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4 Helpful Ways to Overcome The Challenges Of A Long-Distance Move

Long-Distance Move

A long-distance move is something many people dream of. There are so many beautiful places in the world enticing people to move, and some people choose to move because they want to have better opportunities. While this idea can be exciting, the process itself can come with some challenges that you will need to overcome.

Long-Distance Move
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How to Overcome The Challenges Of A Long-Distance Move

1. Moving Your Possessions

Moving all of your things to a new place is hard, but it is especially challenging when moving long-distance. You can’t take things like furniture on a normal passenger plane, making it worth looking for companies like Sky Van Line to go through this process for you. Using vans, boats, and planes, you can move all of your possessions to your new home easily.

Another option is to sell your large furniture and buy new once you get to your new home. When deciding which route you want to take, consider the cost of each option.

2. Finding Work

Finding work in a different place can be a daunting prospect, especially when you factor in the cost of moving. You can find a job before you move, with options like online freelance work for those with the skills. If your move is a while away, you can consider starting a blog and monetizing it before moving.

Other times, you can get hired by a company before your move, with a start date after the move. Some employers will even be happy to help you move if it means that you can work for them.

3. Finding A Home

Looking for a home when you don’t speak the language or can’t visit the place can be tricky. It leaves you in the hands of your real estate agent. Thankfully, modern technology has solved this sort of issue, with virtual viewings being possible from a wide variety of companies.

You may need to look for options that offer this service, but it will be worth the search. With this service, it is easy to get a feel for a place before you decide to move.

Consider mortgages as well because getting mortgages in a different country can be difficult. It is worth talking to your bank about this ahead of time, too.

4. Keeping The Family Happy

Keeping your family happy through this process should always be a priority. It is important to make this decision with your partner and discuss it thoroughly. When it comes to your kids, the best time to move is before they have started school and made friends. You can still move if your kids are older, though, but you should enable them to maintain their old friendships.

Long-Distance Move

Overcome The Challenges Of A Long-Distance Move

A long-distance move should be exciting, so make sure you prepare to overcome the challenges. If you follow these tips, you will feel ready to take on the challenge of a long-distance move.

This process can be great, giving you new opportunities and a chance to enjoy a new life. It will also provide your family with experiences that can only be gained when you’ve lived in more than one place.

Have you ever moved long-distance? What are some of your best tips? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Adulting For the Home Home How To

5 Easy DIY Ways To Add Value To Your Home

Ways To Add Value To Your Home

Adding value to your home is something that can certainly benefit you financially if you choose to ever sell your home. There are a few reasons you decide to move, whether it’s for work, needing more space, or needing to downsize. Whatever the reason, it’s important to try and gain as much profit from your investment as possible. There are a number of easy DIY ways to add value to your home, making it easier than ever.

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DIY Ways To Add Value To Your Home

1. Convert The Loft Space Or Basement

Converting your loft space or basement is a great way to take advantage of space that’s already in your home. Most properties will have a basement, a loft space, or both. Before you decide to build an extension or an add-on to the property, focus on what you’ve already got.

It will be less expensive to convert the space you already have, and upgrading the space will make it easier to sell your home for a profit. Many buyers are going to like the fact that you’ve done the hard work for them, and they’ll be willing to pay more because of it.

If you spot potential in your basement space or loft, then try to convert them into liveable spaces. Whether that’s a bedroom, a dressing room, or perhaps a study or workout space, the new owners will be happy about it. There are endless possibilities and it’s worth doing something with it, even if it is a simple upgrade.

2. Build An Extension

An extension is something that many homeowners have the option of doing. You must have space on your land and get the go-ahead from your township or city. It’s a lot of work, but if you have the ability to do it, then it’s almost certainly going to add value to your property.

When thinking about doing an extension, make sure you speak to your neighbors beforehand. It’s good to keep them informed and to keep them on your side, in case there’s any early morning starts or building work that is likely to be disruptive to their living situation. 

Make sure you’ve given yourself a budget and that you don’t overspend as this can be a costly investment already. You don’t want to spend so much that you get less back on the sale because of it.

3. Fix Anything That’s Broken

Fixing things that are broken is another big improvement for any potential buyers. By fixing fixtures and fittings around your home, it will allow buyers to move in without having to do much to it.

