How Important Is a Land Surveyor for a Buyer of a House?

A property survey is required by most mortgage lenders in order for you to receive the cash that you need to purchase a house. Land surveyors are the licensed professionals who prepare surveys for property. The questionnaire serves as the legal graphical depiction of the property you are buying and allows you to observe each of the features of the property you are going to purchase from an overhead perspective.

Function

Surveys show the many different improvements on the property, such as the house and garage and the size of the lot, or the property your house is located on. Any variances, or uneven boundary structures and lines, are said on this particular instrument. The property surveyor will study legal records pertaining to the property, such as deeds and property records recorded in the local county recorder’s office, even when preparing the questionnaire. The surveyor will visit the property to perform measurements and verify the truth of any existing property records, according to HUD.

Legal Effects

Surveys are all vital in resolving property disputes about where your property ends along with also a neighbor’s land begins, as per LandSurveyor.US. You, as the purchaser, may use a questionnaire to deal with items owned by neighbors that are interfering with your property, such as a lost fence. There is A survey used in court. The survey may be employed to decide if you can legally add attributes to the property after purchase. A huge item, such as a pool, may infringe on the neighbor’s property if the magnitude of the lot you are purchasing has uneven borders. Building structures that cross into a neighbor’s property can expose you to a potential suit and additional expenses if you end up having to move the merchandise.

Restrictions

Many areas have defined restrictions which impact the property you are getting. Zoning restrictions are rules relating to property features and use imposed by a government jurisdiction. Zoning restrictions typically cover a designated area, such as a street or an whole neighborhood. Violating zoning restrictions may result in penalties and legal action in the imposing jurisdiction. Surveyors are usually knowledgeable about such restrictions and indicate any probable offenses on the survey, providing you time to deal with the problems with the proprietor before you purchase the property. Building restrictions are rules imposed by local governments or the property developer about how the house and other structures, such as a garage, may be built. The surveyor will analyze land records relating to construction restrictions to determine if the property you are buying is subject to construction restrictions or currently is in violation. Common constraints include a setback, or just how far the house must be in the front or sides of the lot, and dimensions regulations on improvements, such as a maximum width and height to get a drop. You can submit an application to your construction restrictions to be waived from the issuing thing before you buy the property, in some instances.

Property Rights

Necessary items that are used by two nearby properties, such as a frequent driveway or walkway, are disclosed on the survey. The surveyor will identify how much of the shared element is located on the property you are purchasing. This disclosure allows you to value the impact of the shared element on the property before purchasing, such as who is responsible for the expense of maintaining the joint item and the estimated amount of your part of these fees. The property surveyor will ascertain if any known easements or rights of way directly influence the property, as per the California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. Easements and rights of way are rights to the property given from 1 property owner to a nearby owner, owners, or a business, such as a utility business. Rights of way are usually for permitting entities or persons to pass over the property. Easements are usually for property access and placement or use of a construction. The survey will let you ascertain who has these types of rights to the property you are buying and for what purpose.

Factors

The surveyor can identify any problems with the property’s present legal description, or the description of the property you are buying in phrases and dimensions that’s used for important legal documents such as the deed, according to the California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. The deed is the legal instrument used to show your ownership of the property. A mistake in the legal description could result in you getting an inaccurate deed in the time of purchase, such as a deed that doesn’t comprise all of your premises. A deed that has errors can cause you problems in the future, such as in a property dispute, and will need to be refiled to correct, for which there is normally additional filing fees. Pins or pipes, which have been placed by preceding surveyors, are occasionally used as references in legal descriptions to establish property boundaries. The present surveyor will verify the locations of these pins or pipes prior to your purchase to guarantee the items have not be transferred by prior owners.

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How to Find a Mortgage With a Low Credit History

Following the actual estate market dropped in 2007, borrowers faced strict lending requirements that demanded excellent credit histories, large down payments and dependable sources of revenue. And while constraints have loosened slightly, prospective home buyers should still be ready to prove that they are creditworthy–a challenging task for people who have a low credit history. The good news is that negative information on your credit score isn’t permanent, and favorable changes in your credit habits will start having an immediate effect on your score. Mortgage lenders use things to determine loan eligibility. Borrowers with a good income and loan downpayment will frequently find that procuring a mortgage with a bad credit history is potential.

