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As summertime creeps up just around the corner, chance are you’re starting to look at your yard more. During winter, you can get away with a less than stellar outdoor space since you’re not spending much time out there anyway.

However, when the sun is shining, you probably want to enjoy the sun and kick back al fresco. A nice yard doesn’t come for free, however. In order to be able to enjoy your yard and make it beautiful, you have to be willing to put in the work.

If endless hours of landscaping doesn’t sound like your kind of thing, then you’re not alone. The good news is that even though you’ll need to put in some effort, there are ways to minimize your workload.

Here are some of the best tips for a low-maintenance yard that looks fab.

Get a New Fence

One of the simplest ways to give your yard a breath of new life is to replace your old fence. If you’ve never assembled a fence before and haven’t the least clue about all of the components of a fence, don’t worry!

There are specialists who can get the job done for you, which means even less work for you to do!

Ditch Your Grass

Before you start wondering how you can have beautiful grass without having to actually take care of it, just know that it’s not an option. Unless you want to pay someone else to come and take care of it for you, then you’ll have to ditch it altogether.

Grass is a plant just like any other and requires trimming, food, sunlight, and water. Rocks, on the other hand, are much easier to take care of!

Consider getting rid of grass and putting in stones or gravel instead! You can get creative by blending different textures together and creating a backdoor space that is beautiful yet doesn’t require any mowing!

Go For Low-Maintenance Plants

One of the hardest parts of having a yard is taking care of your plants. Rather than opting for plants that are hard to take care of, go for ones that are easy breezy. Choose plants that look good at any time of year so you can cut back on your maintenance. Plants that look great even when they’re not blooming are a must!

When choosing flowers, go for perennials instead of annuals, so you don’t have to replant every year. Above all, choosing plants that are native to where you live will require the least amount of fuss to maintain. If they’re in their natural habitat, then you won’t have to worry about them getting the right amount of light or temperature levels. They’ll be happy as they are!

 

Is your home’s landscaping in dire need of some love? If so, you might want to skip the DIY phase and get some professional help.

Of course, this is easier said than done. Did you know that there are now over 500,000 landscaping companies in the United States? Even if you only focus on local companies, your search can seem like finding the right needle in a haystack.

Not sure where to start? Here’s a quick guide that should help you hire a landscaper that will suit your needs.

1. Identify Your Landscaper Needs

Many landscaping companies specialize in certain services. In other words, your first step should be to identify which services you’ll need.

For instance, landscape architects can plan and design your entire landscape. If you want someone to maintain what’s already there, you’ll need a landscape manager. For installing landscape features, you should hire a landscape contractor.

Finally, you have arborists and horticulturists. An arborist takes care of your trees, including planting, pruning, fertilization, and support. Horticulturists are plant experts — they’re the ones to call if your plants aren’t flourishing.

Once you know which company to hire, set a budget range. This is something every contractor will want to know before they get to work. Also, figure out how long you’re willing to wait for your yard to look like a work in progress.

2. Ask for Recommendations

The best way to choose between landscaping companies in your local area is to do your research.

Start by getting recommendations from your family and friends who live nearby. If they’re homeowners, there’s a good chance they used the services of a landscaper. You can also ask your neighbors — they’ll enjoy hearing that their yard looks nice.

Online reviews are another strong indicator of what you can expect from a landscaper. Once you find a landscaper you like, check out their online portfolio. You can also consult the Better Business Bureau for complaints.

3. Check Their Qualifications

In most states, landscaping contractors don’t need an occupational license to operate. That said, they still need business permits or licenses.

Competent contractors such as West Bay Landscape come fully licensed. This is something you should always check, even if a company is highly recommended. As good as their work may be, minimizing legal risks should be your top priority.

While you’re at it, make sure to check your contractor’s experience. Find out how many similar projects they’ve undertaken in the past. Ask them about the various parts of your project, such as permits and cleanup costs.

More on How to Hire a Landscaper

As you can see, hiring a landscaper isn’t that complicated of a process. As long as you follow this guide, you should be fine.

One final thing to keep in mind: cover your bases. Before you hire a landscaper, go over the contract to make sure you understand each point. By doing your due diligence on time, you’ll save yourself trouble in the future.

