Archives for 2013

5 Apps to Help Declutter Your Closets

November 25, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte 1 Comment

If you’ve ever longed for the futuristic closet in Clueless – or just dreamed of easily locating your shoes before work – look no further than your smart phone!

While we can’t promise the supercharged conveyor-belt in Cher’s closet, we can set you up with a virtual way to manage your wardrobe like a boss.

That way, you’ll stay organized, keep track of what you own and always be able to find that missing saddleback shoe.

Here are five of our favorite closet-organization apps:

Stylitics

iPhone, Android (free)

If you’re interested in coordinating your closet by color, style or pattern, this app makes that easy.

Styliticsbasically takes the thought out of getting dressed (which can help make mornings less stressful). This app sends push notifications or “style alerts” giving you trend and weather updates.

Bonus: Make sure you check out the outfit suggestion feature! Because the app keeps track of when a piece of clothing was last worn, it can actually suggests outfits for you based off how often you wear certain items.

Good Housekeeping @Home

Android, iOS (free)

If you’re looking to free up some room in your closet, this app is for you.

Created by Good Housekeepingmagazine, this app includes step-by-step guides to help you clear clutter and advice on staying organized.

BrightNest

iPhone (free)

BrightNest is more than a site full of helpful advice and how-tos. It’s also an app where you have the ability to save, favorite and schedule tasks (like organizing your closet!).

Download the free app for easy guides on topics like de-cluttering your wardrobe, storing seasonal clothes and donating unwanted items.

Closet

iPhone (free)

Pick out an outfit or plan your vacation wardrobe without getting out of bed with this brand-new app!

WithCloset, you can organize your clothes into categories (like winter, spring or dry-clean only), tag pieces as favorites, track how often you wear certain pieces and even estimate a cost-per-wear of each item.

Our favorite part? You can create multiple closets in the same account, so you can keep the whole house organized!

StyleBook

iOS ($3.99)

This app is closet organizer, wardrobe planner, packing list and inspiration library rolled into one.

WhileStyleBook boasts over 90 features, we think its most valuable feature (MVF?) is the personalized Style Stats.

You can see what pieces you wear the most and least, so when it’s time to audit your closet, you’ll know what items you should toss or donate.
/ By BrightNest

Filed Under: Blog, Home Care

The Benefits of Homeownership

November 24, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Blog, Economy, Housing Market, Real Estate, real estate financing

When Ugly Turns to Beautiful: Ugly Christmas Sweaters

November 23, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

Create one and enter to win at: www.sweatergenerator.com

Filed Under: Blog, Random Thoughts

Home Automation System On The Cheap with Ninja Blocks

November 22, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

I found this great hack on Lifehacker.

Home security and automation are rarely mentioned in the same sentence as the word cheap, but it’s totally possible if you’re willing to do a few things yourself. We checked out a $200 DIY kit called Ninja Blocks, and were able to get a home automation and security system up and running in about 10 minutes.

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Filed Under: Appliances, Blog, Home Care, Technology

Average Days on the Market [INFOGRAPHIC]

November 22, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Blog, Housing Market, marketing, Real Estate Updates

Is Your Home Older Than Its Years?

November 21, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

Would you throw away $20,000? You are if you’re letting your home age faster than it should. Here’s a simple maintenance strategy to keep your home young.

Would you rather spend $4 or $5,000? A cheap tube of caulk can prevent expensive mold damage and rot caused by water, your home’s No. 1 enemy. Image: Cindy Farmer/Veer

You know how Dr. Oz says that if you keep your body fit and your mind nimble, you’re likely younger than your chronological years? The same principle applies to your house.

An out-of-shape house is older than its years and could lose 10% of its appraised value, says Mack Strickland, an appraiser and real estate agent in Chester, Va. That’s a $15,000-$20,000 adjustment for the average home.

But good maintenance can even add value. A study out of the University of Connecticut and Syracuse University finds that regular maintenance increases the value of a home by about 1% each year.

So if you’ve been deferring maintenance, or just need a good strategy to stay on top of it, here’s the simplest way to keep your home in good health.

Focus on Your Home’s #1 Enemy

If you focus on nothing else, focus on moisture — your home’s No. 1 enemy.

Water can destroy the integrity of your foundation, roof, walls, and floors — your home’s entire structure. So a leaky gutter isn’t just annoying; it’s compromising your foundation.

Keeping moisture at bay will improve your home’s effective age — or as Dr. Oz would say, “real age” — and protect its value. It’ll also help you prioritize what you need to do. Here’s how:

Follow This Easy 4-Step Routine

1. When it rains, actively pay attention. Are your gutters overflowing? Is water flowing away from your house like it should? Is water coming inside?

2. After heavy rains and storms, do a quick inspection of your roof, siding, foundation, windows, doors, ceilings, and basement to spot any damage or leaks.

3. Use daylight savings days or the spring and fall equinox to remind you to check and test water-related appliances like your washer, refrigerator, water heater, HVAC (condensation in your HVAC can cause leaks) or swamp cooler, and sump pump. It’s also a great time to do regular maintenance on them. Inspect any outdoor spigots and watering systems for leaks, too.

4. Repair any damage and address any issues and leaks ASAP.

Don’t procrastinate when you spot minor leaks or drips inside your house. Ongoing small leaks can slowly erode pipes and fixtures, and even cause mold and mildew issues you won’t notice until it’s too late.

Say you’ve got a bit of cracked caulk around the kitchen window. It may not seem like much, but behind that caulk, water could get into your sheathing, causing mold damage and rot. Before you know it, you’re looking at a $5,000 repair that could have been prevented by a $4 tube of caulk and a half hour of your time.

Filed Under: Architecture, Blog, Home Care, Real Estate

7 Strategies for a Well-Designed Kitchen

November 20, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

Get a kitchen that fits your lifestyle and your design tastes with these guidelines from an architect

What’s the most important room in your house? For me it’s the kitchen. I love to eat, cook and spend time with family, and the kitchen is where I can do it all. With today’s busy schedules, mealtimes are often the only times families have to spend with one another. So how can you have the perfect kitchen for your lifestyle, stay within your budget and maximize resale value?

One of the most important steps in any project is starting with a great design. It’s not just about looks, it’s more about function and adding value to your life. More than any other room in the house, a kitchen has to be well thought out, carefully configured and designed to accommodate multiple functions. You probably spend more time in your kitchen than any other room, and that’s exactly why it’s so important to start with a great design. Consider these seven ways to get there.

1. Avoid isolation. For many of today’s families, the kitchen is the heart of the home and should be a place where people can gather, entertain and relax — not just cook. That’s why an open plan, like in this kitchen, works so well.

The open plan isn’t your only option, but it isn’t going anywhere yet. Consider your family’s needs carefully before choosing a kitchen plan, and know that if resale is an option for you, most buyers these days are looking for an open kitchen.

Open vs. Closed Kitchens — Which Style Works Best for You?

2. Plan a functional layout. If you like to cook and enjoy making meals for family and friends, there is nothing more frustrating than a kitchen that doesn’t function well. Most designs today follow the basic kitchen work triangle of the sink, refrigerator and range to maximize functionality. But take your own needs into account too. Plenty of counter space for prep, especially next to appliances, like in this kitchen, can make your cooking routine go much more smoothly.

Here Comes The Neighborhood: The Spring District

November 19, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

How do you go about creating a vibrant, living place where there was none before?
Principles of urban planning say density is the answer—bringing people in to live and work in compact quarters. The more people walking around on a city block, the more viable the economy there, which supports a greater variety of retail and services. But in order to attract this critical mass of people, you have to make them feel like they belong. So not just any density will do.