Akron Today Magazine

Akron Lifestyle and Entertainment

House & Home

Flooring For Every Room In Your House

Many people make New  Year resolutions to begin the year with a bang.  Many of us do not stick to them, and some of us make resolutions that are bound to fail from day one. If you made a resolution this year to spruce your home and declutter, that’s a resolution that makes sense and that you might be able to accomplish.  If you are replacing the flooring of a room in your house and don’t know where to begin, read ahead.

Depending on the room in your home, flooring can be an easy decision to make but also it can present itself with questions about what it’s best for your family.   

Kitchen and bathrooms: These wet areas require flooring that is sturdy, and won’t be damaged by water spills.  Some flooring can become slippery when wet and can be very dangerous for your family.  The best flooring for these type of rooms are:

  1. Vinyl
  2. Laminate
  3. Tile

Keep in mind that there is some specific laminate flooring you can use in these rooms.  Normal laminate flooring can become very slippery and warps rather easily with small amounts of water on it.  You need to find the laminate flooring that can withstand water or other types of liquid spills without damaging it.

Living Room, Dining Room, and First Floor Rooms: These high traffic area rooms need a more sturdy, high-quality flooring that will not only be durable for your home but can make your home look beautiful as well. These are some of the types of flooring that are most commonly used for these rooms in your home:

  1. Hardwood
  2. Bamboo
  3. Laminate
  4. Vinyl
  5. Carpet

For many environmentally conscious homeowners, hardwood does not seem like a very likable option.  Many of these homeowners have chosen to opt for the more environmentally friendly bamboo flooring. If you are thinking about vinyl flooring for some of these rooms – especially for dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and the main entrance of the home- vinyl has come a long way from the one sheet vinyl flooring our parents and grandparents grew up with.  The look of vinyl is not what it used to be, so choosing it over other types of flooring is not outdated.

Carpet for the bedrooms of the home has been the main choice for many homeowners though out the years, but if you have children with allergies or other respiratory problems, laminate or bamboo flooring can be a very nice second option for you.

There are many pros and cons you have to consider with every choice of flooring there is. Price, durability, ease of installation, look.  But, remember, buy what you love for your home.

3 Ways to Boost Your Home Value on the Cheap

It’s now a good time to buy or sell a home. However, overspending many times to boost a home’s value is not a good idea. Some things can be done at a lot cheaper price, but the outcome will be a lot better than expected.

With that in mind, the following are three ways to boost one’s home value for more affordable prices. And even though some of these steps may seem minimal, the value will spruce up greatly:

1. Clean up thoroughly.

From a few bucks to a few thousands dollars depending on the amount of clutter, weird smells, and grime, cleaning thoroughly from top to bottom, inside and outside the home, and in garages and other areas outside the home go a long way. And the potential return from doing this step is three to five percent.

When cleaning thoroughly, one must depersonalize the space so that potential buyers can visualize how they can use that space. Even the opening of the curtains and blinds to let sun in will give them a better feel, and it would make the space appear bigger. For spaces that are severely cluttered, a professional organizer can help, and there are places like the Salvation Army who are willing to pick up belongings that are in good condition but is no longer needed. And with the harsh winds causing dirt marks and debris on homes in the Midwest, like Akron, OH, it’s important to do some power washing on the exterior of the home. One would be amazed of the significant difference after the thorough power washing.

2. Paint the rooms selectively.

Painting the walls a neutral color is always a good idea because potential buyers can visualize how they would use the space. Also, neutral colors go with any type of furniture they may want in that space. With this said, depersonalization is key here. Having purple walls may be great for the current residents, but it may be a turnoff to potential buyers who may automatically be withdrawn from buying the house because of that. Also, painting the walls are important because it makes the place appear bigger, cleaner, and fresher.

3. Fixing minor fixtures.

Whether it’s caulking the tub, fixing light fixtures, getting the burnt mark off the counter-top, or replacing some shingles that are more affordable and with a warranty, these steps would definitely make a great difference. It only costs a mere $100 to a few thousand dollars, depending on what all needs to be done. However, the potential return would amount from two to seven percent, depending on the work done.

Indoor Cold Weather Family Activities

It is usually cold in the Winter, but sometimes it gets really cold.  You know what I mean.  The “not going out in this unless I have to” cold.  If you are an active family, you may find yourself suddenly bored and trying to figure out what to do together in your home.  Of course there is always the Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime binge.  But there are also other things you can do that back in the day people did as a family but have fallen out of popularity.  Here are some ideas of things you can try doing in your house with some tea or hot chocolate.

