Tag: homeowners

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What You Need to Know About Selling a Home in the Country

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Much like a snowflake, no home property is exactly alike. Each has different assets, benefits and amenities, not to mention offering a different gut feeling once inside. As a real estate agent, your job is to understand and “sell” the unique features of the properties you put on the market.

Beyond knowing the ins and outs of a particular house, you’ll need to intimately understand what styles, features and amenities potential buyers desire in a property they may one day call home. Depending on the areas of town you cater to most, you may need to scout out some additional locations, including more rural, country areas.

Here’s what you need to know about selling a home in the country:

Find Your Ideal, Niche Market

You need to be willing to put in the extra hours and work to sell a home in the country. Unlike the city or suburbs, there aren’t people walking or driving by on a regular basis to notice for-sale signs. In addition to a lack of on-the-street marketing opportunities, you won’t encounter nearly the same amount of neighborhood foot traffic. This means you need to find your niche target market in order to start getting offers.

With that in mind, research where to advertise your home listings, including country real estate magazines, places of worship or even online. Additionally, get to know prospective homeowners or network with fellow real estate professionals to discover who may be looking for a country vacation home or to escape the city life.

According to Country Life magazine, sometimes the perfect property is miles away from where potential buyers have previously looked. Of course, if a property is right for a particular individual or family’s needs, then that’s what ultimately matters. In other words, make sure to cast a wide but targeted net when scouting new properties.

Be Able to Get Back and Forth Easily

Another difference between selling a home in the city or suburbs versus the country is the ease and time in which you have to get there. Because you may be driving on dirt or rocky roads in the country, you’ll need to make sure your vehicle can handle the trip. Opt for a larger vehicle that has good clearance to navigate any bumps and/or dips in the road. Additionally, you should also make sure your tires are in good shape and can make it over rough terrain. If you need an upgrade, look for tires that provide good traction in all types of weather, offer a smooth ride, and don’t pop easily.

Understand How to Stage the Property

Staging is critical for selling any property, but there are some nuances to win over prospective country homeowners. Most importantly, maintaining the home’s exterior and a well-kept yard is critical. To provide a good first impression, be sure to clean up the garden, patio, porch and deck to make the house look enticing.

If the garden or other parts of the home’s exterior are a mess, potential buyers might think it will be too much work to maintain or look new again. Of course, you should also play up the country charm and theme in the interior. Unlike an urban home’s sleek, modern lines and minimalist appeal, country homes need to look like they’ve been lived in and are comfortable. In other words, don’t go crazy on the decluttering.

Know the Areas You Represent

Selling a home isn’t just about the property itself, but rather everything the surrounding area has to offer as well. Make sure you understand everything about the areas near these homes, including crime rates, nearby entertainment options and whether it’s in a good school district. For ideal country living, you should get to know the surrounding areas that are ideal for exploring, observing nature and enjoying outdoor activities that city life can’t always provide.

Realtytimes

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NAR Urges Congress: Act on Flood Insurance, Fast

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Amid Hurricane Harvey and now a looming threat from Hurricane Irma, the National Association of REALTORS® warns Congress that letting the National Flood Insurance Program expire at the end of the month could have dire consequences. NAR says thousands of homeowners, consumers, and commercial property owners could soon find themselves unprotected and unable to get a mortgage.

Read more: Harvey Sparks Flood Insurance Disaster

The NFIP is set to expire on Sept. 30.

The NFIP helps to pay for and provide policies for millions of properties in at-risk flood areas nationwide. The program is currently $24.6 billion in debt.

“The country has been here before, and we know what happens if the National Flood Insurance Program expires,” says NAR President William E. Brown. “Home buying activity grinds to a halt, to the tune of 40,000 lost or interrupted sales every month. Meanwhile, existing homeowners as well as commercial entities may find their largest asset unprotected if the Federal Emergency Management Administration can’t renew NFIP policies that expire.”

In July, NAR announced it had reached an agreement with the U.S. House Financial Services Committee on legislation to reauthorize and reform the NFIP. The agreement included retaining a grandfathering clause so that consumers’ policies wouldn’t lapse and also a reduction in rate increases. But Congress has yet to act on the 21st Century Flood Reform Act.

“With Congress returning from August recess, extending the NFIP to avoid a lapse should be a top priority,” Brown says.

