Getting the Basics Right | Essential Improvements for Your Home

When you move into your new home, it’s likely you’ll have a checklist of updates and improvements. It’s an exciting time, and the instinct is to dive in and start making changes. But it would make more sense to prioritize and work on the essentials first.

Fix the Roof

A good place to start with any home repairs is the roof. After all, if you have a leaking roof, any other improvements you make could be compromised. You may be aware of issues already. Or you may want to replace the roof if you feel it’s a little old. Experts such as Southwest Roofing, roof restoration services can evaluate the situation and advise.

Check your roof routinely throughout the year and be aware of any signs of wear or leaks. Blocked gutters can sometimes cause water to overflow and discolor the walls. Make sure there are no plants growing out of chimney tops. Check your loft for signs of leaks. Never climb to the roof yourself. Check from the ground using binoculars.

In addition to providing essential shelter and keeping in heat, your roof is important to the exterior appearance of your home. Old and worn roofs can look untidy. 

Safety and Security

Providing a safe and secure home for you and your family is your main priority. Follow these tips to upgrade your security.

1. When you move into a new home, always change the locks. You never know who previous occupants have lent keys to in the past. It’s always a good idea to start fresh with a completely new set of locks.

2. In addition to locks, make sure all entrance points and windows are safe and secure. Ensure windows can be locked from the inside and move keys away from the window ledge.

3. Install a burglar alarm. Infrared alarms are good if you have pets as they can distinguish between them and an intruder.

4. Make sure any garages and outhouses are locked and secure.

5. Depending on your circumstances and local regulations, consider installing a CCTV camera. This will act as a deterrent to vandals and burglars.

6. Add motion detectors and automatic lighting to the exterior of your property. This will make it safer when you arrive home in the dark. It will also deter criminals.

7. Ensure your heating system is up to code and arrange for it to be serviced regularly.

8. Check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors at least once a month.

9. Check plug sockets and electric cables regularly and replace if you see signs of damage. 

Windows and Doors

Windows and doors are also essential for your safety and comfort. Check for any visible signs of damage including breaks in the seals. Replace any cracked panes to avoid further damage. If you have double or triple glazing, make sure this is intact. Condensation or water between the panes is an indication that they have failed. Also, be aware of any drafts. If you notice problems decide whether to repair or replace.

Starting with the basics will enable you to provide a safe, secure and comfortable home for your family. You can then move onto enjoyable tasks like choosing new furniture and decorating.

Duct vs. Ductless Which Is Better

When you choose a new air conditioning system, you'll find that you have two primary choices for your home. A standard central air conditioning unit relies on ducts, while a multi-zone ductless system is duct-free. While both types of air conditioning systems can keep your home cool, they have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Take a closer look at the pros and cons of each type of system.

Central Systems Cool the Entire Home

This traditional type of cooling system uses a network of ducts connected to a cooling unit in order to distribute the cool air throughout the home. Most central air units are designed to cool the whole home, which can be comfortable but inefficient. Homeowners who want to have greater control over cooling certain rooms or zones more than others can consider investing in zoning systems. These systems incorporate dampers in the ductwork and a series of zoned thermostats throughout the house. Since each thermostat is assigned to a specific group of rooms, this system offers much greater potential for temperature customization.

Ductless Systems Cool by the Zone

Ductless systems have the same goal as central air systems, but their design is significantly different. Ductless systems rely on multiple indoor units or blowers placed in each rooms to provide cooling power. Homeowners can install multiple ductless systems to cover the entire home. Whether they opt for one or more ductless units, these systems make controlling the temperature in each room or one much easier.

Ductless Systems Are Easy to Install

Another positive feature of ductless systems is their ease of installation. Rather than a bulky outdoor compressor and extensive ductwork that can require numerous entry points throughout the home, a ductless system only requires a small hole in the exterior wall. Conduits that run through the opening then join the exterior and interior components. This means that installation is much quicker and easier than the process required for a central air conditioning system. 

Ductless Systems Save Energy

A central air conditioning system that relies on ducts can experience significant energy loss through inevitable leaks, cracks, and imperfections in the ductwork. In fact, statistics from the U.S. Department of Energy indicate that central air conditioning systems consistently lose up to 30 percent of the energy produced from heating and cooling. If you do choose a central air system, it's important to have the ductwork inspected in order to save this energy. To ensure that you don't experience this level of energy loss, consider a ductless system, which is a much more energy efficient system due to its lack of ductwork.

If you're considering installing a new cooling system in your home, be sure to contact a knowledgeable HVAC company. A professional technician will inspect your current system, provide calculations for your home's needs, and advise about which type of system will work best in your home. Experienced HVAC technicians can also advise about thermostat settings to ensure that you save as much energy as possible and make the best HVAC choice for your home.

3 Ways To Avoid Plumbing Disasters

Plumbing disasters are a headache for everyone, whether you're an experienced homeowner or a first-time renter. In order to avoid common plumbing issues, watch out for these common plumbing problems and learn how to prevent the issues in the first place.

Broken Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are convenient tools that let you eliminate kitchen scraps and debris right in the sink. Usually, this is a quick and efficient way to clean up without moving garbage from food preparation areas to the trash can. If used incorrectly, however, garbage disposals can be finicky and difficult to fix. One of the top reasons garbage disposals stop working is that objects becomes caught in the blades. To avoid that, use a drain strainer at all times to prevent utensils, sponges, and other non-food objects from making their way into the blades.

Food items can also clog up disposals and cause problems, especially tough scraps like potato peels. If grease or other buildup is causing problems, flush the sink with boiling water regularly, and make a practice of disposing grease in the garbage instead of the sink.

Clogged Sink and Shower

Some of the most common plumbing maladies, clogged bathroom sinks and showers, result from hair accumulating around and inside the drain. When hair gets into the drain and prevents water from passing through, the drain will begin to back up and stop functioning properly.

Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to address this issue. First, purchase a few affordable drain screens and cover the shower and sink drains. These screens will catch hair and other large debris, and they're typically very easy to clean.

