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Did you know that two-thirds of homeowners user their outdoor spaces for relaxing?

If you have an outdoor space, it’s only natural that you’d want to enjoy it! There are endless ways to style your outdoor space, whether you want a lush garden or trendy patio space.

Vintage gardens are particularly trendy right now, especially if you are aiming for a farmhouse-style home. But what’s the best way to design a vintage-style garden?

We’re here to help you out! Keep reading the guide below for five vintage garden decor ideas!

1. Metal Sculptures

There’s something about metal sculptures that scream rustic. They’re the perfect ornament for walkways and patios.

If you check out your local antique shop, you’re sure to find a metal sculpture that strikes your fancy. Many vintage metal sculptures are modeled after animals, but you can always make your own with scrap metal if you can’t find one you like!

2. Practical Vintage Garden Decor Ideas: Chairs

Wire-framed chairs are a popular choice for vintage lawn decor. They are sturdy and the perfect size for a small to medium-sized planter. Succulents are an excellent plant to pair with wire-framed chairs.

Not only can you use vintage chairs as unique planters, but you can also pair them with a retro table to create a cozy sitting area. For truly one-of-a-kind vintage design, consider bamboo folding chairs. These are perfect for anyone looking for a simple, outdoorsy design.

3. Vintage Water Feature

If you’re enamored with Italian water gardens, why not bring some of that flair into your own garden? A vintage water feature is a great way to bring some water into your garden without carving out room for a pond.

If you want something really dramatic, a vintage water fountain is a right move. However, if you’re looking for more lowkey vintage garden decor ideas, opt for a vintage birdbath.

4. Vintage Decor for Evening Garden Parties: DIY Lanterns

LED fairy lights have become trendy as an accessory to drape over pergolas and hang around patios. If you like the concept of fairy lights but want a more rustic feel, DIY your own little lanterns.

Vintage lanterns can be easily made with mason jars. Making your own custom lanterns opens you up to many possibilities, from hanging lanterns with tealight candles to sitting lanterns with battery-run LED lights.

5. Vintage Planters

You can use any number of vintage pieces as planters. Some of the most popular pieces are bicycles with baskets, clawfoot bathtubs, and rustic wheelbarrows.

If you want a smaller planter, seek out some vintage fruit boxes. They make excellent hanging window box planters.

For more traditional planters, use vintage metal buckets. If you want to add even more vintage charm, position small metal buckets on alternating steps of an old ladder. Add some creeping ivy around the ladder, and you have the perfect vintage garden centerpiece!

Creating a Vintage Garden Dream

With an abundance of online and in-person stores selling antiques and refurbished decor, it’s never been easier to create a vintage-inspired garden! The guide above will help you as you search for vintage garden decor ideas and plan your own dream landscape design!

For more articles on home and garden design, check out the rest of our website!

Did you know that the average life expectancy of solar water heaters is 20 years? This is much longer than the standard electric and gas water heaters available. One key thing to keeping it up and running for a couple of decades is learning some tips to help keep it in it’s best condition.

Keep reading to learn our top tips of maintaining your solar water heater.

1. Drain the Tank

A couple of times per year you want to make sure that you remove the sediment and debris that builds up inside of your water heater. In order to do this, you want to shut off the cold water supply and hook up a hose to the drain valve and run the water into something else such as a bucket until the water runs completely clear.

If the water is still foggy or has a white tint after a while of running the clean water through it, open the water supply valve for a little bit to stir up the extra sediment. Then, drain the tank again.

If you are not sure how to drain the tank you can have a reputable company like Marathon Plumbing do it for you.

2. Examine the Rod

There is an anode rod inside a water heater which is what helps it heat the water up. Every couple of years you want to loosen the hex screw and remove the rod to inspect it.

If the rod is less then 1/2 inch thick you will have to replace it, or if more than 6 inches of the steel wire is showing. If you notice that the anode rod has a coating of calcium you will also want to replace it.

3. Prevent Scaling

Something that will affect the performance of a liquid or hydronic-based hot water system is scaling. Scaling can also cause the valve and pump to fail on the potable water loop. One way to avoid scaling is by using water softeners through the collector every three to five years.

You can also use a mildly acidic solution like vinegar and circulate it through the collector of the hot water loop every couple of years.

