Purchasing a home is arguably one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. As you start your hunt, don’t forget there will be other costs associated with your purchase than the price of the home. Here are 5 fees to keep in mind as you begin to budget.

1. Home inspection. This is a crucial step in the home buying process. The findings that come from the inspection can help you negotiate price and repairs. Generally, you can expect to pay between $300 to $500 depending on the home and the location.
2. Title services. Title services encompass the transfer of the title from the seller and a thorough search of the property’s records to ensure to no one will pop up with a claim to the property. Additionally, you may need to buy title insurance which will protect the lender or your investment in the home.
3. Appraisal fee. Before getting a loan, you will likely be required to get an appraisal of the home to determine its estimated value. This will be conducted by a third-party company and the cost can land anywhere between $300 and $1,000, depending on the size of the home.
4. HOA fees. Many communities have a homeowners’ association that enforces monthly fees. This money is used for general maintenance and updates to areas like pools, parks, and more. Typical HOA fees are around $200 per month.
5. Taxes. The taxes each buyer pays at the closing table differ, but it is not uncommon for it to be up to two months’ worth of county and city property taxes. Additionally, there may be taxes for the transfer of the home title.

9 Spring Cleaning Tasks That Homeowners Tend to Overlook

No matter how hard you try, it’s easy to overlook some spots when you spring clean — because you’re blind to what you see and use every day in your own home. 

So before you say you’re done with your spring cleaning, check to see if you missed any of these tasks:

#1 Clean and Inspect Your Vacuum

A clogged and dirty vacuum can undo any cleaning you’ve done the minute you switch it on. Blame it on that stinky odor that only vacuums seem to emit.

Best to clean it first:

Change the bag and wipe down the bag’s holder or empty and thoroughly wash the bagless container with a soapy damp rag.

Wipe down the entire vacuum.

Pull debris from the vacuum’s brushes and wipe out the underside as much as you can.

Change the filter.

Inspect the hose for holes.

This goes for your wet/dry vacuum, and handheld one, too, if you have them.

#2 Clean the Undersides of Surfaces 

The bottoms and underside edges of dining tables, kitchen countertops, and high-chair trays can get pretty sticky.

While you’re at it, if your table has leaves, wipe down those alarmingly icky cracks, too. Don’t question what the mystery gunk is: Just clean it and forget it.

#3 Dispose of Dried-Out Paints, Adhesives, Etc.

Check with your city or county for a spring toxic waste disposal event and plan to do your spring cleaning before that day. That way, you can responsibly get rid of all those dried-out cans of adhesives, varnishes, paints, and finishes clogging up your storage space and your DIY workspace.

#4 Pitch Outdated Pantry Staples Basics like flour, vinegar, and sauces that are past their expiration date lose flavor, and anything containing oil, like nuts, can go rancid.

To bring a bigger bang to your recipes, also replace any dried spices that have been open longer than a year. Going forward, you can buy smaller portions where bulk spices are sold, so you always have a fresh supply.

#5 Clean the Crevices in Kitchen Appliances

Even if you wipe your appliances daily, gunk and crumbs can hide in nooks and crannies — like behind the knobs and under the grill on the range, and cracks around your dishwasher buttons.

You shouldn’t need more than some baking soda and soapy water — along with an old toothbrush to reach into crevices — to banish the eww factor.

#6 Give Houseplants a Shower (and Clean the Spots Where They Live)

Take all your plants outside for a nice cleansing shower on a drizzly day. Then inside, tackle the spots where they live: the floor, shelf, countertop. Clean the walls and baseboards, too. And check for water damage. A cracked pot or chronic overwatering can allow moisture and dirt to leach out.

#7 Sanitize Trash Cans

It’s inevitable that sometimes icky stuff leaks out and crumbs make their way around the bag. But in the rush to get the new bag in there, cleaning it up often gets forgotten. And the can’s lid: Have you looked at it, really looked at it lately? Yuck.

Sanitize with a mixture of soap and bleach (don’t forget to wear gloves!) and, if your can is stowed in a cabinet, use a vacuum attachment to suck up dust and crumbs inside the cabinet box. And wash the cabinet, too. There’s almost always yucky stuff there.

#8 Disinfect Door Knobs and Light Switches

In our quest to clean the deepest crevices of our homes, many of us forget the stuff right under our fingertips all day long. Literally.

Light switches, door knobs, cabinet handles, and remotes are some of the germiest places in your house. You almost can’t clean them enough.

#9 Wash Grocery Totes

And speaking of yuck, when is the last time you cleaned your reusable grocery bags? Studies have found bacteria easily move from your bags to your fridge, countertops, etc. — increasing the chances of food poisoning and cross-contamination.

Throw them in the washer or wash them by hand with hot, soapy water. 

How to Get Stains & Grease Off Walls

Learn how to clean 7 tough stains off your walls — and ensure a lasting paint job.

By: Pat Curry

You can’t wait to cover up that nasty beige on your walls, but as you take a close look at all the areas you’re gonna have to prep you see a lot of grime, gunk, and stuff that looks too stubborn for your standard vinegar wash.