If your drain makes using screens difficult, try sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda into the drain once every few weeks. Follow this up with a splash of white vinegar. This easy DIY clog prevention tool can help cut through the buildup and wash away any hair clogging the drain without adding harsh chemicals to the pipes or to the environment.

Flooded Washing Machine

A flooded washing machine can cause some serious issues throughout your household. Besides cosmetic damage, a flooded machine can lead to mold and other problems. If this happens more than once, it's a good idea to call a plumber to see if a plumbing upgrade can eliminate the issue before it happens again.

If this is the first time your machine has flooded, a faulty washing machine hose is normally the culprit. These hoses cost just a few dollars to replace, but faulty ones can lead to huge leaks and extensive flooding. If you check the hose at least once a year, you should be able to catch a faulty hose and change it out with no issue. Also, if you switch out a rubber hose for a braided one, you'll have a much lower chance of a burst hose in the first place.

Be aware of the common household plumbing issues and understand how to prevent them. With this knowledge in your back pocket, you can stay on stop of these problems and stop them before they even start.

Keep Safety in Mind When Renovating Your Home

Renovating your home is exciting, but it's important to keep safety in mind. Before your home can have its beautiful new look, all the work has to be carried out. Renovations can mean that there are lots of inconveniences in your home. There could be a lot of dust, fumes from paint and glue, and things you could trip over. Whether you're carrying out the work yourself or hiring someone else to do it, you need to pay attention to safety. There are a number of things you can do to make the process safer. Follow the rules below to ensure it all goes smoothly.

Maintain Good Ventilation

Renovations can involve lots of odors and fumes. Breathing in anything nasty isn't going to be good for your health. Wearing masks while working is one thing that everyone can do. However, it's also a good idea to ventilate the space well. Make sure there are some windows or a door open to let in fresh air. Adhesives can cause nausea and dizziness if anyone breathes in the gas they give off. It's also a good idea to cover your furniture to ensure fumes don't become absorbed.

Think About Security

There could be several people going in and out of your house. You might have windows and doors open to ventilate the room. Because of these factors, you need to be careful about security. You don't want anyone to wander in and gain access to your home. Furthermore, if you have hired professionals, you might not know them that well. Perhaps you trust them, but you can never be sure. It's important to be vigilant and keep a close eye on the activity in your home.

Be Careful with Gas Appliances

If you are going anywhere near gas appliances, you need to be extra careful. A malfunctioning appliance could release carbon dioxide, which you won't be able to detect by sight or smell. It can kill if you breathe it in for long enough, so it's vital to be safe. Before you begin any work, get a gas boiler service and have any other gas appliances serviced too. Make sure you have a plan for working around any gas systems. Any work on your heating or similar should be done by a professional.

Keep Pets and Children Out of the Way

Adults might have the sense to behave a certain way around renovations in the home. But children and animals haven't developed that skill. So it's up to you to take responsibility to keep them out of harm's way. You might choose to remove your pets from the house for a while or contain them to a particular part of the house. The same goes for kids, who could stay with someone else or you could put a lock on the room being renovated. Make sure you don't leave anything dangerous lying around, such as tools and materials.

Home renovations will leave your home looking great, but stay safe in the meantime. It's important to plan for smooth renovations.

You've Built Your Dream Home. What Comes Next?

After years of dreaming, planning, and building, your new home is finally complete. All that’s left to do is the final fix of painting and decorating. Right? Wrong. You still have a long way to go to be happily settled in your new home. There is still plenty to do, and you may also have another house to move out of. So what comes next when you’ve just built a new home?

Bills

No doubt this project has been pretty expensive. You don’t want the builders to hold your property to ransom or start expensive court proceedings. Now is the time to start settling the bills. Another reason for getting your payments squared away is to help you identify the exact budget left to complete your home.

Most of us want high end fixtures and fittings when we build our dream property. The trouble is, the building budget can easily spiral out of control and you may not have enough left to do everything you want. When you reach this stage of the build, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. You’re so close to that dream becoming a reality. The last thing you need now is to get into financial dire straits and be forced to sell.

Get the finances in order, and make the payments that are due. Revise your budget, and start pricing up what you want to install at the property. You may still need to fit the bathrooms, kitchen, lighting and sound systems. Has the landscaping been tackled yet? Is your decorator offering you a fixed price, or may there need to be some wiggle room here? This can be one of the most worrying times for a house building project, so it’s important to get the details right.

Paperwork, Certification And Testing

By now your services, plumbing and wiring should all be installed. Make sure you have all the signed certificates and sign-offs from your local authorities handed in. Boilers, electrical systems, and sewer connections all require several signatures to be considered complete. And before you pay the bills, it can be worth testing everything works as it should and that there are no leaks.

One of the most important things to be certain of when you take over the house is that the insulation is installed and to standard. Check the loft space, and ask to see the cavity inspection report. You should check there are no gaps around doors and windows that could let heat out. And be certain all the locks are a smooth action with the right number of keys supplied.

You should also ensure you have a book of all the numbers of suppliers and fitters incase you find something wrong within the warranty period. A simple spreadsheet could be all you need to have peace of mind here. And if you’re very happy with their work and service, why not thank them? Other customers will be keen to hire them if they have good reviews of their work. And if you need any future home improvements, you will have maintained a good, positive relationship with them too.

Decorators and Final Fix Fittings

Most people have chosen their color palette long before reaching this stage. But now is the time to see it come to life on the walls. Many decorators are happy to come in before bathroom suites and kitchens are fully installed. It helps them provide a high-quality finish. Speak to your decorator and painting team as soon as you can about when they will be able to come and complete the job.

This may be the first time they get to see a finished house. They may have to revise their quote for you, so be ready for a little movement in the price. If your decorators are providing the plasterer as well, then you may need to wait a few weeks for the plaster to settle before it should be painted. An empty house with no heat on takes longer to dry out as well. For a very good finish, it’s best to wait the time needed. rather than rushing ahead.

