Home & Apartment Living

Here’s how it went down. Last Sunday, my buddy Schultz was over at my apartment. He’s the type of guy that is highly intelligent, but has the common sense of a stapler. He got like a 1300 on his SAT, but can’t match his socks (and even forgets to put on shoes sometimes). Anyhow, he was telling me how pissed off he was that he leased with locator. She apparently kept urging him, with profound glory, to lease at this one particular community. Well, that placed turned out to be a grade ‘A’ dump.

I rolled my eyes because I remember him telling me, literally, the same thing last year, and the year before, and the year before that. Stubborn much? I guess he will never learn. It’s like a toddler’s beloved little puzzle box that has shaped pegs that go into shaped holes. Eventually you should learn that the round peg doesn’t go into the square hole.

Friends, please listen very closely. Here’s a quick thought about apartment hunting: Apartment Locators might seem like a good quick option in finding a place, but they may rush you into picking a certain apartment because they get fat cash when you sign that lease. That’s most of their single motivation—not your happiness. I highly recommend using our personality matching engine at http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com instead.

I want you to compare places, be happy, and actually find the home you want to live in. So, grab your square peg, get on our website, and we’ll help you find the square hole or the right apartment. I want you to be happy and not insane. If anything…I want you insanely happy!

5 Reasons Why Brinks Home Security is Just What You Need

Do you leave your house most of the time? Do you have many valuables kept in special places in your house but you still feel that it isn’t safe? Do you want a home security device that will give you the peace of mind for the valuable things you keep at home? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then you need a home security device that you can easily purchase.

Home security has been a necessity for most homes. Living in this world of crime, theft and robbery, it has become necessary for most of us to invest in some form of home security. Among the available companies that sell these devices, Brink’s Security Systems has been found to be one of the most reliable and affordable. Brink’s Security Systems offer many good points in buying their products.

1. Affordability. Brink’s Security Systems has come up with quality products in affordable packages. Brink’s offer standard systems that have prices that starts at $99 while premium systems begin at $205. That’s not bad! Almost anyone can afford this.

2. Easy-to-Use. Many of you would think that a home security device isn’t easy to set-up. On the contrary, Brink’s have created alarm systems that are so easy to use, with just a touch of a finger to switch it on and a simple numeric code to switch it off. You won’t find this simple sequence in other home security systems. They usually have complicated button sequences to be used.

3. Reliability. Brink’s Home Security Equipment has been designed with rigorous testing for both standard and premium systems before they pilot their equipment. The equipment is duly certified by Underwriters Laboratories making it pass set standards. Reliability and quality are assured once you have purchased any of their products because these are the very objectives of the brains behind the company.

4. Rapid Response.With quick links to emergency agencies and state-of-the-art technology, Brink’s Home Security monitoring professionals are dedicated to providing rapid response and peace of mind 24 hours a day. Quick links are ensured because of their state-of-the-art communication linkages with all emergency agencies.

5. Trained Personnel. From the moment of installation, trained personnel are around to monitor each step and follow-up on each customer. Prompt response and dependability are traits seen among all their staff.

You can be assured of 24 hours of peace of mind seven days a week and even during holidays knowing that Brink’s offer a security system with numerous advantages. So get up and buy the system; it’s for your own safety.

If you have always dreamt of owning a home in the sun but you though you could never afford one maybe you should think again. Cyprus apartments are the ideal choice for a holiday home or even somewhere to retire to in the sun. As the cost of villas in Cyprus continues to rise the luxury apartment is becoming a real affordable option. They come with virtually all the benefits of a house but will cost the buyer a fraction of the price. Compared with the cost of property in places like the U.K. Cyprus apartments could even be considered cheap. Perhaps this is why so many folks are selling up, leaving the cold and dark behind and buying themselves a beautiful luxury apartment in the sun.