In some homes, they may need to fix broken windows or doors and it can end up being expensive to do. If you fix these things before potential buyers see your home, it will set you apart from those who don’t bother.

If you’ve got old windows or doors that need replacing, then now is the right time to do it before you put it on the market. Renewal by Andersen is a great company to use and having new windows and doors will increase your property’s value.

4. Add-In Smart Features

Smart features are something that is worth adding to increase your home’s value. Technology and advancements in engineering are making us want more of it in our own homes, rather than only using it in public spaces. Your home has the potential to be more functional, and these simple upgrades can make all the difference.

Simple things like a hot water tap can be great for those who like to cut down any waiting time. You may want to install a smart thermostat to control via an app or maybe underfloor heating for that extra cozy feeling during the colder months.

5. Upgrade Your Bathroom Or Kitchen

Upgrades are often needed around the home and they are most apparent in rooms like the kitchen and bathroom. These rooms get a lot of footfall and usage on a daily basis, so they quickly become run down. It’s worth doing an update or upgrades to these spaces every few years to ensure they stay as new and fresh as possible.

For some, renovations might be needed to completely overhaul the space and design. This might only be needed every 15-20 years or so. Determine how out-of-date your space is before determining how large of an upgrade you need to do.

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DIY Ways To Add Value To Your Home

Adding value to your home is beneficial in a few ways. You can enjoy the upgrades and improvements, or you can list your home for a profit. Either way, these simple DIY ways to add value to your home can help you improve your living space. What are some things you recommend to add value to a home? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Adulting Decor For the Home Home How To Life

10 Common Tools To Help Make Your Home DIY Projects Easier

Home DIY Projects Easier

If you’re anything like me, you have some DIY projects planned for your home. Over the years, I have determined that it’s easier to get those home DIY projects done easier if I have the right tools. While you may think you can make do with what you already have, it would be better to invest in some common tools to help make your home DIY projects easier.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Home DIY Projects Easier
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Tools To Help Make Your Home DIY Projects Easier

1. Utility knife

Utility knives have small, sharp blades that are often retractable. These knives are sometimes known as box-cutters, but they have so many uses beyond cutting boxes.

When it comes to home DIY projects, they can be handy for cutting wallpaper, slicing linoleum, trimming veneer, and even removing staples. These tools can save you from struggling with scissors, and they’re a much safer option than trying to use a kitchen knife. 

2. Adjustable wrench

When it comes to loosening and tightening bolts, you could invest in an adjustable wrench. With these tools, you can adjust the clamp size to fit any size of bolt. This saves you from having to sort through multiple wrenches, and it will allow you to do things yourself.

Situations that would call for an adjustable wrench include doing your own plumbing, assembling furniture, repairing bicycles and possibly doing mechanics on your car. 

3. Glue gun

Glue guns can be useful for all kinds of fixes around the home from putting back loose trim to repairing broken decor. You can even use them for joining wood together when you don’t want to use screws.

There are clearly limits as to what you can use a glue gun for (you can’t fix a shelf to a wall with a glue gun), however, you would be surprised by the number of tasks that can be achieved with one.

A hot glue gun is the best option for heavy-duty DIY such as repairing furniture. Cold glue guns are safer but tend to be better for small crafts as they don’t offer quite as strong a bond.

4. Duct tape

Duct tape can come in handy during many DIY tasks. It can be a great tool for when you need a strong temporary fix such as repairing a broken shower curtain rail until you get a new one or patching up a leak on a pipe until the plumber comes.

There are various strengths of duct tape on the market that you can look into. Less adhesive tape such as masking tape is usually better suited for tasks like getting straight borders when painting or preventing paint from splashing onto a window frame or trim.

5. Circular saw

For times when you need to saw through things, a circular saw can take a lot of the time and effort out of cutting. Circular saws use a fast-spinning electric saw to make quick and efficient cuts.

There are lots of different types of circular saw on the market to choose from. Some are built for precision and have laser guides or rail guides to help cut in a perfectly straight line. Others are built for portability, and these tend to be lightweight and cordless. Consider which option you think is right for you. 