Of course, you may be doing the painting yourself to save a few thousand on the cost of your build. Start at the top and work your way down. It is a very physically demanding job to paint a whole house, so be prepared to take a few breaks. The ceilings are often matt white. This makes the room light and bright without creating a glare from light fittings. You may choose to paint the coving in a brighter white, but the light will create all the contrast you’re looking for thanks to the shape.

Walls should be blocked in before you begin. Many decorators still use tape to create a clean and crisp finish. This can be a very good idea if you’re not very experienced. Most supplied doors, door frames and skirting boards are pre-dipped so they won’t need painting. If you have any spatter or a drip, try dabbing a baby wipe over the area. This is especially effective on glass and metals.

Once the walls are dry, you may be having your flooring or carpeting installed. Make sure you use a good quality underlay. It may cost more, but it will ensure the flooring is protected and warm enough all year round. Threshold bars finish a room and define the boundaries beautifully. Don’t settle for cheapest one, but ones that suit the style of the room.

Packing

Now your home is empty of tradespeople and looking fresh and stylish, it’s time to move in. But first, you have to pack up your old house. This isn’t as easy as you may think, especially if you’ve been living there for a while. One of the best ways to pack is to clear out the rooms that aren’t essential first. These may be spare bedrooms, dining rooms and garages. It’s also important to streamline your possessions. Time to clear the clutter!

It can be hard letting go of all those things you’ve spent money on in the past. But if you can’t see yourself using them in the next year, it’s best to say goodbye to them. After all, electronic items go out of warranty and are superceded by better products. And our body shapes change as we age so we probably won’t wear those old fashion items quite as well anymore.

If you feel you may be stuck for storage in your new place, consider utilizing a local self storage company for extra household items. They can stay there as long as you need until you are settled enough to find space for them in the new property. It’s best to organize these belongings in some way that makes it easy to find when you want them again. Pick a storage facility that is available to you twenty four hours. That way, you can utilize it easier, and keep your new home clutter-free.

On the night before your move, you should have everything except an overnight case packed. The last box packed should be the first box to arrive at your new home. It will contain a kettle (if you need one), a few cups, instant coffees and teas. A few snacks and your phone chargers should be in there too. Don’t forget some bathroom paper, washing up liquid and a dishcloth!

Moving In

Finally, the day has come for you to move in. You may have waited years for this moment. Just getting the plans designed can take months. Then a few more months to have them refined and approved. And didn’t the building process seem to take forever? But now you have the keys. The home is complete. It’s fresh, clean, and ready to be lived in. Perhaps you even set the heating timer to come on ready for your arrival?

Your choice of removal company will depend on several things. But one of the most important things to consider is how careful they will be or your paintwork! Some removal companies pride themselves on speed. But with a brand new house, you may be more concerned with the extra care they will take. You want to be sure there are no scuff marks or muddy boot prints left all over your home.

Many people choose to have brand new furniture delivered to the newly built property. You can choose for this to arrive on moving day. Or you may have it delivered before your personal possessions arrive. It’s important not to bring things you will be replacing or that you won’t need. Selling them, giving them away, recycling them, or storing them in a storage center can be the best option.

Once everything has arrived and the removal team have left, it’s time to sit down and enjoy the new views. Of course, you’re going to need a big grocery shopping spree soon, but that can wait a few minutes. Today is the first day in your gorgeous dream house. Go make the bed, and enjoy what your vision has created.

5 Trendy Options for Revitalizing Your Home's Style

When you want to change the look of your home, you don't have to knock down walls and go through major renovations. Sometimes, the most up-to-date options for revitalizing your home are also projects anyone can complete.

Add Crown Molding

When it comes to making your home feel like new again, small details are important. One big detail you can add to your rooms is crown molding. Crown molding can make any room look finished and complete. It helps bring the walls and ceiling together and gives your room an elegant look. Even better, crown molding can fit in nearly budget. For the biggest impact, look for the widest trim your budget will allow.

Go for a New Paint Color

Painting your rooms a new color is one of the best ways to radically change the way your house looks. For a trendy color, go for lilac gray, which is the spring 2016 Pantone pick. This color adds more interest than plain gray and pairs well with peach and mint — two other popular colors at the moment.

Replace Your Carpets With Hardwood

Wall-to-wall carpet can give a home a warm and cozy feel, but if you're going for an elegant look, you should opt for hardwood floors. When you're picking out a type of flooring, make sure you consider the trim, door casings, and cabinets already in your home so you don't choose a color that clashes with these elements.

Also, be sure to consider how much natural light your house gets. If you have a dark house, a light wood on the floor will help brighten it up, while a house with a lot of windows will get enough light to handle dark floors.

Update Your Kitchen

While a full kitchen renovation can massively revitalize the style in your home, you don't have to go that far for a new look. Painting your cabinets or replacing your cabinet knobs can also make a difference. If you want unique knobs and pulls, skip the big hardware stores and head out to the flea markets or antique shops for something distinctive.

If you're feeling a little short on counter space, you can also build your own rolling bar cart for a trendy addition to your kitchen. Whether your kitchen is rustic or modern, this functional and beautiful piece can give you more storage or provide a great way to serve your guests.

Install New Lighting

A lot of homes come with standard light fixtures that do their job but don't add much in the way of style. While designer light fixtures can add a high-end look to your house, they also come with high-end price tags. Luckily, there are other ways to get that elegant look without spending a fortune. Check second-hand stores and flea markets for unique pieces that fit nicely within your budget. Many times, these fixtures just need new shades or a coat of paint.

If you're interested in giving your home a new look, try out a few of these revitalizing projects to see a difference.

3 Creative Eye-Catching Ways to Hang Your Kitchen Utensils

Every home chef needs diverse kitchen utensils to make different foods for his or her family. Keeping all of those utensils organized, however, is often a challenge, especially when it comes to storing bulky or oddly shaped items.

Instead of giving up and shoving all of your utensils into a drawer, consider how you can use these three creative, eye-catching ways to hang them in your kitchen. That way, they're easy to find and they add style to your home.