If Congress does let the NFIP lapse, FEMA, for example, will be unable to sell or renew flood insurance policies or pay existing claims.

Source: National Association of REALTORS®

Realtors.org

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Building an Emergency Fund to Cover Unexpected Home Repairs

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With homeownership comes new responsibilities, including repair and maintenance expenses. Sooner or later, you’ll encounter a leaky faucet or a blown circuit breaker and quickly learn that keeping your household up and running is no longer as simple as a call to the landlord.

Deciding how much money to spend on fixing or replacing something that’s broken is often a judgment call. Either way, you need the cash to cover the expense. Building an emergency fund to assist with unexpected costs can help you promptly take care of home repairs without disrupting your daily routine.

Establish an Estimated Baseline Cost of Annual Home Repairs

Saving for a home purchase requires persistence and dedication – good habits that should continue well past settlement day. The total amount you’ll need in an emergency savings fund can vary widely from home to home, as certain home characteristics may cause you to spend more or less than average on annual maintenance and repairs. Make sure to consider the age of the property, as older houses generally require more upkeep. The quality of appliances, fixtures and underlying systems like heating, cooling and plumbing may also affect your projected home repair costs.

It’s also important to consider your home’s location. Homes in flood-prone areas may be more susceptible to water intrusion, which can be mitigated with flood insurance. Likewise, exposure to temperature extremes, both hot and cold, can have detrimental effects on your home that require additional repair and maintenance expenses.

Budget for Emergencies and Big Fixes

Your emergency fund should be an amount you save over and above the annual maintenance costs of your home. Pay for predictable monthly or quarterly bills like lawn care, utilities, association dues and regularly scheduled cleaning services out of your household spending budget, not your emergency savings. You can determine how much you’re spending in ongoing maintenance by tracking payments and recording the bills you pay in a spreadsheet or a personal financial app.

You may need to increase your emergency fund balance as larger items in your home begin to age. Keep track of your appliances and other items that may need to be replaced in the next year or so, and set aside money to pay for new ones. A large expense such as a roof replacement may require an even longer savings period.

Even in new homes, unplanned repairs can arise from a severe weather event, like high winds or hail. As any homeowner knows, an appliance that was previously working just fine may begin to malfunction for no obvious reason. An emergency fund allows you to handle surprises like these and pay for repairs that aren’t covered by insurance.

Plan for Future Upgrades

Once you’re comfortable with your new home and your ability to handle the related expenses, you can start thinking about additional home improvement projects – ways to improve your space rather than simply keep up the existing features. When you’re ready to tackle something new, start small with a minor project such as a bathroom remodel. Eventually, you can save for larger-scale remodels like a kitchen renovation or an addition that will add value to your home and transform your living space.

If you’re about to become a new homeowner, expect the unexpected – build an emergency fund for unforeseen repairs. On top of annual maintenance expenses and the cost of your monthly mortgage and escrow, an emergency savings cushion will help you to breathe easier and make the homeownership experience a positive one.

Phil Karp is a real estate expert and head of Brokerage Services at Owners.com, where you can search the latest listings for your dream home. Phil prides himself in helping buyers prepare for the expected and unexpected costs associated with buying a new home. He lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, where he shares his downtime with his wife Amy and their rescue dog Dakota.

Realtytimes

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Ask the HOA Expert: Volunteers And The Liability Factor

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Question: We have members who would like to volunteer to do minor repair work on such things as changing lightbulbs, cleaning the clubhouse, trail repair and pool monitoring. The board is concerned about the liability factor.

Answer: As long as the work is not precarious (ladder work, on the roof, etc.) there is nothing wrong with allowing volunteers to do certain tasks. In fact, the board should encourage volunteerism and find outlets for those that are so inclined. It is fulfilling for the volunteer and saves money for all members. Just make sure that they are fully committed on an ongoing basis.

Question: Our governing documents prohibit homeowners from having above ground pools in their yard. The board has decided that kiddie pools are included in this prohibition stating that the HOA could be sued if a child drowns. Is this correct?

Answer: The governing document prohibition on above ground pools likely has to do with curb appeal and not safety. As long as the wading pools are not visible from the street or an attractive nuisance to area children, the HOA should allow them. Since the pools are on private property, the HOA cannot insure against events that happen there.

