by R D | Feb 20, 2022 | Featured, Home Improvements, Modern Homes, Real Estate
Do Solar Panels Increase Home Value? The short answer is yes, installing solar panels can increase the value of a home by as much as 4.1% over comparable homes that do not have solar panels. (Source: CNBC).
The topic of real estate market conversations revolving around property values has increased more than ever.
A statistically significant increase in home values was foreseen in 2020 despite the pandemic. However, the fast rising home values in some areas of the country is staggering.
It is inevitable that the market will eventually correct itself, therefore choosing the proper home projects will become increasingly important. In order to get a good return on investment for your home, you need to be sure that the improvements increase the value of the property.
Installing solar panels, updating your kitchen, or adding an outdoor patio are some of the ways to enhance your property. We stated that a solar panel system can increase your home value but there are several factors to consider. Read on to find out more.
Factors that affect property value
As a result of the basic principle of supply and demand in the market, property values have surpassed expectations over the past year. As more and more people realized that they could live and work anywhere, they became more and more drawn to the suburbs.
It is believed that most sellers chose not to sell in the face of the pandemic and chose to wait it out. In addition to the very low interest rates, you also have people who want to buy, and a very small inventory available for them to purchase.
A lot of local factors also play a part in determining the value of a home. For example, a new school that is currently being built will be a good attraction for young families. When that happens, the value of housing increases.
Property values in your neighborhood can fall if you have an old rundown home next door.
It is also important to take into account the market demand when it comes to property values. Buyers are looking for certain amenities when shopping for a house, such as a fireplace or a kitchen with an open concept layout. You can get more for your home if these items are in your home.
How much do solar panels cost to install?
After federal tax incentives, the average cost of installing solar panels in the United States is about $12,000. Smaller systems can be installed for around $5,000 and more complex Tier 1 systems can cost $40,000 or more. (Source: Consumer Affairs)
A project that involves installation involves additional costs beyond the cost of the panels. Actually, the panels only make up about 25% of the total installation costs. In addition to labor costs and operating expenses, additional equipment, such as inverters and control circuitry, also contributes to the price.
A solar energy company installs solar panels, maintains the panels and provides warranties with the work. Although not free, these additional services are often worthwhile. Prices for solar panel installation can also be affected by other factors.
Since there is a large upfront cost, many homeowners choose to finance the cost. Many companies that provide installation services can help you to arrange financing for the project.
How many solar panels are required?
To achieve full energy independence, most homes require 25 to 35 panels.
For example, one solar panel produces roughly one kilowatt-hour (kWh) per day, so if you consume 30 kWh per day, you will require 30 solar panels to produce all of your energy. It increases your energy costs if you have to heat a pool or run your air conditioning for most of the year.
How much do solar panels add to the value of a house?
In order to calculate the solar panel ROI, you must understand what goes into property values. It has been determined that solar panels increase the value of a home by 4.1% according to a Zillow study.
Solar panels have a high return on investment for two main reasons. People are becoming more aware of the fact that home energy costs are skyrocketing and they have a tendency to take actions to lower them. In this regard, solar panels are being seen as a way to offset those costs for the time being and in the future as well.
Another reason is that solar panels have attracted a high level of interest among the general public. This means homebuyers can benefit from solar energy without undertaking an installation project themselves.
You can expect your property value to increase after installing a solar panel system, but is this a guarantee? As to whether your home will receive any benefit from solar panels, it depends on whether you decide to lease them or purchase them outright.
A non-transferable lease may prevent you from selling your house. It is possible that a home buyer will be reluctant to assume the lease if it is transferable.
Having a good solar installer that gives you ownership of the panels instead of having to lease them is the most important thing you should do.
How does owning a house with solar panels compare to buying one without?
Although many home buyers may fret that their new homes will be costlier because of the addition of a solar panel system, the good news is that their presence will definitely be more beneficial than negative. In most cases, solar panels are seen as an excellent return on investment, and since their upfront costs are normally much higher, having them already in place may not require any further investment beyond simply raising the asking price.
