by Milcarsky's Staff | Dec 3, 2021 | Uncategorized
You are financially secure, interest rates are low, and your investment account is soaring. Maybe it is finally time to realize your dream of buying a vacation home! With a vacation home, you will be able to get away without losing out on comfort. You will no longer have to fight for a hotel room during busy seasons or pay exorbitant fees for rentals. However, vacation homes can become a money pit if you don’t choose and plan carefully. Here are some things to consider.
Picking Your Location
Your vacation home will become your go-to travel destination, so choose the location carefully. You should choose a place that you know well, so that you are already familiar with weather patterns, real estate trends, and activities at hand. You should also buy in a location that you love and will not tire of.
If you plan on renting your vacation home to other travelers, you will have to consider your location even more carefully. You will want your home to be competitive within the market, offering amenities that travelers to that particular destination will likely be interested in.
Cost of Upkeep
As you consider the maximum price you are willing to pay for a vacation home, don’t forget to add maintenance costs. There are a variety of factors that will play into these costs, including utility rates, cost of property taxes, HOA fees, cleaning expenses, pool/spa maintenance, insurance prices, and wear and tear. One way to save money on upkeep is to invest in solar panels. Solar provides an easy source of energy for your home at an affordable cost.
Additionally, the proximity of your permanent dwelling to your vacation home will decide whether you can perform regular maintenance yourself or if you will need to hire out. If you will be renting, proximity will also determine if you need to hire a property manager.
Time Considerations
Owning a vacation home will take some time to manage. It typically takes a few hours a week to answer rental inquiries, work with your property manager, and schedule cleanings. You will also be at the whims of renters who will expect everything to be perfect for their dream vacation. This could involve dealing with emergency repairs, extra cleaning, and even complaints.
Owning a vacation home can provide the perfect getaway spot that you have always wanted. It also has the potential to turn you a nice profit and can prove to be a wise investment. On the other hand, it might turn into a major hassle. Do your homework and be certain that you are fully prepared for this exciting purchase.
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by Milcarsky's Staff | Jun 11, 2021 | Uncategorized
Improving the style and functionality of your kitchen is something every homeowner should keep in mind. While you may be content with your current home, thinking about potential improvements can prevent your outlook from becoming stale. Even more importantly, it causes your attention to be focused more on the maintenance of your home.
Because your kitchen is central to your daily and nightly activities, it can be a great place to start your renovative process. Each recommended change can be done at your discretion—in some cases, it might not be necessary to swap out everything. If you like something about your kitchen already—keep it how it is, or find a way to make it even better.
Granite or Quartz Countertops
One thing that you can change in your home that will make your visitors peer with awe is a new granite or quartz countertop. These additions can be incredibly expensive, but they will last you a lifetime. Granite and quartz are hard minerals that are easy to work on. They can revolutionize the way you think about prepping food in your home.
Talk with a contractor to see what their rates are right away. There are benefits to granite and benefits to quartz, so research what material you think will work in your home. If it works out, you will have a pristine kitchen counter to show off to others.
New Cabinets
Investing in new cabinets can be another great way to make your kitchen look more unique. It can also give you additional storage space if you are running out. Completely replacing old cabinets is not only practical and worthwhile, but it can also be health conscious. Many aged kinds of wood attract termites and molds—two things you don’t want to deal with at home.
Adding extra cabinet shelves can also be a manageable substitute for a pantry. Before you know it, you will have more space than you know what to do with, all while sticking to the design and style of your current kitchen.
Replace Your Appliances
Have you noticed that your electricity bill has risen higher than the Empire State Building? If this is the case, you may have some energy usage problems. When it comes to energy waste, there is often no bigger culprit than outdated appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers.
These old-timers not only suck the money right out of your pocket, but they also don’t usually even work very well. It may be time you ditch the clunkers and buy some new products. This can be a hefty investment, but if you save up your cash and make gradual payments, you can have a new fridge in no time!
An Outdoor Kitchen
Don’t want to always cook inside? Then you should instead take your kitchen outside! Outdoor kitchens have become increasingly popular as people want to have the luxury of cooking wherever they want. They are great for entertaining in the summer with friends and family.
A deck is a great place to install an outdoor kitchen, where you can also add a grill, a brick oven, and more. You’ll need to add some cover to protect your outdoor kitchen’s integrity. Add some outdoor lights and a speaker system and you can have a great night with your family. Don’t knock it until you try it!
Better Storage Options
As a matter of practicality, storage should be one of the highest priorities when renovating parts of your kitchen. As you live in your home for long periods and your family continues to grow, you will naturally have more limited space. This means you’ll probably have to get more creative.
Whenever you are cluttered and confused about storage, don’t forget to think vertically. Some people like to hang their pots and pans above the stove for easy access. Spice racks can be sorted out when you need something in a pinch. Some redesigns can offer more space underneath countertops and your kitchen island.
New Design
However, what if you are exclusively focused on aesthetics? In that case, you should start by researching some of the different design options online. While websites like Pinterest can give you some cute ideas, you can also find exceptional designs on local interior design websites.
During your research, you may see something that is an absolute ‘must’ for you. When this happens, you should build other parts of your kitchen around this identity or color scheme. You must remove anything that could potentially clash. Redo your backsplash, repaint the walls, and swap out some of the cupboard designs. You’ll come out with something unique and beautiful.
