The summer heat is here, and we’d be willing to bet your AC unit has been getting quite the workout lately. Constantly running the AC can skyrocket the utility bill if you’re not careful, and spending lots of money just to keep the house cool isn’t how anyone wants to spend their hard-earned money. To keep more cool air in the house and more money in your pocket, use these 4 tips.

Set the Thermostat Correctly 

Since there’s probably no one home from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, why waste energy cooling the house during these hours? Most modern thermostats will have the ability to be programmed to save energy during the times you’re not home. Once you figure out the times you’re out of the house, program the thermostat to bump up to a higher temperature.

Landscape to Save 

The US Department of Energy has reported that homeowners can save up to 25% on energy costs just by planting trees and shrubs in the right spots. Trees can block out the sun and provide shade for the home. Since shaded areas are typically 10 to 15 degrees cooler than direct sun, planting a tree that shades east and west facing windows can save you some serious green. You might not think planting shrubs around the exterior walls can save money, but shrubs keep the ground around the home cooler, which keeps the house cooler.

Win with Windows 

Having lots of windows in a house is great for letting in natural light, but it’s also great for letting out the cold air. While the natural light can save money by keeping light fixtures off, these savings are quickly offset by the cost of escaping energy. To keep the cool air in the house, install energy efficient double pane windows. Having two panes of glass instead of one traps the AC much better.

Insulation is Your Friend

Just like having double pane windows, filling your walls and attics with high-quality insulation will make your HVAC unit run much more efficiently. When you’re shopping for insulation, look for one with a high R-value. This indicates the amount of heat flow the insulation can handle.

Studies estimate that 72% of people get some of their best ideas in the shower. With that kind of idea potential, you can’t afford to not have your dream shower. If you’re already coming up with great ideas in an average shower, just imagine what you’ll think of in a top of the line shower. To design a shower that looks and feels like it’s straight out of Better Homes and Gardens, you’ll need to consider three things.

The Shower Doors 

Let’s be honest, no dream shower has ever involved a shower curtain. These days, frameless showers with thick glass doors are all the rage. While they don’t offer much privacy, they look great and are easy to clean. However, frameless isn’t for everyone. More and more homeowners are starting to opt for the convenience of a doorless walk-in shower. Again, not much privacy, but it can make the bathroom feel much bigger.

The Shower Head

For whatever reason, there are more options for shower heads than there are for soda pop. This can make trying to find the right shower head a bit overwhelming. It’s best to start with deciding if you want a wall mounted or ceiling mounted shower head. Next decided if you want a rain drop, massaging, or one with a detachable handheld feature. Once you’ve made those two decisions you can figure out what kind of finish and style you want.

Extras

Since this is your dream shower, you might as well throw in a few extra features. Some crowd favorite extras are built in seats, hand rails, and shelving. When building a custom shower, there’s not a lot of limitations to stop you, so go crazy!

The shower is only as good as the bathroom it’s in, and the bathroom is only as good as the home it’s in. When you partner with Perry Hood Properties, we can bring your dream home, bathroom, and shower to life!

 

 

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house. It can’t just look good, it must be able to give you the ability to prep, cook, and clean easily and efficiently. That being said, a kitchen needs to look good too. When it comes to picking a kitchen décor style, you’ve got a lot of options, and it can get overwhelming. To help you sort through the mess we put together this handy list of kitchen décor styles.

Farmhouse

Thanks to that lovable couple down in Waco, farmhouse has seen a spike in popularity recently. Warm and comfortable colors are calling cards of a farmhouse kitchen, along with open shelving, single basin sinks, and big wooden kitchen tables.

Modern

Sleek metals, frameless cabinets, and minimalist hardware are three common components of a modern kitchen. There are lots of different variations of a modern kitchen, so it can be a little hard to define sometimes.

Traditional

For those who want a less bold option, traditional kitchens offer arches, decorative molding, and furniture legs. Lots of woods in natural tones, natural stone counter tops, and maybe even a chandelier are commonly seen in traditional kitchens.

Transitional

Somewhere between traditional and modern, a transitional kitchen gives you the best of both worlds. Using the comfortable tones and feelings of a traditional kitchen and the more exciting finishes and details of a modern kitchen, transitional kitchens are a great option for spouses who may have opposing design tastes.

Classic

If you were to take a traditional kitchen and substitute warm earth tones for white, you would end up with a classic kitchen. These kitchens aren’t necessarily trendy, but they will stand the test of time and look good for years to come.

Kitchen styles can be hard to define, as you rarely encounter a kitchen that is a pure example of just one style. Generally, you get a mix of a few different styles rolled together to make the perfect kitchen for the homeowner. No matter what your preferred style is, we can help build your dream kitchen in your dream home.

The joy of buying a new house is often overshadowed by the stress of having to move. No one looks forward to packing everything they own in boxes, paying for a moving truck, and then having to unload and find a way to recreate the home they decorated over many years. All this without breaking the family’s fine china set.

However, with a little planning, you can move stress-free.

Plan Ahead– Don’t wait until the last minute, start packing as soon as you close on your new home. In an ideal world, everything but a fresh set of moving clothes should be packed away and carefully labeled long before the moving truck is in the driveway.

Color Code– Pick a color to represent each room of the house and use this color system when packing boxes. You can use different colored tape, stickers, or just markers to denote which room the box should go to. This saves a ton of time when unloading and lets any helpers know where they need to put each box.

Get a Sitter– Kids can make for great free labor if they’re old enough, but if they’re too young to carry a box they’ll likely be cause for added stress. If this is the case for your family, budget for a sitter to take your kids to the park or the pool while you move.

