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Older houses are full of character and charm but can be both a renovator’s dream and nightmare. Purchasing an old house can bring with it a host of issues that are hidden under the surface that you will be required to fix at a potentially high expense. If you are considering buying an older house and are unsure what yo look for, here are 5 things to keep in mind when purchasing the property. (more…)
When you are eager to move house and start a new life because you have had a job offer somewhere else in the country, you want to move closer to family, or you simply want to upsize, there’s nothing worse than seeing your home linger on the market. You may have located a real estate agent with plenty of properties like yours on their books and you might feel like you have taken all the advice given to you by property experts. However, sometimes properties don’t fly off the market like the home makeover TV shows would lead you to believe. Take a look at these three reasons why your home might not be finding its elusive buyer. (more…)
If you are going to be moving into a new home or just planning on revamping your current home, you need to make sure that it is safe, functional, and makes you feel comfortable. You also want to ensure that you don’t spend more money than you need to either. A lot of home maintenance things you can figure out on your own. There are tutorials and videos online that will walk you through most things pretty simply. There are several things you need to hire out, and finding local offers for the best companies to work with will go a long way to making sure your work is done efficiently.
While that may seem overwhelming, focusing on what is most important will help you keep your priorities straight. Here are several of the most important home maintenance tasks to keep in mind when you start your next project. (more…)
There might come a time in your life where you’ve had enough. You’ve been living in busy city areas for too long, and it’s just too much. The noise is getting to you, the number of people walking everywhere annoys you – and let’s not get started on the traffic!
So, you decide to put your house on the market and buy a home out in the sticks. It’s far from busy cities, meaning you’re living off-the-grid. This way of living seems attractive for a lot of reasons. However, there’s a lingering question that puts some people off. Is it actually possible to live off-the-grid? Can you do it, or will you need to constantly travel between your home and the city?
Well…it is possible – but only under certain conditions. Below, you’ll find a few ways to make living off-the-grid possible for you and your family: (more…)
The fact is that your home is your sanctuary – it’s the place where you and your family feel the most comfortable and relaxed. Your home is your retreat from the world, your safe haven, if you will, which is why it can be so completely and utterly devastating if something bad should happen to it. The sad truth is that your home is not disaster-proof – anything could happen to it at any time, and leave you without a roof over your head.
The concept that something could happen to the home that you’ve spent a lot of time, money and effort building is completely devastating. However, what’s important is to consider the fact that there are steps that you can take to ensure that your home – and everything inside it – are protected should a household disaster occur, or steps that you can take to at least mitigate the loss.
The question is, of course: how can you mitigate the impact of a household disaster? Read on for everything that you should know! (more…)
Kids can benefit from having an outdoor space that they can play in. When they have somewhere to run around outside, they have a place to exercise and a way to get out of the house. For some families, the backyard is the kids’ domain. You might have a patio or another area where you can sit and grill, but it makes sense to let the kids have the rest of the yard. You can create the perfect place for your children to run around and enjoy themselves by giving your backyard a new look. There’s a lot that you can do to make your backyard a paradise for kids. (more…)
If you are moving onto pastures new, the chances are that you are looking forward to starting the next chapter of your life. While you may miss your current humble abode, you can make a whole new set of memories in your new little patch of bricks and mortar. Moving house can be stressful, but there are certain aspects that can bring you joy. If you are purchasing a fixer upper, you get to put your own stamp and personality onto the interior of your new pad. The decor aspect of any new home allows you to get creative and have fun experimenting with color, styles and furniture.
However, there is so much more to moving house. To make it a success, you need to complete a list of tasks to ensure that you don’t become frustrated in your new home. When you think of your current dwelling, you have working appliances, heating, a pleasant outlook, utilities, and a garden shed. You might not have any of this in your new home. It’s crucial that you set the ball rolling to ensure that these are in place before moving day. Take a look at these new home fundamentals that you cannot afford to neglect if you are to make a success of the new chapter in your life. (more…)
If you are serious about revamping your home, it is time to take decisive action. There are a lot of things you can do that are going to help you make the most of your property, and you should look into these. Make sure you focus on the right ways of achieving this and try to create a better home for you and your family. There are a lot of ways of achieving the home you want, and this is often about coming up with the best ways of improving it.