Add a Row of Hooks to Your Wall

Your kitchen wall offers plenty of places to hang utensils. By adding a row of decorative hooks, you can display some of your most attractive items, including:

• Spatulas 
• Whisks 
• Tongs 
• Slotted spoons 
• Ladles 

In order to do this, you will need to make sure that your utensils have a way to hang on hooks. A lot of them come with rings built into their handles. This makes it easy for you to hang them wherever you want.

When choosing a place for your row of hooks, choose an area of the room that doesn't get much foot traffic so you don't run the risk of someone bumping into a hanging colander or other large item.

Install a Pegboard on a Wall

If you have an abundance of kitchen utensils that take up a lot of space, then you may want to consider installing a pegboard along one of your walls. This gives you plenty of options for hanging all of your items.

A pegboard can seem a bit drab, so feel free to decorate it by: 

• Hanging pictures along with the utensils, 
• Pasting maps on the surface, 
• Adding small potted plants to the wall, and 
• Painting it a color that complements your kitchen decor. 

Since a pegboard is fairly easy to work with, you can do most of these things within a couple hours or fewer.

Hang Them from the Ceiling

A lot of people create extra storage space in their kitchens by hanging pot racks from their ceilings. There isn't any reason that you can't use the same concept to store your kitchen utensils attractively.

This may seem like a difficult project, but installing a pot rack is actually quite simple once you have the right materials. All you need to do is: 

• Find the studs in your ceiling, 
• Drill holes and screw in enough hooks to support the rack, and 
• Add chain to hang the pot rack at a comfortable height. 

Don't forget that some of your utensils will hang a foot or more lower than the pot rack. You don't want to make it so low that people bump into hanging items.

If possible, you may want to install the pot rack above your kitchen island or table.

A large collection of kitchen utensils doesn't have to take up all of your storage space or create an eyesore on your counters. Decide which of these ways to hang your kitchen utensils will look best in your kitchen. You can install any of them with minimal effort.

Adorn the home with replica seats

With fewer land in your home, then many emerging minimalist style apartment or house. This certainly indicates that the rooms in the apartment or house you are not too extensive. As a consequence, homeowners should think hard to decorate the interior of the house or apartment as possible to factor functionality, neatness and beauty remain unfulfilled.

Seats are household must-have in every home. The chairs are generally used for someone to sit and relax after eliminate the fatigue after the move, along with the development era chair now more varied, many seats were born with one important element of its use Eames chair replica.

This chair is good generally have a solid form and is certainly worth a look, in general solid Eames chair has a guaranteed quality and the price is relatively cheap and affordable. Eames chair is now the top choice in the events, and relax for a moment, because of the size, which does not take huge room Eames chair is able to provide sufficient spare so easily arranged.

For those of you who still hesitate to use the Eames chair, then you can book a seat you need is yourself at furniture stores or people who have expertise in making furniture your order. In this way, besides you can easily determine the design and the materials used to make your Eames chair, you can also determine the price according to your abilities. So it may be easier to get a seat that fits your needs and also you can estimate the price you must pay to have their own seats you ordered it. Eames chair replica can give satisfaction to you will be a contemporary furniture.

With the expected Eames chairs communities are able to use a chair according to their role in each.

How to control your debt properly

Have you a debt problem now? Debt is an obligation that must be paid by everyone who deals with. The person or business entity that provides loans is referred to the creditor. As for the person or entity who receives a loan is called a debtor. So the individuals or business entities that lend money will assume the debt as a receivable.

How to Overcome Debt

The main factors that aggravate the burden of debt is debt interest. Deb interest is varies, depending on the policy determined by the bank and the government. Some of the common factors of debt are rising of inflation, increasing of investment needs and the state of the local economy. “We may not be able to avoid the debt but we can control it”. You must keep the words in your mind.

how to consolidate credit card debt can be divided into two kinds; long-term debt and short-term debt. Long-term debt is usually repaid over a year, while short-term debt is usually paid less than a year.

Here are some ways to overcome the debt: 

Close credit card

Credit card is a replacement for cash payment instrument issued by a bank to facilitate the transaction. By using a credit card, then automatically you are taught to "loan" or "add your debt." To overcome the problem of the debt, the first way is by closing the credit card. Credit will always force us to issue administrative costs even if not used at all!

Priority

Paying debt is an obligation. The next step is to prioritize the payments. In this case pay the smallest debt first. Once already paid, then you can pay greater debts.

Create a list of debts

You should make a list of your debts ranging from the biggest to the smallest. Never forget every single debt you owe, if you do not want to be caught by legal issue.

Avoid settle your debt with another debt

By doing this step; you will support your own financial suicide. One example is paying the debt using credit card released by another bank. This step is the worst step ever made.

Consolidation

Debt consolidation is one solution that can be done. You are recommended to pay one big debt than to pay various small debts. By doing debt consolidation, you can be more focused on paying off all your obligations. You can even rearrange your debt interests!

Sell ​​some of yours

You may have to sell some stuff that can make money, such as car, motorcycle, or even your own home. I hope that some ways above can help you in paying your debt. However you need to instill a faith in yourself that you will avoid debt as much as possible. Therefore do not owe, except in an emergency condition. If you have a steady job, ask your employer to give you extra work instead of giving loans. The last advice is you should make sure you can pay the debt in a timely manner, so you can avoid the fines.

Some ways you need to know in paying off the debt

We live in a world where money makes the world goes round. Along with the world's financial situation that is changing constantly, debt is a common phenomenon for most people. However debt can cause stress and be a burden in the long enough time periods, up to tens of years. Unemployment, poor money management, unexpected medical expenses, shopping over budget, not accustomed to saving are several factors driving someone to go into debt. Debt experienced by most people and they need an effective financial solution to break the cycle of debt.