Want to know more about the various ways to spruce up your yard? Interested in other tricks that will help you make your property more eco-friendly? Check out our Tips section!

Building your own home?

Congratulations! It’s no easy or affordable route, but it can lead to a design specifically catered to your family and needs.

If you’re building your dream house, one of the first details to work on is a theme. A good choice is to go for a Nordic look. The aesthetic existed since post-World War II, but it received a recent popularity spike due to a lot of reasons.

Chief among this is their clean, defined lines, chic minimalism, and the airy feel. With that, it isn’t that difficult to see why a lot of people want a Scandinavian feel to their interior design. In this guide, you’ll learn how to re-create this style in your home.

Read on and learn more!

1. Choose Subdued Colors

Defining any design style will start with your color choice. It will function as a backdrop for the rest of the design, helping bring each element together. With the right color option, you will make all of these cohesive.

Most people compare the Nordic look to mid-century modern. It’s noticeable since the former tend to borrow a lot of details from the latter. The main difference between the two is their choice of color palettes.

Mid-century modern living spaces will often have dark, rich colors. As for Scandinavian interiors, it will focus on making everything have a bright, light, and airy feel. To achieve the latter, you’ll need to choose more subdued colors.

It means you need to stick to pastel colors and make it neutral-heavy. Icy blues or Millennial Pink are great hues if you’d like to add more vibrant colors.

2. Pick Furniture with Form and Function

Scandinavian furniture pieces have a distinct style: beautiful shapes and simple lines. Take note, Nordic people put high regard to comfort and function. That means they’re unlikely to make furniture with inconvenient designs.

The best part is that the furniture is still beautiful. For example, they’ll design the chairs to be comfortable while sliding easily under tables. It will have the perfect height for sitting and maintain a simple, artful form.

If you’re interested in shopping for Nordic furniture, try this modern furniture showroom.

3. Add Warmth Using Accents

A major difference between Nordic design and most other minimalist spaces is the amount of comfort. The latter often have this stark, cold feeling for their interiors. As for Scandinavian spaces, they’re intended to exude warmth.

Nordic countries have this concept called “hygge.” It’s pronounced as “hoo-gah,” meaning comfort in Danish. It’s a major principle used in most Northern European interior designs.

Your textile choice also determines how comfortable a room is. That means you’ll need to add a lot of pillows and blankets. To top everything off, you’ll need a plush throw rug.

4. Use Organic Patterns

Another recognizable feature of Scandinavian style is their penchant for botanical and organic designs. Often, it will have simple plant forms that come in a lot of different colors. Always keep in mind that the plant designs should only have simple lines.

An alternative way to achieve a Nordic design is to feature characters. You can go for a doodle-y, whimsical, and fun design instead. The number of interesting patterns you can use from Scandinavian art can make a drab room look quirky and fun.

5. Try a Wood and Metal Finish

Scandinavian interior design will always use natural elements as the cornerstone of its design concept. The objective is to make your living spaces look more organic. This isn’t limited to the flooring or walls—it also applies to furniture and other fixtures.

A Nordic house will often have a wooden coffee table and chairs. But a newer trend in this style is to combine wooden elements in the room then use metallic finishes. For example, you can use copper sconces and brass pendants to a wooden ceiling.

Doing this will add some glimmer and make the entire room look shiny. To pair with reclaimed wooden flooring, you need to get a stainless chair leg. A good alternative is to use a silver-colored rug.

6. Pick the Right Flooring

To achieve a Scandinavian-themed flooring, you’ll need light hardwood material. It doesn’t matter whether it’s its natural color or it’s painted in subdued hues. You don’t need to stick to pale brown wood colors like pine to achieve the right Scandinavian flooring feel.

You can also try using laminated light flooring. With this, your room can look more spacious and brighter. You’ll achieve this while maintaining a clean and inviting atmosphere.

You can apply this type of flooring in the bathroom with the use of heating tiles underfoot. It’s important especially during the cold winter season. Either way, it’s going to help make your feet feel great despite the weather.

