Moving to another home or new location

You can use your equity to buy another home whether you need to upgrade to a bigger home or to downsize into a smaller one. Likewise, you can also use your equity if you want to relocate to a different area. Whether it’s to move for work, to be nearer to family, or to fulfill a lifelong dream, your equity can definitely help you in buying a new home,

Paying personal debts

Nothing feels more freeing than being debt-free. If your current goal is to clear all your personal debts, using a portion of your home equity can help you achieve that. By paying off personal debts like credit cards or car loans, you will be able to consolidate those debts at a lower interest rate. Hence, it will help you pay your debts easier. Paying off personal debts is a good start in eventually saving and growing your wealth. If you decide to use your home equity in paying those debts, just make sure to pay them on time as you will be using your house as collateral.

Starting a new business or growing your current 3 business

Nothing feels more freeing than being debt-free. If your current goal is to clear all

your personal debts, using a portion of your home equity can help you achieve that. By paying off personal debts like credit cards or car loans, you will be able to consolidate those debts at a lower interest rate. Hence, it will help you pay your debts easier. Paying off personal debts is a good start in eventually saving and growing your wealth. If you decide to use your home equity in paying those debts, just make sure to pay them on time as you will be using your house as collateral.

Funding someone’s education

Preparing for your children’s college ege is a daunting task and can be heavy on your finances. On the other hand, going back to school yourself and pursuing higher education can also cost a lot of money. Using a portion of your growing equity can help you finance you or your loved one’s education. Your future, as well as your loved one’s future, is also an important investment!

Start Building Your Equity Today

1. Make a bigger down payment.

   The quickest and easiest way to build your equity is to put down a bigger deposit when purchasing your home. Increasing your deposit from 5% of the property value to 10% will instantly give you a bigger equity value.

2. Increase your monthly mortgage payment or make additional payments.

   Remember that only a portion of your monthly mortgage payment will be allotted to the principal cost of the house. Increasing your monthly mortgage payment or making additional payments that go to your principal cost will help you steadily build your home’s equity.

3. Refinance and shorten your mortgage loan term.

   Shortening your loan term might mean higher monthly payments, but it also means that you’ll have lower interest rates and that a bigger portion of your payments will go into building your equity.

4. Invest in remodeling or home improvement projects that can increase the value of your home.

   By taking up remodeling projects whether it’s done by a professional or approached in a DIY way, your home’s equity will increase as your home’s value increases.

5. Just wait for the value of your home to increase in time.

   If you don’t need to urgently spend your home’s equity, you can also just wait as your home’s equity increases gradually over time.

Buying a home from a friend or a relative can be a great choice. For one, you might already be familiar with the house. You can also score a better deal that can help save you money. Having a less complicated closing process is another great advantage.

However, there are also some disadvantages. Although you are friends with the seller, it is advised that you still go through inspections, get disclosure forms, and negotiate professionally. In some cases, business transactions between friends such as this can go sour.

Make sure to follow the right steps to avoid any conflict that can damage your relationship. Here are the do’s and don’ts of buying a home from a friend.

Do’s of Buying a Home From A Friend

Get pre-approved for a mortgage.

Once you initially discuss buying a home from your friend, make sure that you apply for a mortgage pre-approval from your bank. Your friend might not require it, but it’s a kind and genuine gesture that shows that you are serious in buying his or her house. Having an approval letter gives your friend the assurance that you are qualified for a mortgage and that you can actually afford to buy the property.

It can be stressful for both of you to go through the next steps of the home buying journey and then find out later on that you are not qualified for a mortgage.

Conduct a home inspection.

You might be familiar with your friend’s property already or have spent a lot of time there, but it’s still important to conduct a home inspection to see any structural damages, foundational cracks, and other hidden faults that you won’t easily notice.

By having a professional home inspection done, you’ll be more aware of any repairs you need to make or if there are any red flags that you need to avoid. It could save you money when negotiating the contract price or even save you from buying something you might regret in the future.

