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Affordable living is made easy with Aiken Housing Center, a local dealership for modular and manufactured housing since 1984.

Scott Brinson, owner of the business since 1999, stresses his teams ability to facilitate the entire construction process from A to Z.

We do the whole thing, Brinson said. You pay us one time, we take care of everything. We turn the key.

Aiken Housing Center coordinates and oversees all aspects of home construction, including financing, utility connections and land preparation to provide a streamlined experience for customers. The company sells over 200 houses a year, with features like finished sheetrock, 9-foot ceilings, hardwood cabinets and plywood floors.

Its not your grandpas single wide anymore, Brinson said.

In 2024, Aiken Housing Center is celebrating 40 years of reliable community service.

We have been here for 40 years, and were locally owned, said Jeremy Jones, Aiken Housing Center's marketing director. People need to know that these [houses] are available by a trusted business.

Modular and manufactured homes are constructed differently than wooden, stick-built homes, which are constructed primarily on-site. Instead, modular and manufactured homes are constructed off-site in a factory and are then transported to their final location.

Theres a stigma about manufactured and mobile homes, Jones said. But all these homes are built with the same materials as a home thats built on-site.

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Back to Business: Aiken Housing Center offers affordable housing options - The Post and Courier

Piney Woods, a new manufactured housing community in Crosby, aims to put a dent in Houstons affordable housing shortage when it opens its doors this summer.

A collaboration between Affinal Homes and K8H Ventures, the development will offer nearly 400 homes with prices starting at $90,000 for comparison, the average home in Crosby costs $261,804.

We are excited for the opening of Piney Woods, Harry Winslow, chief operating officer of K8H Ventures, said in a press release. Crosby is a beautiful upcoming area, and we are excited to be a part of the community there.

In addition to affordable housing, Piney Woods will offer a number of community amenities, including a community center, parks, sports fields, a swimming pool and walking trails.

Read more from the original source:
Affordable manufactured housing community coming to Crosby - Houston Agent Magazine

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Many people assume they need to have thousands of dollars to renovate their homesespecially if they want to upgrade their kitchen. But one woman is trying to disprove that notion. Lifestyle influencer Camryn Love posted a video to her TikTok account @camryn.love showing how she was able to give her space a new look using just one product from Dollar Tree.

"This renovation was under $30 & made my [kitchen] look so much more brighter," Love captioned her video.

For the remodel, Love gave her kitchen a new backsplash with peel-and-stick wallpaper. She used Main Street Wall Creations Gray Distressed Wood Wall Stickers, which she bought from Dollar Tree for $1.25 a pack.

"Home improvement has never been easier or less expensive! If you like a home with a rustic chic look then you'll appreciate these easily removable wall stickers [that] resemble distressed wood," the product listing on Dollar Tree's website reads. "They are so easy to work with and can be applied to almost any surface."

If you're not sure how to utilize these stickers, Love also showed the before-and-after process of her kitchen transformation. Read on to discover more about the exact steps this Dollar Tree shopper used for her budget-friendly renovation.

RELATED:I'm an Interior Designer and Just Bought 11 Luxe Decor Items at Dollar Tree.

The first step to Love's Dollar Tree kitchen renovation is picking the tiles you want to use since the retailer carries many different styles of peel-and-stick tiles and wallpaper. In the first half of her TikTok video, Love showed a marble hexagon pattern in the store before she ultimately went with the faux-wood style.

Next, Love prepared her kitchen area for the renovation by cleaning all her counters and walls and wiping them down with alcoholwhich she indicated in the comment section could be a crucial step in getting the tiles to stick on securely.

RELATED: Home Depot Shopper Shares $100 Hack to Upgrade Your Kitchen to "Marble."

After you've prepped your kitchen, you also need to prep your tiles. To ensure they fit your individual space, you may need to cut them down to fit your backsplash or carve out areas to fit around outlets. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

Once you cut the tiles to whatever size you need, the last step is to simply peel off the adhesive and stick them to your walland viol! You now have a new, budget-friendly backsplash just like Love.

