Ideas & Advice - RealtyHive Blog

Home Field Advantage: The Best MLB Cities in the US

March 29, 2018/0 Comments/in Around the World, Ideas & Advice, Just for Fun /by Tristin Zeman

America’s favorite pastime officially kicks off the 2018 season today with all 30 teams playing on the same day–for the first time in 50 years! While other major league sports have relatively short seasons, basketball and hockey each have 82 games in the regular season. While the NFL has a paltry 16 per team, baseball takes it to another level with a seven-month, 162-game regular season. Each year, baseball fans can expect to see their favorite team play approximately 81 games in their home field, making these cities the perfect place for superfans to call home.

If you’re a fan of the sport, but not a particular team, there are many cities where you’ll find your own home field advantage. Looking for a great deal? Try Detroit. Want to cheer for the most-winningest team in MLB history? You’ll be headed to the Bronx, New York to cheer on the New York Yankees. Want to enjoy great weather from spring training to Game 7? Cheering on the Padres in San Diego is right up your alley. Here’s where you can find the right home base to cheer on a major league baseball team!

Looking for a home team where you can afford a home? Check out these teams!

Team	City	Median Home Price
Detroit Tigers	Detroit, Michigan	$44,500
Cleveland Indians	Cleveland, Ohio	$71,396
Milwaukee Brewers	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	$114,900
St. Louis Cardinals	St. Louis, Missouri	$129,990
Baltimore Orioles	Baltimore, Maryland	$135,000

Is price no object when it comes to root, root, rooting for the home team? What about one of these great cities?

Team	City	Median Home Price
San Francisco Giants	San Francisco, California	$1,195,000
Toronto Blue Jays	Toronto, Canada	$825,000
Los Angeles Dodgers	Los Angeles, California	$750,000
Boston Red Sox	Boston, Massachusetts	$749,000
New York Mets	Flushing, New York	$720,000

Want to cheer on the home team with a large crowd? You’re sure to find other fans in these major league-sized cities.

Team	City	City Population
New York Mets	Flushing, New York	8,175,133
Los Angeles Dodgers	Los Angeles, California	3,971,883
Chicago White Sox & Chicago Cubs	Chicago, Illinois	2,720,546
Toronto Blue Jays	Toronto, Canada	2,600,000
Houston Astros	Houston, Texas	2,296,224

Wanting to streamline your roster? These are the smallest cities with MLB teams.

Team	City	City Population
Tampa Bay Rays	Tampa Bay, Florida	257,083
Cincinnati Reds	Cincinnati, Ohio	296,943
Pittsburgh Pirates	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	304,391
St. Louis Cardinals	St. Louis, Missouri	315,685
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	Anaheim, California	350,742

If baseball is a way of life for you and your crew, these are the cities with the right weather to keep the games rolling all year long.

Team	City	Average Temp Opening Day	Average Temp Last Day Regular Season
Kansas City Royals	Kansas City, Missouri	58	72
Washington Nationals	Washington D.C.	58	73
St. Louis Cardinals	St. Louis, Missouri	59	74
San Francisco Giants	San Francisco, California	62	71
Oakland Athletics	Oakland, California	63	73

Love baseball, but want your off-season weather make you long for spring training? Check out one of these cold weather teams.

Team	City	Average Temp Opening Day	Average Temp Last Day Regular Season
Cleveland Indians	Cleveland, Ohio	45	66
Toronto Blue Jays	Toronto, Canada	42	61
Milwaukee Brewers	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	44	63
Chicago White Sox Chicago Cubs	Chicago, Illinois	47	66
Boston Red Sox Detroit Tigers	Boston, Massachusetts Detroit, Michigan	48	66

If what you’re really after, though is a city with history of being world series champs, these are the most winningest teams and cities.

Team	City	Number of World Series Winds
New York Yankees	Bronx, New York	27
St. Louis Cardinals	St. Louis, Missouri	11
Oakland Athletics	Oakland, California	9
Boston Red Sox San Francisco Giants	Boston, Massachusetts San Francisco, California	8
Los Angeles Dodgers	Los Angeles, California	6

However, if you’re a fan of underdog victories and long shots, you might just find your Cinderella story in one of these cities. None of these teams has ever won a World Series Championship.

