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You found your dream home, signed the closing papers and finally received the keys your brand new place! Now, where are those keys…
If you’re prone to losing your keys, or just want a creative place to keep them on hand, check out this fun DIY project for a chalkboard key holder. This unique idea is a great way to prevent misplaced keys, stay organized and add personalized wall art to your home.
Use chalkboard paint for a customized message center, or any color paint that compliments your décor. You can also color code your keys to easily tell the difference between keys for home, work, office and the mailbox. We’re partial to BLUE for home keys, but it’s all about your personal preference!
Not only is this a great afternoon project for your own use, but would make an ideal housewarming gift for a new homeowner in your life.
{Read more: Chalkboard Key Holder}
By the way, if you’re looking for the KEY to getting keys on a ring without breaking a nail, watch this Lennar How To U video for a tip you’ll wish you knew sooner!
It’s back-to-school season, and for many families that means life at home is getting busier. Between new activities, different schedules, homework and earlier bedtimes, who has time to cook? When life gets busy, often dinner at home gets pushed aside in favor of a quick drive-through meal.
We’re excited to welcome a special guest to show that a quick and delicious weeknight meal at home is possible. Not only is this idea great for all ages, but works for families of any size.
Hi everyone, I am Stephanie and you can usually find me blogging on SomewhatSimple.com– a creative lifestyle blog featuring simple projects, home organization tips, family travel, easy recipes and more!
Today we have an easy dinner idea you can put together in no time at all- a Pasta Bar! Building your own pasta bar can be as simple or as fancy as you want it to be. It can be tailored to fit every budget, dietary need, taste preference etc.
Here is how to put a pasta bar together:
1. CHOOSE 2-3 PASTAS
2. CHOOSE 2-3 SAUCES
3. CHOOSE YOUR TOPPINGS
DIRECTIONS:
ENJOY!!!
Feel free to stop by Somewhat Simple for even more delicious dinner ideas. Here are a few of our favorites:
Sweet & Tangy Meatballs || Crock Pot Chicken Tacos || Grilled Cheese Pizza Dippers
About the Author: Sephanie Dulgarian is a creative entrepreneur and founder of Somewhat Simple. After moving to Phoenix in 2005, she started her blog on a whim to keep in touch with her family in Orange County, California. She now manages the entire Creative Team of Somewhat Simple and has used her creative expertise to build relationships with brands that have expanded into several ongoing partnerships. Stephanie has built a strong following through social media and her active online community continues to grow every day. Stephanie lives in Arizona with her husband and their five children.
Manolo Blahnik once said “Maintenance is terribly important.” Our guess is that he wasn’t referring to home upkeep, but we think it definitely applies! Routine home care is essential for maintaining your home’s value and keeping all systems running smoothly. And what about home updates? One of the many joys of homeownership is being able to make changes to your home as your style and needs change. Often, simple maintenance and repairs can be done quickly and with minimal effort. However, when a larger project arises or you’re short on time, you may find yourself wanting to enlist the help of a professional. These tips from Zillow can help you find the right service pro for your home projects, big or small.
Finding the right person to install your garage door opener, patch your roof or landscape your yard takes time – but it’s time well spent.
The Better Business Bureau last year recorded 24,900 complaints from U.S. homeowners about general contractors, remodeling and repair specialists, roofing contractors, painters and plumbers. The Bureau received an additional 12,500 complaints associated with landscape professionals, pest control businesses, appliance repair companies, air-conditioning contractors and pool service companies. Grievances ranged from quality of work provided to contract issues, and inferior repairs to unfinished work.
Invest the time and energy upfront by checking a service pro’s credentials and insisting on a written contract. These five tips may help you avoid problems:
1. Do your due diligence
Ask potential service providers for copies of their license, insurance and bonding capacity, then make sure the information is current. Ensure the company is licensed to perform the type of work you need and that it meets the bonding requirements of your town, county and state. Ask for references — and call them. Search online for news articles, customer reviews and reports of violations related to the company.
2. Be wary of bargain bids
Bids that come in substantially lower than the competition aren’t necessarily the best deal. There may be an explanation for the bargain-basement pricing; perhaps the low bid doesn’t account for the same installation, materials and features. Or, it could be that the low bid is a sign that you’re going to receive a lower level of service. Conversely, don’t be fooled into thinking a very high bid indicates higher standards of service. You may simply be working with a contractor who is so busy he’s not looking for more work. Any time you receive a bid that’s significantly higher or lower than all the others, ask the service provider if there’s a reason for the difference.
