’t get caught trying to work without one.

-        Utility Knife: Open and breakdown boxes.

-        Misc Hardware: Get yourself an assortment of nails and screws.

Of course there are other tools you’ll want to add over the years but this should get you started.

Did we miss anything? What would you include in your homeowner tool box?

Building Process

The building process can be a little scary if you've never built a brand new home before, or in some cases if you have. Here at Parkridge Builders, we like to make the home building process as very simple as possible. Our Building Process follows these steps below, ensuring that you'll know what to expect along the way. See more at http://parkridgebuilders.com/building_process.html

Universal Design

Park Ridge Builders is a custom home builder with homes throughout the CSRA. We can build on your land or in one of our several featured communities.
We also provide Universal Design building services that make your home accessible and compatible to your changing needs throughout the years.
Universal Design includes elements such as:
Ground level entry through the front and rear doors
Wide interior doors and hallways
Clear lines of sight
Slip resistant surfaces
Higher than usual electrical receptacles
To learn more about our Universal Design services and how they can be built into your next home give us a call or send us an email at info@parkridgebuilders.com

Park Ridge Builders is a local business with over 35 years experience in the home building industry.

Glynn Bruker is President and Owner of Park Ridge Builders. He has been building custom homes in the CSRA for over 30 years. He is an active member of the Home Builders Association of Augusta and is a licensed builder in both Georgia and South Carolina. Glynn also holds a Certified Aging in Place Specialist certification from the NAHB.
Glynn and his wife Cathy have two children who are actively involved in the family business. Beth coordinates all of the interior design and style elements of the home. Ben oversees the quality assurance and warranty program.
http://parkridgebuilders.com

Resources for the Home Shopper

There are so many online tools and resources for today’s home shopper, there is no reason to be surprised or unprepared during your search.  The more information you have the better you are able to make a good decision for your family and negotiate your position when necessary.   Here are some of our recommendations on home buyer resources.

Mortgage Calculator

Home Affordability Calculator 

Check Your Credit Score

School Ratings

Compare Home Insurers

National Association of Home Builders

Understanding Homeowners Insurance

 

Understanding Homeowners Insurance

Purchasing homeowners insurance is a necessary part of buying a new home.  While it may seem tedious, this insurance protects your largest financial investment – your new home.

Insurance costs vary on the location of the home, age of the home, type of coverage needed and deductibles.

Go online to read about potential insurers and their customer service ratings. Typically insurance is purchased and then forgotten about so it’s helpful to see what customers with claims think about how their issues were handled.

It may help you save money to have your auto and homeowners insurance covered by the same company.

Your possessions such as clothing, electronics, and furniture are covered but if you have a special item that may exceed the included coverage make sure to mention that as a concern. It may require an addition to the standard policy.

A higher deductible will result in lower premiums. Go as high as you can since typically claims are filed only every 8-10 years.  Make sure you have the savings to cover that deductible should the worst happen.

Be sure to ask what the policy covers and what it doesn’t cover. Get all estimates in writing so you can price shop other companies while comparing apples to apples in coverage.

http://parkridgebuilders.com/

Tax Information for Homeowners

One of the many benefits of owning a home is the extra savings at tax time.  Yes owning a home is a great benefit when it comes to filing your taxes each year.  Whether you do your taxes on your own or use the services of a professional, make sure you take advantage of these tax savings opportunities.

Main tax benefits include being able to deduct interest payments and property tax payments.  Homeowners may also exclude, to a limit, capital gains made on the sale of a home that previous year.  Points paid toward your mortgage to get a better overall interest rate may also be deductible.

Certain environmentally friendly updates made to your home may also be eligible for a tax credit.

As the tax law continually changes and updates it is important to stay on top of what homeowner deductions or credits you may be eligible for.

http://parkridgebuilders.com/

#parkridgebuilders #homeownership 

Inside Chores for Cold Winter Days

When you're looking at the outside temperature and thinking today makes a great day to stay inside, we have some productive activities for you!

Of course resting on the couch and watching your favorite shows is a classic winter past time, you can take advantage of the colder temps to stay inside and get some much needed work done!

1. Cleaning the Oven
Cleaning the oven take some time and is the perfect activity for when you're going to be around the house for a few hours. Most ovens come with a self-clean button that does the work for you. If your oven is really greasy and grimy it make require some pre-cleaning on your part using either oven cleaner or a mix of vinegar and baking soda.

