Blog | Archives for July 2018

The Features of Functional Furniture Flow

By Southern Trust Mortgage
July 24, 2018

The way you place furniture in a room can make all the difference in the world.

living room design

Placement can either make a space feel open and inviting or cramped and off balance. Easily fix furniture faux pas with these arranging tips, and create a space that’s design-show worthy and functional for you!

Flow high and low.

The flow of a room has more to do with the movement of the eye than the body. Maintain a clear view across the room especially towards the windows. Keep items low in the center and high around the perimeter. High-backed chairs and floor lamps, for example, can reduce the feeling of space when placed in the natural line of sight.

The 3-foot rule.

Paths between and around furniture will feel less restricted when kept at around 3 feet. Keep in mind, too, that curved and oval pieces are easier to navigate around than square ones.

Avoid the wall.

Pulling furniture towards the center of the room dramatically increases the flow. But if you don’t have the square footage for the “3-foot rule” between walls and sofas, 12 inches will do. Add some art to the wall behind and enjoy the new open feel.

Love thy lighting.

Overhead lighting is fine for tasks, but in the evening it can be harsh and unpleasant. Secondary lighting from table or floor lamps is essential for defining seating areas and reading nooks.

Chair affair.

If you have lots of accent chairs but no one sitting in them, you probably have too much seating. Create the extra room and occasional seating with double-duty pieces like an oversized ottoman that can act as a coffee table when you don’t have as many guests.

Get in balance.

Placing large or heavy pieces right next to slender or minimal pieces can feel off kilter. Maintain a more balanced feel by grouping items of similar “visual weight” together.

Test these tips in your living areas and feel the flow! And if you’re in the market for a new home or ready to refinance, give one of our seasoned Loan Officers a call today! We are happy to get you started!

Blog | Archives for July 2018

5 Crucial New Home Considerations

By Southern Trust Mortgage
July 23, 2018

You can put lipstick on a pig…

In other words, you can make a house look nice and shiny, but you cannot fool homebuyers who are savvy enough to see through the cosmetics and look for what makes a good quality home purchase. So what are those indicators we speak of? Below is a list of the 5 main things you should be looking at when considering a home.

1. Roof

Replacing the roof of a home is a huge expense, so you should have a grasp on what you’re working with when looking at listings. This is something you can take a look at before even entering the home. Look closely at the roof and note whether it appears to be in good shape. Walk around the entire exterior of the home and inspect if the roof sagging or damaged in any place. Also, ask what material is the roof made out of. Some roofs are made to last longer than others. If you have any questions or confusion, don’t hesitate to take a few photographs and ask an expert their opinion. Below is a cheat sheet on roof types and how long they typically last. Use it as a guide when looking at potential homes. If you’ll have to replace the roof within a couple of years, that’s something substantial to consider when negotiating an offer.

Composition Shingles – 12-20 years
Asphalt Shingles – 15-30 years
Wood Shingles – 20-25 years
Rubber – 30-50 years
Metal – 50-75 years

2. H-VAC

A well-maintained H-VAC should last at least 15 years. Go ahead and ask how old the unit is so you have a grasp on what you’re working with, but don’t stop there. Take a walk around the unit and see what type of shape it’s in. Does it look like it’s been taken care of? Look for rust, dents or water stains, as these can all indicate a poorly kept unit. Also, pay attention to foliage and shrubs around the H-VAC. They should all be cut back and well away from the machine. It’s not a bad idea to request maintenance records from the seller and/or ask if you can turn on the machine to listen for any weird noises. It may seem like overkill but your energy bills can be significantly more if your system is old or not well maintained.

3. Plumbing

When touring kitchens and bathrooms, don’t stop at eye level. You can learn a lot about the quality of a home by taking a peek under sinks. You want to make sure the house has good plumbing in place. This means inspecting all pipes and making sure there is no leaking or water damage. Bad pipes can also lead to mold, which can become a health hazard. The last thing you’ll want is to have to leave your home while mold or water damage is eradicated. Stay ahead of this by simply looking under all sinks and asking about the quality of the pipes.

4. Floors & Walls

A home needs good “bones” for it to be worth your while. This means checking to make sure the home is structurally sound. Look closely at the floors and walls. Floors should not be uneven, sagging or cave in at any place. This could be an indicator of a bad foundation or poor plumbing. Both problems would be extremely pricey to fix. Also, examine the walls carefully for any cracks. Look especially closely at brick walls and up in ceiling corners. Vertical cracks are typically less serious and can mean minor cosmetic damage has occurred. However, cracks that are horizontal should be taken seriously. This can signal a shift in the foundation or water damage. Both issues can only worsen with time and are very expensive to have repaired.