Team	City
Milwaukee Brewers	Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Colorado Rockies	Denver, Colorado
Washington Nationals	Washington D.C.
Texas Rangers	Arlington, Texas
Seattle Mariners	Seattle, Washington
Tampa Bay Rays	St. Petersburg, Florida
San Diego Padres	San Diego, California

Ready to play ball and purchase your own home-field advantage? Check out some of the great homes available here.

New Home, New Friends: Tips for moving with elementary aged kids

March 21, 2018/0 Comments/in Ideas & Advice /by Tristin Zeman

For adults moving to a new home can come with a lot of emotion, but for kids, it can be an absolutely earth-rattler. Kids crave consistency and structure and moving to a new home tends to turn everything they’re used to upside down. The positive to this is that kids are also very resilient and enjoy novelty so with the right plan and frame of mind, moving can be a grand new adventure. Here are some of best ways to make your family’s move a success!

Prepare them on their level

Get some age-appropriate books or movies that explain moving and set a positive tone for the move. Since this is probably the first experience your children have with the concept of moving, setting a good example is important. Books like Alexander, Who’s Not (Do you hear me? I mean it!) Going to Move by Judith Viorst or Little Critter: We Are Moving by Mercer Mayer are both classics and can help kids understand what’s coming.

mom boy looking at map

Take Their Concerns Seriously

While it may be hard to not laugh when your five year old asks how you’re going to fit their bed in your car, it may be just as hard not to cry when your eight year old tells you they’re afraid they won’t make new friends. Every child handles a move differently and it’s up to you as the parent to let them know that you understand their concerns, you take them seriously, and that you will help them make it through.

baby playing in sand

Time it Right

The timing of your move may be out of your control, but if you can arrange it, try to avoid interfering with routines or milestones if possible. Summer tends to be the easiest time for kids to move to a new home as they’re already out of the school-year routine, they’ll be able to adjust to their new home before school starts, and the nice weather may make it easier for them to meet others in your new neighborhood.

child's hand coloring

Pack Up Smart

A great tip for keeping kids occupied while packing is to have them decorate the boxes that will be moved into their new room. They’ll feel like they’re contributing and you’ll know exactly which box goes where. Additionally, you may want to think about VERY specifically labeling what is in each box, lest you have to search through three boxes of clothes to find the single pair of red socks your child is willing to put on.

child reading holiday themed book

Keep the traditions alive

Whether it’s Sunday morning chocolate chip pancakes or dying eggs for Easter, kids love the traditions you create with them. Sure, it might be a hassle to set up your holiday decorations if you move mid-December, but having that consistency in a time of confusion and uncertainty can really help smooth the transition.

girl looking at her back yard

Embrace the New-ness

Whether you’ve moved across the country or across the street, there will be many differences between your new home and old. Embrace them! Maybe you now have a big yard for your kids to play in or perhaps there’s a view of the river from their new bedroom. Does your new living room have a reading nook that would be perfect to snuggle up in with your child’s favorite book? Finding even small things to celebrate about the ways your new home is great will help your child get excited as well.

boy riding in kid car in park

Take Your Time

Many people will agree that the second worst part about moving is packing. Unpacking is the first. While the thought of unpacked boxes might drive you crazy, take your time helping your children unpack. If you try to get everything done in a day you’ll just end up worn out and crabby. Instead do it little by little and take breaks to play, explore the neighborhood, and do fun activities together.

Get it Write: How to create the perfect listing description

March 19, 2018/1 Comment/in Ideas & Advice, Real Estate 101 /by Tristin Zeman

Whether it’s a single-family home that completely neglects to mention what’s on the second floor or a land listing that mentions nothing of the property and only talks about the nearby community, we’ve all seen listings that you wonder what the agent was thinking. Real estate agents tend to be excellent talkers and networking champs which makes them great salespeople in face to face interactions, but with so much of life moving into the digital realm, is it possible translate your natural charisma into your online listings? Here’s an easy formula to write a winning listing description.