2.  Clean the Floors
Since you are spending more time indoors, it's time to ramp up your typical cleaning schedule. Sweep and mop the floors to keep any mud or dirt from tracking around the house. Vacuum regularly to keep dirt from being ground into the carpet fibers.

3.  Inspect the Pantry
Winter is a good time to reorganize the pantry and make it more efficient for the new year. While you're organizing check the dates to make sure no products are expired.  Pull out little used ingredients and do an online search for recipes that you may not have tried before.

4.  Mattress Care
Flip your mattress if you can or if you have a pillow top rotate it 180 degrees to prevent impressions or dents from forming. To freshen your mattress, sprinkle it with baking soda and then vacuum up.

5. Inspect and Clean Your Windows
Let more natural light in during the dark winter with clean, sparkling windows. Don't forget to clean around the frames which can gather dust and dirt.  Letting in a little more natural light can really cheer up a dreary winter day!

Take Advantage of Winter Days

When you're looking at the outside temperature and thinking today makes a great day to stay inside, we have some productive activities for you!

Of course resting on the couch and watching your favorite shows is a classic winter past time, you can take advantage of the colder temps to stay inside and get some much needed work done!

1. Cleaning the Oven
Cleaning the oven take some time and is the perfect activity for when you're going to be around the house for a few hours. Most ovens come with a self-clean button that does the work for you. If your oven is really greasy and grimy it make require some pre-cleaning on your part using either oven cleaner or a mix of vinegar and baking soda.

2.  Clean the Floors
Since you are spending more time indoors, it's time to ramp up your typical cleaning schedule. Sweep and mop the floors to keep any mud or dirt from tracking around the house. Vacuum regularly to keep dirt from being ground into the carpet fibers.

3.  Inspect the Pantry
Winter is a good time to reorganize the pantry and make it more efficient for the new year. While you're organizing check the dates to make sure no products are expired.  Pull out little used ingredients and do an online search for recipes that you may not have tried before.

4.  Mattress Care
Flip your mattress if you can or if you have a pillow top rotate it 180 degrees to prevent impressions or dents from forming. To freshen your mattress, sprinkle it with baking soda and then vacuum up.

5. Inspect and Clean Your Windows
Let more natural light in during the dark winter with clean, sparkling windows. Don't forget to clean around the frames which can gather dust and dirt.  Letting in a little more natural light can really cheer up a dreary winter day!

2017 A Good Year for Housing

As the numbers come in, 2017 is looking to be a great year for the housing market, with 2018 predicted to be even better.

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report that sales of new single-family homes in November were 17.5% above the October numbers and 26.6% above last November.

The median sales price of new homes sold in November 2017 was $318,700.

It wasn't just a great month for new home sales, existing home sales rose as well for the third month in a row.

This is great news for the housing market but also for the economy as a whole as housing plays a huge role in the health of the overall economy.

Builders are often selling homes before they are built - a great indicator of demand. Current national inventory is low - just a little over 4 months of available homes.

So what does this mean for you?  Demand is strong and inventory remains low which could push prices higher.  If you are on the fence about buying a new home it's time to make a decision before the cost of a new home goes up.

Planning for Your Down Payment

One of the biggest concerns for new homeowners is the financial aspect of buying a new home. Can they afford the down payment? The monthly payments? What other costs are involved that we may not know about?

Today we are going to tackle the down payment - often the largest upfront cost to buying a new home.

A down payment is the money you give to the seller of the home. It is a portion of the overall cost of the home. The rest of the home cost will be mortgaged over time.

For example, a typical down payment is 20%.  If your home costs $100,000 then you will pay the seller $20,000 and take out a mortgage for the other $80,000.

How much of a down payment you will need to have depends on your financing.  Typically the higher your down payment is the lower your interest rate will be.

A down payment can come from your own savings over time, the money you make after selling your current house, or from gifts/grants from others.

There are many ways to begin saving for a down payment such as setting aside a little money each month, saving any tax refunds or gifts, set up automatic transfers from your checking account to a savings account with interest.

Remember your end goal - a brand new home for your family.  This makes the saving process a little less painful and reminds you of the big payoff in the end!

Homeowner Gifts for Christmas

If you're looking for some gifts for the new homeowner in your life, we have you covered this Christmas!  Here are a few of our favorite options for all the new homeowners on your list.