Question: The board has announced that collection and rule violation hearings will be held in public. Is this advisable?

Answer: All collection and rule violation issues should have an established process which includes notifying violators in writing, stating the specific details, the correction needed, the penalties for failure to comply and the right of appeal. If an appeal is requested, a private hearing should be held at a convenient time and place where the board and accused can discuss the issue.

It is not appropriate to hold public meetings since the accused may not be guilty or there may be extenuating circumstances. Regardless of the guilt or innocence, the board should never engage in public humiliation of its members. Besides a legal challenge from an offended owner that could embroil the HOA in a lawsuit, it just makes practical sense when neighbors are governing neighbors.

Question: Our HOA has only one bank account for both operating and reserve funds. This frequently gives the board the impression that there is more spendable cash then there really is. If we run short, money that was intended for reserves gets tapped.

Answer: Operating and reserve funds should be kept in separate bank accounts for exactly the reason you point out. Reserve funds are intended for specific repairs and replacements scheduled to take place in the future, some times many years away. If reserve funds aren’t protected from operating budget shortfalls, the money won’t be there in the future when it’s needed and the HOA will be forced into unfair and unpopular special assessments.

Question: I read somewhere that the cost of a reserve study should be paid for out of reserve funds rather than the Operating Budget.

Answer: It depends. It’s reasonable to pay for the initial reserve study with reserve funds. Afterwards, some states require annual reserve study updates. Whether mandated by state law or not, it makes good sense to update the reserve study annually to keep it accurate, just like the Operating Budget. So the cost of an annual update should be included in the Operating Budget. If the reserve study is only being updated every few years, it makes sense to plan for it in the reserve study.

For more innovative homeowner association management strategies, see www.Regenesis.net

Realtytimes

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Home Inspectors Are Held To Higher Standards

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A California appellate court ruling contains both good news and bad news for home inspectors. The good news is that, in the eyes of the court, home inspectors are in the same category as doctors, attorneys, accountants, and other professionals. The bad news is that being in such a category restricts their ability to limit liability in certain ways.

Armando Moreno and Gloria Contreras purchased a 49-year-old Whittier home in August of 1998. On August 18, Deric Sanchez, doing business as Aaero Spec Quality Home Inspectors, conducted an inspection of the property on their behalf. Moreno accompanied Sanchez during the inspection.

Sanchez’s inspection noted that the heating ducts were “serviceable”, although he did recommend that the buyers contract with a licensed expert to clean out the entire system, including filters.

The preprinted contract used by Aaero Spec contained a clause providing that any lawsuit arising out of the inspection had to be filed within one year from the date of the inspection. The contract noted that, “This time period is shorter than otherwise provided by law.” (Business and Professions Code section 7199 provides a four-year statute of limitations for home inspections.) Moreno, an attorney and licensed real estate broker, signed the contract and initialed the clause shortening the statute of limitations.

Escrow closed on October 8, and the buyers moved in a few weeks thereafter. In December, both began feeling ill. Moreno was ill for one week in December and Contreras was sick for two weeks. Her illness became chronic. Near the end of summer in 1999, a culture revealed she had a bacterial infection.

Subsequent inspections by other companies revealed, “… among other things, an unsealed air return which permitted the unit to draw dust, dirt and rust into the system. It also discovered dirt, dust and debris in the main return which permitted dust and dust mites to be distributed through the system and into the house.”

The buyers, of course, sued the inspector for negligence. Their suit was filed October 19, 1999. The inspector argued that the buyer should not be allowed to sue, because the one-year statute of limitations had run. To this, the buyer responded that the ‘delayed discovery’ rule should apply, meaning that the time period during which a suit is allowed should not begin to run until the alleged negligence has been discovered.

The Orange County Superior Court (held there because the plaintiff is a Los Angeles Court Commissioner) agreed with the inspector. The court noted that the delayed discovery rule applies to a variety of professions, but “…building inspectors really don’t fall into the same public-policy circles as lawyers and doctors, possibly architects, particularly when they are sued for malpractice, and it would be something of an extension, as I see it, to put them there…”

The buyers appealed, and the Second Appellate District agreed with them, reversing the Superior Court. The appellate court noted “…judicial decisions have declared the discovery rule applicable in situations where the plaintiff is unable to see or appreciate a breach has occurred.” It went on to say, “… justification for the discovery rule has not been restricted to regulated and licensed professions. Courts have also employed the rule of delayed accrual in cases involving trades people who have held themselves out as having a special skill…”

The reasoning is simply this. In the case of trades or professions that have special skills, a consumer may lack the ability or opportunity to recognize that negligence has occurred, even if the consumer is as diligent in observation as he is capable of being. In such situations, a statute of limitations should not begin to run until the consumer has discovered that, apparently at least, negligence has occurred.