Use the Right Words
Many sites like Zillow can be searched by keyword meaning that if a home has a pool, loft, Jack-and-Jill bathroom, or any other special feature and you don’t have it called out in your listing description, you’re missing an opportunity to be found! Having pictures of these features will definitely help boost interest once someone is actually viewing your listing, but the keywords is how you get them there.

As important as it is to have keywords, it’s important to keep in mind what the right keywords are. Is it a wardrobe or a closet? A butler’s pantry or a larder? One of the biggest ways this can trip up even the most experienced agents is when brands become almost synonymous with their product ie. a Jacuzzi® is a type of jetted bath or hot tub.

Focus on Reality
Sure, there might be potential for a shed or you could add in some fruit trees or any number of a million other possibilities, but a listing description should focus on what is there currently (or is planned, in development properties), not what could be. If the yard isn’t landscaped or the basement is unfinished, you can mention that it’s got “tons of potential” but throwing out ideas is essentially wasting your (text) breath.

Cut the Fluff
While text that promotes imagery is evocative and interesting when reading fiction, your listing descriptions should be based in fact. By focusing on the “crystal clear turquoise waters lapping at the shore just feet from the expansive deck while you watch the blazing sunset” you’ve used up valuable character space (and attention) that could have been used to differentiate this property from the three next to it that offer the exact same features.

Less is More
Please use all the text you need to talk about the features and amenities a property has but don’t use any more than that. Attention spans are short and good pictures will have more impact than any description ever will. After you write your description, reread and edit it. If you’ve already said the home is built for entertaining you don’t need to reiterate that the deck is perfect for entertaining guest.

#Adulting: Get your house together in 10 minutes or less

March 16, 2018/0 Comments/in #Adulting, Ideas & Advice /by Tristin Zeman

Most of us also remember as kids how we used to laugh and roll our eyes at our mom when she suddenly became a hurricane flurry of sweeping and mopping because “We have COMPANY COMING!” as if the Queen herself was about to show up at our door or our guests would really notice the last time the ceiling fan was dusted.

While we’ve definitely gotten more relaxed as a culture (when was the last time you wore pearls and heels to have dinner at a friend’s house?), there are definitely a few standards that should be upheld. Sometimes kids, pets, or Netflix win and your home looks a little more like a Frat house than an adult home, and somehow this ALWAYS happens right before you find out guests are on their way.

Thankfully, you don’t need to dust the valances or sweep behind the refrigerator (looking at you, Mom!) to make your house presentable for these drop-in guests. Here’s the # adulting way to get your house in order before the doorbell rings!

Focus on the Important Rooms
People gather in the kitchen, sometimes hang out in the living room, and will often use the bathroom. Whether your home is 600 square feet or 6,000 this holds true. If you’re expecting to have guests over, you’ll have to plan to prepare more of your home, but if they’re just dropping by tackle these rooms and don’t worry about dealing with the rest. If your kitchen is part of your main problem, pull out some refreshments so you can be prepared to meet your guests in whichever room you feel is best.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind
The easiest way to clean up is to pull a page from the teenager’s playbook and not actually put your stuff away, but rather just stash it. If you live in a Studio apartment, you might be limited on how much of your stuff you can put out of sight, but if you have a bedroom or another room you know your guests won’t go in, just put everything in a laundry basket or box and deal with it later. Is this the most mature and responsible way to deal with housekeeping? Absolutely not. Will it do the trick for the time being? Definitely.

Smells Like Teen Spirit
Our senses shape our perceptions so if your house smells clean, guests will automatically think it is cleaner than it is. Lighting some candles or using an aromatherapy diffuser is a great way to trick the mind into believing a home is clean and welcoming. Citrus smells work the best for this (hello, lemony-fresh!), but this will work whether you’re into expensive boutique candles or some good ol’ Nag Champa.

Use Mood Lighting
If you were going to be showing your house to a potential buyer, you’d want to turn all the lights on (and actually clean the place!), but since you’re just trying to pull your house together to look like an adult turn it down low. Using lamps instead of overhead lighting or natural light instead of artificial will help to cut the chance that anyone will even see the dust bunny colonies you’ve got started.

