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What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie? 10 Real Houses Where Your Favorite Scary Movie May Have Occurred

October 23, 2014 By

Do you like scary movies?

Halloween season is in full force and it brings out the Psycho in all of us, doesn’t it? Horror movies instill us with an overwhelming fear that is almost unbearable. Whether people are performing an exorcism, or running away from Michael Myers, one thing thatalmost every scary movie has in common is a haunted house. Here’s where your favorite scary movies could have occurred.

WARNING: THIS IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

1. Located on the same street as the famous, haunted Amityville house, this home looks like it jumped right off the movie screen.

2. Would you stay in a hotel that looked like this at night? It doesn’t matter if Norman Bates has a believable face; we know what happens in these places.

3. Knock, knock. Who’s there? Don’t fall asleep in a house like this without expecting to find Freddy Krueger knocking at your door.

4. Would you enter Room 237? This home bears a resemblance to the hotel where someone axed through the bathroom door.

5. It’s Halloween, of course, so you’re entitled to a good scare. Hopefully Michael Myers stays away from this Chicago home.

6. Take a trip and visit Ichabod Crane in the infamous town of Sleepy Hollow.

7. Can you say paranormal? No one wants that kind of activity in their home.

8. Would you feel protected from Damian in this house?

9. What an excellent house for an exorcism. This Boston house would make Linda Blair feel right at home.

10. Always have Caller ID. A stranger may call this Seattle, WA home.


Stay safe and sound inside your non-haunted house! The only visitors you’ll be getting are friends, family, and neighborhood kids looking for candy.

 

Recommended Reading:

-5 Zombie-Proof Houses Your Family Won’t Be Caught Dead In

-The Ultimate Home Personality Quiz

-Modern Homes For Your Modern Family

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Home Safety Tips for the Elderly

October 17, 2014 By

Creating a safe home for the elderly people in your life is crucial. Household places and items that used to pose no problem may now be difficult or, worse, dangerous. These tips will help you ensure that your home is as safe as possible.

1. Fall-proof your home: Falls are the number one cause of injury among the elderly, so preventing falls should be the first priority. Install non-slip strips on floors, steps, and showers or tubs. Arrange your furniture in a way that will open up walkways, and make sure staircases have handrails on both sides.

2. Intercoms and alert systems: Having a medical alert system along and intercoms around the home will ensure a higher degree of safety. Having access to other forms of communication is valuable If there is an emergency and someone can’t get to the phone.

3. Double locked doors: Having doors that lock both from the inside and outside is very smart, especially on bathroom doors. If someone falls while in the bathroom or bedroom, and the door is locked, it can pose a dangerous situation. When you have a door that can be opened from the outside as well other people can come in to help.

4. Well-lit areas: It’s important to keep your home as well-lit as possible. Having light in areas such as staircases, hallways, and on the front porch is essential to safety. Being able to see exactly where you’re walking and what you’re doing can prevent falls and other injuries. Additionally, make sure bedrooms and bathrooms have automatic night lights.

5. Shower chairs: Install shower chairs, bath benches, and grab handles in the bathroom. Unfortunately, bathing increases the risk of slipping and falling but this precaution greatly minimizes the potential for injury.

6. Prevent accidental scalding: People over age 65 are four to five times greater to experience a fatal injury from a burn or scald. Turn back the water heater to 120 degrees F to help ensure that there is no way anyone can get burned.

These small changes can make a big difference in creating a safe and comfortable environment for elders.

 

Recommended Reading:

-What’s the Difference

-Small Changes, Big Differences: 5 Low-Cost Ways to Give Your Home a New Look

-How to Make a House a Home: Creating Memories

 

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5 Ways to Make Your Home Cozy for Fall

September 29, 2014 By

It’s officially fall! Break out your sweaters, boots, hot apple cider, and other fall essentials. Make your home cozy and comfortable so you can enjoy family game nights, carving pumpkins, and curling up with a good book.

Use these tips to make your home snug and homey.

1. Candles: Lighting a candle, especially one that gives off a fall scent, such as pumpkin or apple spice, will help you relax after a long day. Scented candles fill a room with a sweet or spicy aroma, give an extra bit of light, and add a calming effect to your house. They instantly make any fall night cozier. (For safety never leave burning candles unattended).