Get everything in writing

Just because you are friends with the seller, doesn’t mean that everything can be talked about without writing legal contracts and agreements. Being too casual about business transactions such as this is where conflicts and disagreements can root from. Even if you trust each other, it’s important to have a tangible piece of paper that you can use as a basis for your transaction. Make sure that the seller provides home maintenance and repair conditions, disclosure forms, homeowners insurance records, the contract of the property sale, and of course, the title of the property.

Don’ts of Buying a Home From A Friend

Try to do the paperwork on your own.

When buying a home from your friend, you might be tempted to skip hiring a real estate agent or legal attorney to handle any paperworks or legal documents. Unless one of you is knowledgeable about these things, it’s better to let the professionals handle it to avoid any mistakes that can cost legal repercussions later on.

Ask for a discount that’s way below the market price.

Depending on how close you are with your friend, some might say that you shouldn’t ask for any discount at all unless it is voluntarily given as a sign of respect. It might be okay to negotiate with your friend, but don’t think that just because you are friends, you can expect to buy it way below the market price.Whether your friend inherited the house or bought it with his or her own money, you should respect that it is your friend’s property and that you should buy it at a fair price.

Speaking of fair prices, on the other hand, you should also be careful about your friend selling it to you at a price that’s higher than its market price. Your friend could be the one taking advantage of you, and you should be cautious about this happening too. It’s best if you can have the property go through a home appraisal to determine its real value.

Forget to ask about a seller’s disclosure form.

Don’t forget to ask your friend to give you a proper home disclosure form so you can have a record of anything concerning that’s happened in the property before. In most places, this is mandatory and lack of disclosures can lead to lawsuits (which we don’t want to happen, of course). Did a fire occur before? Water damage or toxic materials in the house? Any past disputes over property lines or fencing? You might be friends, but of course, transparency is always important in any transaction.

Don’t forget to keep these in mind when buying a house from a friend. It’s a great chance to buy a house from someone you trust. It will make the homebuying process a lot easier, especially if it’s your first time buying a home. Just make sure to keep your discussions open to both parties’ ideas and to keep things transparent so that it can be a transaction that can benefit both of you.

Now that you have decided to sell your home, how will you turn your home into the most valuable asset it can be? No matter if you are selling your home yourself, or using an agent like myself, knowing about these low cost tips will help you increase the overall monetary return when you sell your house.

While a particular buyer may not like your home for many different reasons, a buyer’s agent is much more likely to bring other buyers back to a home that shows well. In the small community of real estate agents, word does get out pretty quickly when a home on the market is showcase ready.

From the moment a prospective buyer pulls up outside your property they are forming important opinions that make or break a sale.They’re taking in factors like the condition of the property, potential maintenance issues and general street appeal, and this critical evaluation only continues when they enter a home.

Importantly, research indicates these first impressions take only 26 seconds to make, meaning a property owner has a very limited window of opportunity when it comes to getting it right.

First Impressions – What I’m about to tell you may seem minor and easily overlooked, but this advice goes hand-in-hand with the very well known concept of Curb Appeal. Whereas curb appeal is the very first gut feeling a potential buyer has about your house, the buyer’s first impression lasts as they walk up to the front door to the point when the door first opens. With this in mind, the front door should be especially sharp, since it is the entryway into the house. Polish the door fixture so it gleams. If the door needs refinishing or repainting, make sure to get that done.

If you have a cute, little plaque or shingle with your family name on it, remove it. Even if it is just on the mailbox. You can always put it up again once you move. It is important to make your house anonymous as if the house already belongs to the next owner. Buy a new, plush door mat, too. This is something else you can take with you once you move.

Make sure the lock works easily and the key fits properly. When a homebuyer comes to visit your home, the agent uses the key from the lock box to unlock the door. If there is trouble working the lock while everyone else stands around waiting, this sends a negative first impression to prospective home buyers. If the lock is sticky, sometimes a shot of graphite in the keyhole is all that is needed.

