With May just around the corner, gardeners nationwide are preparing to enjoy the fruits of their labour. Trees are shaking off the glorious colours of their springtime blossoming, warm weather is on the way, and the common focus now is on how best to bask in the glory of a well-tended summer garden. With this in mind, homeowners have begun to make preparations by enhancing both their property’s indoor and outdoor features. Indoor Improvements It may... ❯❯❯
Spring appears to have sprung with Crocuses and Daffodils splashing colour onto our newly green grass verges and daylight saving just around the corner. With the change in the seasons comes the unfathomable desire to start improving your home; whether it is DIY projects, planting new pots up for the garden or organising your kitchen space. There is something about Spring that makes everyone want to declutter and improve things so that everywhere feels as... ❯❯❯
Renting residential property can be a minefield for the uninitiated. To protect yourself, your investment and your tenants, here are some tips that you need to consider before a letter takes up residence in your property. Take Safety Seriously Landlords are obliged by law to keep tenants safe by ensuring the proper maintenance of gas and electricity appliances and fires. The law requires that you have a valid gas safety certificate at all times, which... ❯❯❯
The current market is less than ideal for anyone looking for a speedy turnaround; only 50% of the properties put on sale last year actually sold. If you don’t have time to wait for the market to pick up, but you do need to sell your property, there are ways to increase the chances of your home numbering among those that do sell – and sell fast, at that. If you’re in a bad situation and need a quick sale to stop you from being repossessed, or have an... ❯❯❯
More homeowners than ever are looking to the rental market to line their pockets as they struggle to sell their property during the recession. This has led to a growing breed of ‘accidental landlords’ – homeowners who are being forced to rent out properties that won’t sell to cover their mortgage payments and weather the storm. The number of rental properties flooding the market was 40% higher in February than in December 2008. If you number among these... ❯❯❯
Don’t make the mistake of moving half way across the world and then regretting it. It’s important to do your homework thoroughly before committing yourself to a property – and a life – in another country. Maybe you already know where you want to go, but have you really considered all the alternatives? Why Do You Want to Move Abroad? The first question you should ask yourself is why? Do you want to move permanently, or is it just for your holidays? Are... ❯❯❯
When it’s hot outside and you walk indoors and turn on your air conditioner, chances are, you don’t think to call a professional technician over to inspect it unless it’s stopped working. Well, actually unless it’s stopped working and none of the DIY tips that you found on Google seemed to work. Usually, we shy away from having tune-ups done to things like our HVAC units simply because we see it as just one more way to spend money that we’re trying to... ❯❯❯
Vitamin C is a vital nutrient that helps to support many systems in the body and fight off a variety of health problems. Most people know that it boosts the immune system (although contrary to popular belief, it does not cure colds), but you might not realize that it’s also good for your skin, your eyes, and your cardiovascular function, amongst other things. What most everyone is aware of, however, is that citrus fruits are an excellent source of vitamin... ❯❯❯
Whether you are improving your home for your own enjoyment, or in preparation to sell it, you want to make sure that the DIY projects you do are helping to improve your home while also being worthwhile investments. Here are some quick and easy weekend renovation projects any homeowner can do that will add value to your home. Paint Paint is the best way to transform any space in your home quickly, affordably and easily. Paint will also have a huge impact,... ❯❯❯
One of the most exciting days in any person’s life is when the move into a new home. Not only does it symbolize having a piece of the American Dream but it also marks being able to create some lasting memories. So when you’re in the process of moving in your furniture and hanging up pictures, one of the last things that you want to see are pests. Yet sometimes, it does indeed happen. And while you could call over a professional exterminator to handle the... ❯❯❯
If you are an audiophile, there is a good chance that the sound of your home audio system means a lot to you. In fact, a true audiophile may change out their old surround sound system every year or so – just to have the perfect sound. When it comes down to it, designing your home audio system takes careful planning and positioning – speakers must be in the ideal spot and they must communicate with each other in such way to maximize the sound in your home.... ❯❯❯
Earning a passive income via rental properties is a pretty attractive proposition. And if you can afford to get started in rental properties (come up with the down payment, qualify for loan approval, and make mortgage payments until you find tenants) there’s no reason not to purchase more property and seek out renters to pay the costs for you and put a little money in your pocket in the process. However, there are some things you’ll need to know before... ❯❯❯
In the summertime, your hardwood floors can be a cool respite from the punishing heat outside. However, in the wintertime, your hardwood floors can feel worse than walking on hot coal. If you live in a particularly cold region, or if you have an older home, you may be experiencing all the downsides of having hardwood floors. The solution, though, is to not remove the hardwood floors – removing them could decrease the value of your home – the solution is... ❯❯❯
The winter months are approaching and that means cold temperatures are on their way. Keep the cold outside where it belongs by reducing those stubborn cracks and leaks around windows and doors that lead to chilly drafts entering your home. Drafts make maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home during the winter seem almost impossible. Luckily, you can use these 5 weather stripping tips for windows and doors in your home. The first thing you... ❯❯❯
If you own rental properties, you need a property management company – it is as simply as that. A property management company will review rental applications, screen potential renters, collect rent and they will make sure that your property is well maintained. Not only that, but they will make sure that your property gets occupied, because they will plan and execute successful marketing campaigns to make sure units get rented. However, it can be hard to... ❯❯❯
Searching for your first home can be an exciting experience, but it can also be a frustrating one. Not to mention, looking for your first home can be a little confusing too. When it comes down to it, there are a lot of things to consider. If you fall in love with a home, how do you know if it is the right home? The last thing you want is to purchase a home on impulse. There is nothing worse than the feeling like you have bought the wrong home, or that you... ❯❯❯
Just about all of us have a certain kind of house that we dream of living in. Sometimes it’s one that has already been built like maybe a historic Victorian house or one that is 100 percent solar-powered. And then sometimes, it’s one that we actually want to build from scratch. If you’re considering building your own house, as you probably already know, one of the first things that you need to consider is your floor plan. And in order to come up with one... ❯❯❯
Safety is critical in home construction – even if it is just a remodel. Anytime there are heavy tools or other hazardous items, it is critical to have precautions in place. Each year, millions of construction workers are involved in serious, sometimes life threatening accidents. Some construction workers lose digits and even their lives Most of the injuries that do occur, however are ones that can be avoided. Most of the time, though, just putting some... ❯❯❯
When you purchase a home – whether it is your first home or your fifth home – it is critical to do some research about the home’s history first. The home’s history can tell you a lot of things – including whether owning it is a good idea or or not. Some homes might seem sound on the outside, and even on the inside, but as you dig a little deeper, you may find a lot of telling information that could make you think otherwise. For instance, what if there is... ❯❯❯
If you’re currently in the market to purchase a new home, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ve contacted a real estate agent to assist you. And while they usually will do what they can to make sure that you get the kind of house that you’re looking for, something that you must keep in mind at all times is the fact that selling homes is still their business and so they might not divulge all of the things that you should know. So, in order to prevent... ❯❯❯