Want to Build Your Own Home? Find Out All the Steps Here!

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Jeremy Leake

Building a home takes a lot of time, effort, and money. It can test even the strongest of relationships. In order to help make the process easier we have this article for that lays out all the steps. Hopefully with this article it makes it go smoother!

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From the article:

Building your dream home can be one of the most exciting and rewarding projects you can undertake. Getting the opportunity to plan out each step of the process and make the decisions about your building project is a big responsibility, and can be overwhelming for even the most experienced do-it-yourselfers. Taking the scope of the project into account before you get started can help make the process go a lot more smoothly. Learn the proper ways to find the right location, design your home, acquire the correct permits, and start breaking ground. See Step 1 to learn how to get started building your own house.

Part 1 of 7: Finding a Location
1. Select a desirable place for your house. There are many factors to consider when finding a suitable location on which to build your home. Think about a place you’d like to live long-term and keep in mind things like:

Climate. Special considerations must be made for building in flood, hurricane, intense heat, frigid cold, and other extreme weather and climatic conditions.

Ground stability. Houses built on shifting sand, mucky soil, or other unstable earth will likely fail over a short period of time unless they are built on special foundations or pilings.

Availability of utilities. If you intend to have electric power, potable water, telephone, and other conveniences, make sure these utility providers offer them at your location.

Community infrastructure. If you plan to raise children or have kids, make sure good quality schools are available. Check to see if you are in a police jurisdiction to protect you from crime, look at the distance you will have to travel to acquire basic commodities, and whether medical help is nearby.

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Looking for mistakes to avoid when building your new home? Then checkout this article about mistakes to avoid when building that could be of interest to you.
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Read about all the steps here: http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-House

Looking to Install a Home Security Camera? Get Started Here!

Posted on June 1, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

Having a home security camera can bring peace of mind regardless of why you want one. Whether there has been break-ins in the neighborhood, you’re going out of town for an extended trip, or you just want to keep an eye on your kids a security camera can be a great investment. If you aren’t sure what kind to get then you’ve come to the right place. We found this article with more information. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

Surveillance isn???t just for TV cops on a stakeout. Cameras also help keep homes, families and businesses safe and secure. This article will help you figure out which type of security camera will best suit your needs.

Security and Surveillance
If your goal is to protect a home or business by keeping tabs on what’s going on inside and out, there are several types of camera you may consider:

– Bullet cameras: These are the familiar, cylindrical cameras we see everywhere. A bullet camera may resemble a tube of lipstick, though some more robust models are the size of a soda can. These are great if you know exactly where you want camera coverage; they can be wall-mounted and left to do their work.

– Dome cameras: These are the ceiling-mounted ???eye in the sky??? type security cameras. Some are fixed in place, others can be remotely controlled to pan, tilt and zoom in for a closer look.

– Live streaming cameras: Ideal for remote, unmanned monitoring. These cameras can sit on a piece of furniture, and are designed to feed a signal directly to a computer or mobile device for live viewing. Some can also pan, tilt and scan by remote control.

– Hidden cameras: If you???re really trying to catch someone who???s up to no good, you don???t want them to know they???re being watched. These cameras are designed to look like something else, so troublemakers are none the wiser.

– Wireless cameras: Plug-and-play wireless cameras have become very popular, as they are easily integrated into existing home automation schemes. The Nest Cam, Arlo and Samsung SmartThings are good examples.

Living color
In some cases, color images can be invaluable. An accurate description of an intruder???s clothing or the color of the car that sideswiped your motorcycle may be exactly what the authorities need to crack the case. Color cameras are most effective in well-lighted areas; as a general rule, a black-and-white camera will offer superior low-light imaging at higher resolution for less money. Carefully consider the benefits of each for your specific situation when choosing a security camera.

Track anything that moves
You may not want a camera running non-stop around your home. Some security cameras are able to detect movement and self-activate. You may end up with fifty short films about your restless cat, but wouldn???t you rather be absolutely sure? A camera with a memory buffer will constantly record a few seconds of video, so that nothing is missed in the moments before the motion sensor is triggered.

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Read the entire article here: https://www.crutchfield.com/S-2BKUWhkyeDK/learn/security-camera-buying-guide.html

Looking for Simple Garden Projects? Check These Out!

