Tips

Not everyone agrees that your home is one of your biggest assets. Using wisdom from the Great Recession, many critics rightly claim that a home’s value can quickly drop leaving the homeowner upside down on a mortgage.

But these situations happen very rarely in history. There are many ways to increase your home value that will typically allow you to profit when its time to sell your home.

If you’re looking for a fast turnaround on increasing your home’s value, look no further. Here are 5 tried and true ways to turn your house into an asset.

1. Work Outside In

The best ways to increase home value isn’t to renovate. Not always.

It’s far more important to make your home’s existing features stand out. This means if you live on a hillside with large boulders, taking the time to create a rock garden around those boulders is your best move.

Upgrading your landscape brings your home value up by around 5 percent. Take a look at where you can enhance the features of your yard.

There may not be much to improve at all, but a fresh set of colorful flowers can work wonders for your yard. Look at the area from the curb where buyers will approach the property.

They’ll notice any fencing, walkways, address signs, the mailbox, etc. Make sure all of these elements are in mint condition even if you’re only applying a fresh coat of paint.

Replace your address numbers with fresh copies from a hardware store to make your home look as good as new. Cut back menacing tree branches or overgrown shrubs blocking the doorway.

2. Declutter

No, this post wasn’t sponsored by your mother. Decluttering has actual monetary value that you’ll appreciate when its time to sell your home.

A cluttered home keeps people from being able to see its real potential. It’s also a safe haven for pests and other home invaders.

Don’t give dust mites a place to hide. Rid your rooms of unneeded furniture, paperwork, and other personal items. If you have heirlooms you’d prefer not to get rid of, consider renting a storage unit.

You can take your time with the decluttering process since it won’t be relevant until its time for showings. A showing is when your realtor brings potential buyers to tour the home.

It’s still recommended that you declutter well in advance of putting your home up for sale. This allows you time to deal with large, awkward pieces of furniture and schedule charity pickups at your leisure.

3. Get the Kitchen Updated

There are a few exceptions to the renovation rule. For example, if you choose to make any changes to update your kitchen, it’ll help boost its overall value.

A full remodel isn’t necessary but you might consider replacing the cabinet fronts or putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls. The newness of the changes makes the kitchen appear fresh and well maintained.

Your realtor can give you clues as to what buyers really want in your market. In some places, homebuyers aren’t willing to skimp on granite countertops.

In other areas, an accent wall might be a key selling point. Take the emotion out of your home when putting it up for sale. Think of it as a model home you need to update in order to draw the right kind of attention.

Other kitchen updates include switching to stainless steel appliances. Your black or white fridge won’t sell the kitchen as modern or updated.

Stainless steel immediately changes the look of your appliances which take up most of the space in the room.

4. Go Green

Making your home more energy efficient isn’t just great for the environment, it’s great for your pocketbook. You’ll save around 30 percent on heating and cooling costs with the right appliances.

Make sure you have energy star certified appliances since these are regulated. You’ll receive a tax break for a certain amount of energy efficiency in your home.

These bonuses make your return on investment for swapping out appliances much more meaningful over the long term. You don’t need a complete solar panel installation for the energy efficiency to produce a good return on your home’s value.

Even adding dimmers to the lights is an upgrade that can wow a buyer. Dimmers are energy efficient because they allow you to use only what you need.

5. Make it Impressive

When you’re adding value to your home on a budget, there are few cheats that’ll get you ahead of your competitors. One is to make your house look far more impressive than it really is.

For example, you can invest in technology that automates many common household features. A doorbell upgrade is an easy example.

Video doorbells make the home feel more high tech. As do smart microwaves, smart outlets, and more.

An automated home, even on a small scale, keeps your home looking cutting edge even if its several decades old. Mix the old and the new to bring a stylish contrast to the home.

Make sure these tech upgrades work well for your lifestyle so you aren’t stuck with features that don’t really help you manage your household. Check with https://www.homesinmeridian.com/blog/increasing-selling-value-your-home/ to make sure you’re making the upgrades buyers like the most.

Ways to Increase Home Value

You can look into ways to increase home value, but they may not make sense for your area. Remember to think local when exploring upgrades.

Not every market has choosy buyers. You might be able to simply sweep the floor and get top dollar because it’s a seller’s market in your area.

For more information and tips, visit our blog for updates.

 

If you’re starting to sell online in the digital world, online marketing is going to look like a beast that can’t be tamed. Yet, to a seasoned vet, selling things online is a walk in the park.

You’ve heard all the success stories of selling things online and now you want to give it a shot. Yet, you’re still wondering how marketing works online!

Well, there are plenty of tips and tricks that you can use to break into the online world of digital marketing and selling things online.

Keep reading for our guide to seven tips you need to know to start selling online.

1. Choose the Right Platform

Something you’re going to have to do when you start selling online is choosing the right platform to sell your products. There are tons of different platforms to choose from such as Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, Squarespace, and so much more.

