Prepping Your Home for Spring

It was a rough winter—let’s face it. As Western New Yorkers, we’re accustomed to the bitter cold and consistent piling up of snow. Many of us enjoy it, and for those of us who don’t, we do our best to tolerate it. We plan for the season’s arrival each year, but we often cannot predict when the season will change over—after all, Groundhog’s Day is kind of a joke, right?

Not knowing when the beautiful spring season will arrive can leave our wardrobes and our homes a bit vulnerable. While we can’t help you with the wardrobe conundrum, we can give some guidance as to how to prepare your home for spring after a particularly nasty winter. 

  

1. Get up there and inspect your roof. Check for loose or warped shingles and make sure your gutters are all in place and unclogged. Remember – April(ish) showers bring May(ish) flowers, so you’ll want to make sure your home is protected.
2. Clear debris away from drains outside. Again, with the rain on your doorstep, you’ll want to be sure there’s proper flow away from your home.
3. Check your window and door seals. These can really take a beating over the winter, so examine the exterior caulking on all seals to be sure they’re still watertight.
4. Patch up cracks. You’d be surprised how damaging ice and snow can be, especially on your driveway and sidewalks (and if you hire a plow service). Patching up cracks will prevent further separation and will also keep water out.
5. Check your home’s grading. With snowdrifts, uneven snow melting and other elements, your yard may not be sloped properly, and could therefore put your foundation at risk. Roll out your lawn if need be, to prevent sitting water.

Don’t wait too long to inspect your home’s condition. Do you have any other tips to share on prepping your home for the spring season?

Keeping Your House Clean with Pets

Hair. Dander. Slobber. While we love our dogs and cats, these are all common grievances of pet ownership. As the weather starts to turn (we promise it will happen soon), you’ll begin to notice less dander and more hair, as winter coats give way to warmer temperatures. Slobber, on the other hand, is a year-round ordeal.

Whether you’re a new pet owner or a seasoned caregiver, there’s always a certain amount of vigilance that goes along with owning a furry companion and keeping your house looking (and smelling) like you don’t own a zoo. It is by no means easy work, but here are some tips on keeping your house fresh for all. 

 For those with furball-tumbleweed producers, it can sometimes seem like keeping floors and carpets clean is an endless chore. Brushing your dog or cat regularly will decrease the amount of hair in the air and on the floor.

Brushing at least twice weekly will really make a difference, and if you’re able to brush your pet outside, you can really reduce the amount of airborne hair. If you’re unsure about what type of brush would suit your four-legged friend best, consult your vet.

Not only will brushing your pet more frequently help with keeping hair accumulation at bay, for cats, tidy coats will help to eliminate hairballs, which will certainly help keep your house cleaner.

Bathing might seem like a natural solution to stinky, shedding dogs, but frequent bathing can sometimes result in dryer skin, and even more dander. Cats will clean themselves unless they are sick or elderly. Dogs, however, should not be bathed more than once per month, unless they’ve been rolling around in dirt or mud.

Having just spent the past few months cooped up inside due to cold weather, it’s likely your air filter has been picking up a lot of stray dust and hair. Be sure to check your filters every couple of weeks, depending on how much your pets shed.

As far as solutions for slobber, there isn’t too much you can do, aside from keeping damp cloths available. For larger dogs with droopy jowls, narrow hallways tend to collect drool, so definitely add a wipe-down to your weekly routine.

What's in Your Credit Score?

You may think your credit score is just a number, but to a lender, it can be the difference between offering you the best available market rate, and a much higher mortgage payment.

Understanding what goes into your credit score is important. Short credit history can been seen as a negative on your report, as it reflects a shorter time period of financial responsibility—the less experience you have making (any) payment, the less likely you are to understand how to handle a larger payment, like a house. Late payments can put a damper on your credit score, too, as they reflect poor money management. Additionally, having a high debt-to-income ratio can impact your score, because it shows you are charging beyond your means.

 Here are some tips on improving your credit score before applying for a mortgage:

1.     Get a credit card if you don’t have one. Showing lenders you’re able to manage small amounts of debt and be responsible.