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

Gardens are so pretty and depending upon what you put in yours can be very useful. Gardens can also be a lot of work to maintain. In order to help you have a garden but keep it simple we found this great article with some simple garden projects. We hope it helps you get a garden you can enjoy and maintain!

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From the article:

Summer is here! Time to spend your days outside. If you are like me, you will be out gardening. This year I am working on two gardens. The first is my patio garden in which I grow my vegetables in containers & pots. The second is in my parents’ yard which is more of a family effort. I love doing both. Working on my own patio garden means I get to come up with my own garden projects and make it my own. Working with my sister and mother on the yard garden means I get to see their ideas and see our creativity work together.

In this post I put together a few simple garden projects that you can easily do with your own garden, be it a normal yard garden or a patio garden.

Cement Block Planter
All I used was two cement blocks, tape, plastic liner with holes, soil, and flowers. I taped a plastic liner (a bag that held grocery store grapes) inside the holes of one block. Filled the holes with soil. Added these flowers. and Voila! How simple is that?

Antique Containers for a Flower Bed
My mother is a antique collector. She has so many great pieces in the house and in the garden as well. I love using unique containers for veggies and plants a like.

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Looking to makeover the outside of your home? Then checkout this article with outdoor makeover ideas that could be of interest to you.
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For all the ideas click here: http://www.littlehouseliving.com/simple-garden-projects.html

Have a Home Office? Learn How to Design it Here!

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Having a home office is a necessity for some people. Having it designed in the most efficient way is important. In order to help you out we found this article that will help you design the ideal home office. We hope it helps!

From the article:

Jo Heinz is president of Dallas interior architecture and design firm Staffelbach. Entrepreneur.com asked Heinz for advice on designing a home office for maximum efficiency. Here’s what she had to say:

How does designing an effective home office differ from designing a commercial office? And what considerations do you need to keep in mind even before you get started?
Working from home is exciting because it offers an opportunity for real comfort and efficiency, but if the office is too casual, or isn’t effectively separated from the home environment, peak productivity may be lost.

While comfort is essential in any office, an office that is too casual may seriously impede the ability to get things done. You have to find a way to separate yourself from the rest of the goings-on in the home and to convey a sense of “off limits” to all other normal and natural home sounds and interruptions.

A distinction has to be made regarding the physical boundaries of this working space. The most effective way to do that is with the design of the space itself.

Ask yourself these questions before you begin:

What will you be doing in the space?

What type of work needs to be done?

Will external clients be visiting the space?

Will colleagues visit for collaborative work?

What type of materials will be referenced and/or stored?

What type of equipment is required?

When will I be doing the bulk of my work?

Will I be making conference calls?

Will I be video conferencing?

The answers to these questions will begin to develop the program for your home office.

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Looking for more home office ideas? Then checkout this article about home office ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/202566

Want to Live in a House Forever? Learn These Design Secrets!

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Moving can be such a big hassle. Building a home can be a big hassle. If you want to live in a house forever it’s important to design a home that can adjust through all life phases. In order to help you out we found this article with seven different design secrets. We hope it helps!

From the article:

The words dream house may conjure up fantasy amenities and custom trims. But smart homeowners also imagine a home they can live in forever — with a young family, through busy midlife, and with many of the common physical limitations that getting older can bring, from arthritis to needing a wheelchair.

Universal design (UD) is the design of products and environments that are usable by most people, regardless of their level of ability or disability, and at little or no extra cost. From entryways to kitchens and bathrooms to bedrooms, they often increase the value of a home. UD brings together the principles of accessible design (meeting standards for handicapped access, using “adaptable” design, meaning “normal”-looking design that can be revised later for disabled use), ergonomic design (allowing people and things to interact most effectively and safely), and green design (environmentally friendly spaces). UD is sometimes also called “lifespan design.”

These seven principles, set out by the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University, a national resource and technical assistance center, help inform useful design for all ages and stages of life:

1. Design that’s equally appealing to all users
What it means
Wherever possible, universal design creates spaces that can be used by everyone equally and that are appealing to all. UD doesn’t stigmatize any one group of users — like those obvious wheelchair ramps tacked onto the fronts of older homes, for example.

What it looks like

At least one three-foot-wide, gently sloping, no-step entry — meaning no porch step or tall threshold — allows someone with a stroller, wheelchair, or walker to easily enter, without screaming “handicap entrance” to the mobile.

