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It’s important to do annual home maintenance checkups to ensure that your property is in good condition. By inspecting the roof, windows, and foundation of your home, you can catch any potential problems before they turn into costly repairs. This blog post will provide a detailed checklist of items to inspect during your annual home maintenance check-up. Keep reading for more information!  Photo by Mikael Blomkvist from Pexels
Roof Inspection Leaks and cracks are the number one reason homeowners need to perform regular roof maintenance. While identifying roof issues can be challenging, we've made it easy for you by providing a list of things to check for during your annual home maintenance check-up:
Window Inspection Your windows should be well insulated to prevent heat loss during the winter and overheat during the summer. Check your windows for cracks or gaps, which could let in air and damage the window seal. The window sill shouldn't have any water stains, indicating possible leakage. Finally, ask yourself if you even need all of your windows - energy-efficient windows are more expensive than standard windows but can save you money on your energy bills each month! When comparing different types of replacement windows, keep in mind that vinyl is typically considered the most durable option available. Foundation Inspection The foundation of your home is crucial to its structural integrity. If your property was built before 1978, there is a good chance that the foundation has lead paint. Given this fact, you should consider having your home inspected by a professional. The foundation walls and piers should be free of cracks and depressions that indicate water issues. Holes or gaps between or around the foundation and exterior walls may point to insect damage underneath. Keep in mind that even if there are no noticeable signs of corrosion, it doesn't mean your house's foundation won't suffer from heavy rain or erosion. Note: Foundation inspections typically cost $200 - $300 for an average-size home so consider getting quotes from several companies before hiring someone to inspect your residence. Other Areas to Inspect In addition to the three main areas of your home that you should inspect, there are several other things you'll want to check during your annual home maintenance check-up. The roof of your detached garage should be in good condition and have no visible signs of damage. If your home has a deck, take a close look at its structural integrity. Next, test any screens or storm windows for holes or rips by checking for bugs coming through or drafts of cold air entering. Finally, inspect any vegetation around the foundation of your house for pests such as insects, rodents, or fungi. While some bugs are harmless, others can cause extensive property damage! A yearly home maintenance check-up is a great way to ensure that your property stays in good condition. Be sure to inspect all major areas of your house, including the roof, windows, and foundation, during this process.
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 The latest Paint & Color Trends for 2022 from FIXR.COM has been published - happy to be included in the survey. https://www.fixr.com/painters/paint-color-trends-2022
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There’s this idea floating around that you can’t live an entirely sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle during the winter months. Truth be told, that’s completely false. Sure, during the winter months, that’s usually when the most energy is being used since it’s to warm up the house. But you can still very much be energy efficient, eco-friendly, all while keeping your home nice and toasty. These are some helpful tips for keeping your home eco-friendly even during the coldest of winter months. Check for drafts One major issue that homes have, especially older houses, would be drafts. These can come in a variety of ways such as through cracks, the space between the window sill and window, rooms with thin insulation, and the cracks that doors have. There can technically be other ways as well drafts can get into a home such as holes or cracks in the walls, and even outlets can play a part in bringing a draft in. Needless to say, there are plenty of ways for drafts to get into homes. Since these drafts can cause your home to waste up to 30% of your energy, it’s best to look into sealing these crafts. There are several ways you can do it, some of which include
Consider getting a new heater Sometimes all it really takes for getting your home eco-friendly during the winter months can be as simple as looking into a heater replacement. If your heat is too old then it’s not going to be as effective as it once was. This means you’re burning through your money trying to use a heater that’s not too effective. So in cases like these, you’re far better off just looking into getting yourself a new heater anyways. Get a ceiling fan One cost-effective hack for your home would be getting a ceiling fan. Many homes actually have these, and there’s a chance that you already own one. Running your ceiling fan in a clockwise direction can help out with pulling in warm air. Since heat tends to rise, the fan will allow the warm air to circulate throughout your home. Something like this could have the potential of lowering your energy bill by 8%. While ceiling fans do indeed need energy in order to be on, they don’t use nearly as much energy as heating does. Check out eco-friendly insulation Did you know about eco-friendly insulation? Not only is insulation on its own very eco-friendly as it warms up your home but there are multiple eco-friendly alternatives to insulation as well. There are some which are made from recycled green materials, others from wool, denim, and even cork. It’s just best to do some research on what your preference would be.  Image credit