Make the Bed First– Once all the boxes are off the truck, the first thing you should do is set up the beds. Get all the frames put together and unpack the sheets. Unloading boxes can be exhausting and once you hit the wall having your bed ready to go will be a huge relief.

Plan and Pack– Remember that whatever goes on the truck first will come off last. So if you know you need certain items as soon as you get to the new house, pack those last. Things like children’s toys, pet food, and any tools for assembling furniture are items you may want ASAP.

Moving doesn’t have to be a chaotic chore if you can plan ahead and use a few tricks. If you’re in the market for a new custom built home, call Perry Hood Properties. We have decades of experience building the best new construction homes in the greater Tulsa area.

Summers are prime time for family getaways… and home robberies. Anytime houses are likely to be empty, crooks are licking their chops. That’s why it’s important to follow some basic home security guidelines when taking a summer vacation.

Stage the Home 

Just because you’re not home doesn’t mean it should look like you’re not home. There are a few tricks you can use to make it look like you never left the front step, even if you’re hundreds of miles away.

• Get someone to mow your lawn so it doesn’t get overgrown and tip off the bad guys that no one is home.
• Set lights on a timer to come on at night
• Leave a hose uncoiled to make it look like yard work is happening

Pause the Mail 

An overflowing mailbox is one of the most obvious signs of an empty nest. Before you skip town, stop by the post office to stop your mail until you get home. It only takes a few minutes, so you can even do it as you’re leaving town.

Show Off Your Security 

If you have an alarm system, make sure the yard sign is displayed loud and proud. This is one of the best signals to burglars that this house isn’t one they want to mess with. You can also get some dummy security cameras if you want to really step up your security appearance.

Hide the Hidden Key

Most homeowners keep a spare key hidden in the mailbox or under a flowerpot. This is a great failsafe if you get locked out of the house, but that’s not too likely to happen while you’re away. Wherever your secret key may be hidden, go ahead and bring it inside the house where it can’t be used against you.

Call a Friend 

Speaking of spare keys, it’s not a bad idea to give one to a friend you trust so they can get into your house in case of an emergency. You might also ask them to swing by the house a few times to keep an eye on the place.

With 4^th of July just around the corner and plenty of other good reasons to throw a backyard bash this summer, it’s the perfect time to start planning your next outdoor shindig. Making all the necessary arrangements can get stressful and expensive if you’re not careful. To help eliminate those two problems, here’s a list of tips you can use to host the best party without breaking the bank.

Pot Luck is Your Friend

Instead of spending all that time and money buying and making food, throw a pot luck party and have your guest bring their favorite dish. All you have to do is make the main dish, and ask your friends to cover the sides and desserts. Most people will take any excuse to show off their “world famous” potato salad or apple pie, so don’t feel guilty asking for a little help.

Facebook Event

It’s 2017 and there’s no need to waste money on fancy invitations and postage. Creating a Facebook event is one easy way to bypass the post office. This allows you to put all the necessary information in one place, invite your guests, and even have a discussion if anyone as any questions.

DIY Decor

One of the most expensive parts of throwing the party is getting all the decorations. If this is your first time hosting such a gathering, this expense can add up quick. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to do some cheap DIY decorating. From spray painting metal folding chairs to cinderblock seating you can make in minutes, pretty décor doesn’t have to cost a pretty penny.

Game On!

If you’re looking for some cheap entertainment options, games will be your answer. Everyone loves a good game, especially if kids are on the guest list, and there are tons of games you can buy or make for little to no cost.

Ban the Mosquitos

Nothing ruins a backyard party faster than everyone getting eaten alive by mosquitos. However, with a few simple fixes you can keep the blood suckers at bay. Planting lemongrass, wine bottle citronella candles, and burning some pinion wood are all huge turn-offs for mosquitoes.

The curb appeal of your home will make the first impression on anyone who drives by or comes for a visit. This is a critical feature to consider when selling a home, but it’s also worth considering as an ongoing home improvement project to consistently upgrade the value of your home. To whip your curb appeal into shape, you can use these five tricks.

Make a Runway– Some homes won’t be set up for this, but if you have a decently long sidewalk leading to your front door, that’s something you’ll want to highlight. Planting shrubs is always a good option for this, but an even better option is hydrangeas. Going for pink or blue hydrangeas will create an incredibly inviting and picturesque runway to your front door.

Don’t Forget the Basics– A new wreath and doormat can go a long way, so don’t neglect to take care of these basic curb appeal essentials. Having this combination is probably one of the quickest, cheapest, and easiest ways to boost curb appeal.

Mulch is Your Friend– Speaking of quick, cheap, and easy ways to boost curb appeal, make a run to the garden center and grab a few bags of mulch. For $2 to $3 a bag you’ll be amazed at how much mulch will improve curb appeal. Just spread a one-inch layer in all your flower beds and it’s almost guaranteed to look like you paid big bucks for professional landscaping.

Get Your Thumb Green– Sprucing up the flower beds is an old standby when it comes to curb appeal, but you don’t have to spend tons of time and money revamping every flowerbed in your front yard to improve curb appeal. If you want to take a shortcut, opt for some potted plants on either side of the front door. Make sure to use colorful plants, and pony up for the nicer ceramic pots instead of the cheap plastic one.

Give the Door a Facelift– A fresh coat of paint and a little polish on the knob and knocker will make the front door much more inviting. Painting the front door can be a little tricky, so make sure you have a game plan before you pop off the hinges.

Curb appeal is a great way to improve the value of your home, so be creative and post any tips you think are worth sharing.