The housing market is always brimming with options for all kinds of buyers. Any good house rarely stays in the market for long, but the real deal is when the house sells for more than its original value. Many factors affect the resale value of your house, such as home appreciation, inflation, demand for property, and so on. However, these factors are uncontrollable and may negatively or positively impact your property’s value. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to boost your home’s resale value without breaking the bank. If you want to inch up that sale price, take a look at the following simple tips to make your house worth top dollar.

1. Work on the appearance

Undeniably, you want potential buyers to get hooked to your house right away. According to experts, essential upgrades to your house’s exterior and sprucing up the curb appeal can improve your house’s resale value by 7% to 14%. So, start by giving your house’s exterior a paint job in neutral tones. Similarly, if you have a wooden door, paint it with bold colors such as forest green or buttery yellow for an aesthetic appeal. According to many real estate agents, curb appeal ranks as the number one way to increase a home’s resale value. Therefore, meticulously clean the outside of the house, mow the lawn, plant fresh flowers, and so forth.

2. Focus on your home’s efficiency: 

Who wouldn’t love a smart thermostat or LED lights around the house? Fortunately, you can get the LED Recessed Lighting Retrofit in your humble abode through professionals. You’ll be surprised to know that more than 70% of real estate professionals say that making your home energy-efficient adds significantly to your house’s sale value. Take a look at the following home efficiency improvement features which homebuyers value the most:  

• Energy-efficient lighting such as Retrofit LED lights 
• Adequate HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems 
• A smart thermostat for managing energy costs 
• Adding doors, windows, and siding installations
• Solar panels for the entire house

Making your home energy efficient may cause you to spend a few thousand bucks. However, upgrading your house can boost your home’s value by thousands of dollars.

3. Add usable space

Focusing on this tip can boost your house’s resale value if you sell in areas with finite space and land. Since homebuyers prefer as many livable square feet as possible, it’s evident that adding extra usable space or storage makes sense. Buyers also prefer when every inch of space outside can be used for storing equipment like mowers or gardening tools. 

Therefore, knock out some walls and throw in an extra room wherever sufficient space is available. People can even use this extra room as their home office, storage room, or an accessible laundry room. Don’t forget to make the outside space count as well by adding a gazebo or a deck. People love a comfy outdoor space where they can spend time or have weekend hangouts. However, you should know that you won’t always earn back all the money you invest in this kind of home renovations. Nonetheless, it still adds handsomely to the overall value of your house.

4. Deep clean and declutter

It is entirely understandable if you think, how would cleaning add to your house’s resale value? But statistics say otherwise. According to a 2019 Home Light report, you can add more than $4000 to your house’s resale value by decluttering and deep cleaning it. Isn’t it obvious? No one prefers to purchase real estate having mounds of dirt, mold, and pests crawling everywhere. According to a NARs (National Association of Realtors) study in 2017, 89% recommend deep cleaning houses before listing, and 93% recommend decluttering. 

To ensure buyers see most of the house and don’t hesitate from paying a little extra, declutter and throw away any unnecessary item. Remove items that make the interior look congested and pay extra attention to cleaning out the storage spaces. Scrub away the mold, especially in the bathrooms, add some shine, improve indoor air quality, and organize. Even though decluttering and cleaning are inexpensive ways to add to your house’s value, you can always hire a cleaning service for top-notch results.

5. Make your home smart

The largest group of buyers in 2020 are millennials, who represent 38% of all homebuyers. Therefore, you have to appeal to the demographics and add features in your house that they feel best adds convenience to their lives. Making your house innovative by adding advanced systems is one way to do it. Home gadgets appeal to tech geeks and a large number of people who love the convenience they offer. Therefore, hit the electronic store and grab a few things like smart fire detectors, thermostats, advanced lighting systems, door locks, smart cameras, etc. These upgrades can tremendously enhance your house’s value.

Conclusion

You don’t need to wait for the market to shift or the inflation to decrease to get a lucrative resale value of your house. With some simple and budget-friendly ways, you can easily appeal to the right buyers. For starters, you can work on your house’s curb appeal, add sufficient space where possible, work on the outdoors and exterior, and fix in advanced systems. Similarly, upgrade appliances, and finish it off with energy-efficient technology. Within no time, potential buyers will be flocking near your property.

partnered post • cc-licensed image from tkoch on pixabay

Summer is the best time for fun activities such as outdoor games, pool parties, backyard cookout, road trips, and more. However, too much exposure to the sun is dangerous, as our climate has drastically changed over the decades. These days, an increasing number of people prefer to stay indoors to keep themselves protected from the scorching heat of the sun. 

With the intense heat, homeowners are now using their air conditioners for longer periods than usual, which leads to these units expending more energy to regulate the temperature. If you’re seeing a surge in your electric bill, here are some ideas for how to save electricity during summer.

Get a Smart Thermostat

One of the best upgrades that you can get for your air conditioner system is a smart thermostat. It helps reduce the energy costs from the heating and cooling process during the dry season. A smart thermostat can regulate your home’s temperature and it allows you to adjust the settings with the use of your mobile device.

Using a smart thermostat will let you switch the AC on or off automatically. It also keeps your house with a steady temperature throughout the day, which can also help you save energy by avoiding power surges from abrupt adjustments in temperature.

Install a Ceiling Fan

Installing a ceiling fan inside your home is a great alternative to using your AC. It has the ability to reduce the temperature up to 10 degrees, provided that there are enough openings to achieve better circulation.

When you use your ceiling fan together with your AC, it can reduce the thermostat setting to plus four degrees Celsius, making it more efficient and providing the same comfort. However, you need to switch off your fan if not in use. This helps with regards to global energy conservation initiatives.

Door and Window Tightness

If you want your AC unit to function properly, you need to check that the openings of your house have the proper insulation and sealants. The insulation works to prevent heat from penetrating your house, while the sealants will make sure that no cold air will escape.

Attach Window Shades

To be able to achieve the output of your AC, make sure that your windows have shades to prevent the sun’s heat from going inside your house. Direct sunlight can increase the temperature in your house, which makes your AC system work harder and makes you pay extra.

Perform Maintenance Works

You need to perform routine maintenance such as cleaning and replacing filters every month to help your AC unit achieve optimum performance. The importance of clean air ducts for your AC unit is also vital to know in order to prolong its lifespan. A healthy system will provide you comfort and energy savings at the same time.

Prevent Heat Buildup

The summer heat will make you feel uncomfortable inside your house due to the increased temperature. While it’s the best season for outdoor activities, it would be better to avoid exposing yourself to the sun’s harmful rays as much as you can. There are also other factors that contribute to the heat inside your house, such as using the clothes dryer, cooking on your stove or oven, and using your dishwasher.

To prevent your AC from working harder, try decreasing the use of other appliances that generate heat. You may want to consider grilling your food or using the microwave. You may also do the dishes by hand and let them dry on a rack. Hang your washed clothes on a clothesline instead of using the clothes dryer. These simple changes will help you manage your energy consumption.

partnered post • cc-licensed image by Pixabay

During home renovations and remodeling, the main goal is to increase the value of your home without overspending on your budget. While this may seem impossible, you just need to be creative in order to achieve it. Here are some cost-effective ways of increasing your home’s value:

Work on Interiors

One good way to bring value is to work on your home’s interiors by:

Freshening-up Walls

A home’s value can significantly dip if the walls look old and worn out. Chipped paint, scratched walls, fading wallpaper, and even dated colors can lower the value of your home. Try to give it new life with a fresh coat of paint. If you plan to sell it, a neutral color is a good way to maximize its value. Neutral colors can unify the entire look of the home since they are easy to pair up with any decoration.

Change Fixtures

You can give your home a new look by simply replacing the fixtures. If you are up for it, you can even scour thrift shops to find the best hardware that would match your home’s aesthetics. If you are on the creative side, you can paint your switch plates with matte paint.