2. Plush throw blankets: Placing a fleece or knitted blanket on your couch will instantly add a warm feeling to your home. Curling up under a blanket on a cool night, while your scented candles are lit, makes all the difference. As an added bonus, this is a great way to add color and decoration to your furniture.

3. Switch your curtains: During the summer months, you keep your window treatments as light as possible to cool off your home. Now with a cold breeze in the air, warm up with a heavier material. This adds natural warmth and coziness to the room. Go the extra mile and make the curtains a deep, warm color like chocolate brown to really bring the season into your home.

4. Add a fabric table runner: Sitting down at your dining room table can sometimes feel too formal and bare tables don’t add anything extra to the room. Change the dynamic by adding a seasonal table runner. This brings a homely feel and makes any family dinner feel more festive.

5. Layer your area rugs: Putting more than one area rug in a room will give an added cushion, perfect for lounging on the floor and watching television on a chilly night. More than one rug also means more warmth so the chill that wooden floors bring won’t be an issue this season. Opt for a color like orange or brick red to tie the look together.

Incorporating these fun, cozy fall ideas into your home is a great way to change up your decor, while also creating the perfect atmosphere for you and your family. Now pour some hot chocolate or hot apple cider and gather around for game night.

 

Recommended Reading:

-Fall into Fall: 5 Ways to Make your Home Fall Ready

-How to Make your Home Summer Ready

-5 Ways to Take Your Living Room from Good to Great

 

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Ask Our Expert: First Things First

September 27, 2014 By

Michael Beal of CENTURY 21 Beal, Inc., College Station, Texas, asks:

Many customers feel overwhelmed when they move into a new house. Is there an easy way to tackle it— and make a house feel like home?

So you’ve just moved into your new home. It’s a clean slate full of exciting possibilities. But for many people this euphoria can often dissolve into emotional overwhelm. Knowing where to start can help you move forward with more confidence.

Here’s what I advise my clients:

Start with the kitchen: Most of us have to eat at least three times a day. But really think about how your food prep might change from one house to the next. How much do you REALLY entertain? Did you buy the fish poacher or the meal sealer 10 years ago and only use it once? If so, don’t let it take up valuable space. Rule of thumb? You should work the hardest to reach things you only use once in a while, reserving closed storage areas at arms’ length for things you use every day.

Color your world: Before you go any further, think about paint color. It’s the cheapest and easiest way to completely customize your home to your new style. While things are still in boxes, and before you buy new furniture, let paint do all the heavy-decor-lifting first. It will also help crystallize your new design theme before you go shopping for your new pieces.

Next tackle your bedrooms: Because these are the vital spaces to our well-being and where we begin and end every day, don’t save them for last. Often simply out of ego we tend to get the entertaining spaces done first. They then sit there hardly used while the bedrooms remain in an upheaval.

Consider the closets: If you were fortunate enough to have a walk-in closet in your last house, but were still challenged with it filling up too fast, think about getting an armoire for the bedroom. It’s a great place for men to put their suits and business attire, leaving more space for “her” in the walk-in closet. No sense in you bumping into each other every morning, fighting to get dressed.

CHRISTOP HER LOWELL, an Emmy Award winning interior designer and TV host, is known for doable design advice and simple ideas that net stunning results. Log on to Christopherlowell.com to learn more.

 

Recommended Reading:

-Dressed for Success: Outdoor Improvements

-Ask Our Expert: Budget Friendly Bathroom Update

-Small Changes, Big Difference: 5 Low Cost Ways to Give Your Home a New Look

 

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10 Cities Where Fitness Comes First

September 22, 2014 By

Put a spring in your hometown’s step by helping your community adopt these fitness ideas and strategies. We’re always on the lookout for great places to live, work and play. Check this space in every issue for a list that’ll inspire you to travel, dream, invest or make your own community better than ever.

1. Colorado Springs, CO (population: 376,427): This fitness mecca is home to the U.S. Olympic Training Center and uses a resident-approved sales tax to fund its TOPS (Trails, Open Space and Parks) program. The program buys undeveloped land to preserve for public use.

2. Portland, OR (population: 550,396): Six percent of Portlanders call their bicycles their primary commuting vehicle, according to bikeleague.org, so the city installed corrals that provide on-street parking for bikes.

3. Tucson, AZ (population: 525,529): Get out and play! That’s the mantra of city leaders who opened school playgrounds to kids during afterschool hours, weekends and summers. The move landed Tucson on the 2008 Playful City USA list by KaBOOM!, a nonprofit organization that promotes play as a critical piece of an active lifestyle. Visit kaboom.org for more information.

