We know we’re still in October, but when it comes to preparing our house for the winter, it is never too soon! We’ve seen before how the cold temperatures can cause damages to our homes and how we can prevent them, – and save some money along the way – remember?
Today, we are going to talk about a very important ally in wintertime: the heater!
In order to make it last the entire winter, we’ve prepared a list with everything you must look for, especially if you suspect your heating system may need some tending to! To make sure your heater is in good working condition, here’s what you must do:
Check the pilot light – seems obvious, but think about it: if the light isn’t working properly, then you can expect more system flaws!
Give your heating system a visual inspection – make sure it looks intact and there are no signs of visual damages!
Give your heater a good cleaning – again, obvious, but you must get it clear of dust and debris!
Inspect the ducts – check-up for leaks that may keep your heater from operating!
Trial run – after you’ve done all the steps above, it’s time for the truth: give your heating system a trial run. Turn on the furnace and let it run for 5 to 10 minutes, and check to make sure you feel the heat emitting from the system!
See, no mystery there! Not only your home will be warm and cozy for the winter, but also, you’ll be protecting the investment you’ve made in your heating system! Now you’re all set for winter!
Since the pandemic has changed the dynamics of the world, and has kept us more at home and even working from home, updating our house is refreshing to our mental health and an opportunity to make our family more comfortable.
We’re now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, at least in the United States, where places are starting to reopen this summer. This is a perfect time to have people over, make barbecue, host small gatherings, and having our homes prepared for all these pleasant moments is a very smart decision.
Keep it organized
Separate spaces for activities when you are at home most of the time is very important. Our tip here is to have space to work and leave this place only for this, your mind will understand that you have a schedule and you won’t feel overwhelmed.
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Second, you should have designated spaces for the other activities as well, like eating just in the kitchen, leaving the living room to hang out, or watch tv. This way, the family will associate relaxation with this area, and bedrooms are where we sleep, read some books, and just rest.
Third, keeping the house clean and neat will always maintain a positive mood and help you create a calm environment. Mess makes everybody stressed, so organizing the spaces will give you the sensation of relief.
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Colors
One of the easiest ways to change the vibe of your home without spending a lot is by painting some walls. Renewing the color of your house, for sure, will give you that new sensation, but if you’re not committed to painting walls, you can add color in decoration. Adding some colorful pillows or rugs, changing the curtains, or adding some artwork will bring an aesthetic touch to your home.
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How you can see in this picture, the colors can be discreet and elegant.
Add plants
Bringing the outside world into your home, plants are going to give life to your home and oxygen to the environment. More than that, taking care of plants in your home will be a fun activity and will not require so much time. To get more information, read our article Plants to Decorate Your Rental Home.
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Disconnect from the digital
More than ever, we are on our computers, phones, and online devices all the time. Therefore, having digital detox is essential to keep our minds on track and so that we aren’t compulsively checking what is happening online every free moment of the day. To do the digital detox, set times to not have your devices around, such as during dinner, or at bedtime, leave them outside the room. This will make a huge difference in your daily life!
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Invigorate with fragrances
Fragrances are really powerful tools to change the atmosphere, including your home. Adding some scents in specific spaces, you can create a mood for each part of your home. To do that, you can use liquid scents, candles, or incense.
After all these tips, your home will be refreshed and invigorated, and all your family will enjoy the new environment and dynamic you’re setting. However, if all these updates are not enough, maybe it’s time to move on, to move out, or better, to move into a new place. To help start your search, read our article Creating a list to find a new house.
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After all these tips, your home will be refreshed and invigorated, and all your family will enjoy the new environment and dynamic you’re setting. However, if all these updates are not enough, maybe it’s time to move on, to move out, or better, to move into a new place. To help start your search, read our article Creating a list to find a new house.
Looking for a new apartment or house is very exciting, whether you’re a young adult looking for your first house or if you’re a seasoned renter. The feeling of going to a new place and into a new phase of life is quite thrilling. However, the rental process is not easy and sometimes not so enjoyable. When these times happen, you should be careful when choosing what you want and follow these steps to make the process go smoothly.
1.Evaluate the neighborhood
Moving to a new neighborhood is very cool, especially if it is a place you’ve been looking for for a long time. However, in this step, it is very important to go to the area on different days of the week and times of the day. This way, you will see how the neighborhood is on many occasions. Do you feel safe? Is the place quiet? Does the neighborhood have everything you need? These are a few questions that you should consider before moving.
2. Inspect the property
This is one of the most important steps. You have to inspect the house you’re looking at if you want to avoid problems. Many houses look great at first, but our advice here is to hire a professional to inspect the place for you. However, just do it if you are deciding to buy the property, because it’s not necessary to inspect houses or apartments that you’re not interested in. If you want more information about hidden costs, check our post “Plan for Hidden Costs When You Buy a Home”
3.Reading the lease
We all know that lease contracts are long and difficult to understand. However, this document contains all the information about the rental, so reading it all very carefully is important to avoid misunderstandings. Take your time reading it, and if you think it is necessary, ask the owner or a legal professional the questions you have.
