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When you are in the process of moving there can be many obstacles that stand in your way. Unfortunately, moving can be one of the most stressful events in your life so it’s important that it goes as smoothly as possible. There are many things that you can plan and prepare to make it as easy for you and your family as possible.  Pexels CCO License
Buy Or Rent One of the very first things you need to think about is whether you want to buy a home or rent it. There are pros and cons associated with both of these options and they are: there is less flexibility when you buy a house compared to renting as you are tied down with your mortgage payments. Renting is much easier as you can move around as much as you want. A huge bonus to buying your own home is that you have something to call your own after all those months of payments. How Much You Have To Spend Now you have to decide what your budget is for whichever option it is you went with. The general rule is the same for both renting and buying. You need to sort out your finances before you can do anything. If you work out your incoming and outgoings then this will help you decide how much you can afford for the monthly payments. If you decide to buy a property then this will also help you to work out how much of a deposit you can afford for your mortgage. You also need to make sure that any debts are taken care of and are under control as your credit rating will be looked at. If this is low then you may be turned down which will be a huge disappointment. Type Of Home So you have a figure in mind for moving, now you have to decide what type of property you want to live in. There may be a couple of options that spring to mind when you think about this, either apartments or houses. There are of course pros and cons to both of these and they include: houses offer much more space and privacy, however, they are also on the pricier side compared to apartments. Apartments offer much more security, however, they can be noisy due to all the neighbors in the block. You also need to work out between you if you want a new home or an old existing one. The benefit to new builds is that you can put your own stamp on them. You might be interested in new apartments, these are pristine and you can do what you want with them. However, older builds tend to offer much more character to them. We hope you found this article helpful and it gives you some ideas and insight into considerations to take when moving to a new house. Remember, when you are thinking about moving it is important to consider the area you are moving to as much as anything else. Do your research before setting anything in stone.
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Buying a home is a huge investment. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of buying a home, however, it is not just the physical appearance that you should consider. While that will contribute to your final decision, you want to ensure that you are making a good investment, and don’t run into a ton of problems after you have signed a contract and tied yourself in, as it is a huge obligation. Here are some of the most important things you should look for when buying a new home. An expert in the area Regardless of whether you live in the area or are looking for a new country to reside in, it is important to enlist the help of estate agents to help you with your searches. They will be able to provide you with a fresh perspective of the area, and their wealth of experience. You can also provide them with all the details of a property that you are searching for, and they can take the hard work out of the search for you, and make it much easier and more personal. This way you can guarantee a nice place to live. Visit the property more than once (and take pictures) When you find a property you like, it is difficult to see potential problems. This is why it is important to view the property more than once and take pictures, as this gives you more chances to get familiar with the property and spot any problems. If it is possible to do so, try to view the property at different times and on different days, so you can also get a better idea of the environment and surrounding noises. The structure of the property Take some time to review the exterior of the property. A good property should have a solid foundation, free from issues. Structural integrity is vital if you don’t want to be dealing with safety problems and costly repairs in the future. Check for any hairline cracks in the walls, dampness and mold, broken tiles on the roof, blocked or broken guttering, and generally any signs that something is not right. You can also get an additional expert, like a surveyor to review the property for you. Appearance, and smell Unfortunately, some sellers may try to cover up problems in the home so they don’t appear obvious when people are viewing the property. So while you check for any physical signs inside the property for dampness or damage, you should also be aware of any unnatural smells in the property. While this may seem odd at first, it can be important to identify any problems. This is because the paint will be able to temporarily cover up problems with cracks or dampness, but issues typically give off a musty smell to them. This could be a sign of a problem worth investigating. Buying a property is a big investment, which is why you should be thorough with your search and ensure you look for all the right things. The last thing you want is to invest all your money and be left with lots of problems that cost you time, money and your wellbeing.  Image Source
We’ve got the best part of a year ahead of us and many of us are starting to consider home improvements we want to make over the next ten months or so. Home improvements almost always prove to be a worthwhile investment of time, money and energy. At the end of the day, these are our living spaces and they’re where we spend a whole lot of our time - this is particularly true since the start of the pandemic. You’re going to want to make sure that this space is comfortable, enjoyable to spend time in and looks great in a way that matches your needs and preferences. You’re also going to want to make sure your home is functional to give you the best use of it. Finally, your home tends to be the biggest financial investment you make in your life. For most people, rent and mortgage payments are their biggest monthly outgoing. If you own your home, you’re going to want to maintain its value. If you rent, you’re going to want to get your deposit back at the end of your tenancy. Here are just a few ways that you can achieve all of this with some home improvement projects! Decluttering When it comes to home improvements, all too many people jump the gun. They’ll immediately start thinking of huge DIY projects that will take weeks to complete and completely change the look and feel of your home. But it’s important to remember that the first, and perhaps most important, thing you should when trying to improve your home is to start out by decluttering the space. This in itself will make all the difference to your home, creating a more open, clear and less overwhelming living space for you to spend time in. It also then allows you to engage with the bigger home improvements without having to tackle mess and clutter along the way. When you decide to declutter you can remove unnecessary belongings from your home, freeing up space and reducing the amount of items surrounding you. It’s a simple and straightforward process, as long as you follow the steps below.
