Archive for category: From the Web

When it comes to giving the go-ahead to one or multiple home renovations, you need to focus on two essential things: renovations that will increase functionality, comfort, aesthetics, and overall livability; and renovations that will immediately and significantly boost resale value.

What’s more, this latter criterion is just as important if you are lucky enough to have found your “forever home” and have no intention of moving. Even if you happily stay put for many decades to come, high-impact renovations will increase your home’s assessed value, which gives you a low-cost source of financing for things like vacations, purchasing vehicles, paying for a child’s education, and so on. For example, the average interest rate for a home line of credit at the present time is around six percent, while the average interest rate for a credit card is around 15 percent.

According to real estate entrepreneur Jeff Brioux, here are five renovations that will enhance your home, while at the same time significantly and sustainably boosting resale/assessed value:

1. Add or Upgrade Attic Insulation

Adding or upgrading the insulation in your attic might seem like a very non-intuitive way to enhance your home’s appeal and value; especially since you may have never set foot in your attic, and have no desire to do so in the future. However, believe it or not, attic insulation has the highest return-on-investment of all renovation options, with an average cost recovery of 107% (i.e. if you spend $2,000 adding or replacing the insulation in your attic, you can expect to recoup $2,400 or possibly even more).

Added Jeff Brioux, who is an expert in real estate development, home renos, and flipping houses: “The attic is one of the first — if not the very first — places that a home inspector is going to check out, and if the insulation needs to be increased or replaced, then this is going to translate into a lower offer from prospective buyers. And even if there is no desire to sell a home, better insulation is going to noticeably reduce utility bills throughout the year. So, while attic insulation is admittedly not the most exciting renovation idea, it’s certainly one of the smartest.”

2. Replace the Front Door & Garage Door

We have all been told many times “not to judge a book by its cover.” However, the fact is that first impressions do indeed matter, and research has shown that a new front door and garage door can boost a home’s curb appeal more than anything else — which means higher offers from more prospective buyers. What’s more, high-quality front and garage doors make a home safer, more durable, and more energy-efficient.

According to Jeff Brioux: “It is shocking to discover just how much of a difference a beautiful new front door and garage door can make on the overall look and feel of a home. What makes this renovation especially beneficial is that it’s quite affordable compared to more complex projects, and the work can typically be done in a single day — which means there is no need to head to a hotel or shack up with the in-laws during the project.”

3. Re-Invent the Kitchen and Bathrooms

Generally, the two rooms in a house where homeowners get the “most bang for the renovation buck” are kitchens and bathrooms, and for a simple reason: when folks go house hunting, they pay particular attention to these areas. If they like (or better yet, love) what they see, then there is a much greater chance that they will field a competitive offer. Conversely, if they don’t like what they see, then they won’t make an offer at all — or they’ll significantly reduce their offer to reflect the fact that they need to spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to get what they want. And of course, kitchens and bathrooms are typically the most high-traffic rooms in a house. Renovating them so that they’re functional and beautiful will boost your quality of living.

It is important for homeowners to work with a home renovation expert if they plan on upgrading or re-inventing their kitchen and bathrooms. Without the right guidance, what starts out as a relatively straightforward project can turn into a confusing and very costly scenario. Furthermore, it’s important to bear in mind that not all renovations have the same impact. For example, installing energy-efficient stainless steel appliances might be a much wiser idea than knocking out a wall to extend a kitchen.

4. Siding Replacement

Few things damage a home’s curb appeal — and hence its perceived value — more than old, damaged, or deteriorating siding. What’s more, siding is not just for aesthetic purposes: it’s a fundamental part of a home’s structure and energy efficiency. An enormous range of color options is available, from subtle to bold.

Added Jeff Brioux: “In most cases, a siding installation project takes one to two weeks. While it is safe to stay in the home while work is being done, the walls will shake a little, and so it’s important to remove or secure pictures, bookcases, and other objects. It can also get rather loud, so people who work from home or have infant children or elderly parents to look after may want to seek alternative arrangements for a few days.”

5. Create a Home Office

Not surprisingly, given what is happening in the world right now, one of the most popular home renovations is to create a home office worthy of the term. Indeed, working at the kitchen table or next to a noisy furnace in the basement might be tolerable once in a while. But these days, with remote working being the norm rather than the exception, people understandably want a space that is functional, roomy, well-lit by both natural and artificial light, and private (having an important conference call invaded by a spouse feverishly searching for the shower loofah isn’t a great look!).

“Many people are making the home office a must-have on their home hunting list, and are leaning towards properties that offer this versus those that don’t,” states Jeff.” As such, spending a reasonable amount of money on a home office is a very good idea, plus it makes working from home productive and enjoyable instead of frustrating and stressful!”

