Real Estate Information Archive

Your front door is one of the first things guests notice when visiting your home. In addition to providing security and protection, your front door can make a bold statement and reflect your personal style.

But whether or not your current front door matches your home's interior and your taste, if you feel a draft, see any cracks or hear squeaky joints or scraping sounds, it may be time to replace it. Consider your options with some of the most common front door materials and features.

Materials

• Wood: Though beautiful, solid wood doors are expensive and sensitive to the elements. Some modern wood doors come with steel cores to minimize warping and reduce cost.
• Fiberglass: A durable and cost-effective option is a fiberglass composite door. Their foam cores are good insulators, and they can withstand harsh climates.
• Steel: Strong but subject to dents, steel doors are the least expensive of the three. They have shorter life spans and aren't well-suited for extreme climates, but depending on their core, they can be energy efficient.

Styles
There are multiple styles to choose from, including:

• Solid panel doors
• Arched doors
• Dutch or split doors
• Double doors
• Decorative doors with glass inserts
• Frosted glass doors with ornamental wrought iron overlaid for added security

You could even complement your front door with sidelights or a transom window while also letting in more outside light.

Colors
The color of your front door should depend mostly on the exterior style and colors of your house, your personal taste and the type of door chosen. If your house is mostly neutral in color, don't be afraid to go bold with your front door.

Use these tips to help make your front door an inviting entrance that not only offers protection from the elements but also reflects your personal style.

Whether you're looking for greener ways to clean your home or you just want to save money at the store, there are simple household cleaning products you can make on your own. Use the recipes, tips and precautions below to help you get started.

All-Purpose Cleaner

Create your own inexpensive and effective all-purpose cleaner with liquid castile soap, tea tree oil, vodka, washing soda (not baking soda) and white vinegar. Boil the vinegar in the microwave, mix in the remaining ingredients according to the recipe and put the solution in a spray bottle for easy cleaning.

Laundry Detergent

Avoid questionable foaming agents and heavy fragrance by making your own laundry detergent. Measure the correct amounts of soap flakes or grated bar soap, borax and washing soda, and store in an airtight container.

Tips to Keep in Mind

• Avoid mix-ups by labeling and dating each cleaning product when it's made.
• Add a few drops of essential oils like tea tree, lavender and lemon to scent your homemade cleaning solutions.
• Substitute vodka for vinegar if you want a lighter smell.
• Before using a homemade cleaner on delicate surfaces like hardwood floors or marble, first test it in a small, hidden area.

What to Avoid

• Do not mix bleach with ammonia or vinegar. The dangerous combination can damage your respiratory system.
• Keep hydrogen peroxide and vinegar separate at all times. Together they create peracetic acid, a highly corrosive compound that can lead to chemical burns.
• Don't use vinegar on reactive metal surfaces like aluminum or cast iron.
• Refrain from using large amounts of any cleaning solution, homemade or store-bought, in unventilated areas.

When mixed and used properly, homemade cleaning solutions can work as well as, if not better than, commercial cleaners, plus they're also easier on your wallet. Make sure you know the basics before you make your own cleaning products.

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Are you a collector? Whether you have a passion for art, photographs, action figures or something else entirely, here are some options for displaying your memorabilia.

Mount It on a Wall
Family photos and art pieces are commonplace, even among those who don't consider themselves collectors. Fortunately, there's no shortage of creative ways to display wall art.

The trick is to focus on the frames. For instance, one method is to use frames of the same color but of varying sizes and designs. This creates visual interest and unites the collection. Figurines and other small items with depth can be housed similarly using shadowboxes or a divided case.

Hang artwork at eye level for optimal visual appeal. For museum-quality results, keep the center point of your display or collection between 57 and 63 inches from the floor.

Showcase It on Shelves
Curio cabinets and other types of shelving work well for arranging collections and giving individual pieces a chance to stand out. Whether you're into vintage dishes or figurines, consider grouping your collection according to color or pattern.

If you have glass or crystal items, sunny windows are ideal spots for your display. And avoid overloading shelves; open space can help make a visual impact.

