Tips to Cut the Cost of Homeowners Insurance

Shop Around

Homeowners insurance rates and coverages vary widely depending on where you live and what company is writing the insurance policy. The best way to save money on homeowners insurance is to shop around and compare rates and coverages. Consult with family and friends. Check the Yellow Pages or the Internet. Contact your state insurance department or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which has information about typical rates charged by companies and tracks the number of consumer complaints logged against insurance companies. Check consumer guides, talk to insurance agents and get rate quotes online.

Don’t just buy homeowners insurance based on price alone, though. When shopping for homeowners insurance, make sure you are comparing plans with equivalent coverage. The depth of coverage and the level of service can vary widely from carrier to carrier. You want to get the best combination of a competitive price and excellent service, because if you can’t get service when you need it most (when you have a claim that needs attention), what good is the insurance company regardless of the rate?

As you assess prospective insurers, check their financial stability with insurance rating services such as A.M. Best or Standard & Poor’s.

Ask your top three prospective insurers for price quotes and then decide on which to go with.

Raise Your Deductible

The deductible is the amount you pay to cover a loss before the insurance company steps in and covers the rest. Generally, the higher the deductible amount is, the less your monthly insurance premium will be. A deductible of $5,000 per claim can translate into more than one-third in savings on premiums, although if you have a claim, you might have to dig into savings to pay it. Most people decide to go with a deductible higher than the minimum. A deductible of $1,000 could save you nearly 25 percent on your monthly premiums over the lowest deductible. Extra coverage policies, such as hurricane or earthquake insurance, carry their own deductible amounts and the rates also vary depending on the deductible amount.

Don’t Insure the Land, Just the Home

Sometimes the land underneath and surrounding the home is worth more than the home itself, especially if the lot is large and the home is old. But even major disasters rarely threaten the land, so why insure it? Your appraisal should separate the cost of the land from the cost of the structure, which will help you determine what your coverage should be and help you avoid paying too much on homeowners insurance.

Buy All Your Insurance from the Same Provider

Some companies offer a discount if you buy your auto, health or life and homeowners insurance from them, but be sure that their price for multiple policies is less than a combination of competitors if you bought policies separately.

Stay with the Same Insurer

Some companies offer so-called “loyalty” discounts, so if you have insurance coverage through the same company for several years, inquire about a discount. Check each year to make sure any “savings” for longevity with the company are not less than if you switched companies.

Improve Your Home Security

Many companies offer discounts if your home is equipped with certain safety features, such as smoke detectors (something you should have anyway), burglar alarms or dead-bolt locks. Installing a sprinkler system can also lower your insurance premiums. Before you invest in any of these, ask what the insurer recommends and if installing them will earn you a discounted rate, then perform a cost-benefit analysis to see if you’ll actually save any money.

Make Your Home More Disaster-Resistant

Determine what steps you can take to make your home more resistant to natural disasters. Again, you’ll probably have to conduct a cost-benefit analysis to gauge whether an improvement like installing storm shutters, reinforcing the roof or retrofitting for added protection against earthquakes will eventually pay for itself in lower premiums or help you avoid a major claim.

Seek Out Other Discounts

Discounts vary widely by company, by the state you live in and often by what part of the state you live in. Certain classes of people often get lower rates, too. For example, retired people usually earn some kind of break on rates because they generally devote more time maintaining their homes than other people. Ask about these and other types of discounts that may not be publicized.

Maintain a Good Credit Rating

Whether it’s fair or not, insurance companies often consider your credit rating when quoting rates. So to get the best rate, maintain a good credit rating by paying your bills on time, don’t access credit you don’t need and keep your revolving credit balances as low as you can. In addition, check your credit report periodically to make sure it is accurate and promptly report any incorrect information in your credit report to assure that your credit report remains accurate.

Review Your Policy and the Value of Your Possessions Regularly

Have you upgraded your belongings (like electronics) or bought new furniture since you first took out your policy? If so, your personal property insurance may no longer be adequate to cover your possessions. Be sure to review your insurance coverage periodically by comparing the limits of your policy to the value of your belongings.

In a related matter, be sure that you know what you will be paid in case of a total loss. Will your five-year-old refrigerator that cost $2,000 new be fully covered (full replacement value) even though its comparable model now costs $2,500? Or will you get $2,000 for it — or a lesser, depreciated amount (it is five years old). Know these limits when you take out the policy to avoid unpleasantness after you file a claim.