The first step is to do a debt consolidation referring to taking one loan to pay off multiple debts. The debt consolidation is usually secured with a very low interest rate or fixed interest. There are many companies that can support individuals who are stuck deeply in debt. In a debt consolidation, loans are offered to assist clients in paying back their debts quickly and effectively. The debt experts will assist you in paying back the creditors and steer you to a better direction. This way is commonly known as the best way to consolidate credit card debt

Getting an unsecured loan is a fantastic way to consolidate debt without damaging the long-term goals of your finances. Using this step will allow you to become debt free in a shorter time and to be able to pay one debt instead of a lot of smaller debts. When you receive an unsecured loan, you can pay off all debts and consolidate them into a single unit. Credit cards, car payments, medical bills and others who are already in a critical level, all can be eliminated with unsecured loans. You can choose what you want to pay in advance the debt with highest interest.

The second step is doing a mortgage refinance. If there is a pending home loan, the mortgage refinance is a wise move because it is easy to do. With the help of mortgage refinance, all payments can be reorganized and you will have a reasonable payment. It also helps the borrower to achieve better interest rates in the future.

The third step is doing what called Snowballing Method. This method can be done if we can pay more than the minimum payment. You might need to raise your repayments if you can, ranging from short-term debts in advance. By increasing your repayments 10% only then you can shorten the term of your debts up to 50%.

The final step is to deal with the negotiators. Coping with multiple debts is not an easy business. You will need professional help in doing so. You can find all the information needed on the Internet. Internet is the best source of information ever. You can also seek information you’re your family and friends. Do all the solutions offered with full consideration. Do not let yourself get caught in the financial condition capable of jeopardizing your future. Remember these words! “Everything is not going to change until we change ourselves”. Good luck!

What we can do to pay off our debt quickly

Have you at least a debt? Debt is one habit done by most humans. Debt does not depend on a person's social status, rich, poor, and so forth. Debt bondage can be a chronic for some people. In this article I will explain effective ways to relieve you of debt. Basically, the debt can be divided into two types.


Debt helps companies to finance growth and create the new jobs. Debt allows someone poor to become a doctor, for example. Debt helps young families to buy a house. Debt can also be used to finance the business. Unfortunately, there is a thin line between the debt that can elevate your financial situation and the debt that can ruin your life!

Too much debt can be a cancer in our lives. Some people continue to pay debt interest until there is no enough money left to pay the debt itself. When that happens, they may only be able to borrow more money. If you are one of them then you need to break your dependence on the debt. If you decide to go into debt, make sure you only owe for investment and not for personal consumption.

Debt due to the needs and desires

The most important reason is that you spend more than you earn, so you need to obtain additional funds. Instead of generating your revenue, you actually get a debt. If you have a credit card balance in large quantity, an income to pay it off within one or two years, and has also a good reputation, you may be able to do a credit card transformation to the installments of 0 percent. But you need to use the 0% installments wisely. However, if your credit card limit has been reached then what you can do is seeking help from a best way to pay off credit card debt company.

Some ways you can do to pay off your debt

Start creating a strategy to pay off the debt. If you have limitations, find the debt with the highest interest rate to be paid first. At the initial stage we will focus on paying off the debt with the highest interest. This is done so that you are not overly burdened with high interest rates, which of course complicate your next steps. Once done, you can pay other debts.

You can also pay your debts started from the smallest first. Most of debt experts recommend us to pay at least twice the minimum payment so that our debt will be completed in less than three years.

In the future you should be able to distinguish between the two types of debt, good one and bad one. Good debt is debt aiming to increase the asset, otherwise bad debt is debt used for the purpose of consumption. If we do not curb our willingness to shop, we should cut our credit cards. Debt with high interest can be likened to a cancer. Cutting out the cancer is painful but this way will make our finance condition better.

The well experienced movers Chicago

Moving from one place to other pace will be a very hectic task to the people and their may arise many confusions while moving from one place to other places. It is very important to take unique decisions while moving from one place to other place and the most important decision which must be to select the best moving company. There are many people who do excellent service to their clients while they move from one place to other place. So, it is very much important to select a very good moving company which must help the people in all aspects while they move from one place to other place. There is a best service provider who really helps the people to move to other place easily is the movers Chicago. They are the people who really work a lot for their clients and they try to solve all the worries of their clients quickly and easily.

Experience movers

The Chicago movers are the most experienced people who are doing this service for more years in Chicago. Thus they are very much popular in their field and as they are well experienced in this particular field, they highly satisfy their clients in all aspects

Friendly workers

The Chicago movers often hire friendly people for their job and it is because being friendly is very much important in this particular work. So, all the workers who work in this particular field are very much friendly and they treat their clients with mush respect. All these together made their company to become very popular and to prosper in their field.

Available for 24/7

This movers Chicago are available for everyday and all the weeks of the month. So, whenever a person is in need to move from one place to other, they can greatly prefer this moving company and they can avoid their worries. So, in order to be totally free and avoid tensions in while moving from one place to other, it is very much best to choose the Chicago movers and then quickly move from one place to other place.

Packing, unpacking and loading

The movers in the Chicago not only work upon the moving process, but also they highly help the people in several ways. They do works like loading, packing, unpacking, unloading and so on. Thus, it is the most important criteria of the Chicago movers as they are well talented in all the fields related to moving.

Choose Chicago movers

Thus it is very much better to choose the movers in the Chicago as they are the correct people who help their clients to move from one place to other place. They highly satisfy their customers in all the aspects and they really are friendly to their clients. All these together made them to become very popular in their field and their services are highly spoken by everyone. So, all the movers who move from one place to other need not worry about the tensions and the problems while moving from place to place. Try to get the contact of the Chicago movers and then be easily moved to your destination quickly without any tension.

How to Create a Tight Home Envelope

When you heat or cool your home, you can be wasting a lot of money if you don’t have a tight home envelope. When there are gaps, holes or little insulation in your home, it’s easy for heat to travel in and out of your home when you don’t want it to. Check out these four ways you can improve your home’s energy efficiency by creating a tight home envelope.

