ARWHome Blog

  How To Plan A Kitchen Remodel   One of the most popular rooms in the house that people love to renovate is the kitchen. Although a kitchen renovation is popular, it can be quite a challenging project since it can be expensive and become an extensive endeavor. This is why professional kitchen contractors are often hired to do a kitchen remodel. However, before hiring a contractor for a kitchen remodel, it is important to plan for the project. So, before you call a contractor, take a look at the following tips on how to plan a kitchen remodel.   Be Realistic: Kitchen Needs versus Your Wants   When planning a kitchen model, you may be overwhelmed by all of the luxurious kitchen items, appliances, and gadgets available. However, it is important to create a budget that fits your needs, or you may find yourself thousands of dollars in debt. Be practical, particularly if you have a tight budget or a budget that you cannot afford to go over.   Start with basi...

  5 Appliances To Check Before Buying Your Home   When searching for a new home, it can take time to find the home of your dreams because there are many factors to consider. When you finally do find the right home for you, there are a number of considerations to take into account before you make such a major purchase. For instance, one key area of a home to investigate before you buy is the type and condition of the appliances.   Depending on the brand and maintenance, the life expectancy of appliances can vary. Knowing the age and condition of the home’s appliances is important because you do not want to buy a home to discover broken appliances that will require costly repair or replacement. Costs can quickly add up so to help avoid any unexpected surprises, the following 5 appliances should be checked before buying your next home.   1. Washer and Dryer   The washer and dryer are considered essential appliances. If the home you are interested in buyi...

How To Cut Your Energy Bill In The Winter And Save More Money With winter around the corner, it is time to think of the added expenses that accompany the cold season, along with other expenses, such as holiday shopping and hosting holiday parties. The winter season brings an increase in utility costs, particularly heating and lights. The good news is there are many ways to reduce utility costs during the winter. Below are a few easy ways to cut your energy bill in the winter and save more money.   Home Energy Audit   It is very helpful to perform an energy audit. Consider getting a professional home-energy audit. Hiring a professional to come to your home and assess your utility bills, energy use, identify any inefficiencies, and make recommendations can really help you lower your energy bills.   Reduce Water Heater Temperature   Heating the water in the hot water tank consumes energy so heat loss can increase energy usage. During winter, turning down the ...

How Technology Can Make Homes More Efficient   There are many benefits to integrating technology into our daily lives. Technology has made it much easier to manage such areas such as work and our personal lives. In fact, technology has allowed us to become more efficient in our daily lives. However, many people forget that technology can make our homes more efficient which can save hundreds or even thousands in repair/replacement bills, as well as save money on utility bills. Below is a list of ways technology can make your home more efficient.   Electricity Usage Monitor   An electricity use monitor allows you to calculate the cost to run any appliance or device in your home over a set period of time. By doing so, you can assess your use and make adjustments to reduce energy use. Just plug the specific appliance or device into the monitor and then plug the monitor into the outlet. The monitor will perform an assessment and provide such info as energy consumption p...

  Although during the spring and summer seasons, home sales increase, you can still sell your home during the fall and winter seasons. Real estate is being sold all year long, so you can definitely increase the chance of selling your home if you know a few simple selling techniques. If you decide to sell your home during the fall or winter seasons, follow this list of top 5 selling techniques for fall and winter home listings to attract potential home buyers.   1. An Appealing Home Exterior   During the fall and winter seasons, the exterior of the property can become dull and unappealing. One mistake that home sellers make is neglecting the exterior of their home. A clean, nice outdoor space is very attractive, so ensure that you clean up the yard. This includes raking leaves, removing fallen branches and sticks, weeding the flower beds, and trimming the bushes and shrubs.   Also, have your gutters cleaned to prevent water damage to the home. You may also conside...

10 Easy and Effective Real Estate Marketing Ideas According to a 2020 study conducted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) ,    “73% of buyers interviewed only one real estate agent during their home search.” This means it is essential for real estate agents to market and promote themselves as leading agents in the industry. Below, is a list of 10 Easy and effective real estate marketing ideas that can be utilized by real estate agents and brokers to reach prospective home buyers and sellers. 1. Create a Dynamic and Easy-to-Navigate Website Before contacting any real estate agent, many people actively searching for a home will use the internet as a tool to check out the various services and products offered by real estate agents. It is essential to create a quality, professional website for your real estate business to showcase all of the products and services you provide to your clients. Make sure to include listings on your site along with regular updates so...

  Now that the fall season is almost here, the winter is fast approaching. With the cooler days and nights, it is time to start optimizing your home for the fall . In other words, it is time for winterizing the home. Here are 3 easy tips you should do to help make your home safer, comfortable, and cheaper to maintain during fall and winter. 1. Clean and inspect your Furnace and Duct System During the summer, many homeowners neglect taking care of the furnace even if it's sending air conditioning throughout the home. Now that the temperature is dropping, it is time to get the heat pushing through the home again. This means the furnace and duct system may be filled with dirt and debris, allergens, pet dander, and possibly rodent droppings. Without a good cleaning you will likely be breathing bad air. General maintenance is recommended to keep the furnace running efficiently. You can clean or replace your furnace filter to improve the quality of the indoor air, and it keeps your fu...

5 Scary things new homeowners forget about when buying a home In recent months, mortgage rates have been going down so for many people, this may be a good time to buy a home. If you have never purchased a new home, there are a number of problematic issues to look for when searching for the perfect home for you. To help you have a successful home buying experience, below you will find a list of 5 Scary things new homeowners forget about when buying a home. 1. Abundance of trees and stumps When house hunting, it is important to examine the entire property. Trees and stumps too close to the home, garage, and septic system can cause future problems and expensive repairs. Tree roots can grow into the septic system causing damage, a tree too close to the house can fall down on the home during a windstorm, and a tree can fall onto a garage causing costly repairs. As well, tree stump roots close to the home can cause cracks in concrete garage floors. 2. The Scary “As Is” home   ...