Decorating Guides

Colours and types of Glass Block

In 1932, a French architect built an glass home in Paris which has since become an cult object, its block facade undamaged. You might not lust after decoration — or want to live in a glass house — but the choices of today in glass block styles and layout possibilities and new decoration opens up for bringing light in your living area. Shades and Styles The hollow glass block is a classicl but it’s only one of a myriad of choices you can select for backsplashes, shower surrounds, entry walls, windows and room dividers. Consider etched, sandblasted, frosted and satin finishes borders and patterns; corner, curved, angled and finish blocks; colored blocks and custom-engraved. Colors rang from intense metallic and stone tones — sapphire, ruby, amethyst, garnet, emerald, topaz, aquamarine, silver, copper and gold — to pastels as fragile as sheers — sea foam, iced-glacier, sky-blue, champagne-pink, apricot, lemon, carrot…

Eclectic Homes

How to Fix the Drywall Following the Tub Surround Is in Place

When the tub surround is installed, there’ll be a gap that remains between the top of the ceiling and the surround, which necessitates covering sheetrock. Simply use water resistant drywall or”green-board,” with this application. A typical problem that drywall installers encounter is”slanting.” Slanting happens when the drywall doesn’t sit flush into the studs or framing around the top of the bathtub surround. The surround has a thin lip that is used to attach the surround to the framing with screws. The screws do not countersink into the surround lip, so when you install the drywall, the bottom of the drywall piece is held out from the eyebrow thickness as well as the heads of the screws, sometimes as far as 1/2-inch, compared to its position at the top adjoining to the ceiling. Furr-Out the Framing Assess the gap, in the top of the bathtub surround lip up into the ceiling…

Renting and Tenant Rights

Rights & Obligations of Landlords & Tenants

Renting an apartment is a major commitment, for both the renter and the landlord. Each party is subject to certain rights and duties. Landlords and tenants who fail to meet their responsibilities or encroach on one another’s rights risk eviction, lawsuits and a long, inconvenient dispute process. This is why it’s important for landlords to screen potential tenants and for tenants to ask plenty of questions before signing a lease arrangement. Rental Agreement A leasing agreement is a legally binding document a landlord and tenant equally sign to initiate a lease. Except for provisions that violate state laws, both the tenant and landlord are bound by the conditions of the rental arrangement. Tenants will need to read rental agreements thoroughly before signing to find out about special building policies, such as using shared area and how frequently tenants are permitted to have overnight guests. Landlords must be sure to include…

Eclectic Homes

What's Needed to Qualify for a Home Loan?

A home loan is an investment for the creditor. In return for supplying adequate capital for the purchase of a home, the lender wants assurance that its investment will be returned with interest. Consequently, if you’re seeking to apply for a home loan, make sure that you provide adequate evidence of your capacity to afford future mortgage payments. You should also provide evidence of your reliability concerning credit lines, generally by submitting a copy of your credit report or by supplying a personal reference that will attest to your payment history. Mortgage Program Lenders determine your capacity to afford a mortgage by assessing your financial health, credit and employment history. The target is to see whether you have enough assets and income to afford your mortgage payments for the entire duration of the loan. Documents the lender will request include your most recent bank and brokerage statements, pay stubs, W-2s,…

Budgeting Your Project

Mortgage Modification FAQ

Getting a mortgage to buy a home is a major commitment for the borrower, and also changes in rates of interest or the homeowner’s financial situation can make it difficult to repay a mortgage. Mortgage modification is one alternative for reducing monthly payments and preventing foreclosure without doing too much damage to the debtor’s credit history. What’s Mortgage Modification? Mortgage alteration is a process where a mortgage lender and borrower agree to change the original provisions of the mortgage loan as listed in the mortgage agreement. Any sort of change qualifies as mortgage modification, even though most frequently borrowers request modification to reduce the amount of monthly payments without defaulting, which occurs when a borrower misses a payment. Defaulting on a mortgage allows the lender to pursue foreclosure, which can lead to the borrower being made to leave the home so the lender can sell it . Are Lenders Obligated…

Eclectic Homes

How Do I Find out If Property Is in a Flood Plain?

