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In the age of social media and comparison culture, we are only shown curated versions of each other’s lives. Every picture we post is edited, cropped, and carefully thought out. When it comes to our homes, it’s no different. We scroll past so many pictures of perfect homes always showcasing their next big project.

As homeowners, it’s hard not to see these photos and feel insecure about our homes. It’s so easy to get bogged down with everything you want to change about your home that you’re not enjoying it anymore. We want to help you see the good in your home again and be content in it.

Social Media Isn’t Real Life

We spend the majority of our time scrolling on Instagram or Pinterest that we start to believe everything we see. Very few people are able to build and design their dream homes, much less million dollar homes. What we see on social media is very rarely “real.” For instance, in these pictures there aren’t any dishes in the sink or toys scattered across the living room.

So how are these homes so perfect all the time? The truth is they aren’t. The dirty dishes are shoved in the dishwasher and the toys are thrown behind the couch so they aren’t in the photo. Don’t believe everything you see, especially on social media.

Practicing Contentment

Be content with what you have – it’s definitely much easier said than done. Living in contentment means being happy and appreciative for what you have and where you are in life. Contentment promotes a happier life, peacefulness, healthier relationships, and personal growth. To practice contentment in your life, try these exercises from Urban Cottage Living,”

– Write down all the things that bother you or make you discontent in your home.
– Cross off the things that only you notice.
– Star next to the things that you don’t like but others seem to rave about.
– Underline the items that you could do something about but just haven’t done them yet.
– Circle one thing that you can’t change right now, but if you thought outside the box you could make it work “for the time being”

By focusing on what you do like about your home, you’ll be able to quickly enjoy your space again.

Make Memories

Remember that your house is just a house at the end of the day. What really matters is the loved ones you’ll make memories with in your house. They are the ones who will turn your house into a home. Enjoying and resting in your home will allow you to spend more time with the ones you care about most.

What Are You Looking For In A Home?

If a new home will help you be content in your life, let us help you! We would love to learn more about what you’re looking for in your new house. Please give us a call at 574-527-1700, email us Kim@homeswarsaw.com, or contact us here.

In the winter, especially here in Warsaw, you need to make sure your house is staying warm. Unfortunately, cold air can easily seep into the house when you open and close doors. It will find the smallest cracks and crevices to slowly creep into, keeping your home cold and uncomfortable. Here’s the good news – you can keep your house warm all winter long by completing a few simple, inexpensive tasks.

Windows

An easy thing you can do is to make sure all sash locks on your windows are securely clamped. Along with locking your windows, you can temporarily caulk and seal them until you open them in the Spring.

Chimney

If you don’t use your fireplace in the winter, it may be a good idea to purchase a chimney balloon. Chimney balloons are fairly inexpensive and are an easy way to prevent cold air from entering the house.

Exterior Doors

Door sweeps and weather-stripping are both quick, easy, and cheap solutions to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. Door sweeps are installed at the bottom of the door while weather-stripping is used along the sides of the door and door jambs.

Curtains

If you don’t have curtains installed in your home, you may want to reconsider. While opening your curtains and blinds can let in the heat from the sunlight, closing your curtains at night will trap the heat inside.

Pro tip: Install thick curtains with a thermal lining to allow for even more heat to be confined.

Floors

For all of you ladies looking for an excuse to buy a new rug, we’ve got a good one for you! Did you know rugs, especially thick rugs, provide insulation? If you have a room that needs a pop of color or texture, throw a rug down! It will be both aesthetically pleasing and cost-efficient as bare floors can be a big source of heat loss.

Interior Doors

Just like exterior doors, interior doors can also have an effect on your home’s heat. If you have rooms in your house that are rarely used, close those doors at night. The best part about this tip? It’s free!

Do You Think You Have Other Issues That Need To Be Addressed?

If these tips don’t help you keep out the cold, you may have other issues present. In older homes, particularly, windows, doors, and cracks on the outside of the house can correlate with heating problems. If you’re looking to purchase a newer home, please let us help! Give us a call today at 574-527-1700 or email us at Kim@homeswarsaw.com and let us know how we can help you.

Everyone strives for their house to be a gathering place, where guests feel welcome and at home, but how do we do it? The most important thing you need to have is the right mindset. Making your home a gathering place means being content with sharing your home and yourself with others.

Besides the mentality, there are a few other things every gathering place needs. Here are a few ideas to make your home a gathering place for everyone who walks through the door:

Comfort Is Key

As you’re designing your space, put comfort first. For instance, when choosing seating options, be sure they are comfortable and will hold up to standard wear and tear. Once you have picked your couches and chairs, add cozy pillows and throw blankets to soften the space.

Also, be sure to keep the guest’s needs in mind. If they are spending time in the living room, give them a place to set their drink and show them where things like the trash can and bathroom are. If they are staying the night, put clean sheets and pillowcases on the bed, lay out fresh towels, and make sure they have all the amenities they will need.