4.Renter’s insurance
Insurance is not just for homeowners! If you’re renting a house or apartment, it is crucial to get insurance, because if something happens to your personal belongings, replacing them will be covered. Usually, this type of insurance is pretty affordable, and it is better to be safe than sorry.
With all these steps, your decision-making process will be easier. We know renting is simpler than buying a house, but it’s still a big decision. Following these steps will ensure that you make the best decision for your new home.
Making a list of what you want and what you need is not always an easy process when it comes to finding a new home. Don’t fret, we are going to help you figure out what is really important to put on the list, with some questions you should ask yourself before starting the search for your new house. Having a complete list and questions answered will keep you on track when you finally start looking.
What type of building do you want?
First of all, you have to decide what type of home you want. What is your ideal home? A single-family house, an apartment building, or a duplex. It’s important to think about what better fits your budget, lifestyle, and for sure, assess the problems you might have in which type of house, like noisy neighbors.
Which neighborhood do you want to live in?
Consider the type of home you want — lifestyle, your job, public transportation and traffic, stores and pharmacies nearby — all this is going to count when you move. If you prefer an area with restaurants and bars or a family-friendly area, or if you want a practical life, every aspect should be taken into account. Make sure you’re happy with the place you’re choosing before moving.
What kind of natural light do you prefer?
Are you a morning person or a night person? Here, you should think about if you want the sun rising in your bedroom or if you prefer the sunset. Or do you want the morning sun in the kitchen and sunset in the front yard? Do you like giant windows or not? Remember, the sun can change our mood, so be aware of what kind of natural light you will have in your home.
Do you want to have an outdoor space?
Outdoor spaces come with an extra cost in many cities, but if you can afford that, what type do you want? Do you need a backyard for your whole family and pet or is just a paved space for plants enough? Evaluate what fits best for you and your family.
Answering all these questions will make it easier to start your search for the perfect home. You will see that checking off the items on your list will clarify what you need and what matches your preferences, which will lead you to the home that you desire!
Nowadays, working from home has been more common than ever, the pandemic of Covid-19 accelerated what could have taken some years to happen. Many companies have been adapting to the new way to work, the employees as well. However, like everything in life, working from home has its pros and cons, and a lot of people have said that they have been living in their work anyway and didn’t have another option for that. So, to make this less damaging to family life, we’ll show you some reasons why separating a space in your house to make your home office is a good idea.
Increase value to your house
Setting up a home office can increase the value of your property. Due to the number of people working from home currently, this type of house has been a trend on the market, thus, many people are looking for a place that already has a home office. However, it is important to not set up your office in a sunroom or a special space in the house because that can devalue it.
Creating a work atmosphere
Having a separate room to work, even though you are at home, will give you the sensation of going to work. This is helpful for your mind and ability to concentrate, you’ll know how to organize yourself to start and finish the work. The best part is when you close the door, you leave your office, so it’s time to relax!
Boundaries with your family
One of the major issues that people have when working from home is that the family can’t understand really well when you are working or not. Having a specific place to work at home will help your family to understand that you are at home, but you’re working and need to focus. So, if you’re inside of your home office, that means you’re busy.
After all, these advantages will make you prioritize setting up a proper home office. When you see the positives far outweighing the negatives, you will be very grateful to have your own place to work.
Buying a house can be very exciting and at the same time terrifying. A big life decision always gives us butterflies. Many questions come to our mind: CanI find the perfect location? Does the house fit in my budget? Or even if my life changes, will this place fit a big family? We are going to give you some tips to help you realize when you have found the perfect house.
To start the decision-making process, you have to get a calculator and look at your budget — that is the most important part. You should look inside your life and check what you can afford, your lifestyle, and the stability you have. Then, when choosing the house, pay attention not just at the listing price, but the house characteristics as well.
For example, if the house has a pool or guest house, or if it is a house with vaulted ceilings, it will take longer to heat. All this has to be considered as well, since their costs add up to maintain the house.
Lifestyle is important to think about, whether you want to live in the city or in the suburbs. Also consider, if you want to have a garden, backyard, guest room for your loved ones, if you want to have pets, or how many kids you have or will have. If you stay at home during the day or more at night, think about if you want a giant window with a view or a beautiful view of the space inside the house. Our tip here is to write down a list and see what fits best in your current life.
While you are visiting the houses, pay attention to your feelings. This may sound like guru advice, but it’s really essential. The feelings you have inside the house are very important, so if you feel happy, calm, warm, and relaxed, maybe this is the house for you. However, if you feel stressed, agitated, or anxious this place definitely isn’t for you. So, make sure you are going to choose a house you feel your best in.
When you finally make the decision and find a house you love, should you make an offer? If you follow all our steps, have the items checked off on your list, and know it is your dream house, the answer is yes, just do it!
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