The office is often an essential space in any home. Thanks to advances in telecommuting, the home is becoming a place of work for many – at least part of the time. And as time spent in a home office increases, so does the need to design a beautiful and functional space. This new article from Entrepreneur shares four new trends in home office design. The trends not only reflect the latest in home decorating, but the need for home office design to contribute to an effective work environment. The set up and design of your home office should not only feel comfortable and reflect your personal style, but also support what you want to accomplish in the space. If your home doesn’t allow the space to dedicate an entire room for an office, consider using part of the kitchen, a bedroom corner, 2nd story loft area, or basement.
No longer consigned to the basement or unused nook, the home office has emerged as one of the most important residential amenities, thanks to an uptick in both self-employment and flexible working trends.
“The home office comes up all the time—it’s on par with programming the kitchen and dining room,” says David Dowell, a principal at Kansas City, Mo., architecture firm El Dorado Inc. “It’s in the top three things we design.”
Whether they’re working for themselves or others, some 25 million Americans are calling home “the office” at least one day a week. Among them, 2.8 million self-employed people consider home their primary place of work, according to consultancy Global Workplace Analytics.
With the number of at-home workers on the rise—the population grew 29.4 percent from 2005 to 2012—the need for workspace is constant and evolving. We asked architects, designers and space and product specialists for their take on the trends driving the home-office sector. With options ranging from integrated systems to stand-alone “shedquarters,” at-home workers aren’t just making do; they’re making their own ways to work.
Are you ready to move-up into a new home, but need to sell your current home first? If you’re like many home sellers, you want your home to sell quickly and get the maximum return on your investment. The look and feel of your home can have a huge impact on your home’s perceived value and how quickly it can sell.
One of the most effective ways to show off your home’s best assets, and “wow” potential buyers, is home staging. With the right staging, your home’s star features get a chance to shine, while letting potential buyers envision themselves, and their belongings, in the space. You could hire a professional staging company, but they can be expensive and stretch beyond your desired budget.
This infographic from RIS Media shows you room-by-room how to stage your home, offering tips on how to maximize your space and specific areas to focus your deep cleaning. Plus, see inexpensive ideas to give your home a modern update that will impress buyers. It’s also important to “neutralize” your style to create an interior that appeals to a diverse range of tastes. You may love the bright red wall in your kitchen, but it’s possible that your home’s next owner may not.
The good news – you don’t have to spend a fortune on home staging. The investment of your time and a modest budget may be all you need to get the offers rolling in. These tips for staging on a budget may save you money, which means a bigger down payment for your new dream home!
{View infographic: Home Staging on a Budget}
Looking for more tips and advice on how to sell your home? Check out Lennar’s Tips to sell your home guide for more information on marketing, the look & feel, pricing and more!
If you’re dreaming about owning a new home, you may have questions about your purchasing power and ability to qualify for a mortgage. From credit scores to down payments, it’s common to be unsure about how much is required. (Hint: it’s lower than you may think!)
One option to consider is an FHA loan, but it’s important to have all the facts. This new article from Mint.com explains FHA loans, the benefits, and potential disadvantages. An FHA loan isn’t the only option available, but it’s one you may consider based on your personal situations and needs. Of course, you’ll want to do your own research and speak with qualified professionals before making any decisions about your mortgage options.
Purchasing your first home is one of the most important financial decisions of your life. If you’re currently renting in an expensive housing market, the one thing standing in your way is likely the down payment – easily a six-figure lump sum at the traditional 20%.
But what if you could lower the required down payment percentage to as low as 3.5%? Sounds appealing, right? It’s possible with a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, but you should understand all the facts before signing on the dotted line.
The FHA loan has been around since 1934, when the U.S. government launched the program to jumpstart a lagging housing market. Since its inception, FHA has insured more than 34 million home mortgages, with 4.8 million single-family mortgages in its portfolio today. FHA loans aim to make home ownership more accessible to all Americans by offering down payments as low as 3.5% and low interest rates for borrowers with low credit scores.
{Continue reading: Is an FHA loan right for you? }
Whether you’re dreaming of your first home or next home, Lennar’s preferred lender, Universal American Mortgage can help. Contact them to learn more about your financing options or for help overcoming past credit problems. Their experienced team can walk you through every step of the process to get you into the home of your dreams.