  1. Unless you are very young, you probably have some board games around the house covered in dust.  Monopoly, Risk, Clue, Hungry Hungry Hippo, Scrabble, Chess, Checkers, Yahtzee – there are a lot of options and these were so fun before everyone got sucked permanently into their phones.
     
  2. No board games?  How about cards?  Rummy, Texas Hold’um, Go Fish – depends on the age of your kids but cards are a lot of fun and can teach critical skills and strategy.
     
  3. Another option is art and crafts.  Maybe you have not done them since you were a young child, but there is something therapeutic and fun about sitting and sketching or painting. If you have the stuff, you could always build a birdhouse in anticipation of Spring, or just do a mosaic of stuff you have around the house.
     
  4. Start learning a language – I know this sounds a bit out there but with online systems such as Babel, you can start learning a language for free.  Planning a trip this Summer?  Why not use these cold times to start the family down a linguistic journey.
     
  5. Maybe less of a group project and more a good way to spend some solo time is to start writing the book you always talk about.  Lots of people think about it but indoor months are the perfect time to turn off the TV and start putting pen to paper.  It is actually easy to publish your own book on Create Space, a service of Amazon.
     
  6. Declutter a room – OK, maybe not fun but think of how good it will feel when you have gone through the junk drawer or cleaned out a closet.  If you are going to be inside anyway you can always do this now so when it is nice you can be out hiking or swimming.

Yes, it might be too cold to be doing a lot of outside things for anyone other than die-hard outdoorsy types, but this can be a very positive time to have fun, connect with your family and get some useful things done.  Enjoy the cold.

Tax Advantages with Home Based Businesses

Tax advantages with home based businesses are plenty that there is no reason not to take the income opportunity home based business provides. Tax advantages include equipment deduction, deductions on office supplies and furniture, and travel needed to provide service.

Employing yourself to the income opportunity home based business basically means that you may have a certain area in the house dedicated to the business. The IRS regards this as the work space and allows deductions for any needs that will support that area of the house.Equipment including computers and service equipment needed to start the business can be deducted from taxes and allow ample opportunity to purchase what is needed. Thinking big in your business can be an excellent way to kick start the career from home but it is generally recommended to start small and then work up to more expensive equipment depending upon the area of expertise.

Deductions include furniture and office supplies for your income opportunity home based business and can provide the office space with enough to feel comfortable. Working from home should be a comfortable experience in order to provide enough space and arrangement for furniture to work within the area. Creating a theme in the workspace is highly recommended for the career from home minded individuals for a pleasant working environment.

Traveling, entertaining, and fuel expenses can also be deducted from the taxes of a home based business. These are plausible opportunities to gain further clients and provide service or products for the growth of the business.

Protect Your Family – Home Dangers

Carbon Monoxide – The silent killer

During the winter months, doors and windows remain closed at all times and the chance of fresh air circling in your home in great quantities is null. Not only is fresh air a problem during the winter months, but the furnace in constant use makes Carbon  Monoxide gas in your home a bit more likely.

A very inexpensive carbon monoxide detector can cost you less than $10 dollars at your local Target, Walmart, Lowe’s or Home Depot store. You can purchase a  battery operated detector or an electric one, but either choice is an inexpensive safety choice that can be a lifesaver for you.

Smoke Detectors

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends testing your smoke detectors monthly to make sure they are working properly. They also recommend changing the batteries in your smoke detectors yearly.  Keeping a regular schedule-say every October, or every thanksgiving-to change the batteries in the smoke detectors of your home should make it an easy thing to do every year.

Every ten years, the National Fire Protection Agency recommends changing the smoke detectors in your home.  Every floor in your home should have a smoke detector, including the basement and the attic.  The smoke detectors should be installed in the hallways, and outside and inside the bedrooms. Make sure to place a smoke detector close to the kitchen as well. For more information about fire prevention, check your local Fire department website. For the city of Akron Fire Department website, click here. (http://www.akronohio.gov/cms/akronfiredepartment/index.html)

Poisoning

According to National Council Safety’s website, unintentional poisoning is one of the leading causes of deaths in the adult population in the United States. Gases, households chemicals, lead poisoning and button batteries are some of the dangers lurking in your home that can be fatal for your young kids. Have you childproofed your home lately? Household cleaning products pose a risk to small children if they are not kept safely away from them.  Some of the products that experts recommend you check are laundry packets, paints, drain and toilet cleaners, and all cleaners you use in and around the home and keep in the house or garage.

Medicine kept in the bathroom cabinets are easily available to your child and can be abused. A Scholastic study found that children self-medicate as early as 11 years old. And according to the study, more than 10,000 minors are admitted into hospitals for overdosing on over the counter medications.  Keeping an eye on what you have and making sure you talk to your kids about the dangers of self-medicating can go a long way in preventing an overdose.