2.     Use your credit cards lightly, if at all. Some suggest not making any purchases 6-9 months before applying for a mortgage. This means no fancy restaurants, new Play Station consoles, or shopping sprees. Use the money you’re not spending and apply those dollars to your debts! Maintaining balances under 30% of the credit limit can really make a difference.

3.     Make payments on time for car payments, medical bills, and credit cards. If possible, pay off these installment loans as low as possible.

4.     If you’ve been a good customer, some lenders may agree to forgive that one late payment from your credit history. Make some calls and see who would be willing to help.

5.     Don’t recognize something on your credit report? Mistakes happen—but it’s ultimately up to you to do your homework. Dispute old negative claims when you can.

You may be missing out on the best interest rates if your credit score is not above 760, and scores in the 600’s may need a couple years to resolve. If you’re ready to build your home, but need a little help with your credit score, Faber can set you up with credit counseling to get you on the right track. We’ll work with you to get you in the home you deserve.

Designing the Perfect Kitchen

You’ve been pinning ideas to your Pinterest boards for what seems like years, and you’re finally ready to put your dream kitchen together. You might know what color cabinets you want, but do you know what style? Will your ideal floor match those cabinets, and how can you select the right countertop to pull it all together?

Here’s a few things to consider when you start building your culinary space – it is, after all, where you spend most of your day!

Cabinet materials can make a huge impact on your kitchen’s look. Darker stains are much more modern, while lighter woods remain very traditional. Flat cabinet doors give a minimalist look, louvered cabinet doors give the kitchen a very distinctive appearance, and beadboard doors give a more cottage-feel to your kitchen.  Consider glass panels if you have unique China to display.

Dressing up your cabinets with unique hardware can enhance your cabinets, while sleek, traditional knobs and pulls can help to tame your design. Test out a few in the hardware section if you have a couple extra minutes – you’d be surprised how they can make or break your kitchen’s design and flow.

Have you thought about a wet bar or island in your kitchen? Islands are great for creating pathways in your home (especially in Faber’s open floor plans), storing extra items, and creating more space to craft delicious meals. Islands are also fantastic places to seat a few people for a quick dinner or a couple cocktails.

 For flooring, it’s best to choose for your family’s need. Porcelain tiles are low-maintenance and match nearly any design, while stone tiles are appealing in formal setting, Generally, the more texture, grain, decorative options and finish your selected cabinets have, the more your floor is able to aesthetically handle.

Countertops, like hardware, can enhance or tame your design. Two of three of these components should have the same tone or accent color: cabinets, flooring and countertops. Dark cabinets and light countertops should have a dark floor counterpart, for example, helping to solidify the design.

There’s a lot to consider, so get designing!

Designing Your Bathroom

When you build a new home, you start completely from scratch. With Faber Homes, you even have the ability to change our floor plans based on your needs. Not a fan of sharing a sink? Make it two. Don’t like to reach down to your counters? We can raise your cabinets and countertops. You can even upgrade windows to add more natural light to your bathroom space. But what are some of the other aesthetics you should take into consideration when you schedule your preconstruction meeting and design meeting at our Claridge Design Centre?

  

Functionality. Ultimately, you need a functional floor plan depending on how many people will use the bathroom, and how often those using it will do so simultaneously. Also keep in mind, by International Residential Code, toilets must be at least 15 inches from any other bath fixture, wall or other obstacle. Always try to leave 24 inches of clear floor space in front of the shower, to ensure you have enough room to enter and exit safely. For roomier floor plans, you can always opt for taller toilets, wider doorways or even curbless showers.

Create a color palette. This might sound like an after-construction tip, but in reality, understanding what colors you’re working with will help you design the space. Keep your color palette consistent by choosing hand and bath towels in similar shades found in your wall coverings (paper or paint) and window treatments. Being too matchy-matchy will keep your bathroom looking one-dimensional. Instead of matching colors exactly, select colors that are just slightly off from one another.