When All Else Fails
Outdoor entertaining spaces were made for entertaining pop-in guests. Whether it’s a deck, patio, porch, or something else these outdoor spaces tend to not acquire the amount of clutter as in other areas. The best part? No one will judge you for having sun-faded lawn chairs or a water spotted patio table because that’s what’s expected. Of course you can’t use outdoor spaces in every day in every climate, but if you’ve got the option, this can be your perfect solution.

Now sit back, relax, and enjoy spending time with your guests in your well-kept, #adult home!

Flipping Crazy: What to know before getting into property flipping

March 14, 2018/2 Comments/in Ideas & Advice, Real Estate 101 /by Tristin Zeman

From Fixer-Upper to Flip or Flop reality television is filled with shows that make real estate investment look like a breeze. You just find a sad looking home, swing a hammer a couple times, have an open house and Viola!– a nice profit appears and you’re ready to start the process again. Unfortunately, in real life there are a couple more steps and a lot more dirty hands that go into flipping a home, but it can be a lucrative business if you’re willing to put in the hard work. Here’s what you need to consider before getting into investment property renovation aka house flipping.

Money Talks
To flip a house you need to have a house and in a tight housing market, this could be your biggest challenge. Ideally, you’ll have enough cash to outright buy the home you’re planning to flip, but for most people this isn’t realistic, especially in their first endeavor. Traditional mortgages and loans typically don’t work in this scenario either, at least not with current market conditions, as these require inspections and often contingencies that investors with cash in hand don’t.

If you’re serious about getting into property investing before you have the funds necessary to buy a home with cash, there are a few ways around this. While you should always consult with a professional to find the solution that will work best for you, there are options including revolving credit lines, hard money loans, or even private lenders.

It may seem strange to worry about the finance side of things before you even look for a house, but trust that this is the cornerstone of everything else to come.

Keep an eye–and ear– out
If funding the purchase seems like the hardest part of flipping a home, wait until it comes time to find the home. The real estate market is ON FIRE in certain parts of the United States right now. In some places it’s hard to even find a small starter home for less than $1 million, while in others everything under $200,000 is flying off the shelves. So how can you find your first project home?

One of the best options is to consider your personal network. Has Granny decided to move to Florida for good or have your neighbors mentioned they’re planning to sell their two story Victorian for a ranch where they can age more comfortably? Knowing about these deals before an agent or your competition does will be vital to your success.

If you go through your contacts and still don’t have any leads, it’s also a good idea to check online auction sites and postings for a Sheriff’s Sale. Most of these auctions sell these properties as-is, where-is so you won’t get the luxury of really understanding the scope of work to be done, but they may be your best chance to score a deal.

Be Realistic
The magic of television makes it easy to think that with just a few coats of fresh paint and a couple of new fixtures you can have a nice $100,000 profit on your hands. Unfortunately, that’s not quite how things work. When devising your budget for renovating a home, you’ll have to consider what needs to be done, who will do it, and what it will cost.
If you’re very handy, you may be able to tackle a lot of the project yourself,although keep in mind that your time also has a dollar value attached to it, so add that to your financial plan accordingly! If you’re planning to hire a contractor to do the work for you, make sure that is budgeted in your plan as well and in either case, budget for at least 15% more than you think you’ll need because things tend to run slow or over cost.

Stay Focused
When you’re tackling a house flipping project, time is money. Every day that you have the property is a day that you’re losing money. Taxes will have to be paid, as will utilities, and potentially HOA fees. The faster you can complete your renovations and sell your property, the more money you’ll be able to keep. Staying focused is also very important while making decisions during the renovation. Keep in mind that while you might love the look of intricate hand-stamped walls, the future buyer might just be thinking of how they can cover it up. Don’t spend time or money on things that don’t add value or up the selling price.

Find a Mentor
Above all, one of the best ways to set yourself up for success is to enlist a mentor. If you can find someone in your area who is already into property rehab, they will be your biggest source of knowledge and information. They’ll be able to key you in to what kind of margins you can expect, connect you to the right contacts to sell your property, and allow you to learn from their (usually costly) mistakes before you make them on your own.

#Adulting: The stuff you’re not cleaning (but totally should!)

March 9, 2018/0 Comments/in #Adulting, Ideas & Advice /by Tristin Zeman

Congrats! You’ve joined the exclusive group of Millennial homeowners!