The post Real Estate Entrepreneur Jeff Brioux Shares 5 Renovations to Boost Home Value appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Editor

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An air conditioner is a great investment for any home. Sure, buying several units might cost money from your pocket but this appliance can improve the quality of your life, and those of the people living with you. Having an air conditioner reduces the possibility of asthma attacks, lessens insects and parasites, and provides a cool place to exercise.

An air conditioner is very useful but if you want to utilize this appliance for the longest time possible, you should pay attention to its performance and determine if it needs any repairs. Continually using a damaged or broken air conditioner can become the reason why your energy bills will skyrocket, and your family’s health and comfort will be at risk.

To ensure that none of these happen, look for experts on AC repair Tomball TX or from your area the moment you notice any of these signs:

1. Excessive Noise

One of the first signs that you may need an air conditioner repair is the way the unit starts to make excessive noise whenever you turn it on. Older air conditioner models produce a humming sound when switched on, but if this turns into a cracking, loud noise, you should be wary. If you hear a cracking sound when you turn it on, this could be a sign that you have a problem with the motor of your air conditioner.

When your air conditioner starts making excessive noise, you should call professionals to check and repair your noise. Banging or hitting your unit with a hard object in an attempt to prevent the noise will only do more harm than good. Repairing the motor of an air conditioner will require experience and equipment as seen on this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9HgOwCUBxU&list=PLFpBkF6IozXEcRSFY5hqqF9_ZiMRlAXIx&index=2. So, make sure that you call the pros to do the job for you.

2. Limited Cooling Capabilities

Another sign that you may need an air conditioner repair is if your unit only cools down one area of a room and not the entire room of your home. If you turn on your air conditioner in your bedroom, for example, assess whether the unit can effectively cool the entire room or just one area of the room. If it’s the latter, it’s a sign that your unit needs repairs as soon as possible.

In these cases, the problem could be an improper or broken thermostat. Thermostats are one of the most important parts of an air conditioner because it works by controlling the temperature inside the room. An air conditioner with a broken or damaged thermostat can no longer control the flow of heat energy indoors, making it challenging for your unit to cool a room.

Thermostats can be expensive to replace, so if yours stops working or is damaged, you may want to call professionals to have them replace it with a new one. This will give your air conditioner a much higher efficiency rating, which will save you money in the long run.

3. Stops Working

One of the reasons why more and more people are investing in air conditioner units is because this appliance can cool down any room within minutes. This appliance is considered as a need by homeowners who live in humid or warm countries. If you’ve invested in air conditioners for the same reason, your investment will be useless if the unit suddenly stops working for no apparent reason.

An air conditioner unit that stops for a couple of minutes and then resumes cooling a room again is one sign that it needs repair. This problem can either be caused by the coils becoming too hot or the unit having too much dust and dirt build-up. Either way, it’s best if you hire professionals to have your unit inspected and repaired.

4. Unpleasant Odors

Your home won’t be relaxing or comfortable if your air conditioner continually produces unpleasant odors whenever you turn it on. This can cause stress to your family and even shoo away guests from staying inside your home.

If you notice strong odors coming from your air conditioner, schedule an appointment with professionals right away. This problem often happens when the air ducts and filters of your air conditioner are clogged with too much dirt. Over time, the odor that your air conditioner produces will worsen that it will start to smell like ammonia and mold inside your home.

Prevent these situations from happening by having your air conditioner repaired the moment you notice that it creates unpleasant odors. It’ll be easier for professionals to repair your unit if the problem is relayed to them as soon as possible.

5. Water Leaks

Your air conditioner is made up of different parts in order to work properly. For starters, your air conditioner uses a refrigerant to absorb heat from the environment and produce cool air using evaporators and compressors. Your refrigerant produces condensation during this process, which is why you’ll notice that your unit excretes drops of water outside your home. However, if these drops of water turn into water leaks inside your home, that’s another story.

Seeing active leaks or pooled water around your air conditioner is a sign that the unit needs to be repaired. Water leaks usually mean that the cooling system of your air conditioner isn’t working properly and certain parts should be repaired or replaced.

Although your air conditioner might still work even if it has leaks, you should never leave the problem unaddressed. Water leaks can cause accidents inside your home and create serious structural issues. In worse cases, continuing to use a leaking air conditioner can result in irreparable damage that will require you to buy a brand-new unit.

Time Is of the Essence

An air conditioner is essential for your home to stay comfortable and for your family to remain healthy. This is especially true if you’re living with infants and seniors.

For you to continue experiencing the benefits of owning an air conditioner, find the time to regularly inspect the unit and look for the signs mentioned in this article. The sooner you identify signs of damage in your air conditioners, the easier it’ll be for pros to repair your units.