Focus on Windows

Do away with window treatments that don’t provide value to your home. Go for classic looks that blend well with your home. If there are chipped parts or broken glass, replace them. If they need to be replaced entirely, invest in energy-efficient windows. Add some window treatments such as wooden blinds, premium drapes, or plantation shutters. Make sure it is tied to the home’s overall look. Add a security screen if necessary.

Ditch the Carpet

If at all possible, ditch your carpet. In most older homes, floors are usually made with hardwood but are covered with carpets. If you notice that your floor is squeaking, chances are you have a hardwood floor. Reveal its natural beauty by removing the carpets and work on refinishing the floor. It will be a lot of work, but it would definitely add to the value of your home.

Attract from the Outside

Of course, you should not forget to attract potential buyers by increasing your home’s curb appeal.

Check the Roof and Gutters

One of the first things you have to check on the exterior of your home is your roof. See if there are areas that need to be replaced. Inspect the gutters and clean them if necessary. You’ll notice the advantages of quality gutters when you inspect them after a careful inspection of your roofing system. Quality gutters will take years before they would need any repairs. In comparison, cheap ones will cost you more. In the long run, good ones actually help you save money.

Maintain Lawn and Garden

If you have an outdoor space, trim the grass and make sure that you take care of your outdoor plants. If you have a bigger budget, try installing a pergola to give your home a cozy feeling. Get yourself solar-powered outdoor lighting, and you’ll have an extended living space in your home.

Increasing your home’s value doesn’t have to be expensive. The important thing is that you carefully plan it. Set a budget for yourself, and don’t go overboard. Don’t do everything in one go. Try to start small, and before you know it, you’ll have a wonderful home.

partnered post • cc-licensed image from Pexels

Disabilities can alter the way we move through our lives on a day-to-day basis, even when we’re in such familiar places as our homes. The home itself can actually be a challenging place that’s chock full of obstacles if the disabilities are new occurrences. Things like doorknobs, bathrooms, stairs and even a variety of surfaces can be hazardous, and learning to adapt can be overwhelming. Let’s explore a few ways to make the home more easily accessible for those with limited mobility.

Bathroom

For many people, the bathroom can present quite a few obstacles. Whether your disability stems from birth and genetics or you’re off your feet during post-surgical treatment, it’s easy to imagine the calamity that can ensue when slick tile gets soapy.

Countertops and tubs aren’t great surfaces for able-bodied people to fall on, let alone those with physical difficulties. Aside from that, tubs have tall sides that can be difficult to get over. Replace that old tub with one that has a step-in feature and make sure your tub also has a surface that’s slip-resistant.

Some people suffer from things like being prone to falls or have poor balance. Others just need a bit of help to get into and out of bathrooms, beds, and chairs. For these people, handrails that are well-placed can be life changers. Grab rails in bathrooms can especially decrease risk for falling while assisting users to lift themselves up on their own. They can both create peace of mind and increase independence.

Kitchen

As with the other rooms in a home, the most critical aspect of a kitchen is its functionality. If you have limited mobility, the layout of your kitchen is even more critical and must be taken into account when being designed. When things are stored where they can’t be reached, this can become an issue that can lead to frustration and even the occurrence of accidents.

If you have mobility that’s decreased, accessible storage via the use of adjustable wall apparatuses, magnetized storage units, and even baskets can assist with the creation of a space that’s both functional and safe. Also, consider adding features like SMART light fixtures, outlets that are well placed, and tools and appliances that are designed specifically for people with limited mobility. You want to make it as easy as possible to do ordinary tasks.

Stairs

Did you know that according to the Census Bureau, mobility is the most common disability among seniors? If someone in your household finds the stairs to be an obstacle because of this, consider installing a stairlift. These are available in a multitude of styles and can be either a permanent solution or, if you get a portable stair climber, can be used anywhere.

Doorknobs

There are quite a few styles of doorknobs out there that are both difficult to use and cumbersome for people who have difficulty gripping things. Replacing these with bars for pushing or pulling, handles with press levers, or even doors that are automatic can tremendously increase the accessibility of your home.

There are quite a few things that you can do in order to make your home one that’s more accessible for people with limited mobility. So many, in fact, that it can easily become an overwhelming, seemingly Herculean task. The good news is that there are people out there who can help with this – from ideas gotten from medical professionals to the designers that can turn those ideas into reality. Just remember that just because you add a few safety features, that doesn’t necessarily mean your home is becoming less homey, just more user-friendly.

partnered post • cc-licensed photo by Fairfax County

Living in row houses and condos has become a popular housing option for many people in Australia. But often in this type of housing, the units are mostly adjacent to each other and the wall system is not particularly soundproofed which results in a noisy occurrence in the tower. 

These noises become way more prevalent when you have noisy neighbors, loud music, and kids. If this has become a serious issue for you then fortunately you don’t have to put up with the noise anymore.

For determining which type of soundproofing is needed you have to do two things. 

First, identify what type of noise you’re hearing. Is it the neighbor's dog, highway traffic, tv noise, etc? After that, identify the source of the noise or where it is exactly coming from. It might be coming from the bedroom to the front door. After identifying the part of the house, focus on soundproofing that part.

In this article, we will see the best ways to soundproof your condo and row house walls.

1. Add Dense Sheets

Although this won’t look good and you might not stand the way your house will look after adding dense mass like this but it does seem to work. So if you’re looking for a cheap way to resolve this you can opt for this method.

2. Focus on Specific Areas

If you’re tight on budget then lookout for the most specific area of your house from where the noise is coming in and try to block it out by applying soundproofing wallpaper or duct tape or sealant.

3. Insulate Interior Walls.

Insulation not only makes your house soundproof but will help lower your electricity bills as well. There are a lot of soundproofing materials in the market and you can choose the one which is perfect for your condo.

4. Add an Extra Layer of Drywall

Although it is a bit expensive, it is deemed to be a long-term solution. You can create a layer of double drywall all around your room as this will create a barrier and will make it hard for the sound to leave through.

5. Add an Audio Blanket or Soundproof Blanket

These are easy to block noises as you have to just simply hang them over the unit or the walls for soundproofing. Although a bit expensive these serve as a great option for condos or rowhouses. 

One thing you have to keep in mind is that you might need to cover these blankets with something else or hang something beautiful on them to cover them up as they are not aesthetically beautiful.

6. Damping

Damping reduces the vibrations of sound by absorption and helps reduce the overall sound level. Sound damping and soundproofing may seem the same and they are but one difference is that sound damping just involves dissipating vibrational energy before it can build up and radiate sound whereas soundproofing involves various techniques and different means to achieve the goal of reducing the noise.

7. Decoupling the Wall

The decoupling technique is a simple procedure but would require tearing down the walls and involves separating the two sides of the wall into two different sections. This technique helps as it makes it harder for the sound to pass through the wall and helps in reducing the noise overall.

Take Away

These are some methods you can use to soundproof your condo or rowhouse. You can use any of these methods to soundproof your wall. 

partnered post • cc-licensed image by Aaron Parker

Home inspections should be a part of your home buying routine, and having a professional home inspector for the purpose is the best way to protect your investment. While a property might look flawless when you glance over the various areas, a detailed home inspection might reveal some underlying issues you can insist on resolving before making the payment. This will save you a lot of unnecessary expenses later. 

If you were ever wondering what do home inspectors look for, here are some of the areas they take heed of: 

• Finding Out about Costs

A property might come with several attractive features, and you perhaps would not mind paying for them at the time of purchase. However, what will it cost you to maintain those features in the long run? Moreover, are those features essential? Do you need a sauna and a Jacuzzi on the property? Is there a canopy over the swimming pool? 

If yes, will you schedule a pool clean-up every other week, and will it be feasible? A home inspection can help you ask pertinent questions about the property on issues you might not have had even noticed before.

• Safety Features

A home inspection allows you to check all the safety features that are promised in the house. Are all the CCTV cameras working, recording and filing everything properly? Is the electrical circuit flawlessly set up? Is the HVAC free of all issues and does not release any carbon monoxide.

