Tips

Whether you need some extra space temporarily or long-term, renting a storage space is a good solution. However, not every household item is ideal for unit storage.

If you have valuables or sentimental items that you’re considering for storage, it’s necessary to discern whether they are safe in a storage unit. There are some belongings that may need extra packing before they’re put away.

If you’re ready to pack up, make sure to review the important self storage tips listed below.

Don’t Pack Perishables

Perishables are anything that goes bad quickly. This is usually food, but it depends on how it is stored. Canned food is not perishable because it has a long shelf life and is usually allowed in storage units.

These items are not allowed because they can spoil and create bad odors or lead to pest infestation. It will not only be unpleasant for you but can affect other units as well.

Don’t Pack Living Things

It may seem rather obvious that living things don’t fare well in a storage unit, but some new renters are unaware. Whether it’s an animal or a plant, it’s typically not allowed. There have even been cases where people have tried to use storage units as a living space.

Don’t Pack Hazardous Items

Packing hazardous items can endanger everyone. The list of hazardous items may include some things you didn’t realize. For example, flammable or explosive items like gasoline, or even paint, cannot be stored.

This category also includes weapons, illegal goods, and anything toxic. Basically, anything that can harm others.

Websites like this Canadian self storage one will detail what is and is not allowed in their storage units.

Do Pack Household Items

Household items are ideal for a self storage unit. Most general items are perfect for storing away. This includes basic things like shelving, books, furniture, office equipment, and kitchen things.

These items can be stored if you’re moving, have an extra guest staying for a while, or just making a life transition.

Do Pack Seasonal Items

Seasonal items are also perfect for self storage. Anyone with a full household, or a small living space, knows how much room winter clothes can take up. Conversely, you can free up space for winter by packing away your summer clothes at the end of the season.

Do Pack Electronics and Appliances

Although some electronics or appliances may be considered “valuables,” many are relatively cheap. Whether they’re older models, used, or just commonplace, a storage unit can be a good place for the if you’re running out of room at home.

It’s important to note that electronics and appliances fare better in climate-controlled storage units.

More Self Storage Tips

Before you pack up your goods, don’t forget to double-check these crucial self storage tips. Also, make sure to ask your self storage unit company for their particular rules and guidelines. Some companies may vary.

For more useful tips about self storage and beyond, you can check out the “tips” section of our blog.

Zig Ziggler the business guru often spoke and wrote about selling. He said it was about transferring feelings. When you are struggling to sell a home, you are as well to consider how much your own feelings are restricting your objective choices.

Selling your home isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Read this guide to learn how to get rid of a house that won’t sell and get the money you deserve.

How to Get Rid of a House That Won’t Sell

If your home is not selling then you have to check whether you are expecting too much. It might be about money but that’s not the only thing to consider. Take a hard look at the options.

1. Find the Right Price

Finding the right price is not easy. Find out what other properties have sold for in your area. Make sure you are comparing like with like.

If you cannot find a comparable home than make some adjustments to take account of the number of rooms, size of the plot and other features. A reputable agent should be able to advise you about what sale price you could expect.

Be careful not to be seduced by estate agents who hope to seduce you by suggesting higher than realistic sale prices. Some agents will do this to win your business and then seek a price reduction later when the house does not sell. Compare the price suggestions of several agents before committing to an agent.

Sometimes the right thing to do is to reduce the selling price. You may have to accept that your house is not worth as much as you hoped.

2. Check the Marketing

Take a hard look at the marketing effort that has gone into your house sale. Be critical about the whole package. Try to view it as a prospective buyer would.

Ask friends and family to investigate marketing. Can they find internet listings? Does the house seem attractive and do descriptions appeal to potential buyers?

3. Don’t Sell, Yet

When you come to the market is very important for a quick and rewarding sale. If you have any choice about when to sell, try to avoid times that will be difficult.

Avoid times when vacations will distract people from buying. Avoid trying to sell at a time when there is a national or local period of uncertainty.

Typical problem times are election periods or when world events are unsettling political or economic stability. Local employment problems or home building activity can also create local housing market disruption.

4. Make Improvements

It’s always important to get feedback from prospective buyers, especially if they did not buy the house. They can give you insights into the problems with the house as they see it. After all, it’s the prospective buyer’s view that matters.

What would have made the house more attractive to the buyers? Is there something in particular that turned them off? These are not necessarily problems you cannot overcome.