Seal Holes in Walls

Small holes in the exterior walls from pipes and cords, such as water pipes, are a common problem in many homes. While small, these holes allow heat to leave your home or cold air to enter. One easy way to fix these tiny holes is with foam spray or expanding polyurethane foam. It’s the same substance as spray foam insulation, but it comes in an easy-to-use can with a long nozzle. Spray a bit around the pipe or cord. The foam will expand to fill the entire space and completely block the hole.

Add Extra Insulation Where Needed 

You may not have enough insulation in your home, especially if the structure is older. This allows heat to simply slip right through the walls and attic. Insulation is measured in R-value, and, depending on your climate, each area of the home (walls, floors, attic, etc.) has its own suggested R-value. For example, homes in Montana should have an R-value of R49 to R60 in the attic, but homes in southern Florida should have R30 to R49. You don’t have to totally replace your insulation if you don’t have enough. Simply determine what kind of insulation you have and how much (in inches deep) to determine the R-value, and then add more insulation until you reach the correct amount.

Fix Holes Around Windows and Doors

You may also discover gaps or holes around ill-fitted windows and doors. Typically people apply caulk around windows and doors, which is fine if the window or door fits well, but if you notice larger holes that aren’t being covered with caulk, grab your can of expanding polyurethane foam again. Use it with or instead of caulk to fill in all the larger gaps.

Seal Holes in Heating and Cooling Ducts

One more way you can improve your home’s envelope is to repair holes in the heating and cooling ducts. About 20 to 30 percent of air in ducts escapes through holes, which is why it’s important to have your ducts checked and sealed. A professional is better equipped to check all your ducts, especially those that are hard to reach, but in the meantime, you can handle some of the repairs yourself if you have ducts that are easy to access. Simply use some mastic sealant or metal tape to cover the holes.

If you feel like your heating and cooling costs are flying right out the window, you need to ensure your home has a tight envelope, and these four tips can help. Get started today by contacting a professional to check your heating and cooling ducts.

Carpets Feeling A Little Ragged? Get Them Looking Brand New With These Top Tips

Our carpets make up most of the floor space in our homes, and this is why it’s so hard to maintain them. They get stood on, walked on, have things dropped on them. The amount of abuse our floors receive is astonishing.

So, if you’re looking at your ragged carpet and want to make it shine, what can you do? You’re in the right place to have that question answered. The following post will run down ten top carpet maintenance tips for people of any skill level. Get on it!

1. As soon as you get a new carpet, vacuum it 

Even though it’s brand new, doesn’t mean it’s clean. You never know where your carpet has been or what bacteria it contains. Aside from this, new carpets contain a ton of loose fibers which can be easily removed by giving the carpet a quick vacuum.

2. And after that, vacuum it regularly

It goes without saying, but you really should vacuum regularly. At least once a week. If you have pets like a cat or a dog, you should probably do it twice. If you have a fish, once will be fine. Obviously.

Dropped food, bedbugs, outside dirt and even our own skin and nails can all be contained by your carpets fabric trappings. So be thorough with that vacuum, for the good of your health!

3. Professional cleaning methods

Sometimes, there’s nothing you can do to those carpets without substantial help. Utilizing a professional carpet cleaning service is a good way to get that help, and get your carpet back to 100 percent freshness.

So, whether you’ve a huge greasy stain or a patch of coffee on the floor, all is not lost. One benefit that professional methods often have over home ones is that they tend to last longer. So if you’re sick of constantly pruning your floor, consider this an option.

4. Getting rid of that chewing gum 

That sinking feeling when you drop some gum on the carpet is horrible. Well, let it be horrible no more! There are a number of handy home solutions that can help you get it off the floor, fast.

Firstly, place a number of fresh ice cubes in a ziplock bag or a tea towel. Just make sure it’s thin enough to be able to let that cold through. Then, place the pack of ice directly onto the gum, for as long as possible. Once the ice cubes start to melt, you should probably stop. All being well, the gum is cold enough to simply be scraped off with a knife.

This method won’t get every tiny piece up, so be prepared to take the scissors to your carpet. You’ll only have to cut off a few of the uppermost fibers, so it should be unnoticeable.

5. Blot liquid spillages as fast as possible!

If you spill something on the floor, jump to action as soon as possible! Get some blotting paper or tissue to mop it up. The quicker you do it, the less likely it is to make a stain. If you want to sell your home quicker, a dirty carpet will not help at all.

6. However, if a liquid spillage causes a stain…

If there is a slight stain, you can use a number of home cleaning methods to get it off. You can mix vinegar and soap, or use a store-bought cleaning product. A lot of these are actually quite good at getting rid of stains permanently, so don’t fret if you spill something.

7. No shoes in the house people! 

Around 39 percent of shoes contain bacteria that is resistant to many antibiotics. I know right?! And all this time you’ve been allowing shoes in the house. There’s no telling just what they will bring in with them, and there’s no telling just what our carpets are harboring in their fibers.

So consider investing in a shoe cupboard, or just insist on placing shoes by the door. On top of cutting the bacteria entering your home, this will have several other benefits. You won’t have high heels dragging along the floor, damaging your fibers, for starters.

8. Utilize a steam cleaner

You can use steam cleaners to clean almost every surface in your home, and carpets are no exception. They’re compact, easily storable devices that can turn even the most stained of floors into something fresh.

Steam cleaners heat up the water in their containers to over 200 degrees fahrenheit, so it’s hot hot hot. This high heat will then pick up any stains or marks on your floor, that previously may have been hard to remove.

Most surfaces are porous, and the steam can penetrate these pores like no other cleaning method can. The heat will weaken the connection between the dirt and the material on your flooring. So, think about adding a steam cleaner to your carpet-cleaning arsenal.

9. Carry appliances, don’t drag them 

Whether you’re bringing a new cupboard into the house or are shifting the Christmas tree, don’t drag it along the floor. This can damage the fibers of the floor and make it down very, very quickly.

Always try to lift heavy items off the floor and carry them that way. Your carpet will receive no damage this way and will look all the better for it. If it isn’t possible to lift it, or you’re on your own, then you can try something else too. Try sliding some cardboard or an old pillow underneath the part of the item that touches the carpet the most. This way, you’ll reduce the impact the weight will have on your carpet’s wear.