Now what?

While owning your own home is great— you can have the pets you want, decorate as you wish, and you probably have more space than you did as a renter–it can be a little overwhelming. Instead of just calling a landlord to fix things that are broken or not having to think about things like air filters (yes, that’s a thing, and yes, hopefully your building manager was up on that!), it’s now all on you. You know you need to do the dishes, cut the lawn, and fix anything that’s not working (…or not, it’s your house!), but how can you prevent problems in the first place?

Easy: Do a little preventative maintenance– it’s much less expensive to be proactive than reactive and taking care of your investment is part of #adulting

The easiest way is to keep up on these tasks is to associate them with roughly 6 month interval. You can use a holiday, a season, or something else, but we suggest doing these tasks during daylight savings times. You already have to remember to change your clocks so that might help you remember to do your other homeownerly duties.

There are a bunch of things that should be done outside your home, but because of the range of climates and geographic-based home needs, we’re not getting into that now. What needs to be done outside on a house in March in Phoenix is completely different than a home in Wisconsin, but there are a variety of interior tasks that are the same across the board.

This checklist is by no means comprehensive. Some of this stuff should be done more often, but adulting can be hard and housework isn’t as much fun as brunch and SundayFundays (#sorrynotsorry) so take this as a beginner’s guide to homeownership, not a master class.

Systems and Stuff
Heating/Cooling System: Change the air filter
Smoke/Carbon Monoxide: Test alarms and check batteries (if they have batteries–some won’t)
Garage door auto-reverse: Make sure door will reverse if closed on something or if something is detected by the photo-electric sensors (please use a 2×4 or something, not your foot or body!)
Water Softener: Check your salt levels.
Water Filter: Check and replace if needed.
Hot Water Heater: Flush it. Read a how-to article based on whether you have a gas or electric heater. Being dumb can lead to a mess or scalding burns. Don’t be dumb.
Dryer Vent: Check dryer vent and remove all the lint you can. Test it by starting up your dryer and making sure there’s good airflow wherever the exhaust comes out. Replace dryer hose or have it professionally cleaned if you’re having issues.

Kitchen
Garbage Disposal: Clean it by freezing white vinegar in ice cube trays. Grind them up. Done. Boom!
Dishwasher: Pull the racks out. Pull the sprayer part out. Pull the mat out. Pull it all out. If you’ve never done this before, be prepared to be grossed out!
Range Hood Filter: Take it off and give it a good scrub. If this is the first time or first in a long time, this is also going to be gross. Use an automotive degreaser. Alternatively, new ones are typically less than $20. Maybe just buy one.
Refrigerator Coils: Vacuum refrigerator coils. Yes, it’s a pain to move the fridge, but is so worth it to keep it working and cut energy costs. This is super important if you have high-shedding pets!

Bathrooms
Faucets and Fixtures: Soak shower heads and faucets to remove buildup. Put vinegar or another cleaner in a plastic bag. Submerge the shower head/faucet and rubberband in place. Soak until it’s clean-able.
Bathroom Vent Fan: Cut the power at the breaker. Pull it apart. Use a vacuum with a brush. Put it back together and be amazed at how much better it works.
Drains: Use a hair clog tool to remove any large chunks and then finish with chemicals or vinegar and baking soda, depending on your preferences.

Bedrooms
Vacuum Mattresses: Remove all bedding and use an attachment to make it easier.
Closets: Organize closets and donate whatever you don’t need/want/use

5 Tips for a Less Stressful Long Haul Move

March 7, 2018/0 Comments/in Ideas & Advice /by Tristin Zeman

Maybe you’ve recently taken a job in a new state or perhaps you’ve grown tired of the cold northern winters and are looking to make a change to warmer weather. Perhaps you’re thinking of moving back to your hometown or to a place you’ve never been. In any event, moving your home base can be difficult when you’re just transferring a couple miles, but what about when it’s hundreds or even thousands of miles? How can you prepare to make your move a success?

Figure out what to do with your stuff
Essentially there are three ways to handle a move when it comes to personal belongings. You can either plan to have a moving sale wherein you sell as much of your personal property as possible, you can plan to move everything (in which case you’ll inevitably have more than you know what to do with), or you can do a hybrid of both.

