Not every remodel is a good one, as is evident by the many Americans who have made remodeling mistakes that cost them big. But getting a remodel right – the first time – can make your home more comfortable, stylish, functional—and more valuable. Here are the most common remodeling blunders and how you can avoid becoming a victim of one (or more) of them:

Not Taking Care of Architectural Issues

No one wants to deal with the large stuff when tackling the remodeling job, but ignoring the large flaws in a project will make your remodel look shabby and half-completed. For example, if you are taking on a kitchen remodel, and the windows in the room simply aren’t large enough to let in the natural light for which the kitchen requires, moving forward with…

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Sure, we’d all love a sprawling bathroom that we could do cartwheels in but, unfortunately, not many of us are blessed with a bathroom of this size. Luckily, there are quite a few ways that you can turn even your small bathroom into the luxurious spa retreat you’ve always imagined it could be.

Working with size constraints may require you to be creative, but it most certainly can be done. Here’s how:

Take Advantage of Every Square Inch

Your small space should be utilized –every square inch of it! I saw a small bathroom that transformed a bump-out into a very useful linen cabinet. Think of the small nooks and crannies and get creative!

Instead of having an over-size bathtub in the space, many homeowners opt for small, corner bathtubs, which are…

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If you purchase a property with less than 20 percent down, you most likely will end up paying private mortgage insurance, more commonly referred to as PMI. PMI, although it may allow you to secure a home loan without saving up 20 percent, it will cost you every month in the form of a PMI payment, which is on top of your mortgage and taxes every month. For many homeowners, this extra payment can be quite costly, as PMI can run as high as a few hundred dollars, depending on the loan program and the amount of the down payment.

Many homeowners just assume that they have to pay PMI. While this used to be the case, homeowners today can now opt for single-pay mortgage insurance, which reduces the long-term mortgage payment.

Single-Pay Mortgage Insurance

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Do you fancy yourself to be a mortgage know-it-all? After all, you’ve been down the mortgage road before, bought a few properties, and think you have a pulse on mortgages and how to secure a competitive one.

Unfortunately, there may be a quite a few things about mortgages you aren’t aware of – things that could cost you big in the long run. Here are a few mortgage trivia questions to keep you on your toes:

True or False: I can figure out my mortgage payment using my interest rate.

False! The cost of your home and the interest rate do not tell the entire story of the mortgage payment for your Plano residence. Instead, look to your loan’s annual percentage rate (APR), which includes not only the interest you will pay on your loan, but the points,…

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No one wants to think about an intruder breaking into their home. It’s a scary prospect, which is why so many homeowners, instead of preparing themselves in the event of an attempted break-in, choose to ignore it. However, ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.

In fact, home security should always be a consideration, regardless of where you live. And, with today’s wireless technologies and remotely accessed systems, protecting your Tomball home and your family has never been easier.

Wireless Home Security Systems

Yesterday’s home security systems were of the wired variety, which meant pulling wires through walls and making holes in your otherwise flawless walls. But wired systems were also susceptible to damage, and many intruders would be able to…

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Renting may be a good decision if you are not yet ready or able to purchase a home. But before you sign a rental agreement, there are a few things to consider:

Pets

If you are a pet owner, you will certainly be on the hunt for an apartment that allows pets. But you should also be aware that many apartments only allow pets up to a certain size or weight. I had a friend who had to move from her apartment after her puppy began to grow much larger than she thought it would. As the apartment building only allowed pet up to 30 pounds, and her growing puppy was quickly topping 50 pounds, she had to uproot and find a new apartment, right in the middle of her lease.

Also, if you don’t have pets, be aware of apartment buildings Downtown Austin that do…

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