Pay bills on time each month–especially those for credit cards, student loans or automobile loans, which directly impact your credit score. Showing an ability and willingness to pay bills on time is a positive first step in enhancing a low credit history. Lowering credit card accounts and fixing inaccurate information on your credit report may also help strengthen your own score.

Save as much money as possible for financing downpayment. Borrowers that will put forth a 20 percent downpayment on a conventional mortgage will probably be more likely to be accepted by creditors. If you’d like to quality to get an FHA-insured loan, you’ll have to have at least a 3.5 percent downpayment and a credit score higher than 500.

Contact a mortgage agent to assist you in obtaining a mortgage. Mortgage brokers work by helping you qualify for a mortgage and calling lenders. Agents have a lot of experience helping people secure home loans also will be able to recommend for you effectively. Be ready to pay a fee for this service, but which will be due upon the mortgage closing.

Examine homes which are within your budget. The lower your mortgage payments are in regard to your income, the greater confidence a mortgage lender will likely have in your ability to repay the debt. A mortgage broker or lender will be able to help you decide the maximum realistic mortgage amount to your circumstances. There are also various online mortgage calculators that can offer you a rough estimate of how much you are able.

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How to Compare Real Estate Values On Your Area

The values of property are constantly changing, and it is important to stay informed of the value of property on your neighborhood. If you’re a homeowner and considering refinancing or selling, understanding the present value of your house is a essential part of process. Homebuyers also need to be educated as far as home prices so they can submit a strong and competitive supply on a house without overpaying.

Pick specific criteria to use on your comparison; for example, a set number of bedrooms and baths or a approximate square footage and lot dimensions. Notice the status of the home including what upgrades it may have. This standards will become the basis of your comparison.

Use the world wide web to help you to find the sold deals in your neighborhood that satisfy your criteria. Sites like Trulia.com and Zillow.com listing sold houses in your town, including houses marketed by owner, foreclosures and short sales. Enter your criteria in the research fields along with also a listing of houses meeting that standards will appear. Decide on a set of about five houses to make your comparison.

Visit open houses on your neighborhood and follow their progress until they are offered. Seeing the data online or on paper is 1 thing, but getting to know these houses in person will help you make a strong comparison. For example, two houses may have the same bedroom and bath count, but one may have a layout that makes it feel more spacious. Additionally, it may have more natural light. They certainly do affect the value of their property, although these items may not show up on paper.

Consult a local realtor and have her put together a comparative market analysis (CMA) for you. There’s not any fee for this. Pick an agent who specializes in your neighborhood, as he will already be familiar with the sold houses in that area. The CMA will provide you the details of each home, the listing cost and the offered price. It will give you the amount of days each home was on the market, and it will provide you averages in each class. The most important homes will be those that have sold in the last six months. In a marketplace that’s changing very quickly, you may only want to use the houses that have sold in the last two or three months.

Keep the CMA and use it as a basis for the future comparisons. Use the typical sales prices as your guide. Consider the details of the houses when determining where it falls in the listing. Beyond your basic standards, consider the status and age of the roof, kitchen and bathroom upgrades, flooring, and parking areas. Always examine holistically reports and property inspection reports to help you see what work the property needs.

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What Are the Rules on Foreclosure?

Foreclosure is the legal process by which a lender takes back ownership of a home or property for nonpayment of a home mortgage. A homeowner who fails to make payments on time and in full as specified by the home mortgage agreement could be subject to an action of foreclosure. Lenders must follow specific legal processes in order to foreclose on a home.