A floodplain, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), includes any place next to a body of water. FEMA agrees that this is a fairly broad interpretation; it does not delineate how far away”near” is and it does not admit that there are other characteristics of floodplains that aren’t easily identifiable. Knowing if a house is in a floodplain is crucial to keeping yourself and your house safe during a storm and also to properly insuring your house. Visit FEMA’s website (see Resources) to find flood maps for your region. Enter your address in the box on the left side of the page to pull up a map of your region. Proceed to freeflood.net and then enter your address in the search box. This website will tell you if your property is located within a 100- to 500-year floodplain and whether it is very likely to be damaged by…

Budgeting Your Project

How Can I Avoid Paying Documentary Stamps?

Purchasing a home often involves a deposit, in addition to closing prices. Normally, a home buyer has confidence in his ability to generate mortgage payments, but getting past the payoff table is often the biggest hurdle. Most states bill documentary stamps or transfer taxes, recording and filing fees when property is sold or transferred. As regular closing costs, the sellers and buyers pay these fees at settlement. You ability to negotiate might help you avoid paying documentary stamps. Find a house that you want to purchase. Get in touch with a real estate agent or the seller to view the house. Develop some connection with the seller or real estate agent to ascertain whether an offer that needs help with closing prices is amicable. Submit a revenue contract. Present an offer that needs the seller to cover your part of the documentary stamps. In most states it is customary for…

Budgeting Your Project

Leasing an Apartment

Renting an apartment is described as throwing money away. Mortgage payments build up the investment in your house, whilst leasing payments take money out of your pocket. In reality,”The New York Times” states that leasing may be a smarter investment based upon your budget and the local home industry. Selecting whether to purchase or rent is also an emotional decision, juggling the security of homeownership from the obligation of decades of mortgage payments. Calculate how much you can afford to spend on rent or home payments, then determine what sort of rentals are available in your market for the same volume. If you’re buying a home, the Investopedia website states, lenders need your monthly mortgage payment, property taxes and insurance to complete no more than 28 percent of your gross monthly income. The total if added into debts such as alimony, student loans and credit card payments must be 36…

Budgeting Your Project

Do I Get a Mortgage with a Judgment on My Credit Score?

Mortgage companies consider judgments to become major derogatory credit items and don’t often approve loans for borrowers that have them. A judge creates a decision when he finds one individual is responsible to pay a different individual or a company a sum of money. Judgments can be big or small, and whether the individual owns a home, the judgment could become a lien against the property. Mortgage companies usually require the decision be paid prior to the loan that is new. Buying a Home Organize to pay the judgment off. Mortgage lenders won’t close on a new home with an unpaid judgment. They know that should they do, the ruling holder can turn it into a lien and potentially foreclose on the property. Document the payoff and release of the ruling. Keep each of the canceled checks and ask for a discharge of the judgment in the court. Depending on…

Eclectic Homes

Guest Groups: 20 Almost-Unbreakable Mealtime Pieces

I love to gather friends, family and neighbors together to see as the sun sinks to the horizon on warm summer nights. I enjoy the chaos of children running in and out of the house and yard, flashlight tag and conversations over the fire pit or barbecue. I’ve been noticing that when I have designated fun items at the beginning of summer, impromptu parties and entertaining are a breeze, and when they are shatterproof, all the better. I generally prepare a huge crate of some type and stock it with utensils, melamine plates, glassware, platters, napkins and the like. I would love to share a few items that can help you set a casual yet trendy outside entertaining area with just a bit of preparation, and no broken glass encouraged. — Sasha from Lemonade Makin’ Mama Crate&Barrel Jelli Green Flatware – $1.95 I love the cheerful apple green colour of…