Then, there is the entry way. Are there shoes or other clutter in the foyer, does the first impression of the inside of your home impress a buyer of things to come set them up for a polite, but quick tour of your home?

In any housing market, but especially in a buyer’s market, your house is in competition with all the other houses on sale in your neighbourhood. How your home competes is key to turning a prospective buyer in to a buyer with an offer.

A first impression will not last, if the rest of your home is not presentable. Many home sellers wonder what trade-offs to make, how much budget to allocate to get their home ready to list and sell. The starting place is to think like a buyer, put yourself in your buyers shoes, walk across the street from your house and walk up to the front door, make notes of all the things that you’d want to see fixed if you were going to buy your own house.

A first impression is a lasting one, and it doesn’t take significant time or financial outlay to ensure your property’s first impression is favourable.

Critically, when you get that all-important first impression right, you’re more likely to secure a second inspection, which in turn drastically increases the chances of swiftly selling your home.

Different homebuyers have different criteria when it comes to looking for a new home. Some buyers purchase a home because of its location. Some buyers prioritize the size of the house especially if they have a growing family. However, they all have one thing in common – they want a home where they can live comfortably and a property that will increase its value over time. Aside from the specific features that they want in a home based on their preferences, they want a house that will be worth their money.

If you are selling a home or planning to sell one soon, it would be best to know what today’s homebuyers are looking for. This will help give your property and advantage and get you a good offer. Here are just a few things of what today’s homebuyers are looking for:

Accessibility

An important thing that homebuyers look for in a home is its location. This would probably be the first thing that most homebuyers consider when looking for a home. They start with the location. Is it near their workplace? What are the nearby establishments? Are there parks, groceries, hospitals, and schools? What about transportation? It would be convenient if the public transportation is accessible. If the home buyer prefers driving his/her own car, he/she would definitely want to check the traffic and know about how long it takes to drive in and out the neighborhood.

Hardwood floors

Most home buyers prefer new homes with hardwood floors. Aside from its clean look, it is more durable and easier to maintain than carpets. Carpets need to be replaced after a few years and also need to be cleaned regularly. If it gathers too much dust and dirt, it can trigger allergies and be a cause of sickness. With hardwood floors, it just needs to be swept from time to time. To make it look new again, it just needs to be refinished based on the homeowner’s preference.

If the home you are selling currently does not have hardwood floors and you want to upgrade before you sell, you might need to spend some cash as hardwood floorings can be a bit pricey. Fortunately, there are cheaper options like engineered wood flooring. This alternative can help you achieve the look and durability of real wood but with an affordable price.

Outdoor living spaces

Another feature that home buyers look for in a home is outdoor living spaces. Staying inside the house for too long can sometimes feel suffocating. So some people prefer to have an outdoor space where they can hang out while still within the confines of their home. This outdoor space can be an additional living space without the cost of large-scale home addition.

Make sure to take care of your patio or backyard and make it look nice. If home buyers see the outdoor space in your listing or during open house, your property will definitely have an advantage among your competitors.

Energy efficiency

Many homebuyers are starting to realize the importance of an energy efficient home. From benefits like savings in electricity and water bills, environmental friendliness, and using smart home technology, having an energy efficient home can definitely make it stand out from the rest.

If you are building a home from scratch make sure that you incorporate a smart design. If you want to transform your current home, you can do so by installing smart home devices such as smart light bulbs, locks, and appliances. Have solar panels installed at home and make sure that you have energy efficient heating and cooling systems.

Laundry room

When people buy a house, they don’t only look at the living room and facade. Homebuyers these days are practical. When you think of day-to-day living, having a comfortable laundry room is one of the most helpful things in the house.

People don’t like turning other rooms into a laundry room, especially so they can keep the mess of dirty laundry just in one place. Having a separate, spacious room where they can wash, dry, iron, and fold clothes can increase the value of your home and make it more attractive to buyers.