Consider Private Insurance First

For some people who live in high-risk areas — places that are more vulnerable than average to storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, etc. — the only option for homeowners insurance is often through a government plan. But in many areas, private insurance is still available, often at a lower cost than a government plan.

Check into Group Insurance Coverage

Business associations, college alumni associations and retirement associations (including AARP) sometimes offer group insurance rates for their members. Often these group rates are less expensive than if you went about acquiring homeowners insurance individually.

Stop Smoking

Smoking contributes to more than 23,000 residential fires in the U.S. each year, according to the FCIC. Some insurers will offer a discount for smoke-free households.

Consider the Cost of Homeowners Insurance When You Buy a Home

If you buy a home near a fire station, some insurers may offer you a reduced rate.  While rates might be higher in communities served by all-volunteer fire departments. If the electrical, heating and air conditioning and plumbing systems are less than 10 years old, you may also earn a lower rate. Brick homes are more wind-resistant than other types of construction. Wood-frame homes generally hold up better against earthquakes.

One important report to check is a home’s CLUE report, which stands for Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange. These reports contain the insurance claim history of the property and can help you discover previous problems and predict future ones.

Whether you’re buying a new home, or just looking to cut back your household expenses, keep these tips in mind when you shop for homeowners insurance, and you’re sure to save some money on your policy.

Buyers can and should take the opportunity to ask the seller or sellers’ agent some direct and pointed questions about the condition of their home for sale before the home inspection takes place.  Buyers can then pass on information to the real estate inspector and request extra scrutiny for potential problem areas. 

Questions the Owner or Sellers Agent about Home’s Condition

Here’s what you should ask the seller or his real estate agent prior to the home inspection:

• Improvements: Have you ever remodeled or otherwise made structural changes to the home? If yes, who did the work and when? (Check the credentials of the contractor(s) who performed the work and verify that they are licensed.)

• Termites: Do you know of any termite activity or damage? Do you have an active termite protection service plan? Most homes sold today require a termite inspection and certificate. As the buyer, you are entitled to a complete history of any termite damage, treatment and/or repair.

• Topography: Do you know of any topographic anomalies such as sinkholes or earthquake fault lines that could affect the integrity of the foundation?

• Structural: Does the home have any structural problems, either existing or repaired, such as cracks in the foundation, flooring, settlement cracks in the walls, rotted joists or timbers, etc.?

• Moisture: Do you have moisture in the basement or crawl space? Are there any water leaks anywhere else?

• Roof: How old is the roof? Has the roof ever leaked? Has the roof ever required repairs?

• HVAC: How old is the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system? How old is the air conditioner compressor or heat pump (usually the outside unit)? How old is the air handler (usually the inside unit, in the attic)? How old is the furnace? How old is the ductwork? Do you have annual preventative maintenance performed on the heating and air conditioning system? Have you ever experienced problems with the heating or air conditioning system?

• Electrical: What is the condition of the electrical system? Does the electrical system adequately handle all loads, especially at peak times? Do you ever have a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker? Do all the outlets work? Do the lights flicker when other appliances are turned on? Have you ever altered the electrical system or added extra outlets to existing circuits?

• Plumbing: What is the condition of the plumbing system and the
  drainage system? Do the drains ever back up? Have you ever had to call a plumber and why? Is the water pressure adequate, especially if multiple taps are turned on? How old is the hot water heater? What is the capacity of the hot water heater? Is there an adequate supply of hot water for my anticipated needs? Does someone taking a shower ever get scalded if someone else flushes a toilet?

• Hazards: When was the home originally built? (Some homes built before 1978 and many homes built prior to 1960 contain or contained lead-based paint.) Do you know if the home ever had or currently has any lead-based paint or if it has ever been tested for lead paint? (Lead-based paint, especially if it is peeling, cracking or flaking, can be especially dangerous to young children and should be removed.) Does the home have any asbestos insulation? Have you had the home tested for radon?

None of these issues necessarily needs to be a deal-breaker. If you really love a home, almost anything can be fixed. But why pay the seller’s asking price and then have to shell out thousands of dollars extra to fix something nobody knew about shortly after you move in. Any problems revealed by the home inspection allow you to negotiate a mutually-acceptable price with the sellers — either they can fix the problem before the sale or they can lower the price accordingly prior to the sale and you can fix the problem after the sale is complete.