4. Pumps or Fans

You want to always make sure that the distribution pumps or the blowers are working. You can listen to them to see if they turn on when the sun is shining on the collectors. If you do not hear them operating then the pump or blower has malfunctioned or the controller is not working right.

Feeling Like a Solar Water Heaters Pro?

Now that you know more about caring for solar water heaters, you can start shopping around for the perfect water heater for your home and needs. Keep in mind that your unit will require periodic inspections and maintenance to keep it running at its best potential and efficiently.

If you are ever in doubt don’t be afraid to contact a qualified technician to help you.

Did our article help you out today? Please browse around our site for some more helpful reads.

The air is starting to get a little chillier, and it’s almost time to break out those fall sweaters.

It’s important to enjoy the fall while it lasts, but we have to keep another, less enjoyable, fact in mind; winter is right around the corner. That means it’s time to start prepping our homes to stay cozy and safe.

We’re going to explore some tips for getting your home ready for winter, hopefully saving you some money and effort with the possible home damages that the season can bring.

Let’s get started:

How to Get Your Home Ready for Winter

We’re going to look at 7 key tips that should have you ready for the blistering cold. Your house might be unique, though, so be sure to do a walk-through of your home and check for weak spots before you declare yourself winterized.

1. Invest in Pipe Protection

The biggest risks that winter poses are burst pipes. A small investment to insulate your pipes can make a huge difference down the road. Many pipe burst situations can cost upwards of $5,000 dollars to fix.

When it comes to home winterization, taking care of your pipes is the first thing you should think about doing.

2. Think About Swapping Out Screens

One great way to keep the heat in and the cold out is to install storm windows. Storm windows provide another barrier against airflow and certainly do a lot more than screens to insulate your home.

If you’re not interested in investing in an entire set of windows, our next option might be more enticing.

3. Window Plastic

Window plastic is a cheap, effective way to prevent air from flowing through creases in your home. Particularly useful for windows, plastic simply requires that you cut and tape pieces up around your openings.

You can take care of your entire house for something like $100, depending on how many windows you have.

4. Reverse Your Fans

It might seem counterintuitive, but a fan can actually serve to keep the heat in your home where you want it.

Reversing your fan will create an updraft and actually work to keep the heat down near the floor of the room where you’ll be sitting. If your fans reverse, give it a shot and see how it works.

5. Insulate Extra Spaces

Attics and crawlspace are big energy-sucks if they’re not insulated.

It wouldn’t hurt to hire someone to get out and take a look at your attic situation to see if you’re losing heat. Even if you don’t notice it, uninsulated attics can take a significant amount of energy over the winter.

6. Consider Possible Ice Dams

Another issue that pertains to the attic is ice dams. Soffits are a great help in keeping airflow through your attics and preventing them from getting too hot.

When too much heat sits in the attic, it seeps up to the bottom layer of snow on your roof and melts it. That melted snow runs down and collects, only to freeze. This process can lead to huge roof expenses and damages.

7. Clear Out Gutters

Gutters are also a hotspot for ice dams. Simply clearing and repairing your gutters can save you a huge headache.

Ice dams are far less likely to build-up in gutters that are free of clutter.

Need More Home Improvement Tips?

Getting everything ready for winter is a small investment that saves you stress and money. There’s a lot more involved with maintaining your home, though. We’re here to help.

Explore our site for more home improvement tips that will keep you cozy all through the year.

Are you dealing with a death in the family? Perhaps you need to downsize as the kids move out of the house.

Regardless of your circumstance, an estate liquidation can produce fast money. Knowing how to liquidate assets requires planning, organization, and research.

Ask yourself about the purpose of the liquidation. Are you worried about creditors and liquidators seizing your assets?

You should also wonder about the size of your estate and the value of each item. Further, consider the labor and expenses needed to market your items and price them accurately. Above all, find reputable professionals to help you throughout the estate process.

This article will reveal the best estate liquidation tips. Let’s explore.

Conduct an Estate Sale

An estate sale is the fastest way to get the cash you need. It’s also a good option if you don’t have life insurance. However, estate sales can be lengthy and time-consuming.

Without complications, however, you can receive the proceeds in a few days. To learn about estate sales, talk to an agent first. A representative can tell you if listing your estate is a viable alternative.

