Home Renovation

Idaho has a booming housing market, and because people from all walks of life are moving to the Gem State home value is at an all time high. Whether it’s planting some flowers, changing some bulbs or upgrading some appliances, little upgrades will make your home even more beautiful and valued. Check out the options below on ways to increase your home value.

Updating Appliances

How old are your refrigerator and oven? Have you ever updated them? Not only are the new appliances packed with great features, they are smarter and more efficient. They are big purchases with big price tags, but they can save you money over time. Many new fridges use much less energy than older models and toilets can be switched out to use less water per flush, both can save you money each month.
Clean & new appliances will increase your home’s value. Try to get your appliances to match around your home, and this will be a great selling point. Many people are opting for stainless steel appliances because they are both pretty and timeless.

Smart Technology

Our phones can do basically anything nowadays. We use them mainly to communicate with other people but what about closing our garage, checking in on pets or locking our doors? Smart technology is the new wave of technology and helps enhance a home’s safety and functionality. It is becoming more readily available with hundreds of ways to upgrade your home to make it “smarter”. Some devices include smart thermostats, door locks, cameras, and fire/carbon monoxide detectors.
These devices allow you to have control over your home from anywhere. They give you peace of mind when you are not home and if your loved ones are. You are constantly connected and this is a great addition to a home when selling. If you tell potential buyers they can press a button to open the blinds or change the temperature, they will love it.

Curb Appeal

A pretty home will sell better than one with weeds and a messy yard. Curb appeal is very important and is the first chance to make a good impression on home buyers. If someone doesn’t like the outside, they won’t want to see the inside.
Yard Work is important! Cut the grass regularly, plant some flowers, add some decorations, paint the front door, and spruce up the front a bit. In the backyard, make sure it’s presentable and if large enough, style it appropriately. These are some easy changes that make a house go from eh to wow!

Expanding

Have you thought about adding some extra square footage to your home? The larger the home is the more you can sell it for. If possible, you could knock some walls down to open up the space or add an extra room.
Perhaps you have a blocked off kitchen or living room area. Knocking down a few walls could open the space up making it seem larger. Open floor plans are very popular currently, as people like having space to entertain or roam around easily.
In the backyard, consider adding a deck or a space to entertain and socialize with others. Adding some outdoor furniture also adds a fun element many homes do not have.

Energy Efficient Changes

Power and water bills are expensive. People are moving to more energy efficient applications and options to save money and help the environment. Switching out incandescent light bulbs for LEDs is a great way to save money over time. The lightbulb may be a little more expensive upfront, but will save a lot of energy and money a few months post purchase.
Solar Panels come with a hefty price tag but great life savings. They can significantly lower your electricity bill and boost your property value. Many people in warmer climates with solar panels don’t spend any money on their electricity bills because the solar panels produce enough energy to power the home. This is very dependent on your location and sun exposure though. Talk to a professional to determine if solar panels would benefit you.

Upgrades

Was your home built over 60 years ago? Are there lots of things in your home that are old and have never been replaced? Oftentimes when the fundamentals are replaced, it makes the whole home run smoother and cheaper. Check how old your water heater and garbage disposal are. Do they work as well as they should/could? Maybe upgrading them is a smart move for the financial side and your safety.
Some of these options can be pretty expensive but we are here to help. Active military and veterans can refinance with VA Home loans. Use this money to invest back into your home to receive more money in the future! Contact us today to learn more about how we can help!

Although most people are incredibly happy with their home when they buy it, many people will begin to have thoughts of how they could renovate their homes immediately. It may not be the first priority and you may want to wait until you pay off the home until you start, but eventually the thought will come. If you’re beginning to think about renovations, securing your VA Home Loan is the perfect way to finance it. Below, we’ve compiled a list of a few renovation ideas to get you started. Check it out and see if you get inspiration from any of them!

Bathroom

Remodeling your bathroom is one of the first things that come to mind for anyone considering a remodel. Many older homes come with porcelain tub and shower combos, and a basic linoleum countertop and floor. Although this is the case with most homes, everyone dreams of getting to shower in a walk-in shower complete with beautiful tile, and maybe even a heated tile floor to match it. Possible renovations in your bathroom include tile countertops and floors, a walk-in shower, and a jacuzzi tub. If you can’t remodel the rest of your home, at least you’ll have a beautiful bathroom that you and your loved ones will definitely get a lot of use out of!