It has been reported that investing in solar power is one of the best things anyone can do to help the environment. There are many benefits of solar panels in terms of reducing your electric bills and fostering energy independence, although they are not so practical if you are planning on moving anytime soon. Be sure that all panels at your new house are in good, working order by inspecting and/or servicing them before you move in. Just like any other component of your home, solar systems should be inspected carefully.
You should also make sure no trees are blocking the sun from reaching the panels. The maintenance history of your array should also be gathered. Additionally, do not forget to check into the possibility that a solar installation may have resulted in an increase in property taxes. It is likely your tax bill will be higher after a solar installation. Even so, you can rest assured that you are doing something to help the environment.
Do Solar Panels Increase Home Value?
The installation of solar panels is a great way to lower the energy costs in your house as well as adding value to it at the same time.
Could solar panels add value to your home? If you live in an area with high energy demand and own the solar panels upon installation, they can definitely add value to your home.
Installing solar panels can be an excellent investment.
by DG | Jan 7, 2022 | Gadgets, DIY Room Decoration Ideas, Featured, Room Decoration
Are you a Jetson Wannabe?
It was not that long ago, relative to human existence LOL, that we would watch TV shows like the Jetsons and Star Trek that featured futuristic smarthome gadgets and innovations that we only wished we could have.
They had all these cool things that were just dreamed up by writers at that time and what incredible visions they had.
One cool gadget after another would suddenly appear and we were in awe. They had things we still can’t make and they sure had a hand in shaping our future.
The futuristic Jetsons cartoon from 1963 was full of labor-saving home automation devices that just grabbed our imaginations and took us for a ride.
They had spectacular gadgets like a robot vacuum cleaner, smartwatches, video calls, drones and flat-screen TVs.
Can you remember wishing that you had some of those gadgets? Maybe you were a Jetson wannabe.
The gadgets were pure fantasy but we all felt like it was all possible and maybe someday it will happen.
So, the future is here and below are some of the ways you can take advantage of the most advanced home automation innovations today to make your new home a smart home.
1. The Smart Hub
If you have a large luxury home, you will probably get a company to install an integrated system for you.
Some of the popular platforms they use are Crestron, Savant and Control4. These are complex that require professional installation.
To install a system yourself, there are many smart hubs available and the list will keep growing but for the sake of this article, we will stick to the 4 most popular Amazon Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant.
There are some excellent smarthome devices listed below here but the first thing you probably need to do is choose a platform hub for all your smart devices.
If all you want to do is have smart lights then you don’t need a hub. If you want to do things like have a smart lock, and turn on the lights whenever the lock opens at night, then you will need a smart hub.
A smart hub is also referred to as a personal assistant and one of the main advantages of having one of these is that you don’t have to carry your smartphone around all the time.
You can just activate commands using your voice. “Dim the lights please.” Please is optional.
Amazon Echo – Available at Amazon
Samsung SmartThings Hub – Available at Amazon
Apple Homepod Mini – Available at Apple
Do You Need a Wall-mounted Controller for a Smart home?
Your home automation setup can be controlled from your computer, smartphone or tablet. A wall mounted a controller is not required but it is nice to have one in a fixed position. Imagine that someone is at your door and you want to see who it is but you left your smartphone upstairs. It’s nice you know you can go to your wall-mounted controller. You can install several of these in your home if needed.
Brilliant SmartHome Control at Amazon
The Brilliant SmartHome Control is one of the best. Just replace a light switch with the Brilliant controller. It has beautiful touchscreen panels and built-in Alexa making it easy for everyone at home to control all the connected devices, lighting, thermostats, cameras, intercom and more. It is compatible almost any smarthome device.
2. The Smart Doorbell
You don’t even need to walk to the front door to see who is ringing the doorbell anymore.
The newest smart doorbells offer tons of cool features that lets you monitor and even converse with whoever is at your door without even being at home.
They are relatively inexpensive and easy to install, assuming your home has already been hardwired to accommodate one.