A professional home inspector will be able to answer many of the above questions, but any information that you can provide to the inspector prior to the home inspection will allow him to zero in on specific areas of concern.

There are literally hundreds of types of mortgages available, but almost all of them fit into two major categories: the fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage loan. 

Fixed-Rate Mortgage

Fixed-rate mortgages are desirable because the interest rate does not change and the monthly principal and interest amounts are “fixed” over the life of the loan. Typical fixed-rate loans are made for 30, 20 or 15 years, although other timeframes are available from many lenders.

Adjustable-Rate Mortgage

The terms of an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) allow the interest rate to fluctuate up or down (usually up!) at specified times to reflect market conditions. An ARM can be adjusted up or down based on the latest interest rates. The amount you pay for principal and interest will change accordingly. Some ARMs are artificially low at the beginning of the loan, then automatically adjust higher in one or more years. “Interest-only” rates are another example of loans that start low and increase later on (in this case with all of the interest deferred to a later date). ARMs are usually best for people who don’t plan on living in a home for more than five to seven years.

Advantages of Fixed Mortgages

• Fixed monthly principal and interest payments for the life of the loan
• Interest rate does not change no matter what happens to the economy or how much interest rates change in the future because you are “locked in” to a specific “fixed” interest rate
• Borrowers can budget for all future expenses without worrying about changes in mortgage payments (although taxes and insurance can rise).

Disadvantages of Fixed Mortgages

• Fixed rate mortgages generally require higher income levels to qualify.
• If interest rates go down, you are locked into a higher rate, so you would need to refinance in order to get a more favorable rate.

Advantages of Adjustable Mortgages

• ARMs usually offer lower initial interest rates than fixed mortgages and therefore lower monthly payments.
• If interest rates go down, your payment will also decrease because your interest rate is tied to the current market rates.
• It is generally easier to qualify for an adjustable-rate mortgage because the initial interest rates and initial payments are generally lower than fixed rates, meaning that they will command less of your monthly income.
• If you know you will be staying in the home for a relatively short period of time (five years or less), an ARM may be the best option because the interest rate won’t adjust too high before you move.

Disadvantages of Adjustable Mortgages

• If market interest rates go up, your loan interest rate and monthly mortgage payments will increase accordingly.
• Spikes in inflation or dramatic increases in interest rates can price you out of your home because it can become too much to meet the higher monthly payments.

What Term is Best for You?

It is also wise to compare the terms of a 30-year fixed mortgage to a 15-year fixed mortgage. Although the monthly payments on a 15-year mortgage can be 20 percent to 25 percent higher per month than the monthly payments on a 30-year mortgage, you can pay off the loan in half the time, with a potential savings equal to about the same as the original loan amount than if you selected the longer term. (You would pay about $77,000 in interest on a $100,000 loan at 8.5 percent on a 15-year loan versus paying about $177,000 in interest on a $100,000 loan at 8.5 percent on a 30-year loan).

Loan experts suggest that most borrowers should aim for the shortest loan term they can afford, because the shorter the term the less you will pay in interest. At the beginning of a loan, up to 90 percent or more of the monthly payment goes to interest. As the term of the loan decreases, more of the monthly payment goes to principal, so that in the final years of a loan, most of the monthly payment is satisfying the outstanding principal.

If you find the monthly cost of a shorter-term loan too much to bear, you could still select a longer-term loan, but make extra payments each year above the usual 12 monthly payments (as long as your home loan does not impose pre-payment penalties).

Just one extra principal and interest payment per year (13 payments instead of 12) consistently from the advent of the loan and on through to the end could pay off a 30-year loan in less than 23 years.  That way you aren’t locked into making a higher mortgage payment each month, and you have the flexibility to pay off the loan at your own pace as your financial situation allows.

For more articles on mortgages, home financing, mortgage terms and interest rates, check out the mortgage category.  To prequalify for a mortgage, contact the home financing specialists at New Homes Central Lending Services.

The primary goals are to emphasize your home’s curb appeal and eliminate buyer objections. Don’t give prospective buyers reasons to dislike your home. Everything should be clean and inviting, no matter if your sales price is $100,000 or $1 million.

