Category: Home & Family

Whether you’re looking for your first place or shopping around for furnished apartments, your home should feel like exactly what it is — your home! If you need ideas on how to make the place feel more incredible, here are some fun ways to add pizzazz to your apartment.

Try an Accent Wall

Since most apartments do not allow for painting, why not try some removable wallpaper on a single wall to create a bold accent? You can find nearly and color or pattern available online and in home improvement stores. If you’d prefer not to use temporary wallpaper, try using framed pictures, paintings, tapestries, clocks and other cool knick knacks on a single wall to create a super eye-catching accent.

Use a Few Bathroom Hacks

There are a lot of ways to take a simple bathroom to the next level, all on a budget! For example, adding a curved shower rod and using two identical shower curtains (or splitting a large one in half lengthwise) can make your tub feel positively elegant. Like temporary wallpaper, you can find peel-and-stick false stone and tiles to jazz up the side of the tub as well. Don’t forget to upgrade the toilet with a nicer seat, and never underestimate the power of decorative towels and a framed mirror.

Fix Up the Kitchen

An easy way to immediately spruce up any kitchen is to include plenty of greenery; whether you spring for a live potted herb garden in the windowsill or load up the tops of your cabinetry with fake flowers and draping plastic vines, plants add vigor and nature to any space. You can give your cabinets and refrigerator a simple facelift with a bit of temporary wallpaper (trimmed to size), or you can remove a few cabinet doors for a fun exposed effect in certain spots.

Try a DIY Home Theater

Ever wanted a theater in your living room? With a projector and a blank white wall, you’re nearly good to go! For a bit of added immersion, set up a mini bar complete with a novelty popcorn machine and display some of your favorite movie posters in nice frames. If you’ve got a slightly more liberal budget, go for an upgraded sound system or at least a decent soundbar.

No matter where you live, your place should feel like home. Upgrade your place with some of these fun hacks today!

If you’re a new pet owner, or simply an owner looking for some change in your pet’s diet, then you know that there are many options to consider when choosing which pet food to buy for your furry family member.

Pet Food Packaging

It may not seem important at first glance, but the packaging of your pet’s food is actually very important. Consider how package concepts and materials may affect your pet. After all, you want to make sure that you purchase pet food that comes in packaging that’s safe for your cat or dog to eat from. The last thing you’d want is for your pet to get physically injured while eating from an unsafe container, or for dangerous chemicals to leach into your pet’s food while it’s stored in a container made from the wrong materials. You can avoid any pain or heartache for both you and your lovable pet by doing a little research and making sure you choose pet food that comes in appropriate packaging for your pet.

Pet Food Ingredients

This is pretty obvious, but make sure to look at the ingredients list of any food you consider purchasing for your dog or cat. Not all pet foods are equal! Some are made with cheap ingredients, which may either provide little nutritious benefits or a lot. Others are made with high-quality ingredients, that may provide a lot of nutritious benefits, or very little. It’s important to do your research about what kinds of ingredients should be in your specific pet’s food so that you know the difference and can make the best decision.

Pet Food Prices

There are pet food options available to meet all budgetary constraints. Your pet can still eat a nutritious diet without costing you an arm and a leg. If you’re diligent and do your research right, you can find food that is both nutritious and affordable for your furry friend, like those which are made from cheap ingredients but would still provide many dietary benefits to your pet. If you want your pet to eat a nutritious diet and high-quality ingredients, and have the necessary budget to match, there are plenty of options available for you as well.

When picking out the best food for your pet, make sure to consider the packaging it comes in, the ingredients it’s made of, and the price it’s sold at in order to make the best choice.

Part of home maintenance is checking on the state of the foundation, a factor that may be easily neglected at times. Not always easily visible or understand, the foundation, just like any other house element, may take on some wear and tear over the years. This state could prove dangerous, weakening a structure that is pivotal to the residence’s safety. To avoid major hazards, homeowners may be proactive in foundation care, completing the following steps for additional security.

1. Install Gutters

Water is a contributing factor to foundation concerns. As moisture gathers in puddles around a home, soil shifts to other locations. This change in ground level alters the foundation’s base. Too much movement could mean that the concrete lacks support. When that occurs, it could cave in or gather cracks. Both of these are troubling in that they could lead to support issues or internal water exposure.

Locate a drainage expert drainage by researching Knox engineer Tulsa online. Once a professional is located, request an evaluation of the home’s eaves, and request a design for gutters. These tubes move the rainwater away from the house properly to avoid fluid buildup and soil loss.

2. Regularly Assess Your Foliage

Your landscaping impacts your foundation’s state. On the one hand, shrubbery assists in maintaining soil levels as the roots keep plants firmly in the ground and absorb moisture that could interfere with the home’s exterior. Do not plant things too close to the building, though, because the roots could grow into the structure. Trees pose a particularly troubling problem in this regard. Check on them often, trimming them as needed.

3. Install a Sump Pump

Owners with basements are likely to find water development sometimes. Be sure to clean up the moisture as soon as possible. Lingering moisture permits rot and mold growth. Another way to contain that dampness is to discuss adding a sump pump to the room. This device is located below the basement and detects when the area has too much water. It then drains the space, bringing the fluid away from the house. By decreasing wetness, the ground is more likely to remain intact and suffer from fewer changes.

Be aware of factors that affect your home’s foundation. While concrete is strong and hardy, it can weaken over time. To protect it as best as possible, minimize water exposure. Gutters, sump pumps and foliage are three things that could help.