The court held that this is the situation with home inspections: “…most homeowners will not recognize a problem has been overlooked, or noticed but not reported, until something goes wrong and the damage becomes apparent.” Thus, it held that the delayed discovery rule should apply.

Realtytimes

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Canada Edges Closer To Mandatory Energy Audits For Homes

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The issue of making home energy audits mandatory for homes listed for sale in Canada is back in the news.

A group of 10 organizations, including the Pembina Institute, Atmospheric Fund, Architecture Canada and Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance, are calling on the federal government to “incentivize and support provinces in requiring mandatory home energy labelling at time of listing” by 2019.

When listing their home for sale, homeowners would be required to have an energy audit performed, which would give the home an energy rating. These ratings would be published on the Multiple Listing Service.

In a news release, the organizations say that homes and buildings account for nearly a quarter of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. “Left alone, inefficient, leaky buildings will suck energy and spew emissions for several decades,” say the organizations.

“Many home and business owners have taken simple actions to improve the energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings, such as replacing weather-stripping around windows and doors, insulating roofs and walls and swapping out old boilers and furnaces. But time is not on our side,” say the organizations. “Sweeping changes are needed to make high-efficient buildings the norm rather than the niche.”

They say the economic, health and environmental benefits of building low-energy homes require a “bold, long-term commitment to well-built, nearly zero-energy homes”.

Ontario has been talking about implementing mandatory home energy audits for years. The Climate Change Action Plan, released in 2016, calls for a program to be launched in 2019. “These audits are intended to be provided free of charge,” says the plan. “The Home Energy Rating and Disclosure program will improve consumer awareness by allowing home buyers to compare homes by energy rating. It will also encourage uptake of retrofit incentive programs.”

But Peter Shawn Taylor, writing for Canadians for Affordable Energy, has a different take. “This country may be on the verge of witnessing the birth of a new, money-grabbing boondoggle as governments spiral towards making energy policy as complicated and onerous as possible for the average consumer.”

He says the Ontario commitment for free audits is for only the first two years of the plan.

“If governments follow up on this demand, the impact will be felt by everyone who owns a house,” says Taylor. “And with audits typically priced at $400 to $600, this is not an insignificant obligation (although rebates sometimes cover part of the cost). This burden will inevitably fall hardest on modest-income homeowners. Mandatory energy audits will also punish owners of older, less energy-efficient homes. If you own a heritage home today, be warned that your house will become harder to sell in the future, as disclosure of energy costs becomes yet another item to be obsessed over by prospective home buyers…”

The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) says it has been fighting against mandatory home energy audits since 2009 because the program would “hurt consumers and the real estate market.”

Recently Ontario passed a bill that requires licensing and regulation for home inspectors. OREA is now calling for energy audits to be included as part of home inspections.

“Including an energy audit within a standardized home inspection will better protect consumers and help the province achieve its climate change emission targets quicker,” says Tim Hudak, CEO of the association. Home energy auditors have no minimum education standards, are not required to carry errors and omissions insurance and (have) no disciplinary oversight. Forcing consumers to use the services of an unlicensed energy auditor exposes home sellers to the risk of unqualified operators ripping them off with phony reports — the exact thing the government is trying to eliminate” with the passage of the home inspector’s bill.

In addition to the energy audits, the 10 organizations are calling on the federal government to “drive momentum toward ‘net-zero energy ready’ new construction” and “accelerate retrofits and emissions reductions in existing buildings.”

It also calls for improved energy-efficiency standards for appliances.

“Canadians spend 90 per cent of their lives indoors,” say the organizations. “It should be no surprise that the quality of our indoor environments can have a major impact on our health and well-being. Replacing leaky windows and insulation and improving ventilation can address health and comfort-related problems linked to cold air drafts, excess moisture and mould — not to mention saving energy. Several studies indicate that health benefits could represent up to 75 per cent of the overall benefits of energy efficiency retrofits.”

