Admirals Cove Blog
Keeping Your Home Cool 101!
One of the most desirable aspects of living in an area like South Florida is the warm and tropical weather. But this heat can often be too much to handle in the summer months and can make it extremely difficult to try and keep your home cool. However, keeping your home cool during the summer months can be an issue for homeowners all over the country. So if you need help keeping your home cool check out this list of our top tips and tricks. Consider installing a few ceiling fans throughout your home. Make sure your home is completely sealed from top to bottom. Consider planting trees or shrubs to help shade your home. Have your air conditioner serviced for optimum efficiency. Replace all of your incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent ones. Turn off your electronic devices when not in use. Wash only full loads of clothing and utilize a clothesline when you can. Consider upgrading your insulation and installing double pained windows. Add white window shades and or mini blinds on all windows with lots of sun. Consider replacing your roof shingles with light colored ones. Take short showers instead of baths to reduce hot water usage. Consider adding awnings over windows less roof covering. Consider installing an attic fan to circulate any excess heat. Add a dehumidifier to help lower the humidity in your home. Plan and eat more cold meals that don’t need more preparation. Try to BBQ and cook outside more...
read moreMake The Best Out Of Your Outdoor Living Area!
A big part of the homeownership dream is creating an outdoor living area where you can entertain and relax. However, you don’t need to sacrifice a lot of space to create the perfect outdoor living area. Just follow these great tips and tricks to create the perfect outdoor living space that fulfills all of your needs and wants. 1.) Plant Vertically: If you want to bring in some vegetation into this area but don’t want to sacrifice the space consider planting vertically. That way you can get the vegetation you desire without overwhelming the area. 2.) Store Your Furniture: If you plan on using this area to entertain family and friends consider bringing your furniture out only during that time. That way you won’t take away any unnecessary space when you want to use the area for other things. 3.) Establish A Traffic Pattern: Every living area whether outdoor or indoor works better when you establish some sort of traffic pattern. This can be done many different ways from laying down a formal walkway to creating shifts in the landscape. 4.) Create Some Privacy: It is important that you create some sense of privacy in your outdoor living area. A great way to provide this privacy is to line some of or all of your outdoor living area with bushes or dwarf trees. 5.) Introduce Some Visual Appeal: You need to be sure and introduce some visual appeal into this area. Small accents like sculptures, water features, and even potted plants and trees can do a wonder on the areas visual appeal. 6.) Design A Focal Point: Just as with an indoor living area you need to design your outdoor living area around a central focal point. Generally all of your other accents and furnishings will be designed and arranged around this focus point. 7.) Incorporate A Fire Source: No matter where you live there is nothing more inviting and comfortable than a fire. You can introduce a fire source many different ways from a custom built in fireplace to a small portable fire...
read moreStaying Cool During The Home Buying Process!
The home buying process can be a very stressful experience when not dealt with the right way. It is a very delicate procedure that needs to be prepared for correctly and handled carefully. Anyone can get overwhelmed at times but if you follow these tips and tricks you are sure to stay cool during your home buying experience. 1.) Trust In The Right Agent: Maybe the most important thing that can be done to help ensure that you stay cool and don’t get stressed out is to trust in the right real estate agent. Enlisting the help of the right real estate agent affords you all the knowledge and experience to ensure that you have a smooth and successful home buying experience. Having an expert there to advise you along the way will decrease your potential stress and anxiety. 2.) Prepare, Prepare, Prepare: Maybe just as important is preparing for this experience the right way. It is imperative that you go into this experience knowing not only what your needs and wants are in a home but exactly what you can afford in one as well. It is also extremely important to get pre-approved for this certain amount before you even go looking at any potential homes. Knowing what you want, what you can afford, and how much you are approved for will make your home buying experience so much smoother and less stressful. 3.) Don’t Stress On The Details: In order for you to stay cool and not stress out it is important that you focus on the big picture and not all the little details. It is very difficult to keep your cool when you are constantly stressing the little things. By focusing on the big picture of home ownership all the little details don’t seem to be so bad. It is good to keep in mind that no matter what everything will be worth it when you are living in your dream home. 4.) Don’t Neglect Yourself: When going through the home buying process it is very important that you don’t neglect yourself. Throughout this experience you need to put in the time to take care of yourself and free your mind from the home buying experience. By treating yourself to a round of golf, a spa day, a shopping spree, or anything else that makes you happy will alleviate any anxiety and stress and revamp your entire home buying...
read moreBuying A Home 101!