5. Surrounding Land

Before leaving the home, it is a good idea to take in the outdoor surroundings and ask yourself a few important questions. Is the area prone to wildfires, flooding or other natural disasters? How close are the neighbors’ homes and are the yards nicely kept? Sometimes homebuyers make the mistake of not noticing “shared spaces” within neighborhoods until it is too late. Is there a fence and, if not, will you need one to feel comfortable? Putting up a new fence can be costly and time-consuming. If you can avoid this extra project, you should try. How tough will the yard and gardens be to manage? A complicated landscape can make the difference in devoting a couple minutes versus a couple hours on weekends. Lastly, are you near any busy roads or noisy areas? Just take a moment to stop, look, listen, smell and take it all completely in. Can you imagine yourself there?

When looking for the next place you’ll call home, it’s crucial to not let yourself get swept up in the nonessentials (as much fun as those things can be). Remember that walls can be painted, cabinets updated and furniture rearranged. Knowing what makes a home a good quality buy can make thousands of dollars worth of difference down the line. Do your research and ask experts to guide you. You’ll thank yourself later.

Speaking of experts in home buying, Southern Trust Mortgage is proud to have a team of experienced mortgage professionals dedicated to making the home buying process stress-free and streamlined for you and your family. Get started today on your homeownership journey with us!

Blog | Archives for July 2018

The 6 Pillars Of Summer Landscaping

By Southern Trust Mortgage
July 19, 2018

Summertime is the perfect season to show off your landscape and gardens, but let’s not forget that soaring temperatures and frequent storms can wreak havoc on it as well…

In order to get ahead of the madness and maintain a picturesque yard, there are a few things you should keep in mind throughout the steamy Summer months. Use these 6 tips as your guide to the perfect Summer landscape.

Lawncare

Not too tall, not too short.
It’s so tempting to cut your lawn as short as possible so you don’t have to mow as often, but this actually makes your grass less drought-tolerant and it can easily turn brown. Also, shorter grass promotes more weed growth. On the flipside, you don’t want your lawn to get so high that it cannot be mowed at all. The ideal height for grass is 3-4 inches. It is best to set a mowing schedule (weekly, biweekly depending on growth ) so that you always have time set aside to take care of it.

Watering

Avoid the hottest part of the day.
In other words, do not water your plants in the afternoon. This is when temperatures are at their highest and water evaporates right off the top of the soil. Water plants in the morning or evening and make sure they are thoroughly soaked through so the soil is hydrated. Use a garden nozzle or soaker hose for best results.

Another important thing to note is that you don’t need to turn on sprinklers for your lawn unless there has been a stretch of days without any rain. Summer gives us plenty of afternoon thunderstorms to help ease the need for daily watering.

Weeding

Weed often!
This is probably the last thing you want to do on a beautiful summer day, but we can’t say it enough…you need to weed gardens regularly! Weeds shoot up fast and the more neglected they are, the faster they will spread. Once weeds get big enough to produce seeds then they can end up everywhere!

Plants & Flowers

Keep it low maintenance.
So, what’s best to plant during these months? Experts say to stick to drought-resistant plants that can withstand the long, hot days. These are also great for conserving water because they need to be watered less, which makes them extremely low maintenance. Plants that do best in the Summer include tropical blooms and bulbs. Unlike many plants, these types thrive in warm weather. Plants that fare best include caladiums, elephant ears, cannas, and lilies.

Vegetables

In-season veggies are best.
Many think that summertime is for planting as many vegetables as possible. However, vegetables are very seasonal and only some varieties of are meant to be grown during these months. The best vegetables to plant in the Summer include okra, sweet potatoes, chili peppers, cowpeas, pole beans and eggplant. Stay away from peas, lettuce, carrots, and radishes as they do better in cooler temperatures and can end up tasting bitter.

Tree Maintenance

Keep your trees strong.
Thunderstorms can be frequent in the Summer, so make sure you take care of any dead hanging limbs or branches that could potentially do damage to your home in the wind. Trees also can be prone to pests such as June bugs that can weaken their overall structure. Consult a pest control company in the spring to prevent them.

No matter the size of your yard, lawn and landscape care should be factored into your Summer routine. High temperatures tend to make everything grow a little faster so staying ahead of things and planning properly is key. You’ll be thanking yourself as you sit back in the sunshine and admire your hard work.

Looking to find the perfect outdoor space to enjoy as a homeowner? Our mortgage loan specialists are standing by to start you on the path to homeownership. Contact us today!