Each platform has it’s own pros and cons to setting up an online store. Some platforms give you complete control over the look and feel of your website, while others give you a bigger audience to sell your products.

Do your research and find the best way to sell things online for you when looking for the right platform. It is up to you to decide on how you want to start selling online.

2. Build Your Online Brand

What you need to know about internet marketing is building your online brand. With a reputable online brand, you could sell pretty much anything online. Whether you want to sell land online, selling t-shirts online, or even selling online shopping assistant services.

Marketing online is a way for you to create a personality for your brand. Social media is one of the best places for you to express that personality for your target audience. You can build a following on social media by creating content that your audience will appreciate.

3. Customer Service is Important

When you’re learning how to sell things online you need to make sure that you make customer service a priority. If you take pride in your customer service, then you will be more likely to have customers who want to shop with you again and again.

There are several ways that you can improve your online customer service. The first is to make sure that your customers can easily navigate your website and buy your products. If it is difficult to make a purchase, then customers aren’t going to want to buy products from you.

Next, you need to make sure that you’re always accessible to your customers.

One thing that you can do is make sure that you respond to questions, comments, or concerns from clients almost instantly. This will show your customers that you’re there for them when they need you. Resolving issues fast is another way to show that you have excellent customer service skills.

4. Collect Email Addresses

One of the best tips for selling online is to collect email addresses from potential and current customers. Having an email address list will give you the ability to send out a newsletter to your customers. You can include updates on products, new deals, and upcoming promotions.

An awesome way to collect email addresses for your email list is by offering something in exchange. Many people will give you their email address if you offer them a discount code. The discount code can be around 15% off and will give you another email address to add to your list.

Plus, when you offer potential customers a discount code, then you have the chance to make a sale!

5. Interact With Your Followers

Besides having good customer service skills, you should also interact with your followers on social media. This is a great way to build a good connection with your customers and for them to trust your brand.

Having a brand that customers can trust is an awesome way to sell things online. People have a harder time shopping with brands that they can’t trust.

It can be hard work building trust with customers when you’re first starting to sell online. This is why you should interact on social media as much as possible. Be sure to respond, like, and retweet comments.

6. Make Sure People Want to Shop Again

Convincing someone to shop with you for the first time is great, but how can you get them to shop with you over and over again? Many businesses will only focus on getting the first sale and then forget about having the customers buy from them again.

You want to get as many repeat customers as possible. The best way to do this is to make sure that the sale went as smoothly as possible from start to finish.

Something that businesses tend to forget about is speedy delivery. No one likes waiting for their online orders, so make sure your delivery speed is fast!

You should also make sure that your products are packaged properly and securely. This is so that nothing is damaged in the shipping process.

7. Online Reviews

Another great internet marketing tactic is having good online reviews. Potential customers like to buy products that have real reviews.

How do you get reviews on your products from actual customers? Well, you can wait around until customers decide to review, but sometimes that doesn’t always work.

A great way to speed up the process is by asking clients to review your products after they’ve made the purchase. This is a great way to bulk up your reviews and have them be accurate.

Learn How Marketing Works Online

There are plenty of different ways that you can learn how marketing works online. Be sure to use these tips and tricks so that you’ll be selling your products online like a pro in no time.

Our website is filled with tips on home renovations, lifestyle, health, budgeting your money, and so much more! If you’re interested in keeping up with all our advice, then make sure that you bookmark our page. You can keep coming back for more tips and tricks that will help you out.

 

For hundreds of years, Canada has been a land of immigrants. Throughout most of Canada’s history, the majority of immigrants have been Europeans. In recent years, this has changed, with the majority of modern immigrants originating from China and South Asia.

Regardless of which demographic someone falls into, it’s no wonder why so many people move to Canada. It’s an amazing country that has a lot to offer. However, being so large can make it difficult to know where to go.

Keep reading to learn about five of the best places to live in Canada.

1. Toronto

Many people from all over view New York City as the cosmopolitan center of the world, making it a favorite destination. If you feel that way, you’ll be happy to learn that Toronto is, in many ways, a cleaner and more compact version of The Big Apple.

Like New York, Toronto is multicultural, open-minded, and tolerant. This makes it easy for expats to assimilate and fit in regardless of their cultural backgrounds. Today, you can find more than 230 nationalities in the city. This makes it the most diverse city in Canada.

With a population of almost 3 million, Toronto is Canada’s most populous city. You can find excellent museums and parks, fantastic international dining, and a number of cultural activities to enjoy. The city is also located on Lake Ontario, giving you plenty of options to get out on the water during the summer.

People often struggle with finding a place to live in any big city. Check out this house buying guide to learn what you can do to make finding a home easy.

2. Vancouver

Some cities are beautiful, but they feel like concrete jungles at odds with nature. At the opposite end of the spectrum, you have cities like Vancouver.

Surrounded by mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities, not only in Canada but in the world. This makes it an amazing place to observe wildlife, go surfing, ski or snowboard down mountains, and embark on a number of other outdoor activities.