But Taylor says the proposed audit program in Ontario has too many unanswered questions. “How often will the audits have to be performed? Will a 10-year-old audit suffice when it comes time to sell your house, or will you need to get a new one before every sale? It is hardly a stretch to imagine mandatory energy audits metastasizing in unexpected and unpleasant ways, as complicated bureaucratic programs are wont to do.”

Realtytimes

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Foreign landlords shun UK property market after tax hikes

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Just five per cent of British homes now have overseas owners, down more than half from the 12 percent seen seven years ago, the research released by real estate firm Countrywide showed.

Overseas landlords are moving out of the U.K. property market in search of greener pastures, according to new research which suggests the number of international investors who own property in Britain has fallen to a new low.

Just five per cent of British homes now have overseas owners, down more than half from the 12 percent seen seven years ago, the research released by real estate firm Countrywide showed.

Of the 90,000 properties studied, the fall was most pronounced in London, where the proportion of foreign landlords fell from 26 percent in 2010 to 11 percent this year.

The investor demographic in London has also shifted since the start of the decade. Asians now constitute the largest investor segment in the capital, while the number of European owners has dropped from 39 percent to 28 percent over the past seven years.

According to CNBC International, the fall in sterling following Britain’s Brexit vote last June could have been expected to buoy overseas buyers but increased economic and political uncertainty and a more punitive tax landscape in the U.K. is thought to have dampened sentiment.

Last April, investors were slapped with a 3 percent stamp duty (tax levy) surcharge on the purchase of second properties. This meant that landlords purchasing a London apartment costing an average of £518,511 ($677,442), based on 2016 Rightmove estimates, had to pay a further £31,481 in tax, rather than the previous £15,926.

A separate tax on companies buying property in the U.K., known as the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings, pushed up costs further by between £3,500 and £7,000.

“A steady increase in foreign investors’ tax bills combined with more recent falling expectations of price growth in London has led to a decline in foreign investment in buy-to-let,” said Johnny Morris, research director at Countrywide.

New research also released by property search website Rightmove suggests that house sales have picked up in the year since the Brexit vote but price increases have been limited, rising by an average of just £300 in the month from June to July.

“It’s great to see government’s tax changes for buy to let landlords beginning to work,” Reuben Young, policy and communications officer at PricedOut, a campaign body for affordable housing, told CNBC via email.

“Landlords buying homes – both foreign and native – consistently outbid first-time buyers before the changes started to take effect. Now we’re seeing rents beginning to stabilize.”

The U.K. government has also been rolling out a number of initiatives aimed at deterring overseas investors, who are often accused of driving up prices, and assisting first-time buyers. This includes a scheme unveiled last week in Manchester, one of the country’s most expensive cities, which gives preference to buyers living and working in the city.

However, would-be homeowners continue to face an uphill battle from British-based investors, whose numbers have continued to tick up in recent years to outpace their overseas counterparts, Countrywide found.

Guardian

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Flood Victims: 8 Important Steps To Take To Protect Your Home From A Flood

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In the wake of all the tragedy associated with Hurricane Harvey, and the devastation it continues to bring to Texas and the Gulf, many people have been wondering what they can do to protect their home from a flood. While flooding like what has happened in Houston and Beaumont is rare (although it is happening with increasing frequency and ferocity) and, in many cases, impossible to guard against, just a small amount of water can have big consequences. These 8 tips can help you and your home stay safe.

1. Look into flood insurance

People who live in an area that is more prone to flooding may be better prepared if they are required to have insurance and take certain precautions. Although, we learned from Harvey that only 15 percent of those who lived in massive, hardest-hit Harris County were actually covered by the National Flood Insurance Program. These policies are necessary if you live in a “100 year flood” zone, although enforcement is clearly lacking.

But in a time when climate change is creating increasingly unpredictable and powerful storms, “no state or territory is safe, according to FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” said Bankrate.

That means that everyone should be looking at their insurance policies and what they are currently covered for. “Most people think they’re covered for flooding with their homeowner’s insurance policy. But they’re not,” said Houselogic. “You must buy a separate flood insurance policy to be covered. Only 18% of homeowners in low-to-moderate risk areas have flood insurance. Of those that have it, 1 in 5 have made a claim.”

