09
Jul
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage Tips

The Renovations That Provide The Best Return On Your Investment

The Renovations That Provide The Best Return On Your InvestmentRenovating a home is not only a way to increase the family’s standard of living but it can also be seen as an investment. There are multiple ways for someone to increase the value of their home and renovations are one of the most straightforward. At the same time, some investments offer a better return than others.

Those who are thinking about selling their home in the future should strive to get every dollar possible. Renovations can make this happen.

Garage Door Replacement

When people think about renovations, they don’t often think about the garage. Some people don’t even include their garage in their square footage because it might not be heated; however, replacing the garage door can provide a major investment return.

In some cases, the value of the garage door itself may double with a simple replacement. While some people dread the prospect of replacing a damaged garage door, even upgrading a working one can lead to a significant return!

Manufactured Stone Veneer

Stone is a popular building material because it provides a sleek look in addition to being versatile. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that a stone veneer will also provide a major investment return. For those who spend around ten thousand dollars on a stone veneer, the value of this investment may nearly double. This provides a great way to not only upgrade the home but also increase its resale value.

Entry Door Replacement

A home’s doors are incredibly important because not only do they a measure of security but also they also draw someone’s eyes. Replacing an entry door may provide an investment return of close to 90 percent. Because this job can be handled quickly by a trained professional, this can be a quick upgrade for those looking to boost the value of their home before selling it.

Plan for Warm Weather Renovations

With the weather starting to heat up, many individuals and families are looking to plan their renovation projects for the summer. Think about the projects wisely as they can have a significant impact on the value of a home. Renovations should be viewed as investments as well as upgrades for the family’s standard of living. 

05
Jun
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage Tips

How To Choose A Moving Company

How To Choose A Moving CompanyOnce you’ve accepted an offer on your house, the next thing you should do is schedule a moving company. The earlier you plan for the moving company, the more time you’ll have to research your options and ensure that you can reserve the date you need. 

Narrow Down By Services

The first step is to narrow down your choices so you can focus on moving companies that are best suited for your needs.

  • First, determine if you need a long distance mover or a regional mover. Long distance movers will have larger trucks and/or semi-trailers; regional movers will have mid-to-small sized trucks only.
  • Next, decide if you want to do all your packing yourself or if you want the movers to pack your possessions. Don’t worry about the furniture; most movers will insist on wrapping furniture to protect it from damage.
  • Finally, decide if you want help unpacking on the other end.

Once you’ve narrowed down the list with these three criteria, you’re ready to start contacting moving companies.

Ask Questions

Prepare a list of questions to ask all the moving companies you’re considering. This way, you’ll be comparing apples to apples and it will make your final decision more clear. The first things to ask are if they meet the criteria that’s mentioned above. Next, move on to your prepared list.

Following are some questions you should definitely ask. You may also have other questions to add to the list.

  • What kind of insurance coverage do you provide?
  • What if my moving date needs to change?
  • What guarantees do you offer as far as showing up and delivering the possessions as promised?
  • Do you have at least two previous clients I can call for references?
  • How many hours does it typically take you to do a move of this size?

Get Estimates

A quality moving company will want to send over a representative to inventory your possessions to ensure an accurate estimate. This is standard procedure, and you should lead the rep through your home so you can answer any questions.

Your final decision should be based on the criteria you need, the affordability, and quality you think you’ll receive based on the answers to your questions and your impression of the representative.  

 

 

02
Jun
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage Tips

Routine Maintenance Of Various Systems In Your Home

Routine Maintenance Of Various Systems In Your HomeWhen you are a first-time homeowner, learning about your property can feel overwhelming. There are a number of systems in your home that require routine maintenance. Knowing when to have system serviced will help keep your home running smoothly. From the plumbing in your home, to the heating and cooling, understand that each system may need routine maintenance from time to time. 

Your Heating And Cooling System

To maintain comfortable air temperatures in your home, it’s important to keep your heating and cooling system up-to-date. If you have a whole home system, it should be serviced once before the heating season and once before the cooling season. When you get filters changed, and your system serviced, you are less likely to have to deal with emergency repairs. In addition, your HVAC system will run more efficiently.

When You Have A Septic System

Waste water leaves your home either through the town sewer system or through a septic tank. If you have a septic system on your property, you need to have the system serviced every other year. Check the records of your septic system to see when it was serviced previously.

Address Plumbing Issues

A leaky faucet is a localized problem, while discovering that all of the drains in your home are draining slowly is systemic. You need to repair small leaks to avoid wasting water in your home, while systemic problems must be addressed by a professional. If your drains aren’t working correctly, you may have a block in your main sewer line. Know where the main shut off valve is for the water coming in to your home in case of an emergency.

Electrical Needs In Your Home

Your home has an intricate electrical system that is controlled by an electrical panel usually located in your basement. When a circuit trips, you will need to reset the circuit breaker. If your home consistently has problems with a specific circuit, you’ll want to have the circuit checked by an electrician to see if it is overloaded.

It’s exciting to own a home for the first time. Once you understand the various systems in your home, it becomes easier to take care of your property. With good maintenance, you can help avoid emergency repairs to your home. Your heating and cooling will be more efficient, and you won’t run in to problems with your septic system if you have one. If there is something you don’t understand in your home, call a professional to get the problem looked at.