Of course, as a home seller, you might not meet all the expectations of homebuyers and that’s okay. Make sure to highlight the good and unique features of your home and improve it in areas possible. In the end, it all comes down to setting the right expectations with the buyer. You can also work with hiring the right real estate agent that can help you find the right buyer for your home.

We’ve all heard the old saying “A picture is worth a thousand words.” And, in real estate, pictures make a huge difference in how quickly you sell your home.

Now, thanks to the continued advancement of technology, buyers can have an intimate look into your home they are interested in without ever leaving their couch. And buyers are doing their research, more now than ever before. They are filtering through sites based on location, prices, school districts, square footage, etc. Once they have narrowed down their search to their liking, they are immediately flipping through photos. And you need photos that make buyers want to see your home in person!

One of the most important things that will set your property out from others the photographs. When a buyer is looking in MLS, the Internet or in some other location, photographs draw their attention. Is this shallow? Well, yes and no.

Your house might be stunning and beautiful, but if someone browsing your listing online can’t see that, then you’re losing out big time.

Also, just because photos have been taken doesn’t mean that they’re high quality. The appropriate lighting, angles and staging are all key components of well done real estate photographs. Once again, this is why leaving the job to a professional real estate photographer is best. Remember that this future buyer is probably scanning through dozens of different listings within a matter of minutes, so attention-catching photos is a must.

You would be shocked how many people put little or no effort into the photographs of their property. As an old commercial slogan stated – Image is everything. A shallow statement, but true. Your photographs represent the first curb appeal impression buyers will get of your property.

As time goes on and technology continues to advance, online platforms and visual tools become more robust allowing home buyers more and more insight into a home before ever connecting with the seller or agent.

This means you need to strongly consider hiring a professional photographer to take the photographs. They understand lighting, angles and so on. It may sound like an unnecessary expense, but it can be the difference between a sale and sitting on the market for month after month.

Is your den a disaster? Is your closet so crammed that you can’t find pants and shoes that match? If you’re like many people, you have so much stuff that you can’t control it. So you just throw up your hands and let it accumulate. Well, it might be time to call in a professional organizer. These specialists can help clear out and clean up junky garages, stuffed closets, dirty dens and even your computer’s hard drive.

A lot of people ask me if it’s really worth hiring a professional organizer or if you’re better off doing it yourself.

Both are valuable options, but either way you should understand the specific steps and strategies to having a more organized home, making little changes gradually to simplify life at home.

Well at first glance having someone do things for you can certainly seem better than doing it yourself. And most people are confident that they can tackle their organization projects on their own.  But when those projects get overwhelming and you stall out, it’s time to consider hiring a professional.

Professional organizers can work with you to decide what you want to keep, and to identify where unwanted items will go. They will, in many cases, facilitate the disposal, donation or sale of belongings a client wants to part with. They also work with clients to determine what the functions of their spaces should be, and to set up those spaces in ways that can be easily maintained.

But there are things to consider before you hire someone.

How do you know, once the service is complete, you are going to be satisfied or if you are even going to be able to maintain organization beyond a week, a month or a year from now?

Now here’s the thing.

If you really, really want to make changes to the way you live in your home, you need to start living your life a little differently.

You should be able to manage your “stuff” and understand what it really takes to start enjoying the benefits of home organization.

Learn what it takes to get organized from the inside-out and discover the basic and simple rules of home organization so you can enjoy more time, more space and a better, happier life at home.

Then, even if later down the road you decide to hire someone to help you, you will be more knowledgeable, you will understand the process more and — combined with a few changes — you will be living in an organized home before you know it.

You can enhance your home’s existing concrete surfaces using acid stains, water based stains, epoxy paints, and scoring techniques.  If you’re tired of looking at dull grey concrete, there are some fairly easy projects for the serious do-it-yourselfer to give your concrete a refreshing new look.  Or perhaps you plan to have some new concrete installed but you don’t want plain grey concrete.  Decorative concrete work costs double to triple that of regular concrete and many people simply can’t afford it.  There are inexpensive ways to decorate concrete after it has cured without having to pay skilled tradesmen.