2. Get to higher ground

It goes without saying that you should protect yourself in the case of a flood. But moving your important things to higher ground can help keep them safe as well. Only a tiny bit of water is is needed to do lasting damage. “The one nasty thing about flooding is that there is no (margin) of safety other than elevation,” Tim Reinhold, senior vice president of research and chief engineer at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, or IBHS, told Bankrate. “Once the water reaches the level of your floor and goes an inch above, you have significant damage.”

You may not be able to keep the water out in every case, but moving furniture and important items to a higher floor or to the attic can help safeguard them.


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Things like furnaces, water heaters, circuit breakers, and wiring should also be raised – permanently. If you know your area’s flood level, go at least a foot higher when relocating your items. You’ll also want to anchor and raise any fuel tanks to limit the possibility that they can spread contaminants.

3. Examine the exterior of your home

You might find areas where water can easily get in to your house. Patching any potential leak areas is step one. Now look at how the water flows away from (hopefully) or toward (hopefully not) your home. You can do an easy test with a hose or in a “normal” rainstorm, checking for areas where water naturally pools. Having sandbags in the garage that you can use as needed to help keep water from getting inside is a good emergency measure.

4. Clear gutters, drains and downspouts

While you’re checking around your house, take a look at your gutters, drains and downspouts, too. This easy activity could save you from heartache by keeping water from collecting on the roof or overflowing gutters and draining toward the house.


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5. Install a backflow valve

If your home makes it through a flood with minimal damage but your sewer system floods, that could mean coming home to a house full of guck. Avoiding this catastrophe is as easy as installing a backflow valve.

6. Do a major retrofit

“If your home floods frequently and moving isn’t an option, you may need to take drastic and costly measures,” said Bankrate. That could mean raising “your home on piers or columns so that the lowest floor is above the flood level (approximate cost: $20,000); “Wet-proofing your home by installing foundation vents that would allow water to flow through the building, instead of rising inside and causing more damage,” or doing some “dry proofing by applying coatings and other sealing materials to your walls to keep out floods.”

7. Buy a battery-powered sump pump

This is key because if yours is electric and the power goes out, so does your ability to pump water out of your house.


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8. Change your landscaping

“Porous outdoor surfaces help water seep into the ground instead of streaming toward your home,” said the National Resources Defense Council. “Digging depressions known as swales to channel storm water runoff away from your house, converting concrete or asphalt driveways to gravel or brick, and using absorbent mulch can help manage heavy rain and reduce potential flood damage. Placing a rain barrel beneath a gutter downspout will not only allay basement flooding but also help reduce flooding and pollution of local waterways.”

This taps into an innovative trend being seen in places like China where “sponge cities” are in the process of being created. Currently, 16 cities are in development, with plans to roll the program out nationally in China. “Designers will concede to the wisdom of nature to ensure water is absorbed when there’s an excess: instead of water-resistant concrete, permeable materials and green spaces will be used to soak up rainfall, and rivers and streams will be interconnected so that water can flow away from flooded areas,” said The Guardian.

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Cat Furniture As Stylish As The Rest Of Your Home

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Dogs get most of the love when it comes to furniture. After all, you can buy a huge dog bed at Costco. Or, if you want to go all out, you can build your pooch a mansion. But what about your forgotten feline? Many people limit their cat furniture or relegate it to a spare room unseen by guests because it’s just not that cute. But we found lots of options to captivate your kitty without killing your style.

Forget that old, ugly, carpeted cat condo. This modern version is so stylish it can command a prime location in your living space.

Cool cat beds may still lack the variety of dog beds, but, with this great option, you won’t care. Because every pet deserves a plush bed, there’s this Anello Cat Basket from MiaCara, whose “unique nest-style design of this luxury cat bed makes it irresistible to kitties and a must-have piece for your home,” said STYLETAILS.


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The Cat Ball from French brand Meyou Paris is “more than just a bed for your pet,” they said. “With its coated handwoven cocoon, it acts both as a scratching accessory and a nap area.” Not to mention the fact that it’s great to look at, too.


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This cat scratcher and lounger from AllModern looks like a piece of art.