Non-Judicial Foreclosure

Non-judicial foreclosures occur when a court action is not required under state law. In states like California, where deeds of trust are used, the deeds and the mortgage loan documents generally contain language that gives the lender the ability to market the real estate in the event the mortgage payments cease. This is known as a”power to market” clause. The creditor must file a notice of default at the recorder’s office in the county where the land is situated 90 days prior to moving forward in the non-judicial foreclosure process, according to section 2924 of the California Civil Code. After 90 days, the creditor has to publish a notice of sale in newspapers or other public places in the property’s county for 14 days. This notice must have a statement of the goal to foreclosure, property address, and the name of the borrowers. The lender must send a note to the debtor along with other creditors that have an interest in the property, like another mortgage agent, at least 20 days before the date of the public auction. The proprietor could stop the foreclosure by paying all arrears up to five days ahead of the date of the auction and gets the right to postpone the sale for one day. There are no rights of redemption, or the right of the homeowner to purchase the property back from the Realtors, in non-judicial foreclosures in California.

Judicial Foreclosure

Judicial foreclosure is not uncommon in states where deeds of trust aren’t used, such as New York, but this kind of foreclosure is used in California when acts of trust do not contain power of sale clauses. This type of foreclosure requires the creditor go through legal proceedings in court. A creditor must file a notice of intent to foreclose to open a court proceeding. This document is Called a notice of pendency of action, or Lis Pendens, per section 872.250 of the California Code of Civil Procedure. Much like non-judicial event, the lender must notify all parties, publish a notice of sale, and adhere to the time frames for book and other matters about the foreclosure per section 2924 of the California Civil Code. The creditor must obtain a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, a court order signed by a judge that legally allows the foreclosure to proceed to a sale at auction. In a judicial foreclosure, the owner has the right to purchase back the land in the winning bidder for one year following the date of the sale.

HOA Liens

Liens of homeowner’s associations, or HOAs, could be foreclosed on by the institution. Homeowner’s institutions are corporations in proposed developments, like condominiums, to which every homeowner pays fees for solutions. In California, the HOA must file a lien for past due fees in the county recorder’s office where the land is situated. A copy of the lien document has to be mailed to the unit owner and other interested parties, like the mortgage creditor, within 10 days of the listing of the lien. Thirty days after the lien is recorded, the HOA can petition the court for a judicial foreclosure, or use an authorized deductions to get a non-judicial foreclosure. A trustee can only be used in the event the prosecution had been identified in the lien document, along with his name and address, per section 1367 of the California Civil Code. Homeowners are granted the right to redeem the land for 90 days following a non-judicial foreclosure by the HOA, per section 1367.4(c)(4) of the California Civil Code.

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Types for Real Estate Sales

A variety of forms are used in a property sale. A real estate agent is generally enlisted to help in the sale and is responsible for ensuring all forms are executed. Unless otherwise negotiated, the vendor is usually the one responsible for paying the real estate agent’s commission if the home sells. States have various laws that govern the selling of property, and at times require various forms. It’s wise to hire an attorney to review all forms before signing them.

Exclusive Listing

Prior to set your house, a real estate agent will require you to complete and sign an Exclusive Right to Sell Contract. Essentially, the contract says you will pay a specified commission to the real estate agent upon the sale of the home. It also states you will use only the named property agent to sell your property.

Franchise Disclosure

In the event the real estate brokerage you’re working with has a connection with a third party franchise, the brokerage must disclose this connection. Sometimes a brokerage might have a monetary interest in a lending, name or other company that a vendor might decide to use in the real estate trade. The brokerage must produce a form suggesting the third party interest, and sellers must sign, admitting the connection.

Seller’s Disclosure

Federal property laws require vendors to complete a Seller’s Disclosure and State of Property Addendum. The form requires vendors to disclose the present condition of the house, details regarding HVAC and other systems, and problems with the property where the vendor is aware.

Lead-Based Paint

Sellers of homes built before 1978 must complete and sign a Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Addendum. The form requires vendors to disclose or deny knowledge of lead-based paint on the house. Buyers are required to acknowledge receipt of this information and determine if they will waive the opportunity to execute lead-based paint inspections.

Multiple Listing Service

Often sellers are required to complete a Multiple Listing Service, or MLS, form. It details the description and place of this house to be listed for sale. MLS is a somewhat standard service provided during the U.S.. It encircles certain metro areas and enables the sharing and viewing of property listings by property professionals and others who subscribe to this ceremony. The MLS form assists the real estate agent in correctly listing the home in the MLS system.

