We’ve all been there… When somewhere, during your hectic and crazy week, unexpected company arrives.

Maybe it is parents, friends, or even a repairman. Whoever the guest, it is embarrassing to have a messy home. Wouldn’t it be great if there were a few quick tips that could help give your craftsman style home the appearance of being “uber clean” even during the days you just can’t be on top of it?

Well, now you can!

Here is a great article with easy and helpful tips for giving each room in your home the appearance of “super clean.” Since you may only have a few minutes, you can use that precious time to clean up “in the right way” during your busy week.

From the article:

Rid the sofa of pet hair by wetting the fingertips of rubber gloves and gliding your hand over the sofa. The hair will stick to the rubber.

Next, when the dishwasher is full and the sink is overflowing, stow dirty dishes and silverware in a stockpot and pull them out later to be cleaned.

Next, Hang fresh guest towels. The humidity in this room makes textiles look droopy, even after a recent machine washing.

Read the article in its entirety here: http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/fake-clean-house-00000000032724/index.html

It is amazing how a few simple fixes can tidy up your house in an incredibly short amount of time. No one will know how you are able to manage it all!

Comment below and tell us about your quick clean up tips!

Let’s face it, most of us are not expert handymen (or women!), and for many the idea of using power tools to do some mild home repair can be a downright daunting task.

Wouldn’t it be great if purchasing your dream craftsman house plans meant you would never have to worry about fixing anything?

Well, if you’ve just built your new home or are in the process of building, being able to make some basic repairs or upgrades on your own can certainly save you time and money. In addition, you’ll never have to worry again about when the handyman will be able to get out to your home and fix whatever is wrong.

There are some valuable tools every homeowner should have around your house. Most of them are very easy to find and surprisingly inexpensive. Here is a great article which provides a list of your must have tools as well as some expert advice as to how to choose the right quality for all of your needs.

From the article:

If you don’t have a handyman in your family and don’t have a clue where to begin when it comes to assembling a proper home-repair tool kit, there’s good news: For $200, you can buy 90% of all the tools you’ll ever need to repair and maintain your home.

Read the article in its entirety here:http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13107958

Having this type of “must have” list is certainly a huge help when trying to decide which specific tools are essential in your home..

Is this list complete? Comment below and tell us what tools are on YOUR “must have” list!

If you’re anything like most other Americans, you’ve probably been affected, negatively, by the downturn in the economy, etc., and are always on the lookout for new and creative ways to save money, and to put that money to its “highest and best use”.

I found this article and thought it offered an easy-to-follow, and well laid out description of some of the more popular reasons why building your own home, using stock house plans can be a very “tax savvy” move for you, and how you can lessen your actual “out of pocket” costs, by taking advantage of the tax advantages, deductions, credits and more, that are now available to you when you build a new home…

From the article:

Buying a home is one of the smartest purchases you can ever make. One reason is that homeownership has many positive tax implications. The three most important sources of tax savings for home owners are the:

– deductions for mortgage interest
– deductions for real estate taxes
– capital gain exclusion for the sale of a principal residence

The deductions for mortgage interest and real estate taxes reduce the annual cost of homeownership by reducing the home owner’s tax liability each year. For example, a home owner with $10,000 in annual mortgage interest payments and real estate taxes and who falls in the 25 percent tax bracket could realize up to $2,500 in tax savings each year. Home owners who itemize their taxes can deduct from taxable income interest allocable to a first or second home for up to $1 million of mortgage debt and $100,000 of home equity loans. And most state and local taxes paid on homes are also deductible.

Certainly, just the mere fact that you CAN get a tax deduction/other benefit from building or buying a new home isn’t a reason enough to just go forward and build a home that you’re not 100% prepared for, and ready to undertake.

However, its wonderful to know that our government offers these type incentives to help promote home ownership and, hopefully in turn, strong family relationships that contribute to the fabric of their local communities.

You can read the entire article at: http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?sectionID=1047&genericContentID=180

Comment below and tell us YOUR money saving ideas!

Building your dream home usually involves a multitude of decisions. Style, square footage, flooring, cabinetry…every little detail makes a difference in your dream home. Another thing to add to the list when picking the perfect craftsman house plans is considering energy efficient options in your building process that will ultimately save you money.

The Green building “revolution” has become increasingly popular and beneficial to homeowners. No longer is it reserved to a select few. Not only is it becoming more affordable, but it is becoming so mainstream that many green building practices are becoming local building codes. Contractors are embracing the design ideas as well, making it much easier for a homeowner to recycle resources.

Here is a good article that I recently found that does a pretty good job of explaining the green building revolution with some great tips for anyone getting ready to build or redesign a home.

From the article:

“I would agree that most building product manufacturers are taking control of the ball before the government mandates too many restrictions – a prime example would be in the air conditioning, lighting, and home appliance manufacturing sectors (refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and dryers),” says J.B de los Santos, architect and president of JBS Company.

Read the entire article at: http://www.buildingprocess.com/view_article.php?article_id=15

Comment below and let us know what energy efficient features you would want in a home!

Popular Starter House Plan - HPG-1509B-1 - The Wilson Creek

Becoming a homeowner is the dream of many individuals and couples. Selecting the home that you will spend the beginning of your new life in can be an exciting experience and the thrill of your new independence is exhilarating.

Your first home is about planning your future; whether that includes children, job changes or a spouse. Considering this, your first home should have room for your life and your family to expand. Since many first time home buyers are young professionals on tight budgets the most important consideration should be the affordability of your new home.

A World of Options

Modular Homes and Prefabs – Modular and prefabricated homes can be an attractive option for first time home buyers because they can often be constructed at a much lower cost than existing or custom homes. These units can be customized in a variety of ways and are offered in a wide range of styles to ensure that you receive the home that suits you perfectly.

Unique Stock House Plans – There are so many stock plans available that can be modified cheaply to meet your needs that you would be hard pressed to not be able to find what you desire. Buying stock plans can save you thousands of dollars versus hiring an architect to design your home from scratch. The internet offers hundred of sources for stock plans and the experience of being able to browse these different styles and designs will save you a great deal of time versus visiting home shows and tours.

“Kit” Homes – If you have a do-it-yourself attitude, a flexible schedule and know how to swing a hammer then a kit home can be a big money saver. Kit homes are often smaller than traditional houses, so if you are a single individual of new couple without children in your immediate future these may be perfect for you. Kit homes are most popular in cabin and cottage style layouts and usually feature just enough living space for first time homeowners. However, if you require, some can get rather large and ostentatious.

Custom Home Designs – Do you have an amazing idea for a convenient and affordable home in the back of your mind? Working with an architect to turn these ideas into a reality will guarantee you get exactly what you want out of your first home.

Rehabilitation – There are plenty of homes out there in poor condition or in gentrifying neighborhoods waiting to be transformed into something new. Shells and other properties, like prefabs and kit homes, can often end up costing much less than an existing home. In addition, the character and ambiance that these existing structures offer can be incorporated into their new modernized appearance.

Getting it Right

When you are young it is hard to know what the future has in store for you but you are probably not short on ambition. Your first home is the chance to put the hopes of your future into something that represent your goals and prepares you for your life ahead.

CLICK HERE to find your family’s new Country style house plans…