Vancouver is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with half of the population speaking an additional language besides English. The city is also famous for being tolerant and diverse. There is a huge LGBTQ+ community, and the government has legalized recreational marijuana.

Like San Francisco, Vancouver is a large city located on a small area. It has a population of around 700,000 people.

3. Montréal

If you check any list of the best cities in the world for expats, you should find Montréal somewhere near the top. Residents of Montréal love the work-life balance that the city offers, as well as the affordable and accessible housing options.

Montréal is in the province of Québec. Founded by the French hundreds of years ago, the city has maintained it’s cultural heritage through the years. Today, Montréal feels like a mini-Paris, with French being the official language. You can enjoy a number of other elements of French culture, all with a Canadian twist.

Montréal has a population of 1.7 million, making it one of the larger Canadian cities. Keep in mind that due to the multiculturalism present, not speaking French may set you back. In fact, to get a work permit in Montréal, you need to have at least a basic understanding of the French langauge.

4. Ottawa

Ottawa is, in many ways, a typical capital city. It lacks some of the excitement and trendiness that other larger and more modern cities offer, but it’s a great place to live.

Located between Toronto and Montreal, Ottawa is also in the province of Ontario. Although the population is around one million, it’s the largest city in Canada. You’ll have plenty of things to do, from museums and theaters, to restaurants and nightlife. There’s also a huge number of parks and green spaces.

Being the political center of Canada means that there are plenty of job opportunities for nationals and foreigners alike. Technology, finance, education, and the federal government are some of the biggest industries in Ottawa.

5. Calgary

If you’re looking for an atypical Canadian city, Calgary may be up your alley. Many people refer to Calgary as being the most “American” city in Canada. The city has a unique cowboy vibe, and also tends to lean more towards the traditional and conservative side.

Located in Alberta, Calgary is the center of the Canadian oil industry. This has led to rapid economic growth. Today, it’s full of skyscrapers and has evolved into a cosmopolitan metropolis. Although it lacks the multiculturalism of other cities such as Toronto or Vancouver, this has changed in recent years.

Having a population of 1.3 million means that you won’t ever run out of things to do. You can enjoy outdoor activities, art and film events, and delicious food, all for a cheaper price than in some other Canadian cities.

Wondering About the Best Places to Live in Canada? Try One of These Five Places

Canada is a big country, which means that it can be difficult to know where to go if you’re planning to move there. Yet by following this guide that explains the five best places to live in Canada, you’re certain to move to the place that’s perfect for you.

What do you think is the best place to live and work in Canada? Make sure to let us know in a comment down below!

If you found this article to be helpful, don’t forget to check out some of our other blog posts to read more guides and tips.

 

Renovations per room can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to more than $100,000. Yes—you read that number correctly. So, if you’re working with several rooms, your costs can quickly add up, perhaps being more than tens of thousands of dollars to bring your project to fruition.

It’s safe to assume that most of us don’t have that kind of money lying around. That’s why many homeowners turn to DIY home renovation to get the job done at an affordable price. There are several upgrades you can do without the help of contractors—updates that look great without breaking the bank.

Keep reading for some of our thriftiest tips!

Use Paint to Your Advantage

A fresh coat of paint is an instant makeover for any old home.

Repainting things like the interior and exterior walls, the front door, the kitchen cabinets, and the ceiling can bring an immediate facelift to a drab space. You can even paint things like the tiles of your bathroom floor as a way to update the bathroom without removing the flooring (which can be incredibly costly and time-consuming).

The best part is that paint is super budget-friendly and DIY-able. Choose timeless paint colors—i.e., natural hues instead of bold ones—and your paint job will stay classic well into the future.

If you’re not sure precisely what color you want to paint the walls, you can opt for a temporary solution of press-on wallpaper. Doing so looks great in the interim while you decide what permanent color schemes you’d like.

Focus on the Backsplash

The kitchen is a central part of any home, the place where people gather, eat, drink, and hang out in the mornings and evenings. We’ve already offered one tip for refreshing the kitchen: painting the kitchen cabinets. Another way to bring your outdated look into the present is by redoing the backsplash.

The backsplash is a much more affordable project than you might think. Choose from any number of patterned or solid tiles and place them wherever you cook often. Not only does this look great for an affordable price, but it cuts your cleaning time!

Bonus: you can even do brand-new tiles in the bathroom or shower for a quick upgrade there, too.

The average cost for a DIY backsplash is about $21 per square foot.

Utilize Small Upgrades

The cost of renovating an entire room can be overwhelming. Before you know it, you may find yourself Googling people who claim: we will buy any house! Before you take it that far, see if some small-but-mighty updates can improve the overall ambiance of your space.

Some practical, yet inexpensive, ideas include:

• New knobs on the doors and cabinets
• An update on the lighting fixtures in the home
• Fresh, modern wall art
• Potted plants on larger surfaces
• A deep clean of the siding of your home
• Hanging new shades or curtains over the windows

Of course, a decluttering of the entire home, with a focus on minimalism, will also make your space seem brighter and less crowded in no time.