Cyprus apartments are built to a very high standard and kitted out with every mod con including beautiful fitted kitchens. In fact many of the new builds coming onto the Cyprus property market feature granite work surfaces and a full complement of white goods too. Air conditioning is also often fitted as standard at least in all the bed rooms if not throughout the property. The bathrooms and kitchen area will most likely be fully tiled to complement the quality units. For those who buy their Cyprus apartments off plan there is often the option to choose the kitchen units and the tiles too so they get to put their own mark on the property from day one. Should buyers be prepared to shop around there are even some developers who are prepared to throw in a furniture package to clinch the deal too.

Living in Cyprus is all about lifestyle and that lifestyle is about as laid back as you can get. Much of the cooking and eating is done outdoors thanks to the mild Mediterranean climate so barbecues are the order of the day. Many newer Cyprus apartments will have an outside cooking area complete with barbecue either on the balcony or terrace. The design emphasis is often placed on usable outside space including large covered areas to facilitate this outdoor life style. If you are looking for a property either has a holiday home or a holiday rental investment a pool should be high on your wish list. The great news is that most developments of Cyprus apartments are built around a communal pool area with sun terraces and in some cases even a refreshment kiosk.

As property closer to the coast climbs in price many developers are looking further inland for building plots. This is not a problem if you are looking for a great deal on price but not so hot when you are relying on holiday rentals to pay for your property. Although there are savings to be made on Cyprus apartments that are built further inland they are outweighed by the potential loses in rental income. These properties do however make tremendously great sense for retired couples looking for a permanent home away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday resorts. Should you be considering purchasing such a property a car is likely to be a necessity that you should factor into the budget before you start. The buses in Cyprus are not that great and unless you are on route to a tourist area they are a rare animal indeed.

The best value for money option is probably a two bedroom apartment with a communual pool area. Although you are likely to pay a little more for them properties closer to the coast will make a better long term investment. Don’t ever be tempted to rush into buying the first thing you see because there is always another one around the corner. Ignore the hard sell tactics that some Cyprus property agents may employ such as “it’s the last one” or “the prices are about to go up”. These guys sell for a living so if they don’t sell they don’t eat. Keep a level head and do your research before you commit to anything that way you are sure to get the best deal on Cyprus apartments.

With the current “mortgage meltdown” we hear so much about these days, your average consumer thinks that the days of 100% financing have gone by the wayside. True, you are hard pressed these days to find a bank or lender that will want to carry a second mortgage that combined with a first mortgage adds up to 100% financing. That’s because if there is a default, sitting in second lien position is particularly dicey. Too much risk is involved. And since, in recent history, that scenario of the 80/20 combo was the most common 100% financing vehicle available to a certain group of consumers (non first time homebuyers), there’s a misconception out there that 100% options are all but dried up.

But, a-ha! There is hope for someone who has great credit but prefers to invest his/her assets elsewhere when rates are so low. It’s called the Flex 100. And it can apply to purchases and refinance transactions.

I heard an analyst mention on television the other day that mortgage money is so cheap right now it’s like a sale at Macy’s. That made me chuckle, but it’s true. In which case, why not invest your money elsewhere if you qualify for 100% financing. After all, the homes are still appreciating in most areas, but not at the stellar rate we saw in the past.

The Flex 100 requires you to invest $500 of your own cash towards the transaction, so I guess it’s technically not 100% financing, but it’s pretty darn close. And no, you don’t have to be buying your first home to get this deal. You can actually have owned a home in the past three years! However, it does apply to financing your primary residence only. You can’t get this deal for that nice cabin in Gatlinburg you want to use on the weekends or for that great rental down the street you think you can get a good deal on. You’ve got to live in the house to qualify for this financing.

But you can do a refinance, as long as it’s not a “cash-out,” meaning you’re not paying off debt or taking equity out of the property. It must be a rate term refinance only. However, you can pay off that second mortgage or home equity line of credit you hate, IF you obtained that 2nd lien mortgage when you got your first mortgage (a piggy back closing, we call it). Or to make it clearer, you originally had that 80/20 combo mentioned earlier. If you got that home equity mortgage a month or two after your initial closing to build a deck or payoff a credit card, than it that won’t work for a Flex 100 refinance.