1. Theme Baskets
These creative gift ideas are always a hit. Whether it's a variety of cleaning supplies, or a pizza kit and Redbox gift code, you can use your imagination to come up with a fun theme for the new homeowners. Maybe a basket filled with basic tools or a kitchen themed basket full of their favorite snacks!

2.  Personalized Wall Art
Use your favorite online photo service to create some wall art for the new home. This can be a photo of the exterior of the new home, the family name and new address or a favorite quote about what the joys of home.

3.  New Home Ornament
Since it is the Christmas season, get a new home ornament for the tree with this year's date. It can be something simple or incorporate a photo of the home.

4.  Cozy Gifts
Make the new homeowners nice and cozy this winter with some practical gifts like a throw blanket or candle.  Christmas decor is always a welcome addition to a new home.

5.  Kitchen Supplies
Gifts for the kitchen are always a hit. Maybe a personalized cutting board with the family name, a new pasta pot with pasta and sauce included.  Or gifts for entertaining in the new home such as a cheese board or dessert tray.  Be creative!

Winter Weather Driving

The South rarely experiences significant snowfall and when it does most schools, government offices and employers close to keep more people off the road.  Melting snow mixed with overnight freezing temperatures can lead to icy roads which are extremely dangerous.  If you can't stay off the road here are a few ways to drive safer in inclement weather.

1.  During the winter months keep at least half a tank of gas in your car at all times.  You don't want to get stranded in snowy or icy conditions.

2.  Once temperatures dip you may see your "Low Tire Pressure" light come on. Don't ignore this! It's important to keep your tires properly inflated for safe driving.

3. If you warm up your vehicle before you begin driving - never do this in an enclosed space such as a garage. This can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

4.  When driving give yourself plenty of time to accelerate and then come to a stop. Slowly accelerating and decelerating will make it less likely that your car will skid.

5.  If you do find yourself skidding - don't panic. Take your foot off the gas and don't slam on the brake. Steer your car in the direction that you want to go.

6.  Do not use cruise control when driving in winter weather and avoid using the parking break when possible.

7.  If you do get stranded, stay with your car which will provide some shelter. Signal for help by tying a brightly colored material to your antenna or hang outside your window.

8. When packing for a winter road trip be sure to include blankets, bottled water, flash light, first aid kit, ice scraper and snacks.

Buying this December

December may be known for a lot of things but buying a home is not one of them.  Peak homebuying season typically occurs in the spring and summer when the days are warmer, there's more sun, and buyers are out ready to make a change before the school year starts again.

But don't neglect December home buying. There are several reasons why this could be just the right time to get off the fence and buy your
dream home.

Less Competition
If you're tired of dealing with competition when looking at your favorite homes, December is the time to shop. Less competition means more of a chance of getting the home you want!

Tax Benefits
If you close before the end of the year you'll also experience the tax benefits of buying a new home such as deducting mortgage insurance, loan points or property taxes.

Loan Incentives
You may get a deal on your loan with lenders looking for business during the lean winter months.  You'll also get quicker loan processing with fewer mortgage loans going through in December.

Mortgage Rates
Mortgage rates remain historically low but are rising. Take advantage of the low rates while they are still around!

Pick the Best Christmas Tree!

A Christmas tree is often the centerpiece of our home holiday decor.  So how do you pick the right one? The one with the best smell? The most fresh? The best color?

Here are a few ways to find the best tree this year and have long lasting beauty all through the Christmas season.

1.  Check the freshness of the tree by bending a needle in your fingers.  Fir species should snap and pine species should bend.

2. Gently hold the tree in the middle and tap the cut bottom on the ground.  A few needles will fall off. If an avalanche of needles fall off you may have a tree that's not so freshly cut.

3.  Measure before you buy! Know your ceiling heights and the width of the space you want to put your tree before you pick the perfect one.


Before you leave the lot, have the attendant make a fresh cut in the bottom of the tree.  When you get the tree home fill up the tree stand with water. Keep it full - checking several times a day for the first few days.

Avoid placing the tree near a heat source like a fireplace or vent.  This will dry out the tree prematurely. Protect your floors with towels or a waterproof tarp.

Decorate and enjoy!! 

Thanksgiving Punch Ideas

There's so much to think about for Thanksgiving - the appetizers, breads, turkey, sides, and desserts.  Obviously those are important pieces of the meal but what about to drink?  A sparkly punch or cider can really take a meal from wow to WHOA!

Here are a few easy, non-alcoholic ways to create magical Thanksgiving drinks.