DIY Home Renovation: You’ve Got This!

Who says you have to break the bank to bring your old home into the present?

Using these thrifty tips, your space will start to look great and renewed in no time. A DIY home renovation is where it’s at if you want to save money (and time) but still give your home a noticeable facelift.

For more great tips and tricks like this, keep scrolling our blog and coming back often for more!

 

Are you one of the 47% of people who’ve chosen to orchestrate a DIY move for their household relocation.

Moving needn’t be a stressful event when you plan carefully and pack well in advance.

Get started with this step by step guide on how to pack plates for moving to ensure everything gets there in one piece.

Assemble Everything You Need for Packing Dishes

Running out of packing supplies when packing plates is a recipe for disaster. It’s a bad idea to skimp on padding and wrapping when you’re moving with plates.

Make sure you’ve got ample supplies of all the following before you start:

• Packing paper
• Dish boxes
• Medium-sized boxes
• Packing tape
• Padding or bubble wrap
• Labels
• Marker pens

Dish boxes are specially-designed for plates and dishes with cardboard partitions built into reinforced boxes.

They’re not essential when packing plates for moving but it’s a good idea to invest in a few for those extra special pieces. You can usually buy them from a moving & storage company.

You can, of course, use a newspaper for wrapping your dishes. Be advised that newsprint will rub off on your dishes and plates in transit and can cause permanent stains.

If you decide to use a newspaper, you’ll have to wash all your dishes before you pack them away in your new home too.

Avoid using large boxes for packing dishes. It’s easy to get carried away and overload a box, which means it could break while your movers are transferring it in a or out of the moving van.

How to Pack Plates for Moving As The Pros Do It

Once you’ve assembled everything you need, you can get packing. It’s best to take all your plates out of your cupboards and arrange them by size before you start.

Here’s how to pack plates properly, step-by-step:

1. Assemble Your Boxes

Be sure to tape each box very well both top and bottom. They’ll be heavy when you’re done. Unless they’re taped very firmly, they could break or cave in.

Line the boxes with a thick layer of crumpled packing paper or bubble wrap.

2. Wrap Your Plates

Lay a sheet of packing paper out on a flat surface.

Place a dish in the center of the paper and fold the corners into the middle. Secure the paper with tape and then continue wrapping the plate until it’s completely covered. Tape again.

Repeat the process for each plate.

3. Pack Your Plates

Place your first plate on its side in the box. Then, slot the rest of the dishes alongside it.

When you pack plates on their side, they can absorb more shock. Avoid packing plates flat.

4. Fill in the Gaps

Once you’ve filled the box with plates, fill in the gaps with crumpled up pieces of paper. To finish, pile in balled up pieces of paper to the top of the box.

Ideally, the box shouldn’t weigh more than about 45 pounds when it’s filled and padded.

5. Seal the Boxes

Close the box flaps and secure them with tape. As a final safety measure label the box as fragile.

It’s a good idea to ensure this label’s visible from every angle. Placing a sticker on each side of the box is a good idea.

Get More Helpful Lifestyle Tips

We bet you only thought you knew how to pack plates for moving, right?

Are you ready to discover more about how to do things the correct way? Often a little research can reveal tips and tricks to make things a lot easier.

For more good advice on how to conquer life’s little obstacles keep browsing our blog.

 

Your door isn’t what it used to be. It still opens and closes but has lost something in terms of both looks and functionality. As such, you’re looking to make a change.

The question you have, however, is: how much does door installation cost? In truth, costs can vary. We’ll get into the specifics below.

Average Door Installation Cost

The cost of a door is dependent on a variety of factors. These factors run the gamut from material to the company hired to install the door to the area in which you live and more.

Note, though, that on average, it costs around $975 to install a door. Most homeowners spend somewhere between $475 and $1,500.

To give you a better idea as to what you’ll pay, we’re going to discuss specific costs for each material.

Wood

Wood doors are some of the most popular in existence. Their costs run the gamut from cheap to expensive. As such, they’re a viable option for just about everyone.

Interior wood doors cost between $50 and $500. Whereas the lower-end models are typically hollow in the middle, the higher-end models are solid.

Exterior wood doors can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000. The cheaper models are generally just solid wood without accessories. The more expensive models almost always contain accessories of some kind, whether they be panes of glass or blinds or some other entity.

Budget buyers can buy engineered wood doors. These are made out of a combination of wood and synthetic materials and, generally, only cost between $200 and $500.

Note, wood doors often require intensive maintenance. So, in addition to the cost needed to install them, they often require substantial upkeep costs as well. Be cognizant of this when making your purchase.

Fiberglass

Next, we’re going to discuss the cost of fiberglass, an energy-efficient, durable, and low-maintenance material that’s growing in popularity by the year. The cost of these doors ranges from $100 to $4,500 and sometimes even more. Note, however, that you can find a reliable one for between $300 and $1,000.