If it’s the right decision, a professional can help you through the listing phase. Overall, they can help you with the following duties:

• Organizing items for sale
• Setting up the sale
• Attracting interested buyers

In other cases, an agent can provide valuation services. These services will also help you maximize your sales goals.

They also have the resources to hire clean-out crews if necessary. More importantly, hire a professional with experience in estate liquidation.

With or without an agency, go through every item you intend to sell. Go through all areas of your home: the attic, the garage, the shed, the basement, etc. You may have valuables around the home that could fetch a high price.

• Note: Hire an appraiser if you’re unsure about the valuation of an asset. If you have gold jewelry, for example, consider a trustworthy gold exchange market to get a fair valuation.

When it comes to valuation, know the outcome of a sale before you proceed with the transaction. Estate sale agencies will take a certain percentage from the sale.

The transaction may also come with other fees. Therefore, confirm all fees upfront before proceeding with an agent.

Auction the Home

An auction is a great option if you intend to liquidate a house. With that, you can auction other items besides a home. Auctioning is also a suitable choice if you’re pressed for time. Plus, auctions have a higher sell rate than estate sales.

Be aware, however, that you may receive lower market value for your items.

In other cases, a buyer could bid higher than the market value. If you’re concerned about the lower valuation, choose a controlled auction. A controlled auction allows you to establish a base price before you sell the asset.

Regardless of the auction type, an auctioneer will market your asset to the public. An auctioneer has the resources to advertise to many types of buyers.

An auction can attract local buyers, national buyers, and international buyers. The auctioneer may conduct the transaction online. Also, the auction could take place on-site or in a gallery.

You can also ask an auctioneer about the value of your estate and how much you can receive. An auction comes with a fee structure as well, but you can negotiate.

Hiring a Real Estate Attorney

A real estate attorney can help you liquidate an estate seamlessly. Attorneys can be helpful whether you’re conducting an estate sale or choosing an auction event.

They can also ensure that auctioneers or estate agencies give you a fair deal. Additionally, legal counsel can help you get the maximum value out of each item you sell.

• Example: The estate sale process isn’t tightly regulated compared to auctions. There are no licensing or insurance requirements for estate companies. However, an attorney can confirm if an estate sale transaction is ethical.

An attorney is especially necessary if you have complex assets. Since estate laws vary by state, legal professionals can also educate you about laws specific to your state.

They can also help you reach long-term estate goals. For example, they can tell you if a bundle sale is a right choice.

Selling Your Estate in a Bundle

This option is useful if have a large estate and many possessions. A bundled sale allows you to liquidate all assets in a single sale. From there, you can offer all assets to a single buyer.

Choose this solution if you need fast money. With that, not many buyers have the resources to participate in bundle sales.

Buyers who typically engage in bundle sales are group buyers or investors. If you intend to sell a property, the good news is that more investor buyers are looking for estate sales.

The Distinction Between Buyers and Dealers

You can get a better deal by selling to an individual buyer. A dealer is in the business of finding the best bargain possible. As a result, you may not get the best deal.

If you’re selling a home, for example, an investor buyer may offer a price far below market value.

Dealers in the home-buying business usually want to buy low-priced homes and upgrade the properties. After, they can sell or rent the properties at a higher value.

With that, dealers may be a better solution if you’re dealing with a financial emergency. Dealers are more likely to find creative solutions to your liquidation problems.

If you don’t want to sell any of your possessions, you may have options if you have financial investments.

Liquidate Stocks or Bonds

You can liquidate assets on the financial markets as an alternative. Your investments and/or retirement benefits are also assets.

You can sell stocks to raise money when necessary. You can also obtain cash if you have a retirement account (i.e. IRA).

An IRA, for example, has limitations when it comes to withdrawing cash. Under normal circumstances, you’ll pay a 10-percent penalty if you take money out of your retirement savings before 59. However, new legislation allows you to take the money without a penalty if you’re under 59.

If you have asset-based securities (i.e. real estate or commodities), you can sell them for cash. Real estate and other tangible assets offer faster liquidity than conventional stocks.