Do all the rooms with fireplaces have adequate ventilation? There are also other safety features that a home inspector will draw your attention to anything out of place.

• Checking for Damage 

Unless and until a property is brand new and recently constructed, there is always a chance that the house might have undergone some damage over time. A transparent seller will try to fix these issues, but they might have missed it too. A home inspector will check for water damages and structural damages.

Damp patches under the ceiling or wet drywall in the basement can indicate water damage, and the seller should fix them before selling. There could be fungal growth and pest infestation in your home due to the damage as well. The inspector will also check for faulty faucets or clogged drains, as all of these issues could lead to water damage at some point.

Renovating such damages can be costly, and you do not want to deal with the mess or the expenses after moving into a new home. If the seller refuses to comply and repair the damages, you can choose to look for another property.

Now that you know an answer to the question, what do home inspectors look for? You will understand how crucial home inspection is. You will never be able to spot all the major issues with the property unless you have a detailed eye and know what to look for. A home inspector will make the task easier for you and make sure your money is well spent.

partnered post • cc-licensed image by Chris Potter

A safety screen is designed to fit in your window space. It is made of a fine mesh that allows the air into your home and doesn’t significantly interrupt your view of the world around you. But, the safety screen does block bugs and other pests from entering. These screens can also be used on doors and are often referred to as flyscreen doors or windows.

Security screens take this a step further. They still keep the bugs out of your house. But, instead of being made of mesh, these screens are made with metal and locked into position. This makes them a good deterrent for people trying to break into your home. The average security screen won’t break even if you use a hammer or screwdriver on it.

In short, a safety and security screen will keep your home safer. But, you should also be aware of the following benefits, they are all reasons to install security screens today.

Fire Prevention

Many modern screens are made to withstand the heat of a fire, even bush fires. This means that they will keep the temperature inside your home cooler for longer. The screens will not guarantee that the fire doesn’t burn your house down. But, they will buy you valuable time to get out safely. 

If you live in a bushfire area you need to check your screens are approved for bush fires.

Exit Point

If you have an emergency and need to get out of your home fast you usually head for the door. But, if the door is blocked by a fire or some other issue, then you need to find a window you can get out of. If your house has security bars then you may be out of luck. But, if you have security screens they can be quickly removed and allow you to escape the property.

In fact, in most cases, they have a simple opening mechanism that can be done by any adult. 

Wind Damage

If you have ever sat through a tornado, cyclone, or other storms then you will understand how devastating the wind can be. It will pick things up and throw them at your house. While a window may break, a security screen should be strong enough to withstand that impact, keeping you safe. 

Prevent Falls

Having the windows open in your home is a great way to get air in and still appreciate the view. However, when you have upstairs windows this does increase the risk of children accidentally falling out the window, or intentionally climbing out.

Security screens with child-proof locks prevent your child from being able to climb or fall out of the window, slipping on the roof, and falling, potentially seriously hurting themselves.

Of course, the assumption is that you are using security screens and not just flyscreens which are unlikely to prevent a child from falling out. This is one of those things that most people think will never happen until it does.  

partnered post • cc-licensed image by ntm1909

People will always tell you that property is more than just a home, it is also an investment as it will increase in value over time. In truth, this is correct, over time property prices have always risen, even if there are small dips along the way. However, that doesn’t mean you have to rely on time to increase the value of your home.

If you want it to be worth even more or simply want to increase the value to sell it quicker, there are several ways in which you can increase the value of your home by undertaking simple upgrades.

However, before you start it is a good idea to speak to your local real estate agent or a reputable real estate auctioneer. They will be able to advise you regarding which are the best upgrades to do in your specific locations. While all the following will add value to your home, the area you live in influences which ones are in most demand by people looking to buy. 

Change Your Front Door

This is a simple job as your replacement door should be exactly the same size and shape. But, it is worth doing as the front door is often the first focal point of your home and something that buyers will remember later. 

You should consider installing a modern metal door. These look like traditional doors and can be purchased in a wide array of colors. But, they offer additional security, which is important to many buyers.  A metal door can also reduce your insurance costs which is beneficial to you and any buyer. 

The Basement

Many homes have basements that are simply storage areas, perhaps where the furnace is or the washing facilities. However, this is actually a very easy space to transform, increasing the appeal and the available space in your home. You can create a secondary living space, extra bedrooms, or a games room. The use of the space is less important than finishing it properly. This makes it feel like part of the house and adds a significant amount of value, at surprisingly little cost.

Renovate The Kitchen

Despite advancements in technology and the coming of the digital age, the kitchen remains the heart of the home. This is the most important room in the house and renovating it will increase the value of your home. 

All you have to do is make sure there is a good flow around the kitchen and that all the latest energy-efficient appliances are installed. Add in smart technology and you are onto a winner. 

Open It Up

Another great way to increase the value of your home is to open it up. Most of the internal walls will not be supporting the structure and can be removed. It is advisable to check with a professional first. This will create more light and space in your home which will make it seem larger and more appealing. Both of these are good for the value. 

Landscape

The front yard is the first thing people see and this can entice them into your home or send them packing. Spend a little time tidying, making sure the driveway looks great and your house is appealing.

But, you also need to do the rear yard to ensure any buyer has a good impression of the outside eating and entertaining area.  That adds appeal as well as value to a property.

partnered post

History tells us that most people had maintained huge gardens in their homes in earlier days. They spent a reasonable amount of time sowing seeds and growing plants. Modern houses are generally compact and do not offer much space to have a separate garden. Having small homes does not mean that you deprive your abode of nature as you can incorporate greenery through different means.

People are learning different ways of growing indoor plants to enjoy home-grown food and establish a pleasant environment at home. The idea of growing different types of plants seems convenient and enjoyable for many homeowners. Greenery on borders adds to the house's aesthetic, purifies the air, and positively impacts inhabitants. People are coming up with new ideas of growing some plants indoors or having a garden on a roll as they align with contemporary built homes. Growing a home garden is beneficial, and garden on a roll is a feasible option for modern homes. But maintaining gardens and indoor plants during summer requires some serious efforts.

While there might be numerous reasons for looking forward to summers, the hot weather can be harsh on your garden and might damage it. During winter, the air is mostly cool, and humidity is low. Whereas in summer, the humidity is relatively high, and it affects the growth of plants.   

VPD charts help grow healthier plants indoors and can be a lifesaver for your garden on a roll, even in summer. Suppose you are keen to learn about VPD. In that case, you can explore easily on the internet, and reading it will help maintain your gardens in hot weather. 

VPD

The Vapor-Pressure Deficit, commonly referred to as VPD, is the difference between the moisture in the air and its ability to hold moisture when the air is saturated. The defining factors of VPD are temperature and humidity, and they directly impact the health of plants. In a warmer environment, humidity is high, which means excess water vapors in the air. The unit of pressure kPa kilopascals is also helpful to measure VPD. Although VPD is not a magic wand, developing an understanding of VPD can help you protect and improve your plants' growth.

Importance of VPD

VPD helps you determine the correct range of temperature and humidity for your space. The temperature and humidity in two different areas may not be the same; the VPD would be different as well. VPD enables you to optimize the growth of your plants and fine-tune your grow room in summers. The key is to know that VPD is not the same for every species, and different plants or strains prefer a different VPD. Another benefit of calculating VPD is that it helps you control other environmental problems, CO2 uptake, stomata opening, plants' stress, and nutrient uptake. Besides, VPD is directly relevant to plant transpiration rates. 

VPD Chart

VPD requires you to do some hefty mathematical calculations. If your garden has a different variety of plants, the complexity of calculating VPD would be high. Many people prefer using a VPD chart to save them from doing complex calculations and save valuable time. A search on the internet will display many results and open up an example of a VPD chart, and you can quickly learn how to read them. VPD charts are visual representations of temperature and humidity interaction to have a better environment for your garden on a roll. Usually, these charts display humidity horizontally and temperature vertically. When the chart shows that the VPD is low, the plants will start showing signs of calcium deficiency. VPD chart has been an effective and impressive tool to maximize garden growth in a controlled environment. The secret is learning the reading of the VPD chart as it provides your indoor plants and garden on a roll a healthy environment. 

