Archives for October 2015

When you start a family, there are a lot of big steps you’ll have to take. One of those is finding the perfect family home for you to live in. So, in this guide I’ll take you through all the costs of owning a home:

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The Home Itself

Obviously, the biggest cost will be the home itself. It’s always important that you shop around for the best-priced family home. At the end of the day, it will always be expensive, no matter how ‘cheap’ it is. It may be cheap, relative to the housing market. But, in general terms, a cheap house is still the most expensive thing you’ll buy. My advice is to make sure your family are financially ready to take the plunge and buy a house. You don’t want to end up struggling for the rest of your life.

Utility Bills

Another thing you’ll have to spend money on are your utilities. People will pay their water, gas, electricity and telephone bills. Each one of these will have to be paid once a month. The payment dates for each may be different, it depends on how you’ve got everything set up. It makes a load of sense to set up a direct debit, to ensure you pay things on time. You don’t want to end up missing payments and having a backlog of bills to pay.

Property Tax

When you purchase a home, you’re also required to pay property tax. The bad thing is, it’s more money out of your bank account. The good thing is, it’s only paid once a year. It’s important you try and pay property tax as soon as you get your tax bill. If you end up leaving it too late, you could miss the payment date. What happens when you don’t pay your property taxes? Bad things, that’s what. Reliance Tax Loans claim that your taxing authority could give you penalties that are worth as much as 44% of your overall tax bill. Also, they may take legal action against your home as a way of repayment. To put it simply, they may repossess your house. Don’t let this happen, always make sure your finances are in good shape so you can pay property taxes.

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Things For The Interior

After you’ve bought your home, you’ll want it to have stuff in. If this isn’t your first home, you may be able to move stuff from your old home. But, if it’s your first family home, you’ll need things for it. I’m talking about furniture for every room, sofas, chairs, beds. Then there’re all the towels and bedsheets you’ll need. Not to mention kitchen appliances, like a fridge, kettle and microwave. And, of course, any electrical appliances that you’ll have around the home. You’ll buy these things as you move into the house, and they’ll stay with you for years. There may be times where you buy newer versions of appliances, or a new sofa/bed. But, they’re not going to be a regular cost every month or year. However, they’re still a big part of the costs of buying a home. If you buy a house, you’ll need to purchase these things as well.

 

Is your bathroom looking a little worse for wear? Could it do with an upgrade, but splashing out on a fancy makeover just isn’t affordable right now? The good news is that to update your bathroom; you don’t have to break the bank. (Yes, really!)

When it comes to bathroom decor, it’s important to realize that updates don’t have to be expensive. There are plenty of things you can do to give your bathroom a new lease of life, without spending the big bucks. From re-doing old features to swapping the fittings and fixtures.

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If you want to give your family bathroom a fresh look, check out these simple ideas:

Deep clean

First things first, deep clean your bathroom. You would be amazed at how much grime builds up, especially around the tiles. So before you do anything else, give your bathroom a good deep clean. This will allow you to see what areas need work, and which ones just needed a good clean.

If, for example, the silicon seals around your bath, sink and shower have started to go black, you might think that they need replacing. However, that isn’t necessarily the case. To get rid of those nasty stains, mix bleach and bicarbonate of soda together, rub into the seals and scrub with an old toothbrush. You may need to repeat this a couple of times, but this concoction should get rid of those nasty marks.

Repaint

Painting your bathroom is one of the cheapest ways to give it a fresh look and feel. Well, as long as you are willing to do the work yourself, that is. While painting can be hard work, hiring a contractor to do it for you, can be incredibly expensive.

To ensure that the paint doesn’t bubble or peel, make sure to opt for specialist bathroom paint. Bathrooms contain a lot of moisture, which means that normal paint can end up bubbling or peeling. That’s why, when it comes to repainting, it’s crucial that you use a bathroom-safe paint.