A moving sale is a great option if you’re looking to have money on hand in your new location, if you don’t have a lot of sentimental connection to your possessions, or if you have a lot of location-specific items ie snowblowers or surfboards. If you can’t bear the idea of giving up the place settings you got for your wedding or the sofa you’ve had since college, this is probably not the route for you and it may be a good idea to look into professional moving options, especially if you have a lot of stuff. If you choose to do a little bit of both, that keeps some items while parting with others, you may be able to orchestrate a successful self-move.

From A to B
Once you determine exactly what, or perhaps how much, you’re wanting to take with you, you can develop a plan of action. Are you planning to pack up your car? Rent a moving vehicle? Enlist the help of a professional moving company with a semi-trailer? Your budget will certainly play a role here and enlisting the help of friends and family can help you make the call if you’re on the fence, but make sure to stay realistic with time, space, and budget restraints. After all, no matter how great your support system is, it’s just not feasible to pack an Italian leather sectional into a Prius.

Home is Where the Heart Is
If you have the opportunity to visit your future city before you move, take it. While moving sight-unseen is not unheard of (and increasingly more common is this tight housing market!), it will put your mind at ease to have an understanding of where you’ll be calling home. Depending on whether you’re planning to buy or rent and where you’re moving there’s a variety of challenges that can be more easily faced with boot on the ground.
If visiting isn’t possible, you’ll have to make a plan of how handle your new living situation. Contacting a local real estate agent can be one of the best ways to find your future home whether you’re interested in buying or renting, although there are many areas of the US, especially in the rural areas and the Midwest where agents may not have the scoop on the local rental options. In these cases the internet will be your best tool to look for a new place to call home.

Pack It Up
There is no such thing as being too organized for a long-haul move. After a long day of traveling, the last thing you’re going to want to do is try to find where your important, everyday items have disappeared to. Whether you’re planning to spend a travel day in a hotel or a few days/weeks in a extended stay inn, the last thing you’ll want to do is unpack everything just to find a toothbrush. Packing items by how often they’re used, as well as by what room they came from, will help keep you sane.

Just Keep Swimming
Moving is stressful. There will be times when you wonder why you chose to do this to yourself or your family. You’ll wonder if you made a mistake or if it’s too late to take it back. This is completely normal. Take a step back, think about why you chose to move, how excited you are for the new opportunities in your new home, and how this will benefit you in the long run. Your transition will be much smoother with an open mind and positive attitude. Have fun learning about your new home, embrace the experience, and think of all the great memories you’ll create in this new space!

3 Reasons You Need Life Insurance for Your Mortgage

February 28, 2018/0 Comments/in Ideas & Advice, Real Estate 101 /by Tristin Zeman

“ In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” -Dwight D. Eisenhower

There are many cliches about being prepared. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. The future belongs to those who prepare for it today. By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail. The list goes on. Some things are really easy to prepare for. You know you have to prepare for the future by saving money for a new car, house, or retirement. You have to prepare your kids for school by teaching them to read or write. You know you have to prepare a will so that your wishes can be granted upon your death. But as another cliche goes, you can never be too prepared.

While many people have heard of or have invested in life insurance, not many know about mortgage life insurance, yet this could be the best way to protect your family and prepare for what happens in the event that something happens to you. Here’s why you should consider enrolling in a mortgage life insurance policy.

Lose your ability to work, keep your home

Mortgage life insurance is designed to help cover the cost of a home mortgage in the event that the person covered becomes disabled or dies. Since many families depend on two income earners to be able to afford their mortgage and other bills, it can be tough if not impossible to maintain this standard of living in the absence of one earner.

Provide stability in an uneasy time

If you have children, losing a parent can be one of the hardest, most traumatic experiences imaginable. Now combine that with having to move from your home because your surviving parent can’t afford the house you’re living in. While regular life insurance can be used to cover any type of expense, including mortgages, mortgage life insurance is specifically intended to only pay for your mortgage and can be combined with other forms of life insurance so that your family’s whole financial well-being is cared for.