Buying a home can be a very difficult and stressful experience and at times it can be extremely hard to keep your emotions out of it. All too often potential buyers get emotionally involved in a home or an aspect of a home and wind up with a home that either doesn’t fit them or that they simply just can not afford. However, there are many tips and tricks to the home buying experience that will ensure you wind up with a home that you can afford and that fits you perfectly. 1.) Check The Utility Bills: It is important for you to ask your sellers for past utility bills but be sure to get them for various times throughout the year. Because as we all know different utilities spike at different times during the year. 2.) Research Taxes: You need to research the property taxes of your potential homes but you should look at several recent tax bills. Because some areas re-appraise their homes frequently which can have property taxes skyrocketing year after year. 3.) Explore The Surrounding Area: If you don’t know much about the local area or only know what you have read online it is important that you get out there and really explore the surrounding area. You may think that a certain area has a lot to offer but its best to know for sure either way. 4.) Get Your Own Home Inspection: It is very rare that you will find a home with absolutely no issues or quirks so it is extremely important that you have your own home inspection done. Also knowing about any needed repairs or potential issues can help you negotiate a better price. A home inspection can also give you the information needed to walk away from a bad investment. 5.) Ask The Right Questions: You need to prepare yourself to ask the seller the right questions. Not only is it important to ask the seller the right questions, you should also try and have some questions prepared for the neighbors. Sometimes the neighbors can be the best source of information on not only the home but the neighborhood as well. 6.) Check It Out At Various Times: It is important that you take the time to check out your potential homes at various times throughout the day. This is so you can check out the neighborhoods activity at different times. During the day the noise level might be tolerable but after school or at night it might to much for you to...
read moreMoving To A New Home 101!
Many people are planning to move this year whether it is just to a different rental or to their newly bought home. Either way moving can be an arduous and stressful experience but if handled correctly it doesn’t need to be that way. Here is a list of the top moving tips and tricks to help ensure your moving experience is a complete success. 1.) Arrange Your Utility Hookups ASAP: It is important that you set up your utility hookups as soon as you can because it can take anywhere from a couple days to couple weeks to get everything set up. Your move will be so much less stressful when you know that your new home is move in ready. 2.) Hire Your Moving Company Right Away: If you need to utilize a moving company be sure to hire and reserve them for your moving dates. Be sure to contact several movers and contact their recent clients to ensure that you hire the right one to fit your perfectly. 3.) Pare Down Your Belongings: There is no need to move all the clutter and junk that you never use over to your new home just to clutter it up too. So be sure and pare down your belongings by either throwing things away or donating anything still good to the poor. Anything you donate can be added up and deducted from your taxes. 4.) Stay Organized: It is import that you stay as organized as possible throughout your moving experience. This means labeling all boxes and even keeping records of where your things are. Consider having a personal organizer dedicated just to planning and executing your move to ensure you are completely organized. 5.) Give Your New Home A Thorough Cleaning: The last owners or tenants may have cleaned the home already. But it is a good idea to give yourself a fresh start by cleaning it before you unpack all of your stuff. Be sure to give your home a nice thorough cleaning for some piece of mind. 6.) Remember The Little Things: It is very important that you remember all the little things like shades and curtains for all your windows, toilet paper for each bathroom, flowers for the kitchen and things like these to ensure that your move is as comfortable as it can...
read moreSpring Cleaning 101!