Kitchen

Having a beautiful kitchen can make your house the destination for family gatherings and get-togethers with friends. One renovation most people will complete when renovating their kitchen is enlarging the space. Whether you need more room because your family has grown or you need more room for utensils and food, making your kitchen bigger can prove useful in many situations. However, it is a renovation that can only be achieved if your house’s design allows it. You must have a wall you can break down somewhere, and there has to be space that can be taken away from another room. If you want to change the look of your kitchen without a big demo project, you can go the tile route with the kitchen as well, implementing a tile backsplash and floors, and a solid granite countertop.

Home Theater

This last renovation is one that is more for fun than anything else. Every film fanatic has dreamed of having a home theater, and it’s entirely possible. Gone are the days of going to the theater when you have your own theater at home. You can opt for a massive TV for higher picture quality, or you can go with the projector screen if you want the classic feel of a movie theater. The huge viewing screen coupled with surround sound will truly make for an incredible viewing experience. And of course, no home theater is complete without comfy sofa chairs.

If you’re interested in seeing if you qualify for a VA home loan so that you have financial freedom to renovate your house, contact VA Home Loans of Idaho. We’re here to answer any questions you have and will help you secure your VA home loan in no time. Call today!

Whether you’re hosting a few friends or just cooking for your family, you want your patio and backyard to be in tip-top shape. Maybe the winter storms were brutal on your outdoor furniture or you just want a little bit of a makeover. Regardless of the reason, backyard renovations are always a great investment that you and your loved ones will enjoy. The VA Home Loans team compiled a list of four ways you can update your backyard for spring. Check it out!

Update Your Patio

Some homes come with a finished patio and some need one put in. If your home already has one, then you can update it to incorporate your own style. If your home doesn’t have one, you have full creative control to design the patio of your dreams! Constructing a patio is the perfect spring project if you are looking to capitalize on the warm spring weather. There are many companies that you can hire to build out a patio to your liking, or you can build your own!

Create A Barbecue Station

Barbeques are a great way to get outside and enjoy the sunshine while entertaining your loved ones. There are many ways to incorporate a grill station into your backyard arrangement! You can build an entire outside kitchen that uses a barbeque rather than a stove, create a unique brick structure surrounding your barbeque, or just put your barbeque out on your patio. However you choose to incorporate a barbeque into your backyard, the memories you will make with it are invaluable.

Add A Few Plants

Plants are a great way to bring life and color to any area of your property. Flowers surrounding your walkways or tall grasses to create structure around your patio can fill in any empty space. If you hire landscapers while building your patio, they can give you guidance and inspiration for how to incorporate plants into your backyard. You also can visit your local plant shops to see what greenery you like the most!

DIY Fire Pit

If entertaining family and friends is one of your warm-weather activities, a fire pit is a perfect addition to your backyard! Fire pits are a relaxing way to end the long summer days and are something you will be able to enjoy almost year-round. There are many different ways that you can build a fire pit if you’re looking for a weekend project. To create an even bigger area for hosting, put your fire pit away from the patio to make your backyard appear more spacious.

Finding a home with a backyard that you can turn into your favorite entertaining space is not an easy task. Contact VA Home Loans Idaho today to secure a loan so that you can find the perfect home!

A home inspection plays an important role in your home-buying process. By knowing the actual condition of the house that you’re buying, you’re able to reach an informed decision which can either be to move forward or to leave the deal. Curb appeal is one thing, but it’s what’s under the surface that counts. You can hire a contractor to quickly make a property look better on the surface, but what about the foundation, electrical, and plumbing? Those are all big unknowns that need to be addressed.

If you’re not there, you can’t ask questions about the unknowns your inspector uncovers.

It’s undeniably important that you not miss the inspection. Being physically present during the actual home inspection will allow you to familiarize yourself more with the property as well as raise any concerns you have about the property. But should your agent also attend the inspection? Absolutely YES!

You hired your agent to represent you throughout the home-buying process. This means that your agent should be present whenever needed, and that includes a home inspection. Even the seller’s agent should be present during the inspection to ensure that both sides are equally represented.

 

Here are the top 4 reasons why your agent should attend the home inspection:

1. Not all inspectors offer the same quality of work.

Just like realtors, home inspectors can offer amazing to terrible services. They’re only human and therefore are not exempt from making mistakes. However, your agent is your dedicated representative. Having said that, if an inspector is intentionally cutting corners or missing important details, that’s when your agent steps in on your behalf. And while most inspectors always give their best effort to adhere to the standards and requirements of their profession, not all do. That’s why it’s definitely important that you and your realtor are present during the inspection.