6. Electric sander

Sanding down rough surfaces manually can be a time-consuming task. Just as circular saws make sawing easier, electric sanders make sanding much easier.

These tools come in various shapes and forms. The most basic electric sanders tend to be orbital sanders with a single strip of sandpaper that rotates in a continuous motion, often around a square pad.

Random orbital sanders tend to be a little more expensive – these oscillate in a more random motion around a circular pad, which can reduce swirl marks. Some electric sanders are plug-in, while others are cordless. Some can be used with one hand, while others require both hands. 

7. Cordless hand drill

When it comes to inserting and removing screws, a cordless hand drill can be very useful. These drills are useful when a screwdriver isn’t enough to get the job done.

Cordless hand drills tend to offer a lot more maneuverability than plug-in drills and are the favored option. Most hand drills are built to hold multiple drill bits – you can buy these as part of a kit. It’s worth looking for a cordless hand drill that has a good charge for projects when you need to do a lot of drilling. 

8. Stud finder

When putting a screw or a nail into a wall, it’s important to avoid studs, pipes, and wires. Finding these without a stud finder can be done, but it’s not always easy.

By investing in a stud finder, you can easily avoid hammering a nail into a stud or pipe. There’s not much variation between different stud finders on the market, so don’t feel the need to spend a lot of money on one of these devices. 

9. Laser guide

Laser guides can be useful in a variety of settings. If you want to line up two light switches on either side of the room, you can do so with a laser guide. You can also use laser guides to make sure that you’re cutting in a straight line or to make sure two shelf screw holes are level.

Laser guides are sometimes fitted onto other tools such as saws. They can also be integrated into stud finders. Shop online to compare various brands on the market.

10. DIY apps

There are various apps that you can download onto your smartphone to help with DIY tasks. Spirit level apps for instance can be useful for checking that a shelf or a picture frame is level. Measuring apps meanwhile can be used if you don’t have a tape measure handy and you need to find the dimensions to a wall or surface.

Many of these apps are free and some may already be installed on your smartphone. Consider doing your research to see what other DIY apps are out there that you may benefit from.

Tools To Make Your Home DIY Projects Easier

DIY projects are great if you want to save money while updating your home. Having the right tools is essential to getting the job done correctly. What are your favorite tools to use for home DIY projects? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Adulting For the Home Home

4 Helpful Pieces of Advice For First-Time Homeowners to Make it More Enjoyable

advice for first-time homeowners

Being a first-time homeowner is a lot of responsibility, but it can also be an enjoyable experience. Buying a home is a significant investment of your time and money so it makes sense you want to take your new purchase seriously and be a responsible homeowner. Luckily, there are a few pieces of advice for first-time homeowners that you can follow. This advice will help ensure you have a successful and smooth transition moving into your new home.

advice for first-time homeowners
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Helpful Pieces of Advice For First-Time Homeowners

1. Take Time to Get Settled

One piece of advice for first-time homeowners is to take the time to get settled into your space and neighborhood. Avoid putting off unpacking boxes and get your belongings in order right away. You want to create as much livable space as possible and see what you’re working with before you decide on what home improvement ideas and decorating you want to start.

The more organized you are and less clutter there is, the better you’ll feel and happier you’ll be at home. Also, go around and introduce yourselves to your neighbors and get to know the area.

2. Budget for Repairs & Trouble

You never know when an item or appliance in your home is going to break. You must plan and budget for emergencies and trouble to unfold. Make sure you have plenty of money set aside for repairs.

For example, if it’s summertime and your air conditioner goes out then you’ll need to call and hire an AC repair or installation service to assist you. You’ll want it fixed or replaced right away so you can ensure your home is at a comfortable temperature.

Not only that, but you need to make sure that you find reliable contractors too. Be sure to look for a trusted roofing company and other trades in the area. Don’t just look for any old company, it’s good to look at reviews and get recommendations from new neighbors too.

3. Tackle One Project at A Time

Another tip to consider as a new homeowner is to plan on tackling one project at a time. Give yourselves some time to live in your home and enjoy it before you decide what you might want to do with it.

Make a priority list and create a budget you can follow to help you stay on track and organized. Maybe pick a few large projects each year to complete and sprinkle in some smaller ones to address when you have some downtime. You want to avoid overwhelming yourself or spending more than you had intended right away.