Reading VPD Charts

The easiest way of reading a VPD chart is to look closely and see where the relative humidity of your garden intersects with the temperature of the grow room. The spot will tell you whether your VPD is ideal or if it falls on either side, high or low. Reading VPD charts helps you identify if you need to increase or decrease relative humidity as per the rise or fall in the temperature. In some cases, you may not be able to get to the target; still, the VPD chart assists in pinpointing a combination that is closer to the target.

Some More Tips to Maintain Garden

• Keep an Eye on Soil

Proper watering is essential for the healthy growth of the garden. People may get over-excited and overwater the plants, but they need to realize that this harms their garden. Keeping an eye on soil is essential to see if the plants have enough water as the water dries up quickly in the heat.

• Ensure that Plants are Pest-Free

Opening windows is necessary to give indoor plants sun exposure, but it gives way to pollen, pest, and dust particles. Dust blocks the air and sunlight and limits exposure. Similarly, pests eat up the plants slowly, and that can damage your plants. Keeping plants clean by washing them and wiping them off with a damp cloth ensures that they are pest-free. 

• Recognize Plant Stress

Leaves turning pale or yellow, having brown patches, or falling off flowers or leaves are signs signifying plants' stress. Recognizing plants' stress helps in reducing the damage. Once you have pinpointed that plants are under pressure, you can make adjustments and provide your garden a stress-free environment. 

• Reevaluate Sun Exposure

Plants need sun exposure, but scorching heat can be damaging. Plants cannot speak up, and they need you to recheck sun exposure frequently. Moreover, the sun continues to change position, and you must see where the light falls and move the pots accordingly. Garden on a roll usually gets high exposure, which may harm the overall growth. Rechecking sun exposure is crucial for your garden to grow, but it becomes essential in summer. 

Conclusion

Summer seems to be a favorite for many people. Sunshine and long days give you an excuse to gather friends and loved ones or spend time doing a favorite activity. While the season brings many reasons to cherish and enjoy, it can be harmful to your garden on a roll. Plants require care, and in summers, you need to be extra cautious with your garden. Reading a VPD chart and adjusting humidity and temperature in your grow room will help maintain your garden on a roll in hot weather. 

partnered post • cc-licensed image from Benjamin Combs

It goes without saying that parents want their kids to get a top-quality education from their university of choice. Since the parents are footing at least some of the bill, if not all of it, they have a great deal of input into where their kids will spend their university years. 

It also should go without saying that in the vast majority of situations, money is most definitely an object. People are not made of money and university pricing seems to only go up. Everyday, going to university is becoming even more of a luxury. One of the ways that the rich get richer is that they provide higher educational opportunities to people who are already wealthy. It is harder than ever to break into that exclusive club. 

Parents also want to know that their kids will be safe. In many cases, those kids are leaving the comfort and safety of home for the first time in their lives. A campus with a reputation for bad things happening to students is not going to get the seal of approval from parents. Here are a few other things parents are looking for in a university:

Parcel Service

For the first year or so, parents will be sending things to their kids on campus. They want to be sure that the campus survival gear they send will be getting through. That is why they will be looking for campuses that have modern university lockers for parcel delivery. One of the biggest pain points in the modern age where almost everything comes in a box from a delivery person is when and where the handoff will take place. This is a hard problem for home delivery, and a harder problem for university delivery. 

Students are seldom in their rooms. And there is often no front desk to leave packages. If there is a common place, it is usually not supervised. This situation is the recipe for packages walking off with people for whom they weren’t intended. Students will be receiving computers and headphones and those homemade chocolate brownies they love so much. You don’t want anything happening to those brownies. The smart lockers solve this problem for parents, students, and the university. It is a win-win-win for all parties concerned. Parents need to know that their kids and the packages sent to their kids will be safe and sound.

Recycling

We are long past the stage when recycling is just a bumper sticker. It is not a mantra or a battle cry. It is just the way things have to be. If your campus does not offer the most basic necessity of a zero-waste lifestyle, it is automatically disqualified for many students. There is no room for negotiation on this point. When parents visit the campus for the first time with their kids, they will not reward you if they see no recycle bins in equal numbers as garbage cans. By the time teens enter college, they have already been taught environmental values. It is not a matter of being politically liberal or conservative. It is a matter of being a responsible human being. Your campus will not get the seal of approval if it is seen as a hotbed of environmental irresponsibility.

Job Placement

All MBAs are good. But not all are equal. MBAs from the top business schools pay off more than others. That said, not all students will be going for an MBA. Parents are usually supportive of their child’s career choice so long as there is a clear path forward to a reasonable career. What the university needs to be able to show is that they have a history of success when it comes to placing graduates in good jobs after they graduate. Some careers such as computer science often see students placed in high-level jobs before they graduate. Talent is always in high demand. One of the best things a university can show a parent is a successful history of placing graduates in careers.

Universities must appeal to parents as well as students. To get the nod from both, they need to provide reliable package handling, eco-friendly solutions, and a path forward after graduation.

Maybe you’re remodeling your kitchen. Or maybe you’re finishing your basement. Perhaps you’re insulating your home.

Regardless of what type of renovation project you’re taking on, nothing changes the fact that it can be messy, disorganized, and time-consuming.

Of course, since you know you’re getting something in return for all this, you’re willing to deal with the hassles for as long as it takes.

Even so, you shouldn’t assume that there’s nothing you can do to make life easier on yourself. For example, you can rent a self storage unit, as this gives you a place to house any items that are getting in the way.

Here are five of the best ways to benefit from self storage when renovating your home:

1. More Space to Operate

One of the biggest pitfalls of a renovation is the potential for your home to become overcrowded.

In addition to moving items from one place to the next, you’re also contending with deliveries of new goods and equipment.

Take a kitchen remodel, for example. Where are you going to store your new cabinets? What about the ones that you tear down?

You need as much space as you can get to operate efficiently and effectively. 

2. Less Chance of an Accident

The worst thing that can happen during a renovation project is an accident that results in a serious injury.

When your home is cluttered, there’s less space to get from point A to point B. Also, there are more hazards, such as debris on the floor that can trip you.

This goes along with the point above about having enough space to operate. If you have any reason to believe that your renovation could result in an accident, it’s time to shut things down and reconsider your approach. Taking a risk with anyone’s health is never a good idea.

3. Less Chance of Breaking Something

You put a lot of time and money into your renovation, so the last thing you want is to break something. But when your home is cluttered, this is much more likely to happen.

For instance, if you’ve stacked boxes in an attempt to get them out of the way, one bump could cause them all to tumble to the ground. And should that happen, the contents could break.

Rather than do this, you could move all breakables out of your home and into a storage unit. It’s one of the best ways to put your mind at ease during an already stressful time. 

4. Keep Your Items Clean

Renovation projects have the potential to get messy. If that happens, your home and all the items within it are at risk of becoming dirty.

A good example of this is any project in which drywall work is being completed. As the new drywall is sanded, fine particles will settle throughout your home — even in areas that you thought were completely sealed off.

Unless you want a giant clean-up on your hands after your renovation is complete, you should protect against this by moving important items out of your home. Why take the risk when you don’t have to?

5. Work at Your Own Pace

When you’re cramped for space, concerned about your household items, and worried that someone will get hurt, it’s safe to say that you want to complete your renovation as quickly as possible.

However, when you begin to rush, you once again increase the risk of an accident.Clearing your home also clears your mind. This gives you the opportunity to work at your own pace, which is important to staying safe and doing the job the right way the first time around.

Final Thoughts

It doesn’t matter if you’re seeking self storage in San Diego or in some other city, there are plenty of options to choose from. When you combine this with the benefits above, it’s easy to see why this industry is growing by leaps and bounds.