Acid based concrete stains are becoming more and more popular for colouring concrete surfaces.  They chemically react with the cementitious material to produce permanent colour with variegated or mottled appearance like that of marble.  This results in a natural, elegant looking surface.  Acid stains are available in 8-10 different colours, mainly brown, green, and reddish earth tones.  A coat of clear concrete sealer when you’re finished really brings out the colours and beauty of acid stains.

Water based concrete stains are an alternative to acid stains and are much more user friendly because they’re much less toxic. These stains don’t chemically react with the concrete; they are absorbed into the surface pores and act like a dye. The big advantage of water based stains is the wide array of colours available. You can find just about any colour in the spectrum and create a more vibrant and consistent appearance.

If you want to venture beyond the basic staining of concrete, consider using some scoring techniques to create patterns on the surface. You can make your concrete look like a tile floor for example. It’s up to your imagination. An angle grinder with a 4 inch grinding or cutting wheel is the ideal tool for this. The important thing to remember when scoring is to draw the pattern on the concrete first and make sure you’re satisfied with the way it looks because scoring is irreversible.  Most people don’t own an angle grinder but you can rent one at almost any tool rental shop.

Epoxy paints make an excellent coating for garage floors and basement floors.  Many commercial floors have epoxy coatings because of their durability and resistance to chemical spills as well as their appearance. In recent years, however, it has become very popular for residential use with an increasing availability of different colours.  This is not a difficult project, but the key to successful application is surface preparation.  Epoxy paints have also become available in a water based form making it safe for the do-it-yourselfer and ideal for indoor applications.

MOVING! The very thought of it can send chills down our spine and can cause us to break out into a cold sweat. Experts say that any kind of “change” creates “stress”. Moving, (and especially if we are relocating to a new city or state), represents a huge change and naturally brings a great amount of stress along with it. This can be a double whammy, because stress can lead to a lack of energy and motivation. Many of us tend to procrastinate during stressful periods of our lives. This is one time, though, when we must rise above that.

When preparing for a move we need to put the pedal to the metal and get a lot of things done.

This checklist contains many suggestions that may seem like “no-brainers”. However, the very act of printing out these simple suggestions and reminders can become a significant security blanket as the dreaded time approaches. Moving and relocating calls for being proactive, grabbing the bull by the horns and actually completing certain chores well in advance of their deadlines.

Hopefully this little article will help you to accomplish that.

1. Get rid of what you don’t need.

Many of us are “pack rats”. One thing that we can accomplish immediately is going through all of our “stuff” and getting rid of what we don’t need anymore. Moving unwanted clothing and bric-a-bracs from one place of residence to another is a great waste of time and effort. It is surprising how much more in control we feel once we start narrowing down our “inventory” to what we actually need to keep. Getting rid of the unwanted items can be done by having a garage sale long before moving time and then donating the leftovers to the Salvation Army or other charitable groups.

2. Get all important papers and documents together and secure them.

Since moving is hectic, to say the least, we need to be aware of the exact location of all of our important items. Things that we absolutely must not lose or misplace should certainly be hand carried, not put in a box for the movers:

Address Books, Birth Certificates, Bank Statements, Checks, Credit Cards and Statements, Home Movies, Irreplaceable Memorabilia, Insurance Policies, Marriage Records, Medical and Dental Records, Military Records, Passports, Photos and Photo Albums, Resumes, School Records, Stock Certificates, Tax Returns, Telephone Numbers, Valuables, Vehicle Documents, Wills.