More:
I'm a Dollar Tree Shopper and I Renovated My Kitchen for $30: "So Much Brighter" - Best Life

At the turn of the 20th century, most kitchens held furniture like wooden dry sinks, tables, ice boxes, and storage cabinets rather than built-ins. These were practical workspaces and beauty wasn't a priority. Most homeowners these days prefer the modern look of built-in cabinetry and aesthetically pleasing countertops, though, like the granite Erin Napier selected for the "New-Stalgic Restoration" project.

When restoring an older house, you can also take inspiration from the pantries of Victorian homes since they were sometimes outfitted with wood, metal, or marble counters. Of these three, marble is the most popular choice these days, but quartz countertops mimicking marble are a more durable choice to consider. Or, you can put marble on the backsplash and another material on the countertops.

If you're seeking a countertop in a darker color with a matte finish, another option is soapstone since it's also more resilient than marble when it comes to daily wear and tear. Honed granite offers a similar aged look with a matte surface that can fit nicely in an older home, too.

Originally posted here:
HGTV's Erin Napier Warns Against This Countertop Type In Old Homes - House Digest

Galey Alix is not afraid to tackle big installs with limited time, and she is a certified fan of ceiling-height backsplashes. After remodeling her own kitchen, which aired in Episode 7 of her new show "Home in a Heartbeat," the star took to Instagram, saying, "Run backsplash ALL THE WAY UP to the ceiling. Always. No question. Give me a reason why one should not." As the image with her caption beautifully depicts, ceiling-height backsplashes add impact, drama, and attitude. They feel very finished off and can even make your kitchen look taller. By taking backsplash tiles to the ceiling and not chopping them off after a few inches, you can create an uninterrupted area that pulls the eye upwards.

Now, there is one reason that keeps backsplashes low, and this is budget constraints. Depending on labor and material costs, you can expect to pay around $1,000 on average for a kitchen backsplash installation. A ceiling-height backsplash is going to cost double, triple, if not quadruple, the price, depending on how tall your walls are. It might sound crazy to fork out for so much extra tile that isn't going to be, well, splashed on. But because uber-tall backsplashes have such a strong visual impact, they can pay themselves off in sheer style alone. If your kitchen needs a focal point, taking your tiles to the ceiling is a simple, chic solution. What's more, there are savvy ways you can save to make financial room for this splurge. For instance, if you were toying with the idea of handmade zellige tile, consider going with cheaper subway tile and laying it in an interesting pattern like soldier stacks or chevron.

See the article here:
Kitchen Upgrades That Are Definitely Worth The Price, According To HGTV Stars - House Digest

Renovation without regrets.

Renovating your kitchen is a great way to add value to your home, especially a full-on remodel. There are so many decisions to make, especially if you have a limited budget. Whether youre planning on selling your home in the near future or you just want to have a kitchen you can enjoy with your family, its a matter of figuring out what renovations make the most sense for you. If youre looking to maximize your budget, here are five kitchen upgrades that are actually worth the money.

Related: 5 Ways to Refresh Your Kitchen Cabinets If You Hate How They Look

Every kitchen needs a place to throw out trash. But having a trash can just sitting out can ruin the aesthetic of your kitchen, especially a recently renovated kitchen. Interior designer Audrey Scheck tells me an integrated trash drawer is worth the money. If you are customizing the cabinetry in your kitchen, integrating a trash/recycling drawer is certainly an area to not skip on. Having a dedicated drawer near the sink makes the functionality of a kitchen seamless, and it saves on the square footage necessary for a bulky, freestanding trash receptacle.

Quartz and other types of composite countertops have grown leaps and bounds in recent years because they have the look of natural stone at a far better price. But nothing beats the real thing, according to interior designer Sarah Stacey. I always suggest real marble over quartz.

Sometimes kitchen renovation projects can be so stressful that we often forget what the kitchen is really forcooking. So, its important to have room in your budget for high-quality appliances that make cooking easier or faster. For example, a high-quality range will have additional features to improve cooking, such as induction cooktops, burners designed to heat evenly, or built-in smart technology.

High-end appliances also tend to have better aesthetics, such as those by Lacornue, which is a brand that Stacey is a fan of. These types of appliances not only improve the cooking experience, but they can also boost the value of your home.