Issues that Turn Off Prospective Home Buyers

Some things that turn off prospective buyers are:

• Odors: Tame any bad smells, whether they come from the home itself, your pets, the garbage can or anything else. When prospective buyers are looking at several homes, they need easy reference points to distinguish homes. Don’t be the “house with the cat smell.” Use a deodorizer to give your home a pleasant atmosphere, but don’t make it too strong that it appears to be masking something.  Some natural room deodorizers include such fruits as green apples, lemons, limes and oranges.  Empty a bag of these fruits into a decorative bowl or glass vessel and let them go to work.

• Dogs and other excitable pets: Even people who like dogs or have their own dogs don’t want to deal with someone else’s curious (or unruly) pet when they are house-hunting. Other people are simply afraid of dogs. Don’t be the “house with the bad dog.” Arrange to have all pets - including cats) out of your home when prospective buyers visit.  As a last resort, put your pet in a crate (not just another room or the yard) during the visit.

• Dirty kitchens and bathrooms: These are the two most important rooms for many buyers. Make them sparkling clean and inviting. Clear the counters. Organize the drawers. Place fresh flowers or plants in these rooms to enhance the ambiance. Remember, we’re eliminating objections.

• Dim lighting: Dim rooms look smaller and can cause prospective buyers to wonder what you’re hiding. Open the curtains and shades and let the sunlight in.  Turn on all the interior lights for showings. (Make sure the corners and window sills are clean). 

• Eclectic interiors: Remove funky wallpaper and paint over the chartreuse dining room walls. Pack up your daughter’s insect collection and depersonalize other areas (you’ll be moving soon anyway). Pack knick-knacks and books, too. Don’t be the “house with the weird pictures” or “house with the crazy color scheme” or the “house with 1,000 Star Trek books.” Everyone may not share your tastes and your goal is to make your house as appealing as possible to maximize its sales price.  Don’t distract potential buyers from focusing on your home’s positive features.

• Junk: Sort through your belongings.  Toss items that are broken or worn.  Parse out clothing or items you haven’t worn or used for more than two years. Have a garage sale or yard sale.  Donate items to charity. Consider selling more valuable belongings on Ebay. If you must, rent a storage unit. By whatever means, reduce the amount of junk in your home (including the closets), garage and yard. Prospective buyers want to envision how their stuff will look in your home, and that is harder to do if your home is already jammed full of stuff.  If your home is overflowing with stuff, potential buyers will see this as a red flag that there is not adequate storage in the home.

• Bugs: Although it goes without saying, bugs are gross to most people. Certain climates and times of the year attract bugs. Prospective buyers should never see bugs inside your home, dead or alive. Hire an exterminator if necessary before you open your home for showings.

• Poor curb appeal: What does your home look like from the street? How does it stack up compared to the neighbors? Again, don’t give prospective buyers reasons to drive down the price. Trim the trees and bushes, mow the lawn regularly, weed the flower beds and touch up the paint if it needs it.  Store toys and bikes in the garage. A home with strong curb appeal attracts potential buyers who might drive-by, as well as those searching for new homes on the Internet.  Set the right impression from the street, and buyers will be drawn inside to see what else your home has to offer.  If potential buyers are turned off by poor curb appeal, you may never get them through the front door.

• Hovering sellers: You’re curious. You’re anxious. But resist the urge to hang around when prospective buyers arrive for a visit. Let your agent handle the showing. Buyers will feel more comfortable to consider your home’s potential if you’re not there.  The more comfortable potential buyers feel as they view your home, the longer they will spend inside and the greater the chance they’ll form an emotional attachment to it.  That’s a good thing.

What the Home Inspection Should Cover

• The inspector should review all existing systems and equipment in the home and provide an estimate of how long they should continue to function properly, especially high-ticket items such as the air conditioning and heating system, plumbing and drainage systems, electrical system, roof and. And don’t forget to have the inspector look closely for termite damage.
• The inspector also should pay special attention to more mundane items such as the interior and exterior paint, gutters, siding (if applicable), grout and caulking, flooring and walls.
• The inspector should put all of the appliances to the test, including checking the range and oven, running the washer and dryer, dishwasher, kitchen disposal, etc.
• The inspector should note any unusual or unique features that might increase or decrease the overall value of the home.
• The inspector should pay special attention to any special features or problems that you let him know about in advance.
• The inspector should provide you with an overview of the quality and condition of the home, noting any special circumstances.