Springtime is upon us and with that comes the difficult and daunting task of spring cleaning. However with a little help your spring cleaning experience doesn’t have to be that bad. So we have developed a list of the top spring cleaning advice to help ensure that your spring cleaning experience is a complete success. Organize Your Closets: Cleaning out and organizing your closets is the first step to cleaning and organizing the rest of your home. Throw out anything that you don’t use any more and organize the rest to create more space and better functionality. Reorganize Your Shelves: Your next step is to sort and organize all of the shelf space throughout your home. Be sure to rid these areas of any clutter or trash and then organize anything that is left to create more space and aesthetic appeal. Clean Your Walls: Be sure to give all of the walls in your home a good cleaning to freshen up your homes feeling. Start with a damp sponge or cloth then wipe it down with a mixture of water and dishwasher detergent and finish it off by rinsing each wall with a damp sponge. Clean Your Carpets: It is very important that you keep your carpets clean all year long. But it is a great idea to take this time to give them a good and thorough cleaning. Either hire a carpet cleaning company or rent one and do all the work yourself just be sure to get them cleaned. Clean Your Tiles And Grout: Be sure to take the time to give any tile and grout throughout your home a good scrubbing. Cleaning your tile and grout with two gallons of water mixed with a half cup of baking soda will really help freshen up its look and appeal. . Take Care Of Your Wood Floors: This is a great time to take care of your wood floors and bring out their shine. Be sure to give your wood floors a good cleaning and consider taking the time to give them a full waxing to really bring out their appeal. Give Your Home A Little Makeover: It is a great idea to take advantage of this time of cleaning and reorganizing to create a different mood in your home by giving it a little makeover. This can be easily done with a change of bedding, table settings, throw pillows, area rugs, etc. Freshen Up The Feeling: It is the time of year for flowers and fresh air. So consider freshening up your home by opening up your windows and adding some fresh cut flowers. Spend A Little Time On Curb Appeal: Be sure to take the time to put in the effort to boost your cub appeal as well. Spring cleaning isn’t only for the interior of your home so be sure to put in some time and effort cleaning and sprucing up its exterior as...
read moreMoving With Young Children 101!
It doesn’t matter whether you are planning to move across the country or just to a different house down the street moving with kids can be a very difficult and stressful experience. However, kids tend to be very resilient and as long as you take the proper time and care to listen to their concerns and prepare them for what to expect you can help them to see this more of an adventure and not something to be dreaded. Here is a list of tips and hints that are sure to help you and your children make it through your moving experience. 1.) Throw A Moving Party: A great idea is for you to plan and throw a moving party with your kids. A moving party is a great way to bring some fun and excitement into an otherwise stressful situation. Kids love parties and it will help them view moving as more of a celebration. 2.) Make Moving An Adventure: No matter what you do moving will create havoc and upheaval in your children’s lives. The best thing to do is to try and make it seem more like an adventure when you move with kids. This will make it more fun and enjoyable for everyone involved. 3.) Make A List Of All The New And Exciting Things You Can Do: It is important that you sit down with your kids and make a list of any and all of the new fun and exciting things you will be able to do in your new home. This list will be there for you to pull out and show them when moving starts getting to be too hard. 4.) Utilize Alternate Entertainment: It is important that you have alternate forms of entertainment available to keep your kids busy. If you have babysitters available be sure to use them. You will be much more productive if you can be afforded a few kid free hours each day. 5.) Preserve Your Family Routines: After you have moved into your new home many things will change but it is very important that you try and maintain some of your family routines and traditions. These routines and traditions will make the transition much easier for both you and your kids. 6.) Don’t Throw Away Your Moving Boxes Right Away: Don’t throw away your moving boxes right away because all kids love playing with boxes. There is an unlimited amount of fun things you and your kids can do with your moving boxes and any fun you can infuse into this experience will be well...
read moreTips For Selling Your Home In Spring!
If you are trying to sell your home this spring you need to prepare your self for the process. Even in a sellers market a successful sale depends on a variety of different factors. Here is a list of very useful and effective home selling tips that are sure to have you completely satisfied when you go to sell your home this spring. 1.) Freshen Up Your Curb Appeal: As in any selling experience curb appeal is extremely important. This is going to help develop the first impression your potential buyers form about your home. Because its spring, potential buyers will want to see perfectly manicured yards with lush beautiful flowers and plants. 2.) Make Some Minor Upgrades: These upgrades aren’t designed to really deliver you a dollar for dollar return. They are more for increasing your homes appeal and setting it apart from the competition. These upgrades include things like a fresh coat of paint, new kitchen and bath fixtures, and any other simple low cost upgrades that can help enhance how potential buyers view your home. 3.) Make Any Necessary Repairs: It is important that you make any necessary repairs. You may also want to consider hiring a home inspector and then making the repairs that they say need to be made before you go selling your home. A buyer may ask you to pay $1000 for a repair just to see it done “right” even though you probably could have gotten it done for around $300. 4.) Price It Right: Even though we are seeing some home prices rising, it is imperative that you set an asking price that is reasonable and comparable to similar homes that have sold recently. Experts say that poorly priced homes tend to stay on the market for three to four months longer. That is if they sell at all. 5.) Hire The Right Realtor: Maybe the most important aspect of a successful home sale with springtime being no different is hiring the right realtor. Be sure that you hire a real estate professional that is a specialist in your area and has a proven track record of...
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