4. Arlington, VA (population: 204,568): This historical city serves as part of the course of the Marine Corps Marathon. With no qualifying time requirements, it inspires first-timers to run. Visit marinemarathon.com to learn more.

5. Sacramento , CA (population: 460,242): The “Take a Hike” program encourages city workers to lace up their sneakers at lunchtime to tackle one of 10 walks that start and end at the downtown capitol building. Head out on the 1.7-mile Victorian Homes Walk or the 2.2-mile Southside Park Walk. Search for walks in Sacramento at parks.ca.gov.

6. Albuquerque, NM (population: 518,271): The city’s mayor launched a Fit City Challenge that encourages residents to sign a commitment to eat more veggies, watch less TV and get moving. Entrants set goals and can track their progress. To learn more visit cabq.gov.

7. Atlanta, GA (population: 519,145): A higher-than-average number of swimming pools, tennis courts and golf courses puts this Southern metropolis near the top of the American College of Sports Medicine’s website for the American Fitness Index. Go to americanfitnessindex.org/report.htm.

8. Dallas, TX (population: 1,240,499): After working up an appetite with the kids at one of the city’s spraygrounds (playgrounds with water features), grab some healthy food at the 68-year-old Dallas Farmers Market, open seven days a week all year long.

9. Milwaukee, WI (population: 602,191): Eight neighborhoods in this Midwestern metropolis received a “walkers’ paradise” rating from Walk Score. Visit walkscore.com/rankings/Milwaukee.

10. Sioux Falls, SD (population: 151,505): Sports Illustrated magazine named this city the state’s “Sportstown.” Youth and adults stay active on football fields, ice rinks, a disc golf course and more. Not even the snow is an excuse: The bike trails are plowed all winter.

Selling Fitness: Put muscle in your home’s advertisement on the multiple listing service (MLS) by including mentions of nearby fitness amenities. Is your house within walking distance of a running or biking trail or a playground? Ask your sales professional to note it on the MLS so your listing attracts buyers interested in healthy living.

 

Recommended Reading:

-Worldwide Wanderlust: More Century 21 Homes from Around the Globe

-10 Cool Places to Get Wet

-The 5 Best “Man Caves” for Watching Football

 

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5 Ways to Create A Beautiful Backyard

September 20, 2014 By

A backyard that is well decorated and cared for will complete the look and feel of your home. It ties everything together and will become a great spot for playing, relaxing, and entertaining.  You’ll never be jealous of the Braverman’s yard again!

1. Fire Pits: A fire pit is perfect for all seasons. Roast s’mores, tell ghost stories, or bring your cocktail party outdoors. A fire pit will give your backyard a focal point and a new place to make memories with friends and family.

2. Lounge Seating: To add extra comfort, use comfortable, cozy lounge furniture instead of hard, iron or metal seating. Add an outdoor couch and arm chairs with cushions for extra seating. Place the furniture around the fire pit to initiate conversation and create the perfect entertaining area.

3. Lighting: Now that you’re entertaining outdoors you need lighting for evening entertaining. We recommend lanterns, string lights, wall lighting, landscape lighting, and motion-activated lighting.

4. A Fruit and Vegetable Garden: Indulge your green thumb (and impress your friends and family) with home cooked meals using ingredients from your garden. Plant your favorite vegetables, herbs, and fruits. Bon appétit!

5. A Flower Garden: Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “The earth laughs in flowers.” Plant beautiful flowers in your backyard. They’ll look pretty, smell good, and they may even attract gorgeous birds and butterflies!

6. A Table and Chairs: Go ahead, dine al fresco! Put a table and chairs outside so that you can host outdoor dinner parties. You can use the kitchen table or dining room when the weather gets cooler. (Pro Tip: Plant Citronella in your garden to keep the bugs and mosquitos away!)

Don’t just keep up with the Braverman’s. Surpass them with a backyard that is perfect for entertaining friends and family.

 

Recommended Reading:

-Landscaping 101: Great Grass Alternatives

-How to Style a Patio

-Let’s Get App-y: 3 Apps for Interior Design

 

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How To Make a House A Home: Creating Memories

September 19, 2014 By

There are so many ways to make a house a home. A house is simply a physical structure. A home is a place where you create meaningful memories with loved ones. It is a place for watching first steps, celebrating birthdays, and enjoying family dinners.