Other areas the home inspector should check

• Floor plans and property layout: Is there room for future expansion or additions? Is there adequate storage space? Is there adequate parking and green space?
• Walls and ceilings: Are the walls and ceilings plaster or drywall? If there is wallpaper, can it safely be removed without damaging the walls?
• Floors: If the floors are covered with carpet, what lies beneath the carpet? (Carpets can hide problems.) What is the condition of the floors or carpet? If the home has hardwood or parquet floors, are they free of moisture damage? If the home has tile floors, are they asbestos-free floor tiles? Are tiles free of cracks and chips and firmly in place?
• Windows: Are the windows large enough to allow for escape in the event of a fire or other emergency? Do all of the windows function properly? How energy-efficient are the windows?
• Doors: Are doors solid and secure? Do the locks work properly? (You should change all the locks immediately after moving in because you never know who may have a key.) Are the doors level and hung properly? Do the doors operate smoothly, without sticking on the door frame or the floor?
• Insulation: Is the home adequately insulated (especially important in these days of rising energy costs)? Does the home need additional insulation? (Recommended R-factors are R-11 to R-15 for walls and R-19 to R-30 for ceilings, with the higher the number the greater the value of the insulation.) Are the doors and windows leaking and thereby compromising the insulation.
• Closets: Is there adequate closet space and/or other storage? Are the closets big enough? Do the closet doors open and close properly?
• Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves: Is the chimney flue lined with brick or terra cotta? (In most places, brick lining does not conform with local building codes). Does the fireplace damper work properly? How often is the chimney cleaned? (It should be cleaned once a year).  Is the metal flue of a wood-burning stove clean?
• Ventilation: Is the attic large enough to provide adequate ventilation? Is a ventilation fan in use or is one required?
• Exterior areas: In addition to obvious signs of aging such as peeling paint or cracked concrete, what is the overall condition of the exterior areas? Are decks and/or porches well-maintained? Is the lot graded to encourage rain to flow away from the foundation? Are gutters and downspouts functioning properly and free of leaks?

A major goal of the home inspection is to provide you with a report of what to expect once you take ownership. What are the home’s distinguishing characteristics, both positive and negative?

Once you receive the inspection report, you should be able to estimate the costs of bringing everything up to your expectations. You should be able to identify solutions to the problem areas and decide whether you want to continue on a path toward acquiring the home. The home inspection should also help you gain insight and perspective to form a basis for comparing the other homes you may be considering.

Once the home inspector has finished his inspection and prepared a written report of his findings, carefully review his findings with him in person, if possible, to identify both the positive and negative results. An experienced home inspector can identify the red flags and serious problem areas while giving you an overall thumbs up or thumbs down.

You should pay special attention to the quality of the home’s construction and any subsequent remodeling and/or repairs, as well as how well the home has been maintained, the quality of its fixtures and any high-ticket areas that are nearing the end of their expected service.

You can then calculate the cost of bringing the home up to your standards if you do indeed decide to go forward with the purchase of the home, including any remodeling, renovation or maintenance that may need to be done as well as any that has already been completed.

In our previous post, we discussed determining home values, making an offer and negotiating your home price. In our next post, we’ll discuss home warranties.

With home values falling in many markets, a great selection of vacation homes, townhomes and condows for sale are available. With interest rates lower than we’ve seen for years, this may be your window of opportunity to buy a second house or the vacation home of your dreams.

Should you Buy a Vacation Home or Condo?

Here are some issues to consider before you decide on a vacation getaway:

• What is your budget for a second home? Many buyers invest in condos for their home away from home. You’ll usually pay more for a single-family home than a condo, but they also tend to appreciate more than condos.

• Factor in insurance costs. Have you always wanted a seaside bungalow? Living on the water or any other area at risk for natural disasters comes at a cost. Insurance will be more difficult and more expensive to obtain for a stand-alone home than a condo property. A condo homeowners association purchases insurance for all structures within the development, so you’d only be responsible for insuring the contents within your home - an easier and less expensive option.