If you have got some funds you might find it more cost-effective to invest a little in improving the property to make a sale. If this is less than a potential price reduction it will be a good investment.

Be careful not to be sucked into making major investments that are unlikely to get a return but there are many small changes you could make if you have feedback indicating that they would make a difference.

For example, you might have feedback that the rooms appear small and dark. A quick re-decoration with light colors can create a clean, light and surprisingly room expanding effect.

5. Accent the Positive

Are the benefits of your home being accented effectively? If you are worried that your house is not selling you are probably more focused on your home’s flaws. There is another way to think about this.

If your home is apparently suffering from a major negative, try to present the positive side of it. If your home is near a rail line and so is affected by noise, make sure you address this head-on. Acknowledge the problem but make big noises about the double glazing you have fitted to counteract the noise.

6. Try Being a Landlord

If you can’t sell your home at the moment, you could put off the need to sell by becoming a landlord. A tenant could pay rent and help mitigate the cost of not selling. It’s even possible that today’s tenant could be tomorrow’s buyer.

A short-term tenancy need not stop you from selling but it could sweeten the pill of a delayed sale. If you have to move out and can afford to do so without selling your home this temporary solution can help back the log jam. The rent you earn could also pay for you to rent a home in the place you want to move to.

Being a landlord is not a simple matter. If you have no experience of being a landlord, you may find it easier to rent through an agent. They can deal with management issues and advise on insurance, regulatory obligations and help with the legalities of leases.

7. Holiday Let

An alternative to being a landlord is to rent your home as a holiday let. This would be especially applicable if your home is in a desirable area. It doesn’t have to be in a resort as many city locations are suitable for visitors vacationing in a city.

8. Sell to We Buy Any House

You could sell to a buyer who offers, “we buy any house” solutions. They buy a house in any condition and rapidly. It could be just what you are looking for.

Finding a buyer with cash and the ability to complete a sale with no chain may be the beak you need. It allows you to progress with a purchase and to move on from your old house.

9. Change Agents

Are your agents doing a good enough job? Check their work and ask for details of any marketing activity they have done. If they are not doing a good job check the terms of any agreement you have with them and consider changing agents.

Is photography professional and showing off the house to the best effect. Is marketing reaching relevant buyers? For example, if your home is suitable for first-time buyers, is the agent appropriate for that niche.

10. Short Sale

A short sale is when your selling price is not sufficient to cover the value of a mortgage you have on the house. Discuss any short sale with your lender. This might be an option you don’t want to take but sometimes there is no alternative.

Think Again

Stop wondering how to get rid of a house that won’t sell. If something is inhibiting people from buying, try changing something.  You may interest a new set of buyers.

Browse our blog site for more tips for homeowners.

If you’re thinking of ways to improve your bedroom, you might have to consider installing a fitted wardrobe. It might be costly, but it’s worth the price. You can choose from several designs and styles. You can also customize the size and other details depending on your preference and needs. These are the other benefits of choosing a fitted wardrobe.

It’s permanent 

Once the wardrobe is in your bedroom, it will stay there for good. You don’t have to think about how you can redesign your bedroom later. You know that the fitted wardrobe will look good in its permanent location.

You can decide every detail

Not everyone has the same needs in wardrobes. You can determine how many panels and drawers you need. You can even have a jewellery box inside if you want. The wardrobe can be a reflection of your personality. It also helps you keep all the things you need in one place. You won’t have a messy bedroom anymore because your clothes are all over it.

The room looks more appealing

Imagine having a sliding wardrobe in your bedroom. It spruces up the usual look of your room. If you invite guests to come over, they will feel fascinated with this addition to your room. You can even redecorate your room around the fitted wardrobe theme.

You can save space

Since the fitted wardrobe gets attached to a wall, it means that it won’t occupy more space in your bedroom. Therefore, it’s perfect for those who live in a small bedroom. You can add other things now since you saved enough space with the fitted wardrobe.

It’s a durable investment

You can hire quality installers for a fitted wardrobe. They will help make sure that the wardrobe lasts for a long time. The quality of the materials used along with the construction detail will help ensure that the wardrobe lasts long.

You can increase the value of your property

Fitted wardrobes are becoming a trend. It’s easier for you to sell your house at a higher price later when potential buyers see that you have a fitted wardrobe. It means that there’s no need for them to invest in a quality closet. They already get one upon buying the house.