These activities will help you to create memories at home.

1. Plant a garden: Your family will love choosing flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables to plant in your garden. It will become a fun activity that you can do together. Watch the plants grow from season to season and year to year. We recommend also having each family member choose a plant that is uniquely theirs – they’ll have fun watching it grow and change, and it will be a great way to encourage responsibility.

2. Hang photos and art: Create a gallery wall with your children’s art and family photos. Hang holiday photos, first day of school photos, and photos from choice moments. Your kids will feel special when they see their art up on the wall.

3. Start a collection: Start a family collection. You will all get excited when you find something new to add. Collect salt and pepper shakers, vases, or something else that you all enjoy. Display the collection throughout your home, and each piece will remind you of the time you found it.

4. Make a height chart: Mark your children’s height on the door. You’ll love seeing how much they’ve grown, and they will get excited each time you make a new mark.

5. Make a “library” area: You don’t need a library to make a library area. Make a designated part of the home where your kids can curl up with their favorite books or, if your kids are pre-reading level, an area where you can read to them. You’ll make memories when you read together.

These ideas will help you to create new family traditions and memories. As they say, home is where the heart is! Write on our Facebook wall to let us know how your family creates memories at home.


Recommended Reading:

-Small Changes, Big Difference: 5 Low Cost Ways to Give Your Home a New Look

-5 Ways to Take Your Bedroom From Good to Great

-The Ultimate Home Personality Quiz

 

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6 Inexpensive Remodeling Ideas for Your Home

September 16, 2014 By

Contribution by Andrea Davis, HomeAdvisor

– Photo courtesy of Modify Your Space

Remodeling can cost thousands of dollars, which can take homeowners months or years to save. In the interim, how do you make improvements to rooms like bathrooms and kitchens? Instead of taking out loans for an expensive remodel, consider investing in a few of these less expensive remodeling alternatives:

1. Refinish bathtub

If you have a porcelain bathtub that looks a bit worn, the alternative to replacing it is refinishing the tub. While refinishing is a long process, it costs less than a new bathtub, about $300 to $1,000 according to ImproveNet. The process involves getting off all of the dirt and grime and then sanding it before putting on new layers of paint and primer. It’s a process that will leave your bathtub looking almost new if you have the right tools and want to invest at least a day working to refinish it.

—Photo courtesy of Sass Construction, Inc.

2. Refinish wood floor

Over time wood floors get scuffed, scratched and worn down by foot traffic in kitchens, living rooms and hallways. While homeowners might consider replacing parts or the whole wood floor, another option is to refinish the wood. The DIY approach is to sand down the wood floor and then re-stain it, which requires a lot of elbow grease and time to complete. If you want to have a flooring professional do the work, you might pay between $1,500 and $2,000 for wood floor refinishing depending on the square footage.

3. Replace cabinet and drawer hardware

When cabinets are opened and closed continuously, the hardware can wear down, hinges may start to squeak and areas may crack. Instead of replacing the entire cabinet door, you can go to a local home improvement store and find knobs, hinges and pulls. Then on the weekend, using some screwdrivers and a drill, you can take off the old hardware and replace them so the cabinets have brand new knobs and hinges that don’t squeak.

—Photo courtesy of Vita Moderna, LLC

4. Paint cabinets

If paint starts to chip away from your kitchen or bathroom cabinets because of usage over time, you can take the doors off with a screwdriver and repaint them or have them professionally finished. This will save on having to replace the entire cabinet, and you can have them personalized for the room. If you choose to paint them yourself, be sure to choose quality paint that can last so you won’t have to go back and do it again. You also want to be sure and cover the hinges and knobs. It might be good to consult with a painter ahead of time just in case.

5. Update lighting

For those who want to have a greener home, an inexpensive project is updating your lights from fluorescent or incandescent to LED. You can go to your local home improvement or big-box store and purchase LED bulbs for around $10 and install them in about any fixture. These will cut down on your utility bill while giving off the same glow without that bright, buzzing haze. You can also replace many of your hanging fixtures with recessed lighting, which can optimize ceiling space but might require an electrician’s expertise for handling exposed wires.

6. Paint appliances

Many older homes have appliances that are oddly colored in pastels or pinks and blues. While these appliances are still in working order, they don’t match modern demand for stainless steel. Instead of replacing them, innovation now allows for homeowners to paint their appliances. Homeowners can buy painting kits to transform these retro appliances from old to new without spending thousands on all-new appliances. However, if you aren’t certain about doing it yourself, there are professionals who refinish appliances every day.