• Once you buy, what’s your plan? Will you try to recoup some of your investment by renting out your vacation property part of the year? Check condo bylaws to see if there are restrictions on how long renters must stay and/or how often you can rent out your home. If you buy a stand-alone home, chances are you can call your own shots. Are you in it for the long haul? In the current market, property values may be more volatile for condos than for a single-family property. If you decide a condo is your best bet, plan to hold onto it for awhile if you want to profit from your investment.

• Who will look after your property? If you live a distance from your vacation home, take into account both maintenance and security issues. With a condo, your outdoor landscaping and pool will be taken care of by the association, and with lots of neighbors nearby, security will be less of a concern.

• What are you looking for in a vacation home? Do you dream of owning a home in your favorite vacation destination? That alone may narrow your choices. Would you prefer the freedom and privacy a single-family home would offer? Or would you enjoy the amenities available to you in a condo community?

Giving all these issues some careful consideration will help you make the decision about whether a stand-alone home or a condo community is the right choice for you and your family. Then contact a Buyer’s Agent to start your search for your dream vacation home while the market is ripe to buy!

Gorgeous, decorative papers in bright, bold colors, unique patterns and interesting textures are everywhere these days.   And they have great potential beyond their conventional uses..one that you may not have considered - ready-made, DIY wall decor for your home. 

How to Create Wall Art with Paper

If your space is lacking in wall decor, why not select a few specialty papers to pop in frames for your own one-of-a-kind art display?

Search for papers from various sources to create a focal point for your room:

• Scrapbooking papers in a coordinating scheme from the craft store

• Handmade or oriental papers from art supply stores

• Wallpaper samples or graphic wallpaper panels from wallpaper or home improvement stores (sometimes they’ll give you discontinued samples for free).

• Gift wrap from card and discount stores (or maybe from your own stash at home?).

• Silhouette art. You’ll be amazed at how simple it is to make your own art with a contemporary take on this old-fashioned technique. Trace the outline of a botanical, bird, or the profile of your child or pet onto black card stock. Cut it out. Wrap the cardboard found inside your picture frame with a scrap of that beautiful wrapping paper, just like a present, then adhere the silhouette onto the background. Make a second identical outline and this time, poke a hole in the center of the shape, cut it out, flip the reverse cutout horizontally and adhere it to a complimentary paper so the background shows through the cutout shape. Hang the two together, side by side.  Or create  several pieces to display in an art grouping.

• Tissue paper.  Do you remember using colored tissue paper and good ‘ole white glue to create a one-of-a-kind, grade school masterpiece?  Believe it or not, the same method can be used to sophisticated effect!  Pick up some tissue paper that works with your room’s color palette.  Tear or cut out shapes to compose a contemporary abstract or landscape.   Lay the tissue pieces out on white or cream card stock.  Thin down some plain white glue with water.  Then using an inexpensive artist’s brush, gently apply the glue, dabbing over the tissue to secure it to the background.  Layer the tissue until the background is completely covered (or tape off a border first to give the effect of a matte). When the glue dries, your wall art is ready to display.  Just avoid rooms where moisture is present, like the kitchen, bath or laundry room. 

Want some more ideas for creative wall art on a budget?  Check back for DIY projects using fabric as art. 

One couple hired me to stage their home on the advice of their real estate agent.  They were skeptical that I could make much of an impact with the meager budget we had to work with. The lack of artwork and accessories did present a challenge.  But in the end, they were surprised at how great the living and dining rooms looked with the $40 we set aside for the “art” budget.  

With the help of a trusty glue gun, three round, rattan chargers from the local import store and a few large silk tropical leaves and blooms became a stunning wall display in the dining room.  For the living room, we taped off and painted a large rectangle on the wall above the sofa with some leftover accent paint.  We purchased a bunch of inexpensive picture frames for $2.00 apiece, spray-painted them black, inserted nine colorful postcards the couple had picked up on their Key West honeymoon and hung them in a ordered display.  Bam!…artwork! 

What did the couple take away from our experience?  The realization that art can be affordable.  That art does not have to wait for someday.  And…you do not have to be able to draw or paint on canvas to create wall art worthy of display!

This quote from Guild.com founder, Toni Sikes, says it all..

“Forget the perception that you have to have a lot of money to buy art.  I believe that luxury isn’t measured by price but by the amount of attention lavished on the details.  Everyone, no matter his or her income, can create a home that’s filled with luxury – the luxury of something carefully made or much loved.”  My thoughts precisely, Toni!