Getting a divorce can be a long and painful process, both emotionally and mentally. As you reach the end of it, there are a few financial aspects you need to know to help you prepare to enter the next chapter in your life. Follow this guide for a quick look at three different payments you may need to prepare for after finalizing your divorce. 

1. Alimony

Depending on if you were the financial provider, you may be responsible for your ex-spouse’s financial care in the form of alimony. Simply put, alimony is money that one party provides to the other to ensure financial stability following a divorce. There are a variety of types that affect what you send. If you find yourself asking what is durational alimony or lump-sum alimony, focus on the financial liability and its duration, as this helps determine the type. When it comes to alimony, you must have a clear idea of how much to pay, when you need to pay until and what factors may change the agreement. 

2. Child Support

Going through a divorce with children is already a tricky process. Along with dealing with the emotional upheaval to figuring out who lives where and when, adding finances to the mix can make things more complicated. Typically, judges rule that the father is responsible for any payments. Although, this decision can change depending on the financial situation of the household. Understanding how judges decide can help you get a clearer idea of what amount is required for financial support to ensure your child(ren) maintain their quality of life post-divorce. As you finalize your divorce, check what expenses are included in these payments, such as educational or extracurricular.    

3. Taxes

As Benjamin Franklin so eloquently put it, “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Divorce is no different. Once your divorce is finalized, your tax situation changes. How you file, your deductibles and even alimony payments are part of your post-divorce tax status. As you prepare to file, if you pulled any money from your ex’s retirement plan, check if you qualify for the IRC Section 72. Divorce means that you may have new penalties and new relief available. If you do have children, be sure to clarify who can claim the children as dependents as this will affect what you owe. 

Divorce is hard enough. Take the financial stress out of the equation and get prepared in advance. You will get through this.

You’ve probably heard about damage from termites, but is it real or hyped-up? Unfortunately, certain kinds of termites do billions of dollars of damage to homes each year. If that’s not enough to frighten you, termites can also ruin painted walls and create buckling in ceilings and floors. Termites are something you shouldn’t handle on your own, so here are several reasons it’s smart to have an inspection.

Early Detection

They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and that’s why a termite inspection Fort Myers FL is such a good idea. Detecting the presence of termites early can save you thousands of dollars in repairs. By the time you end up seeing a termite flying through your house it’s too late. If you live in an area that has termites, locating them early before they create structural damage is key.

Experienced Techs

Looking for termites is much more than looking under floorboards, so you need an experienced tech. They’ll inspect your home both inside and out hunting for wings, tunnels and termite-damaged wood. This includes a home’s walls, windows, cabinets and crawl spaces. Outside, they’ll look at fences and woodpiles. Before an inspection, make sure the tech has access to all areas of your home including the attic and garage.

Customized Treatment

Dealing with a termite infestation is different for every home. Factors such as type of termites, the extent of the problem and the material that your house is made of will be explored when you have an inspection. While some homes only require a small, localized treatment, others may need a complete encapsulation. Depending on your situation, more than one method may be used. You should always have follow-up inspections every year following extermination.

Financially-Smart

Having a termite inspection will save you a ton of money over what it would cost to repair extensive damage. If your area is prone to termites, it’s a good idea to take preventative measures such as an annual inspection. It’s important to note that just because you haven’t seen a termite, that doesn’t mean they’re not hard at work where you can’t see them. Catching them early will save you money and aggravation.

If you live in an area where termites are common, damage to your home is a very real threat. Having an inspection will allow you to find the problem soon, get customized treatment and save money.

The typical homeowner has lots of things to take care of in their home throughout the day. Because there can be so many things to deal with on a continual basis, many may overlook getting regular maintenance for their HVAC unit. While this is understandable, the reality is that there are many benefits to getting regular checks and replacing HVAC air filters Richmond for your unit. 

It Can Help Lengthen the Lifespan of Your Unit

One of the top benefits of getting regular maintenance checks for your HVAC unit is that it can help lengthen the lifespan of your unit overall. When you don’t get your unit checked, small issues can drag down the efficiency of your unit, and put unnecessary stress on it. The more stress that is put on your unit and its motor, the shorter its lifespan is likely to be. By making sure that you are getting regular maintenance done as well as preventative checks, you can help ensure that your unit is functioning well for years to come. 

It Can Save You Money On Repairs

Another benefit of getting regular maintenance is that it can help you save money on repairs. When you get your unit checked out, they can do preventative maintenance and catch small issues before they turn into large ones. This means that the issues will be easier to fix, and that they will likely cost less. Beyond that, you will also be less likely to experience a major breakdown at an inconvenient time, like when the weather is particularly hot or cold. 

It Can Save You Money On Bills

Yet another reason to get regular maintenance for your HVAC unit is that it can potentially help save you money on your energy bills. When there is a lot of stress on your unit, it tends to work harder. This kind of overworking not only puts more stress on the unit and creates more potential for damage and breakdowns, but it can also drive up your energy bills as well. While you might not see major savings right away, over time a well-functioning unit can save you a significant amount on your energy bills, and give you peace of mind as well. 

The average homeowner has a lot to think about on a daily basis. Because of this, it isn’t a surprise that many forget about getting maintenance for their HVAC units. However, there can be many benefits to doing so, from having your unit for a longer period of time to saving money on energy bills.