Have you ever taken advantage of self storage? Were you happy with the end result? Will you turn to this solution the next time you’re tackling a renovation project or seek an alternative?

partnered post • cc-licensed photo by Scott Meyers

Moving across the country is a big undertaking, and it can be overwhelming when you're trying to remember everything that needs to be done. This guide will help you make sure you don't miss any important steps in your relocation process. So, follow these easy tips and get ready for an amazing new life!

Lighten the Load As Much As Possible

The first step to a successful cross-country move is packing! You want to lighten the load as much as possible so that you can save on costs at both ends. Pack your heaviest items, such as furniture and appliances, last to ensure they don't get crushed before their time. There are many different options for renting or borrowing boxes depending on where you live – check out any nearby stores and ask about deals available during this busy moving season.

Pack all of your clothes into one box, and then pack them all together in the same place. Label everything! Labels are an essential part of this moving process because many people have their hands full with different things during move time (i.e., putting furniture together).

Hire a Professional Moving Company

Hiring a professional moving company is the best way to guarantee that you'll get everything across the country safely and securely. Surprisingly, hiring movers also lowers the cost of moving across the country and saves a good amount of time. Moving companies are experienced in finding creative solutions for more complicated moves. They can also provide you with packing materials, storage options for your belongings before the move, and more.

Be sure to interview at least three movers before hiring one, and ask about as many specifics as possible to make sure they're a good fit for your needs. Agree on the details of each move before booking--be specific so that there are no surprises later! 

Study up or hire an expert to help with any documents relating to moving across country-you want all bases covered to prevent problems down the line. Insurance is always important when relocating, but it's especially crucial if you'll be doing it cross-country. Make sure coverage includes transportation and storage costs during transit because these will not be included in standard homeowner's insurance policies unless otherwise specified.

Make All Arrangements In Advance

This includes setting up your utilities (internet, gas, and electric), making arrangements with the post office to forward mail, setting up a new doctor if you are moving to another place. Doing this in advance will save time for having to find these things out on that big day which is almost here!

Keep all important documents together - passports, birth certificates, marriage certificate, etc. Keep them either scanned or photographed so they can be easily stored on an external hard drive. This way, you have access to those pieces of paper at any point in time without worrying about losing them. Do not neglect pet transportation during move-time; make sure there's someone available who can take care of your pets while you're away.

Pack a Moving Day Essentials Bag

When moving cross country, you must pack a moving essentials bag. This will help you move day when the time comes to pack up and leave your old home for good. What should be included in this bag: Make sure that you have a well-stocked first-aid kit with everything from bandages to antiseptic cream, as well as a pain reliever. You might also want some duct tape or strong packing tape, scissors, and an extra set of house keys (just in case). 

You'll also need a few changes of clothes, including a change for the next day and shoes that are appropriate to wear on your long drive. There's also one last thing you'll need: snacks! Make sure you have some healthy options packed away in your bag so that when it comes time to break up all those boxes and start unpacking at the other end of your journey, you can keep yourself going with something nutritious but not too heavy.

Save Money Wherever You Can

The most important part of moving is to know your budget and plan accordingly. If you've been saving up, you're probably in a better position than someone who hasn't. However, it's still worth considering how much money you have or will be able to spend on records-keeping receipts and other paperwork that can help with the move. It would help if you also took some time before making any decisions about purchasing new items like dishes or furniture to account for all costs in your total spending.

Update Important Documents

If you're moving across the country, it's important to update your vehicle registration and driver's license in your new state before driving there. You may also need a temporary or permanent address for various other accounts like credit cards, cell phone providers, banks, etc. Make sure this is all straightened out ahead of time so that everything will be ready to go as soon as possible when you get to your destination!

Be Aware Of Your Move-In Situation

When you arrive at your destination, it's important to know what the conditions are for moving in. Depending on the housing arrangement, this could include signing an agreement, meeting with your landlord or property manager, and getting keys.

Suppose you're moving into an apartment building, for example. In that case, it's important to find out what services are offered by the Management Company (or individual landlords), such as trash pickup times if there is no waste disposal in the area. It's also very helpful to know how close public transportation is to where you'll be living so that when you need groceries or other necessities, you don't have far to go! Finally, if possible, keep some form of identification on hand during these discussions so they can get a copy of it before sending anyone off without key access. This will make sure everyone is aware of who has permission inside each building.

Conclusion 

If you're moving cross country, it's important to take some time and prepare for the move. These few tips should help make your transition a little easier so that you can focus on what matters most – settling into your new home! Use these tips as a guide when packing up for the big move. And if there is anything else we can do, don't hesitate to reach out to us at any point in the process. We are here to help with all of your needs from start to finish!

partnered post • cc-licensed image by Matthew Jackson

After some time, our homes always require repairs or a little updating in the most frequently used areas like the kitchen or the den. Maybe your home looks tired and needs a fresh coat of paint to bring it back to life. Or perhaps the flooring looks old and could use a revamp. Whatever the reason for your home remodel, doing these updates and repairs can be exciting, tiresome, and not-so-wallet friendly at the same time.

That said, an eco-friendly home remodel gives you a chance to go green and also save a little cash in the process. Even something as small as placing plants inside your living room can help the environment and make it look aesthetically pleasing. Let us tell you some eco-friendly home improvement ideas that will surely help you go green and save some greens too.

Install a tankless water heater

You probably know what a water heater is. It sits on the farthest corner of your basement or garage and provides your home with hot water the entire year. But did you know that your old-fashioned water heater is constantly wasting energy? If you have a gas heater, it's probably burning up more gas than usual. Au contraire, an electric heater will turn on and off to maintain your desired temperature, and your electricity bill will go through the roof over time.

Furthermore, old water heaters rust internally sometimes and could affect water quality. It would be a wise decision to remove your old water heater and install a new tankless one. These water heaters are extremely energy efficient as they only switch on when you want them to. Plus, contact a water damage advisor to identify any potential problems before the changing process. Old water heaters are notorious for causing trouble.

Install solar panels

Suppose you switch your house's power supply to solar energy. In that case, you could end up saving cash on an extremely humid day while your air conditioner operates like a champ. These days, modern solar panels can turn up to 20 percent of sunshine into usable electricity. They are much efficient and better looking as compared to their old-school variants.

Furthermore, installing solar panels could also give your home's value a bump of around 12,000 dollars when you decide to sell it. And, if you reside in the USA, you will also receive approximately 30 percent of the solar panel installation cost in the form of tax credits.

Properly insulate your walls

Heat won't stay trapped inside your home's wall if it isn't correctly insulated. If you live in a house constructed before 1990, chances are there are gaps and cavities present inside its walls. To trap more heat inside your home, you can fill these gaps and holes with environmentally friendly insulation material. Doing so will be drastically cheaper than performing an insulation job on all external and internal house walls.

Install energy-efficient windows

Energy-efficient windows are the perfect choice for people looking to go green. For instance, you can save a lot on your heating bill if you install triple or double glazed windows. This won't only save you cash but also reduce heat losses. These energy-efficient windows create a barrier that insulates your home and keeps it warm.

Furthermore, it's better to install steel or uPVC windows as you can recycle them later on. If you live inside a vintage house, go for recycled timber instead. As far as the windows' glass goes, choose the low-emissivity kind. It can reduce your cooling and heating bill by around 33 percent.

Install bamboo flooring

Why is bamboo so different from other wood types? It grows faster than actual wood, requires fewer pesticides, is moisture resistant, and highly durable. Plus, you can harvest it without causing damage to its roots, so more can grow back.

By opting for bamboo flooring instead of natural hardwood, you'll be saving countless trees and promoting forest growth, all while enjoying a brand new chic flooring. Just ensure that you have the tools and know-how to install flooring in your house. If you don't, you can always contact a professional.