When it comes to revamping the home, there are a lot of things you need to keep in mind, and it is clear that there are so many factors that play a role in this. Now, trying to make the most of this is something that you should be looking to get right as much as possible. There are a lot of elements that play a role here, and you should look at using these key hints to help you make the most of your home and take it to the next level. (more…)
A large number of homeowners have experienced losses instigated by water damage. Most of which are caused by defective plumbing, leaking roofs, broken gaskets, and water heaters. Additionally, natural calamities like floods and hurricanes cause different types of property damage. (more…)
Buying your first house or apartment is one of the most exciting steps you’ll take in life. It’s a sign of true independence and a reflection of a lot of hard work. It can take many years to save for your first property, but it will be worth it when you get there.
Saving for your deposit is one of the biggest challenges you can face to get on the property ladder, but wholly satisfying once you achieve it. But while you think you’re over this crucial hurdle, there are still other costs waiting to come the way that you need to be prepared for.
Find out what to expect for your finances when it comes to buying your first house. (more…)
Nobody has the perfect home – it’s impossible to find a house that ticks every single box. So, when you think about selling your home, you need to keep that in mind. There will be little elements here and there that some people don’t like or aren’t that sure of. But, that doesn’t mean your home won’t still fetch a very good price that’s close to what you’re asking. Buyers know that the majority of homes will need some touching up once they’ve been bought!
Nevertheless, there could be parts of your house that are dealbreakers. What I mean is that nobody will want to buy your house because of these things. So, before you sell, be sure to check that you don’t have any of these dealbreakers in your house: (more…)
Thanks to COVID-19, millions of families are stuck looking at the same four walls for the next few weeks or months. Consequently, then, the little problems throughout your property are more noticeable than ever. Given that you’ve probably got more time on your hands than usual too, now is the perfect time to invest in some useful home improvements.
So, what are the best home upgrades that can be implemented during the lockdown or in the weeks after? Here’s all you need to know.
Boosting your property’s curb appeal will put you in a far better mood as you return to the home after nipping out for your essentials. The smile as you enter the home will dramatically change your relationship with the property. In truth, those sentiments will ring true for years to come when you return home after a day at work or out with friends. Meanwhile, this is an ideal time to revamp the backyard. Aside from the esthetic improvements, it’s your best chance of getting fresh air and vitamin D.
Due to spending more time at home, wasted energy will be more noticeable as you look at your utility bills. This is the perfect time to reduce your carbon footprint to unlock impressive financial savings. During lockdown, switching to LED lights and opting for less hazardous cleaning solutions will suffice. Once COVID-19’s impact seems set to fade, A+ insulation can significantly reduce your heat loss. It is the single biggest improvement you’ll see, although water-saving toilets are great too.
Being forced to spend more time indoors can make the property seem smaller. Therefore, learning to declutter the home is another telling upgrade. You have more than enough time to go through the home and pick out items to be sold online or donated to a charity shop. This is also a good opportunity to trade bulky units for TV wall brackets or shelving that’s fixed to the walls. Creating a clutter-free home will also reduce the cleaning and maintenance. This will benefit you massively once normality returns.
Technology plays a huge role in our daily home lives. The devices and systems can offer security, comfort, and entertainment. This is the perfect time to add surveillance cameras or use smart climate control features. Meanwhile, losing some of your unwatched TV channels in favor of Netflix or Disney+ can save money and provide hours of joy at this tough time. If you have the space to have a home-based workout space, this can be very useful for your mental wellbeing too.
We all miss the sun. After months of early nights, it’s now impossible to fully enjoy the brighter weather. However, encouraging more natural light to enter the property can have a positive impact. Whether it’s dressing the windows correctly or painting rooms a lighter color, the entire vibe of your home can change. If you plan to paint, though, take one room at a time as it’s harder to escape the fumes during the lockdown. Still, there’s nothing to stop you completing the transformation over the next few weeks.