10. Put down a rug to take the brunt of the force 

If you have a huge TV on a stand, or a large table, or indeed a couch, that heavy bit of furniture is slowly wearing down your carpet. One way to stop this constant wear is to move the furniture around, but if this isn’t practical, then you have one option left.

Put down rugs to take the brunt of the force. This way, your expensive carpets won’t be constantly under fire, and a cheaper rug can take more of the weight. Of course, the rug will then be worn down, but at least that’s easily replaceable.

Designing your IKEA kitchen

We are out the other end of our IKEA kitchen design & install and hindsight, as you know,  is a wonderful thing. Our family joke is now we are ready to tackle an IKEA kitchen. This is the first of a series of posts around the design and installation of our new kitchen.

 Design is key

Without good design any reno is throwing good money after bad.  If you haven't really thought out how you want to work in your kitchen,  and how you want it to look overall, no matter how well you install it, you won't be happy. 


 I hope some of my musings, and what I learned as I worked through the design process, will be helpful to you if you are planning an IKEA kitchen as a renovation project. 

Get what you want by designing well 

Know what's hidden

Know the bones of your kitchen  so there'll be no surprises. We wanted 90 inch pantry units and had a bulkhead with pot lights in it.  I kept nagging my husband to have a look, and I was so glad because to our surprise we found vent work.  Just enough to cause me to move to 80 inch pantries.  Not a happy camper letting go of my floor to ceiling pantries, and needing more filler pieces to accommodate what was available in that height pantry.

We were also planning to keep our current footprint and we knew that the flooring did not extend under our cabinets. 

That meant we had to get all our cabinet measurements correct and use fillers to make it come out even.  If you have an island or peninsula and are keeping your existing flooring,  it is even more important to do careful measurement in terms of depth. We found out we could not have a toe kick on the back of the peninsula so the cover panel had to extend to the floor.  

Analyze your current kitchen 

Make a list of what works and what annoys you in your current kitchen layout.  For everything that annoys you, you should try to come up with a solution if possible. It is easier and more cost effective  to keep appliances where they are, but sometimes their placement is part of the inefficiency. Our cooktop and oven were in a major traffic area, and it was downright dangerous when we entertained.   You could also see the stove top from the dining room; I am not a tidy cook. We chose to flip the refrigerator to the cooking area, and make that area into a wall of pantries with the refrigerator centred.  The perfect solution to storage in a walkway.

80s cooking area 

Standard sizes for pantries 

Fridge and pantries

80s layout of kitchen across from cooking area 

Moving appliances meant hiring an electrician, but it was worth it. 

 Everyone expected me to move my sink under the window, but that would have meant a very squat prep area if the stove moved to where the fridge was.  When I stand at my sink now I have a view of two prominent St. John's landmarks - Signal Hill and Cape Spear.  Why would I want to exchange that for a view of my neighbour's house? Now I have a huge prep area and I can make all the mess I want when I entertain.  Perfect planning!

Several friends brought up the idea of "updating" to an island.    I like my kitchen to myself when I cook, even when I entertain.  No island for me, and it could have happened in the space without too much effort.  Personal choices are important in design.  I made an entertaining hang out area by removing the half wall in pic below and opening it up to the family room. 

Another big problem for us was  a bottleneck area  at the end of the peninsula because of a contractor error in the initial construction. The wall by the oven was  built 10 inches too long and changing it was complicated and expensive because it contained pipes, heating and air exchanger vent work, plus light switches.   When we redesigned we took three inches off the length of the peninsula to open up the walkway.   That was possible because we had floor tile left over.  

Visit an IKEA store 

By chance we ended up grounded for 24 hours in Toronto when returning from a trip.  We took advantage of that time ( a year before our reno) to check out everything kitchen related.  I took over a 100  pics of things that interested me, and  I kept referring to them as I designed.  If you can't do that, find someone who has designed and installed an IKEA kitchen and go for a chat.  I managed to find two people who were obliging, and it was helpful even after the store visit. 

Start a reno board on Pinterest 

Look at various IKEA kitchen layouts and cabinet styles online.  Think about  improving storage options especially if you have a smallish kitchen.  Pinterest is a great resource and you can pin everything you see on one board.  Consider a secret board so you can make comments and track ideas or a shared secret board if you have a design partner.  Check out my Kitchen reno board here and a previous post about Finding your decor style.

Find inspiration pictures

Your kitchen should meet your needs in style and function.  Make it yours.  Here are two pics that helped me refine the look I wanted. They are not everyone's cup of tea!

Create a vision 

Many people just go headlong into a reno and don't stop to think about their design aesthetic.  What kind of feel do you want in the space?  What style of cabinets and layout suits that feel? What is the rest of your home like?  Are there interior aspects of the cabinets that will add to how you want to feel in your space? 

After all the cabinets and gray horizontal lines in my old kitchen I wanted something  visually quieter this time around. 

 The two photos above illustrate "the feel" I wanted : uncluttered, quiet, airy, bright, calm and minimal,  but with elements of warmth and nature. These are the words I kept in my head throughout the design process.  I wrote them  down and checked my decisions against them constantly.  You will probably have other words entirely, but have  descriptive words as benchmarks for decisions.

I really wanted a kitchen that flowed from the rest of our house  and reflected our arty, organic and calm decor style. 

• Uncluttered ...lots of thought to interior storage options and eliminating "stuff" you don't need 

• Airy ... an absence of upper cabinets so your eye moved around the space 

• Calm and bright...  from colour and style choices and layout

• Warm and quiet ...   no laminate, granite, or other hard surface counters 

• Organic...  from natural products like wood, cork, plants etc.

 Stick to your vision 

A reno is a headache in many ways, and you will reach a point where you are fed up and want to take the easy way out.  Don't.  Take a break from it and look at the problem with fresh eyes.  Make all decisions based on your initial concepts for the space.  