2. Your agent helps you make sense of inspection results.

If you’re like most homebuyers, you lack the expertise to analyze the results of the inspection. This is where your realtor should show due diligence by giving you insight and advice to aid you throughout the process. The results of the inspection can make or break a sale. So, it’s always best to have another set of eyes.

3. An agent must be able to make effective negotiations.

In addition, if your agent isn’t present during the actual inspection, effective negotiations just aren’t possible. Negotiation is one of the most important reasons you hire a realtor. A home inspection report will detail issues, minor and major, and that often requires a re-negotiation concerning the terms of the sale. When your realtor is present during the inspection, chances are the negotiation process goes much more smoothly.

4. Representing you as a client is part of a realtor’s job.

Homebuyers’ hire realtors to ensure they’re represented professionally throughout the entire process, and not just during the negotiation process. This means your agent is there from the very beginning all the way through the day you close on your new home. The professional advice of a realtor is not only much needed and deserved, but it’s also crucial to the home-buying process.

Finding the best realtor and the right inspector can be a bit hard, but it’s a necessary step for you to get the most out of your investment. This is why you shouldn’t settle for anything less than the best from your realtor, as well as from your home inspector.

Written By Lindsey Joy

Choosing a new roof? Or currently building your dream home? Whatever it may be, you’re probably looking for a roofing material that’s going to protect your home without breaking the bank.

In order to help you make an informed decision, we ranked the 6 best roofing materials based on the most important factors that most homeowners consider: durability and cost.

#6 Asphalt Shingles

Longevity: 15-30 years

This roofing material is by far the most popular roofing material because of its cost-effectiveness. But as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. It’s a good idea to research all the available option first, even if cost is a major concern for you.

It is important that you look for shingles that have a decent hail rating, a good level of impact resistance as well as overall durability. Note that roofing manufacturers aren’t legally required to report their hail rating. But quality manufacturers are more likely to report this data. So, if you don’t see a hail rating, it isn’t a good sign.

One downside of asphalt shingles is that it’s a petroleum-based material which means it isn’t the most sustainable roofing material option available. However, they are recyclable. To ensure they don’t end up in a landfill, look for a local shingle recycling center.

#5 Wooden Shingles and Shakes

Longevity: 30-50 years

Roofing materials made of wood are typically made of fire-resistant woods such as cedar or redwood. But it is important to note that they aren’t fireproof.  While it is true that they do last longer than asphalt shingles, they are not as durable. Wood shingles and shakes are prone to cracking. As with asphalt shingles, you should keep an eye out for their hail rating.

#4 Metal

Longevity: 30-50 years

Common materials used are steel, copper, zinc alloy, or aluminum. Metal roofs are slightly more expensive than asphalt or wood, but are significantly more durable< Some other advantages of choosing a metal roof are:

• They are impact resistant
• Needs less maintenance
• Very energy-efficient
• Made from recyclable materials and are also 100% recyclable

#3 Plastic Polymer

Longevity: 50 years or so

Plastic polymers are incredibly durable roofing materials that look like slate or wood shingles but require significantly less maintenance. This type of roofing material has high hail ratings and is very energy-efficient. But if you’re after sustainability, then you might want to think twice before choosing this roofing material. Since plastics are built to last, this makes them quite unsustainable. However, you may find many manufacturers that use recycled materials.

#2 Slate

Longevity: 75 to 150 years

Known as the oldest roofing material, slate roofing is quite expensive but it stands out from the competition for reasons as follows:

• Fireproof
• Virtually invincible in most extreme weather conditions
• Energy-efficient

Slate roofing is also 100% sustainable since it is a naturally occurring material, therefore, no toxins are used during the manufacturing process.

#1 Solar Glass

Longevity: Lifetime

Solar glass comes with a lifetime tile warranty and an extremely high hail rating. Overall, this roofing type is the best bet for homeowners that are more concerned with durability over cost. Solar glass roofing is also very energy efficient. And although it’s fairly expensive to install, depending on where you live, you may qualify for a tax credit to offset the cost. Lastly, solar glass roofing is the most sustainable roofing material on our list due to the fact that it generates its own energy.

 

If you have further concerns about other types of roofing materials for your home, give us a call or check out the rest of our blog.