Buy energy star-rated products and appliances

Most appliances present in your home come in energy-efficient and eco-friendly versions as well. If you want to look after the long-term health of your wallet, consider upgrading your old appliances and products to energy-efficient ones. For instance, you can switch your old tantalum bulbs (it's surprising if you're still using them) for more energy-efficient LED or CFL bulbs.

Conclusion

There is a high chance that you won't be making these home improvements yourself. So, find a good contractor who knows about the latest eco-friendly home improvement ideas. These eco-friendly products and solutions usually cost a pretty penny. Still, they will save you a lot of cash on cooling and heating bills in the long haul.

 partnered post • cc-licensed image from Pexels & Pixabay

Most homeowners don’t pay a lot of attention to their garage doors daily, as long as it’s doing its job properly. But, as momentarily as there’s a sign of trouble, all eyes shift towards its various components. Usually, this might be a good time to call up a repair professional/technician to check and fix your garage door problems. Still, before enlisting a professional’s help, there are specific minor issues one might be able to fix on their own. Following are some common garage door problems and their repair solutions that any average joe can easily do!

Remote/Keypad Not Working

You have a range of possible solutions if your opener isn’t responding to the external keypad or remote control. Perhaps the antenna in the garage is too far out of range. In that case, try moving a little closer. Consider your garage door opener as a radio with a 315mH operational range. Therefore, they can get disrupted even with 1-2 feet of extra distance. 

Also, check the motor unit’s antenna for any signs of damage and ensure it’s hung in a downward position.

Check if the wall switch can work the door. If so, then the mounted keypad or remote control requires new batteries.

Given their sensitivity, sometimes the remote control or keypad components might experience programming issues that require a reset. Try reprogramming your door opener. Different garage door openers might have differing reprogramming methods. That’s why it’s better to check the details for your specific opener first, whether on the instruction manual or online. If the process gets too overwhelming, you can always hire experienced professionals to install a new one. Suppose you are residing near southwestern Utah. In that case, you can hire someone skilled for Garage Door Installation St George UT. It will ease some burden off your shoulders.

Faulty Cables

Broken cables are another common issue concerning garage doors. The underlying reasons can range from extra pressure caused by broken springs to regular wear and tear. If you notice slight sagging or heaviness on either side of the door, know there’s a broken cable.

The garage door will also be angled downwards and leaning more on one side if that happens. Additionally, the door might not stay in one place if all the cables have come loose. Be careful when that happens, as it might come down when you try to lift it. It’s better to deal with faulty cables at the earliest as they pose severe safety hazards.

Door Doesn’t Close Completely 

Is your garage door opening fine but doesn’t close all the way? One of the following causes might be the culprit behind this issue.

Firstly, check if you need to adjust your set-limit switch. Garage doors consist of close-limit switches that facilitate starting and stopping of the motor as the door opens/closes. When set incorrectly, this switch can prevent the door from closing. Plus, it can lead to the opener reversing when you’re trying to close the door. Depending on the type of door, there can be various approaches for adjusting the set-limit switches. Still, most doors feature a screw on the motor unit that can easily adjust to control the speed of the door’s descent.

Secondly, you may need to realign or adjust the sensors. On both sides, right at the bottom of the door track, are electronic sensors that require a clear line of sight between them. The door will close smoothly without any trouble, given the sight path between the sensors is crystal clear. But, if something is blocking the sensors’ line of view, it can prevent your door from closing down. Besides the eyes, your door can also malfunction if the brackets holding the electronic eyes are misaligned. Fortunately, in such scenarios, the door itself reverses or halts, flashing its lights to indicate a problem. 

So, check and remove any hindrances that may be blocking the sight path between the sensors, such as leaves, dirt, and debris. However, suppose this issue is a frequent occurrence. In that case, the sensor brackets might get loosened from vibrations coming from the door tracks and need realigning. 

Door Closes But Immediately Reopens

This problem’s diagnosis is quite simple; you have to adjust your garage door opener. Most automatic garage door openers have settings for controlling the open and close functions. And occasionally, they might require adjustments, owing to daily usage and wear and tear.

The limit settings can dictate how far the moves to be fully closed or opened. Suppose these settings are off. In such cases, when the door reaches the floor, the opener’s sensors will signal this as hitting an object/person rather than the ground. Hence, the door will reopen.

Door Does Not Open All The Way

Periodically, the garage door may ascend correctly but won’t open entirely. Following causes might be the culprits behind such issues.

You need to move the up-limit switch closer to your door’s motor unit. An up-limit switch is a touch lever perched on the hinges near the motor unit. When it sits too far away, the motor will limit the door from opening fully. What’s the solution? Simply move this switch a little closer to the motor unit. This issue rarely occurs. But when it does, it’s usually after a new door opener installation. 

What’s more, damaged or sticky rollers can also stop the garage door short from fully opening. Check your rollers for any damage, dust-up, lubricate, or replace if they’re too damaged.

Jammed Rollers

If you find that the rollers on your garage door’s sides are sticking and sliding instead of spinning and turning, as they should, you’re in trouble. Why? This problem can lead to the door coming entirely off its hinges. Plus, jammed rollers can cause unnecessary noise during the opening and closing of the door.

It’s better to leave the door as is if it comes off of its tracks during opening or closing. Any attempts to change the open or closed position could potentially cause the springs and cables to break. And if noisiness is the only issue, try cleaning the tracks or replacing the rollers if possible. More often than not, humidity and lack of lubrication are the leading causes behind stuck rollers.

Wrapping It Up

A broken garage door can result from multiple reasons that each has unique repair solutions. This article provided a handy guide for easy diagnosis and repair of some common garage door problems. Some of these issues include unresponsive door openers, doors not closing or opening, and broken cables. Though this guide can be beneficial in assisting homeowners in solving common garage door malfunctions, it’s good to contact the experts to handle more complex issues.

partnered post • image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Picking your current life up and putting your roots down in a totally new state is an event of significance. It doesn’t matter if it’s for a job, because there’s a shift in your family situation, or just because you’re beginning to feel the itch to gain some new experiences in a different part of the country, moving is a big deal.

Before embarking on your journey, there are a few things that must be considered in order to understand the process completely. Here’s a quick look at a few of them. 

Neighborhood Safety

Get to know your neighborhood. Try out the tools to help prevent racial profiling on Nextdoor. This site is also a great way to get to meet your new neighbors and blend into the community a bit easier. Moving to a new state can be lonely if you don’t know anyone where you’re going. Nextdoor can help alleviate that a bit.

Movers

Budgets are important. If you stick to a budget, you’ll definitely want tips on how to move on a budget. It may be easier to use movers for the big move, but it is economical? That’s simple to determine. Get estimates from at least 3 different movers. Then figure out the cost for you to rent a truck, get insurance for the truck, and for the fuel you’ll use on the move. Compare the two. The result may just surprise you. 

Jobs

Your ability to make a living is critical, and when you move to another state, you’ll need to have the confidence that only a secure career can give you. For this, you need to know how to get a job in another state. Depending on where, exactly, you’re moving, the position you currently hold might be obsolete in the new place. Begin searching for a job a few months before the move so you’ll have a good idea of the abundance of your skillset and specialty in your chosen area. Figure out if the area in question may be a hub for your area of expertise or if another state would be a better idea.

Cost of Living

Your salary will more than likely change when you move out of state and take a different position, however, the expenses you encounter can also be different. The cost of living, or the price of housing, utilities, and groceries, can be unique to each city and state across the country. Even the worth of the almighty dollar can fluctuate as it crosses state lines. Be sure to take a look at the cost of living in your destination state before the move.

Housing

When you aren’t in an area, determining a high-quality, affordable place to live can be a bit difficult. As you make the transition to a living space that’s probably hundreds of miles away, you’ll need to keep an eye on the housing market in order to get a sense of the average costs for rent or prices for houses. To locate your best options, you may also want to consult a real estate agent.