7. Go with Low-Hanging Lights

The Nordic design will often have low-hanging lights that can come with a lot of different styles. But keep in mind that simplicity is always the centerpiece of this theme. In some cases, a cluster of lights can hang low together, but it’s always better to have a singular light instead.

The light color also matters since it can help enhance the cozy feeling. Avoid using pale white since it will make the room gray and boring. Go for warmer light colors to give the room more accent.

Try a Nordic Look Today!

It isn’t easy, achieving a true Nordic look for your home. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your best to exude its warm, inviting atmosphere. Use the tips above and get started with your Nordic interior design efforts.

Don’t hesitate, and start working toward this goal. You can start with furniture and work toward replacing your current flooring and walls to fit this design theme.

Did you find this guide helpful? If so, we encourage you to read more of our posts within the same category.

Building a new home is an exciting event. Many people save for decades before building their first house. It’s a great investment, and it’s the place where you’ll raise your family.

It’s also very expensive. Especially when the builder suggests items that will make your home even more luxurious. But these features don’t come cheap. 

This article takes a look at builder upgrades to avoid in order to save money on construction costs. Keep reading to learn DIY home upgrades that you can do yourself at a fraction of the price.

1. Cabinet Hardware

High quality hardware in your home is an easier way to make your cabinets look amazing. Few things class up the look of a kitchen or bathrooms as quickly as door pulls, etc.

Fortunately, cabinet hardware requires zero skill to install. All it takes is a screwdriver and a little time. 

This is an area of home construction where you can save money in the short term, and then make the upgrade down the line when you have the funds to invest in something a little fancier.

Basic, inexpensive hardware will still look good. So there’s no shame in saving a few bucks now. The key is to focus on buying what you need, and then indulging in upgrade bling when finances aren’t as tight.

Hardwood flooring is a another DIY project that will save you money when you’re ready to renovate. Check out this link to learn everything you need to know.

2. Kitchen Appliances

When you’re building a new home, it’s easy to get distracted by all the fancy appliances at your local home improvement super store.

There’s never been a better time to find amazing products with mind-blowing features. Advances in technology have truly taken kitchen appliances to the next level. And yet this is also an area where you can cut costs by investing in more budget-friendly appliances rather than top of line options.

Try to resist being seduced by all the shiny toys and cool features. Stick with what you need. Save your money.

Keep your eyes on the fact that appliances are designed to do simple tasks like keep your food cold and wash your dishes. Everything else is unnecessary and expensive.

That space age washer and dryer combo at Home Depot might be calling to you, but you’ll spend a fraction of that amount on a set that will do the same job without putting a strain on your bank account.

Fancy appliances are fun, but so is saving money. So be smart and stay focused on cutting costs rather than buying toys.

3. Interior Paint

Everything a building contractor implements costs you money. And yet not every job on a new house requires the skills of a construction professional.

Painting the interior of your home is one of those tasks. Painting is relatively easy and fun. Thus you really don’t need to hire a professional crew or invest in a top quality paint when starting out.

This is actually a fairly simply DIY job. All you need is a few supplies and the willingness to invest your own sweat equity. And don’t feel pressured into buying expensive paint when a moderately-priced product will look great.

Even if you don’t want to do the job yourself, you can save money by selecting an economical brand of paint, and then simply upgrade to something you like better at some point in the future.

4. Lighting

Lighting is another area of your home where you can save money now and worry about upgrades later.

Again, it’s easy to find yourself dazzled by all the amazing light fixtures at your local super store. There’s literally no limit to the amount of money you can spend. 

The problem is, those dazzling light fixtures tend to be expensive. And yet they add very little to your quality of life. They might add visual appeal to a room, but the cost-benefit ratio is rather low.

Lights can easily be upgraded. You don’t need a professional to do the job, so start with basic fixtures, then do the upgrade yourself once the cheap versions have lost their luster.

5. Fixtures

Other fixtures you might want to upgrade at a later date include ceiling fans and bathroom fixtures such as faucets. 

Many people make the mistake of sinking lots of cash into items that they don’t really need, which could have easily been upgraded long after the construction of their home.

Luxury bathroom fixtures certainly help make a home look amazing, and yet you shouldn’t be afraid to start small and work your way up when you’re better able to afford it.