What about your credit score? Well, it will affect the price you get, but there is no “minimum” credit score required for this program. You just have to get an approval through the automated underwriting system required. But be realistic – if you’ve got “iffy” credit, you probably won’t get an approval. A borrower with a credit score below a 620 would probably have to have a low loan to value or debt to income ratio for a chance of an approval.

A Flex 100 may or may not make sense for you. But hey, at least you know it’s an option. Your lender should be able to help you determine if this opportunity to flex your mortgage muscle makes sense for you.

As a valued Apartmentite, I wanted to give you a quick tip on what to do if the toilet in your apartment seems to be overflowing.

We’ve all been there. You flush the handle and watch in anxiety as the water rises higher and higher with no recession in sight. Your breathing gets quicker and the panicky feeling sets in as you utter the words, “Oh! Crap!” (No pun intended.)

Sure it feels like the natural reaction to freak out and run around the apartment screaming for help as the water rises over the tip of the bowl and begins to cascade down the sides onto the bathroom floor. Although natural, this reaction pretty much does no good except disturb the neighbors and add time for more water to run out and get closer to your carpet and other things that just shouldn’t get wet.

The key, however, is not to panic. Don’t let this situation get the best of you.

Most of you know this, but I have found that a surprising number of Apartmentites out there don’t. There is a brass knob behind the toilet that actually shuts off the water going to the toilet. This knob turns clockwise to shut off the amount of water going to the toilet and counterclockwise to let more water run through.

So as soon as you see that the toilet may be backed up and may overflow…reach behind the toilet and turn this knob clockwise to turn off the water. You will find that the water stops filling the bowl and now you have an easier opportunity to plunge your way to freedom.

This is where keeping a plunger by the toilet at all times comes in handy. Make sure that when you first stock your apartment with all of the apartment necessities, that this is included.

After you are plunged…be sure to turn the water back on and give it a flush to see if all is working right.

Remember that a backed up toilet isn’t always your fault and could in fact be something within the apartment building’s plumbing, so its always a good idea to contact your apartment manager and let them know of your unfortunate incident.

Good luck!

Ready for Thanksgiving? Do you have your turkey, your guests, and all of your other recipes in order? What are you waiting for? It’s only a week away!

If you are entertaining at your apartment for Thanksgiving this year, you seriously better get to cracking. Trust me…you don’t want to wait until the last minute to get things done because if you do…your life is going to get extremely difficult.

There are several steps that you can follow to insure that your Thanksgiving dinner will go off without a hitch and with the least stress as possible.

Get Your Guests In A Row- Check out your [BREAK] list of guests. Make a few calls and send out the emails. The first step to keeping your sanity is to find out who is coming and who isn’t as soon as possible. Once you find out who is coming, divvy up the food bringing responsibility. It would be helpful to make a list of the traditional things needed and mark down who is bringing what, so that you don’t get confused and end up with two dishes of dressing and missing a green bean casserole. Here is a quick sample list that may help you out:

-Turkey and Gravy (Typically that is the hosts responsibility)
-Mashed Potatoes
-Green Bean casserole
-Dressing/Stuffing
-Cranberry Sauce
-Pumpkin/Pecan Pie
-Rolls
-Salad
-Drinks

Shopping Spree- Hit the stores several days early. If you wait until the day or even a couple of days before Thanksgiving, you are truly asking for trouble. Not only will you run into a frantic, overcrowded, melee of destruction as soon as you hit that market parking lot, but you will more than likely not be able to find most of the stuff you need because the stores shelves will have already been picked dry by those who got their shopping done before you. Get to the store…Hurry! Time is running out.

The Turkey Prep- There is way more to a great Thanksgiving turkey than just popping the sucker in the oven for several hours, carving, and then gobbling it up. The proper prep of a turkey takes a little care. If you are going with a frozen turkey, you must keep in mind that when defrosting that frozen gobbler in the fridge, it takes an entire day for each 5 lbs. So if you have a 20 pound turkey…it’s going to take 4 days to defrost.