Lighting. We mentioned perhaps choosing larger windows for your bathroom to bring in natural light, but if you’re a fan of even more privacy, there are ways to bring the best light in your bathroom. For example, choose diffused lighting or fixtures with frosted-glass, as this will mimic natural light best, and allow you to see yourself in the most flattering light among true colors.

Bring your ideas to preconstruction and design meetings and our experts can help you decide how to implement your ideas to create the best bathroom in your brand new home.

Choosing the Right Carpet

Chances are, you’ll likely have to select carpet in your new home. It might seem like an easy task, but choosing carpet is very important. Carpeting provides a soft, plush spot for children to play and even a slip-free surface for animals in your home. There are different textures to take into account, varying colors, and designs – so where do you start?

With these top five tips on choosing carpet, we hope to help you select the best option for your family’s needs.

1. Skimping on carpet padding. This may seem like a trivial tip, but you’d be surprised how another quarter-inch of padding can transform the feeling of your carpet. According to the Carpet and Rug Institute, the cushion not only helps to buffer sound, but also provides increased insulation. As a general rule, select a cushion with no more than 7/16-inch thickness, and no less than ¼ inch thickness.
2. Keep maintenance in mind. Homeowners with dogs, cats, and kids should always avoid shag carpets, as they can harbor hair, dust and dirt, and they’re also much more difficult to keep clean. If family members routinely wear shoes indoors, lighter colored carpets probably aren’t the best choice.
3. Texture. In high-traffic areas, selecting carpet (and rugs) that are darker and have patterns will help to conceal tracks. In those high-traffic areas, it’s best to stick with level loop or high-density loop carpets, while multilevel loop carpets are best in medium-traffic and low-traffic areas.
4. Don’t forget about the staircase. Your staircase will get a lot of wear as perhaps one of the highest-trekked places in your home. Choosing a thinner carpet may mean you’ll see the unsightly backing when the carpet finally does wear in and curl over the step. The best choice for staircase carpet is one that is a woven wool, as it is the most durable.
5. Dust mites and allergies. If you or someone in your family is overly-prone to allergies, both indoor and outdoor, carpet may not be for you. Depending on where the allergy-affected individuals spend the most time, vinyl, tile or even laminate flooring can provide a sanctuary. Bedrooms can be a good place to replace carpeting with another option.

Bring your concerns and design ideas to your Claridge Design Centre meeting and our experts will make sure to accommodate all of your flooring needs.

Selling Your Home

You’re ready to build a home but there’s one thing standing in your way: your current home. It’s sellable, yes, but could some upgrades help you get it on and off the market quickly? Don’t worry, there are ways to increase the value of your home without breaking the bank.

Some of the best upgrades you can make to your home are undoubtedly the kitchen and bathrooms. Unfortunately, these are often the most expensive rooms to upgrade. A full-blown kitchen upgrade can cost upwards of $40,000, and a bathroom remodel can cost more than $10,000.

Replacing a sink and/or bathtub can be a very expensive endeavor. Instead, these items can be resurfaced for a fraction of the cost. In the same vein, cabinets do not have to be replaced. With a fresh coat of stain or paint, cabinets can take on a whole new personality.

Another way to save is with tile counters, walls, and backsplashes. These surfaces often just need a good deep clean, followed by a re-grout. You’d be surprised how much the appearance will change and improve—and for a much lower price tag to boot.

Don’t forget about the exterior. Curb appeal can make or break first impressions. Rent a power washer or even hire a professional cleaning service to clean the exterior of your home. If the weather permits, a fresh coat of paint can greatly reduce your investment dollars and can really improve the appearance of your home.

Some other smaller tips that help to sell your home quickly include:

• Clear out cluttered rooms and remove as much furniture as possible. This will help the prospective homeowner visualize how their environment will look. This goes for closet space, too.
• Steam clean carpets and furniture and wash walls. You may think your home smells fresh and clean, but you also live in the home and are used to its odors. Often times, people with pets or who smoke do not realize how their home smells.
• Bright rooms are inviting. If you’re able to put up a fresh coat of paint in dark rooms—do it. Learn to love white walls for a little while. Also, open blinds and let the natural light in.