Prepare

When you’re getting ready to make the move from one state to another, you’ll have to rearrange quite a few areas in your life. In order to make the process one that’s a bit easier, you should always do thorough research so that you can come up with a plan before the move. Evaluate each of the steps you need to take so that you’ll be able to confidently approach this particular new stage in your existence.

partnered post • cc-licensed image by Andreas Torhaug

Energy efficiency in your home is very important and should not be overlooked in 2021. Energy efficiency not only affects your home’s bills, but also its carbon footprint. So, making sure that you make your home is as energy efficient as it can be is vital for 2021. Reading through this article will give you 5 steps towards making this happen!

Replace your old boiler

To start with, you will want to look at replacing your old boiler. If you have a boiler that is older than 15 years, it could have an energy efficiency rating as low as 60%. Meaning that you are losing 40% of all energy that is generated. Modern boilers however are rated at around 90%+ efficiency, meaning at most only 10% of the energy generated will be lost. This is why replacing your old boiler should be the first step.

Choosing your replacement

When it comes to choosing a replacement boiler, it is all about what type of boiler you choose. Make sure that you are choosing the same type of boiler that you currently have. This way your home has enough space to support your new boiler and it will produce enough heat and hot water to support your home.

Make sure that you set yourself a budget and look at a number of different boilers brands and see what each of them has to offer. You will also want to take the warranty into account and see what each company’s warranty can offer you.

Installation

When it comes to choosing an installer for your boiler replacement, you will want to make sure you are using a gas safe registered engineer. It is illegal to use a non-gas safe registered heating engineer and it will also breach your warranty.

Switch to LED bulbs

The next item on your list should be switching out your old incandescent bulbs to LEDs. LED bulbs are energy efficient due to the low amount of wattage that they need to power them. They can produce 1,600 lumens, which is the standard brightness of a bulb, using only 20 watts. It takes an incandescent bulb 5x the amount of energy to produce the same light level. LED bulbs also last 20x longer than an incandescent bulb. So, while they cost more, you will be getting a lot more life out of them.

Replace old kitchen appliances

Replacing your old kitchen appliances is next up on your list. The appliances in your kitchen, other than your TV and computer, will be the ones that are running most. A washing machine will run around 270 washes a year, if not more with a larger family. So, making sure that you are replacing an old machine with a new higher efficiency model is important.

When you are replacing the white goods in your kitchen, try to go for the highest energy efficiency rating of A+++. This way you will be getting an appliance that used the least kWh. While this can be expensive it is worth it in the long run.

Draught proof your home

Draught proofing your home is the process of making sure that gaps around your home, doors and windows especially, are sealed so cold air cannot get in. It should take you anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete this depending on how large your home is and if you have done any draught-proofing before.

Windows

You will want to start by draught-proofing your windows. This is a simple process and only requires some self-adhesive foam strips. You will then want to open your windows and attach these strips to your window frame so that they are covering the gap between your window and the frame. This way there is no room for cold air to enter your home and hot air to escape.

Doors

When it comes to draught-proofing your front and back doors, there are a few more options than adding self-adhesive strips. These are:

• Door brush: You can attach a brush to the bottom of your door that will cover the space between your door and the floor. This way cold air is blocked out.
• Letterbox brush: You can also add a brush to your letterbox that will stop draughts.
• Adhesive strips: If you have any space around the edge of your door frame and your door, you can use adhesive strips as you did for your windows. However, make sure that your door can still shut properly after they have been applied.

If you find yourself struggling with draught-proofing, there are a range of in-depth tutorials online that you can follow.

Insulate your loft and walls

Finally, insulating your loft and walls. If you do not have your loft and roof insulated, you could be losing lots of the heat that you are generating for your home. So, making sure that these areas are insulated is vital.

Loft

Up to 25% of all heat that you generate can be lost through an uninsulated loft. You will first want to check if your loft is insulated. To do this you will want to get into your loft with a tape measure and see how thick your insulation is. This is the recommended thickness for each type of loft insulation: 

• Glass wool - 270mm (27cm)
• Rock wool - 250mm (25cm)
• Cellulose - 220mm (22cm)

If you find that you have no insulation up there or what you have is not that thickness, it is time to add some more. There are people that you can hire to do this for you if you do not feel confident enough to do it yourself.

Walls

Up to 35% of all heat that you generate can be lost through uninsulated walls. Unlike with your loft, you cannot tell how insulated your walls are yourself. You will need to hire a registered installer to check this for you. The installer will drill a small hole in your wall and then use a borescope to see if your walls are insulated or not.

If he finds that your walls are not insulated, then you can hire the same installer to insulate the walls for you. While this will cost a fair bit of money you will see a return on this investment in a few years!

Those are 5 ways that you can begin to increase your energy efficiency in 2021. This is only the beginning of what you can do. So, make sure that you carry on!

partnered post • cc-licensed image by Joel

When we think of New Zealand, Auckland comes to mind and there’s a reason for this and why it has become New Zealand’s most populous city. Auckland accounts for 33.4% of the country’s population with a staggering 1.508 million people calling it home. Known as the ‘City of Sails’ due to the number of yachts sailing between Waitemata and Manukau harbours, Auckland is a large metropolitan city in the North Island and consists of a multi-cultural hub of food, arts, music and culture. Auckland consistently remains a strong performer on the most liveable city list; amongst city living it offers a breath taking mix of natural wonders and urban adventures, Auckland movers should be on your shortlist if considering moving to New Zealand.

Some of what Auckland has to offer includes:

More Sunshine

Auckland receives 2100 hours of sunshine a year and that is equivalent to 87 sunny days, in fact most cities in New Zealand receive over 2000 hours of sunshine a year. With more sunshine, there is more time to play after work where a typical summers evening can observe daylight that can last up to 9.40pm. It’s no surprise to see people out and about exercising, socializing or exploring the city and that’s got to be a winner.

Great Economy

New Zealand’s job market has always been relatively stable, construction and the building sector being the backbone of the economy hasn’t been affected by the recent COVID-19 lockdowns. Seeing the country has handled the pandemic successfully, the economy is set to make a quick recovery. Sectors such as manufacturing, information technology and health in Auckland have seen the lowest unemployment levels for several years. Expats looking to relocate to Auckland can expect excellent opportunities as a skilled worker, these possibilities makes Auckland a great choice to settle.

Top Class Education

When moving to a city the consideration of quality education remains a top agenda. Auckland has consistently aimed for a high standard of education with schools and universities among the top rated in the world. New Zealand’s education system offers both fully and partially funded state schools along with private schools and is compulsory for school children aged between 5 and 18 year old. The teacher to student ratio is relatively low and is one teacher to every 24 students, smaller class sizes aids in improved education and gives plenty of opportunities for student-teacher interaction.

Multicultural Diversity

The city of Auckland is a multicultural hub and consists of people from all backgrounds and religions. The community encourages and promotes inclusiveness, awareness and diversity. This is what makes not only Auckland but New Zealand an excellent destination to settle. It is this diversity that allows people to share and learn the diverse food culture and cuisine. There is no shortage of options when dining out, Auckland is filled with a wide variety of restaurants that are affordable and offer delicious delicacies from all parts of the globe.

Picture Perfect Landscape

Auckland’s diverse landscapes offer wonderful opportunities to take in what nature has to offer. Rolling hills that don’t seem to end, lush native rainforest that joins the sea, golden sand beaches and wine country to escape to. Auckland surroundings are scattered with 48 volcanic cones that provides panoramic views of the city and a short ferry ride to Rangitoto Island is a popular destination to visit the region’s most well-known volcano.

Whether you are an expat or already a New Zealander considering your next relocation, moving to Auckland can be a wonderful choice to immerse yourself in what the city has to offer. There is a reason why Auckland is consistently listed in the top liveable cites list.

partnered post • cc-licensed photograph by Michael Levine-Clark

When you are faced with the mammoth task of moving and you are contemplating on whether or not to do it yourself or simply call on the assistance of professional movers to lend a helping hand, you need to consider if the benefits outweigh the risks entailed. Managing a house move or interstate relocation is not the easiest task at the best of times; it can quickly lead to increased stress levels caused by tight time constraints, commitments, damaged property or huge financial burdens. 