The DIY Route

If agents, attorneys, and auctioneers are out of the question, you can still conduct an estate sale on your own. When going through the items, assess them objectively. Too often, people assess the value of something based on sentimental value.

In probate cases, many homes sit on the market for too long because they’re priced too high. Hire an appraiser to get a professional assessment. An appraiser’s objective eye can help you price items and properties appropriately.

To commence a successful sale, you’ll also need as many hands as possible. Ask neighbors, friends, and family members for help. Sorting items and marketing them are full-time jobs, especially if you have many items.

If you cannot pay your crew, treat them to something special, such as a pizza party. After assembling your team, you can hire them to engage in the following activities:

• Advertise the Listings: You can hire individuals or a company to market estate items on your behalf. Your team can post signs throughout the community or post ads on online classifieds. This is a good option if you don’t have the time or budget to advertise on your own.
• Take Inventory: An inventory will help you keep track of all items. It also allows you to control the outcome of each sale.
• Take Pictures: If you have a large inventory, consider hiring a photographer to take pictures. The photos should be as clear as possible. Capture different angles of an object, especially for large items.
• Add Security: Security is necessary because you don’t want thieves stealing items when you’re not around. You can avoid theft by having someone monitor the buyers. This measure is especially important for yard sales.

You should also plan for leftover items at the end of the sale. You can contact donation centers to deal with unsold assets, or you can hire a hauling crew to remove them.

You may have a hard time getting rid of certain items, such as pianos. In this case, you can contact nursing homes or retirement centers to see if they’re willing to accept your piano.

Estate Liquidation: How Can I Secure a Smooth Sale?

To foster a smooth estate liquidation, involve professionals and non-professionals. Helping hands can sort all items and help you save time and money. For professional help, contact an estate agent and/or an estate attorney.

Estate professionals will help you through the process and ensure everything remains legal. More importantly, hire an appraiser to get an accurate summation of your assets.

Interested in reading more? Read more on our website to learn about other interesting topics.

Do you need to have a new driveway installed outside of your home? If so, you’re probably going to have to pay a pretty penny for it.

On average, new driveways can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to well over $20,000 in some cases. It all depends on where your home is located, how large of a driveway you need, and, of course, what kind of driveway you choose to install.

For years now, homeowners have been debating asphalt vs. concrete driveways. If you’re going to spend thousands of dollars on your new driveway, you should take the time to learn about these two great options so that you’re able to make the right choice.

You should think about everything from the durability of asphalt vs. concrete to the asphalt vs. concrete cost. It’ll help you make the right decision with regards to your driveway.

Find out what you need to know about asphalt vs. concrete driveways below.

Which Is Easier to Install?

Once you decide which type of driveway you’re going to install outside of your home, you’re going to have to go through the process of actually installing it. It’s why you should think about which driveway is going to be easier to put into place.

Neither type of driveway is particularly difficult to install. You can have a reliable asphalt company or a reliable concrete company install one without any trouble at all.

But you should be aware of the fact that a concrete driveway can take up to one full week to cure. That means that you’re not going to be able to drive and park on it for at least seven days when you first have it installed.

An asphalt driveway, on the other hand, can be driven and parked on almost immediately in most cases. It’ll make it the more convenient option when it comes to installing it and putting it to good use right away.

Which Requires More Maintenance?

After you have a new driveway installed outside of your home, it’s going to be your job to maintain it over time so that it looks and performs its best. If you don’t take the time to do the proper maintenance on your driveway, it’s going to begin to crack, fade, and wear down on you sooner than it should.

Asphalt driveways are going to require a decent amount of maintenance over the years. You’re going to need to keep a close eye out for cracks at all times and repair them accordingly.

Concrete driveways, on the other hand, don’t usually require much maintenance at all. You will, however, have to do more extensive repairs to them when they do need to have maintenance done. You should keep that in mind from the moment you first have one installed.

Which Is Simpler to Repair?

As we alluded to a few seconds ago, there are going to be cracks that will appear in your asphalt driveway from time to time that will need to be fixed up to keep your driveway strong. You’ll need to plan to patch them up sooner rather than later to stop them from getting to be too big.

That being said, the cracks that form in asphalt driveways aren’t typically all that difficult to fix. You should be able to knock them out yourself in no time at all by filling and sealing them. It’s a relatively easy repair job in the grand scheme of things.