6. Countertops

There’s no denying that gorgeous countertops in your bathrooms and kitchen can add aesthetic beauty and increase the value of your home. In fact, this is one of the top ways realtors suggest boosting the price of a house when you’re preparing to put it on the market.

And yet this is another opportunity to save money at the time of construction. You might love the look of marble or granite, but starting with a more affordable material might be the better option.

7. Landscaping

Now let’s discuss landscaping. You might want your lawn to look perfect the minute you move into your new home, but you can save money by taking your time and doing the work yourself.

Landscaping professionals are great at what they do, but there’s no reason to hire a pro when you can handle this DIY job yourself. After all, you’ll be able to take pride in getting your hands dirty and turning your yard into the kind of colorful paradise you’ve always dreamed of.

Expensive Builder Upgrades to Avoid

Building a home is exciting yet expensive. That’s why learning ways to save money on construction costs is so important. This list of builder upgrades to avoid will help you save money while building your dream home.

If you found this article informative, be sure to check out the rest of our website for more home improvement tips.

A home isn’t just a place to rest and sleep. It’s a place to enjoy, live in and make cherished memories. As homes and properties age, they can suffer from certain forms of both functional and aesthetic decay, leaving them less than desirable places in which to live. Whether you intend to stay in your current home or sell it in the near future, keeping your home in pristine condition is a worthwhile and necessary endeavor.

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All too often, people consider only the inside of the home when renovating or remodeling. However, curb appeal matters in many ways and often just as much as interior renovations, so taking care of your home’s exterior and lawn deserves the utmost attention.

Let’s examine some renovations outside of the home that can add real value to any property.

Paint or Re-Side the Home

A new coat of paint or re-siding an aging property can add an immense amount of value to the home. For homes that still have siding that’s structurally sound, a new coat of paint is often the best bang for your buck, adding thousands of dollars of value virtually overnight. For an even simpler yet valuable project, consider re-painting the front door: a nicely-painted front door can add real curb appeal and can make your home more desirable when on the market.

Re-siding the home is considerably more expensive but often necessary for homes that are several decades old. A fresh color and new siding will also help protect the structural elements of the home from weathering, which can otherwise create repair costs that exponentially grow over time.

Invest in Borders and Framing

Your lawn and green spaces provide a safe haven of beauty throughout most of the year, but improvements can always be made to improve its aesthetics. One of the easiest ways in which to do this is to add borders and framing of some sort to various segments of the lawn. This can consist of stone walls along sloped areas and the perimeter of the property, or walkways made from stone or rock gardens that break up the monotony of the yard while adding beauty (to learn about these ideas and more, see here).

Fencing is another form of framing that can add appeal to properties and increase value. Many families value privacy, as a fenced-in yard can create an additional feeling of isolation and peace when enjoying your outdoor areas.

Build a New Deck

One of the most cost-effective outdoor improvements home owners can make, building a deck or patio provides functional and aesthetic benefits to your outdoor areas. Generally speaking, home owners can expect to recoup approximately 85 percent of the deck’s building costs when it comes time to sell, and sometimes, even more.

As such, renovating your back yard with a functional addition that provides a social setting for families and guests, adding thousands in property value, simply makes sense.

Improve the Driveway

Last but certainly not least, the driveway and parking space available on your property can affect its overall value. Driveways come in many forms – concrete driveways are the most popular, but also the most expensive. For those who currently have a gravel driveway, investing in resurfacing and/or a fresh load of gravel can improve the property value if you plan on selling soon. Additionally, carving out an extra outdoor space or two for parking can further improve property value, while adding functionality to the property.

While the interior of the home often gets attention, your outdoor spaces deserve focus too. These four projects range in terms of cost and benefit but can all enhance your property value and provide benefits for the remainder of your time in the home.

 

Do you hear that dripping sound?

That’s the sound of money going down the drain. One leaking faucet wastes about 3 liters of water a day. Expect about 20 dollars added to your monthly water bill and that’s just for one drippy faucet!

