I love Technology; it can help you save time, energy and money. In a smart home we enter the world of automation, yes, one of my favorite words! So, what does it mean? It means the distribution of many different devices throughout the entire house, being controlled from one location as a total unified system. For example, you can control all the lights in the house from one control panel.

Just to mention a couple advantages out of the many, smart homes could give you:

Safe and Secure
Using an intercom camera at the entrance of you house, gives you the ability to see who’s at your door and to speak to them without having to open the door.
Another example is vehicle detection; sensors detect any vehicle that drives up to your driveway and turn cameras and lights on, to let you view who is on the premises.
Smart homes can also warn homeowners in case there is any emergency by connecting them with the warning systems. Let’s say a fire starts, the alarms wake up the household, the doors are immediately unlocked, the fire department is called and the bright lights shine for safety.

Energy Efficiency
A smart home makes heating and cooling systems go on and off as needed. Lights, computers and appliances are ON only when someone is actually using them.
Another way a smart home could save you energy is by utilizing smart meters, they can monitor energy use and consumption at the device level, helping you reduce costs and make energy efficiency more convenient.

I will be talking some more about smart homes, stay tuned…

Source: www.intellipowered.com

Well, it will save you time by looking at the right houses and avoid disillusionment.

Getting pre-approved is a good way to determine the price range for which you are qualified. You will need to meet with a lender. Keep in mind that pre-approval is not a mortgage commitment or guarantee, however, it will provide you guidance on what you can afford to spend on your new home. Also carries substantial weight with a seller because it shows the seller your are serious about buying his/her house.

Get ready to provide the lender the following information:

Income and Employment
Your current income.
Employment status.
History of steady employment.

Down Payment
How much money you have available for a down payment. Usually, the higher the down payment, the lower the interest rate and monthly mortgage payment. Do not forget, you will also need cash for closing costs.

Credit History
Your lender will review your credit history by reviewing your credit report. He/she will consider how much you owe on credit cards, car payments, student loans and other debt. He/she will also review your ability to pay property taxes and other expenses of homeownership.

With your mortgage pre-approval in place, you are ready to begin your search.

Happy house hunting!

Also, a great choice for an exterior focal point. Everyone should be able to find it, especially if you are selling your house, or just inviting people over. If it is covered by trees, or hidden under bushes, now is the time to take some action, and make your front door, look the best it can look!

Curb appeal is all about good first impressions, start with your front door today. Look for new ideas, in magazines, drive around your neighborhood, look for what works and what doesn’t.

A fresh coat of paint could help,

Try framing your front door, an easy way is using colorful pots,

Be creative, arrange some flowers…

“There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.” Graham Greene

And let the future in.

What are your Mom’s favorite flowers?

Cinco de Mayo is a significant holiday that celebrates the Mexican defeat of the French army at the Battle of Puebla back in 1862 but, more importantly, is a celebration of the rich culture and heritage of our neighbors to the south.

Speaking of battles, I spent my Cinco de Mayo, trying to find more ways to get greener at home. Pick your own battles to help this planet be greener.

Here are some ideas:

Kitchen battles
 Air dish dishes instead of using dishwasher drying cycle.
 Be sure the dishwasher is full, but not overloaded, when you run it.

Car battles
 Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking only waste gasoline. Drive sensibly, I know sometimes is hard, but next time you are pushing the gas pedal remember that each mile per hour (mph) you drive over 60 mph is like paying $0.10 more per gallon of gas.
 Keep tires properly inflated and aligned to improve your gasoline mileage by around 3.3%

Laundry battles
 Wash and dry full loads of clothes, if small, use the right water level.
 Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.