Sometimes it is hard to keep your home refreshed or up to date in the today's market. We showcase some home tips we think could be helpful before you choose to sell, or if you would just like to keep your home maintained.

Many people romanticize the idea of paying off their home mortgage early so they can enjoy their home in retirement, but when it comes to the later years of life, a big house can actually be too much to handle. If you've started to consider a smaller home and are wondering why it might be a good decision for you and yours, here are a few things you may want to consider.

It's Much Easier To Maintain

It is often the idea of the palatial estate with a pool that homeowners get excited about, but when it comes to reality, the larger the home, the harder it is going to be to take care of and maintain. If you don't have a maid or a butler, a smaller home will enable you to spend a lot more of your free time doing things that you love instead of being bound…

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Most people that have embarked on selling their home know a lot about how to showcase the inside of it, but one of the most important parts of showing a home can be forgotten as a result. Since the outside of your home is the first thing a potential home buyer will see, here are a few simple ways you can quickly boost its appeal.

Re-Consider The Front Door

If your door is both welcoming and majestic, you may be able to skip this step, but if you have chipped paint or disintegrating steps, it's definitely going to be worth a minor renovation so you can make a positive impression. It's just a fact that if the front door isn't up to snuff, any potential home buyer is going to have a bad feeling about your house right from the start.

Languish Over…

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With the increasing flexibility of the modern workplace, there are many more businesses offering their employees the opportunity to work from home. While this shift in the job market has created a bevy of new options for freelance workers, it can also be a good reason to turn a spare room into a spanking new office. If you're working from home, here are some tips for a stylish transition.

Prime It With Paint

Outside of lighting, the color and upkeep of the walls is going to have a huge impact on the way your spare office will look. Before even considering placing furniture or putting up pictures, decide on the perfect shade of paint that will keep you inspired and will go with the rest of your house. This will easily brighten the room, and prep it…

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With the excitement involved in moving into a new home and all of the things that need to be done, it can be easy to forget a few important things before you load up the moving van. If the day of departure is drawing closer and you're mulling over the final details, here are some items you may want to check off the list first.

Install A New Lock

One of the most important aspects of home ownership is the feeling of security it automatically provides, so you'll want to change out the locks on the doors before you embark on the big move. As soon as you've received the keys to your new home, contact a locksmith who will be able to do the dirty work for you or, if time permits, you may want to take on this task on your own and save a little bit of money…

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 Whether you happen to be a painting pro or you've never dared to pick up a roller, there are a few tricks of the trade that professionals use to make a paint job look its best in your Staten Island home. If you want to take an old, outdated paint job and turn it into something you can be proud of, here are a few tips from those who know best.

Start With a Perfectly Smooth Surface

If you're trying to rush through it, sanding might seem like an unnecessary step in re-covering your walls, but it's very important in order to level out spackle paste and ensure that no ridges will appear in the paint around the nails. According professional painters, you should start by sanding from the baseboard to the ceiling with a fine grit sandpaper, and then move…

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Did you know that dry rot is ironically created from having too much moisture come in contact with wood? The fact is Staten Island homeowners are unaware that dry rot is even setting in, so the first step toward prevention is being able to diagnose possible areas of exposure before dry rot becomes a major renovation expense.

Remember that dry rot to your foundation can be an extremely costly repair and will definitely figure prominently into the total value of your property when a house inspection is completed prior to a sale. As well, fungus and mold spores can affect the air quality of your home, which is a health problem for not only you and your family but also for prospective buyers.

Identifying Leaks To Your Water Membrane

In a very simple…

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You may think your Staten Island home is the safest on the block and you don't need to improve anything; but I'm sure there are still some facts you may have not have known about. Here are some great (and possible unknown ways) to make your Staten Island home healthier and safer:

(Mostly) Invisible Hazards 

Lead: Up to 20% of lead exposure comes from tainted water by contaminated pipes. Invest in faucet filters, they are inexpensive and can be found in Target, Walmart, etc.

Mold: Mold falls into the mostly visible hazards. It is a fungus that can cause respiratory and immune system issues. Mold grows in moist areas in your house, like a not so well vented closet. You can purchase moisture and odor eliminator bags at cheap prices as well.

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In-ground pool featured in 191 College Avenue, Staten Island 10314

The warmer summer months provide homeowners with the ideal conditions for making improvements to their Staten Island property, and many will want to put installing an in-ground swimming pool at the top of their list of improvement ideas. While a swimming pool may seem like a pure luxury to some, there are actually considerable benefits that homeowners can enjoy by making this improvement. With closer consideration, homeowners may decide that this is the perfect improvement to make to their property.

The Perfect Place For Relaxation And Entertainment

Many Staten Island homes provide ample space for basic living, but they often lack an extra space that is well-suited for personal…

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Home inspections are a tense time for everyone. Sellers are fervently hoping that nothing major is wrong with their home that could hold up the transaction. Buyers are eager to hear that their new Staten Island house is in prime condition. Whatever the wishes, one thing is for sure; any news from an inspector is usually bad news.

Home inspectors are trained to spot hundreds of potential issues with a home and be knowledgeable of local codes, community restrictions and residential permit parameters. Stay one step ahead of your home inspector by reading the list of common home inspection issues below. Then hopefully your inspection won’t reveal any unwelcome surprises.

Electrical Wiring

This is a common bubble-busting issue, especially in older…

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Many home buyers have found the perfect Staten Island house, signed the dotted line and think they’ve watched enough home improvement shows to know if they’re getting a good deal. And then some make the mistake of skipping a home inspection in order to save a little cash. Don't be one of these followers!

Even if a home has already stolen your heart and you’re ready to pay for it “as is”, you need to bite the bullet and hire a home inspector to let you know what repairs and financial repercussions await you. Do the right thing by you and your dream home and hire a home inspector.

Why You Should Hire an Inspector

You might know a thing or two about home remodeling and repairs. However, most people are not experts on the inner workings. That why…

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