Cranberry Pineapple Punch

- 3 Cups Canned Pineapple Juice, Chilled

- 3 Cups Cranberry Juice Cocktail, Chilled

- 4 Cups Ginger Ale

Stir together then add

- Ice

- 1/2 Cup fresh or frozen cranberries

- 1/2 lime - sliced thin

Apple Pie Punch

4 cups Apple Cider

1 Cup White Grape Juice

3 Cups Ginger Ale

Stir together and add chunks of fresh apple!

Cran-Raspberry Punch

- 3 Cups Cranberry Juice

- 3 Cups Ginger Ale

Stir together and add 3 scoops (or more) Raspberry sherbet. Garnish with fresh raspberries.

Improving a Winter Landscape

Thanksgiving is just a little over a week away! While there are plenty of tried and true ways to decorate the inside of your home to make it warm and inviting - what about the outside? Especially on those cold, gray days!

Start with what you can control.  Your entryway is the first impression of your home. While the plants may be bare you can liven up the space with some greenery on the door, white lights and even some outdoor furniture pieces and pillows.

Incorporate pops of color from red berries or bright orange leaves.

If you feel like planting some winter shrubs or flowers, consider the following:

- Ornamental cabbage or kale
- Winter Jasmine
- Holly

Also check local nurserys and hardware stores for potted arrangements suitable for cold weather.

If you're really feeling the remodeling spirit - consider updating your front door paint to something with more color- a deep red or blue!

Don't forget to keep your yard maintained - rake the leaves, pick up fallen branches and put away the summer items till next season.

What ideas do you have to make your winter yard for appealing?

Making a Guest Friendly Home

1. Purchase back up items for your guests - toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, headache medicine, bottled water. Your house guests will appreciate not having to ask!

2.  Everyone sleeps at different temperatures so have some options available. A box fan for the hot natured and some extra throw blankets for cold feet!

3.  Have your wi-fi password readily available for guests to see. Also provide any instructions for accessing electronics or setting alarm clocks.

4.  If you have to work or won't be around for your guests, leave them a spare key so they can go in and out themselves.  Provide maps or brochures on fun things available around your town.  If you already have activities planned as a family, create an agenda so everyone knows what is happening and when.

5.  If you don't have time to clean the whole house focus on these key areas: kitchen, hall and guest bathrooms, guest room, main living room floors - windows are an extra bonus!

What do you do to prepare for holiday guests?

Reduce Your Home Energy Bills This Fall and Winter

Colder weather doesn't mean spending more on energy costs to stay comfortable. There are lots of ways you can keep warm without pushing up the thermostat and seeing those costs rise with it.

Here are a few ideas:

1.  Open your curtains and blinds during the day to let the sun's warmth in but close them up at night to keep the heat trapped inside.

2.  Make use of blankets, warm rugs, flannel sheets and layers!

3.  Reverse your ceiling fans to get them blowing the warm air back down from the ceiling and on to you!

4.  If there are rooms in your home that you rarely use - close off the vents to keep the warm air going to the most trafficked areas of the home.

5.  A humidifier adds moisture to dry winter air, making it feel more comfortable.  Use in the rooms you spend the most time in and cut back on the heat.

A rule of thumb for winter heating is to keep the thermostat at 68 degrees while you're home and try to make it cooler at night depending on your sleep preferences.

What do you do to stay warm without breaking your winter budget?

Stop the Spread of the Flu

Along with the beautiful Fall weather and cooling temperatures comes something no one is a big fan of - flu season.  Flu season begins in October and lasts in May, typically peaking in February.

Vaccines are one way to potentially stop from contracting the illness but there are other measures you should take to make your home a hostile area to flu germs.

1.  Have tissue boxes and trash cans in each room.  Encourage sneezing and coughing into tissues. Make sure there is easy access to trash disposal.

2.  Stock up on soap and hand sanitizer.  Good old-fashioned hand soap is the preferred method of keeping clean but hand sanitizer will work where needed.

3.  Watch out for these germ hot spots and clean regularly:  cutting boards, sponges, desks, floors, toilets and sinks.  Germs can live for several hours on hard surfaces so disinfect door knobs, light switches and remote controls.

4. Keep a healthy lifestyle by drinking lots of water, eating fruits and vegetables and getting your exercise.

5. If someone in your house has the flu make sure to regularly wash their bed sheets and towels in warm or hot water.  Wash your hands after anytime you handle dirty laundry.