The post Signs You May Need Air Conditioner Repair Tomball TX appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Editor

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With fall here and winter around the bend, do you want to warm up your home office and add a pop of personalization to the room? Land of Rugs‘ beautiful, high-quality, and unique rugs will bring a dose of pizazz and inspiration to your workspace! From shaggy rugs to Moroccan rugs, to modern and contemporary rugs, Land of Rugs offers a vast array of styles to complement any office’s aesthetic.

Known as one of the leading online rug traders, Land of Rugs allows you to view and purchase their rugs online from the comfort of your home. Therefore, there is no need to have to make an inconvenient trip to the local home furniture store! Land of Rugs also works with home décor specialists, which helps them understand current and future home décor trends in order to deliver the spectacular and distinctive selection of rug styles, designs, colors, and sizes that the public expects.

“Land of Rugs is a family business located in the picturesque village of Darley Abbey in Derby, England. The business launched in June 2012 with the idea to target a huge audience across the globe. It is in both our experience and understanding that a rug can change any home in the way in which it feels and looks. From cozy nights in by the fire place in the winter months, to lavish summer evenings hosting to family and friends, we have a rug for all of your needs! 

It is our aim to provide a simple way of buying from a vast array of rugs for all clients around the world to ensure that everybody can find the perfect rug for their home, whether you are looking for that special feature, comfort, or you are on a budget. Having worked with many influencers across both the UK and the USA, including popular TV shows in the UK, we feel that the rapid growth and success of our brand is fully reflective to our expert team and in-house knowledge to help guide people around the world to the perfect rug and perfect home.” – Jade Holroyd | SEO Executive | Land of Rugs

There is no need to blow a hole in your wallet to get a classy, distinctive rug to help you style up your home office. The company’s research enables them to offer quality wool, hide, and synthetic rugs at realistic prices that are difficult to beat online—they provide genuine savings against high-street prices. In addition to giving super discounts on selections, Land of Rugs also has regular sales on selected items from all of their ranges.

To view the rugs and make a purchase, visit landofrugs.com. You can also follow the company on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The post Personalize Your Home Office with Stylish Rugs from Land of Rugs appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Shannah Henderson

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They look so happy. I bet they never fight. Why can’t my relationship be like that…

We’ve all been there, thumbs scrolling social media looking at the enchanted lives of our former co-workers, schoolmates, old flames, and total strangers, wishing we could switch places with them for just a moment. We spend time examining their images and captions as we flog ourselves mentally for all the choices made that brought us to the present moment, somehow thinking it’s “our fault” that their lives look so great and ours feels so crappy.

Psychologists have coined this the comparison trap, and there is no doubt that the invention of social media has made the trap much bigger and harder to get out of.((Psychology Today: The Comparison Trap))

Depending on how many people you are connected with on social media and their frequency of posts, you face a daily onslaught of smiling faces and orchestrated moments designed to show how grateful, happy, positive, focused, and productive they have been. Yet, those are mostly curated moments chosen because they don’t capture the real messiness of that person’s everyday life.

Put simply. those moments may be real, but they are not indicative of what is really happening in that person’s life at the moment. The feeling of being overwhelmed that accompanies actively comparing your life to others can be extremely destabilizing, especially if you are making an upwards comparison. This can be detrimental to you emotionally, physically, and psychologically.

Some studies showed that:((American Psychological Association: Taking A Closer Look at Social Comparison Theory))

“When a person chooses an upward (rather than downward) comparison target,  . . . that threat leads to increased upward comparisons.”

Comparing yourself against someone whom you believe has a better life and has accomplished more than you only leads to you finding more people with lives that seem better than yours for you to compare yourself to.

If you stop comparing your life to others, you will become more content with your life.

But how do we stop comparing ourselves to others when we are constantly bombarded by social media images of smiling faces many seemingly unaffected by the world’s problems, people boldly fight against injustice looking rested and unscathed, and others who appear to have easily given themselves to the work of spiritual and personal growth without a single set back?

Here are the four steps that you should do if you want to stop comparing your life to others.

1. Change Your Focus From External to Internal

Turning your gaze from external to internal is not easy, but it is worth it. You should stop comparing your life to others because you are the only person who needs to validate yourself. I know that may sound like a crazy idea, but it is true.

However, that would be a difficult idea to integrate into your life if you have never tried it or are so afraid of it that you cower at the thought of being in a relationship with yourself. A good place to start is by sitting with yourself, whether through meditation, journaling, movement, or some other kind of intentional reflection.

Begin by asking yourself, “what are the external influences that I have allowed to guide my life—intentional or accidentally?”

Think or write about it. Then, give yourself some time to envision what it would be like to be unmoved by external forces, opinions, or thoughts—draw or write what that reality would be like for you. While this work is ongoing, this is a great starting point that you can always come back to when you feel yourself getting sucked in by those external influences.