Any cleaning rookie can wipe off dust and cobwebs. But it takes a cleaning pro to scour grease stains, watermarks, and kids’ crayon and ink wall art.

Kitchen Grease on Walls

Grease is an occupational hazard of cooking. If only it wouldn’t find its way onto your walls and cabinets, trapping all kinds of gunk. Yuck!

Good news. Any decent dish soap can remove grease stains on walls.

For small stains, mix: 1/4 teaspoon of soap in a cup of warm water, and wipe. Rinse with clean water, and blot until dry. Clean stubborn grease stains with a solution of 1/3 cup of white household vinegar with 2/3 cup of water.

Dirt and Grime Buildup

The oil from your hands gets onto walls, cabinets, doors, and door frames. A wall eraser, like the Mr. Clean Eraser ($3 for 4 pads), easily wipes away these stains.

Wet the sponge and rub gently to avoid taking bits of paint off with the stain.

Or make your own homemade wall cleaning sponge:

• 1 cup ammonia,
• 1/2 cup white distilled or apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• one gallon of warm water.

Wipe the solution over walls with a sponge (or cloth), and rinse with water. 

Crayons

Wall erasers work like a charm on crayon marks. If they don’t do the trick:

• Rub marks with toothpaste (not gel).
• Erase marks with an art gum or a pencil eraser; use a circular motion.
• Swipe marks with baby wipes.
• Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and scrub marks.

Permanent Marker

Permanent markers are tough to remove from walls. Soak a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and dab the stain. Or spray marks with hairspray, then wipe drips.

Ink

Oil-based ballpoint ink often melts away if you use foaming shaving cream, dry-cleaning solvents such as Carbona, or nail polish remover.

Make sure you open windows when using cleaning solvents and polish remover.

Mildew

Mildew is a fungus that eats soap scum and body oil. To remove from walls, spray with vinegar water: 1 tablespoon white vinegar to 1-quart water. Also, try an enzyme laundry detergent; follow the pre-treating directions on the label. Blot it on the stain, and then rinse thoroughly with water.

Water Stains

After you’ve solved the problem that caused the water stains, rinse with a solution of 1 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water to prevent mold and mildew from growing. Thoroughly dry with a hairdryer or fans. If bleaching doesn’t remove water stains, you’ll have to repaint. Prime the walls with a stain-killing primer, such as Kilz Paint.

Choosing the wrong type of paint finish could mean a do-over that costs twice as much.

Guide to painting finishes. 

(So you won’t waste your money)

Choosing the wrong type of paint finish could mean a do-over that costs twice as much.

By: Pat Curry

There’s a basic rule of thumb to follow when choosing paint sheens: The higher the sheen, the higher the shine – and the higher the shine, the more durable it will be.

Flat paint has no shine; high-gloss is all shine. In between are eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss, each with its own practical and decorative job to do.

Here’s how to choose the right paint sheen for your painting job.

1. High Gloss

The most durable and easiest to clean of all paint sheens, high-gloss paint is hard, ultra-shiny, and light-reflecting. Think appliance-paint tough.

High gloss is a good choice for areas that sticky fingers touch — cabinets, trim, and doors. High-gloss, however, is too much shine for interior walls. And like a Spandex dress, high gloss shows every bump and roll, so don’t skimp on prep work.

Practical application: kitchens, door, and window trim

Durability: very high

2. Semi-Gloss

Good for rooms where moisture, drips, and grease stains challenge walls. Also great for trim work that takes a lot of abuse.

Practical application: kitchens, bathrooms, trim, chair rails

Durability: high

3. Satin

Has a yummy luster that, despite the name, is often described as velvety. It’s easy to clean, making it excellent for high-traffic areas. Its biggest flaw is it reveals application flaws, such as roller or brush strokes. Touch-ups later can be tricky. 

Practical application: family rooms, foyers, hallways, kids’ bedrooms

Durability: high

4. Eggshell

Between satin and flat on the sheen (and durability) scale is eggshell, so named because it’s essentially a flat (no-shine) finish with little lusters, like a chicken’s egg. Eggshell covers wall imperfections well and is a great finish for gathering spaces that don’t get a lot of bumps and scuffs.

Practical application: dining rooms, living rooms

Durability: medium

5. Flat or Matte

A friend to walls that have something to hide, flat/matte soaks up, rather than reflects, light. It has the most pigment and will provide the most coverage, which translates to time and money savings. However, it’s tough to clean without taking paint off with the grime.

Practical application: adults’ bedrooms and other interior rooms that won’t be roughed up by kids

Durability: medium-low

6. Tips for Choosing the Right Sheen

If your paint color is dark and rich but you don’t want a super shiny effect, step down at least one level on the sheen scale. That’s because the darker and richer the paint color is, the more colorant it has, which boosts sheen. Ditto if you’re painting a large, sun-washed, or imperfect wall. The higher the sheen, the more defects will show.

Adding sheen also adds to the cost, usually an extra dollar or two per gallon as you step up on the sheen scale.