As was noted, fiberglass doors require almost nothing in the way of maintenance. In most cases, they need only cleaning from time to time. As such, they incur very minimal maintenance costs over the years.

If you don’t have a lot to spend, fiberglass might just be the best option for you. Attractive, durable, low-maintenance, and energy-efficient, it will save you money in every respect.

Steel

Another material you might consider is steel. Though steel is more expensive than low-end wood and fiberglass, it’s less expensive than high-end wood and fiberglass. It possesses an average range of $450 to $1,200.

Note, though, that you can install a standard steel door for as little as $150. Adding accessories like windows and sidelights will increase this price, and are capable of knocking it up into the $4,000 to $5,000 range.

Steel doesn’t require a great deal of maintenance but can incur scratches and dents from time to time. These scratches and dents can be expensive to eradicate and generally require the help of a professional.

Wrought Iron

An upgrade from steel is wrought iron. Often in possession of steel foundations and glass inlays, wrought iron doors combine an attractive aesthetic with loads of functionality.

The average cost of wrought iron door installation? It can be as low as $1,500 or as high as $6,500. Again, it depends on the style of the door as well as any special features it might possess.

Generally speaking, you can expect to pay around $2,500. Note, though, that wrought iron is prone to rust. As such, you’re probably going to have to pay some maintenance costs over the years.

Aluminum

A cheap alternative to steel is aluminum. Though not as durable, aluminum doors can still provide decades of use.

The cost of aluminum doors? It generally ranges from $200 to $2,500, with the average sitting around $650.

Aluminum doors can come with all kinds of aesthetic accessories, from window panes to sidelights and much, much more. The more accessories your door has, the more expensive it will be to install.

Breaking Down the Components of Door Installation Cost

To give you a better idea as to what door installation cost entails, we’re going to break it down to its sub-components. Let’s go!

Frame

The door frame is responsible for encapsulating the door. It is the door’s foundation if you will. It costs between $200 and $700 and is generally the most expensive part of the door’s construction.

The Door Itself

The door itself can cost anywhere from $50 to $400. As was highlighted above, this cost is highly dependent on the door’s material. Note, hollow doors are always less expensive than solid doors.

Stops and Jambs

To prevent the door from opening improperly, doorways are equipped with a number of stops and jambs. These jambs are vital to the functionality of the door and will generally cost somewhere between $100 and $350.

Supplies

If you’re hiring someone else to install your door, you won’t have to pay the costs of supplies, at least not directly. Note, though, that if you’re installing your door yourself, you’ll have to buy several pieces of equipment, from a drill to a circular saw to a router and more.

Buying these supplies can cost you thousands of dollars. Of course, you’ll also get to use them for other projects. If you intend to do so, they might be worth the purchase; if not, you’re advised to utilize the services of a professional.

Labor Costs

Labor costs can vary based on the company doing the work and the geographical area in which you exist. Generally speaking, labor costs run between $150 and $350, though they can sometimes be more for more intensive projects.

Searching for Similar Info?

Now that you know a thing or two about door installation cost, you might be searching for similar info. If so, our website is the place to be.

We cover all manner of home improvement related topics. Browse some of our home improvement-related articles now!

 

Did you know that all 50 states have experienced at least two major floods within the last decade? Floods forecasted to occur once every 500 years are also occurring at a more frequent pace. Moreover, flooding caused damages worth at least $268 billion in 2017 alone.

With that said, inclement weather is often the culprit behind water damage. If you’ve had a recent massive storm, water may have entered and damaged your property. The signs of water damage may be most evident in your attic, basement, or both.

Aside from severe weather, plumbing disasters can also result in water damage. In many cases, these arise from burst pipes, leaking pipes, and plumbing backups.

Regardless of the cause of the water damage, it’s essential to start the cleanup as soon as possible. This way, you can prevent your home from becoming ultimately uninhabitable.

To that end, we’ve come up with this guide on what you should in the event of indoor flooding and water damage. Read on to learn the most vital steps that you need to take.

Signs of Water Damage You Should Be on the Lookout For

Indoor water damage from bad weather and plumbing disasters can lead to mold growth. They can also cause similar signs of water damage in walls, such as “sweating” or condensation. Worse, they may cause your entire home to become unstable and dangerous.

So, regardless of the cause, be on the lookout for the following signs of water damage.

Stains in the Ceiling

In the attic, look for signs of water damage on the ceiling, especially dark patches. Most of the time, water intrusion from the roof causes circular stains on ceilings. They’re like blotches that are darker in color than the rest of the ceiling.

Plumbing pipes that run across your ceilings may also cause such stains. Regardless of the cause, the patches may still be damp, which means they’re recent.

As for long-term water damage, the stains may be more prominent and have multiple circles. The outer rings are often lighter in color or look faded.

Standing Water

If you have a basement, standing water is a sure sign you’ve got water damage. Avoid “entering,” stepping, or wading in the water, no matter how clear or “clean” it may look. It may contain raw sewage, a milliliter of which can already house 1,000 to 10 million particles of viruses!