Have you ever looked at pictures of the interior or even seen commercials of beautiful indoor airy spaces and wished you could achieve something like that for your home? Well, you definitely can, and you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank either! In order to achieve that flowy airiness that many beautiful spaces have, there need to be some major or minor tweaks. It mostly has to deal with creating a seamless transition between the indoors of your home and the outdoors of your home. The main point is to just create an illusion that makes your home look huge, spaced out, and very flowy. Even the smallest of spaces can easily achieve this since this is all just an illusion. Plus there are plenty of benefits to having these illusions in your home anyways. This can include creating a soft and positive atmosphere, bringing a touch of nature inside your home (which is an automatic mood booster), plus it makes your home stand out from others. Your home should be a little piece of paradise, and it can most certainly be achieved through the power of interior design. So here are some helpful tips for creating a nice flow between the interior and exterior of your home. Let there be light Of all things you need for this transition, the biggest is going to be having more sunlight. Having large windows in your space is going to hands down be the best way to bring more natural light into your home, but it’s also going to help with creating this illusion that your space is large. Since large windows are large, this is going to allow for more greenery to pick through which will make your home look bigger and endless. If you’re wanting to replace your windows or see what’s better than you can check out Renewal by Andersen as they can help you out with getting large windows for your home. Sure, it’s a bit of an expensive option but in the end, you could be saving a lot of money as more sunlight that goes into your home means less heating that needs to be used. Light curtains After you have your windows figured out, you’ll want to look into your curtains next. Having light-colored curtains can help with creating that illusion that your interior and exterior are one. While white and beige are great, you’ll want to think about the fabric of the curtains as well. Something like chiffon or even sheer can be great options. These are very light in color and texture, plus they bring this airiness appearance whenever the sun seeps through the curtains. While you may think about skipping out on curtains if they’re not even going to block out light, curtains also help with creating an illusion of tall ceilings. Ceiling extension While this may sound overboard, it could be a great option. This doesn’t mean that you’re changing the ceilings inside of your home, instead, it’s already extending your ceiling to the outer section of your home. Extending your ceilings to create a taller room sounds nice, but it’s far too expensive and the process itself is quite lengthy. But you can still create a seamless transition just by adding outdoor living space and adding a ceiling on top of that. This can also be very useful as well in the case you do have an outdoor living space such as a patio. This not only creates the appearance that the outdoor section of your home is a part of the interior space, but it truly helps in combining the two elements of indoors and outdoors. It’s almost like a nice little medium. Having this extension will create the flow of going outside rather than abruptly stopping it. Another benefit would be the fact that your outdoor furniture is protected as well from weather such as rain or snow. There are plenty of ways you can decorate your outdoor living space where it helps blur the lines of interior and exterior. This can include buying some patio furniture for it, adding some textiles such as an area rug, cushions, coffee table, and even a fireplace. Some great ideas for extending the roof could include awnings, gazebos, pergolas, and even pavilions. Glass doors A lot of modern-looking homes will have backdoors which are essentially sliding glass doors. These work as both a door and as a window which can be a great combination. There are concertina doors that also exist which helps in creating a flowy appearance in the home. Glass doors are very versatile, as they help out in removing that division of your home and the outdoor world. Also, whenever the door opens up, it immediately combines the two elements together. Just like windows, glass doors are a fabulous way of allowing the outdoors to peek inside the house and it’s a great way to encourage you to go outside too. Remove walls These may be a bit more difficult depending on the structure of your home. Open plans are perfect for creating that flowy appearance for homes. If your home has too many walls, then tearing them down could be a great way of achieving that flowy transition. Floor level While this may seem absurd, have you ever noticed a difference between the floor levels between the indoor and outdoor sections of your home. It’s usually one small step, but this step can immediately create a division between the two elements. Some common dividers could be just the difference in leveling, but it could be steps or stairs as well. These create a physical and a mental break that crushes any sort of transition that was created. If possible, try to look into having the same floor level between the indoors and outdoors of your home as this union will help. Plants Bringing the outdoors inside with some plants is one of the best ways to create a transition, not to mention that this is a very cost-effective hack as well. Plants are luxurious and they can help with creating balance indoors.  Image credit