If you fancy yourself as a DIY person, you can take care of small problems like a clogged faucet or a wonky shower head. But some plumbing repair jobs require a professional’s touch. Attempting to patch them yourself can lead to bigger problems later on.

Here are some common plumbing issues and tips on when to call the plumbing cavalry.

Drips and Leaks

If you haven’t experienced this before then your plumbing must have been blessed by the gods.

Dripping shower heads, leaky pipes, and faucets are common plumbing headaches for homeowners. Not only is the “plip-plop” sound of dripping water a form of mental torture, but leaks also hurt both your wallet and Mother Nature.

Fortunately, a basic leak is one of the easiest plumbing concerns to solve. Usually, a quick trip to the hardware store to find a replacement spout or tightening some joints is enough.

But if the faucet continues to leak, the cause might be an old or worn-out washer. While it’s possible to replace it yourself, it’s very easy to botch the job if you don’t have the right tools. Calling a plumbing service is a quick and easy solution.

Professional plumbers can also take care of more serious leaks. These include massive leaks from a burst water line or problems with your water pressure.

A Clogged Faucet, Toilet or Drain

You’ll need to brandish, once again, your trusty plunger or drain snake. It’s icky and not something to look forward to, but it’s a hero’s job. You’ll have to face the dreaded hair fiend or the monster known as Number Two.

Arm yourself with magical potions such as baking soda, vinegar, or drain cleaners. After a couple of pumps and a bit of elbow grease, the quest should end with a satisfying conclusion.

But if your quest fails, the problem might be backed-up sewage or a deep obstruction. These obstacles are too tough for a novice adventurer like yourself. Further attempts to release the clog may damage your pipes.

If you’re faced with this situation, seek aid from the experts.

Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure is a frustrating problem to have. Every time you take a shower, you’re praying for more water before your eyes burn out from the soap. The most common cause is gunk build up in the faucet or showerhead.

The remedy is to clean out the gunk. You can remove the faucet or showerhead and clean it with a mixture of vinegar and dishwashing liquid. Then you simply have to screw it back on. Or if your faucet or showerhead is old, you can buy and install a new one.

But if that doesn’t fix things, the problem might be more serious. It could be due to a leak in the system from a fractured or eroded pipe. Consult a licensed professional for assessment and repairs.

The Pipes Are Calling

When the pipes call for our attention, we should deal with them immediately to prevent further issues down the line. Small problems like a clogged faucet or a leaky shower head are easy to handle by ourselves. But if your basic troubleshooting doesn’t work, call a professional right away.

For more articles like this, feel free to browse this site.

Our homes are fortresses of solitude and safety. They are our asylums.

However, most criminals have no problem violating the sanctity of our homes. If given the right opportunity, they will enter our homes, rob us,  or even harm us.

While it may not happen in your lifetime, there will always be a risk of being confronted with intruders or coming home to find your home burglarized.

However, there are ways to decrease the odds of ever experiencing such an event. There are ways to secure your home in a way that deters people will ill intentions from ever coming near it.

Keep reading for our top five tips on how to make your home as secure as possible!

Tips for a Secure Home

There hundreds of things you can do to make your home more secure. However, we’ve narrowed it down to the five we find most important. If the safety and sanctity of your home are important to you, these items are a must!

1. Install a Security System

First and foremost, your home needs a security system. This not only deters most burglars, but it also alerts police to any suspicious activity. This can literally be a life-saver in a worst-case scenario.

Your security system can be as basic or as top-of-the-line as you want. We recommend alarms on the doors and windows, cameras at the front and back of the house, and motion-activated floodlights at a minimum. 

2. Always Appear Home

Next, realize that an occupied home is often a secure home in the eyes of criminals. Most burglars don’t want a confrontation. Why would they?

Therefore, if you can make it appear as though someone is always home, your home will be less likely to be targeted. You can achieve this by leaving on a few lights, the television, or by keeping a car parked in plain sight. 

This is especially important when you go on vacation. We recommend having a friend or relative house sit for you if you’re going to be gone for more than a few days.

3. Keep the Doors and Windows Locked

To keep your home secure when empty or occupied, it’s a good habit to keep all of the doors and windows locked. 