Once it is installed, you will wonder how you ever lived without a smart doorbell, as they are wifi enabled and connected to other smart systems throughout your home.
3. Locks with Smart Features
Rook SmartLock – Available at Amazon
Adding a smart lock to your front door will increase security. Smart locks are typically keyless and touch-activated.
You can lock and unlock your door from your phone, in addition to basic features like automatic locking – a great feature if you’re the kind of person who often loses their keys or can’t remember to give a spare set to your dog walker.
Passcodes can even be created separately for each person who needs access to your home. The smart doorbell is the perfect solution for an added layer of security and ingenuity at your front door.
The ROOK™ 5-in-1 Smart Lock (picture above) has several valuable features including Custom Auto Lock Timer, Unlock with Smartphone, Fingerprint Scanner, Touchscreen Digital Keypad, Key Cards (included), or Keys (included).
It also has Low Battery Status Alerts and a Backup Power Plug.
4. Cameras for Both Indoors and Outdoors
Geeni Freebird Wireless Cameras at Amazon
Cameras are one of the most innovative home technologies today, primarily because they increase house security.
Although cameras are often used solely to record what takes place outside a home or to keep an eye on pets when the owner is away, they are actually very useful home security tools (even fake ones). In addition, they’re now much cheaper to buy because of their popularity.
Geeni Freebird Wireless Indoor/Outdoor WiFi Security Camera (picture above). It’s a Rechargeable Battery-Powered Home Security Camera with 1080P Night Vision/Waterproof, Motion Detection, 2-Way Audio and it works with or without a smart hub.
5. Using Smart Thermostats
Wyze smart thermostat at Amazon
Smart homes also focus on energy efficiency.
With a smart thermostat, you can replace your home’s current thermostat, which monitors your energy usage over time to determine how much and when your home is typically heated or cooled.
Smart thermostats generally adjust the operation time on their own, limiting energy consumption when you’re not there.
You can also use apps that connect to these devices so you can monitor daily and monthly energy usage and make small adjustments for significant energy savings.
6. Smart Water Sensor
Here’s a must-have for serious peace-of-mind seekers.
Smart Water Sensor Available at Amazon
Simply place these sensors near or under anything you want to monitor.
They’re ideal for monitoring toilets leaks, water heaters, laundry machines, sinks, fish tanks, dishwashers and sump pumps. Add any other spots in your home that could be vulnerable to water leaks and flooding.
6. Outlets with Smart Technology
When it comes to energy conservation, did you know that even when you aren’t using your electronic devices, they still consume power? Often referred to as vampire power, standby power wastes energy over time.
When you use smart outlets, you can take back control of your energy consumption and set up automated rules for this type of energy usage that align with your lifestyle and habits.
This way, you can stand up to vampire power. Besides smart outlets, a truly energy-efficient smart home will also have smart power strips and lights.
7. LED Bulb and Sockets
This is one of the simplest yet most efficient ways to make your home automation feel smarter.
LED light bulbs use about 50 percent less energy than traditional bulbs, and many of them last for decades.
Replacing your old bulbs with LED ones is a simple and cheap project that will save you money on both energy bills and bulb replacements.
A wide variety of dimming options is available with LED bulbs, especially when compared to fluorescent bulbs.
With the smart sockets above you can connect and control the lights through your smart hub so you can use voice commands, use group control so you can control several at once, set timers and much more.
You can add sensors so that lights turn on when you enter the room and off when you leave.
8. Smart Smoke and CO Detectors
Google Nest Smart Smoke Detector at Amazon
Smoke alarm batteries no longer emit the “beep, beep” of a dying battery. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that are smart are constantly charging themselves, which ensures they will always function.
There are a few other benefits, too, such as the ability to detect smoke precisely and to notify you via mobile phone if the smoke detectors go off while you are not home.
Many of these detectors can also be integrated with smart thermostats where the heating system will be automatically shut down if smoke or carbon monoxide alarms go off, preventing a worsening of the situation.