4. Don’t be afraid to DIY

You shouldn’t be afraid to complete and tackle some of your house projects yourself. Deciding what you can DIY is what homeownership is all about. It’ll be fun to research and teach yourself new skills and you’ll save money by not having to hire a professional.

However, know your limits and never put your safety at risk. For example, you may not want to mess with anything that has to do with the plumbing or electrical. However, there are plenty of other projects you can do yourself such as making small repairs, sprucing up your curb appeal, painting your walls, and refurbishing old furniture.

advice for first-time homeowners

Pieces of Advice For First-Time Homeowners to Make it More Enjoyable

Owning a home is exciting, but it can be stressful if you don’t handle it well right from the start. Use these pieces of advice for first-time homeowners and you will see how enjoyable it all can be.

What piece of advice would you add for first-time homeowners? Let us know in the comments!

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Adulting Finances For the Home Home How To

3 Simple Ways to Make Your Home Look More Expensive and Luxurious

Make Your Home Look More Expensive

Are you thinking about making some changes to your home? If so, then you might want to focus on finding ways to make your home look more expensive.

Making your home look more expensive is a great idea if you want to impress someone, but there are practical benefits to this idea too. If you make your home look more expensive, then you’ll find it far easier to sell on the market. You should also be able to get greater offers for the property if prospective buyers walk in and think the home looks expensive.  

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Let’s explore some of the best ways to achieve this goal. 

Ways to Make Your Home Look More Expensive

1. Flooring 

Your flooring is always going to have a massive impact on the perception of your home. You need to make sure that you design the floors to look stunning.

There are a few ways to do this. However, we recommend that you consider laminate flooring. This is available from a vast array of companies and is budget-friendly so it will fit into any home renovation plan.

Another big benefit of laminate flooring is that it’s incredibly easy to maintain. You don’t need to worry about it looking worse for wear in just a couple of years. 

2. Smart Tech

You might also want to think about investing in new technology. This is a great way to make your home look expensive, luxurious and provides the right impression for any guests visiting your home. There’s a lot of different types of tech to choose from, as well.

For instance, you can explore entertainment options like one of the latest 8K TVs from Samsung. Of course, you’re not going to leave this behind when it’s time to sell, but that doesn’t matter. When you sell a home, you’re also selling a lifestyle.

A piece of tech like this has the same impact as a fine piece of art. It’s going to make people want the life that you have. 

Home Look More Expensive
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3. The Right Furniture

Finally, you need to make sure that you are buying the right furniture for your property. A great piece of furniture can be nothing short of a centerpiece in any room of your home.

The best pieces of furniture and the most fashionable can be quite expensive. As such, you might want to think about waiting for the annual sales to roll around before you make changes like this. 

You could also think about using your furniture to create a theme in your home. This could be anything from a retro design to something more modern and minimal.

Alternatively, you could consider a more eclectic design style. Here, you can choose lots of different types of furniture that all fit together to form a collage of different design choices in your home. 

Home Look More Expensive

Simple Ways to Make Your Home Look More Expensive

This post should help you understand the best ways to make your home look more expensive. In doing so, you can ensure that your home sells for a fantastic price in the not too distant future. Plus, in the mean time, you can enjoy the luxurious space you have created.

Do you have any other ideas for making your home look more expensive? What was your favorite tip in this blog post? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Adulting Decor For the Home Home How To

8 Smart Home Improvement Ideas That Don’t Cost a Fortune

https://www.anniesloan.com/products/chalk-paint/

There’s nothing quite like transforming your home into a space that you love. It can take a lot of time and money, though, which is hard to find when you lead a busy life! Luckily, turning your home into a haven doesn’t have to cost a fortune with a few smart home improvement ideas.

If your home is looking a bit worn down, you may wonder what you can do with a limited budget. Thankfully, there are inexpensive alternatives, meaning you can transform your home with very little effort and spending! Take a look at these home improvement ideas that don’t cost a fortune.

home improvement ideas that don't cost a fortune
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Inexpensive Home Improvement Ideas

1. Upcycle Your Old Furniture

Over time, furniture can begin to look old and worn, but that doesn’t always mean it’s time to replace it. If your furniture still functions perfectly, consider upcycling it rather than replacing it.