Windows on the ground floor are obviously more of a danger than higher windows. However, burglars have been known to target higher windows for this very reason. We recommend keeping all windows locked.

4. Install a Quality Fence and Gates

Another great way to keep your home secure is by putting up a tall fence with secure gates. Most burglars see fences as an extra hurdle to cross (both literally and figuratively).

You don’t need to make your yard look like a fortress, but we suggest using more than just a small chainlink fence. You can even get creative with various forms of materials, a sliding gate, and more. The key is giving your home an extra layer of security.

5. Maximize Landscape Visibility

Lastly, you want to remove any opportunity for a burglar or criminal to hide on your property. Maximizing your visibility throughout your landscape is essential for a secure home. 

This includes plenty of lighting and removal of major hiding places. 

Don’t Take Any Risks

Once your home has been broken into, it feels different. You lose that feeling of safety and security. Whether you were there for the intrusion or not, once it happens, you will always feel a little vulnerable, even violated.

Instead, start taking steps today to make your home as secure as possible!

For more tips on taking care of your home and family, take a look through some of our other articles!

Your family is growing, so you and your spouse decide to ditch your one-room apartment to buy a house. You find one that you like and open up negations with the seller. After a long wait and a lot of paperwork, you reach the day you’ve been waiting for.

The closing day. Today is the day that the house will, at last, be yours. What happens on closing day though? You should prepare for everything that is to come so there are no hang-ups. 

To help you prepare and move into your new home as soon as possible, check out this quick guide.

1. What is Closing and When Does it Happen?

Closing day is the final step you take when buying a home before it’s yours. When the closing date happens varies. 

During the negotiation part of things, you and the seller will come up with a closing date. Just because you agree on a date doesn’t mean it will happen on that day, though. Your agent could change things to suit a more convenient timeline for themselves, the lender, and the title agency. 

2. Everything You Need to Bring With You on Closing Day 

There are a few pieces of information that you’ll need to bring with you on closing day. These are a photo ID and a cashiers check for the closing costs. There may be additional paperwork that you’ll need to provide, but the title company will give you a checklist so you’ll know what to bring. 

3. What Happens on Closing Day? 

The main thing you’ll need to prepare for during the process of closing is signing your name a lot. You’ll have to provide a signature on everything. After you pay your closing costs, the seller will sign the property over to you. 

From there, you’ll sign a settlement statement, a mortgage note that states that you’ll repay the loan you took out for the home, and a mortgage that will secure the mortgage note.   

4. Where Will the Closing Take Place? 

Your closing appointment won’t happen at the property. It happens in the office of the title company that transfers the ownership of your new home to you. You, the seller, and the title company’s representative won’t be the only ones attending this meeting.    

5. Who Will Attend the Closing Appointment? 

The other people attending the closing appointment will be the closing agent, an attorney (who may also double as the closing agent), your mortgage lender, and real estate agent. The seller won’t have to be there if they pre-signed the deed. 

What Happens On Closing Day and How Can You Prepare for it 

Buying the house of your dreams is a long process and a lot of paperwork. It won’t end until after the closing appointment is over and the keys are in your hands.

Follow this guide so you know what happens on closing day. Hopefully, you’ll experience fewer problems by knowing what the process entails.

Now that you’ve bought your home, you need to decorate it and keep it clean. Check out the lifestyle section of our blog for helpful tips. 

Are you looking for a way to take your backyard to the next level? Why not add a swimming pool?

Certainly, adding a swimming pool to your backyard can be a big expense. After all, the average cost of building an inground swimming pool is $25,000 – $29,600. 

So, is it really worth all that money?

The answer is yes. 

Check out this guide to learn the top benefits of installing a backyard pool. 

1. Low Impact Exercise 

According to recent statistics, 80 percent of adults don’t get enough exercise.  If you think you may fall into this 80 percent, then it’s time to do something about it. 

Swimming is one of the best exercises out there, especially if you’re looking for something that’s easy on the joints.

Swimming is a great cardiovascular exercise, and swimming for just 30 minutes a day can significantly improve your heart health and lung health. And, it can significantly lower your risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. 

Also, swimming is a great form of exercise for those who are pregnant or obese. 

