Many people find choosing the right color scheme to be the most overwhelming part of their home decoration process. After all, you have to consider furniture, doors, drapes, and other items before you pick any color. But it doesn't have to be all that difficult, a few simple rules can see through it with ease.

Start with a neutral shade as your backdrop and then build on by adding other contrasting colors with art and accessories. You will need to work with a color wheel and determine what color scheme of the color wheel you want to use. The monochromatic scheme involves using different shades of a single color of the color wheel. The analogous color scheme consists of using colors that appear next to each other on the color wheel to create a colorful arrangement. You may also decide to do a contrast scheme that consists of using a triad of contrasting colors. For a bolder look, use the complementary scheme— two opposing colors for the interior.

You should also consider how the lighting will change the appearance of colors within your home at different times of the day. You may have to use sample swatch cards in the colors you are thinking of using, or paint on to a card in that color and carry it around the house, testing it in different lighting conditions. Before you commit, you may even decide on painting small areas of each room to see how the colors will complement each other around the house.

Having decided on the colors you want to use, you should look at how it will flow into the general design of the room. Bear in mind the kind of furniture and upholstery you either already have present in the house or you intend to purchase. Your colors have to fit in with these generally so deciding on the exact shade of color you want should come last in what you are doing. 

The entire process should not be a stressful one if you put enough planning into it. Visit with paint professionals in the paint store and ask how each color complement each other. You can bring home as many test samples as you can until you find your perfect mix. Remember, however, at the end of the day, the final decision lies with you. Your color scheme should reflect you, seeing as it is your home. So, don't hurry, take your time to reach the decision.

If you are choosing colors to sell your home, ask your real estate professional about trending neutrals in your area.

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In this day and age, there’s no reason to have to worry about forgetting to pay your bills on time. There’s also no reason to have to write a check or even log into a website each month to pay your bills.

Using a combination of digital tools, it’s possible to fully automate your bill-paying process so that you can spend less of your free time trying to remember your passwords and entering debit card numbers and more time doing the things that make you happy.

Benefits of auto-pay

There are plenty of reasons to automate your household bills. More free time and less time stressing about money are two of them. But, did you know that automation can also be a great way to help you boost your credit score?

Late payments on mortgages, student loans, utilities, internet, and cable bills can all negatively affect your credit score. By setting up auto-pay, you can make sure you make your payments on-time, helping to build your credit.

Another huge benefit of bill automation is that you can actually earn money and other rewards by making on-time payments.

For example, setting up your bills and utilities to charge to a credit card with cash back rewards can help you earn money by paying your bills. The one caveat is that you need to make sure you pay off your credit card balance in full each month. How do you do that? With auto-pay!

Where to automate

As I mentioned before, many monthly bills can be charged to a credit card which you can use to earn rewards. However, you won’t be able to use a credit card for all of your bills. Mortgage payments, student loans, auto loans, and oftentimes utility companies will require a checking or savings account with a routing number.

In these cases, it’s still possible to set up auto-pay through either the company’s website, or through your bank’s bill-pay feature.

Need help with a list of things you could be automating? Consider setting up auto-pay or bill-pay for these services:

• Cable

• Internet

• Cell phone

• Electricity

• Entertainment (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Spotify, etc.)

• Rent

• Mortgage

• Student Loans

• Insurance

Automation of the future

So, we’ve covered some of the most common ways to automate your home expenses. However, recent technologies are making it even easier to run your home and keep up with the bills.

One new innovation is Amazon’s Dash button. This service enables you to just tap a button on your smartphone or tablet whenever you need to order new pantry items for the home. Alternatively, you can subscribe for common household goods like cleaning productions, paper towels, and dish soap so that you never run out. And, with Amazon Prime, you don’t have to worry about shipping costs.

Between home automation and auto-pay, you should be able to make your home significantly easier to manage and reduce the amount of stress related to paying the bills.

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You need a brand-new pool liner. Perhaps you're bored with the one you have already. Or maybe you're purchasing a new swimming pool and seeking to find out everything you can about how to pick the ideal pool liner.

It is sometimes a tricky choice, and it is among the main decisions you will make for your pool. You require a lining that looks gorgeous, has excellent durability, and is a fantastic fit.

Here is the way to pick the ideal pool liner in 4 simple steps. 

Pick your tile 

The pool lining's tile layout can accent your pool. However, you may discover that it takes away from the appearance you desire. Your personal preference is all that matters — there is no wrong or right choice here.

You might also pick a lining with all the tile segments eliminated. You will have a simple, dark strip of lining between the waterline and the border of the deck. In the ideal position, that plain appearance can be magnificent. As waves set off a gorgeous reflection, your tile-free look may set the pool off from your backyard.

But, say that you want a tile look. It has to look good — now you merely must select which one. There are plenty of alternatives: colorful patterns vary from heavy blues to milder earth tones.The first thing that your guests will notice is the tile. It is the only portion of the pool liner that is over the waterline. Unless you are highly confident on your memory, take samples into your yard to observe how they would look after setting up the pool.

Select a tile layout which compliments your entire property.

Pick the color of your water 

The color of the pool liner will influence the watercolor appearance. And that is a significant design element.Listed below are a few color palettes to think about— and how they will change the watercolor.