You may have collected many pieces of furniture and items over the years and brought them into your home, they may be heavy and expensive, some might be fragile or difficult to replace. You recall in memory how difficult each piece of furniture was to manoeuvre into position when you first introduced it into your home and now wondering how you will transport it to your new place. Furniture is not really made to be moved around, it usually sits in the same space in your house and provides a creature comfort, so if not properly packed with the correct packing materials to protect it during transit, it would be highly likely that you end up with pieces of broken furniture at your new home. To prevent this from happening it may be worthwhile comparing moving companies like professional removalists Melbourne to help with your relocation requirements. Here are some reasons why hiring a professional should be your first choice.

Experience with moving

When you hire a reputable company, they should have a solid process in place as this is what they do day in day out. You can be sure that they will move your valuables and furniture to our new home without damage. Furniture is heavy and come in all shapes and sizes; for instance fridges, washing machines, TV’s, sofas, wardrobes, beds, pianos and pool tables are bulky and awkward to handle without the right technique and tools. The right removalists will be trained to safely handle each piece with care in addition without causing injury. 

Efficiency with packing

Using the right amount of packing material without wastage, movers can efficiently pack fragile items with ease. Quality material consisting of bubble wrap, moving boxes, moving blankets, strong adhesive tape, protection covers can all be easily provided by the furniture removals company, together with packing techniques, it makes for a highly effective moving process.

Assume responsibility

By choosing to go with your selected relocation business, they are taking full responsibility of the damage caused to your belongings whilst under their control. A moving company would be more cautious and selective on the routes used to get the furniture from one place to the next. By taking into account low traffic routes, roads where there are low bridge clearance and unsealed roads, it helps to guarantee the safety of your furniture.

Insurance cover

Moving companies have insurance policies in place to protect your furniture in the event of unforeseen circumstances. If the truck had an accident and rolled, caught fire or was stolen during transit, all your furniture will be covered and this gives you piece of mind and an added layer of protection. If you were to do this move yourself, you would be missing out on this unless you pay high costs to a third party insurance agency.

Take the stress away

It is indeed a stressful time when you move and this stress can be exacerbated if you do it yourself. Many potential problems can come up whilst moving home, by having a professional to take on these challenges you can concentrate more on other aspects without stressing over how you will get everything to your new home. The task of moving is not easy, but luckily there are capable businesses available at your disposal, it may cost a bit more but some things are worth paying for.

partnered post • cc-licensed image by sunset removals

No one likes to waste their money, especially wealthy people. They didn’t get rich by foolishly throwing their money away. Some of the most affluent people in the world are also among the most frugal. Conversely, some of the biggest spenders of luxury and semi-luxury items are the people who can least afford them. For the sake of fashion and popularity, many people are walking around with the latest iPhone when a midrange Android for a third the price would serve them just as well if not better. 

Zero waste is not just a useful mantra for saving money. It is also the focus of saving the ecosystem which is precariously balanced on a blade’s edge. It is hard to predict what kind of planet our grandchildren will inherit because we have a mix of eco-conscious and eco-hostile people setting policies that will affect us for decades to come. We can only hope that the future is more promising than the present. These are some of the more obvious areas where waste carries a huge cost. Here are a few other ways reducing waste increases our quality of life:

Reuse

One of the ways we waste both money and planetary resources is by using things just once and then throwing them away. How many paper towels do you use to clean up the average spill? When you are done, what do you usually do with those paper towels? If you are like most people, it is a good handful, then you throw them away. 

The good news is that you can buy bamboo paper towels that are reusable up to 85 times. That’s amazing. Frankly, it is hard to imagine even wanting to reuse a paper towel. Just thinking about the awful mess that is now covering the towel makes you feel like it is a lost cause. In fact, all you have to do is toss it in the wash just like a filthy garment and it comes out of the dryer looking, feeling, and smelling like new. Imagine only having to buy 2 rolls of paper towels a year. That’s the power of reusability. Both your wallet and the planet will thank you.

Good to the Last Drop

How many products do you buy and can’t completely deplete because it is all but impossible to get the last of it out of the jar, bottle, or tube in a useful way? You will be happy to know that toothpaste no longer needs to be one of them. By ditching toothpaste tubes for toothpaste tablets, you can use all of it without wasting a single drop.

You just take out a single tablet from an easy to dispense jar and chew. From there, just brush your teeth with a wet toothbrush like always and enjoy the minty, clean feeling you get from the foaming action and cleansing ingredients. You can bet those ingredients are all natural and safe. One of the best things about this product is that you don’t have to throw any portion of it away. It is usable to the last tablet. Even if you have become a master of getting the most from a tube, you have to be something of a toothpaste ninja. Now you can leave all that behind. Because toothpaste tablets are so easy and convenient, you will probably find yourself brushing even more. 

Restore It

If you have a couch and you drink red wine, then you likely already know a few of the top tips for cleaning red wine from a fabric couch. But what happens if you, with the help of your pet, manage to get a tear in that fabric? Don’t throw it out. Repair it. Tossing out rather than restoring old tech is killing the planet in an even more dramatic fashion than furniture. We tend to keep furniture for a long time. But computers have many harmful elements in them and when they start to get slow, we just buy a new one because they are so cheap. By repairing and restoring, we could keep computers active well over 5 years. 

All waste is bad whether it is a waste of time, money, or effort. Let’s save all of the above by reusing, using all of what we buy, and restoring what we can. 

partnered post • cc-licensed image by Peter Kaminski

When you first start to look into touch screens, you’re probably thinking, ‘It has a screen, and I can interact with it through touch. It’s a touch screen!’ 

For most users, there’s no need to put more thought into it. Many consumers will buy a touch screen device simply because it’s beautiful and functional, without considering different touch screen types.

Business owners, however, should know a little more before investing in touch screen technology. After all—you don’t want to splurge on an enormous new touch screen display for your shop front, only to find out it doesn’t offer the functions your business needs.

You may have noticed that some touch screens work with a finger, stylus, or any other vaguely finger-shaped input device you can think of—while other screens won’t accept input at all unless you use your finger (and make sure it’s not wet!).

Different devices accept different kinds of input because there are several kinds of touch screen, each with unique limitations. The two main types of touch screen are capacitive touch screens and resistive touch screens.

This article will discuss the differences between the two types and highlight how businesses might use them.

Resistive touch screens

Resistive touch screens are the simplest type of touch screen available on the market today. A resistive screen comprises two pliable plastic sheets separated by a narrow gap. When a user interacts with the screen and presses in on the top sheet, it closes the gap, causing the two sheets to come into contact. This interaction completes the electrical circuit.

Resistive touch screens are pressure sensitive—this means that the pressure you place upon the screen will determine whether or not it detects your input. Some screens are more sensitive than others. While one screen may not register a quick swipe across the screen, others may react to even the slightest touch.

Because resistive touch screens react to physical input, it doesn’t matter whether you use a finger, stylus, pencil, or another blunt-ended object. You’ll find resistive touch screens used for shopping centre kiosk displays, ATMs, and handheld video game devices.

Capacitive touch screens

The other primary type of touch screen is the capacitive touch screen. Rather than detecting pressure, these screens work because of the human body’s electrical properties. When your finger comes into contact with the device, it changes the screens’ electrostatic field. 

Because capacitive touch screens rely on conductivity, interacting with them via a gloved hand, pencil, or basic stylus won’t work. It’s also why you might notice inconsistencies when using your smartphone or tablet with slightly wet hands.

Capacitive touch screens feature a durable glass surface, making them better options for businesses that favour longevity. If you are installing interactive digital screens outdoors, a capacitive screen is the better choice.

Conclusion

The two main types of touch screen are resistive and capacitive. Resistive screens are the more versatile choice, while capacitive screens boast greater durability. The kind of screen you choose will depend on your business’s unique needs and priorities.

partnered post • cc-licensed image by Ross Mayfield