2. Great for Socializing and Family Fun 

Another major benefit of adding a swimming pool to your backyard?

Swimming pools provide a great space for you to socialize with your friends and family. Get your kids away from their screens and bring them outside to enjoy a game of Marco Polo or water volleyball. 

Or, you can invite some of your adult friends over for drinks and a relaxing day swimming and hanging by the pool. 

Pretty soon, your home will become the most popular spot in the neighborhood for summer fun. 

3. Convenience 

Most people feel like they don’t have enough time in the day to get everything done. 

The great thing about a swimming pool is that it can cut out unnecessary time out of your day. Instead of driving to the gym for a workout, you can just hop in the pool and exercise. 

And, instead of putting sunscreen on all the kids and dragging them to an overcrowded public pool or expensive country club in the summer, you can just send them to the backyard to enjoy their own pool. 

4. Increase the Value of Your Home

Even though building a pool comes with a lot of upfront costs, they certainly pay off in the long run in terms of adding value to your home. 

In fact, it’s estimated that a swimming pool can add as much as 5 percent to the overall value of your home. 

In other words, if your home is worth $500,000, then a swimming pool can add an extra $25,000 value to your home. 

So, if you plan to sell your home somewhere down the road, adding a pool is definitely a worthy investment. 

5. The Perfect Staycation Environment  

Due to busy airports, flight delays, and other stresses related to traveling, more and more people are opting to stay at home on the weekends instead of traveling. 

The great thing about having an inground pool is that it can create the perfect staycation environment. 

Whip up some fruity cocktails, buy some books and magazines, and you’ll have the perfect environment for a wonderful staycation by the pool. 

6. Teach Your Kids to Swim in a Comfortable Environment 

Swimming is a very important skill that every child should master. 

But, taking your kid to a public swimming pool for swimming lessons can be very intimidating for them. 

That’s another reason an inground swimming pool is so great. It’s the perfect, comfortable environment for you to teach your kids to swim. Plus, think of all the time you’ll save by not having to drive your kids back and forth from swimming lessons every day. 

7. Great for Asthmatic Children 

It’s estimated that 1 in 12 people have asthma. Is your child an asthma sufferer?

If so, an inground swimming pool can be a great benefit for them. 

This is because swimming is one of the few cardiovascular activities that don’t cause asthma attacks. Plus, swimming can also help increase their overall fitness and confidence levels. 

8. Add Visual Appeal to Your Backyard 

Are you looking to add some visual appeal to your backyard? If so, building a swimming pool is a great way to do it. 

A swimming pool can turn any ho-hum backyard into a tropical oasis. Its pristine, shining water offers the perfect complement to flora and tropical decor. 

This pool company can tell you more about how a pool can add visual appeal to your yard. 

9. Stress Relief 

Humans are more stressed than ever before. 

In fact, it’s estimated that 8 in 10 Americans are afflicted by stress. An inground pool is a perfect place to let your stresses of the day melt away. 

After a long week or day at work, you can just hop in your pool, swim around, and forget about all of your troubles. 

Plus, by having your own pool, you don’t have to deal with the noise or chaos that public pools bring. You can a space that’s just for you where you won’t be interrupted by the outside world. 

10. Grandchildren 

Last but not least, an inground pool can be a great addition to your house if you have- or expect to have- grandchildren. 

If you want to give the grandkids a reason to stay at Grandma and Grandpa’s house, a swimming pool is a perfect incentive. 

Plus, swimming is something that everyone can enjoy, both young and old, so you won’t have to worry about not being able to keep up with your grandchildren in the pool as you might on land. 

Are You Ready to Build a Backyard Pool? 

As you can see, there are a lot of benefits to building a backyard pool. 

If you have any questions about building a backyard pool, let us know in the comments below. And, be sure to check in with our blog for more tips on sprucing up your home. 

The one item that wouldn’t be in your garage sale is your old garage door. Who would want it? It creaks, doesn’t lock properly and is showing signs of rot around the edges. 

You might get one more year out of if you’re lucky. On the other hand, it might be best to strike while the iron’s hot. Here are the tell-tale signs that will let you know that it’s time to say, ‘Out with the old and in with the new!’