Update the fixtures

The next step is to update the fixtures. Things like the lights, faucets, shower head, and towel rail, are all simple and affordable to replace. These things may seem insignificant to your bathroom’s design, but replacing them can make a big difference to the look of the space.

When it comes to replacing the faucets and shower head, make sure to opt for styles that match the rest of the room. It’s also important to choose a shower head and faucets that offer a high level of pressure – there’s nothing worse than a shower with no power. To find the perfect showerhead, check out the best shower heads for high pressure, here.

For ideas for fixture updates, have a look on Pinterest – you can find some fantastic inspiration on here. You might not be able to spend a lot, but that doesn’t mean that you can make your bathroom look good.

Have your bath and shower relined

If your bath or shower is looking a little worse for wear, you might think that the only option is to buy a new one. However, that’s not the case. Instead, you can have them relined. It will still cost you, but having your bath or shower relined is much cheaper than buying a replacement.

The good news is that you can reline your bathroom’s features yourself. However, to ensure that the finish looks as good as possible, it’s best to go down the professional route.

Many of us make the mistake of thinking that updating our bathroom will be incredibly expensive, but that’s not true. If you are willing to put in the effort, you can redesign your family bathroom for a modest price.

Are you looking for new ways to improve your home and add some extra value to it at the same time? Well, here are 8 amazing changes that you should consider making.

1. Smarten Up the Exterior

The curb appeal of your home is just as important as the inside, so you should make sure you smarten it up as much as you can. There are plenty of affordable changes you could make to the home’s exterior, so it’s definitely a good way to add extra value to your home without spending a lot.

First of all, you should think about adding a new lick of paint to the home if the old paint is starting to flake and peel away. This will instantly make the home look fresher and brighter from the curb. You could also clean up the front garden and add some flowers and plants around the outside of the home.

2. Upgrade the Flooring

If you have bad flooring in your home, you could be limiting the amount of money your home is worth. So, it could be a great idea to upgrade your flooring. Before you do this, you should lift up your carpet and see what’s underneath. You might be lucky enough to discover that there are some great wooden floorboards under there.

If not, you should think about investing in some great hardwood floor panels. The best types of wood, in my opinion, are oak and black walnut. These look incredibly classy, and they’re very durable as well. Wood floors appeal to pretty much everyone, especially when the wood is of a good quality.

3. Open Up the Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house, so making improvements to it is a great idea. One of the best types of kitchen improvement you can make is opening up the space you have in your kitchen. You need to make it feel as large and spacious as you possibly can.

But how can you do that? First of all, you should get rid of any obstacles that break up the space between the kitchen and the dining area. It’s pretty old-fashioned to have a separate kitchen and dining room. Knocking through the wall is difficult though, so you should leave this to a professional.

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4. Convert the Attic

What do you do with your attic? I bet the answer to that question is nothing. Most of us either do nothing with our attics, or we use them to store old cardboard boxes filled with junk or old photo albums. But there’s so much more you could do with your attic than simply using it as a storage space.

If you ask me, you should convert your attic into a useful space. It could be turned into a bedroom. And we all know how much extra cash can be added to the value of your home by adding another bedroom to your home. In the long-term, it will definitely be worth the investment you make to get the work done.

5. Fit Better Windows

The windows in the home are very important. And when people are buying a home, they always take into consideration the condition and the quality of the windows. If the windows are old and damaged, then this affects the amount of money someone will be willing to pay for your home. This is because they will know that they’ll have to replace the windows when they move in.

So, it makes sense to upgrade the windows while you can. This will also make financial sense for you. The latest double-glazed windows will help to keep the heat in your home. So, they act as a layer of insulation, saving you money on your heating bills in the process. That’s why it’s a great idea to make the upgrade.

6. Building a Sunroom

Adding a new room to the house is a great way of adding extra value to your home. And if you want to add an extra room, you should definitely make it a sunroom. These are a form of extension that allows sunlight to flood into the room. This makes them perfect for relaxing in when the sun is out.