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And while its truly a matter of preference and style, panel-ready appliances are another smart option, according to both designers. Panel-ready appliances allow for a custom panel to be installed on top of a refrigerator or dishwasher to seamlessly integrate them into kitchen cabinetry. Eliminating the visual description of mismatched appliances makes the space feel more cohesive, says Scheck.

Some upgrades arent about what you see, but rather what you dont see. Scheck tells me recessed vent hoods are worth the extra cost and construction. Similarly to panel-ready appliances, recessed vent hoods allow for the exhaust liner to be hidden inside an intentional design element, says the designer. A recessed liner would be installed above a cooktop, then it can be framed around with wood to create any shape you desire. Once the framing is done, the options are endless on how to conceal it, such as plaster and wood painted similarly to the cabinets.

Most of us dont renovate our kitchens very often. So if youre going to invest in it and you arent planning on selling youre home anytime soonget what you want and you wont regret it. If youve always liked hunter-green cabinetsdo it. Gold hardware instead of builder-grade stainless steelwhy not? A built-in espresso maker? If you enjoy an espresso shot every daygo for it.

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5 Kitchen Upgrades That Are Actually Worth the Money, According to Pros - Yahoo Movies UK

Painting kitchen cabinets is one way to give a home an easy refresh without going to the expense and inconvenience of a full remodel.

Updating tired cabinets with paint or experimenting with different colors and finishes can brighten an old kitchen and breathe new life into the family room. Here, we will outline basic tips and techniques to get one started on an easy DIY project, whether you are a pro or a beginner about to undertake your first home painting project.

For starters, one willl need to paint-prep the cabinets, which includes cleaning the surfaces to remove cooking grease/dirt/dust/grime and sanding them to a smooth, receptive surface the paint adheres to.

One will also want to take time to remove the cabinet doors and hardware, and carefully label each with painters tape for reassembly.

Prepping the cabinets is going to be the most time-consuming and crucial part of the entire project, so make sure to stick it out through the preparation process and not jump to the fun part of painting.

Taking due care to prep the cabinets will yield a long-lasting and polished paint finish that one can be proud of, improving the functionality and beauty of the kitchen for years to come.

Good paint and brushes and rollers for painting cabinetry will apply easier and better and last longer for the kitchen cabinets.

Scrub the surfaces of the cabinet to remove grease or grime that may have built up over the years. Next, lightly sand the cabinets this is a very important step particularly if you like a professional-looking finish.

Preferably, paint and prime rather than vice-versa, but there's a case to be made for applying the primer before applying paint when working with stained cabinets.

Priming before painting can seal the surface, improve paint adhesion and help prevent any stains from bleeding through. Choose a primer that's formulated to adhere to cabinet doors, and follow the manufacturer's directions for application.

Thin out the paint by using multiple coats (thin coat one, thin coat two, thin coat three), rather than making thick paint (thick coat one).

So no one gets runs, sludges and other puddles of unapplied mess. Allow each coat to dry fully before applying the next.

Break the work into little sections, several square feet each, so one wont get so overwhelmed by painting the entire kitchen that one ditches the idea of giving the cabinets a smooth, even finish for kitchen cabinets.

When painting around edges, corners, and small detailed areas, slow down, use the smallest brush one has, or a foam brush, and make sure that one continues to smear out drips and brush strokes as one paints them.

If one is painting just cabinet doors, select the cabinet doors first for painting. That way, as they are bare on all sides, one can paint them more conveniently. Also, the access to all sides is better, making painting kitchen cabinets easier.

Each coat needs to have good drying time between the coats of paint and before opening cabinets, so plan accordingly. Dont rush the process, or the of risk smudges, print and even ruining the final look entirely for the kitchen cabinets.

If one is working in an interior, this is a must: no one wants to be breathing in the fumes from the paint and primer. Open windows, and use fans to increase airflow.

Take one's time, and make sure to wait between layers for good, full drying. Dont rush this part, or the finish will show evidence.

When the paint is completely dry, reattach the cabinet doors and labels on the doors, and be sure to guide the hardware in carefully.

If you want a finish on the paint job that will resist stains and scratches, ask the paint store about a clear, protective topcoat for the kitchen cabinets.