Given these reasons, it’s time for you to consider installing a fitted wardrobe. It would look great in your bedroom and you will feel excited to have one.

List the details that you want to see in your fitted wardrobe. You can get inspiration from magazines or online home design websites. You can also determine what you need so the planning process will go smoothly. Of course, you need to have a clear budget. The person doing the wardrobe can work within the amount you’re willing to pay. Since it’s a long-term investment, you have to spend enough money. Don’t try to cut the cost since it could adversely impact the quality of the wardrobe and it might not last long.

 

 

Are you wondering the best way to protect yourself from a home invasion?

It’s an unfortunate reality that home invasions are as common as they are today. In fact, studies have found that more than 3.7 million homes are broken into each year in the United States alone.

When we consider this fact, it’s easy to see why it’s become so imperative to take measures in protecting your home. All in all, the best way to protect your home is to install a security surveillance system.

This type of system is effective for deterring invaders from entering your home in the first place. However, a security surveillance system also carries a number of other benefits to homeowners as well.

If you’ve been considering installing a security surveillance system, you’re going to want to read this. We’re sharing six incredible benefits that such a system will have on your home and your peace of mind.

1. Deters Intruders

It’s safe to say that a security surveillance system is the best way to deter intruders in the first place.

The sheer presence of security cameras is going to encourage intruders to step away from your home. In fact, a study conducted with criminals found that 11 of the 12 criminals admitted to being deterred by connected homes.

After spotting surveillance, a criminal is going to move onto another home that is not evidently under surveillance. This is especially helpful to homes that are located in unlit areas and those that are not in close proximity to their neighbors.

The fact of the matter is simple: security footage today is incredibly advanced. Intruders are increasingly aware of this fact and they’re going to do everything that can do avoid being captured on camera.

2. Allows for Footage of Your Home

Did you hear a noise that is seemingly coming from your front door? Or, what about a commotion near the side of your house?

When this happens, it’s safe to say that tending to these areas in person can feel daunting. When we perceive danger, it’s only natural to freeze and experience a degree of panic.

With a security surveillance system, you can simply check the cameras to see if anything or anyone is present. This helps to provide peace of mind without actually having to subject yourself to any potential dangers.

Most security surveillance systems nowadays connect to your smartphone device. This will allow you to easily view your cameras from your phone app. If you’re able to physically see that someone is there, you can take the next step and call the police.

3. Can Check in on Children and Pets

When you’re away from the home, having a security surveillance system will allow you to check in on your home.

This is especially helpful for those that have pets or young children at home. While young children are not to be left unattended, this can allow you to check in on your children whilst they are under someone else’s supervision.

This can provide peace of mind to homeowners that are away from the home and away from their pets.

4. Allows for Footage for the Future

In the unfortunate circumstance that a break-in does happen, your security footage will record this break-in.

This means that you will have a photo of the invader that you can provide to the police. From here, the police will take extra measures to locate this person and to provide additional protection to your home.

This is why having good quality security cameras is so important. Cameras such as ADT cameras are known to be one of the best quality options for video surveillance. Pictures are incredibly clear and easily accessible on your smartphone device.

5. Save Money on Homeowner’s Insurance

Did you know that having a security surveillance system isn’t just beneficial to the safety of your home?

Instead, this type of system will actually provide a significant benefit to your wallet. When it comes to homeowner’s insurance, having a security surveillance system is going to save you a large degree of money. Today, lenders understand that this type of surveillance adds an extra layer of protection to your home.

This is because homes under surveillance typically result in lower home insurance premiums. This type of savings could yield enough to even cover the cost of a security surveillance system altogether.

6. Greater Peace of Mind

At the end of the day, not having to stress over the safety of your home is priceless.

This is especially true if you live in an urban area, are single or have young children to care for. To know that your home is protected and that invaders are going to be deterred from your home will provide invaluable peace of mind.

With this, you’re going to find that you sleep more soundly and feel more comfortable in your daily life at home.

Arm Yourself With a Security Surveillance System

In today’s day and age, having a security surveillance system is becoming more commonplace for homeowners.

In part, this is because homeowners are willing to go the extra mile to protect their home. This is all the while residents are home, at work or away on an extended vacation.