The prices can get a little expensive, depending on how many you need to buy, but they are well worth it when it comes to efficiency and peace of mind.
Google Nest Protect – Smoke Alarm – Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector (picture above).
A friendly voice gives you an early warning when there’s smoke or CO in your home. It also sends alerts to your phone when you’re not home.
9. Indoor Herb Garden
Indoor Garden – Available at Amazon
Have carefree indoor garden for up to 6 plants. It’s easier and 5 times faster to grow your herb garden indoors with one of these.
The AeroGarden Harvest is an indoor garden with LED grow lights and a control panel that tells you when to add water, and plant food. It automatically turns lights on and off.
10. Ventilation Fan with Motion Sensor
Ventilation Fan Available at Amazon
Have a the ventilation switch on when you walk in the room and turn off 5 minutes after you leave. Super convenient and a real energy-saver. There are some fans that activate by a humidity sensor if that is more of a priority.
11. Smart Air Purifier
LEVOIT Smart Air Purifier at Amazon
Fill you smart home with purified air. Make sure you get a purifier that is ultra-quiet: This LEVOIT Smart Air Purifier has no lights or noise, just air purifying at it’s best.
The HEPA filtration system relieves allergies, asthma and dry throats by trapping 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 microns in size. Just set it and forget It in Auto Mode.
It will sense any change in PM2.5, and automatically adjusts fan speeds.
12. Robotic Vacuum Cleaners
iRobot Roomba – Available at Amazon
It is estimated that we spend approximately one and a half to two and a quarter hours each day cleaning and maintaining the house. Isn’t that a lot of time spent cleaning when you could be doing something else?
With smart home technology, you can at least save time by skipping vacuuming.
Robots vacuum your home regularly to remove dirt, crumbs, pet hair, and other debris before manually returning to their charging stations.
The best part is that they don’t need to be installed. Once the charging dock has been set up, it is ready to go.
13. Smart Garage Control
Smart Garage Control at Amazon
Open or close your garage from anywhere and give access to neighbors while you’re away. Don’t worry about whether you shut the garage door, just schedule it to close every night.
14. The Personal Assistant
If you took the advice above and got yourself a smart hub then you’re all set to get start creating your smart home. You now have a personal assistant.
You can order your groceries, turn on your stereo, and put your favorite song on your stereo with just a touch of a button without having to get up from where you’re sitting.
Virtual assistants today come in small devices that you set on your kitchen counter or nightstand.
Using a system such as Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant can make your day-to-day easier if you want to automate your home and life.
If you have your credit card connected, it’s easy to order products but be careful not to let the kids too chatty with Alexa! It could get expensive.
15. Kitchens with Smart Home Technology
You can’t exactly ask your kitchen to make dinner for you yet, but you can access your fridge online so you can see what’s inside it while you’re at the store or listen to your Spotify playlist while you’re making cookies.
Take the time to decide what items you would benefit from most so you can create the best smart home possible for your needs.
In addition to these smart slow cookers, there are also smart plates and forks to help you monitor your food intake when you are watching what you eat.
Always forgetting to update the essentials on your shopping list? When you throw out items, the smart garbage can scans their barcodes and adds them to a list you can take with you.
As you can imagine, nearly every kitchen appliance has a smart home version. Check out Multo By CookingPal (picture below).
It’s a Smart Compact Countertop Multi-Functional Food Processor with guided recipes and built-in wifi. It chops, kneads, steams and cooks. It’s an awesome All-In-One kitchen gadget.
How to Choose The Best Smart Home Gadgets For You
Creating a smart home in your new home doesn’t have to be done all at once if it is not in your budget.
By adding more features, though, you’ll be able to reap one of the biggest benefits of the best smart home technology: integration.
Many of these systems interface with each other, so that your security systems, energy efficiency systems, and even your kitchen gadgets (for example, a new LG refrigerator can tell your dishwasher when you have a lot of dishes).
The time has come to live in the house of the future if you have always dreamed of it. The popularity of smart homes is increasing rapidly, and many new and renovated homes will soon include smart features.