Replace the Flooring
The most popular change people make to their kitchen at least once is a change in flooring. You may have beautiful appliances, well-designed cupboards, and a great color scheme, but an old, gross, and unfashionable floor can clash heavily with the higher-end changes you have made.
Change it to a design that you appreciate. Wooden floors, while very practical and relatively cheap, have a lot of risks when it comes to water damage and termite infestations. Laminate and vinyl floors can be a great alternative if you want your floor to look like wood without actually being wood.
Streamlined Layout
This last point is a matter of preference, but it can make a huge difference in the way you feel about your kitchen. When you are cooking a feast-worthy meal, you may feel that you have to run across your kitchen constantly looking for the right ingredients and the right tool. This can make an already complicated meal even more frustrating.
Streamlining your kitchen experience is something that is totally within your control. Depending on your current layout, you may need to renovate to add in new shelves or drawers to make it work. This streamlining process might be your favorite change to your kitchen if you want something more effective and long-lasting than a design.
Kitchen renovations can make your family’s life so much easier. Not only does it remove common DIY threats and kitchen challenges, but it makes you feel better about the home you have created.
Ready to replace your appliances? Check out our inventory!
by Milcarsky's Staff | May 25, 2021 | Uncategorized
As summer approaches, you may be considering some outdoor projects. This year, you can take the chance to get more creative with your backyard. You can create a space that you’ll love spending time in.
Build a Patio
If you’re looking to entertain in the future, then adding a patio is an excellent way to do so. A patio allows you to conveniently enjoy the outdoors because it is an extension of your living space. You can easily add outdoor furniture or a standing grill to fit it to your needs. Patios also add value to your home, and they are low maintenance as well. When building your patio, you have a lot of options. There are a variety of materials to choose from, but you should be conscious of the time and labor that will go into it. For example, a brick patio allows you to incorporate intricate designs, but there are lots of pieces to lay. Concrete slabs or large pavers are a smarter choice. As you plan out your patio, take direction from the architecture of your home so you can have consistency in the design.
Create a Walkway
Adding a walkway to your backyard can present many opportunities. For example, it allows people to easily access any landscaping you have done. It can also be a convenient way to tour your backyard even if there’s recently been inclement weather. You can also get creative with how you build your walkway. One option is to make a gravel path through your yard. However, you can also make a path out of stepping stones. One of the sturdier options is putting in a concrete path. You can add accent stones to your concrete for a unique look.
Add a Water Feature
While this may seem like an ambitious project, a water feature can add a sense of beauty and tranquility to your backyard. The best part is water features are quite diverse and you’ll have plenty of options to consider. One of the most basic would be a fountain. These features will have water flowing out of the top of a vase, rock, and then pooling in a reservoir where it will then be pumped back up to the top. Fountains are more economical, and they also allow you to have the sound of running water. Another common option is adding a pond to your backyard. These again come with a lot of potential design choices and they require less maintenance than you’d think.
Add a little fun to your annual outdoor projects and find some new ways to spice up your backyard. Doing so can allow you to create a more lively space that you can enjoy throughout the summer and, in some cases, all year long.
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by Milcarsky's Staff | Feb 27, 2020 | Design, Uncategorized
Accessibility is important to any space. Whether you’re rehabbing an existing kitchen or building a home, incorporating features that will make life easier as you age is a good investment. Even little changes can make access in a wheelchair possible. Here are some kitchen design tips to consider when accommodating you or a loved one’s physical limitations.
Specialized Utensils
If you have limited finger dexterity or grip strength, investing in pans with helper handles opposite long handles can make it easier to stabilize a pot. Also keep an eye out for pans with silicone grips for comfort and ease. To avoid having to dig through a crowded drawer, invest in magnetized kitchen storage tools so handles are easy to get to.
Invest in Lighting
As we age, our ability to see is slowly reduced. Adding task lighting to your kitchen workspace can reduce the risk of injury when working with knives. To make task lighting even simpler, put these tools on a motion sensor so they come on exactly where you need them. You can also install task lighting that you can turn on via remote control. These tools will save the need to fuss with switches.
Clean and Clutter-Free
Many kitchens feature canisters and other tools that line the back wall of the countertop. However, if your mobility is limited, reaching these tools can be a challenge. To keep things organized, it may make more sense to put storage tools on a rolling rack in a lower cabinet. They would be out of sight until needed but easily accessible when the user is ready to start cooking. Improving storage access isn’t just for those with visible limitations. Studies estimate that over 11% of Americans suffer from chronic pain. Easy access to the necessary features of a kitchen would be a good investment in most any home design.
Bring Things to User Level
For users with limited strength or reach or those confined to a wheelchair, being able to bring tools to their working level is critical. Heavy duty pull-down dish racks and prep surfaces will give users of all heights a workable kitchen. Roll-out storage will also provide easy visibility for spices, tools and canned goods. This way, users can work in the kitchen on their own without having to ask for help all the time. This increases their independence.
Age, illness or injury can seriously impact our ability to function in the kitchen. It’s important to design your kitchen with accessibility in mind. By incorporating design features that allow for users of varying capacities to work in the space, you can design a kitchen that will please all cooks.
For quality appliances for your kitchen, let Milcarsky’s help you!