All homes, regardless of size, can be decorated to perfection. From small apartments to large mansions, these can all be transformed into something cozy and comfortable for anyone to love. Interior design has a lot of effects on psychology. The shapes, colors, and spacing of a home can impact the mood and even the entire atmosphere of the home. All homes have what it takes to be nicely transformed, but sometimes it seems next to impossible thanks to hefty price tags, right? It is true that décor can be pretty expensive, from curtains to furniture. However, the idea of some things being expensive shouldn’t immediately deter you. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful tips so you can transform your space to create your dream home all without breaking the bank! Take a good look at your furniture For most rooms, the furniture tends to be the focal point of the space. The bedroom has the bed as the focal point, while the living room is going to have the couch as the main focal point. These are usually right front and center as well, meaning that these immediately catch the eye the second someone steps into that space. Since these are going to take up most of the space and they’re going to be the main focal point, you’ll need to think of ways to make this look better. Furniture can truly be all it takes to set up a mood in a room. This can include the design, the shape, the material, and even the color of the furniture itself. Furniture, whether it be a couch, table, or bed, doesn’t need to be expensive at all. You can check out the sales sections at furniture stores, but even thrift shops will have beautiful (and unique) pieces of furniture that simply should not go unnoticed. Paint your walls One of the best ways to make a cost-effective transformation for your home would be with paint. Paint tends to be affordable, and this project can usually get done within one to two days. Wallpaper can even be cheap as well if you’d like to do that. Changing up your walls with color and design is fantastic for creating a whole new atmosphere, plus they can really make a space feel brand new. Think about the fabrics that are used A lot of rooms will have fabrics. The living room and bedroom are the top two that are fabric-heavy. The bedroom itself seems to be the same that will have the most textiles present, such as the blankets, pillows, linen, and even right down to the curtains. Not only will the color of the fabric make an impact on the room, but even the materials themselves can. Using something such as silk or satin is going to make the room have a different atmosphere compared to cotton. Think about your décor All the little pieces of décor throughout your space come together and can build up to something great. All pieces of décor can create an impact, and it shouldn’t be neglected. However, you should also try and make your décor blend in as well. You don’t want your décor to stand out too much or it can shift the mood in the space. You’ll also want to maintain a balance between practical and decorative items in your home too. A home is one of the most critical aspects of our lives. When you spend so much time in one place, it is only natural you want your home to look good and be practical for day-to-day life too. But how do you balance practicality and decorative features within the home design? Do we put too much emphasis on the suitable and neglect the decorative? How do we decide which features are necessary for our home and which are superfluous?  Image credit
The Basics of Home Planning The first step in home planning is deciding what type of home you want. What is the style? How will you use it? How do you want it to serve you basically? Once you know what you want, it's time to think about what functions are essential to your lifestyle and what you will be adding for eye candy. Do you need a metal roof for added protection against inclement weather, or do you require an HVAC for those unbearably hot summer days? Maybe a smart home is something that can support your lifestyle. When looking at external features, consider your environment; for example, are you close to the coast meaning your windows can end up covered in salt from the ocean. Or do you live in an area that experiences frequent extreme weather, so you need to look at hurricane impact windows? By working through these questions now, you will have a better idea of finding that elusive balance. How to Choose the Right Home Features We spend a lot of time deciding what type of home we want to live in. We consider the layout, the appliances, and whether or not we have enough money for it. But when it comes down to it, who hasn't thought about how their home will look? It's a common practice for homeowners to think about the aesthetic value of their homes while they are still building them. But to decide precisely what features should be included in your home and which ones can wait, there are a few important questions you must ask yourself. The first question is, "What do I need?" This is where you must be honest with yourself. Do you need room for family members? Are you looking for an open living space or a more closed-off one? These questions will help you figure out what your home needs. Next, ask yourself how your home will function once it's complete. Will it be primarily used for entertaining guests or for relaxing at night? Does your home need plenty of space so that everyone has someplace to retreat from a busy day? How to Balance Practicality and Decorative Features These days, designs have evolved so that you do not need to compromise on style for functionality or even safety. Sleek modern techniques allow you to install the best functionality discreetly that enhances your lifestyle yet doesn’t detract from your look. Think integrated appliances for a seamless kitchen look or underfloor heating to remove ugly radiators from your wall, or switch out traditional radiators for the floor to ceiling ones that create a statement look and take up less room! You can implement many features around your home that can blend in with your chosen aesthetic once you have settled on this. In reality, it all boils down to how you intend to use the house and what you want to get from it. You will then strike a balance as you look for the right products to populate your home.  Image Courtesy of Pixabay