3. Prepare well in advance for living at your new location.

There are many things that we can do at our new location well in advance of our move that will help smooth out the bumps and grinds of our relocation process when the actual event occurs: Open up new bank accounts. Open up a new Safe Deposit Box. Contact the new area utility companies and arrange for your new services. These can include Cable TV, gas, electric, oil, telephone, water and Internet access. Arrange for new medical providers. If you are moving to a new state, contact the DMV and get forms necessary to re-register your vehicles. Contact your insurance companies and find out if your car insurance, homeowner’s insurance, etc. can be transferred. If not, find an Insurance Broker in your new area and discuss your needs and requirements for new policies. Go to the post office and get a moving kit. Prepare change of address forms for all of your correspondents; credit card companies, other credit accounts, banks, insurance companies, current utility companies for final statements, magazines and other subscriptions, family, friends, and any other persons or businesses that you correspond with on a regular basis.

4. As the time approaches, have the important numbers handy.

As moving day approaches and when the moving process actually begins, you don’t want to be hunting for phone numbers in wallets, purses, or address books. Have a nice new notebook or electronic notebook ready with all important phone numbers written clearly and legibly for both your old and new contacts: Banks, Doctors, Emergency contacts, Family members, Friends, Landlords or Real Estate Brokers, Movers, Pharmacies Schools, Storage Facilities, Utilities.

With proper planning and preparation the moving process, though never fun, can at least be sane.

At this time of the year when the days are short and the skies are grey, focus tends to shift towards the glorious summer months when we can escape the daily commuter grind and the realities of the 9 to 5 and take a couple of weeks out to lie on a sun drenched beach somewhere. But why take just two weeks away when you could own a holiday home in the sun, vacation in it whenever you wanted to and even let it out for an earnings supplementing rental income? If you’re one of the increasing numbers of people considering buying real estate for investment purposes, why not combine your investment with pleasure and buy a holiday home abroad? Buying real estate overseas needn’t be a complicated or stressful experience; with this ten step guide to buying property abroad you’ll find the whole process a breeze – and you’ll be lying next to your very own swimming pool soaking up the summer sunshine before you know it.

1. Country

   You may already have had your perfect holiday and know exactly where you’d ideally like to own a holiday home in the sun, if on the other hand you’re still undecided about which country to buy a second home in you should factor at least the following considerations into your country based research to determine which nation ideally suites your requirements: – weather, property prices, accessibility, stability and things to do.

2. Location

   Having decided on a country the next challenge is to find the most suitable area of the country to target for your holiday home search. Think about whether you want to be close to the coast, inland, in a city, away from the crowds, in the thick of it or on a desert island.

3. Property Type

   Apartment, detached villa, bungalow or rural retreat – which property type suits you and also, if you’re thinking about renting out your holiday home in the sun, which type of property will be easiest to rent?

4. Budget

   How much money have you got available to you, how much money will be required in fees and taxes when buying overseas? Think carefully about how much of your budget you can allocate to buying a property and then stick to that figure, do not be tempted to over extend yourself as this could get you into difficulties and even prevent you from having the funds available to travel and holiday in your brand new property.

5. Assistance

   Because you’re potentially buying in a foreign country you may encounter language barriers, different legal systems and a whole new buying process therefore it is wise to employ the services of a real estate agent and essential to secure the services of a lawyer who can guide and protect you throughout the purchase process.

6. Management

   Whether you intend to let out your holiday home or not you will probably require the services of a good management company to make sure your pool is clean, your roof never leaks and no one tries to break into your home. Take recommendations locally from other people who have their second homes looked after by a third party and don’t be afraid to ask a property management company for references.

7. Income

   If you’ll be letting out your home in the sun for an income find out about any taxation you will be liable for on that income and also about any deductions you can take from your liability to reduce your overall taxation burden.

8. Investment

   If you’re interested in holding property overseas for investment purposes look into the buoyancy of a market and ensure that the real estate market is capable of sustaining an investment property. Some overseas real estate markets are stagnant and difficult to realize a capital gain from.

9. Insurance

   Because your property will either be vacant for long periods of time or occupied by people unknown to you it will be important to have insurances in place for the building and the contents.