Work out a rough sketch on paper

Perhaps it's my age and my visual art training, but I begin everything with paper and pencil.  I found the kitchen booklet  we picked up at IKEA a great help when doing this because all cabinet sizes were listed and you could plainly see what was inside  each one.  There is an online version.  I didn't spend a lot of time at this stage,  just enough to decide on the flow and placement of drawers or doors. 

Refine your sketch in the kitchen planner

I work  with design apps all the time, but I found the IKEA kitchen planner very frustrating.  It had lots of little glitches, and if you have an island or  peninsula as I did, the cabinets kept wanting to line up by a wall.  I was also working on a MAC.  In the end I refined the plan enough to send to IKEA and get the order made, but it never looked pretty.

 Imagine working in your new kitchen 

Once you have a preliminary design in mind, consider it the next time you bring home groceries.  Is there a place for everything.  If you are entertaining, is there a place for all those things you only use every now and then?  Prepare an imaginary meal and clean up. Are your movements efficient? Have you solved all the design issues in your previous kitchen?

Explain your design to someone outside your family 

Walk through your design with someone outside the family and explain your layout decisions. This really helped me confirm that I wanted things the way I thought.  You also have an opportunity to question the IKEA staff when you order your kitchen. They were super helpful when I called.

Record your questions before IKEA ordering 

I had at least ten questions recorded for clarification when I called to place my order.  Many of them were of a confirmation type, making sure I had interpreted the cabinets properly and that I could do what I wanted to do. 

And yes, you will have more than one design.

 I'm happy to answer any questions or hear your comments about your IKEA kitchen design suggestions. 

The big reveal is coming up in the next post and yes, it was worth all the thought, frustration and mess.... 

Spring Maintenance Tasks You Need to Start Considering

Spring is the season of renewal, so there really is no better time to start some maintenance tasks around your home that will keep your property looking its best. When it comes to spring maintenance, though, it’s a great idea to have your HOA take a look at your house’s exterior, from the roof all the way to the foundation, to make sure everything is in ideal condition for the upcoming summer season. Continue reading to learn more.

Look for Damages Caused by the Winter

The winter season can be brutal on your home, so the spring is the perfect opportunity to see if there has been any damage left behind from the wind, snow, ice, and freezing temperatures your house had to endure.

A good place to start is by looking at the roof, which you can do surprisingly easily using binoculars rather than climbing up to it. You should keep an eye out for missing, curled, or loose shingles, damaged or bent flashing surrounding your chimney or any points where the house makes contact with the roof.

Also make it a point to clean the downspouts and gutters of debris that may have collected over the course of the previous season, as the spring showers will cause problems if you don’t. And, finally, inspect the chimney and foundation of your home, repairing crumbles and cracks you find along the way so you can prevent bigger problems later on.

Touch Up Your Home’s Exterior Paint

In addition to doing some spring cleaning indoors and perhaps even revamping a room or two with a fresh coat of paint, you can go a step further and maintain the appearance of your home’s exterior this spring. After all, the paint on the outside of your home is exposed to all of the elements, and the winter is a harsh season that really takes its toll on the paint of your house, your sheds, and your fences.

Take a bit of time to look for any areas that need to be retouched. Applying a fresh coat of paint will ensure that every part of your home looks fresh and new, and will also prevent long-term damage. Also, to prevent having to revisit this aspect of your maintenance plan every single year, you should follow the steps to prep, prime, and repaint with the best products for long lasting results.

Spruce Up Your Landscaping

The great thing about working with an HOA like http://ift.tt/1S4AtU7 is the fact that they can hire landscaping professionals who can make your property look its best throughout every season of the year.

Springtime is the perfect opportunity to remove overhanging branches, as well as those that are damaged or dead, in order to make way for new growth. Again, experts will have the tools necessary to get this type of work done right and to ensure the plants on your property grow their best.

If you keep the above tips in mind and you work with your HOA, you can be certain that you’re doing everything you can this spring to ensure that your home will look fantastic.

Building Your Dream Home? Read This First

Having a home built from scratch is something a lot of us fantasise about. However, very few people actually follow through. When you start to plan such a big project, it’ll be easy to see why! There are so many details which need to be worked out and potential pitfalls to guard against. If this hasn’t scared you off, then here’s some important advice for having a new home built.

One of the first things to do is choose an architect. These professionals don’t come cheap, so getting this out of the way can help a lot with the planning. Obviously, you’ll want them to have a building style which fits with your vision. This can range from new, emerging firms to award winning architects; it’s a big market out there! Once you’ve found a building style you like, you need to make sure they can deliver! Try contacting building firms and contractors who have worked with the company before. Ask about what their experience was like. It helps if you know your architect has built in the area you’re looking at too. This will save you from any set-backs involving the local planning authorities.

When the plan starts coming together, make sure you don’t brush over the kitchen. In any home, the kitchen ends up being a main focal point. Therefore, it’s not the best place to try and save money! A lot of renovations and changes can be done at a later date. However, remodelling a kitchen can be incredibly expensive after the fact. If you get the kitchen of your dreams built in the first place, you’ll save a lot of money in the long run. Whatever countertops, cabinets and other features you want, start planning them well ahead of time. It won’t be cheap, true. However, knowing how much money is going into the kitchen will give you a more solid plan for other areas.

Finally, make sure to choose the location of the master bedroom wisely. A lot of people, when having a house built for the first time, neglect this. Failing to choose the right place for your bedroom is one massive regret you’d have to live with. Keep it as far away from any noise and traffic as possible. Don’t make it near or above the garage if you enjoy lie-ins anywhere as much as me! Ideally, it shouldn’t be too close to any central living areas of the home. This might sound pretty tough if you’re planning to have the home on a single level. If this is the case, your best bet is to position the master bedroom at the very back of the home, or as far from the street as possible. Get this right, and it will save you all kinds of hassle in the future.

I could go on and on about having a house built from scratch. Still, these three tips will steer you away from a full-on disaster. Keep at it, and soon you’ll have a home that’s perfect for you!