But, it’s also due to the fact that this type of system has become more cost-effective. While this type of surveillance was once a prospect for the rich, it’s now become relatively affordable to the average homeowner.

The truth is, security surveillance systems are affordable and incredibly effective at deterring home invaders. Not only will invadors be more likely to avoid targetting your home, but you’re also going to benefit from lower home insurance costs and the ability to survey your home on a daily basis.

All in all, the benefits of having a security surveillance system are immeasurable. If you’re looking to read more about everything to do with homes, be sure to bookmark our page!

There are more than 500,000 plumbers in the U.S. today. And just about all of them will tell you that they wouldn’t be able to perform their jobs without easy access to certain tools.

A plumber can have all the experience in the world when it comes to making repairs. But if they don’t have the right tools in their truck, they’re not going to be able to tackle plumbing problems and fix them.

If you’re a handyman who dabbles in plumbing every now and then, you should make sure that you have these tools nearby at all times. Here are 10 essential plumber tools that every handyman needs.

1. Plunger

The vast majority of plumbing issues within a home or business can be fixed with a simple plunger. From clogged toilets to slow-moving drains, you can get rid of many plumbing problems by turning to a trusty plunger.

2. Hand Auger

Although plungers are very effective as far as clearing clogs in a plumbing system is concerned, there are some stubborn clogs that you won’t be able to knock out with a plunger. When this is the case, it helps to have a hand auger around.

Also referred to as a plumber’s snake, a hand auger allows you to send a flexible metal cable down into plumbing pipes to clear a clog. You can remove clogs from toilets, sinks, showers, and more in a matter of minutes with a hand auger.

3. Adjustable Wrench

There are a variety of hand tools that every good plumber needs to have. You could argue that an adjustable wrench is the most important hand tool of the bunch.

Adjustable wrenches are designed to help plumbers and handymen alike tighten and loosen hex-shaped nuts. Whether you’re installing a new kitchen sink or replacing an old showerhead, it’s good to have an adjustable wrench that’s up for the challenge.

4. Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

Plumbers and handymen often have to work in confined spaces when working on plumbing projects. Therefore, it’s essential for them to have a tool that makes it easy to grab and pull on things that they need to tighten or loosen.

Tongue-and-groove pliers, also called Channellocks, are the perfect plumber tools for this exact purpose. Whether you’re trying to get to something that’s difficult to reach or attempting to hold something in place, tongue-and-groove pliers will get the job done.

5. Basin Wrench

The nuts that hold sinks in place can be almost impossible for you to reach with a regular wrench. There isn’t enough room for you to fit a wrench and use it.

It makes basin wrenches invaluable plumber tools for those who are frequently tasked with installing and removing kitchen and bathroom sinks. These wrenches have a long shaft, as well as a swiveling jaw, that can lock tight onto nuts located behind sinks and help to tighten or loosen them.

6. Hacksaw

If you spend enough time working on plumbing systems, there will come times when you’ll need to cut plumbing pipes, hardware, and even nuts and bolts to remove them from a plumbing system. A good hacksaw will help you do it.

Hacksaws can be used to cut everything from metal and plastic plumbing pipes to the nuts and bolts that are used to keep them in place. Just make sure you have plenty of fresh blades for your hacksaw in your toolbox so that you don’t ever get stuck trying to use a dull one.

7. Pipe Cutters

When you’re installing new plumbing pipes in a plumbing system, you’ll often need to cut them down to size so that they’ll fit. Pipe cutters will help you carry out this task in no time.

Pipe cutters should be able to tackle both metal and plastic plumbing pipes without a problem. You can cut plumbing pipes so you can install them and ensure that they fit properly.

8. Metal File

After you cut metal plumbing pipes, the edges of them will be anything but smooth. You shouldn’t install them until you’re able to file down the rough edges.

Keeping a metal file in your toolbox will make it super easy to do away with rough edges on metal plumbing pipes. There are half-round metal files as well as rat-tail metal files that can handle the edges on any metal plumbing pipes with ease.

9. Plumber’s Putty

Plumber’s putty is a moldable material that can be utilized to create watertight seals around plumbing pipes. It should not be used on pipes that are going to be subjected to pressure. But it’s great for using on drainpipes and other plumbing connections where pressure isn’t a factor.

One thing worth noting is that plumber’s putty is not the same thing as duct sealant, which is another soft compound that handymen can use for HVAC projects. When you compare here, you’ll see what sets plumber’s putty apart from duct sealant.