Moldy Smells

This applies to any part of your home; if there’s a strong, musty smell, it’s possible you have water damage. It may be due to weather-related water intrusion, but it may also occur if you have leaky pipes. Plumbing leaks are prevalent, with the average US home wasting 10,000 gallons of water each year.

Visible Mold Growths

Aside from their musty smells, molds also grow in patches of white, green, purple, brown, orange, or black. Note that molds only need as little as 24 to 48 hours to grow and proliferate. They may also spread faster if your home has an indoor relative humidity (RH) of 70% or higher.

Moisture or Condensation on Walls

Walls that seem to “sweat” are solid signs of water damage in basements, attics, and anywhere else. They are, however, especially evident when you turn your home’s HVAC system on. The excess moisture in the air turns into water droplets and can form a sheen-like layer on your walls.

The First Thing to Do If You See These Signs of Water Damage

Did you know that at least 30,000 shock incidents that occur in the US each year? Many of these result in injuries, with the most common being burns.

As such, the first thing you should do if you see signs of water damage is to turn off your main electrical power supply. This will help ensure that there’s no more live current flowing through your home. This is even more crucial if there’s standing floodwater in any part of your home.

Wear rubber boots and gloves before heading to your main electrical panel, though. This is especially vital if the floor is still wet or damp from the flooding incident.

What if you have to wade through the water? In this case, you should call water damage restoration professionals right away. They’re emergency services, so they could get to your home ASAP and shut off the electricity for you.

In case the flooding is due to a burst pipe or leaking water supply pipes, you should close your main water valve. Only do so if it’s safe, such as if you can get to the valve without treading water. Many homes have this in the basement, though, but sometimes, they can also be on an exterior wall.

What’s Next?

Contact your homeowners’ insurance company to let them know about your dilemma. If it’s safe to do so, take as many photos of the water damaged area and send these to your insurer. These pictures may help you later on if you do have to file an insurance claim.

Immediate Cleanup Is Necessary to Prevent Further Damage

Right after calling your insurer, schedule your home for water damage cleanup. As much as possible, this should occur within 24 hours from the time that the damage occurred. Remember: molds can start growing and multiplying in your home within just a day or two.

That’s why it’s best to get in touch with emergency water damage professionals as soon as you can. In many cases, they can provide immediate (as in same-day) cleanup services.

Water damage restoration pros use highly-specialized pumping, drying, and air moving equipment. If there’s any “leftover” water in your home, they will pump this out first. From there, they will dry out your home with the use of air movers, scrubbers, and dehumidifiers.

Keep in mind that excess moisture can seep into your home’s structural components. From there, it can weaken the materials, especially wood, and cause further damage. It can also cause rotting, which can compromise the structural stability of your home.

That’s why it’s essential to dry your home as quickly as possible. In doing so, you can mitigate the potential damage that indoor flooding can cause.

Steps That You Can Take to Reduce Water Damage

If it’s clear to re-enter your home, open all the windows to allow air to circulate. Make sure that you wear proper protective gear, such as rubber boots, gloves, and masks. Conduct a careful inspection of your house, starting with the most damaged areas.

Determine What You Can Save

Next, determine if there’s anything that you can salvage, such as furniture and rugs. You may be able to have rugs, floor mats, and even carpeting cleaned by a professional. As for furniture, a specialized cleaning service may also be able to salvage them for you.

Remove Any Wet Materials Sitting on Top of Wooden Floors

If you have wooden floors, remove everything that’s covering them, such as carpets, rugs, or mats. You may have to relocate furniture too, as their legs can cause permanent damage to damp wood or fabrics. What’s vital is to keep the wood away from prolonged exposure to excess moisture.

Inspect Walls

You should inspect your walls too, especially if you have wallpaper or carpeting on them. You may have to remove portions of these, depending on the extent of the water intrusion and damage. If there’s considerable damage, it’s best to get rid of them as they will also develop mold and mildew.

Mop and Wipe Away

Remove as much moisture as you can from your flooded or water damaged home. You can do this as you wait for the arrival of the water damage restoration experts. The less damp your home is, the lower the odds of more severe issues occurring (such as mold growth).

You should also use environmentally-friendly cleaning solutions and disinfectants. Use these on your floors, walls, and any other surface that the floodwater may have affected. These products can further help mitigate the risks and odds of microbial growth.

Run Fans and Dehumidifiers

Have these devices running as you wait for the water damage cleanup team. These will help facilitate the removal of the excess moisture inside your home.

Be sure to dispose of the water collected by dehumidifier every few hours. It’s also best to clean the device’s filter every time you throw the water it absorbed from the air.

Address Early Signs of Water Damage to Keep It From Worsening

There you have it, your ultimate guide on what to do as soon as you notice the signs of water damage at home. Your safety is your priority, so you may have to evacuate your home. If you can, though, turn off the power first (and the main water valve, if needed).

Then, get in touch with your insurer and a water damage restoration expert. The sooner you do, the sooner they can help you avert further damage.