Do you have bare walls in your home calling out for your attention - in desperate need of adornment? Then be sure to check back for some more budget-friendly art tips.  You may already have the makings for some affordable DIY art just waiting to be displayed.

Have you considered that there are ways to spend your tax money wisely that will help support the economy and keep money in your pocketbook?  Instead of buying that new flat screen TV or Wii system, why not invest your windfall in something that will continue to pay off in the months and years to come?  Here are some small investments you can make now that will help you save money and stretch your monthly budget in a tight economy. 

Twelve Ways to Invest Your Tax Refund/Rebate

• Tune up your car.  With gas prices projected to surpass the $4.00/gallon mark this summer, get your car running its best to get the optimum miles per gallon and save when you fill up at the pump.

• Install a programmable thermostat.  They do a better job of regulating the temperature in your home, and they’ll help you save on your utility bills.  Set the programmable thermostat to keep the air at a comfortable temperature when you’re home, higher while you’re at work, and to cool off again before you come home.   

• Convert your light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs and save energy.  Compact fluorescents use four times less energy, and last eight times longer (8,000h instead of 1,000h) than incandescent light bulbs.

• Stock up at the local food warehouse on the household and pantry staples you use on a regular basis.

• Swap out an old appliance for a new Energy Star rated appliance.   They use two to 10 times less electricity, depending on the appliance, to do the same job.

• Replace an older toilet with a high-efficiency model that uses 1.3 gallons of water or less.  A high-efficiency toilet (HET) uses 20% less water than a standard toilet, so you’ll use significantly less water.  And many cities or water providers offer rebates if you make the switch.

• Install a water-saving shower head.  Showers can account for as much as 20% of your family’s total indoor water usage.  Replacing a standard shower head with one that uses only 2.5 gallons per minute will save a family of four about 15,000 -20,000 gallons of water over the course of a year.  That means less money on energy costs too since your hot water heater won’t be heating that extra water!

• Tap the power of the sun and go solar.  Buy solar-powered outdoor lights for your landscape and eliminate future operating costs.

• Bring in natural light.  Install a tubular skylight or two to take advantage of natural light in a closet, hallway or bath.

• Make an extra payment toward your mortgage principal.  Sending an extra payment each year can cut 10 years off the life of the loan and save you thousands of dollars in interest.

• Invest in an under-counter water filtration system and some reusable water bottles.  Stop buying bottled water.  It’s a WIN-WIN…good for your pocketbook and the environment.

• Buy your own cappuccino/espresso maker.  If you stop for a Starbucks every morning, investing in your own high-end machine will pay you back within the year.

Need some visual inspiration before you go green?  No problem. 

Just take a look at the fresh, lively interior in this photo.  A lattice print fabric in green and white covers the accent chair and some toss pillows on the sofa.  Another pillow features a green, leafy palm frond.  A green-striped throw is tossed over one arm of the sofa.  Next to the armchair, a tray-topped table sports a bright coat of green paint.  A potted plant on the end table and a bowl of fresh payapas on one of the white coffee tables repeat the color and add life to the space.

The Color Green is “In”

Why the green trend?  It’s a natural, feel-good color that echos our interest in being more environmentally conscious and eco-friendly in our choices.  The color green signals the change of season and the renewal of life.  It’s fresh and alive, and surprisingly easy to incorporate into almost any color palette.  

All you have to do is look to the outdoors to be reminded how versatile a color green really is.  Not only can green provide a neutral backdrop that lets other brighter colors pop - like yellow, fushia and orange- but the color green can also take center stage as the accent in a room full of quiet neutrals. 

Don’t obsess about carrying the same shade of green through your room’s fabrics and accents; in fact, mixing greens works beautifully - just like in nature - and it adds depth and interest too. 

Some other green color combinations to consider for your spring home decor:

• For a feminine look, try pairing green with pink and white.  Select a green with the same color intensity as the pink you choose, just avoid pastels for a more sophisticated, modern approach.

• For a more masculine feel, go earthy and mix green with chocolate brown.  Think forest floor.

• For a classic, yet contemporary take on green, use it with black and white.  It’s crisp, fresh and clean.

Spring is in the air…so reinvent…refresh…and renew your spirit.  Breathe some life into your home.  Bring on the green!

Living room from Crate and Barrel Spring Catalog.