Provide peace of mind

Most people would choose to pay their home off if they could so that they’d never have to worry about what happens if they’re no longer able to support their family, but that’s not always doable. Mortgage life insurance can give you the peace of mind that your family will be taken care of and the costs can be affordable at less than $1 per day.

Mortgage life insurance can be a great solution for your needs and is offered by most major insurance companies. To learn more about coverages, premium, and plans contact your trusted insurance agent.

Color Me Happy: Using Color to Effect the Mood of Your Home

February 22, 2018/0 Comments/in Ideas & Advice, Just for Fun, Real Estate 101 /by Tristin Zeman

Blue
Blue comes in a sea of colors, but whether you think it’s cool as a river or calming as the ocean, this is the color to choose if you’re looking for your home to be a haven.
Effects/Emotions: Relaxing, calming, serene, focus, communication
Best Use: Bedrooms, offices, hallways
Rooms to Avoid: Gym–the calming nature of blue isn’t great for high-intensity workouts

Yellow
There’s nothing mellow about yellow! This sunshine-y shade works great throughout homes and can be used as an unexpected alternative to a pure white without being overwhelming.
Effects/Emotions: Lively, Energetic, Cheery, Sunny
Best Use: Entertaining areas and public spaces like the kitchen, dining room, bathrooms and living/family room
Rooms to Avoid: Bedrooms

Orange
Orange is a very boisterous color and can be an unexpected hue for decor, but when done correctly sets a great tone for the rest of the room. While it’s often used as an accent color because of the attention-grabbing nature, tones such as terracotta and burnt sienna have been very popular in the United States southwest decor for ages.
Effect/Emotions: Warm, energizing, exciting, creative, social, confidence
Best Use: Bar areas, kitchens, patios, gyms
Rooms to Avoid: Bedrooms

White
Pure as the driven snow. Bridal white. Pearly white. White is heavily linked to cleanliness and freshness which makes it the perfect canvas for any other colors or a powerful color to leave on it’s own. The difficulty of keeping a crisp white color in decor has also led to the association with class, privilege, and luxury.
Effects/Emotions: Purity, Clarity, Thoughtfulness, Openness
Best Use: All rooms. This blank canvas is a great way to layer in other colors without being too overwhelming or can be used on its own for a clean, pure aesthetic.

Green
With many shades of green from lime to forest, you can find a green for any room with the darker hues having a classy, rich feel and light shades eliciting sunny emotions like near-spectrum yellow.
Effects/Emotions: Balance, harmony, tolerance, understanding, connection, fresh
Best Use: All rooms, depending on shade
Rooms to Avoid: Avoid bright, lime shades in bedrooms as they take on the qualities of yellow rooms

Turquoise
Turquoise is the unofficial color of the tropics for good reason–it’s easy, breezy, yet fun and effervescent nature is perfect for anywhere you want the “Don’t worry, be happy” vibe of the islands to follow!
Effects/Emotions: Cool, calm, healing, happy, peaceful
Best Rooms: Bedrooms, bathrooms, yoga studios, dens
Rooms to Avoid: Gyms or anywhere high energy is needed

Pink
Pink is the color of cotton candy, bubblegum, and all things baby girl so it makes sense that this fun, lighthearted color is the perfect choice anywhere you want to keep the mood light and tension down.
Effects/Emotions: Playful, nurturing, love, sweet, dissolves anger
Best uses: Bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms
Rooms to Avoid: Office, library, or anywhere directness and focus are required

Black
Traditional design wisdom says to avoid ink-colored walls, but black is surprisingly versatile and elegant when used as an accent wall or in purposeful ways. Be sure to pay close attention to the finish and texture of the walls in your room, though, lest you end up with an unintended Addams Family aesthetic.
Effects/Emotions: power, reflection, class, drama, protection
Best uses: Kitchen, living/family room, dining rooms, foyers
Rooms to Avoid: Rooms without windows (unless you’re going for a cave-feel)

