Curb Appeal Tips

When you stop to look at your house, are you impressed or distressed? If you chose the latter, it’s time to start looking into adding some personal touches that will change the way you feel about your home; and turn that eye sore into something you can take pride in! Owning a home is a lot of work, and after a long day’s work, the last thing anyone wants to do is start toiling away at another project to eat the rest of your day, but there are some simple and small tasks you can do to revolutionize your home, and make it the belle-on-the-block!

                  We’ve taken the time to come up with and arrange some ideas that you can use to makeover that home into the personal haven you deserve. The following ideas are organized by average completion time to make it easy to choose something that fits your time frame!

One-Day Projects:

                  There are plenty of things to do in a matter of a few hours to completely change the way your home looks. Something as simple as replacing old planters on the front porch, adding a new welcome mat, or updating the patio furniture will help give the front of your home a personality and keep it from blending in from all the homes around it. If spending a lot of money isn’t to your tastes, there are some cheaper alternatives to replacing what you have altogether. For just the cost of a can of paint and a brush, you can give your old furniture a new life, or even repaint your door for a great unique flourish!

Multiple-Day Projects:

                  These projects are great for redefining the feel of your house, but also require a bit more time to execute.

                  Try some new landscaping! Removing dead or old plants and replacing them with seasonal, brighter flora (Emphasis on COLOR!) will make your house look much homier, and create a welcoming atmosphere to anyone who stops or passes by. Another great way to change it up is to redo your walkways, or make a new walkway! Whether it’s adding a brick lining to your existing walkway, fixing cracks, or completely redoing it, any change for the better will ultimately help you give your home a completely different feel. 

No matter how you go about doing your home makeover, the important to not forget the power of details. Those small, simple changes (trimming a dead branch, replacing a broken shutter, picking up the yard, etc.) add up over time to help your house grow into something you never imagined it could be. Don’t be overwhelmed at what’s yet to be done. Just pick one project per week, and before you know it, you will be the proud owner of the prettiest plot on the street!

Fall Gardening and Yard Maintenance

Spring and Summer are not the only productive times for backyard gardens.  Fall can produce an excellent harvest of healthy, delicious greens and vegetables to get you through the changing season.

It's time to plant cool-weather crops such as:

- Beets
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Onions
- Turnips
- Collards

While you're working in the yard don't forget the following Fall maintenance tips:
- Moving houseplants back inside
- Cut back and remove flower stalks
- Don't prune shrubs or trees! This will encourage new growth which may be damaged during the winter months.
- Continue to fertilize container plants
- Roses are continuing to produce - water and fertilize as appropriate

The fall months can be a wonderful time to be outdoors. Take advantage of the cooler temperatures to make the yard of your new home a beautiful place to be.

Spruce Up for Fall!

With Labor Day weekend comes the unofficial start to Fall.  Just as you begin to transition your wardrobe (no more wearing white!) - change up your home interior for the season's change with these quick tips below.

1. Update your throw pillows. Use decorate pillows to add pops of color in some of Autumns best hues - orange, gold, red or brown.

2. Bring out the blankets! If you've been storing your blankets and throws - now is the time to freshen them up and put them on display.

3. Light up your candles.  As the days get shorter take advantage of the instant ambiance of candlelight.  Use unlit candles as opportunities to show off more fall colors.

4. Change out your bedding.  Bring out the comforters and layers of blankets in preparation for cooler temperatures.

5. Spruce up the outdoors with seasonal plants.  Decorate your entryway with mums or hydrangeas. Use dried flowers, plants or branches inside to create natural works of art.

What do you do to dress your home up for Fall?

Signs of the Recovery

According to the Commerce Department, housing starts increased by 15.7% in July - the highest level since November. This is great news for the housing market and overall U.S. economy.

Home construction in general rose 22% this year through July and applications for building permits increased as well - signifying potential improvement in months to come. Permits are up 8.1% which is the largest gain since April of 2013.

The National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo Housing Market Index reports that home builder confidence rose by 2 points. This is the third consecutive month that builder confidence has increased.

If you're looking for another reason to buy now, interest rates on conventional 30 year mortgages have dropped but are expected to rise again in upcoming months.  With rental costs continuing to rise, now is the time to think about whether buying a new home is right for you and your family.

With homes in Charleston and Columbia - Galloway Family Homes has a home ready for you!

Tips for Getting a Home Loan

Buying a new home is one of the biggest financial decisions families make in their lifetime. Choosing the right home though is only part of the process. It’s important to spend just as much time finding the right mortgage to ensure you are getting the best deal on your new home purchase.

In the points below, we break down the questions into categories from the legitimacy of the company itself, to the breakdown of rates, and where your money is going.

Questions about Lender:
1.    Are you licensed by the state and whom do you represent (bank, lender, finance company, etc)?
2.    Does your company hold loans or sell them to a third party?
3.    What different loan programs do you offer (VA loans, FHA loans, etc)?
4.    What is the average rate of your standard 30-year fixed loan?
5.    What additional fees does your company collect in addition to loan payments?
6.    How do you keep my personal information secure? Do you sell personal information to affiliates and other third parties? If so, what can I do to limit that sharing?
7.    What separates your company from other lenders in the same field?

Questions about the Loan:
1.    What is the interest rate of my potential loan? What determined that rate is right for me? What is the annual percentage rate (APR) of this loan?
2.    Is this rate fixed or will it change during its lifetime? If it will, by how much could it change? What is the average starting and ending rate for loans of this type?
3.    If my rate is locked, for how long is it locked? Are there additional fees associated with maintaining this lock?
4.    Are the taxes and insurance of my home going to be escrowed? Is this method mandatory?
5.    What are the estimated closing costs of this loan?
6.    When are my monthly payments and how much will they total to?
7.    Are there prepayment fees associated with this loan?

Asking these questions to potential lenders will give you a breakdown of each company and their offerings to ensure you can make an informed decision on your mortgage. Talk with our team of experts at Galloway Family Homes who can help you through the home buying process.