Ready for more helpful guides like this? Be sure to follow our site then, and feel free to read our many other blog posts!

 

 

Most people find chores to be a necessary evil in their lives. But what if you could make chores like laundry a pleasant (or even fun) endeavor?

Chores are always going to feel like work, but there are definitely some things you can do to make your chores more tolerable while also sprucing up your living environment.

One of the biggest sources of stress in the American household is laundry. We do so much laundry that we created a room just to hold all of the equipment that we need to deal with our dirty clothes!

So how can you make laundry more tolerable? Read on to find out how to make your laundry room a space of joy, rather than one of dread, with our favorite laundry room tips.

1. Aesthetics

The laundry room is one of the most underappreciated rooms in the house. Since we usually only spend time there while we’re doing chores, it’s easy to forget to take the time to decorate and create a space that we like spending time in.

Believe it or not, the aesthetics of the room you’re in have a huge impact on the work that you do, and how you feel while you do that work. To make laundry more tolerable, create a space that’s pleasant to spend time in.

How can you do this? Well, there’s no accounting for personal taste, but there’s a tendency to only focus on form and function in the laundry room.

Try adding some personal touches such as modern lighting or new cabinets to match the space to the rest of your home. There’s no reason for your laundry room to only be a clinical, white, sterile space.

2. Upgrade Your Equipment

Another source of frustration with chores is not having the right equipment for the job. To make sure that your laundry room meets your needs, consider Replacing your older equipment.

This may seem like an investment, but sometimes that new equipment can save you money in the long run. For example, a high-efficiency washer and dryer Can lower your monthly utility bills and even help you save money on laundry detergent.

3. Make a Place for Everything

Laundry rooms are super vulnerable to excess clutter. We use so many different pieces of equipment and products to process our laundry that the laundry room can quickly become cluttered with empty bottles, sewing kits, and other odds and ends.

The easiest way to prevent this clutter is to make sure that each item in your laundry room has its own place. For example, instead of just leaving your detergent on top of the washer, consider installing a shelf to house your detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets, and any other things you might use to do your laundry.

4. The Laundry Room is Not a Dumping Ground!

In many households, laundry rooms act as “throwaway rooms” that can host messes for months at a time. As odds and ends are left on top of the washer, in laundry baskets, or on shelves, the room can quickly become cluttered.

To keep your laundry room spic and span, make a commitment with your household not to let things build up in the laundry room. You could even implement a fine system so that each time someone leaves an item in the laundry room, they have to put a nickel in a jar!

5. Storage Solutions

Even if you have a place for every single item in your laundry room, you will still have to deal with the inevitable piles of clothing coming in and out of the room throughout the week.

In order to keep your laundry room from looking like a tornado ran through it, make sure you have plenty of storage space for your actual clothing and linens. For some people, This looks like a few laundry hampers placed under a counter so that you can separate your clothes by color.

6. Add Some Color

Laundry rooms often end up having a sterile, white look to them. To avoid the “hospital linoleum” aesthetic, Try adding some color to your laundry room.

You can do this in a variety of ways. One way is to add some wall art. Other people choose to paint the walls altogether.

No matter how you do it, adding some color to your laundry room can make the space more vibrant and make the laundry process just a little bit more fun.

7. Combine with Another Room

Running out of space in your current place? There’s no rule that states that your laundry room has to stay a laundry room forever.

If you’re looking to reevaluate how you use the space in your home, consider making the switch to a laundry closet and stacking your washer and dryer to save space.

8. Labels, Labels, Labels

Laundry rooms often contain lots of odds and ends, whether they are laundry related or general cleaning supplies. It’s easy for things to get lost in the shuffle, But with the right planning and organizational system, you can keep everything within arms reach.

For example, consider filling your cabinets with smaller containers so you can sort out small items like threads, needles, stain remover pens, and replacement equipment (like a whirlpool door latch.) Then, label those containers so that you always know where your supplies are (and where to put them when you’re done using them!)

Laundry Room Tips for Every Busy Family

Keeping your laundry room space clean, organized, and pleasant is a challenge that every busy family faces. But with the right laundry room tips, you can create a chore space that fits your lifestyle.

For more tips about how to create a house your love, check out our other blog posts!

 

Do you have to hire movers or is self-moving a legitimate option? Actually, a lot of people have success moving on their own, without professional help. But a lot more self-movers start packing too late, rent a truck that’s too small, and totally run out of time on moving day.

So, if you insist on moving without help, you need, well, help. That is, you need this guide on how to avoid the most common DIY moving mistakes.

If you’re moving on your own, you need to get started now. Start here, with this guide.

1. Believing the Myths About Hiring Movers

The biggest mistake self-movers make is buying into the many myths about hiring professional movers. Many people choose not to hire movers because they think it will cost too much, take too long, break a lot of their stuff, etc. But, most of the time, these fears are more likely to come true when you don’t hire a moving company.