The same can’t always be said for concrete driveways. If a crack ever forms in a concrete driveway, it’s going to be a challenge repairing it on your own. You’ll need to hire professionals to come out and do it in most cases.

You’ll also need to prepare to live with an unsightly patch job since it’s tough to hide the areas that have been patched up in a concrete driveway. They tend to stand out a lot more than the areas that have been patched up in asphalt driveways.

Which Is Better Under Extreme Weather Conditions?

Do you happen to live in a place where the temperature fluctuates quite a bit throughout the course of the year? If so, the weather is no doubt going to put your driveway through the wringer when the temps go up and down.

Asphalt driveways usually handle extreme weather conditions better than concrete driveways do. Asphalt will expand and contract as the temperature goes up and down in your area so that your driveway won’t crack easily.

Concrete driveways, meanwhile, aren’t as quick to expand and contract along with changes in the weather. This can result in them cracking on you when it gets very hot and/or very cold, especially if the temperature goes from one end of the spectrum to the other without much warning.

You’re going to have to be concerned about extreme temperature changes regardless of whether you have an asphalt driveway or a concrete driveway. But you might be able to get away with being a little bit less concerned when you have asphalt vs. concrete.

Which Is More Stain-Resistant?

If you don’t plan on parking cars on your asphalt or concrete driveway all that often, you might not have to worry about it getting stained. But the vast majority of people who take the time to install driveways do it because they want to have a better place to park their cars when they’re not using them.

If you have a concrete driveway, this is going to prove to be problematic if you ever park a car on it that is leaking either gasoline or oil. Gas and oil can both stain concrete in a major way and affect the overall appearance of it.

Gas can also do irreparable damage to an asphalt driveway. But asphalt driveways do tend to handle oil stains better than concrete driveways do. They’ll often hide oil stains so that they can’t be seen by the naked eye.

Which Lasts Longer?

At the end of the day, you don’t want to have to worry about installing another new driveway for a long, long time after installing the one that you’re putting into place now. It’s why you need to think long and hard about which type of driveway is going to be the most durable option for you.

This is one category in which a concrete driveway will definitely win out over an asphalt one. Generally speaking, you should be able to get upwards of 30 years, if not more, out of a concrete driveway.

That’s not usually going to be the case for an asphalt driveway. Most asphalt driveways only last for around 20 years before they’ll need to be replaced.

Whether you go with an asphalt driveway or a concrete driveway, you can make it last longer than it might otherwise by maintaining it properly and making the right repairs to it. But on average, you’re going to find that a concrete driveway will stick around for a longer period of time than an asphalt driveway will in almost all cases.

Which Is More Cost-Effective?

Cost is obviously something that is a big concern for anyone who is thinking about installing a new driveway. You don’t want to have to pay anymore than you should have to in order to have your new driveway installed.

If cost is something that’s a deciding factor for you, you’re likely going to discover that an asphalt driveway will help you stick to your budget better than a concrete driveway will.

The average asphalt driveway will run you somewhere between $2 and $5 per square foot. For the average concrete driveway, you’ll be looking at somewhere between $3 and $10 per square foot.

As you can see, there is a little bit of an overlap there. You could get a low-end concrete driveway for the same price as you would pay for a high-end asphalt driveway.

But the clear winner in the asphalt driveway cost vs. concrete driveway cost is almost always going to be an asphalt driveway. You could install an asphalt driveway for just a fraction of what you would pay for a concrete driveway that is the same size.

This is going to be useful information for anyone who can’t afford to pay an arm and a leg for a new driveway for their home.

Asphalt vs. Concrete Driveway: Which One Should You Get?

It’s pretty easy to see why the asphalt vs. concrete driveway debate gets so heated. There are pros and cons that come along with both sides.

Only you can decide which side of the fence you’re going to fall on. Investing in a new driveway for your home is a big decision, which is why you should weigh the pros and cons of each option carefully before deciding on which type of driveway you want.

Would you like to learn more about asphalt and concrete driveways and see how they’ll benefit your home? Check out the other articles on our blog to get the information you’re looking for.

Some mistakes only matter for a short while—like sending an email to the wrong address or putting salt into your coffee instead of sugar.