Keep your family safe by being proactive.

Basement Waterproofing Your Akron Home

The basement of our homes has become another extension of livable space for our families for many years now.  It has become a very functional entertaining space for children and adults alike.  It is no longer relegated to store unwanted furniture and boxes full of toys that are no longer needed, but instead, it has become a very enjoyable space for the entire family.

If you want to finish the basement of your home, waterproofing it before you start can be a very wise decision on your part.  Water seepage or leaking pipes can become a big problem if you leave them unattended and can eventually jeopardize the structure of your home.

For many families, waterproofing the basement of their home is a very expensive home maintenance upkeep to make, but can be devastating if you ignore the problems that can arise if you have an older home and ignore obvious water sign problems.

What are some of the easy signs that you can spot that can mean you need to waterproof your basement?

Water seepage can occur through the walls, the seams and up through the floor.  Digging around the foundation may not fix your problem if the water is seeping up the floor, the build up you are seen may be groundwater and digging outside the foundation won’t solve your problems. If this happening, you need to call a professional to come evaluate the problem and offer a solution for you.

  • Smelly musty odor
  • Water pooling on the floor – The humidity in the basement of your home may give it the musty odor you are experiencing and it may be caused by water seeping through the walls.
  • Mold or mildew –Condensation and the dust or other debris mixed can be the beginning of mildew in the basement.
  • Dampness –The dampness in the basement is a clear sign water is seeping into your home
  • Paint bubbling, walls bowing in, and cracked walls are all concerning signs that you have water problems in the basement and should be addressed quickly.

Choosing a basement waterproofing company to work in your home is too important to leave it to chance.  Research the companies in Northeast Ohio with a long history in the community and that time and again offer great workmanship along with great customer service.

 

Lawn Cleanup Tips

What you do to clean up your lawn in the fall depends on a few factors.

  1. Do you have a large or small yard?
  2. Do you have many or a few trees?
  3. Do you have kids that like to help?
  4. Does your Akron area home provide curb side leaf pickup?

There are a variety of techniques to clean the yard.  In Kent, where I like, we have trees that keep their leaves until Spring in some cases.  That means we are picking up leaves throughout the Fall, Winter (if warmer) and Spring.  Because of this I like to pick them up in batches and not try to do the entire lawn at once.

30 Years ago you saw people raking and bagging the leaves.  Now the manual way to get it done is to rake leaves onto a tarp and drag the tarp to the front of the house and dump them along the curb and they will get cleaned up by your city in many cases.

Other options include leaf blowers.  Electric leaf blowers are inexpensive, but will only work well for modest amounts of leaves that are dry.  A gas leaf blower will be able to handle more leaves and damp leaves much better.  Make sure you wear ear plugs to protect your hearing.

Another option is simply to mow the leaves if they are few and scattered.  Mulching them into the yard with your lawnmower set low is good if there are not too many.

Lastly, hire a company to come and clean your yard.  If you are older or too busy, having a landscape company come and use blowers to clean your yard well will save you the hassle and difficulty.

Remember, just like shoveling snow, raking leaves is not an activity your body is most likely used to and it can be dangerous if you push too hard or try to do too much.  You will likely be sore for days and you could hurt your back or suffer other injuries, so make a smart choice to remove your leaves and cleaning your yard.

 

Gutter Cleaning – Must

Many people do not keep their gutters adequately clean. Sometimes this neglect comes from a forgetful owner, but often the consequences that result from improper gutter maintenance are simply not taken seriously. This is a costly mistake to make both in monetary terms and in the potential for serious injury.

Gutters are a part of almost every building and for a very good reason: Water must be directed away from the foundation. When debris such as tree leaves, pine needles, sticks and dust clog up the gutters, water then has nowhere to go. Any water that is not able to spill over the sides of the gutter begins to collect against the roof and rot will quickly set in. When this happens, the possibility exists that major repairs will then be required.

Rain water that spills over the gutter can not only cause soil erosion where it hits the ground, but it also can create a persistent accumulation of water that can seep into the ground and collect against the foundation of the building. This can put additional stress on concrete walls, creating cracks and causing basements to leak and become damp. In addition to simply causing the area to smell bad, this dampness can cause an infestation of mold. Many serious health complications may then result, such as asthma and allergies. Mold is very difficult to rid from a building and may quickly become so pervasive that staying in the structure is impossible.

Finally, when gutters are not cleaned, the debris acts as a perfect place for seeds to sprout. As these weeds and trees grow and multiply, their additional weight can cause the gutters to collapse.