Also, decide how you are going to cook the turkey and have all of the necessary tools ready. There are literally hundreds of ways to cook a turkey and each year new recipes and techniques are created. Generally, at 350 degrees, the roasting time of your turkey of average weight should be between 3 and 4 hours. Don’t be intimidated, but it’s more challenging than you’d think. Cook it too long and you end up with a dry turkey. Cook it too short and it could be unsafe to eat. The important thing to always keep in mind is that if the internal temperature of the turkey is between170 and 180 degrees, you should be safe and good to go.

For any turkey questions you can call Butterball’s Turkey Talk Line at 1-800-Butterball

Clean, Inspect, Then Clean Again- If there is ever a time to make sure that you apartment is extra spotless and in perfect condition, it’s now. No one wants to be sitting down to a hefty celebratory Thanksgiving dinner only to notice dust all over the backs of the chairs, or candy wrappers on the carpet. Clean like you are getting paid to do it. Make sure that your silver and glassware is polished and spotless. The kitchen and bathroom need to look institutionally clean. Make several runs with the vacuum to make sure you don’t miss any spots. Dust in places you usually overlook.

Two Minute Warning - On the couple of days before your dinner, make sure to double check your lists and make sure that everything is covered. Run the vacuum over the carpet one last time. Check to make sure you are stocked up on everything from napkins and toilet paper to bottled water. Put everything in its proper place. And make that last minute store run…only if you have to…

Keep these simple steps in mind as you prepare for your awesome Turkey Day and you should be good to go. Thankfully, I am not entertaining this year. Woo hoo! No work for me!!! I’m sure I’ll end up having to wash the dishes

Did you know….

- If a turkey looks up when it is raining it can drown
-The entire United States of America will go through 675 million pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving day alone
-The heaviest turkey ever raised was the size of a large dog at 86 pounds
-Turkeys’ heads change colors when they become excited
-The five most popular ways to serve leftover turkey is as a sandwich, in stew, chili or soup, casseroles and as a burger
-”Big Bird’s”feathers on Sesame Street are rumored to be from a turkey

Later Turkey’s!

Looking for an apartment can be a very tedious and time consuming task. Not to mention the stress involved of making sure that the apartment has everything that you want. However, your worries don’t end there. Once you have gotten your perfect apartment, next comes fitting it with furniture and making it into a home.

If you are lucky, you already have furniture, and won’t need to worry about outfitting your apartment and spending your precious budget. But, if you are some of those unlucky few who has nothing but a few items to bring to their new apartment there are different ways to cut corners and save yourself some money in the process of turning your apartment into a home.

If you don’t mind used items, there are a couple of great ways to get the things you need at affordable prices. One way would be to spend a Saturday or two going to yard/garage sales. This is a great way to find awesome items at very affordable prices—and don’t be afraid to haggle prices. Haggling prices is one of the fun aspects of yard sales. Going to yard sales to look for the items you need allows you to get all the essentials you need and still have money left over to buy other things to add personal touches to your new apartment. Another way would be to go to places such as the Salvation Army or a Good Will.
These places have used items that people have donated, and are at very affordable prices. Shopping at either these two places also has the added benefit of helping those in need, because they are non-profit organizations.

If you just can’t stand the thought of having used furniture in your home and have a tight budget, then stick with the essentials on your first shopping spree to outfit your apartment. There are a handful of “essential” items that you will need within the first days of apartment living. A bed, but remember to check the size of your bedroom and see how big of a bed it will hold, as well as keeping in mind that you will need the sheets, pillows and comforter to go with it. A kitchen table or desk and a chair is essential because you have to eat and if you are in school, you’ll need a place to study. If you can’t afford a real table, you can always look into getting a card table; and a card table has the added perk that a lot times it comes with 4 chairs. Dishes and cookware are extremely important items to get as it is a lot cheaper to eat at home and buy groceries than it is to go out to eat every meal. And you can be picky about what you get, just start with the basics. Other things that you need to consider are the number of trash cans you need, taking into consideration the number of bathrooms and whether or not you will be recycling, a shower curtain and rings, curtains and blinds if they don’t come with the apartment, a chest of drawers or hanging closet organizer if you don’t have much closet space and a sofa or futon for when you have company.