But when it comes to building your own home, even small errors can add up. With the average homeowner living in their home for 13.3 years, any building mistakes could be noticeable for over a decade to come. Even worse, the wrong mistake can really cost you.

If you’re on track to build your dream home, here are a few common mistakes to avoid.

1. Cutting Corners

Unlike move-in-ready homes, custom building takes time. Don’t be tempted to speed up the process or skip important steps at the risk of your security, especially when it comes to homes for families.

In addition, if you feel your custom home budget is in danger of being stretched thin, you might want to opt for cheaper home building materials or appliances to make up the difference. However, stay strong and remember that a home that stands the test of time is worth the price—and it can even save you money in the long run.

2. Choosing the Wrong Layout

Having a certain “flow” to your home isn’t just a matter of feng shui. If you’re planning to live in your home for years to come, you’ll want to place rooms where they make the most sense in your daily lifestyle.

You might not want to put your master bedroom next to your kitchen, for example, or to step past a bathroom at the front entrance of your house. Thinking about how your rooms should be grouped together can help you decide the right custom home designs and layout for your needs.

3. Going Too Basic

People choose to build custom homes in order to express their personality and get all of the features and details they want—not to emulate the cookie-cutter mold of the homes next door!

Custom homes offer literally endless opportunities to tailor your home to your personality, but that comes with a downside. Despite their best efforts, people sometimes feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available with custom building. The result is settling for the standard or basic option rather than what they truly want.

To avoid this, work to combat decision fatigue by planning each step in advance.

4. Short-sighted Planning

The advantage of a custom home is that you can get exactly what you want at this moment in time—but it’s just as important to consider the future.

Spending a little more money to create an eco-friendly home can save you money in the long-term. Finding a property near your work or your child’s school may be better than a gorgeous location that’s a long commute away. First-floor bedrooms can keep you and your family comfortable as you age.

Don’t forget, you’re in this for the long-term, so make sure your home will accommodate your needs!

5. Changing Your Mind

Some small design features can be adjusted with ease, but it’s not a good idea to change your mind on major details partway through construction. Once your foundation and framing have been set in place, adjustments could add days and weeks to your schedule, on top of added fees. To avoid this, make sure that you and any other family decision-makers have settled firmly on a plan before you begin building.

Avoid These Building Mistakes With Good Help

If you’re trying to avoid these and other building mistakes, the right custom home builder can make all the difference. Constructing your own home is a one-of-a-kind experience, and good builders can help you meld your excitement with a design that will keep your family comfortable and happy for years to come.

For more home and lifestyle tips, don’t forget to check out our other posts!

After years of family get-togethers, birthdays and holidays, it’s only natural for your home to undergo a bit of wear and tear. Several factors can have an effect on the appearance of a house; as the seasons change, the elements of nature undoubtedly do their part in damaging the exterior. If your house doesn’t appear quite as vibrant and attractive as it did when you first moved in, you might want to consider a power wash.

While sun, dirt, wind and water can affect the house any time of year, other pollutants such as acid rain and smoke cause damage and stains by sticking to surfaces. Be on the lookout for mold and grime as well, as they have a tendency to settle into unchecked or uncleaned areas.

Power washing prevents a lot of this damage from occurring, but it’s important to note that not all areas of a home should be power washed. For example, never aim a power washer at:

• Wood siding
• Electrical equipment
• Shingles
• Old mortar
• Fragile windows
• Unsecured gutters
• Stained wood or freshly painted areas

Your property is an investment, so keeping your home in good condition helps maintain its value. For any home renovation project, preventative maintenance is the best way to avoid costly repairs down the line. Power washing is a great way to keep your tools and assets in tip-top shape. Not only does it clean and preserve equipment, but it also eliminates mold and mildew and can limit exposure to allergens that could potentially be infesting the house.

Curb appeal can be increased with something as simple as a good, thorough wash. A clean and fresh exterior can help raise the property value, positively impact your family’s health and minimize the need for future repairs. If you’re eager to power wash your home, take a look at the infographic for tips on where to begin.

Author Bio: Debisree Saha is Senior Marketing Strategist at SIMPSON, a leading manufacturer of electric and gas pressure washers. She has 10 years of experience in the industry and focuses on marketing strategy and execution.