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You can design your cat’s play (and sleeping and eating) space in whatever way you want, with Kitty Kasa. Made of molded plastic that is easily cleanable, the stackable blocks can be used indoors or out. Even better – a portion of the proceeds go to the ARNI Foundation, “a non-profit organization that rescues animals that have been abused, and transfers pets from local kill shelters to no-kill shelters,” said dornob.


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Speaking of outside… catios are a hot for cat owners who want to be able to bring their pets outdoors without endangering their safety.


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Of course, you could always just skip all the store-bought products and build your cat-friendly features right into your home. With multiple perches and pathways, your kitty will love hanging out and exploring every inch of this home. And, incorporating the features right into the architecture creates a sleek, chic look.


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This kitty playground would undoubtedly keep the little guys busy all day.


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9 Ways to Eliminate Congestion In The Kitchen

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Rubbing elbows with chefs isn’t always a boon. Consider circulation pathways for a kitchen that lets everyone work in comfort

When it comes to designing your dream kitchen, it’s tempting to try to squeeze in all of the latest and greatest appliances and gadgets – and enough cabinetry to contain them all. But unless you also put some thought into how you, your family and guests will circulate through the space, you could end up with a dysfunctional layout that is no fun to work in – newfangled gadgets and all. I’ve pulled together some tips to keep in mind when designing a kitchen to avoid traffic jams and poor flow.

1. Optimize the layout. One of my favorite kitchen layouts is an open kitchen with an island and no closed corners. I find having an island that family and guests can easily circulate around, without getting stuck in a corner, greatly reduces kitchen traffic jams.

2. Provide ample walkways and aisles. Make sure your kitchen walkways are at least 36 inches wide and your work aisles — those spaces in front of sinks, appliances and prep areas — are at least 42 inches wide, or 48 inches to accommodate multiple cooks.

Those with larger families or who entertain often may want to go as wide as 54 inches for work aisles. This will allow two people to easily pass behind someone working at the countertop, sink or appliance.

3. Consider sitting room. If you plan to have a seating area at an island or a peninsula, think about where the stools will be. Ideally you want visitors to be facing you while you are working in the kitchen, and you want to keep them out of your main work aisles, too.

If you anticipate stools in a walkway or an aisle, allow for the extra space they’ll require when occupied. You’ll want at least 36 inches so someone can easily pass behind a stool when it is pulled out.

4. Pay attention to appliance and cabinetry clearances. While your goal should be to arrange your appliances into efficient work zones, watch for any awkward adjacencies. Avoid placing major appliances directly opposite each other, as this can create a traffic jam if both appliances are being used simultaneously.

Also, try to keep appliances away from any corners, as corners prevent full access to the appliance, and the adjacent cabinets cannot be opened if the appliance door is also open.

This applies to your cabinets as well — make sure you can open all of your cabinet doors and drawers without their running into one another. It’s tough to avoid this with corner cabinets, but all other cabinets should open freely without banging into another door or a drawer.

5. Don’t block kitchen entry points. Leave enough space for someone to enter or exit even if the appliance or cabinet door or drawer is open.

6. Give your refrigerator ample space. The area around a refrigerator tends to be a high-traffic zone, so don’t crowd it in. Plus, some refrigerator doors are a whopping 36 inches wide — meaning they take up a lot of space when open. If your refrigerator is near a kitchen entry point, add a pantry cabinet to act as a buffer so that the open refrigerator door will be less likely to block someone.

7. Give your sink some space, too. Have plenty of countertop space on either side of the sink, and don’t cram the sink in between other appliances, with the notable exception of the dishwasher, which is handy to have right next to the sink for cleanup. Avoid corner sinks — they are major culprits of kitchen traffic jams.

8. Don’t fight with a small space. As much as I love an island in the kitchen, I also value space for moving around. If you have a tight kitchen, keep it as open as possible. You can always add a movable island cart that you can tuck off to the side out of the flow of traffic when it’s not in use. As tempting as it may be to cram as much cabinetry and countertop area in as possible, it’s just not worth it if that makes the space awkward to use.

9. Consult an expert. The best piece of advice I can offer is to engage the services of a qualified and reputable designer who specializes in kitchens. If your remodeling budget is tight and you are going the DIY route, consider finding a kitchen designer willing to consult for a few hours with you for a flat fee. This investment of a few hundred dollars can help you avoid ending up with a dysfunctional kitchen layout — and will save you time, money and frustration down the road.

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