As a homeowner, you should be able to turn on a faucet and expect clean water, and you should have the luxury of doing laundry, working your garbage disposal, and flushing your toilet without anticipating any problems with your plumbing. You take pride in your home and its fixtures, and while you might hesitate when it comes time to upgrade anything in your kitchen or bathroom, you ought to know that the benefits of updated plumbing outweigh the cost in the long run.
Why should you keep your plumbing up to date? There are a number of reasons to consider new fixtures, pipes and appliances. Here are some thoughts to consider the next time you settle in for a nice bath or start cooking a meal:
1) Your family and guests will thank you for it. If yours is the household that sees people waiting in line for hot water every morning, don't feel discouraged if you believe that problem will never be resolved. Consult with a plumbing professional for options that keep everybody at home happy, and clean! Whether it involves installing another shower or better pipes for improved flow, you can find help toward getting everybody's bathroom routines finished in a timely manner.
2) You can save money on water and heating bills. Upgrade to newer equipment like a tankless water heater or other fixtures for your bathroom and kitchen - like low-flush toilets and lower-flow faucets, and you may find you're pay less each month when the bills arrive. This is because you use less water and heat every day.
3) You may get a break on your taxes! With the purchase of energy saving devices for home improvement, you may be able to write off the money on your next tax return. This includes plumbing fixtures like tankless water heaters.
4) You improve the value of your home. If ever you decide to sell your house, you stand to increase bids thanks to the upgraded features done to your bathroom and kitchen. You've given potential home buyers more reason to consider your house over others, and they have less home improvement work to do when you vacate.
Upgraded plumbing yields benefits for everybody at home. More efficient pipes run clean water, help save you money and make your home more pleasant. If you're unable to make the improvements yourself, talk to your local plumber about cost effective options.
Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Chicago plumbing services and Norfolk plumbing services.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Buying Unfinished Homes
As you search for your new home, you probably have visited a number of planned communities where only models are available for viewing. As you drive around quays and closes to see rows of concrete pads stabbed through with PVC piping, you're only granted an imaginary view of what your new home could look like. Prepared models may give you an idea of space and placement, but at the end of the day you may believe buying an unfinished home is like getting a pig in a poke. Does it present an opportunity or a risk?
Let's take a look at some of the advantages and challenges in purchasing an unfinished home, regardless of the stage of construction.
Advantages:
1) Depending on how swift lot sales are going in the community, you may be able to negotiate a good price on your new home. One reason why you might see a planned community with empty spaces is because the land and the house has not yet sold and the money is needed to continue with construction. If the economy is slow, you may be able to get a good deal.
2) If the house is in an early stage of being built, you may have the opportunity to control design. In planned communities, homes often come with similar fixtures and colors because they can be purchased in bulk. Get in on a home early, and you may get your pick on some nice counter tops and wallpaper.
3) If you have an idea of your expected move-in date, you'll have plenty of time to prepare and sell your old home. You won't feel rushed into moving.
Disadvantages:
1) Time can work against you too with an unfinished home. Unexpected delays, problems with finances, and other issues may prevent your home from being finished on time. If you sell your house in the interim, you could be stuck looking for temporary digs until your home is built.
2) While waiting for your home, your personal and financial situation could change. Someone could lose a job, you could become divorced, or get transferred to another city. These situations can arise when buying a functional home, too, but with an unfinished place there could be more questions to answer.
3) If other lots around you don't sell for a while, you could be stuck having concrete pads as neighbors. While it may seem peaceful, it may not exactly help your home value.
Think carefully about whether or not you want to invest in a home that is not yet finished. If you trust the builder and realty company, you may have an advantage overall.
Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Norfolk real estate and Virginia Beach homes.
Let's take a look at some of the advantages and challenges in purchasing an unfinished home, regardless of the stage of construction.
Advantages:
1) Depending on how swift lot sales are going in the community, you may be able to negotiate a good price on your new home. One reason why you might see a planned community with empty spaces is because the land and the house has not yet sold and the money is needed to continue with construction. If the economy is slow, you may be able to get a good deal.
2) If the house is in an early stage of being built, you may have the opportunity to control design. In planned communities, homes often come with similar fixtures and colors because they can be purchased in bulk. Get in on a home early, and you may get your pick on some nice counter tops and wallpaper.
3) If you have an idea of your expected move-in date, you'll have plenty of time to prepare and sell your old home. You won't feel rushed into moving.
Disadvantages:
1) Time can work against you too with an unfinished home. Unexpected delays, problems with finances, and other issues may prevent your home from being finished on time. If you sell your house in the interim, you could be stuck looking for temporary digs until your home is built.
2) While waiting for your home, your personal and financial situation could change. Someone could lose a job, you could become divorced, or get transferred to another city. These situations can arise when buying a functional home, too, but with an unfinished place there could be more questions to answer.
3) If other lots around you don't sell for a while, you could be stuck having concrete pads as neighbors. While it may seem peaceful, it may not exactly help your home value.
Think carefully about whether or not you want to invest in a home that is not yet finished. If you trust the builder and realty company, you may have an advantage overall.
Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Norfolk real estate and Virginia Beach homes.
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