• Luxurious blue designs would be the most fantastic. If you'd like sapphire-blue water, then you will likely wind up among the deeper blues. It is a ubiquitous color array.
• Vibrant blues possess the most glow — with some glimmering effects. They will offer your water a lively tropical hotel appearance.
• Mild blue swimming liners glisten with invitation. In the event you want to keep a pale blue watercolor, consider a mild blue lining.
• Aqua patterns are purple colored; however, they produce a gorgeous turquoise or cyan blue water shade. The color brings the Caribbean island water into mind.

Pick your stairs

It is possible you love the contrast between a darker pool liner and white stairs. Or you may wish the stairs not stand out a lot. Consider how you would like your pool to look when complete. You've got the choice of making your staircase coated with the swimming pool liner. If you'd want a unified appearance, this is the thing to do. Along with the match of this lining, it is critical for well-being.

Pick the thickness of your liner 

The thickness of your pool liner is necessary for longevity. Your swimming pool liner likely won't fail if it is too sparse. Instead, chemical damage and UV exposure may lead to higher wear. The thickness will not keep these from happening.

Follow this guide to pick the perfect linear material for your swimming pool.

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A home inspection report may prove to be a difference-maker for a property buyer, and for good reason. With an inspection report in hand, a property buyer will need to decide whether to proceed with a home purchase or rescind a homebuying proposal. Therefore, a property buyer must allocate time and resources to review a home inspection report so he or she can make an informed homebuying decision.

Ultimately, there are many reasons why a homebuyer should trust the final results of a property inspection report, and these reasons include:

1. A home inspection is conducted by a property expert.

A home inspection is conducted by a property expert who will perform a deep evaluation of a house. As such, a home inspector will provide a homebuyer with a comprehensive report that details his or her findings.

For homebuyers, it often is beneficial to search for a top-rated home inspector. This inspector likely will provide an in-depth report that outlines a house's strengths and weaknesses. A homebuyer then can use this report to make an informed decision about how to proceed with a house.

2. A home inspection is used to assess all aspects of a house.

A home inspection generally takes several hours to complete. During this evaluation, a home inspector will look at a home's foundation, heating and cooling systems and other aspects of a house. By doing so, a home inspector will be able to identify any underlying issues with a residence.

It usually is beneficial to ask questions during a home inspection as well. If you strive to learn from a home inspector, you can boost the likelihood of making the best-possible decision about whether a house is right for you.

3. A home inspection offers insights that property buyers may struggle to obtain elsewhere.

Although a homebuyer may visit a house more than once before submitting an offer to purchase, a home inspection represents a learning opportunity unlike any other. A house inspection enables a homebuyer to examine a residence both inside and out with a property expert. Then, this buyer will receive an extensive inspection report that he or she can review prior to finalizing a house purchase.

If you're preparing to search for a home, you may want to hire a real estate agent. This housing market professional will be able to guide you along the homebuying journey. And once you reach the point where you need to conduct a house inspection, a real estate agent will help you find a top home inspector in your city or town.

Of course, a real estate agent will respond to your homebuying concerns and questions too. As a result, a real estate agent will help you take the guesswork out of buying a house.

Ready to find and purchase a home? Before you finalize a house purchase, perform a home inspection – you'll be glad you did. Because if you review a home inspection report, you can determine the best course of action relative to a home purchase.

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If you’re a first time homebuyer and want to start weighing your mortgage options, you’ll have much to learn. With so much at stake, you’ll want to make sure you choose the best mortgage for you now, and one that will still suit your needs years into the future.

Sometimes, first time buyers are hesitant to ask questions they may consider too basic because they don’t want to seem inexperienced to lenders, agents, or anyone else they’ll be in contact with throughout the home buying process.

So, in this article, we’ve compiled a list of commonly asked mortgage questions that first time buyers might want to ask before heading into the process of acquiring a home loan.

What is the first step to getting a mortgage?

This question may seem straightforward, however the first step can vary depending on your financial situation. For those who already have saved up for a down payment and built a solid credit score, the first step is probably contacting lenders and getting preapproved or prequalified.

However, if you aren’t sure about your credit score and haven’t saved up for a down payment (ideally, 20% of what you hope to spend on the house), then you should address those matters first.

To find a lender, you can do a simple Google search for the mortgage lenders in your area, or you can ask around to friends and family to find out their experience with their own mortgage lenders.

What does it mean to be pre-qualified and pre-approved?

If you think of the mortgage process in three steps, the first step would be getting pre-qualified. This means you’ve given the lender enough basic information for them to decide which type of mortgage you’re eligible to receive.

Pre-approval includes collecting and verifying further details. At this step, you’ll complete a mortgage application and the lender will run a credit check. Once you’re pre-approved, your file can be moved to the underwriting phase.

What are closing costs?

“Closing costs” is an umbrella term that covers all of the various fees and expenses related to buying or selling a home. As a buyer, you are responsible for paying numerous closing costs. These can include, but are not limited to, underwriting fees, title searches, title insurance,  origination fees, taxes, appraisal fees, surveys, and more.

That sounds like a lot to keep track of, however your lender will be able to give you an accurate estimate of the total closing costs when you apply for your loan. In fact, lenders are required to give you a list of these costs within three days of your loan application in the form of a “good faith estimate” of the closing costs.

What will my interest rate be?

The answer to this question is dependent upon numerous factors. The value of the home, your credit score, the amount you put down (down payment), the type of mortgage you have, and whether or not you’re paying private mortgage insurance all factor into the interest rate you’ll receive. Interest rates also will vary slightly between lenders.

You can receive a fixed-rate mortgage that does not fluctuate throughout the repayment term. However, you also typically have the option to refinance to acquire a lower interest rate, however refinancing comes with its own costs.

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