Colors and Lighting

Choosing paint colors can be overwhelming, especially pairing furniture with them. Begin by picking a base color for the room, usually a warm neutral color. Then you can add accent colors and start bringing in furniture to match the space. Warm paint colors such as beige and terracotta will instantly make a room more intimate and inviting.

Like color, lighting plays a big role when creating a cozy space. Steer clear of harsh overhead and LED lighting and lean towards ambient light and warm lamps. This alone will transform the feel of any room and guests will appreciate the calm atmosphere.

Backyard Space

Depending on the season, your backyard will be used just as much as your living room. When planning for guests, it’s important to have a comfortable patio or screened-in porch. This looks like furniture with cushions, a lot of room to play with the kids or dogs, and warm lighting for late night fun. If your house doesn’t have a big backyard, you can still use lighting and comfy furniture to make the most of the space.

Is Your House Ready For Guests?

As you look around your house, do you notice anything that could be improved or changed? If you’re unhappy with your current floor plan and want a house that can easily be turned into a gathering place, please contact us. You can call us at 574-527-1700, or email us at Kim@homeswarsaw.com to talk to one of our team members today. We would love to hear from you and learn more about what you’re looking for in your next home.

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, you have probably found yourself spending a lot of time at home. Whether you’ve been working from home or simply staying home because your normal activities have been canceled, we’re sure you’ve noticed a few things you’d like to change. While installing new doors or redoing your entire master bathroom may sound like a great idea, it’s important to weigh your options before starting major renovations.

What Is The Difference Between A Remodel And A Renovation?

Most of the time we throw around the terms “remodel” and “renovation” like they are the same. In reality, these two terms mean very different things.

A remodel is a large project that you almost always will need a permit for and can change the structure of a room or home. A few examples of a remodel would be tearing down a wall, extending a room, adding on to the outside of the house, etc. The state of the room may change entirely.

A renovation, on the other hand, rarely requires a permit and is usually an aesthetic change. The room would remain the same, it may appear differently because new tile has been put down, cabinets have been painted, or light fixtures have been replaced. Renovations can typically be executed by the homeowners themselves, whereas a remodel would need to be handled by an experienced professional.

Why Renovate?

People feel the desire to renovate for many reasons. The biggest reason is obvious – they want their home to look better! Most people are moving into a home that was previously owned by someone else, which means there will be at least a few things they’ll want changed to match their style. That being said, not all renovations are necessary or will add value to your home. It’s best to talk to your realtor before making any costly changes. Your realtor is an expert on your community, neighborhood prices, and the overall value of your home.

What Will Add Value To Your Home?

The answer to this question is situational. What adds value to one home may do the same for another. What factors impact this? It can depend on the cost of your home, how much money you’ve put into your home already, the cost of homes in your area, and a variety of other factors.

For instance, if the most expensive home in your area is $250,000 and it’s about the same square footage as your house, that will probably be the most you can ask for your home. So what does that mean? If you purchased your home for $200,000, you probably don’t need to invest more than $20,000 into your house to see a return on your investment.

Please talk to your realtor for exact facts and figures for you and your home. They want to see you make the best decision when it comes to your house and money.

What Is Your Next Step?

Contact your realtor! If you don’t have one, we’re your go-to real estate group! Please contact us, call us at 574-527-1700, or email us at Kim@homeswarsaw.com. We would love to hear from you and learn about the projects you’re thinking about!

Plenty of people in the United States live without air conditioning during the summer. Sometimes on the hottest summer days, even AC won’t cut it. A hot and miserable home can take the fun right out of your summer. Thankfully, there are plenty of small ways you can help keep your house cool.

Try putting some of these tips to use this summer to help you and your family stay comfortable and cool.

Keep Your Blinds Closed

According to research from The Huffington Post, 30 percent of unwanted heat comes from your windows. This percentage can be even higher if you live in a home with primarily south and west facing windows.

Thankfully, you can reduce the amount of extra heat in your house by utilizing shades and curtains. In fact, regularly closing your blinds can save you up to 7 percent on bills and will even lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees. That’s a big difference! If you’re desperate, you could even invest in blackout curtains. Blackout curtains block sunlight and naturally insulate the rooms in which they are installed. In short, a simple action such as closing the curtains during the day can help keep you cool and will even save you money in the long run.

Change Out Your Bedding

Changing your bedding is a great way to freshen up a room. But more importantly, swapping out your sheets is a good way to keep cool. Flannel sheets and fleece blankets are wonderfully cozy in the winter but can make you feel hot and sticky during warmer months. Cotton sheets are a smarter choice at this time of the year as they breathe easier and stay cool longer.

You could also consider purchasing a buckwheat pillow. Buckwheat hulls have a naturally occurring air space between them, which means they don’t hold onto your body heat like conventional pillows.

Rotate Your Fan Setting

Most people are shocked to hear this, but your ceiling fan actually has a bi-directional setting that needs to be adjusted seasonally. Generally speaking, you want your fan to run counter-clockwise at higher speeds in the summer to move breezes around, and clockwise at lower speeds to help distribute heat in the winter.