Deep Cleaning We all tend to have cleaning routines that help us to keep on top of the state of our homes. We wipe down worksurfaces in the kitchen, dust shelves in our bedrooms and living rooms, vacuum the carpets, mop the floors and complete a whole host of other day to day tasks to live in a hygienic and presentable home. However, every once in a while, it is important to conduct a deep clean that will make all the difference to our living space. A deep clean is what makes your home really sparkle, targeting all of the areas you miss during your regular cleaning routine. Tasks can vary greatly. From using professional carpet cleaning services to deep cleaning the toilet, using DUCTZ to clean your ducts and vents, wiping down skirting boards, cleaning the inside of your oven and so much more. Make a list of deep cleaning tasks to complete and make sure to get them done before carrying on with any further and more major changes with your property. Painting and Decorating Painting and decorating can make a big visual change to your home. A fresh lick of paint will make a huge difference to the state of your walls - even if you stick to the same colour that’s already there. You may even want to change your colour scheme, completely changing the look and feel of your property. Of course, you can paint and decorate yourself. You will have to invest in supplies like rollers and paint and you should also invest in floor covers. Alternatively, use a professional painter decorator to lift the weight from your shoulders. Renovations Another more major option is renovations. These will require planning permission and you will have to call in the help of an architect. Renovations change the whole look and feel of your home. Popular renovations include:
As you can see, there are so many different ways that you can change and improve upon your home. Consider which best suit you and you should be able to see vast improvements in no time.  Image
When preparing your home to be viewed for sale, there are a lot of things you can do to make the house feel as comfortable and welcoming as possible. Creating an environment that feels comfortable and inspiring is important when selling your home, and today we want to talk to you about how you can do that and create a wonderful home that people want to purchase. Here are some of the things you can do to make your home look and feel comfortable this year. Bake beforehand One of the best tips you can get from people who have had their Homes for Sale is to make the house smell like a home before people visit. The best way to do this is to bake up a batch of cookies an hour or so before hosting your viewings and this will make your whole house smell amazing, and it plants the idea in people’s minds of this being a warm and comforting home. Clear away clutter It is so important before you have people viewing your house that you get rid of any clutter and unnecessary furnishings. The reason for this is not only for the home looking tidy, but also to maximise the space in every room to entice people in and make them more likely to put an offer in for your home. Add some colourful touches When staging your home for people viewing it, it is important to create a proper asthetic and create a space that feels comfortable and stylish. People want to be able to walk around a home and envision themselves in there, and one of the ways that you can help do this is to add some colourful final touches that bring a space to life and make it look more styled. Light a candle or two If you want to make your home look cosy as well as make it feel warm when people come to view your house, a great idea is to light a couple of candles and set them up in different rooms of the house. A simple touch like this adds that idea of relaxation throughout the home and it can bring a sense of peace and calm for your viewers. Clean the windows and doors It is incredibly important for you to clean your windows and your doors before people come and view your home. Your front door as well as interior doors can become dirty over time and it is easy to forget about them as you don’t see them all of the time. Ensuring that your door is clean will create a better first impression when people view your home and it can be a great way to welcome people into your home. Your windows are also very important and you can create a brighter and more open space by ensuring they are clean. Also, getting rid of any traces of black mould or damp will improve your chances of someone offering to buy your home.  Moving Day Interior Design Services
Planning a move and need interior design assistance on the day of? I can help! Moving day design services is a flat rate package to be on site (full day, $1500) on moving day (into new home) to help homeowners and movers place furniture in the best furniture arrangement/location, help make design + styling decisions on where furnishings go (artwork, accessories, area rugs, furniture, lighting, etc) and overall be on hand to help make moving into a new home a whole lot easier! Package includes: On-site and / or online review of existing home and furnishings inventory. On-site and / or online review of new home walk-thru. On-site (1) full day on moving day to help with furnishings placement and arranging. Please email JSInteriorDes@aol.com for more info or questions. For additional interior design services click here and for online interior design services click here. 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.  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.  Unsplash - CC0 License Finding a forever home seems like a massive challenge. However, there are often signs that you’ve done the hard work and you’re ready to move in. In this post, we take a look at what these signs are so you can figure out whether you should go ahead and make the purchase or not. You’re Planning A Massive Kitchen Renovation If you’re thinking about spending a lot of money on your forever home (such as a kitchen renovation), then it’s a sign that you’ve found the place that you want to live. You’re willing to invest in it, suggesting that you plan on staying for a while. The same goes if you’re thinking about an extension or perhaps adding a conservatory at the big. Large-scale projects like this indicate that you’re ready for the long-haul and planning for the future. The Price Doesn’t Bother You Another sign that you’ve found the home of your dreams is that the price doesn’t bother you. Yes, it’s a little above your budget, but that doesn’t matter – you’ll make it work. It’s more important that you move in and get on with your life than prioritise your finances. You Have A Gut Feeling About It  Unsplash - CC0 License
All of us have a picture in our minds about how we would like our perfect forever home to look. For some of us, it is a detached property with space at the front and the back. For others, it’s a large apartment in the middle of a city, close to all the amenities that we want to enjoy. Whatever the case, if you think that your home looks idyllic, then it is a sure sign that you see it as your forever home. You want to return to a property that just “feels right” after a busy day. |
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