RSS
 

Funding Home Improvements With The Help Of Self Storage

18 Jan

Over the years self storage has earnt a bit of a bad reputation due to unscrupulous businesses operating using distasteful business practices.  In most cases this has involved charging unreasonable rates for storage space.  However, there have been changes to the industry in the last few years that have helped to rebuild the image of self storage facilities.  The biggest changes have focused on more reasonable pricing plans and shorter term contracts.  The outcome has been positive and increasing numbers are now turning to self storage.  One thing that you might not have considered is that self storage could actually help you make money.

Valuable room space

Most homeowners will find over the years that they accumulate a large amount of possessions that, although they don’t use or need, they want to hold on to.  Often these items have been gifts or hold great sentimental value for others reasons.  So rather than throw them away; we store them in the spare bedroom, the basement or the attic.  There they sit, collecting dust and not doing any harm, right?  Whilst they aren’t doing any harm, they are taking up valuable space that could be making you money.

Lending problems

In the current economic climate it is difficult for first time buyers to get on the property ladder.  Money lenders are more cautious about who they lend to and are asking for larger deposits on houses.  As a result there is a higher demand for rental property whilst first time buyers save enough money for a deposit on a home.  In addition many are looking to rent a room in a home rather than a full house or flat, which is of course cheaper.  This way they can save up their deposit in less time.

Read the rest of this entry »

 
No Comments

Posted in Home

 

Tips to Help You De-clutter and Brighten Up Your Space

17 Jan

Sifting through the grade school artwork, the bill receipts combined with old magazines may make your desk area look like the Great Wall of China of junk.  Don’t wait until spring to clean up your space. There are many easy tricks you can do immediately to help you get organized and brighten up your space.

Create a Summer Storage Area

Its winter, which means you are using all your puffy coats and multiple layers. Which means that those summer dresses and bathing suits do not need to fill up your closet space. Make a seasonal storage space, in your basement or attic, using canvas-covered boxes and clothing racks. This will help your storage be accessible come the new season. Make sure to use cedar blocks to keep pests away.

Take Inventory

Chances are we all have things in our closet that we don’t wear any more. The outdated cloths fill up space and make it harder to find things we do like to wear. Winter is a perfect time to take inventory and throw away or donate things you no longer use.

Add Brighter Accents

Your home can look extra dark in the winter months. As skies stay gray, the inside of our home often reflects the outside environment. Change up the inside by adding bright accents of colors. Swap out old picture frames with white frames.  Consider getting your entire family involved. You can host a weekly art show. Ask your children to pick their favorite artwork, and replace the photos with their originals. The children will love their art on display and the bright colors will brighten up the once dull space.

Read the rest of this entry »

 
No Comments

Posted in Home

 

Which Wood Burning Stove Bigger or Smaller

16 Jan

If you are purchasing a wood burning stove its not only a question of aesthetics and whether your new stove will fit into the space or spaces you have allocated but also its overall efficiency when it comes to wood burning.  Sure new stoves are high tech, green and overall a lot more efficient and effective when it compared to older models and technologies.  Yet if the stove has had a good amount of use or been abused in its short life – even if relatively new – it may not be all that efficient at heat production and fuel utilizations. Yet to begin with what size and output of wood stove is best – bigger or smaller?  Which is the best and wisest choice overall?

Condition of Stove if Used Counts:

Overall it can be said by experienced heating and ventilation mechanics and by trades people involved in the home heat trades that the overall performance of any  stove or burning unit will  be a great measure overall of how long a length it was used previously and how it was installed and treated. If it was professionally installed and maintained that is a good sign to begin with.