A lever-handled front door (as opposed to a round knob) can be a relief for sore or weak hands or anyone carrying packages, a baby, or a cane.

Mirrors placed where they can be seen from sitting and standing positions, such as a full-length or tilting mirror, mean you don’t have to crane to see yourself.

Having no changes in floor levels throughout the main level of the house increases safety and accessibility and helps eliminate tripping. That means a just-walking toddler or an older adult who shuffles or has balance trouble can maneuver around as smoothly as someone using an assistive device, like crutches or a walker. And healthy people are less likely to trip and spill what they’re carrying.

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Interested in finding out more about universal design? Then checkout this article about universal design that could be of interest to you.
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Read about all the secrets here: http://www.caring.com/articles/7-design-secrets-for-a-house-you-can-live-in-forever

Looking for DIY Cleaning Products? Check These Out!

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

With people wanting to take better care of their bodies and the environment it’s no wonder that people are looking for cleaning products that are less harmful too. If you would like to create your own cleaning products then you’ve come to the right place. We found this article with 65 different DIY cleaning products. We hope they help you clean your home and protect your family!

From the article:

If you’re tired of reaching for cleaning products with ingredients you can’t even pronounce, then head to your local grocery store for a few basic components, and make your own. These eco-friendly concoctions will leave your house sparkling. From window cleaner to grout whitener, you’ll be amazed at how easy these DIYs are to pull off. And after making the initial investment for the all-natural ingredients, these cleaning supplies cost pennies per concoction to make.

Bathroom Cleaning Wipes

From shining those countertops to quickly cleaning your commode, these easy DIY bathroom wipes look so chic in an upcycled plastic container.

DIY Liquid Dish Soap

This homemade liquid dish soap leaves dishes wonderfully clean without tons of suds. Add essential oils to personalize the liquid soap.

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

You will be amazed at how easy it is to make your own general cleaner. And you can personalize this grease-buster with a fresh scent, like rosemary, lemon, or orange.

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Looking for ways to organize your home? Then checkout this article about organization ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read about all of the recipes here: http://www.savvysugar.com/DIY-Cleaning-Products-28901279

Looking to do Some Tailgating This Football Season? Checkout These Tips!

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Football in the south is a very big deal. Tailgating goes right along with it. If done right it can be a blast. In order to help you have an epic tailgating party we found this article with 41 different tips. We hope it helps make your tailgating season one to remember!

From the article:

This is not about a grill and a cooler of beer: Tailgating is a lifestyle.

Plan to arrive four hours before the game starts. Then eat two hours before the game so you have plenty of time to set up and clean up.

Freeze water bottles to use in place of ice in coolers so you have cold water to drink after they melt.

Use an empty laundry detergent dispenser as a hand-washing station.

Pack portable jello shots in your team colors.

Build a tailgate beer pong table.

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Read all the tips here: http://www.buzzfeed.com/emofly/tailgating-hacks-that-are-borderline-genius#30066gc

Want Your Living Room to be Neat? Try These Ideas!

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Keeping a living room organized is hard. It’s the one room other than the kitchen that every member of the family uses daily. In order to help you keep it neat we found this article with 10 different ideas. We hope it helps!

From the article:

It’s where you hang out, flop down, decompress. It???s also probably where you read, play, craft, watch movies and entertain. With so much going on, it???s no wonder it can be difficult to keep the living room looking (and feeling) neat. And other than leading an ultraminimalist life, what can be done? Here are 10 tips to ease the burden on this hardworking room, so you can have a neat (enough) living space.

Put some ???speed bumps??? in your entry. If your front door opens directly into your living room, it???s all too easy (especially at the end of a long day) to zoom through the entry and plop down on the sofa, leaving a trail of bags, shoes and mail as you go. Slow the pace of entry by putting in some strategically placed ???speed bumps??? along the way ??? a bench to sit on to take off your shoes, hooks and floating shelves on the wall, a sofa table with storage below and a tray for collecting mail can all help.

And if you own your home and want to make a bigger change, you could think about having a partial wall or another built-in feature installed to help with flow and storage.

Use furniture with hidden storage. Another option is to choose a storage ottoman or bench, either as your coffee table or as an extra seat tucked away beneath a console. You can store media, games, magazines and even shoes inside. The key is to use it to hide the things that usually look messy when strewn all over your living room. If that means you use drawer organizers inside your ottoman and keep junk-drawer stuff in there, so be it!