Painting kitchen cabinets oneself can be a fine DIY project, an inexpensive way to rejuvenate the kitchen when one is not yet ready for a full kitchen remodel.

As long as one uses good materials, premium finishes and excellent techniques, one can achieve professional results. Eventually, updating one's cabinets by painting them oneself will revive the cabinetry, return appeal to the kitchen and save one truckloads of money.

Read the original here:
How to paint kitchen cabinets? Easy tips, techniques, and other details explored - Sportskeeda

ST. PETE, Fla. When first-time homeowner Chris Whalen got the notice he was being dropped from Citizens Insurance through depopulation and facing yet another rate increase, he decided to be his own advocate to find lower rates.

When Whalen bought his 2/1 bungalow in 2019, his property insurance rate was under $3,000, but now $6,400 through Citizens, and after depopulation, he was facing a renewal with a new company at $7900.

"I lost a lot of sleep, so I kept doing my own research," Whalen said.

Through friends and family, he was referred to Florida Strategic Insurance to shop around for new policies. They suggested Whalen get a home inspection.

He had one in 2021, but didn't realize it was no longer valid.

"I was pretty expected to tell the new insurance agent that I already had an inspection done, and that's when they told me I have to get it redone," he said.

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So he went with Turning Point Home Inspections and passed.

"This is my new quote of $3,600," he said happily.

His new quote is more than 50% less than his renewal quote at $7,900.

"It's almost too good to be true," he said.

Cliff Turner with Turning Point Home Inspectionssaid he's seen rates come down after inspections.

"Especially if you get a clean inspection," Turner said. "And usually what we find in the field, if there is a deficiency, it's very minor."

There are different kinds of inspections, but he suggests homeowners do a combo with a 4-point inspection and a wind mitigation inspection.

A 4-point inspection looks at electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and your roof. Wind Mitigation, Turner said, looks at how your roof will hold up. These are the ones that bring the discounts.

"That wind mitigation would give them additional discounts, and people don't realize that," Turner said.

He added people, like Whalen, also don't realize these inspections expire. 4-point inspections are only valid for one year. Wind Mitigation is valid for 5 years.

"I think that's something that people should know," Whalen said. "Ask them if having an inspection redone at $150 dollars is going to save you a couple of grand in that renewal. Because if it worked for me, I really think it's going to work for a lot of people."

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Can a home inspection bring down your insurance rates? - ABC Action News Tampa Bay

When first-time homeowner Chris Whalen got the notice he was being dropped from Citizens Insurance through depopulation and facing yet another rate increase, he decided to be his own advocate to find lower rates. When Whalen bought his 2/1 bungalow in 2019, his property insurance rate was under $3,000, but now $6,400 through Citizens, and after depopulation, he was facing a renewal with a new company at $7900. "I lost a lot of sleep, so I kept doing my own research," Whalen said.

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Can a home inspection bring down your insurance rates? - Yahoo News

Democratic state lawmakers are pushing legislation to increase state oversight of nursing homes while Republican legislators are advancing a bill that could reduce such oversight.

Both initiatives are being advanced now due to a spate of deaths and serious injuries tied to regulatory violations in Iowa nursing homes. Republican lawmakers say the situation calls for a more collaborative approach to enforcement, while Democrats argue the state isnt being tough enough on violators.

On Tuesday, the House Subcommittee on Health and Human Services reviewed a GOP-backed bill, House Study Bill 691, that would revise the state law that requires the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing to make a preliminary review of a nursing home complaint and, unless DIAL concludes the complaint is intended to harass a facility, make an on-site inspection.

The bill would add new exceptions to the requirement for on-site inspections, allowing DIAL to forgo an on-site visit if the agency concludes the complaint involves an issue that was already the subject of a complaint or a self-report from the facility itself within the previous 90 days. So, for example, if a facility self-reported an incident tied to insufficient staffing or a failure to monitor residents, it might not face another on-site inspection if a resident complained of the same issue two months later.

Another element of the bill would allow DIAL to forgo an on-site complaint inspection if the agency believes the matter can be investigated by phone or through an exchange of documents.