Make sure you use plumber’s putty on plumbing jobs and save duct sealant for HVAC repairs.

10. Propane Torch

If you feel comfortable using one, a propane torch is a great tool to have around when you’re working on plumbing projects. It can be used to solder copper plumbing pipes and to make repairs to them.

Look for a self-igniting torch that won’t require you to carry around a pack of matches with it.

Add These Plumber Tools to Your Toolbox Today

When you have all of these plumber tools in your toolbox, you should be ready to tackle any plumbing project. It’s a good idea to invest in them before you start providing handyman services.

It’s also a good idea to buy high-quality tools if you plan to work on plumbing systems. Your tools are going to get put to the test early and often, and the last thing you want is for them to give out on you right in the middle of a plumbing job.

Now that you have the tools you need, check out our blog to learn more about some basic plumbing repairs.

According to the CDC, drinking contaminated water can cause health problems such as neurological disorders and gastrointestinal illnesses. Unfortunately, you may have no other choice in the event of a storm. A natural disaster can disable or contaminate public utilities.

No matter where you live, it’s important that you keep emergency drinking water nearby. But how much should you store? And do you know how to store emergency water?

Don’t go thirsty during an emergency. Read on and discover how to create a safe emergency water supply for you and your family.

1. How Much Water Should I Store?

Utilities such as water and electricity may be contaminated during a tropical storm, earthquake, or other disasters. An emergency water supply is an essential addition to any home emergency kit.

But how much water should you store? Every day, the average person or pet will require a gallon of water. Keep these guidelines in mind as you amass your emergency water supply.

A family of three with two pets will consume five gallons of water daily. Once you know your daily intake, you’ll have to decide how many days you want to prepare for.

Of course, there’s no way of knowing how long a storm may prevent access to clean water. For minor emergencies, three days of emergency water storage is more than enough.

But not every emergency is minor. For additional safety, it’s advisable to have at least a week’s worth of water. In this case, a family of five will want to store 35 gallons of water.

If you live in an area that experiences frequent storms and flooding, you may want to save water for a two-week period. Due to perspiration, save extra if you live in a warm climate.

2. Emergency Water Storage Options

Countless options are available for a small supply of water. The easiest and most convenient choice is buying a pack of store-bought water. It’s easy to pick up a pack of at least 24 bottles.

Eight of these bottles is equal to a gallon of water, or your daily water supply. So a typical pack of water bottles will last the average person three days. If it seems like a lot, keep in mind that a portion of this supply is meant to cover your hygiene needs.

But what about larger storage options? Portable water jugs are a great choice, though they can become unwieldy past the eight-gallon mark. Purchase a variety of these jugs and keep them in a dark and cool location.

If you’re planning for larger emergencies, turn to a water barrel. You can find drums that hold up to 60 gallons of water. Choose one that’s BPA-free and food-safe, otherwise, you’ll contaminate your supply.

There are some amazing in-home solutions if this seems like too much of a hassle. You can install an in-line tank in your own home, so you’re conveniently prepared in case of an emergency. These tanks don’t require any storage considerations.

Find out more about the best in-home water tanks.

3. How to Store Emergency Water

Small, store-bought water solutions don’t require much fuss. Find a cool place to store them in your home and forget about them. You’ll have a more complicated time of things if you purchase drums, barrels, or jugs.

Why? Because you may have to keep these large containers outside on the cement. Water may leech chemicals and flavors from the cement over time. For that reason, most preppers suggest keeping containers off the floor with a pallet or cardboard boxes.

There’s one more thing. If you’ve filled a drum or jug with your own water, you may want to treat it first. Tap water is fine since it already contains chlorine.

When your water source is missing this antimicrobial agent, be sure to add some yourself before sealing the container.

4. Maintaining an Emergency Water Supply

Water doesn’t expire. However, it can certainly become contaminated or pick up unpalatable tastes during storage. For that reason, it’s important to rotate your water.

The Department of Homeland Security suggests swapping the water out every six months. Many preppers suggest doing so once a year. And some even say that, under the right conditions, you don’t have to rotate water at all.

The choice is ultimately up to you. But if the water looks, smells, or tastes contaminated, that’s certainly a good sign to replace it.