It’s a big investment to make, but it will add a lot of value to your home. Browse the internet to get some sunroom ideas, and then find a team of builders who will be able to turn your plans into a reality. Then when it’s done, you will be able to make the most of it safe in the knowledge that you’ve added value to the property.

7. Add an En-Suite

En-suites are perfect ways to add a little extra something to the home without spending a huge amount of money. It’s relatively cheap to put up a small structure in the bedroom to create an en-suite bathroom. This won’t necessarily be the best solutions for all the homes though. You need to have the right kind of bedroom.

First of all, you need to think about the size and shape of the bedroom, and how well-suited it is to housing an en-suite bathroom. If the bedroom is relatively small or an awkward shape, it might not be a great idea to add an en-suite bathroom, so think very carefully before you come to your decision.

8. Make Key Changes to the Garden

This is something that a lot of people forget about. But, if you ask me, the garden is as important as the inside of the home is. The garden is where we spend a lot of our time during the summer months. At least we do if the weather is good, and the sun makes a few appearances. So, it needs to look good and have some great features.

For example, your garden should be well organised and clearly defined. You don’t want it to be messy or boring. So, clean it up, and get the lawn in good shape. Then your attention should turn to the flowerbeds. It’s also essential to make a space where you can sit and relax with a big garden table.

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It may just be a pipe dream for many of us, but more and more people are choosing to up sticks and move to sunnier climates. Perhaps it’s out of a sense of boredom, or just the desire to experience change. Whatever the reason, living in a foreign country is often a fantasy. And it’s just not the overworked retirees that are living out their dreams.

However, there are certain considerations that need to be made before you make any impulsive decisions. With different lands come different laws, and you don’t want to be caught out by blissful ignorance. An unfortunate reality is that, in some countries, standards and practices are not as strict. You don’t want to hand over your life savings before realising that your new home is untenable, do you?

Here are the things you need to consider before you begin your quest to find a new home in a foreign country:

1. Spend Time In The Area

It should go without saying, but you should already have good experiences in the area you’re looking to buy in. And I don’t mean spending a week or two on holiday there. You should look to spend a few months over there, where possible, to get a feel for the good, the people and the culture. Try to avoid living like a tourist. Your goal should be to try and get an authentic feeling for what life will be like living there permanently.

2. Shop Around

A lot of estate agents in foreign countries are deliberately targeted at English speaking natives. They know that enticing them to live in their country could be very lucrative indeed. Avoid falling in love with the first place you find. If possible, seek the advice of someone that has already moved to the area. Their experiences (both good and bad) could save you a lot of time and headaches in the long run.

3. Hire An Independent Surveyor

Depending on the location, you may find that inspection laws aren’t as transparent as you might hope for. Hiring an impartial third party to thoroughly inspect any property you are interested in is a bare minimum requirement. As horrible as it sounds, don’t place your trust in anybody that may be looking to benefit from your naivety.

4. Understand Transfer Laws

When you send money abroad, you can be liable for all kinds of processing fees and taxes. Brush up on your knowledge of the law, so that you can avoid getting caught out by any unexpected costs. You should also be wary about granting access to your bank details to outside sources. You may find yourself the victim of fraud if you aren’t careful.

5. Watch Out For Red Flags

Human judgment is, without a doubt, our greatest asset. Listen to your instincts, and walk away from any deal that goes against your gut feeling. Chances are, there’s a reason you don’t feel completely comfortable. That said, living abroad can be one of the most fulfilling experiences you can imagine. So, try not to be too put off by the potential pitfalls.

 

When the temperature starts to drop, the last thing you want is to be freezing when you’re at home. Some people might be out and about the majority of the time, but others work from home or are stay at home parents. If you have to spend all day in the house, you don’t want to be cold all the time. But you can’t always afford to have the heating on 24/7 either. Even if you’re only home for a few hours each day, you don’t want to pay for energy from the moment you get home to when you leave for work. Luckily, there are other solutions so that winter doesn’t empty your bank account.