Discover which options work best for your home, your budget, and your lifestyle, then turn your home into a space that’s both comfortable and efficient.
A Nod to One of The Greatest Innovators of All Time
Thanks to courageous and innovative minds like Steve Jobs, we are here enjoying so many of those things today.
There have been many, brilliant innovators and contributors through the years.
Steve Jobs is mentioned here specifically because it seems like the iPhone was an incredibly significant turning point in technology.
It just opened up many more possibilities for faster innovation.
The iPhone inspired innovative developers to dream up ideas that could tap into and piggyback off this amazing new technology.
An just like that, everyone in the world could be connected to each other wirelessly.
The speed at which other technologies have advanced since the iphone release in 2007 is astounding.
We can do so many things on a smartphone now that it is just commonplace and we would have a hard time getting by without them.
It seems like Smartphones are the remote control to our lives.
We use them to lock our doors, turn on the lights, do our banking, change the room temperature, monitor our homes, and oh yeah, even talk to people. Thanks, Steve!
If you feel that any of these installations are too advanced, consider taking a brief course at Udemy.
They have very inexpensive courses in Home Automation.
There are also many home automation installation services that you can hire to install these devices for you.
Check out our recent post about Cool Accent Wall Ideas.
I this article we discussed smart electronics, smart home automation products, home tech, home technologies, smart home sensors and more. Come back soon for more on home automation setups and scenes.
by DG | Dec 3, 2021 | DIY, DIY Room Decoration Ideas, Featured, Living Room Ideas
If you have been renovating your home or you’re doing minor improvements and upgrades, here are 5 DIY Home Projects that will easily add sophistication and elegance to your home. You may not have thought of these WOW factor upgrades before.
Elevate First Impressions with Modern House Sign Numbers
You may have a nice house number on your property, but how about some modern house numbers that add some WOW factor? A contemporary-looking number is the way to go. You can even create a personalized version of your modern house number at a website we just discovered called, you guessed it, modernhousenumbers.com.
Whether you choose a font that’s classic or modern, you should make sure that the design goes with your home’s style. Adding a modern house number is an easy and inexpensive way to add a very sophisticated look to the front of your home. There are a variety of types of modern house sign numbers available, and you can select one to match the rest of your home’s exterior.
For example, if your house has a light color, you might add a contrasting bronze metal plaque with the numbers carved out. However, if your house has a dark exterior, you might choose brushed aluminum numbers that will complement it. The website makes it easy to visualize and order your modern house numbers. Your part in this DIY Home Project will be choosing the right design and installing it.
Subtle Sophistication with Modern Air Vent Covers
For a long time, air vent covers have been an eye sore for homeowners, and we recently discovered a beautiful solution for this. A company called kul grilles have designed a beautiful line of minimalistic air vent covers that will add a touch of elegance to any home.
There are only six colors to choose from but they can work anywhere. They come in many sizes and you can also get them custom-made for your specific needs. If you want to elevate the look of your home, modern air vent covers are a great choice. This may be on the the simplest DIY home projects you ever did. Simply order them and put them in place. We wrote a full blog post about air vent covers if you want to read more about this.
Add Wow Factor with a Spectacular Entry Door
We all know that first impressions are important and nothing makes a first impression like a beautiful front entrance. It’s the most noticeable thing when someone walks up to your home.
There are endless design possibilities but make sure the design complements the architectural style of the house. I love ultra-modern doors but they would look out of place on a traditional style home.
We found a fantastic custom door maker called Custom Door Shop in Delray Beach and Jupiter Florida that makes spectacular custom entry doors.
Make a Statement with Show-stopping Entry Door Hardware
Nothing says sophistication like luxury entry door hardware on your beautiful front door. Make it spectacular with unique and elegant door handles . Undeniable high quality will just speak for itself. You know it when you see it and it’s worth the investment.
Visit First Impressions International for beautiful entry door hardware and kitchen cabinet hardware.