5. Alternative Water Treatment Options

If you’re not using an in-home tank, you should consider having water treatment alternatives on hand. After a storm, your water could become inaccessible or contaminated. That’s why it’s better to have a backup plan prepared.

Although you can boil water to kill most pathogens, this won’t be an option. Your gas and electricity should be disabled during a storm. You may be able to boil if you have a small, portable stove that doesn’t need home utilities.

Otherwise, you can rely on purification tablets. These are either iodine or chlorine. You’ll want to rotate purification tablets as these can expire after several years.

Get Prepared Before an Emergency

You know how to store emergency water, so you should start right away. Even if you don’t need it, the peace of mind is well worth the cost.

Don’t wait for an impending storm to strike nearby. You can’t be warned of every natural disaster in advance. Instead, prepare an emergency water supply as soon as possible, as well as a disaster kit.

Want more great advice? Consult the health and home categories on our blog.

Around 20 percent of Americans say that they’re living the American dream.

The cornerstone of the American dream is to own your home. But, what is your dream home?

You may not be able to imagine a more beautiful home than a historic house. And yet, living in a vintage home isn’t without downsides.

Check out the pros and cons of living in a historic home below. Let’s go!

The Benefits of Buying an Old House

There are a bunch of reasons why people buy historic homes. Popular reasons include the following:

1. You Want a Home With Character

You don’t want a cookie-cutter for a home. You want a home with a unique character and history.

You want to experience going through time when you enter your home. As you walk up to the home, you get to knock on the authentic original doorknob.

You make your way through the charming hallway and you’re constantly surrounded by vintage details.

If you want a unique home with its own history, then an old house will give you plenty of material for you to get your teeth into. You also get the opportunity to play a role in the incredible history of the building.

2. Beautiful and Charming Home

Your home could be Georgian, Victorian, or Colonial style architecture. Modern-day homes don’t have anything on the beauty of the old days.

If you prefer an older home with beautiful features, then you’ll take a lot more pride in living in this home. It’s simply about having great taste.

3. More Money in Your Pocket

There are also financial reasons to buy a historic home. The government and society want to keep historic homes preserved.

If you’re willing to purchase and maintain an old house, you may be able to get tax incentives and lower interest loans.

If you’re worried about whether your house price will fall, a historic house is a safe choice. Historic homes are rare so they’ll keep their value.

The Downsides of Buying an Old House

However, historic homes aren’t for everyone. There are reasons why many people would rather live in a newer build.

1. Time Consuming

You may get to enjoy living in a beautiful old home. But, you also have to put in the hours to keep it looking its best.

There are often electrical issues or water damage which you need to handle when you move into a historic home.

2. Red Tape to Follow

If you move into a historic home, there are likely to be strict rules to follow. Therefore, you may not have much freedom to renovate or make changes to the building.

Want an extension? You need to get in touch with the city. There are so many hoops to jump through if you want to make any changes to the house.

3. High Home Insurance

If you want to move into an old house, you may discover that your home insurance actually goes through the roof.

In fact, many insurance companies won’t even provide any coverage for homeowners with historic buildings.

Buying a Historic Home

The decision to buy a historic home is a big one. You need to ensure that you’re prepared for the work and effort of preserving the building.

But, you can’t really put a price of being part of a charming home’s history. If you want more housing and design advice, check out the rest of our website.

The modern home is filled with amazing features to optimize our comfort.

Genius inventions like heating and air-conditioning, lighting, and coffee makers (God bless Melitta Bentz!) give us options to customize our lifestyle however we want.

It’s hard to imagine getting any better than having these inventions in our lives… but it does!

Now, thanks to the smart home, you can customize the time and efficiency of each of these features to fit your lifestyle down to the very second you need it.

But before you go building the central hub of all this, there are things you need to weigh out.

Here are 7 ideas to think through before you build smart!

1. What Devices Do You Have in Mind?

Just because you have the ability to automate every amenity in your household doesn’t mean you have to.

Remember that with every device you automate comes an extra cost attached. So it may not make sense to attach features you rarely use onto your smart home system.

The best way to approach this is by writing out a list of every feature in your house that CAN be automated.

Once you’ve done that, sit down with your family and carefully weight out which ones definitely need to be automated and which ones you’re fine with not automating.

The key to this entire process is cutting out as many extra costs for yourself as possible. Comprising an honest list will help get at the forefront of that by eliminating costs that others start out buying and never using.