All in all, buying and obtaining the things that you need to turn your perfect apartment into a home can be a very fun task. With an apartment being a small space, you don’t need a lot to turn it into a home. There are also numerous ways to save money in getting the items that you need, you just need to know where to look.

I grew up in New York City. Well actually, it was Queens. Those of us living in the “boros” called Manhattan “The City”. But nevertheless, I am a born and raised native New Yorker. So, how, you might ask, did I wind in a 100 year old farm house with roosters crowing at dawn across the street, and horses for my next door neigh…bors? As a Realtor, I am finding that there seems to come a time in many people’s lives when they have just had it with snarled traffic, cars honking, window gates and three locks on doors and living in a sardine can apartment. As exciting as Manhattan always was, I got the bug for the country when I hit 40. Without revealing my age, and without going into a long story, about four years ago I began my quest for my dream country home. I am thrilled to say that I found her and I am living happily ever after. It took awhile to reinvent myself in my new life. I always dreamed of living in and selling real estate in areas where people come to vacation.

New Paltz, New York is a college town about 90 miles north of mid-town Manhattan. It is one of the rock climbing capitals of the country and is home to the historic Mohonk Mountain House. I, like many New Yorkers, came here many times as a kid to hike the magical trails, canoe, and climb the crevices of the Shawangunk Mountains, or “Gunks” as the locals call it. Finally, I bought a home here. I am now happily helping others to escape the city and live their dreams. So, what’s the down side? I had to get used to well water with all kinds of bacteria that creeps in from farms, bad water pressure, a septic system and not a city sewer, having to drive three miles in each direction for a container of milk, a occasional inch or two of water in my basement when the river behind my house swells, the nosy, gossip of small town America, many moths, flies, mosquitoes, bats, and other flying creatures in Summer, and the parade of Harleys that go by my house on Summer nights because I live on one of the most beautiful roads in the county.

It’s harder to make a living here than if I had a practice in Suburbia or the City, and property values aren’t as high and commissions are lower. We have to travel long distances to show homes, often putting 100 miles or more on our cars on a typical weekend day. But the upside is the lifestyle. Not having to lock my car, hearing no horns beeping, no road rage, and having folks smile at you and make eye contact when they pass you on the street is worth more than all the money I could ever make in the Big City. With the advent of telecommuting, there are many places in the country that baby boomers and Generation Xers are relocating to. You can do it if you want to. All you need to do is say “I’ve had enough, let’s move to the country”. Buy the house, and the rest will come.

We all like to satisfy our winter needs for a warm, safe place with plenty of food in the pantry. But so do rodents and other animals. When these pests intrude on our property, it becomes a situation much like kicking out the unwelcome kid next door who is constantly coming over and staying past dinner, and insists on using everything in your house for his own purposes. There are several types of animals to watch out for as it gets colder: rats, mice, raccoons, and opossums.

Rats & Mice: The general types of these rodents that exist in your home can include the Norway rat, the roof (or black) rat and the house mouse. Roof rats usually stake out attics or cabinets and can climb quite well. Norway rats choose to live in the ground by digging burrows against foundations, tree trunks, and gardens. Their burrows can lead into crawl spaces and small openings around pipes which can enable them to inhabit your kitchens and bathrooms.

No matter the type of rat that lives in your home, you can be sure that it will be attracted to any food item you have in your pantry, especially high-quality food products such as meat and fresh grain. If you have pets, be extra cautious about foods being left out, because rats will smell and detect dog food that is sitting out.

Rats need one-half to one fluid ounce of water everyday when consuming dry foods. They have extremely sharp senses of taste, hearing, and smell. Once they are aware of what is within their reach and given their keen senses, rats will do anything to get to food or shelter. Overall, rats are able to enter a building through openings that are wider than half an inch across. Rats have a very short life span — most die within a year. However, rats can breed rapidly, so even though they die off quickly, their young will survive them. Female rats produce five or six litters of about half a dozen to a dozen young each year.