Not only will you save a ton of money, but it will give you the chance to get creative. You can turn your old furniture into new things that you will get more use out of. Plus, you can give it whatever look you want, allowing for unique decor in your home.

For example, if you have a crib your child has outgrown, consider turning it into a play station. Use chalk paint, get creative, and see what you can make for your kids.

2. Touch up the Paint

Talking of paint, a quick paint touch-up will make the world of difference to your home. Touch up the walls in areas where it looks dingy, or maybe you could brighten up your coffee table.

A fresh coat of paint will give your rooms and furniture a new feel. Plus, it is one of the least expensive home improvement projects you can do.

If you’re looking to spruce up your kitchen, consider cabinet repainting to give your cabinets a fresh and sleek look. It’s the perfect solution if you can’t afford new cabinet doors and you have complete control over the color. You could also consider painting your countertops.

3. Decorate with Accessories Rather than Carpet or Wallpaper

Wallpaper and carpet can be extremely expensive, and if your current decor is just fine, consider decorating with accessories, instead. You can change up the color scheme of the room, or give it a new style. This simple trick can help you transform your home without unnecessary cost or hassle.

4. Declutter

Sometimes, decluttering your home can make a huge difference in how it looks and feels! It’s easy to collect items as time passes such as ornaments, books, magazines, and even toys for the kids.

Take time to declutter everything, and make sure everything you want to keep has its own space. You will quickly notice how much better your home looks, and you will want to keep it that way. Plus, decluttering and organizing your home may also help give you inspiration for more home improvement ideas!

5. Switch out Door and Cabinet Handles

An easy way to improve your home is to switch out the handles and knobs. You could change the door handles on your kitchen cupboards, replace door handles for regular doors, or update the door handle on your front door!

6. Switch out Light Fittings

Another quick and easy home improvement idea is to change out your light fittings and switches. Over time, they can become grubby with fingerprints and grime from your hands, so changing them will help. This small change in your home is more effective than you may realize.

7. Regrout Your Tiles

Like most things in the home, the grout between your tiles can become dirty or discolored – even with regular cleaning. Grout is very inexpensive to buy, and is extremely easy to reapply! You can watch videos online if you’re not sure how to regrout your tiles.

8. Revive Your Deck

Home improvement ideas can extend to your yard, too. If your deck has lost its vibrancy over the years, you can easily revive it with a power hose. You’ll be surprised at how much dirt and grime you could lift, leaving your deck looking brighter.

home improvement ideas

Inexpensive Home Improvement Ideas

It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to make your home improvement ideas become reality. Now that you have some inspiration, what will you do first? Leave a comment and let me know! 🙂

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Adulting For the Home Home

Have You Considered Online Conveyancing For Your New Home?

Online Conveyancing

Finding a high-quality yet low-cost conveyancing service is hard, but it is possible. You might find some with great service but ridiculously high prices. Or, you might find great prices with lacking service. Online conveyancing is an option you might consider if you haven’t already.

It is all about finding a company that blends both great service and low pricing together. You can use a conveyancing fees comparison service to get better pricing ideas, too.

Online Conveyancing
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Have you considered it?

There is no denying that conveyancing services can be inconvenient and expensive. You have to book several meetings which results in you needing time off work.

If that wasn’t enough, these meetings tend to be extremely costly. Usually, you will have to pay every time you see the solicitor, rather than benefitting from one overall cost for the entire service.

With those factors being an issue, people tend to get fed up and frustrated. Online conveyancing services can change all of that, though. This new solution could be the answer to all of your property prayers. 

Online conveyancing ticks all of the boxes. First, it is extremely convenient because everything can be handled online. This means that all you need to do is turn on your computer to benefit from all of the information.

The conveyancer will provide you with regular updates to ensure that you are never left feeling dissatisfied and unaware. Say goodbye to long journeys and the inconvenience of having to attend in-person meetings.

Aside from this, online services reduce the costs traditionally associated with this service. Most online companies will provide you with a fixed, no-obligation quotation. Make sure there are no hidden costs, of course, just like you would any other time.