A Proper Sized Wood Stove is One That is Burning at Close to Max Efficiency:

At Close to yet under average conditions a stove will perform and work best when it is burning at nearly full capacity.  Many people – initiated in wood burning heating devices might feel that a partially empty stove not pushed to its limit with wood will give the best and most heat overall.  This is just not so.   If a poor choice of a size of a unit was made – perhaps thinking it was the best economy or perhaps the store was “blowing out” that unit at a hefty price reduction.  Yet this bargain stove, that was too large and big for its surroundings, was most likely fired at low settings. With these lower heating settings, most likely dangerous creosote added up in the pipes.  Low heats meant that this flammable and dangerous cresol never “burned off” and was left as residue in the stove itself.  Perhaps if this stove was installed in a rated setting the heat generated would bring the stove back to a safe condition.  Yet overall two things stand of note:

Read the rest of this entry »

 
 

Fresh Home Decorating Ideas

15 Jan

The New Year is here, which brings many types of change. We welcome the new and throw out the old. Along with making new resolutions, reorganizing the home is at the top of many to do lists.  There are many lifestyle home trends sweeping the New Year. Dress up your home in these sheik 2012 ideas.

Lighten Up

Adding more natural light to your home environment will help you feel happier. Adding more light will open up the space and encourage guests to linger longer. Your family will enjoy the open energy that flows through out the home.  For the artificial light, experts suggest using a dimmer or low light. It is a great way to persevere electricity and add more mood lighting to your space.

Slide The Door

Sliding doors are making a big come back. Urban lofts and trend setting office spaces have paved the way for these oversized doors to be cool yet again. The sliding door has gotten a giant makeover in recent years. Barn doors turn into closet doors and giant garage doors make hip basement spaces fun again. Many art galleries are hip to this trend, which can help add more flair to your tired space.

Tone it Down

Espresso wood covered floors have been leading the pack for the past few years. But move over dark wood, a new types in town. Lighter two tone woods, like driftwood is more popular this year. The lighter wood has a cozy beach feel which invites conversation.

Orange It Up

Pantone Color King announced the 2012 color of Orange. Out with the grey blues, what the world needs now, is a jolt of energy. Tangerine Tango, is a reddish-orange hue that spices up any situation. Add dashes of it to your couch with bright pillows revise your curtains or bring in orange flair to the dinning room with cloth napkins. Your living space will be hip with orange splashed all over.

Read the rest of this entry »

 
No Comments

Posted in Home

 

Saving On Heating Costs With An Insulation Board

14 Jan

Winter can be brutal, on your skin, your nerves, and your wallet.  Winter heating costs are commonly reported as some of the largest drains on a family’s budget, with many households spending $350 or more per month just on their gas bills.  When you factor in the other winter-related expenses like extra petrol to warm up vehicles before driving them, salt or other compounds to melt ice, and higher electricity bills for space heaters, it becomes apparent just how expensive winter can be.  When it comes to heating bills, there are a few things that you can do to make your house much more heat efficient.

Before getting into the specifics, I would like to mention a very versatile tool that is great to have in every home – an oscillating multi tool.  This is a light, compact power tool with interchangeable blades that can be used for a vast array of projects.  Most of the major power tool manufacturers have their own lines of multi tools: Rockwell multi tool, Dremel oscillating tools, Bosch Multi Cutter, Versa Tool, and the Fien line of tools just to name a few.  They have blades to cut through just about anything, including plywood, insulation board, fiberglass, plastic, wood, drywall, sheet metal, carpet, cardboard, and many other substances.  You can get blades for scraping dried paint or concrete, grinding metal, polishing iron, removing tile grout, and many other thankless chores.  I have not encountered a brand yet that didn’t offer great tools and blades.  It’s worth investing in one for any number of projects, including the cutting of heating costs.

One tip that I got from a buddy who is a heating and cooling specialist is to cover up your central air conditioning unit (if you have one) during the winter time.  Cold air can blow right into that thing, and right into the cooling vents of your house.  This can be done in a number of ways.  You can use a tarp to block the wind, but you still may want to lay something over the tarp.  Old carpet tends to work well for this, and just about any of the Fein blades, Sonicrafter blades, Bosch multi tool blades, or other cutting blades will trim carpet easily and precisely.  Also be sure to seal cooling vents throughout the house, and seal up heating vents that are not needed.  When you seal up unneeded heating vents, it adds to the pressure and hot air flow to the rooms where you do want heat.

Read the rest of this entry »

 
No Comments

Posted in Home

 
Page 7 of 41« First...56789102030...Last »