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When you apply for a mortgage loan, or any credit, the lender relies on information that is supplied by lenders, landlords, government agencies, courts, and credit card companies to three credit reporting bureau, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Numerical values are assigned to defaults and late payments, income-to-debt ratios, types of credit and other data. The values are compiled into credit scores which provide a snapshot of your credit worthiness to anyone authorized to make inquiries.

According to a 2021 investigation by ConsumerReports.org, more than one-third of 6,000 surveyed consumers found at least one mistake in their credit reports and nearly as many found incorrect personal information such as names and addresses while 11 percent found account information errors. These errors can cause your credit scores to fall, making you pay more in interest for loans and credit lines, or in the worst cases, being denied credit altogether.

What can you do? Get a three-bureau report and check for errors. One bureau may have accurate data while another can have incorrect or outdated information that can lower your credit scores. Sometimes, the incorrect data comes from the data furnisher – the lender, landlord, lien holder, etc. You’ll have to contact the data furnisher with proof of payment or release of lien or other evidence. Obtain a written statement of resolution to give to the credit bureau and to your mortgage lender via certified mail to make sure they get it.

Keep checking your credit at least once a year.

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As much as you’d like to rely on the professionalism of remodeling contractors (or yourself if you’re DIYing the renovation your home) the most important thing to be done is to keep the work site as dust-free and clean as possible.

Dust is one of the biggest dangers to the health of people and pets during a remodeling project. According to Buildclean.com, dust can include harmful substances such as dirt; organic matter from rodent feces and dead bugs; drywall, cement and sawdust materials; silica, asbestos and lead particles; mold and mildew; and volatile organic compounds like aerosols, paint, cleansers and solvents. The smaller the particles, the more dangerous they are, says the Environmental Protection Agency, especially those not visible to the naked eye.

Protective measures should include personal protective equipment for dust-generating work, such as facial masks, safety glasses, Tyvek disposable coveralls, shoe covers, and chemical-resistant gloves. Don’t allow anyone unauthorized to enter the work space, especially without protective gear. Because dust is so easily airborne, no one should eat or drink inside the work space.

Prevent airborne dust from traveling to other parts of the residence. Limit traffic to and from the work space to prevent dust and debris being tracked elsewhere in the house. Turn off ceiling fans and air conditioning during dust-generating work. Cover vents, doorways and floors with plastic sheeting. Remove or cover furniture, wall décor, house plants and decorative accessories. Clean up, seal off and remove excess dust and debris from the work site daily.

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With today’s runaway inflation and rising interest rates, it may seem like a good idea to put your remodeling plans on hold. Or, maybe not.

According to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University,  remodeling expenditures are expected to cool down from 17.4 percent in 2022 to 10.1 percent by Q2-2023, citing steep slowdowns in homebuilding, retail sales of building materials, and renovation permits. While that may appear ominous, researchers say remodeling expenditures should reach $450 billion, well above the five percent historical average.

As existing and new home sales decelerate, so will the need for contractors and materials. BusinessInsider.com reports that lumber prices are already down to $604.50 per thousand board feet in July 2022, falling 47% year-to-date, and 65% off from the 2021 high of $1,733 per thousand board feet. Inventories are starting to pile up at both sawmills and home improvement stores, making contractors more affordable and available. As the cost to build declines, inflationary pressures on the housing market should subside.

But as long as overall inflation is still a problem, the Federal Reserve will keep raising overnight borrowing rates to banks, increasing the likelihood of a recession. Economists polled by Bloomberg.com say that over the next 12 months, a mild, brief recession is 47.5% likely.

If you decide to remodel, it’s wise to stay in your home for at least five years to comfortably weather any housing market volatility.

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As you dream about how you’d like to live in your next home, you’re joining a growing cadre of homebuyers who value lifestyle over luxury and quality over quantity. The property you choose is paramount to having more comfort and convenience in your daily life.

For some, lifestyle is about displaying wealth, such as a big home in a pricey neighborhood. For others, it’s about location, like living on the beach or in a ski-in/ski-out mountain chalet. And for some, it’s about exclusivities, such as a guard-gated community or an over-55 master-planned development with golf, swimming, walking trails, and clubhouses.

Lifestyle is about having the time, space, and equipment to do the things you want to do. According to LuxuryActivist.com, time is the ultimate luxury. Your home should facilitate more time for family and friends, hobbies and interests, and healthy exercise.

When you shop for a home, look carefully at how space is allocated for each room and activity. Is the kitchen arranged comfortably for family meal preparation? Is there space for you and your partner to each have a home office? Can you also have a weight room, an art studio, or a media room? Your lifestyle may also prioritize sustainability through solar-power and xeriscaped lawns.

Your lifestyle should be free from compromise, like suffering a long daily commute to fund a dream home. Once you’ve moved, take the time to enjoy your home, play with your children, and watch glorious sunset views from your balcony.

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With more stuff than you probably need or want, decluttering before a move can seem overwhelming, but you don’t want to pay movers to move or store items you don’t use, love or want. Here are some tips to make it quicker and easier:

Start Small

Label moving boxes for selling, donating or throwing away. List items you want to sell online or take them to a consignment store. When the donation box is full, take it to the Salvation Army or non-profit of your choice. Throw away broken items you’ll never repair and stained clothing you’ll never wear.

