| Maximize your Garage Space |
| By American Heartland on February 25, 2008 at 9:55 AM |
Garages can quickly become a catch-all place for all sorts of items unless you have a game plan. Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Store frequently used items in accessible areas and seasonal items, such as holiday decorations or camping equipment, in higher, more remote spaces
- Measure out how much space vehicles take up before installing cabinets, shelves and other storage devices to avoid hitting them when you open the doors
- To make it easier to find things later, organize in zones: a gardening zone, a car care zone, a sports equipment zone, a camping gear zone, etc.
- A wall towel and soap dispenser will come in handy if you do a lot of work in the garage
- If you have children in your home, even if they are only visiting, be sure to have anything dangerous safely locked out of reach.
Click here for more information on cleaning out your garage.
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| Storage For the Laundry Room? |
| By American Heartland on February 8, 2008 at 1:23 PM |
With dryer sheets, stain sticks and detergents, it’s easy for the laundry room to quickly get cluttered. But careful planning in the beginning can help even this room stay organized and neat! There are several storage options available, but here are some of the simplest ways to get organized:
- Get a hamper with multiple compartments so that you can pre-sort your loads.
- If you have a bit or room between your washing machine and dryer, a rolling cart is a great option for storing laundry soaps and dryer sheets.
- Attractive looking baskets placed on shelves also help keep you organized. Not only are they great for holding such items as dryer sheets or lint rollers, they also work well for holding other household cleaning goods in one central location.
- Use decorative coat hooks to hold items such as an ironing board and iron or additional clothes hangers to the wall.
The great thing about planning ahead for laundry room organizing and storage is that for only pennies extra each month, you can easily include certain items in your mortgage before you build such as additional cabinets or shelving. For more great ideas and inspiration for your laundry room visit the Better Homes and Gardens Laundry Inspiration website.
What other ideas have you used to keep your laundry room neat and tidy?
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| Creating Kid Space |
| By American Heartland on January 31, 2008 at 10:08 AM |
To provide personal space for siblings sharing a bedroom, use modular desks or add a kid-size loft where a child can have some privacy. Whimsical armoires, fabric canopies, bunk beds or raised beds with storage lockers are other ways to customize spaces to young tastes.
The trick in creating a personal space for a child is to offer a bit of privacy without completely removing them from the common environment of the house. A few well-placed decorative screens can give a young person necessary space without cutting them off from the rest of the household.
How have you customized kids rooms when they have to share?
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| Homeowners Insurance: What to Look For |
| By American Heartland on January 29, 2008 at 9:01 AM |
The price you pay for your homeowners insurance can vary by hundreds of dollars, depending on the insurance company you buy your policy from. Here are some ideas to consider before you purchase your policy.
1. Call a few companies for their rates, then check the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (www.naic.org). They have information to help you choose an insurer in your state, including complaints. States often make information available on typical rates charged by major insurers, and many states provide the frequency of consumer complaints listed by company.
2. Don’t confuse what you paid for your house with rebuilding costs. The land under your house isn’t at risk from theft, windstorm, fire and other perils covered in your homeowners policy. So don’t include its value in deciding how much homeowners insurance to buy. If you do, you will pay a higher premium than you should.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask about what kind of discounts are available. What kind of discount will they give you if you also have your auto insurance with them or if you have been insured by the same company for several years? How much of a discount will they offer if you improve your home security with smoke detectors, burglar alarms or deadbolt locks? Will it help if you add storm shutters or use stronger roofing materials? With some insurers, retired people qualify for discounts because retired people are more likely to stay at home more so are less likely to be burglarized and may spot fires sooner.
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| Electrical Layout Needs |
| By American Heartland on January 17, 2008 at 12:21 PM |
When purchasing your new home, look at the floorplan and see where the outlets are. Are there plenty in the kitchen, entertainment areas, bedrooms and garage? Normal wiring outlet standards are every 6 feet of wall space, but think of how you are placing your furniture in each room and where the outlets need to be. This eliminates the hassle of running long cords to side tables.
In your great room or media room you may want to wire in speaker cables for your home entertainment system. Perhaps you may have an older child or parent coming back to live with you. You may want to add phone jacks to your extra bedrooms or even in the basement where you have an area for the kids to play.
It is easier to add wiring to your home during the building process than afterwards, so keep an eye out for this important feature.
What wiring features and needs do you have?
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| Basic Home Buying Steps |
| By American Heartland on January 4, 2008 at 8:45 AM |
Building a new home can be stressful. Here are some basic steps to get you started.
- Pre-qualify for a mortgage.
- Review you present home and situation.
- Talk to as many people as you can who have been through the building process. Be sure to ask what they would do differently.
- Select a builder.
- Find a lot.
- Find a home plan by asking the following questions:
- How do I want to entertain?
- How much storage will I need? What kind?
- Does the plan have flexibility for special rooms?
- How does the home help me de-stress? A quiet area for me? Whirlpool bath? Drop Zone in the rear foyer?
- Where do I want the master bedroom?
- Is energy-efficiency important to me?
- Customize your home plan.
- Consult with an interior designer for a couple of hours.
- Meet with an electrician and electronic specialists to pre-wire the house properly.
- Relax and enjoy your new home!
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