These are just some of the inexpensive alternatives homeowners have to remodeling rooms in their home or ways to revitalize rooms while saving up for a remodel. If you need other ideas for updating without gutting a room, consider options like plumbing, furniture upholstery, heating and cooling and other small projects that will save you time and effort on a remodel.

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Dressed for Success: Outdoor Improvements

September 13, 2014 By

It’s the season for outdoor improvements. Where to invest? Here’s how to decide.

Making a great impression starts with your home’s exterior. In fact, a recent survey by the National Association of REALTORS® indicated curb appeal was a “major factor” in 49 percent of all home sales. And in a survey by Real Estate Agent Community Trends, 82 percent of agents said they’d had buyers decline to look at homes based on exterior appearance.

Here’s how to weigh your outdoor project options:

Pricey Replacements: New vinyl siding appeals to many buyers, but it can be expensive. Often a new paint job can freshen and protect the exterior. “Choose a neutral color that blends,” says CENTURY 21® Sales Professional Suzy Stone of CENTURY 21 AdVenture in Fredericksburg, Virginia. If the siding and paint are sound, give your house a power-washing. “It’s inexpensive and effective,” Stone advises.

You’ll increase your comfort and lower monthly utility bills by adding new energy-efficient windows, and they’ll appeal to future buyers. But the upgrade may make sense only if you plan to stay in your home a long time. If window replacement isn’t feasible in your timeline and budget, make sure existing units and window trim are in good repair and freshly painted. These simple, budget-friendly steps can go a long way in making a good first impression. Thorough caulking can help on the energy front too.

Low-Cost Necessities: Some of the most important exterior improvements you can make are the least expensive, says Stone. They also can provide quick and substantial payback.

Repaint or restain the front door, replace exterior light fixtures and add new welcome mats, inside and out. “People want to wipe their feet when they enter a stranger’s house,” Stone says.

While you’re at it, replace any rotted trim around the front door and garage doors.

And don’t forget your landscape. Trim bushes, remove leaves, edge the driveway and sidewalks and add fresh mulch around trees and shrubbery.

Acceptable Indulgences: If you’ve always wanted a swimming pool and plan to stay in your home for a while, go for it. “Enjoy the pool, but don’t assume that it will add value to your house,” Stone cautions. “Many people don’t want pools or hot tubs.”

Decks and porches, on the other hand, have broader appeal. Especially if they’re the norm in your neighborhood, they can increase your enjoyment of the house and add value when you sell.

Suzy Stone CENTURY 21 AdVenture, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Professional involvement: Suzy was president of her local REALTORS association in 2007, and she now serves as the part-time government affairs director.

Giving back: As president of her local no-kill Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter, Suzy spends a lot of time fund-raising.

In the “people business”: “I like to see my clients often,” Suzy says. That’s why she keeps her business limited to the Fredericksburg area.

 

Recommended Reading:

-Small Changes, Big Difference: 5 Low-Cost Ways to Give Your Home a New Look

-How to Style a Patio

-How to Decorate Your Home on a Budget

-10 Secrets for Making Your Bedroom Feel Larger

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Fall into Fall: 5 Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Fall

September 10, 2014 By

Pumpkins, cozy sweaters, and falling leaves. Fall is almost here (the first official day is September 22nd), but you still have time to prepare for the new season in a big way.

Here are four ways to get your home ready for the fall.

1. Clean your gutters: Hire someone to clean out you clogged gutters or do it yourself. Watch Lowe’s video and read their article to learn how to clean your gutters.

2. Fix any drafts: Check your windows and doors for any drafts. Hire someone to fix any problems or fix it yourself. This Old House has tips for fixing drafts without breaking a budget.

3. Buy a rake or leaf blower: Have all the necessary leaf removal tools on hand before the leaves start to fall. Get ready to jump into piles of leaves!

4. Clean the fireplace: Have the fireplace inspected to make sure it’s safe to use when the temperature starts to drop.

Now that you’re done, sit back, relax, and enjoy a hot cup of tea and your favorite pumpkin flavored pastry.

 

Recommended Reading:

-Done in One Hour: How to Install a Faucet

-Just DIY It: 5 Natural Cleaning Products

-Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bathroom Bacteria Busters

-Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bedroom

 

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