The truth is, pro movers are faster, more efficient, and less likely to break things than you are because they have far more experience. That’s how they stay in business.

This saves you loads of time (and gas), and reduces what you spend on repairing/replacing broken items. Because of this, it’s usually cheaper to hire a Moving & Storage Company

. So, if you do choose to self-move, just make sure it’s for the right reasons.

2. Underestimating the Gargantuan Task of Self-Moving

If you’ve never moved before, assume it’s at least 3 times more difficult and time-consuming than it seems. Even if you have moved before, it’s still probably harder than you remember.

Imagine doing heavy lifting for 6 hours straight, then seeing how much work you still have left, then realizing you’re not even halfway done. Soon, you won’t have to imagine because it will be happening. And by that time, you’ll be slowing down with fatigue.

When estimating how much time your DIY move will take, be certain that you have more than enough time. Renting the moving van for more days than you need is better than running out of time.

3. Not Packing Soon Enough

Waiting too long to pack is far too common in DIY moves. But there’s no such thing as packing too early. If you’re certain you’re moving, pack now.

No matter when you start, you’ll still be packing on moving day. Hopefully, it will just be every day items you wanted to keep available until the last day. But you could end up packing things that should have been boxed months ago.

And if you don’t start now, you could run out of time on moving day. Then, you either miss your deadline for moving out or you rush your packing last minute. The latter means you’re more likely to break items or lose them in a sea of unmarked boxes.

4. Improper Packing/Lifting

Seriously, moving is tedious and hard and dangerous. If you’re going to try and handle it yourself, you’d better do it right.

Research proper lifting/team-lifting techniques. Practice these and do them right. Invest in back braces.

Also, research efficient packing methods. Get proper packing materials. Package your breakables and heavy items correctly.

Finally, label your boxes. Deliver them to the correct rooms in your new home.

5. Renting a Truck That’s Too Small

Always get a very big truck, bigger than you think you’ll need. Remember, unless you use two moving vehicles, no one can load while you’re unloading and vice versa.

Every time the truck is full, the work halts. It can’t begin again until the truck arrives at its destination and is completely unloaded.

If you have to take a ridiculous number of trips back and forth, you’re going to run out of time. It’s better to get a very large truck and take only a few trips.

Of course, this also requires knowing how to drive a large truck full of (unprofessionally-packed) items. If you drive it like a car, you’ll knock over all your items and get in an accident.

Be Careful While Self-Moving

If you choose the DIY route, be careful. Follow the tips above to avoid these horrible self-moving mistakes.

DIY is your world. It’s our world too. Get all the tips you need for your independent undertakings on our DIY blog.

It’s hard to find a storage unit because the storage industry has experienced 90% occupancy rates since 2015. The rates may be even higher in your area.

You may have to find other solutions for your storage needs. One of those solutions may lie in mobile storage containers. You’ll be surprised to learn that they can do so much more than store your stuff. They have a wide variety of uses.

Are you ready to learn how to make the most out of mobile storage containers?

Let’s get to it!

1. Moving Made Easier

The most common use of a mobile storage unit is to make moving easier. You can have two mobile storage containers, one for the things that go into storage and the other for your move.

You load each container and then the moving company will pick up the containers. They’ll be taken to their proper locations.

2. Restaurant and Bar

A creative way to use a mobile storage container is to turn it into a bar or restaurant. The restaurant industry is competitive, and if you need to get a bit of buzz, this will do it.

People would be curious to visit a restaurant or bar made out of stackable containers. The containers will give your restaurant an industrial look.

3. On-Site Business Storage

When you run a business, you don’t have time to run to an off-site storage unit to retrieve old documents. You can make it much easier on yourself by having your storage unit on-site.

You can use mobile storage units on the property to store your important items. They’re also secure since they’re on-site and you can organize the units to fit your needs, making everything easy to find.

4. Home Renovation Project Storage

A home renovation project will turn your home upside down. You’ll have less space to work within your home. You may need to move the contents of one room into another, making several rooms off-limits for relaxing.

Mobile storage pods can easily solve that problem. All you have to do is have the pod dropped off at your house, and fill it with things that need to be moved during the course of the renovation. It frees up space in your home during the renovation.

5. Vehicle and Equipment Protection

If you have business equipment or even luxury cars, you need to be able to store them safely and securely. Mobile storage containers come in many sizes. You’ll be able to store your most important vehicles in the unit.

6. Prop Mobility and Storage

One of the benefits of mobile storage is that it gives you flexibility. You wouldn’t think that the film or theatre industries would benefit from mobile storage units.

Think again. There are hundreds of costumes and props that need to be managed during a production. Plus, they need to be moved from one location to the next.

A mobile storage unit will give filmmakers an easy way to manage props and costumes and move them as needed.

The Many Uses of Mobile Storage Containers

If you’re looking for an easy way to move or store your belongings, don’t overlook mobile storage containers. They are versatile and can be used in almost any situation.

Did you find this article helpful? Head over to the Lifestyle section of this site for more home insights.