2. Limit Your Consumption

It’s easy to get caught in the comparison trap when you are constantly looking outside of yourself for validation. Limit your screen time if you want to stop comparing your life to others. Use the tracker on your phone to minimize the amount of time you spend online consuming social media.

The images you see there are often highly-curated and seemingly perfect moments in otherwise messy and real lives. Trust me, these people aren’t living examples of perfection they are just crafty people who stockpiled content for drip release over time.

3. Pick One Source of Grounding Inspiration

It’s okay to have one or two people whom you look up to for inspiration. This could provide a bit of external guidance for your journey. The person does not have to be a famous one like Deepak Chopra or Oprah. They could be your yoga teacher, mentor, good friend, someone in your industry, or someone on a similar journey.

It can be helpful to turn to them as a resource when you feel off your game or if you are losing track of your journey and are starting to get sucked back into the mind-numbing rat race.

4. Cultivate a Sense of Joy to Detach Yourself From Others’ Success

Seeing others succeed should not shake your world. Even if you think that they are doing the same thing as you, their success and struggles are their own. Stop comparing your life to others because you are all experiencing different things.

Cultivating detachment around the journey of others will help to liberate you from feeling that you have to measure your progress against theirs. Cultivating a sense of authentic joy for their progress will help you celebrate your own progress.

When you are happy for others, it makes it easier for you to be happy for yourself. When you are willing to acknowledge the wins of others no matter how small, it allows you to acknowledge your incremental wins, too

Final Thoughts

Proactive self-validation and reflection are the cures for avoiding the comparison trap. However, this is easier said than done.

There will be ups and downs in your journey if you want to stop comparing yourself to others. But if you make your focus internal, limit your consumption of ultra-curated social media, pick a grounding source of inspiration, and work on cultivating joy and detachment for the success of others, then you already made a big step in the right direction.

More on How to Stop Comparing to Others

• How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others & Celebrate Your Uniqueness
• The More We Compare, the More We Lose Ourselves
• How Self-Doubt Keeps You Stuck (And How to Overcome It)

Author: Awilda Rivera

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Since there has been a lot of gossip about crypto wallets and cryptocurrency, it has become difficult to understand what is true and what isn’t. Everyone has something to say about cryptocurrency or Bitcoin. Today, I will tell you something interesting about storing Bitcoins. I know that you have read a lot of articles and tried to find out the best ways to store your Bitcoin, but that has not helped you.

Here, I will give you the best solutions for your problems, because I have been in this profession for a very long time. I have tried everything. I have kept no stone unturned, and I have tried every way to store my Bitcoin efficiently. There are various risks, and I have personally experienced many, so now I think I can share my experience with you.

When it comes to saving wallets, let me tell you one thing: it takes a heart to trust someone. Hence, it is not very easy to store your Bitcoin wherever you want. I read and learned a lot of things about Bitcoin storage in the process. One thing that helped me was The Crypto Genius. I have learned a lot of things from this as well. Hence, it helped me to take the steps very carefully. Even then, I would not deny, I did face some problems too.

How to Store Bitcoin?

I already told you that there are various ways in which you can store your Bitcoin, but you also need to find out which suits you the most. Here I have listed the different types of wallets that you can use. Now you can choose to use any.

Desktop Wallet

The biggest advantage of this kind of wallet is that the desktop wallet is not connected to the internet. Hence, they are also called “cold storage.” The desktop wallet has various kinds of advantages that the other kinds of wallet never have.

A desktop wallet has more advantages than any other kind of online wallet, and it will keep your assets really safe and strong. The online wallets can be accessed from anywhere on the Earth, and these characteristics make the online wallets very vulnerable.

The desktop wallets, however, can only be accessed through your personal computer, and your personal key would be stored on that computer only. Such wallets do not even need an internet connection to access the key successfully.

Hardware Wallet

You must be thinking that the desktop wallet is the most secure wallet to keep your Bitcoins in. But let me tell you that the hardware wallet is even stronger than the desktop wallet. It is available in the form of a USB, which you can actually carry anywhere you wish to carry, or you can also store it anywhere without any limitation.

The hardware also keeps your anonymity as the highest priority. There is no added benefit to this wallet, and you can access the wallet anytime you want to from any part of the world you wish. But the biggest drawback is that if you lose the hardware wallet, then there will be no other way to recover the key.

Paper Wallet

The paper wallet is very safe for storing Bitcoin, but it requires a more advanced form of technology. The paper wallet is the most secure wallet, and I personally love it. You can generate a paper wallet online and use a dedicated website for it. You can also generate the wallet offline for a better purpose of use.

Conclusion

I hope my explanations have helped you a little. If you think you are ready to go, then you can try to use all of the wallets that I have mentioned above. I think you will surely find one to help you keep your Bitcoins very safe and also handy.

The post 3 Best Ways to Store Bitcoin appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Editor

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