Couple low fees with the fact that you no longer need the expensive face-to-face meetings, and you see how online conveyancing is the cheapest you will find.

Nevertheless, you might be concerned that you are going to suffer from a lack of quality with everything being handled online. This is definitely not the case. These solicitors are trained in online conveyancing and have plenty of experience. 

What to Look for in Online Conveyancing

Online conveyancing should cover all of the following situations:

  • property sale
  • re-mortgaging
  • property purchasing
  • transfer of equity
  • sale and purchasing

The best conveyancing companies work hard to ensure that each of their customer’s unique needs are catered to. This service should be extremely easy and effective. Most offer an online platform that ensures you are constantly up to date with everything, too.

Online Conveyancing

Online Conveyancing

Have you tried an online conveyancing service? If you have, how was your experience? If not, how was your service with in-person services? Let me know in the comments!

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Adulting Finances For the Home Home How To

3 Simple Ways To Keep Your Investment Properties Well Maintained

One of the most challenging tasks when owning investment property is keeping your properties well maintained. To do this, you need to consider every aspect of the property and make sure that it keeps functioning as it did when it was brand new.

This will allow your house’s value to be on an increment and when you need to sell, you get a return on investment nothing. Your property’s main areas that require constant maintenance are electronics, drainage, wall paint, and flooring.

Taking good care of these areas of your house will ensure the value never decreases and that you don’t lose money in the investment process. Like the care and attention to detail you embrace when trying to find suitable tenants, you will also have to keep your investment properties well maintained.

Keep Your Investment Properties Well Maintained
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How to Keep Your Investment Properties Well Maintained

Electronics

Electronics are always the first component of a property that poses issues for tenants. These electronics include your garage motors, light switches, lightbulbs, and any other electrically powered fixed fittings. It must be said that an annual electrical maintenance check-up by a local electrician can quickly resolve this. 

Plumbing 

The worst problem you may experience is plumbing. This is merely due to the purpose that plumbing fulfills. Plumbing ensures that the household remains odor-free as well as a hygienic environment for living.

When plumbing starts causing problems, a specialist should immediately be called in. To avoid getting regular emergency plumbing services, consider getting sewer drain cleaning done once per year. It will ensure your drains remain clean and that no blockages occur due to dirty plumbing systems. 

Aesthetics 

The finishings on your property are bound to be affected by ordinary wear and tear over time. It means that your tiles will crack, your wall paint will fade, and your roof may start leaking. These things are all normal and should be dealt with right away.

Your house needs to be painted every 5 – 7 years to avoid the paint fading. The roof should be checked immediately when it starts leaking, and flooring must be replaced when it’s damaged beyond repair. These sound like expensive renovations, but they’re not, as long as you deal with them immediately.

Keep Your Investment Properties Well Maintained

Regardless of what maintenance your property needs, there’s no reward in avoiding it. It will have to be done at some point, but it doesn’t need to be at great expense. There are many surprisingly inexpensive but still high quality and aesthetically pleasing means of keeping your properties well maintained.

Don’t ignore the issues and upset your tenants or let the issues get worse. If you decide to sell and have many issues, you could lose money, too. Start now and ensure that the tenants occupying your property remain happy with the living circumstances your property offers.

Keep Your Investment Properties Well Maintained

Do you have investment properties? If so, how to you work to keep your investment properties well maintained? Would you add anything to the list? Let me know in the comments!

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Adulting For the Home Home How To Life

3 Effective Ways to Make Managing Your Family Home Easier

Make Managing Your Family Home Easier, positive parenting

Despite what social media might lead you to believe, no one’s home looks pristine all of the time – especially family homes. When you’ve got children and pets traipsing through the house, things are bound to get messy and even broken sometimes. There are ways to make managing your family home easier, though.

While this is often the norm for families, it doesn’t make it any less annoying and draining. Constantly having to try and keep on top of everything can be overwhelming. If you’re struggling with it, just know you’re not alone.

While I can’t promise these tips will put an end to the mess and sense of disorder in your home, they just might make things a little bit easier. When you’re a parent, every small win counts, so why not try these and see if they save you even just five minutes a day.