Red
Red hot, firecracker, scarlet letter: Red has long been associated with heat, passion, and competitiveness. In fact, teams with red uniforms are statistically more likely to win at any given challenge or competition than those wearing any other color. In many Asian cultures, red is the color of luck, making it a great choice for the home.
Effects/Emotions: Energy, power, strength, heat, stimulates appetite
Best Use: Kitchens, dining rooms, bar areas, theaters, office
Rooms to Avoid: yoga room, spa, patio or other relaxing areas

Purple
The high cost of indigo traditionally meant that the color purple was reserved for nobility, but today all can enjoy this beautiful hue. Ranging from lilac to plum, all purples are a mix of calming blue and fiery red which means you can find a purple shade to fit any room or purpose you desire!
Effects/Emotions: Spirituality, luxury, ambition, royalty
Best Use: Bedrooms, Bathrooms, Closets
Rooms to Avoid: None, depending on shade

Radon Gas: What you don’t know could kill you!

February 21, 2018/0 Comments/in Ideas & Advice, Real Estate 101 /by Tristin Zeman

Most people spend the majority of their time at home so it’s important to have a home that is both comfortable and safe. While smoke detectors have been a staple in American homes for years and carbon monoxide alarms have been required in any home built after July 1, 2008, there’s another highly dangerous, extremely common danger that many homeowners ignore: Radon gas.

While many people know of radon gas and the potential dangers associated with it, many have never heard of it until they’re ready to buy or sell a home. Natural levels of radon are highest in the majority of the Midwest and Plains state, but high radon levels can be found from Washington to North Carolina. Some state have laws that require a home seller or real estate agent to disclose any known radon information about a property, but no states have laws requiring the testing before the sale of a property. Whether you’re buying or selling a home (or just living in one!) here’s what you need to know!

What is Radon?
Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell, or taste. By breathing in radon, you’re increasing your chances of lung cancer. In fact, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US, causng 21, 000 deaths each year.

Where does it come from?
Radon gas is a product of the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Typically it moves up through the ground to the air above and into homes through cracks and other holes in the foundation, but it can also enter through well water.

Who should test?
Everyone. Homes all over the US have been found with radon issues and the US Surgeon General suggests testing all homes below the third floor for radon. There are two versions of the test, a long one which spans more than 90 days and a shorter version that can be completed in 2-90 days. You can find professional to conduct the test for you or there are simple kits to test as well. If you’re planning to do the testing yourself, make sure you buy a kit that includes the lab testing in the price or you’ll have to pay another fee to have it processed.

I have a new home, I’m safe, right?
Nope. All homes should be tested. Whether your home is old and draft or new and airtight, this gas can slip in and do its damage to your air quality. Nearly 1 in 15 homes in the US is estimated to have elevated radon levels above 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) which is the Environmental Protection Agency considers to be a high-risk level of exposure.

I’m selling my home. What should I do?
Some states require disclosure of any known radon testing results. A potential buyer may ask for a new test if the EPA’s Radon Testing Checklist items were not met, the last test took place more than two years prior, you have renovated or altered your home since the test, or the buyer plans to use a lower level than you tested such as a basement. States that require disclosure of previous test findings include: Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kanas, Maryland, Mine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. More information about laws regarding testing and disclosures can be found here.

I’m buying a home. Should I ask for a test?
It’s always a good idea to ask for a test if possible. If there has been a previous test done you can accept the results of prior radon tests or ask the seller to perform a new one to be conducted by a qualified tester. Before accepting previous results, keep in mind that results can differ based on who conducted the test, where in the home the test was conducted, and if any structural changes occurred since the test.

I found high radon levels. What do I do now?
There are a variety of methods to reduce radon in your home. The most basic approach begins with sealing cracks and other holes in the foundation, but the EPA recommends taking it a step further with a vent piper and/or fan solution. Often referred to as a “sub-slab depressurization system” these do not require major changes to your home and can help prevent radon gas from entering your home from below the floor/foundation. Radon mitigation specialists will be able to help you find the best solution based on the design of your home and other factors.

Radon Protection: How Homebuyers can do Their Due Diligence
A home purchase is one of the most significant transactions people go through in their lives. This guide will discuss radon’s natural presence in a home, acceptable radon levels, what protections are available, ways in which a radon issue may be resolved and how to reduce radon levels in a home. Get the guide here.

For more information you can read the EPA’s full Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon here.