Nicholas Yount, REALTOR

A coffee bar is an increasingly popular home feature these days. With more people working from home and spending less time in cafes, it should come as no surprise that so many homeowners are creating a designated space specifically for a good cup of joe. Here are a few tips for designing the perfect coffee bar. Pick the Location Before you get started, take some time to consider the ideal spot. The kitchen or a nearby pantry is often the first choice, especially if it’s close to a breakfast nook where you enjoy your coffee each morning. Another option, however, is to place it in your home office, so you can stay energized throughout the workday without leaving your desk. Some homeowners even choose to put a coffee bar in the master suite, allowing them to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee the minute they roll out of bed. Get the Appliances The only piece of equipment that you really need, of course, is your preferred coffee maker, but there’s no reason why you have to stop there. A compact r...

A home gym can be the perfect opportunity to remove barriers to your motivation. Whether you are social distancing, don’t feel confident at the gym or simply don’t have a flexible schedule, gym equipment in your home can be convenient and motivating. If you don’t want to sacrifice your home’s style for your fitness routine, try out these tips. Buy With Your Space in Mind Sure, it could be awesome to have a full gym set up complete with every piece of equipment imaginable, but if your space cannot conveniently accommodate it, you’re likely to find yourself feeling constricted in your home. Not only can this negatively impact your day-to-day home life, but it can also make your workouts feel cramped, leaving you uninspired. Add Decor to Your Workout Area Whether you have a whole room dedicated to fitness equipment or you simply have a stationary bike in the corner of your room, adding wall decor and intentional accessories can make even clunky equipment look nice. Consider putting up som...

Saving enough for a down payment and closing costs and being able to afford a monthly mortgage payment may be challenging, but achieving those goals is possible with planning and foresight. Get Your Credit in Shape Request copies of your credit reports from the three credit bureaus—Transunion, Equifax and Fico. Go through them carefully and look for errors. If you find any, dispute the information and have the problems corrected so a mortgage lender doesn’t hold erroneous or outdated information against you. If your credit score is too low to qualify for a mortgage with a competitive interest rate, work on boosting your score. Make all required payments on time and pay down credit card debts to lower your debt-to-income ratio. That will make you more likely to get approved for a mortgage and will give you more room in your budget for a mortgage payment and other expenses. Look for Opportunities to Boost Your Income and Lower Your Expenses If possible, consider taking on a part-time job...

For many families, the attic is a place to store old clothes, holiday decorations and other things that aren’t used on a regular basis. If you need additional space for your growing family or for people to work or study at home, converting your attic can be a smart move that can pay off when you eventually sell your home. Reasons to Convert Your Attic Building an addition is an expensive undertaking. Depending on the current size and design of your house, the size of the yard and local zoning laws, adding to your house may or may not be a viable option.  Taking advantage of space you already have and using it in a different way may be a better solution. An attic renovation can also be much less expensive and can be completed in a fraction of the time you would need to build an addition. Ways to Use Your Attic Space Since an attic is separated from the rest of the house, it offers privacy. That can make it an excellent place to use as a bedroom, playroom or home office. A finished u...

Technology has updated even once-simple features, such as the doorbell, and made them more useful and convenient for homeowners. A doorbell with a camera can allow you to see who is at the door and monitor and control who enters your home. This technology can help you keep your family safe and may deter theft and vandalism. How a Doorbell With a Camera Can Improve Security A video doorbell can allow you to see who enters and leaves your house and when. That can help you keep track of when your kids come home, who is with them and what people bring into and out of your home. It can help you see when a package is delivered and see if anyone who isn’t authorized removes it from your doorstep. A doorbell with a camera can allow you to communicate with the person at the door without giving away any clues about your own location. A camera can let you see who is outside, and a microphone and speakers can allow you to have a conversation with that individual, no matter where you are.  Some...

Potential buyers are strongly influenced by first impressions. If people form a negative initial impression of your home, it may be impossible to change their minds. They may immediately decide that the house isn’t right for them and may not even bother to look further. Flooring is one of the first things that prospective buyers will notice, so be sure that the flooring in your house creates the impression you want. Why Damaged Flooring Can Make It Hard to Sell Your House Potential buyers will instantly notice scratched hardwood floors or tile, stained or dirty carpet, damaged or stained linoleum, and pet odors. If the flooring looks or smells bad, it can be difficult for people to get past that and focus on the house’s positive qualities. No matter how much time and money you spend on cleaning, repairing, and staging in other parts of your home, buyers may not care about any of it if the flooring is in bad shape. When people view a house, they often make assumptions. If the flooring i...

If a room in your house is on the small side, you may be trying to figure out how to decorate it in a way that will make it seem more spacious. A mirror, when placed in the right location, can make a tight space seem much larger than it really is.  Reflect Light If you have a large light fixture, a well-placed mirror can reflect the light it generates and instantly make the room feel bigger. A mirror hung on a wall near a window can reflect natural light and make the room seem more spacious. Use Mirrors in Common Areas One or more mirrors in the kitchen can reflect light and make the room seem larger and brighter. You can place a mirror behind the stove, add one to the backsplash or glue mirrors to cabinet doors. A mirror next to the dining room table can reflect light and create a relaxing ambience similar to that in a restaurant. In an area with a fireplace, placing a mirror on the mantel can increase the perceived size of the room. One or more strategically placed mirrors in the...