2. You Can Always Add On Later

It’s understandable that you’d want to create an all-encompassing smart home to be reckoned with in one go-around.

However, there’s no rush to if it doesn’t make financial sense for you and your family to do right away.

One of the things most people forget is that you can always add new features to your command center as you go along.

This is often the best way to go about it so that you aren’t buying features you’ll never end up using.

Buy a product or two at a time, incorporate them, and get the hang of their features. If you then find another product or two that can compliment your system, then it’s time to rinse and repeat!

3. You Need A Reliable Wi-Fi Router

While this may not come as a huge surprise, the smart features that you’re hoping to incorporate into your smart home system will lean on your Wi-Fi to do it’s bidding.

Needless to say, the more features you add, the more you’ll need a strong router to carry the load.

Sadly, your current router may not be up to par. However, there are several tremendous options to choose from, no matter what your budget might look like.

If the necessary router winds up being a bit pricier then you were hoping, it may be a good time to try out the “buying a few products at a time” recommendation listed above.

Whatever route you decide to go, it’s highly recommended that you buy the router from the get-go and save yourself a few hundred headaches.

4. What Does Your Schedule Look Like?

The main satisfaction of incorporating a smart home in your house is the convenience it provides you.

Do you need coffee made precisely at 6 am each morning? No problem.

Don’t want the lights turned on in the house until 15 minutes before you typically arrive home around 5:30 pm? The smart home has got your back!

Whatever your schedule looks like, write it out and take a gander at what trends you see.

What conveniences can a smart home system offer you to help in your daily grind?

If the answer isn’t as significant as you were hoping, maybe it’s best to hold off for a year or two.

5. Will Your Landlord Allow It?

If you’re renting your house, this should be the first consideration that you make.

You don’t need to ask them right away, but make sure to rummage through your rental agreement and see what the regulations are on drilling holes, adding amenities, etc.

After that, be sure to lay down a “blueprint” of the smart home you’re looking to build and present it to your landlord.

Be sure to get specific with where you hope to put everything, the amount of drilling you’ll need to do, etc. The more info you can give them, the better!

6. Are You Equal to the Task?

Alright reader, it’s time to take a deep look inward and be honest with yourself…

Are you the type of person that’s capable of installing this on your own?

When things go wrong, as they often do when technology is involved, are you equipped with the necessary amount of troubleshooting?

If your answer is “absolutely not”, then it may be best to seek the opinion and help of a professional.

However, if your answer was “I think I can”, then maybe your little engine can successfully install it with the help of https://aconnectedhome.com/.

7. Is It Worth the Cost?

Time for one more round of self-reflection. Is the smart home worth the money for you and your family, or is it more out of want than a need?

Make no doubt about it, a smart home will payout in its operations once you’ve successfully built it… but that’s not the question here.

Will a smart home actually help optimize your lifestyle, or are you just trying to keep up with your friend who built one in their house?

While completely worth it, the cost associated with building a smart home can be overwhelming if you’re not prepared.

Take the time to budget and save up for your dream smart home!

Build Smart, Think Smarter

If the opportunity to build smart devices in your home makes sense for you and your family, then congratulations!

Be sure to keep up with Skipping Stone Design for all the latest ideas on lifestyle and design.

Best of luck with your smart home integration. You’ll come out wiser in the end for your efforts!

If you’re just starting out as a landlord, there can be a lot of different concepts to take in.

Depending on where you’re operating your business, local laws dictate all sorts of things in relation to your job as a property manager, from how long a lease you can rent your unit for to regulations that affect how you collect and store security deposits.

Of all of the advice that you get as a landlord, though, one of the most important takeaways is to “always get it in writing”. Read on to learn why this should always be considered landlord rule number one.

Contracts protect you and your business

The first reason to always get things in writing from tenants is because it helps protect you from legal action. Even if you’ve thoroughly vetted a tenant with background checks, you may not realize that they have a litigious streak.

If you aren’t prepared to provide evidence to substantiate your side of the story, it can be a tedious battle of he said/she said, and depending on the state you work in, it may even cost you thousands of dollars in fines. The city of Chicago, Illinois, for example, is one of the hardest cities when it comes to winning cases as a landlord.