Joseph Stevenson

Put on Some Extra Layers

Are you about to go and turn up your thermostat? Before you do, take a look at what you’re wearing. If you’re in a t-shirt and shorts, you don’t need to increase the temperature in your home. You need to put a sweater on and change into some pants. If you want to save money on your heating costs, don’t rush to turn it on as soon as it gets a little cold. Warm yourself up first, before you start heating the whole house. Depending on how determined you are to keep the heating off for as long as possible, you could go further. Put on a bathrobe, wrap yourself in a blanket, wear your slippers or get out a woolly hat to keep yourself warm.

Redecorate

You might be surprised to learn that redecorating your home could make it feel much warmer. If it’s currently full of cold colors and smooth surfaces, it could have a colder atmosphere. Focusing on warm shades and introducing some fabrics could make a significant difference. For example, you could use dark blues, greens or browns to make a room feel cozy. Put rugs down on your hard floors to make it warmer for you to walk on and improve the look of the place. It’s easier than you might think to trick your brain into believing that it’s warmer than it is.

Warm Your Bed

Jumping into a cold bed at night isn’t pleasant. You might warm up after a while, but you’ll have to spend a couple of minutes shivering in the cold sheets. If you want to make sure your bed is toasty right away, you can warm it up before you get it. A hot water bottle is a tried and tested way to do it, that people have relied on for centuries. If you would rather not mess around with water, try using a microwaveable pillow instead. You can heat them in a few seconds, and some of them smell great too. You could also use an electric blanket, but remember to turn it off before you go to sleep.

Stay Active

Even just moving around a bit more can help to keep you warm in your house. Instead of sitting on the sofa and watching TV all evening, you can be up and moving about. Do some exercise in your home gym or get some housework done. The physical activity will help to warm you up and get your blood pumping. Sitting around and barely moving won’t do you much good.

William Warby

Check Your Heating System

You don’t want to have your heating on all the time. It would be far too expensive. But when you do have it, it should be doing the best that it possibly can. You don’t want it to be underperforming, so you’re not getting your money’s worth. Before it gets too cold, it’s a good idea to have your heating system serviced. Save Home Heat HVAC Services knows how important it is to maintain your heating system. If you need repairs, get someone out to do it straight away. You might also consider replacing it entirely if you think it’s lived out its life.

Insulate Your Home

When you know your heating system is running properly, you need to ensure that the heat is staying inside your home. A poorly insulated house will let all that expensive heat escape and you’ll have to spend even more to warm your home. So it’s essential that you check to make sure you have adequate insulation. Your roof is the most important thing to insulate, as it will let out a lot of heat if you don’t do it. You should also check for anywhere that air could leak out of your home, such as windows and doors. Seal up any places that could be vulnerable and stop your home heating as it should.

Light a Fire

The old methods are sometimes the best. If you have a fireplace or a wood burner, lighting a fire can be a great alternative to using your heating system. Finding the fuel to keep your fires going isn’t always cheap, but they produce a lot of heat so they can be cost-effective. You might also be surprised by how much candles warm up a room. Lighting a few of them can give off more heat than you would expect. So don’t worry if you don’t have a fireplace; you can put out a few candles to get things warmed up instead.

Do Some Cooking

There are other ways to produce heat in your home too. Cooking all your meals at home is an excellent way to keep things warm. This works best if you have a range stove, such as an AGA, which are designed to be kept on all the time. They can even heat your whole home. However, these can be very expensive to run, so they’re not for everyone. Even just cooking with your normal stove can help to warm up your home. Spend some time hanging out in the kitchen after you’ve made dinner, and you’ll feel warmer.

Keeping your house warm in the colder seasons can be a balancing act. You don’t want to be uncomfortable, but you don’t wish to spend a lot of money either. Eventually, you will find the best ways to stay cozy without going bankrupt.