If you’re not sure which setting your fan is on, stand directly underneath it. If you immediately feel a breeze from the fan, then it’s on the appropriate summer setting (counterclockwise). Otherwise, turn off the fan, and look for a button or switch that sets the fan to run in the opposite direction.

Plant Shade Outside Your Home

Obviously, a large shade tree won’t grow overnight. But with a little bit of planning and landscaping, you can get great results that will make the outside of your home look great and also make your interior cooler. A shade tree in full bloom can actually block more than 70 percent of solar radiation from entering your home according to research by Common Sense Homesteading.

Find plants and trees that will flourish in your soil and a particular location and get them planted in front of your bigger windows. Over time, you’ll create a flourishing shade border that helps keep your house cool from the sun’s glares.

Limit Indoor Cooking

Using an oven or a stove will definitely make your house hotter. If it’s 100 degrees outside, the last thing you want to do is turn on a 400-degree oven. Thankfully, summertime is the perfect time for grilling outdoors. Bust out the grill and the summer patio furniture in order to help cool down the house.

If you must cook in the oven, be careful about how long you let the oven preheat for.  Try to do as much prep work as possible before turning on the heat. Remember also to keep the oven door closed as an open oven door will release heat into the kitchen, lower the oven temperature, and prolong cooking time.

Ask Your Local Agent

Don’t let extreme heat ruin your summer fun. If you have any further questions regarding home efficiency or housing in general, reach out to experienced agent, Kim Clark. With years of experience, Kim is a knowledgeable source for anyone living in or near Kosciusko County. Give her a call today and get all your questions answered.

Gardening and caring for plants in general can help boost your mental and physical health. In fact, research has found that caring for plants can help you recover from mental fatigue, slow down your heart rate, and even reduce high blood pressure.

In our fast-paced world, taking the time to prioritize your mental and physical health is important—and taking care of plants is a simple, natural way to accomplish this.

Certain plants and flowers even have unique qualities that can help boost your overall wellbeing. These four plants will let you exercise your green thumb while improving your physical and mental health.

Lavender

Lavender is known for its beautiful lilac hue and incredible scent. But did you know lavender is associated with several beneficial qualities?

Lavender oil has been used to assist in the treatment of anxiety and depression for years. An article in the International Journal of Psychiatry even tested the use of lavender on anxious patients in dental offices. The researchers found that those patients exposed to lavender scents before their appointments were much calmer than those who were not.

Lavender has also been known to help people with chronic insomnia. The relaxing scent calms the mind and allows people to sleep through the night. An indoor lavender plant would lend a soothing atmosphere to your home. You could even set your plant beside your bed at night to aid your sleep.

How Do I Plant It?

Lavender grows best when placed in a bright area. Only water your lavender plant when the soil is dry to the touch—too much watering can shorten its life span.

Aloe Vera

Aloe is considered one of the most useful plants in the entire world. The gel from aloe leaves can help heal sunburn and other minor cuts and scrapes. Aloe gel has also been known to help heal acne scars. Rubbing an aloe leaf on acne scars increases the collagen production in your skin, helping to repair scarring.

Also, aloe plants help remove harmful chemicals in the air. Aloe emits oxygen while also taking in carbon dioxide. This improves the quality of air anywhere in the near vicinity.

How Do I Plant It?

Aloe vera is a very low-maintenance plant. You really only need to water aloe plants once their soil is dry. Aloe does enjoy direct sunlight, so you should set your pot near a window or in an open, sunny space.

Gerbera Daisies

Gerbera daisies are known for their vibrant, beautiful colors. If your home could use a pop of color, gerbera daisies might be the perfect house plant for you. Just the simple act of adding color to your home can help brighten your mood and change the atmosphere of your house.

But gerbera daisies are not just beautiful—they are also useful. These flowers are known to purify the air around them, removing toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air. Now that’s a powerful flower!

How Do I Plant It?

Gerberas like sunlight, but a little shade is okay. Try to water these daisies in the morning so the leaves can dry out during the day.

Eucalyptus

When people hear the word “eucalyptus,” they think about the large trees that grow in Australia. But you can actually grow dwarf species of eucalyptus in your home.

Eucalyptus has a very distinct smell, which has been known to help calm and reduce stress. The scent of eucalyptus is also beneficial for clearing your sinuses from a cold or allergies.

Little tip: if you are feeling under the weather, you can create a eucalyptus “bath bouquet” in your shower. Tie a bundle of eucalyptus around your shower head and turn your shower to the hottest setting. This will allow the steam and eucalyptus fragrance to mix, which helps clear congestion, lessen asthma symptoms, and calms your mind.

How Do I Plant It?

Your eucalyptus plant will need full sunlight and will need to be watered regularly.

Talk To Your Local Agent About Outdoor Garden Spaces

If you’re inspired to make gardening your new hobby, you should talk to experienced agent, Kim Clark. Kim can help you understand the value of adding an outdoor garden space to your current home. Schedule a call with Kim and get your questions answered today.