Make Managing Your Family Home Easier
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How to Make Managing Your Family Home Easier

1. Fake it ‘til You Make It

What I mean by this is while it’s nice having natural grass in your garden, it’s a lot of effort. So, one thing that could make all the difference is by saving up and investing in artificial grass. It has a reputation of being hard, fake-looking, and generally a plastic nuisance, but that’s not the case anymore.

In fact, fake grass is often very realistic, super soft, and hard-wearing. Gone are the days of tackling the lawnmower every weekend, spending hours each week watering the grass, and keeping children and pets away while you apply weed killer. You also won’t have to spend 10 minutes scrubbing mud off the floor when the grass is wet.

That’s not to mention the time spent trying to get stubborn grass stains out of clothes. With fake grass, you’ll find managing your family home becomes a whole lot easier in several aspects. So, rather than wasting time cleaning up a mess and maintaining the lawn, you can spend time with those who matter the most.

2. Function Over Form

Sure, we all want a house that looks nice, but sometimes, that’s just not possible. Parents of small children will know that baby proofing can take over the house. So, instead, lots of people choose to do the essentials and leave the rest.

For example, you might have really nice glass decor that ties your living room together perfectly, and you might be reluctant to move it. Instead, you might move it only when your child is in the room and put it back in the evenings or while they’re at school. While this might still allow the house to look good, it isn’t convenient and not always foolproof.

Hot hairstyling tools could be another example, as could a side table in the hallway. Teaching your children to respect their surroundings is important, but you should also consider that children need room to play. Rather than making your house a show-home, try making it child-friendly so that it works for everyone who lives there.

Automate Everything

Make Managing Your Family Home Easier

The great thing about technology is that it can make life a lot easier, especially in the home. If you haven’t already, invest in automatic lights and heating. If you come home with shopping bags in your hands and kids running around, looking for the light switch can be a struggle. Instead, voice commanding the lights to turn on could make your life just a little bit easier.

The same goes for the heating. Rather than rushing to warm the house up when you get home, you can monitor the temperature throughout the day. You won’t need to deal with the thermostat when you get home, and your house will already be comfortable.

Make Managing Your Family Home Easier

Make Managing Your Family Home Easier

Do you think any of these three tips will work for your family? What else would you add to the list?

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Adulting Finances For the Home How To Life

4 Easy Ways to Use Less Energy For Lower Household Bills

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More of us are aware of our impact on the environment and are making changes to our homes to live a more environmentally-friendly life. To make it even more enticing, being more environmentally-friendly can save you money, too. You can use less energy to lower household bills and do your part for our environment.

save money, household bills, save money on bills, finances
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How to Lower Household Bills

1. Turn Down The Thermostat

You don’t have to be cold, but turning down the thermostat for your furnace or boiler by even a small amount makes a big difference. Lowering the heat by only one degree saves energy and money, and you won’t notice the difference. If you can, try turning it down even further as you become accustomed to a cooler temperature.

There are thermostats you can buy that allows you to schedule times for the heat to be lower, too. Then, if you aren’t home, the heat won’t be up so high.

2. Add Insulation

Proper insulation traps heat inside during the winter and helps keep the house cool during the summer. Find out what insulation is in your walls and attic and see if it could be replaced with something more efficient. 

With proper insulation, your heating and air conditioning don’t have to work as hard. Since they don’t have to work as much, it lowers the costs and could save you from calling out 24 Hour AC Repair to an overworked A/C unit. 

3. Save Water

Water waste is a serious problem, and using more water than you need will be pushing up your water bill. Saving water is easy with some small changes. These changes include avoiding the following:

  • leaving the water running when you brush your teeth
  • overfilling the bath
  • leaving the shower running when you’re not in it
  • running the water continually while shaving
  • long showers
  • running half loads of laundry

4. Block Out Drafts

Drafts make a house feel cold, so you spend more on heating. Draft excluders can help keep rooms warm. You could also hang a heavy curtain over doors to the outside to keep the heat in. 

Seal up cracks in floors, walls, or skirting boards. If you have a chimney but don’t use it, get a chimney excluder. It will help keep even more heat in the house, saving you money on household bills.

save money, household bills, save money on bills, finances

Lower Household Bills

These are just a few of the ways to lower household bills. There are many other ways, too! Can you think of any others? Let me know in the comments!