Whether you are redecorating for winter or freshening up with a spring clean, your new or existing home projects should be appropriately planned. However, renovation is more than ripping out and installing new fittings. There are numerous aspects to track, plan and order. Fortunately, there are many ways you can use computers when renovating. Proprietary Design Programs You don’t need to be a CAD or CAM expert to design your renovations on a computer. While there are specific programs, such as AutoCAD, which you can use, they are challenging to learn. Fortunately, many planners use proprietary planning tools. For example, your architect may offer you the chance to sit down and visualize your outside extension with purpose-built deck design software. Additionally, most modern showrooms use software to design your perfect bathroom or kitchen, given the measurements and space available. Project Management Apps Suppose you are to handle a renovation yourself without the help of a professional. In that case, you can get flustered by everything that needs to be done. For instance, timing is crucial since you don’t want a roofing team on-site before your tiles arrive. Or you may not want a new oven and hob sitting in your kitchen while you try to place new fittings and paint around them. So again, project management apps are your best friend. One of the easiest planners to use is Asana for iOS and Android. But you could also manually track a project using a simple spreadsheet. Communication and Coordination Further to project management, communication and coordination are essential to any home renovation. At the very least, you will need to communicate with suppliers about orders and arrival times. But contractors also require adequate communication as well. Phone calls are all well and good, but most contractors are busy and won’t answer while on the job. Therefore, email or instant messaging are a great alternative when planning a bathroom for example. Additionally, when you use email, you can write exactly what you need to, reducing the chance of miscommunication while keeping a written record in case of disputes later on. Buying and Selling Online Online sites like Amazon and eBay are excellent sources of materials and fittings when working to a budget or time constraints. They are also excellent sources of hard-to-come-by fittings when restoring your home to a particular style. Additionally, you can set delivery dates that work into your overall project plan. Further, you can sell anything still intact after an initial rip-out, and there is a market for older fittings. Therefore, you can use the money earned to add to your budget or cover additional expenses that might arise towards the end. Try The Sims 3 The Sims is a well-known video game series that has sold over 200 million copies across 4 series. However, a primary feature of the game is to design and build homes. And the home building feature of The Sims is more advanced than you might expect. While the Sims 4 is the latest game, the Sims 3 is better for design. The reason is that it has a “Create-a-Style” tool that allows you to apply any material to any item in the game, such as walls, floors, fittings, and furniture. And you can probably get a copy for less than the price of a coffee!  Happy to be included in the Fixr list of “2022 Top Influencer in Interior Design” - check out the full list here!
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For most people, Christmas is a holiday they look forward to throughout the entire year. As December gets nearer, excitement hits fever pitch, and we start to put up our Christmas decorations in preparation for the big day. Putting up decorations is one of the most traditional elements of Christmas, and it really adds to the excitement of the festive period. Keeping that in mind, in this post we are going to provide further information on one of the most treasured festive decorations – the Christmas garland. Read on to discover more. From Christmas Garlands To Holiday Lights: Traditional Holiday Decorations There are many decorations that we put up during the Christmas period. Some are traditional and symbolic, such as Christmas garland decorations, while others are have become modern in recent times, for instance, snowmen and snowflakes. You can also decorate your outdoor area with Christmas lights, as well as using screws to put up signs, such as ‘Santa Stop Here’. Let’s take a look at some of the most traditional holiday decorations we put up. Christmas wreaths are one of the most long-standing festive traditions. In Christian tradition, during the weeks leading up to Christmas, a four-candle Advent wreath is used to represent the build-up to the festive period. Christmas garlands, which are very much like the wreath’s strung-out cousin, look beautiful and they represent a message of hope. Of course, who could forget the Christmas tree? - The most iconic decoration of them all. A lot of religious historians and academics have suggested that Norse celebrations of the winter solstice are to be credited with the origin of candle-lit evergreen trees. Stockings may be loaded with gifts in the morning, but they also represent a traditional Christmas decoration. Finally, let’s not forget nativity scenes. Miniature scenes, which depict the birth of Christ, are popular in Christian households. After all, this is the event that is at the root of the Christmas celebration. What Are Christmas Garlands? Garlands are a decorative green cord, and they are used for a wide array of festive occasions. During the Christmas period, people tend to use garlands to decorate inanimate objects in their home, be it their mantelpiece