10. Enjoyment

    And last but not least, once you’ve secured your holiday home in the sun save as much money as possible so that you can enjoy your home as often as possible and for as long as possible! After all, you deserve the time away from work.

When it comes to adding value to your property, focusing in on the bathroom and kitchen almost certainly guarantees profitable returns.

If you’re considering making your home appealing to potential buyers, then one of the first places to start is in the bathroom.

When it comes to bathroom design, what is it that most people really want? Would choosing a spacious jetted tub above a soaker tub be financially beneficial in the long haul?

Wouldn’t designing your bathroom be a much easier task if you were armed with a guideline of what tickled the fancy of potential homebuyers? If you’re going to design your bathroom get it right the first time round to avoid flushing away hard-earned money.

Hello simplicity

From as far back as the 1960s much focus was placed on bold colour in the bathroom. Patterned wall tiles of nautical creatures and over-the-top colours were the trend, along with plastic. Plastic bathroom decor was the craze, from bold orange, olive green, mustard yellow and chocolate brown coloured toothbrush, soap and towel holders, to thick patterned plastic shower curtains that screamed colours of the boldest nature.

As the times moved on, the 1970s and early 1980s became a period when gold bathroom fixings and furnishing, such as taps, towel rails and toilet roll holders, were considered very stylish. These ostentatious gold trimmed features were all the rage, and bathroom decor was ‘loud’.  Added to this were those once delightful bathroom suites in colours avocado, coral pink, and chocolate brown. Bathroom colour has changed dramatically over the past few decades, and shades have become more neutral, sometimes with a hint of colour that adds a complementary vigour to the overall scheme. 

So, when designing and decorating your bathroom, consider white decor, and opt for chrome fixtures and furnishings. Not only do the lend to a much more of a neutral palette, they will appeal to the majority of potential homebuyers, therefore adding to the overall value of your home.

Shower power

When designing a bathroom at home, we face the dilemma of opting for the installation of either a shower or a bathtub. In both cases, design plays an important role, but this role is even bigger as far as functionality, space availability, and the necessary requirements are concerned. Fitting out a large bathroom is not the same as doing a small one, and furthermore, the fact that the bathroom is used for just a person is far different from a whole family’s way of using it.

Consider installing a shower over the bath if space is limited.

A shower takes up much less space than a bathtub, and it also offers a high adaptability to any space. There are shower models of all kinds of sizes, colours, designs and shapes, and its access becomes much easier and faster.

Saving water is, moreover, a plus for the shower installation. According to many studies, showering instead of taking a bath is a great water saver, providing that is used responsibly.

Choosing your bath tub

The bathtub becomes the centre of attention in the bathroom, by bringing together almost the whole decorative style and at the same time, it becomes the focus of attention. Furthermore, nowadays we can find highly contemporary minimalist bathtub designs which are able to delight interior design and turn it into something very exclusive and unique.

Bathroom flooring

Bathroom flooring needs to withstand water and high humidity while keeping slip resistance. Most homeowners prefer floors that are also easy to clean and maintain. The best flooring types for the bathroom are more than just functional.  They are also attractive and improve home decor. Consider features such as shape, colour, texture, and material when choosing flooring for bathrooms.

Ceramic and porcelain floor tiles are a popular choice for flooring in the bathroom. Consider choosing a textured tile to help keep bathroom floors from getting slippery when wet.

Keep it clean

If you are planning to put your home on the market, inspect your bathroom for those small generally unnoticed flaws, like mould on the silicone sealant around the bath, and even on your shower curtain if you have one. Potential homebuyers may notice these small faults, which could send then running!

It’s up to each homeowner to decide if a bathroom renovation is worth the expense. Overall though, you can expect to get a good return on the money that you spend, plus a high joy score out of the project. If having a bathroom that you enjoy being in matters to you, then go for it. It’s just icing on the cake that you’ll get to recoup a lot of the associated costs as well.