1. Some Serious Sagging

Wooden garage doors are especially prone to sagging. To stop this from happening they need to be regularly maintained. If not, they’ll soon start to deteriorate and sag often due to rot. 

You can run the risk of your wooden garage door cracking and becoming damaged over time. Paint can peel away, the wood can start to splinter, and it can spoil the overall look of the garage as a whole.

Even if your garage door isn’t wooden, it could still begin to sag. That means there’s an underlying issue. You should always seek professional advice at this point.

If the garage door needs replacing you might want to consider a custom-built roll-up variety. They offer great security against burglary. You can read more about them on this blog post. 

2. Persistent Noise or Rattling 

If your garage door makes a noticeable and unusual noise when opening and closing, it could be time to replace it. The same applies if the door shakes when you open or close it.

Repairs for these sorts of issues can be expensive. Even once fixed, the same problems could well return at some point in the future. Occasional garage door malfunctions are normal and can be fixed by garage door repair experts.

However, if you notice repeated breakdowns from age or normal wear and tear, you should consider replacing the door. Put the money you’d spend on repairs toward a new door instead.

Security Risk

A garage door that does not work well is also a security risk. The door might not provide the required protection for your vehicles and any possessions you store in the garage.  

It might make more financial sense to invest in a new garage door when these issues crop up. If you decide to stick with your old problematic door, sooner or later the cost of any repairs will outweigh what it costs to buy a new door. 

3. An Old Garage Door Is Less Efficient

Older garage doors don’t tend to have as good functionality as their modern counterparts. They may not have the best safety features, for example.

This could include things like having insufficient weather strips, bottom seals, and sealing joints. These are essential to keep the wind at bay and reduce the risk of weather damage.

4. Avoid Unnecessary Injuries

In the past, there have been around thirty thousand injuries each year caused by accidents with garage doors. Many of these incidents involved children.

A significant number of children have even died or suffered permanent brain damage in such accidents. These occurrences could involve faulty automatic garage door systems. They can cause the door to close unexpectedly.

You should check regularly to ensure your door closes the whole way. Ensure that its automatic reverse mechanism is being triggered as it should be. If you don’t, the door could be a danger to you, your family and pets.  

The most modern doors can detect motion. This reduces the risk of you or a loved one getting their hands or feet stuck in a closing door.

5. The Design is Outdated

If you live in an old house with character, then your garage door may be an aesthetic match. Even so, it might be time for a rethink. Modern garage doors can complement all sorts of architectural designs.

Garage door windows come in many styles such as antique, arch-shaped and printed glass.

A lovely property can be badly let down by an unattractive old garage door. The doors are large in size so they tend to be very noticeable. They can make up a significant portion of the house’s facade. 

Spruce up the front of your house up with a beautifully designed garage door. If you’re thinking of selling your home then this will add value to it. Remember, an old, creaking garage door could put potential buyers off.

Installing a new garage door shows that you’re taking care of your home. That’s a very attractive image to present to anyone who may be considering buying your home.

6. The Door is Difficult to Close and Open

Has the garage door has been gradually getting harder to close and open in one movement? If so, then it may not be worth your time or hard-earned cash to fix up. When the problem gets worse over time, it also starts to get irritating.

You don’t want to get your day off to a bad start every day of the week. That can happen if you’re having to struggle to close and lock the garage door every time you set off on your daily commute.

7. Your Garage Is Going to Be Multi-Functional 

It could be that you’re considering converting your garage into another living space. At this point, you might want to consider changing the door. Modern garage doors come in some great contemporary designs.

You could go for some stylish tinted glass windows with aluminum frames which could feature in your new garage door.  You could go for a clean, sleek look or repeat metals and styles in the hardware used on door and its windows.

You could match the color of the door with the exterior of the house for a consistent look. That’s not a golden rule though. If you want a different color, research those which are going to complement each another. 

It’s Time to Splash out on a New Garage Door

An old garage door can make or break the look of your property. It could also be a security issue. It might also provide insufficient protection against severe weather conditions. If so, then it’s time to invest in a new garage door.

Read more articles about useful home improvement tips on our site.