or their Christmas tree. Flower and leave garlands, which is what you will find available at Christmas, represent the traditional variation of the garland. Nowadays, you have everything from tinsel to bead garlands to choose from. You can also find traditional Christmas garlands with modern upgrades, such as the incorporation of fairy lights and other decorations. They are also filled with Christmas symbolism. For example, red holly berries are often incorporated in luxury Christmas garlands, and they represent the blood that Christ spilled for Christians. Holly is also widely incorporated in garlands, especially when weaving them together, and this is a symbol of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he was crucified. There are then those that are circular in shape, like wreaths, and they are a representation of ‘infinity’, much like Jesus’s infinite love. Of course, there are many different options for you to choose from when buying a Christmas garland today, and, therefore, you may be able to incorporate different symbols.  Tenants have different tastes, and you can not predict what each of your prospective tenants would love. That is why you have to apply caution when you are designing your rental property. When you are designing an apartment that you will reside in, it is easy. You can design it to your taste. But if you are designing a rental property, it would be best for you to avoid using your preferences. That is because your choice may not be acceptable to all your prospective tenants. And if this happens, the vacancy rate will increase. When potential tenants are inspecting your property, they picture themselves residing in it. How they feel determines whether they will rent the property or not. Tenants often prefer one property over the other because of the design. If your design matches their furniture, then they will not want to miss the opportunity of renting your property, says North County Property Group. In this article, we will analyze the design principles you can use for your rental property so that it will meet everyone’s taste. 1. Maintain a simple design  Some landlords often fall into the temptation of spicing up their rental property with a lot of designs. They often do it with good intentions. However, they end up cluttering the property. Such clutter make the rental property look smaller and the tenants will think that their furniture may not fit into the apartment. Some of the extra details you add maybe what your prospective tenants do not fancy, and the excessive designs can alienate them. It would be best if you do not clutter your rental property with so many details and designs. Keep details such as vases, candles, books, collectibles, and other accessories simple. It doesn’t matter if the accessories are timeless additions or trending designs. Doing so will prevent you from cluttering the apartment. Endeavor to keep your design simple, beautiful, and refreshing. A simple design will meet the requirements of many potential tenants and if they envision themselves in your property, they will feel compelled to choose your property. 2. Choose neutral colors  Trending paint colors are modern and unique and you may fall into the temptation of using them in your rental apartment. A few tenants may love it, but it will not be suitable for many potential tenants. That is because trendy colors are very selective, and they will not match with a lot of furniture. Trending hot colors only last for a short while and then go out of fashion. Also, hot colors will make the rental property look and feel smaller. However, if you want colors that several people will prefer, you should opt for neutral colors. Neutral colors will match any furniture that your potential tenants have. They will make your apartment appear clean and larger. Using neutral colors on your rental apartment will ensure that it does not look outdated. We advise that you go for natural elements and subtle accents for your interior decor. 3. Avoid using a single design If you use only one design on your rental property and it doesn’t meet the expectations of your prospective tenants, they will walk away. But if you are using several designs on the property, there is a greater possibility that some of them may entice renters. And as a result, they will settle for the property. Also, since all potential renters do not have the same preference, using different designs will meet the requirements of so many renters. We advise that you use the type of design that gives room for changes. That way, you can modify them when necessary. 4. Brighten up the interior  Tenants prefer rental properties that have adequate lighting. For this reason, we recommend that you brighten up the interior of your rental property. Ensure that there is adequate natural lightby opening up the blinds and pulling back the curtains. If your rental property does not have adequate natural light, then it would be best if you maximize different options to brighten the interior. Make use of dangling lights, especially in the kitchen. Use floor lamps and table lamps in areas that do not have natural lights. 5. Provide adequate storage space in your rental property  Survey shows that tenants want their apartment to have enough storage space for their properties. So it would be best if you maximize the storage space in your rental property. You can be creative when doing this.
Make use of smart storage options such as built-in cutlery organizers, slim but tall cabinets, and pull-out baskets. You can also utilize the space under your staircase for storage and install smart cabinets. Ensure that there is adequate storage space in your kitchen to accommodate food items, dishware, and several appliances that renters may have. If you want to attract more renters to your property, the best way is to keep the design simple, neutral, and clean. |
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