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How to Report Landlords

The association between a landlord and a tenant can on occasion be tested by conditions, misunderstandings or bad communication. You may realize which you will need to report the landlord to get violent or abusive behavior, unsafe conditions or financial misdealing, to a higher authority. Agencies are offered for your protection as well as to aid you in finding a resolution to the conflict.

In the event that you believe that you are in risk of abuse, call 911. This is applicable whenever your landlord actually comes to a door or informs you he’s coming and threatens you in any way. Allow the police sort out the circumstance. You may have the ability to take the landlord to court by filing a complaint against him, and keeping him from harming another tenant in the future.

Record every communication you have had with your landlord when it comes to unsafe conditions on your building, including broken windows, leaking plumbing or poor wiring. Section of your leasing contract is that he’ll continue to keep the house in a livable condition. You cannot go to the government and complain that a landlord is doing something wrong, if you can’t prove you’ve complained to the landlord . Otherwise, the court will excuse him”for not knowing there was a problem.” List the essentials of every communication, even recording phone calls, time and the date. Wait a few days to follow up and complain again. You may then call your regional building inspection bureau to send out an inspector, in case your landlord is still stalling, and the inspector will force him to repair the damages.

Contact your regional health department to report that your apartment has an infestation of rodents like mice, rats, bats, roaches, ants or any other disease-carrying creature, in addition to any suspected or visible mold. This should only be done as soon as you’ve communicated with your landlord, maintaining a written record of every communication and allowing enough time for the landlord to take action.

Stop by your city, county or town office and discover out how your county manages financial misdealings in case you have proof that your landlord isn’t being honest in his trades with you. Different jurisdictions have different means of dealing with fraud and misconduct . Do not be scared to report your landlordby reporting him you may have the ability to stop him from accepting any additional benefit of you or other tenants.

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Quitclaim Deed: Release Dower Rights

Quitclaim deeds are legal tools for co-owners of a house to reassign full ownership of their property to only one of them. Because quitclaim deeds are frequently used between spouses, though, it’s essential for the parties to be fully away what every one of them is losing or gaining in terms of common law dower rights which will be automatically negated because of submitting the quitclaim.

Quitclaim Deeds

If co-owners of a property, often a husband and wife, wish to transfer ownership of the house to just one of them, they do this by submitting a quitclaim deed. This deed is simply a valid, notarized statement that lists one of the co-owners as the”grantor” and another as the”grantee.” Additionally, it lists the property under states and question whether a financial transaction took place in exchange for the shift in ownership.

Dower Rights

Colonial America brought with it a practice from England known as”dower rights.” Property holders were typically men. Property ownership at a man’s death was transferred to his eldest surviving son or, if there was no son, to his eldest daughter’s husband. Dower rights promised that upon her husband’s departure she’d still continue to have the right to reside in the house in which she was living, or that she’d benefit financially from the property’s sale so she’d have any income to live on. In early America, dower rights equates to a one-third interest in the house and any income generated from it. What this meant was that if a husband died and there were claims by others against the house to settle his debts, any property he held could not be foreclosed or forced into sale while his widow still lived, because she’d unassailable dower rights in the house. Dower rights persist America to the day, even though they’re also now applied to widowers as well as widows. These rights are strong enough that mortgage lenders won’t grant a property loan to one spouse solely unless the non-owner spouse signs away their dower rights. The creditor doesn’t wish to maintain the position, if it need to foreclose on the house, to need to wait to settle it because that the non-owner spouse steps forward and claims dower rights.

Releasing Dower Rights

In the case of a quitclaim deed association involving two spouses, the grantor is releasing any dower rights which would have been bestowed to the grantor throughout common law on the grantee’s death. Thus, a grantor must consider carefully the potential future consequences for submitting a quitclaim deed.

Dower Rights and Inheritance

In reality, most spouses now won’t claim dower rights because they usually are called in the deceased’s will as getting a much larger (or complete ) share in the deceased’s property. In cases like this, the surviving partner will waive any dower rights forthcoming in order to take full advantage of their inheritance instead. Quitclaim deeds are frequently used in divorce settlements, and grantors of such deeds need to understand that registering the deed means signing away dower rights, which further means there will be no entitlement to the property for the grantor upon the ex-spouse’s (grantee’s) death.