However, if you have signed, written proof of an addendum to the lease or any other alteration to the lease, you will be protected in a court of law. Using free landlord software like Turbo Tenant can help you set up comprehensive contracts and other lease-related documents, and it even allows for online signing.

Verbal isn’t good enough

A common interaction between a tenant and a landlord involves a phone call from a tenant during an emergency. Perhaps there’s a radiator from the floor above leaking into the apartment, or you’ve had multiple calls to complain about raucous noise from one of your tenant’s neighbors.

In these situations, while a phone call is one of the most immediate ways to relay information between both tenant and landlord, it doesn’t leave a written record. This can be a problem if you’re ever taken to court, since that makes it hard to establish an objective view of the situation.

One thing you can do to remedy this situation is to send an email to your tenant after you hang up the phone, reiterating what was discussed and any timeline you gave for action to be taken. An email is the perfect medium for this sort of interaction for a few reasons.

For starters, it is a time-stamped medium, meaning that the tenant can’t claim that you haven’t resolved their issue within the timeframe you agreed upon over the phone. Secondly, an email is a written record and emails can be used as evidence in a court of law. Finally, having an email leaves the window for communication open. If a tenant disagrees or misunderstood something you said on the phone, they can respond to your email to further discuss the problem, continuing a paper trail.

As you can see, it’s vital that you get things in writing when you’re communicating with your tenants. Doing so doesn’t just ensure that you both understand what you’re agreeing to; it also protects you if you’re ever taking to trial by an angry tenant. By protecting yourself, you are also protecting your business and your investments, ensuring that you can continue working as a property manager for many years to come.

 

Home staging is very popular these days. Many people decide to improve their house decor before selling it. By ‘home staging’ we mean the upgrading – literally ‘staging’ – of real estate. This method has some basic rules and doesn’t require significant investments, at least not more than 5% of the selling price, so that everyone can benefit from it.

Make your house interesting

Start by remedying all those little ailments in the home that you no longer pay attention to: the cupboard door hanging on half-past six, the tile that has cracked, the electric wire that lives its own life. What is more: remember to clean the house from head to toe. Clutter, dust and grease stains have nothing attractive at all. If the walls need to be refreshed, it has to be done, but use neutral colours such as white or, even better, beige. Your personal taste must be ignored.

Make the interior impersonal

The overall idea of home staging is that the buyer is given the freedom to introduce themselves in your interior. That is the reason why you should make your interior as impersonal as possible. Put family photos in a box, as well as all kinds of collections and personal items. In addition, you must clean up. It is difficult to see the potential of a room if you can struggle between the cocktail chair and the low table with difficulty.

Make more space

Incidentally, furniture that is too large tends to eat centimetres and make a room appear smaller than it actually is. Emptying a place, even partially, will reveal small and large defects. In this case, you hide it as much as possible and use tricks that are as cheap as possible to hide this small ‘suffering’, on the condition that it remains as neutral as possible. All kinds of plaids, pillows and frames are your allies.

First impression matters

If your furniture is no longer the youngest, don’t hesitate to paint it. The same applies to a dated tile. You don’t have to ensure the sustainability of the place, but make it attractive for a first glance. Try to look at your interior through the eyes of an outsider. The good thing about home staging is that these straightforward rules are not only applicable when you are about to move, but that they also do wonders when it comes to falling in love again with your walls.

Remember about the garden

When home staging, you must also remember about your garden! A few rules also apply to this area. The border or the fence are the first things to see when visitors arrive. If these are scots and crooked and perhaps have seen better days, you have to tackle them.

The devil is in the details

Mow your grass, water the plants and don’t hesitate to plant some new flowers here and there. Also remember to maintain the trees and shrubs, especially if your future buyer is not a family of Tarzan! Don’t forget the letterbox and the bell. Also, make sure that the shed and the garage are cleaned up. These are huge selling points; you must do everything to make the buyer aware of this. Also remember to collect the slide, swing and sandpit in a corner so that they do not give the idea to flood the whole.

Replace the garden furniture, change the cushions on it and throw a beautiful tablecloth in cheerful colours over the old, shaved table. Finally, you can possibly use string lights, but be careful not to turn it into a branch of the fair! If you want to be inspired by beautiful houses, visit the Real estate in Sea Pines SC.

Conclusion

As you can see, many various things can be improved before selling your house. With home staging, you can sell your house even twice faster! We hope that our tips will help you during this critical time in your life.