Now that you know a little about the rat’s habits, how can you tell that you have rats living alongside you in your home? Spotting droppings or visible signs of fresh gnawing should be an obvious indicator of rats. Rat tracks can appear on dusty surfaces or mud. Rats usually build runways and burrows to get into your home and they can be found next to buildings and under debris and low vegetation.

Rodent Treatment

There are many things you can do to prevent rats, but what about the rats you know are already snooping in your attic and dark corners?

Snap traps can be used along with baits to attract rats. However, once other rats see that a fellow rat has been killed from a snap trap, they will avoid it at all costs. The other drawback to using a snap trap is the potential health hazards it can cause when the rat is killed by the trap. Snap traps can also pose a danger to children or pets in your home, as they can break bones or cause an even more serious injury.

Glue-boards are traps that use non-drying glue to capture and hold down rodents. These traps can be placed under tables, furniture, next to walls, refrigerators, or any place where you suspect rodent activity. Glue-boards are designed to get the rodent stuck on the board so that they cannot escape. Like the snap traps, glue-boards can pose health problems if rats’ bodies are pulled apart and exposed in your home.

Live traps are probably the easiest and most inexpensive rodent control out there. The other benefit of live traps is that it poses less risk or danger to animals you are not targeting, such as your pets. They also do not kill rats, unlike all the other methods discussed above. Instead, rats are captured and left in the trap until you dispose of them. Be sure to place enough bait to attract rats. If rats are without food, they may become anxious and eventually die, leaving behind their bodies to decay, as well as a horrible stench. Try to find areas where there are a lot of rat droppings, chewed entry points, and any other place you suspect rat activity or have heard noises from.

Rodent Proofing

Here are some simple rules of thumb you can adopt to prevent a rodent invasion in your home:

- Store all your accessible food in rodent-proof containers such as glass or metal

- Place your trash in tightly covered metal cans to prevent smells from escaping or potential rodent entry.

- Check your faucets to make sure they are functioning properly and to fix leaks as they occur, since gaps or holes around pipes can serve as easy entry points for rodents.

- Seal up any unnecessary openings with concrete or sheet metal. For other access points, a 1/4 inch hardware cloth or steel wool should do the trick.

- For pet owners, put any uneaten pet food away before you go to bed, as any pet food left out is subject to rodent consumption!

- Wipe your floors often! Any bits of food left on your floor may be game for mice.

Commensal Rodents

The most common commensal rodents, raccoon and opossums, are known to many homeowners as troublemakers because of the damage they can cause by hibernating in your attic or wreaking havoc in your garden.

These animals normally hide out in attics, under decks, sheds, garages, crawl spaces, etc. Sometimes, they choose to live in naturally formed holes near foundations. Raccoons and opossums especially have an affinity for digging in yards and garbage. They love to inhabit attics where they can care for their litter in a warm, dark, and enclosed environment. If they are living in your attic, chances are your attic has a strong odor, which can eventually make its way into the living area. Besides odor problems, raccoons can destroy your insulation and chew on any electrical wires present.

Preventing Animal Pests

Here are some ways you can prevent those pesky raccoons and opossums from entering your property:

Spray a non-chemical solution over the areas where these animals are prone to dig or consume food. This will leave a bad taste in their mouths and will discourage it from going to the same place to cause trouble.

- Use a non-drying glue when animals are climbing your bird feeder poles. Once the raccoon or opossum gets the glue from the pole on their paws, it will usually irritate them enough to discourage them from climbing the pole again.

- Implement a 24/7 motion detector near your fish pond. The motion detector will be able to detect the animal when it is in its range. The detector is non-chemical and will release a three-second spray of water to scare the pest away.

For raccoons and opossums who are already inhabiting your home, trapping with a bait (usually meat) is the most effective and viable way to get rid of them. However, you should only handle raccoons and opossums if you are an experienced handler. If you are not sure what to do, the best idea is to call an animal removal service. Anteater Pest and Lawn can send a trained professional out to the property to identify, inspect and design a program for you. The Exclusion portion of their Rodent Service is designed to:

- Identify rodent and rodent damage
- Inspect conditions conducive to rodents
- Seal/Close entry and exit points
- Install traps
- Return and remove traps
- Include a 1 Year renewable warranty

Once you are armed with the right facts and materials, you should be able to handle rodents quickly and efficiently before they overstay their welcome in your home and ruin your holidays.