Contesting the Quitclaim Deed

The grounds upon which a grantor (or heir of a grantor) may competition a quitclaim deed are if the deed was signed under duress, or if the deed did not meet the legal requirements for its filing (e.g., it had been signed [forgery], the property description was left blank, etc..)

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What's a Mortgage Modification and How Is it Done?

The homeowner and the lender must agree to modify a mortgage note. The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, or RESPA, a national law regulating banks, forbids mortgage lenders from modifying or changing a mortgage note in any way without the homeowner'therefore approval. This prevents the creditor from increasing the interest on a mortgage.

History

When the real estate bubble popped and the nation descended into the downturn of the late 2000s many homeowners found themselves not able to cover their mortgages. The Barack Obama administration created the Making Home Affordable application, which provided government incentives for mortgage lenders to modify mortgages.

Function

The Making Home Affordable modification plan was made to help homeowners fighting to make their mortgage payments prevent foreclosure. The modification changes the loan’s details indefinitely. The modification may change the rate of interest, the loan amount or both.

Prerequisites

The homeowner must reside in the house as a principal residence, must have obtained his current loan before Jan. 1, 2009, must have been at least 30 days late on a mortgage payment in the last year, and must owe no more than $729,750. In addition, the current mortgage payment must be more than 31% of the homeowner's gross annual income.

Applying

Homeowners must contact a Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor and get free counseling. Homeowners can contact HUD at 888-995-4673 to get a listing of free home counselors. The homeowner must then complete the application for modification, 4506T-EZ, and provide the current mortgage lender with evidence of income.

Benefits

In the event the homeowner participates, the lender will temporarily modify the loan so the payment is no more than 31% of gross income. A trial period will ensure that this payment is affordable as well as the homeowner is willing to make the payments. The loan indefinitely modifies after the trial period is completed successfully.

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8 Beautifully Different Tub Materials for Bath-Time Luxury

Who made up the rule that bathtubs have to be white? If you love a good soak, make your bathtub the standout feature on your own bathroom. A marble, metal, wood or glass bathtub makes an instantaneous design statement and is truly a luxurious place for a bubble bath.

Take a peek at those eight stunning tubs to obtain an idea about what an unbelievable bathtub can do for your space, regardless of your design style.

Abramson Teiger Architects

Wood. Wooden baths, usually made from waterproofed marine wood, include unexpected warmth to stone and tile bathrooms. This rectangular bathtub works well with an Asian-influenced design, but I love that it may feel classic, too.

Saint Dizier Design

Copper. Copper’s durability and natural patina have led to its significant comeback in the last decade. This oval bathtub allows the material’s understated luxuriousness to shine. Inspired by black river stone, the mirrored aluminum tub is perfect for this particular bathroom’s indoor-outdoor feel.

Inc, workman interior design

Marble. Although marble is often thought of as a traditional material, this freestanding white marble bathtub has a distinctly modern look. The circular design flows with the curved exterior wall of the bathroom. The round shapes contrast well with all the angles around flooring and the doors.

Stern McCafferty

Glass. Take your toilet to a whole new level using a low glass panel that comprises the water. Tiled walls and floors and a safe glass setup make it totally waterproof and amazingly sturdy.

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Diamond Spas

Stainless steel. This slick oval soaking tub provides the toilet an industrial shine. Although stainless steel durability and easy maintenance are huge pluses, homeowners may also appreciate how the alloy helps bathwater remain warmer longer.

James Cleary Architecture

Barrel. This oval teak bathtub looks exactly like a wine barrel but a little more luxe. The elongated design makes it extra comfy; this bath could even host more than one bather at one time.

studiotrope Design Collective

Sunken. Construct your bathtub in your bathroom floor by sinking it into under floor level. This bath is formed from concrete, then tiled for aesthetics and comfort. This can save you the frustration of installing a bathtub while offering you the benefits of a built-in feature — such as the corner seat and measure here.

Rock. Want to really go all natural? This bathtub was carved entirely out of a boulder. An installment such as this is completely incredible but clearly expensive (and could cause some difficulties with flooring support). If you love the look, you can purchase a similar-style acrylic version for a fraction of the purchase price.