HSB 691 would also require DIAL to provide semiannual joint training sessions in which both state inspectors and industry officials would review the most frequently cited violations in Iowa during the previous year. As part of that process, the state agency would identify for the industry any regional patterns of violations.

In addition, DIAL would be required to establish a new process whereby every citation issued to a care facility for substandard quality of care or for residents being placed in immediate jeopardy would first be reviewed with representatives of the nursing home so they could provide additional context and evidence before top officials at DIAL decide whether to issue the citations.

GOP backers of the bill say the changes would help foster a more collaborative relationship between the care facilities and the state agency thats tasked with enforcing federal laws and regulations that are intended to ensure quality care.

At Tuesdays subcommittee meeting, the three-member panels lone Democrat, Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, voiced support for the bill.

You want to make sure our nursing homes feel like were supporting this, she said. Right now, Iowa nursing homes are making headlines and not in a great way, and so anything that we can do (needs) to make that a more positive transition.

After the meeting, Brown-Peters said she has concerns with the bill, including the provision that could result in fewer on-site inspections. But at the end of the day, Im not sure this bill is going to do anything, she said. Im still concerned were not going to have people out there investigating.

John Hale, a consultant and advocate for Iowa seniors, said Tuesday he is particularly alarmed by the broad language in the bill that would allow DIAL to dismiss resident complaints if they thought they were unreasonable or if they were seen to be harassing. Ive worked with dozens of residents or their family members over the years who are seen as irritants by facility management. The reality is that sometimes you have to be annoying to get any attention or action. DIAL should not be able to simply dismiss the complainants because they continue to complain about issues that are seen as unresolved.

Hale also said hes concerned by the provision that would allow DIAL to forgo an on-site inspection if the same issue was the subject of a prior complaint or self-report. It seems to me that repeat complaints should be seen as a great concern rather than a nuisance, he said.

Another bill, Senate File 2063, that has the backing of some Republican lawmakers would require DIAL to launch, at taxpayer expense, a pilot training program in which the state would pay a portion of privately employed nursing home administrators salaries while those individuals undergo training.

That bill has drawn objections from the former head of the state inspections agency, Dean Lerner.

This presents a conflict on its face, Lerner said. It should be obvious to everyone that DIAL, the nursing home regulator, should have nothing to do with the establishment of, or payment for, a program for trainees who would themselves be under the regulatory oversight of DIAL.

Also on Tuesday, Senate Democrats announced they were backing several newly filed pieces of legislation to address what they called the resident safety crisis in Iowas nursing homes.

Sen. Claire Celsi, a West Des Moines Democrat, said the news media has reported dozens of tragic situations and the Legislature can no longer ignore this The system that we have is clearly broken and its time to fix it.

Celsi said the legislation she and her Democratic colleagues are proposing is necessary partly because Republican lawmakers have refused to hold any Government Oversight Committee hearings on Iowas nursing homes and their oversight.

Among the proposals:

In a written statement responding to the Senate Democrats assertions, Iowa Health Care Association President and CEO Brent Willett said Iowas nursing home industry is committed to work alongside policymakers to ensure Iowas long-term health care facilities are equipped to provide access to high-quality care across our state.

He said federal data shows that Iowa nursing home providers outperform the nation in terms of the federal governments five-star quality ratings for overall performance.

Delivering quality care is a continuous process, and there is always more we can do, which is why IHCA continues to advocate for common-sense policies designed to attract, train, equip and retain more permanent direct care workers in Iowa communities to meet the growing demand for long-term care services and supports.

The stories weve been hearing about understaffing, abuse, neglect and an overall lack of accountability in Iowa nursing homes are devastating and unacceptable, Celsi said. Our states current approach to long-term care is fundamentally broken and failing to protect Iowans. Today, were offering a comprehensive approach that will protect seniors and give Iowa families confidence in their long-term care decisions.

Iowans deserve safe, high-quality care that allows them to live their best lives and age with dignity in our long-term care facilities, but also at home and in their communities, said Sen. Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City. Senate Democrats are introducing this comprehensive package of legislation to provide seniors with the safeguards, options, and accountability, no matter what kind of care they choose.

Continued here:

Republicans and Democrats offer competing solutions to nursing home 'crisis' - Iowa Capital Dispatch