Each person has their own vision of a comfortable home that they would call their dream home. Magazine and television shows show us all someone’s vision of a dream home, but the rich and famous have a very different image of their dream home. That vision usually revolves around luxury, prestige, and a remote location.

The average person or the typical homeowner however usually has other ideas dancing in the minds when they think of the phrase dream home. Everyone’s tastes and needs and ambition are unique. A dream home doesn’t have to have a million dollar price tag nor designed by a world-renowned architect. It can be one you design yourself, or might be a cottage in the woods or a new condo in the city. The important thing is that it fits the image of comfort, utility, size, appearance, style and location that suits you.

What kind of home would be your dream home? Would it be a new monster home in the suburbs, or a refurbished Victorian style historic home in the old area in your city. Most young people would choose a new home in the suburbs, but somehow, these homes lack many of the attributes we associate with a dream home.

Does your dream home have landscaping, trees, paving stones, and beautiful exterior trim. For men, a dream home would have plenty of rooms. Rooms for this and rooms for that. There would probably be a double garage and a workshop along with a luxurious living room for watching television and entertaining friends. For women, the kitchen would be well-designed with luxurious cabinetry, cedar interior trim, ceramic flooring, and lots of space for food preparation, and there’d be picture windows to let the sunlight in. For kids, there’d be game rooms, a swimming pool, a well manicured backyard lawn and big bedrooms with lots of space.

For older people, a dream home would definitely have more character. It might be anything from a new Victorian style bungalow in the city to cottage style bungalow in the country. Wood trim and beautiful landscaping with flowers and trees would certainly be part of their dream home image.

There are plenty of dream home builders too. From San Diego to Boston, there are numerous builders waiting for the grand opportunity to build a dream home for a customer. There are plenty of dream homes being built today too. Although housing prices have been high, there is still a strong demand for luxury homes.

From Landscaping to Decks to Interior Trim
If you are going to choose the features of your dream home, here are some of the features you might have to choose between:

·Professional landscaping design with waterfalls

·Cedar siding

·Cedar exterior trim

·Large second floor balconies with modern railing system

·Hardwood floors

·Ceramic roofing or cedar shingles

·Ceramic tile floors

·Stone countertops

·Stone fireplace

·Hardwood kitchen cabinetry

·Hot tub

·Swimming pool

·Double or triple car garage

·Large composite decking area

·Large living room with big screen TV and comfy sofas

·Chandelier lighting in dining area and front foyer

·Brick paved crescent driveway

For many retiring baby boomers (and even those that won’t retire) a dream home has a character that reflects their lives and values. If that’s you, you may not have to sell your home and buy a new one to get your dream home. You may be living in it now. You can find some home plans or have an architect redesign your home to suit your needs. Knocking out a few walls to open your home up isn’t so hard. Installing new hardwood floors or putting in a new deck isn’t so difficult either. You can spruce up an old home exterior by adding some new siding and exterior trim. There are plenty of new home exterior finishing products made of wood, composite and PVC materials that can make your house look immaculate.

The limits to your dream home design are really the limits of your imagination and of course your budget. Remember when you’re designing and building your dream home that some of these additions can be expensive, so it’s important to look at the long term cost. That cost includes maintenance. Exterior elements of your dream home such as your siding, exterior trim, deck, patio, porches, and balcony railings are areas where maintenance costs have to be considered.

Few dream homes have cheap siding or trim. They almost always involve a cedar siding and wood trim because the wood grain looks expensive and has a unique, grainy appearance that few other homes will have. Dream homes are always distinctive whether they’re a Victorian style mansion, a harbor side luxury villa, or a brand new home in the suburbs having the latest home development style. The distinction may be for the purpose of impressing friends and family, yet the real underlying value is comfort and happy home living.

If you want to feel better and get more living out of your home for you and your family and friends, perhaps you can remodel your current home for less that the price of a new luxury home. And you can style it in the fashion that suits your tastes.