Add Simple Elegance with Lighting
Adding new lights and fixtures to your home can have a dramatic effect. You can choose from chandeliers, pendant lights, flush mounts, and more. A simple change in lighting can completely transform a room, and modern fixtures are the perfect way to bring some elegance into your home. These lighting options combine the benefits of flush mounts and pendants with a more contemporary appeal.
Rooms Need 3 Types of Lighting
Ambient lighting
Ambient lighting provides an area with overall illumination. Lighting of this type emits a low level of brightness, which makes it possible to see clearly without glare. Some spaces, such as laundry rooms, use ambient lighting as task lighting. Various fixtures can be used, including chandeliers, track lighting, and pot lights.
Accent lighting
Adding accent lighting to a room can add drama and visual interest. In an interior, it is used to draw attention to art works, pictures, sculptures, and other valuable items. Additionally, you can use it to highlight the texture of a stone wall or window treatments.
Task Lighting
Among the things you need task lighting for are reading, cooking, and working at your desk. Brighter light is needed for its use on a smaller focal point. We cover lighting in more depth in “What Is the Best Living Room Lighting To Use“.
Add Sophistication with Crown Molding
The addition of crown molding can completely transform the look of your space. Best of all, it’s inexpensive and pretty quick to do.
Decorative crown molding can be used in a variety of ways. The most common way is to add it where the wall meets the ceiling. This makes a big impact on the room by instantly adding elegance.
If you have a formal dining room, crown molding can be used to frame it and make the room feel more opulent. It can also be used to enhance the looks of your furnishings. You can find various styles of crown molding and install them according to your requirements. You can use this trim to create a stylish focal point.
Crown molding can be installed on built-ins and bookshelves. You can add a light rail and chair rail under it to give the room a Victorian look. For more options, you can also install them as frames on the walls of the living room or dining room.
Choose the size and shape of crown molding that best suits your house. If you have a small home, you can easily install simple crown molding in a few hours. In a large home, you can install elaborate and grand crown molding. As far as DIY Home Projects go, this one is fairly simple if you have some decent carpentry skills and tools but you may want to hire a pro for this.
Final Thoughts on these DIY Home Projects
A small upgrade like adding a door or remodeling the front porch can add significant value to your property. There are obviously many ways to increase the value of your home whether you want to sell it for a higher price or just make it look better nad make you even more proud of your home. While it might not seem like a big deal, it can help you sell your home faster and for a higher price. These are just some of the simple, relatively inexpensive upgrades that will increase the appeal of your property and increase its value.
Checkout “The Coolest Accent Wall Ideas“
While not in the category of decor, Smart home technology with features like a thermostat, security systems, and other modern technology are also fantastic upgrades. It may not be a huge investment, but the features can help you save money, even when you are not using them. These features will not boost the appraised value today, but they will increase its market value in a few years. This trend will be popular in the coming years, as millennials are a fastest-growing demographic among home buyers.
Also checkout 7 Townhouse Decorating Ideas To Make Your Home Luxurious
Add interest to your home. Do you have a favourite hobby? Why not use your love of that hobby as a way to decorate your home? If you love music or sports for instance, try adding a few framed prints with a minimalistic or abstract artwork with a theme of music or sports. You’ll be amazed at the transformation your home will take!
You may remember several TV shows like the Brady Bunch that had classic Mid Century Modern Furniture. Then of course it was just called modern furniture. The popularity of the “Mad Men” series certainly gave the vintage mid-century style a huge boost in our current era. Fans of the show were delighted each week with stunning mid-century interiors, starting from kitchens through bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms and offices. If you want to create that kind of vintage feel you certainly can but you can also mix it with contemporary styles like Boho, Farmhouse and others.
Another important thing to consider when shopping for a mid century modern bedroom furniture is durability. The reason that you want to purchase this type of furniture is to keep your room looking timeless. It should be made of high quality materials that are durable and look beautiful for years. Some of the more common materials used to make this furniture include metals, plastics, and wood.