Model homes in York County to feature shelter pets
Lennar, the nation’s only A+ home builder according to Builder Magazine, is partnering with the Humane Society of York County to increase adoptions and put more pets in new homes.
Through the end of the year, Lennar will feature (nearly) life-size cutouts of a pair of shelter animals in Welcome Home Centers at its York County communities. The partnership is part of an effort to help the Humane Society increase adoptions by 20 percent year over year in the second half of 2015.
“A home starts to feel even more ‘homey’ when you have a pet, dog or cat,” said Lennar Charlotte Division President Jon Hardy. “We feel this is a way to add something special to the experience for our home buyers while helping the local pet community.”
Lennar and the Humane Society will host a kickoff adoption event from 11 a. m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1 at Lennar’s Handsmill community, 1010 Currituck Way in York. Handsmill, one of Lennar’s newest neighborhoods, was selected as the event host site for its robust outdoor spaces and lakefront location. In other words, it’s a perfect spot for dogs.
“We’re excited to again partner with Lennar, and are thrilled with this effort to get more animals placed with loving families,” said Humane Society of York County board chair Mary Beth Knapp. “Our organization is committed to giving abandoned animals a second chance and we hope they’ll get it in a brand-new Lennar home.”
The Humane Society of York County placed 292 dogs and 432 cats in 2014, which included a total of 230 adoptions between July and December, a number Knapp and the society want to see increase. The non-profit is currently playing host to 54 dogs and 120 cats and, for the first time, foster pets are available for adoption.
For more information about Lennar Charlotte, please visit www.lennarcharlotte.com or call (866) 483-1788. For more information about the Humane Society of York County, please visit http://www.humanesocietyofyorkcounty.org/
About the Lennar Charlotte Division
With 16 communities in the area’s most desirable locations, Lennar Charlotte has helped thousands of families, couples and individuals move into the next phase of their life with a new home. Lennar Charlotte communities cater to a variety of lifestyles including urban, suburban and active adult. The division’s commitment to quality, value and integrity serves as an underlying foundation for all aspects of homebuilding. For more information about Lennar Charlotte, please visit www.lennar.com/charlotte or call a New Home consultant at 888-208-4141.
About the Humane Society of York County
The Humane Society of York County (HSYC) was founded in 1976 to help address the needs of an ever-growing animal population. The HSYC is a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law and 100 percent of donations remain with the HSYC. Donations are especially important as the organization receives no funding from the city, county or state and is not affiliated with or supported by the Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA or any other animal welfare organization.
Since 1954, Lennar has had the honor of delivering over 800,000 dream homes to families across the country. Building your dream home begins just like any other dream – with imagination. But bringing dreams to life requires more than imagination. It takes a lot of hard work.
In this new video, get an inside look at how we approach homebuilding at Lennar. Homes built for all stages of your life: first home, move-up home, or a multigenerational home to accommodate your changing family needs. Whatever home you dream of, Lennar’s 60 years of experience can make it a reality.
Our communities cater to all lifestyles and include urban, suburban, active adult and golf course living. We strive to deliver the best possible home value and quality to each of our customers. Your home is as important to us as it is to you.
These are your dreams. Our reputation is built on them.
Getting ready to move into a new home is an exciting time. When all of your belongings are moved in, unpacked, and arranged just how you like, you’ll really know you’re home. That’s why making sure your items are safely and securely packed for moving day is so important.
Some of the more challenging items to pack when moving to a new home are the TV, computer, stereo system and other electronics. Not only are electronic items usually very expensive and fragile, but can also be large and cumbersome to transport. And once you do finally move them to your new home? Then starts the process of reconnecting all those wires!
This guide from Livability.com explains step-by-step how to disconnect and pack electronics when moving to a new place. The goal is to pack electronics the way they looked when you first brought them home from the store. This means well-protected and with all components attached or included in one box if possible.
Before packing even begins, you’ll want to prepare for unpacking and set up. “If possible take photos or make a diagram to illustrate how your TV, computer and stereo components and other devices connect with each other. It’s a good idea to label each cord so you know what it goes to and how it connects.”
Packing electronics doesn’t have to be a difficult task, especially if you have the proper planning in place to avoid frustration and damaged items. After a long day of moving into your new home, you can look forward to relaxing in front of the television with a good movie, playing a video game or going on Facebook to share photos of your new home!