Pick a Schedule

How many days till you move? Devote an hour a day, a day to a room, or a weekend per floor – whatever your schedule permits. The goal is to make moving day faster and easier.

Pack as You Go

As you declutter, move items that you want to keep but don’t need right away like out-of-season clothes or holiday dishes into moving boxes. Tape them closed and label what’s inside and what room it should be moved to in your next home. Store the boxes out of the way, in the garage, basement, or a storage facility.

Let Go

You may be holding onto things you don’t want because you feel guilty. What you paid for the item or who gave it to you as a gift doesn’t matter. Let the feeling of obligation go.

Decluttering has its benefits. You’ll be better organized and feel far less stress.

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Virtual interior designer/home stager Stuccco.com compiled a wish list from numerous online sources that experts say homebuyers want in 2022. Many popular features aren’t what home sellers may think. Before you upgrade your home to sell, consider these top five homebuyer preferences:

• Laundry rooms
• Exterior lighting
• Ceiling fans
• Patios
• Walk-in pantries

Laundry rooms. Homebuyers don’t want to go down to the basement to do laundry, so make room somewhere on the first floor. Include a built-in table for sorting, room for a steamer and drip-dry area.

Well-lit outdoor living spaces. Homebuyers want exterior lighting (87%), patio (82%) and a front porch (81%), a rear porch (75%) or a deck (75%). Landscape lighting adds a luxurious glow to outdoor spaces as well as an extra element of security.

Ceiling fans. With the sudden rise in energy prices, it’s not surprising that homebuyers want lighting fixtures to do double duty as an air conditioning aid, especially when cooling or heating a larger home.

Walk-in pantries. Homebuyers want to be able to stockpile food and paper goods. They want to open the door to the pantry and see at a glance what’s on hand.

Homebuyers also prefer two-sided kitchen sinks over farmhouse sinks (81%.) They want a full bath in the living area (80%) and kitchens open to the dining room for less formal dining (85%.)

Homebuyer preferences are changing home design. The National Association of Home Builders reports that new home buyers want bigger homes which now average 2,524 square feet.

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August is typically the hottest month of the year making it an ideal time to be outside for fresh air and sunshine, but mosquitoes and other flying biting stinging insects can take the fun out of it. You want to enjoy your outdoor spaces, so what can you do? Here are some fun facts and tips about these pests.

In studying how wind affects mosquitoes, researchers found that mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide which humans and pets emit. When you turn on a fan to blow on you, it disperses the concentration of carbon monoxide, which is why fans are such a good deterrent for mosquitoes.

Male mosquitoes like nectar, not humans, but the females seek blood to nourish their eggs, using receptors and vision for cues such as body heat, perspiration and skin odor to find a potential host according to Off.com.

What doesn’t work to repel mosquitoes, says Science.org are citronella candles, bracelets containing herbal extracts and sonic mosquito repellant which claim to use high-frequency sound to drive them away. Instead, try spray repellents with DEET and products with lemon eucalyptus oil.

Wasps, like honeybees, are most aggressive in late summer and windy or cloudy days when they can’t forage for food and they can sting multiple times, warns Terminix.com. Yellow jackets can live in holes in the ground or in hanging nests made of leaves, stems, mud, and bark. They love sweets, so only serve drinks in open containers. Use repellents with mint or clove oil.

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In 2020, Americans spent $420 billion remodeling their homes, according to a new report by The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) and The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI.) They remodeled to upgrade outdated worn-out surfaces, finishes and materials (30%), add features and improve livability (20%), and just enjoy a change (16%.)   While most consumers (83% of those surveyed) said they would have remodeled regardless of the pandemic, most found that they were happy with the results (57%), satisfied (39%), and felt a sense of accomplishment (69%).

Homeowners reported that the best results from remodeling were better functionality and livability (35%), durability (22%), and beauty (14%). A whopping 84% of homeowners said they enjoyed their homes more than before they remodeled.  Although most projects were completed with standard quality fixtures and materials, and some with better-quality installations, NAR and NARI calculated the consumers’ typical “Joy Score” at 9.6 out of a possible 10.

So which renovations brought the most joy to homeowners? Interior projects that received a perfect Joy Score of 10 include: painting entire interior of the home, painting one room of the home add a new home office, hardwood flooring refinish, new wood flooring, a closet renovation, insulation upgrade, and attic conversion to living area, said the report.  Scoring 9.8 were complete kitchen remodels and partial kitchen upgrades. A basement conversion to a living area scored a 9.7, and a bathroom renovation scored a 9.6. Adding a new laundry area and a new master bedroom earned a 9.5.

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Great Smith Mountain Lake Event Coming Up- 32nd Annual SML Wine Festival!  Tickets are on sale now!    Click the image below for more information! 

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The Clearest Lake In Virginia, Smith Mountain Lake, Is Almost Too Beautiful To Be Real

Smith Mountain Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in the state of Virginia, and it provides just as much beauty as it does square footage. Sprawling across 32 miles, the lake and its surrounding park offer swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, trails, and an amphitheater with performances.

In the 1960s and ’70s, the area around Smith Mountain Lake was extremely rural. Now it’s become a developed recreation hub garnering large numbers of visitors every year.

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