And of course, for those with kiddos, the storage ottoman makes an ideal toy box. Regularly rotating the toys you store there will keep the little ones interested and make it less likely they will bring tons of toys in from their own rooms. And when they inevitably do bring in more toys? The next strategy will help with that.

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Looking for more ideas to stay organized? Then checkout this article about organization ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read all the ideas here: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/30175956/list/10-secrets-to-a-neat-living-room

Home Inspection Turn Up Issues? Find Out How to Negotiate to Get Homeowners to Pay for Them Here!

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Home turn up issues all the time during home inspections. Most small manageable things but other times it’s something big. In order to save you some money and still get you the home of your dreams we found this article to help you negotiate with the homeowners to have them pay for them. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

Most would-be buyers and sellers believe the real estate ???deal??? is negotiated at the signing of the contract. By that point, the counteroffers have been made and the back and forth has happened, so it???s easy to assume that the deal will go on auto-pilot until closing.

The reality, though, is that in many cases, the deal-making and negotiations only start at the contract signing. Even in more competitive real estate markets, negotiations still happen once in escrow.

For example, if you???re a buyer, the property inspection or sellers??? disclosures ??? maybe the HVAC system has some issues ??? may prompt you to seek a credit. But where do you go from there?

Here are three tips for negotiating repairs after a home inspection.

1. Ask for a credit for the work to be done
The sellers are on their way out. If the property is moving toward closing, they???re likely packing and dreaming of their new home. The last thing they want to do is repair work on their old home. As a result, they may not approach the work with the same conscientiousness that you, as the new owner, would. They may not even treat the work as a high priority. If you take a cash-back credit at close of escrow, you can use that money to complete the project yourself. Chances are you may do a better job than the seller, too. Finally, if you get the credit, there will be less back and forth to confirm the work has been done.

2. Think ???big picture???
If you know you want to renovate a bathroom within a few years, then you likely won???t care that a little bit of its floor is damaged, that there???s a leaky faucet or that the caulking needs to be redone. These things will get fixed during your future renovation. However, the repairs are still up for negotiation. Asking the seller for a credit to fix these issues will help offset some of your closing costs.

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Looking to get a mortgage? Then checkout this article about getting a home mortgage that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.zillow.com/blog/negotiating-after-home-inspection-140771/

Debating if You Should Trade Up or Remodel? Find Out Here!

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Deciding between fixing up your home or moving into a new home can be a very difficult decision and there are many factors to consider. In order to help you identify all the factors to help you make the best decision for you and your family we found this article. We hope it will help you!

From the article:

Real estate agents often hear from clients who are interested in home buying because they ???need more space??? or they want more ???modern??? kitchens. There may be other reasons their current homes don???t fully meet their needs: a new job, a new relationship, a new baby and so on.

But buying a new home is never the only solution. In fact, in some cases it may be better to remodel or renovate the home you have. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether to remodel, renovate or buy:

Buying means selling, too
Often, the desire for more space leads the homeowner into a simultaneous buy/sell situation. Given that lending standards are still tighter than they were a decade ago, it???s nearly impossible for most people to buy a home before first selling their current home. That means being in limbo ??? potentially homeless ??? until they find a new home. This brings up a great deal of uncertainty.

Buying and selling at the same time is stressful. For starters, in many parts of the country, the inventory of available homes is limited. Yes, you can sell your home, but with inventories so tight, where will you go? Few people want to take that gamble. This is keeping many people, and potential inventory, on the sidelines today.

Buying and selling also comes with a lot of costs. The seller pays the real estate agent???s commission, for instance, along with closing costs on the buy side, plus moving expenses and more. Though it might not be music to a real estate agent???s ears, your money may be better spent on a remodel or renovation.

Credit is easier to obtain
With property values up, homeowners in some parts of the country are realizing an increase in equity of 10 percent to 20 percent over just a year ago. If you suspect that your home equity has increased, call your local bank or mortgage professional or do some research online. You might be surprised to learn that a bank will lend you money ??? more than you might imagine ??? against the equity in your home. Also, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) is considered a mortgage, therefore, the interest part of the loan is tax deductible.

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Read the entire article here: http://www.zillow.com/blog/should-you-remodel-or-trade-up-144324/