More: 19 Dream Tubs for Bath Lovers

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Home Setups Which Serve You: Designing the Entryway

It’s easy to believe you have to live like a robot to have a beautiful home, but that is not true! The design for your home should always support your distinctive lifestyle. Designing a house that embraces your life and appearance is simple: Notice how your home is.

I always encourage my clients to note their daily routines so we can establish a space to best serve them. Do your shoes never appear to make it into the bedroom? Do backpacks get left on the ground by the entryway? Do your jackets just get thrown onto the nearest piece of furniture? Don’t berate yourself. Only notice. Then you can make design decisions that will help make your life simpler, less stressful — yes, even more aesthetically pleasing.

Oak Hill Architects

Examine Your Entryway

Are shoes, purses, backpacks and scarves piled up? Are there any heaps of mail? Would you never appear to find your keys? Notice what you need when departing and notice what you naturally do when you come home. Don’t judge: simply observe.

MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc..

If you throw everything back on the closest surface when you buy home, chances are that all your design solutions will need to involve a couple of steps maximum. More steps from the entry than that, and you likely won’t stick with your strategy.

MuseInteriors

Very seldom do people change who they are. And customs take a long time to break. You can guarantee yourself you will walk into the office together with the mail and organize it like a responsible adult, but nevertheless there it is, all stacked up in the front door.

Why set yourself up for failure? Just accept yourself exactly as you are and make your home function you, “bad” habits and all.

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Choose the Right Systems for Your Items

Once you’re clear on how you use your space, you can choose tools and systems to accommodate your customs.

Terracotta Design Build

Usually people need to figure out what to do with items such as shoes, purses, backpacks, umbrellas, coats and mail. Organizing needs could be addressed fairly easily, but you have to be truthful with yourself.

Corynne Pless

Consider your requirements and the setup of your home. Maybe you don’t have a back entry, and one of your requirements is a gorgeous front entry that can also function you with storage. Relax — it is likely to have.

Molly Frey Design

Coats. You might believe the answer to your coat stack is to hang your coats at the coat closet. But when it actually comes down to it, will you? Maybe the act of opening a doorway, pulling out a hanger, putting your coat on the hanger and then hanging it back in the closet will only be bypassed for the one-step option of throwing it onto a chair.

If you know this about yourself, choose a one-step coat-hanging option, such as hooks.

Peregrine Design Build

Shoes. Maybe putting shoes away in the bedroom closet seems like the standard thing to do, but who cares? This is your home, and if using a space for all your shoes near your door functions you better, then it is the right option.

Not many houses have the space for shelves such as these, however you can always outfit a front closet with shelves for shoes or add a stand near the door for shoes you wear every day.

Viscusi Elson Interior Design – Gina Viscusi Elson

Mail. I’ve a customer who uses baskets just like this in front entry; she awakens in all the catalogs and magazines that arrive in the mail throughout the week. On Saturday mornings she takes the basket into her kitchen and travels through it while she drinks coffee. It keeps her organized with minimal work.

Rachel Reider Interiors

The little things. A set of little boxes displayed on a table is a fantastic tool! Boxes can hold anything : secrets, mail, even cosmetics. Again, this is placing your house up to serve you. If you hurry out the door each morning, and having your mascara near the doorway is the easiest thing, who will say it is wrong?

Corynne Pless

Employ Your Plans

Once you know your demands and have chosen the tools that could serve you best, it is time to pull all together.

G&L and Sons Renovations

Be adaptable. Don’t be afraid to think creatively in regards accommodating your requirements. I have one customer who keeps each the family’s multivitamins near the doorway. If they can not catch them as they’re walking out the door they neglect to consider them.

That’s not where most people maintain vitamins, however that location serves her family.

Kimberley Bryan

Be stylish. Additionally, it never hurts to make an impression. If you have to store something out in the open, do it with style!

Jamie Laubhan-Oliver

You can not view them, but mail, keys, makeup and multivitamins are hiding in those drawers.

More: Are You Currently a Piler or a Filer? A New Way to Think About Organizing

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