Gutter cleaning is more than a responsibility: It is a critical part of properly maintaining any structure and is of vital importance.

Home Ownership in The Akron and Surrounding Areas

According to a recent study conducted by Harvard University found that almost 40 million Americans can’t afford their homes.  Mortgage, insurance, and taxes have become a heavy burden for many people that bought too much house, to begin with, and now are financially distressed.  The study also found that people that want to buy are unable to, due to the high cost of homes.

Wages have not kept up with inflation, while the increase in rent has risen considerably over the last few years making the dream of owning a home a bit less unattainable.

In the Akron and surrounding areas, the cost of a home is affordable depending on the neighborhood. A quick search can give you 2,752 homes for sale in less than a minute, with prices ranging from the low 20’s to the 250s. Homes in cities like Los Angeles and New York seem pretty impossible to own.  The median house value of a home in Los Angeles is approximate $633,000 according to the website Zillow.

What to do then if you really want to own a home?  You have to ask yourself several questions before you decide. 

  1. Have you saved enough for a down payment?  Banks and mortgage lenders’ interest rates and options for a loan change if you have a nice downpayment for a home.  It is also good for you to know you can be disciplined enough to save as the costs associated with keeping a home after you buy it can be shocking for first-time buyers.
  2. How much house can you afford? You can go to any mortgage calculator on the web and enter your income. It will give you different options depending on what you enter, but it should not exceed more than 35% of your debt. Your monthly mortgage payment, car payments, child support payment, credit card and student loan payments should not exceed that amount. Remember you CAN buy too much home and eventually lose it, don’t fall into that trap.
  3. Is this your dream home, or only a home for a few years? Many people buy a first home planning to eventually get their dream home.  If that is your case, planning where and what to buy is extremely important.  You don’t want a neighborhood where home values are decreasing yearly, or if you have children, where the school district is not up to standard. Take your time and choose well.
  4. How do you feel about buying a fixer-upper? If you or your spouse are handy and enthusiastic about fixing a home, why not buy a fixer-upper?  Depending on the problems with a fixer-upper, you can really have a beautiful home without having a crippling mortgage.  Pay attention to the foundation of the home first and foremost. The foundation’s structural integrity is too important to the home for you to leave it up to chance.  If there is a problem with the foundation, call a foundation repair specialist for a quote and professional advice.
  5. Will your family keep the standard of living they were accustomed to? Buying a home does not mean you have to sit around staring at the walls of your home for years because you did not anticipate the cost associated with keeping up the home. The mortgage payment, taxes, and insurance you calculated before buying the home does not take into account the upkeep of the home.  As a rule, you need to save 1% of the cost of the home for the upkeep every single year.  Sometimes, we do not anticipate this and it can be a bit painful if we are already stretched too thin.

Most people would like to own their homes, it is the American dream after all, but don’t fall into the trap of buying too much house that you are always afraid of losing it.

5 Ways To Get Your House Ready to Sell

It’s time to move! Whether your job is taking you to a new city, you’re ready for a fresh start across the country, or you’re moving down the street for a few extra bedrooms, moving is a stressful, challenging time. As you prepare to put your house on the market, you have to be ready for strangers to traipse through your home at any given time. And most importantly, you need to impress them to get it sold. The following tips can make a big difference, and are sure to get that SOLD placard on your lawn in a flash.

1) Clean it up! It sounds simple, but a clean home is inviting, presentable, and gives potential buyers a look at the house in its most perfect possible state. Dust those ceiling fans, mop the floors, and make every surface sparkle. And don’t forget the outside – clean the gutters and power wash the siding.

2) Outdoors matter. Speaking of the outside, don’t neglect your landscaping. Plant a few flowers, pull out the weeds, and keep it freshly mowed for the best first impression you can give. We tell kids to never judge a book by its cover, but it’s unavoidable – everyone wants a pleasant looking home.
 
3) Fix everything. There would be nothing worse than thinking you have your house sold, but the deal gets hung up because of some needed repairs. It’s a buyer’s market, so make it easy on yourself in advance and replace those broken windows and the broken water heater. And that bright orange bedroom wall you love? Not everyone will, so repaint it a neutral white or gray before you leave.
 
4) Organization is key! Buyers may open up that forgotten closet or unkempt drawers, and if it looks jam-packed or messy, they might be led to assume there just isn’t enough storage space in the house. Keep it neat!
 
5) Make it inviting. Some of the smallest details matter a lot to buyers who are imagining what life might look like in your home. Get a new welcome mat, keep out just a few striking trinkets and artwork, and make it feel like home.