Arrange It on Furniture
When it comes to displaying eclectic items or combining collections, look to the top of your favorite furniture pieces. On the surface of a credenza or console table, mix tall and short items as well as various shapes and textures along a horizontal line, similar to a cityscape.

Is it time to replace your window coverings? If they're worn, damaged or dated, it's probably time to start "window" shopping for something new. The good news is that now more than ever there are endless styles and colors to choose from. Find the right window treatment by considering your various options.

Determine Your Style -- Take a look at your decor and decide if a traditional or more modern style of window coverings would suit your home. Nowadays window coverings come in a wide variety of finishes, colors and styles.

Choose Your Material -- Determine what type of material fits your budget and maintenance preferences. Options include fabric, vinyl, aluminum, wood and even faux wood. You could frame your windows with curtain panels, opt for pleated or Roman shades, hang asymmetric swags, or mount horizontal or vertical wooden shutters.

Assess Your Functional Preferences -- Think about your light control and privacy concerns. For example, you may require blackout blinds for a media room or bedrooms but not for the less private areas of your home where sunlight is welcome.

Choose Custom or Off-the-Shelf -- Decide if you want to go with custom window coverings that are manufactured to fit the interior dimensions of your windows, or if an off-the-shelf window treatment will suit your needs.

Consider Energy Efficiency -- Think about your heating and cooling needs. Cellular shades help regulate heat loss or gain in addition to controlling the light. If you're likely to forget shade adjustment as a means of temperature regulation, consider upgrading to motorized shades.

Beautiful garden inspiration can come from all parts of the world. From the neat and pristine gardens of France to the peaceful meditation gardens of Japan, there are many design styles to help you create a pleasing outdoor space that suits you best. Here are some international ideas to help you get inspired this spring:

Traditional English -- "Romantic" and "dreamy" are words often used to describe classic English gardens. They typically feature meandering pathways, sculpted shrubs and abundant sweeping flowers, like climbing roses. Recreate the look with plenty of climbing greenery and bright pops of color.

Formal French -- Indulge your inner neat freak with the clean lines of a formal French garden based on order, symmetry and geometric shapes. Arrange sculpted trees in straight lines, add a small fountain with a round or rectangular pool, or create a mini courtyard with neatly trimmed boxwood hedges for a French-inspired garden.

Japanese Zen -- Serene Japanese gardens often feature water, rocks, sand and gravel, all of which represent spiritual or philosophical ideas. They're characteristically minimalist, asymmetrical and elegant. Plant a symbolic cherry blossom tree as the main focal point, or create your own tranquil setting with a stone pathway, bamboo fence, backyard waterfall or koi pond.

Fragrant Tuscan -- Delight your sense of smell with a Tuscan-style garden. These traditionally include aromatic herbs such as lavender, sage, rosemary or flowering thyme. Ornamental grasses add soft texture while low-maintenance, native plants do just fine in the hot summer sun.

Whether you're thinking about buying an investment property for steady cash flow, a vacation home for your family or a temporary home for your college-bound son or daughter, there are a few things you should consider before making the investment:

Local Market -- Both the local resale and rental markets are important factors. Are home prices on the rise, increasing the possibility of a profitable sale in the future? Is the rental market tight, causing average rent prices to go up? You'll want your rental income to be able to cover mortgage costs, taxes and expenses.

Maintenance -- When calculating costs, include routine maintenance and potential repairs. If purchasing a property to rent out, note any requirements and safety obligations for your area. If you're not the handy type or your desired property is far from your primary residence, consider hiring a property management company to handle ongoing maintenance concerns.

Insurance Costs -- Find out if you need additional disaster coverage such as flood or earthquake insurance. In general expect to pay higher insurance costs, especially if you plan on renting out the property.

Financing -- Plan on being subjected to more scrutiny than you were on your primary residence. Banks often require a higher down payment on second homes, and interest rates may be higher as well.

Tax Implications -- Make sure you understand the tax implications of owning a second property. If you plan on renting it out, you'll need to report the rental payments as income. On the other hand, operating expenses, such as insurance, utilities and repairs, may be considered deductions.