Category Archives: FOR THE GUYS

Tips for the guys, from beards to cars, that help reduce stress and make everyday life a bit simpler.

FOR THE GUYS, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Want To Sell Your House? 4 Tips For Inexpensive Investments To Boost Your Home’s Value

Want To Sell Your House? 4 Tips For Inexpensive Investments To Boost Your Home’s Value

For every homeowner who is planning to sell the house, there is a list of essential renovation works that need to happen to survive the house inspection. For example, making sure that your roof is weatherproof and that all problems are fixed, whether they relate to the windows, the plumbing or even the interior wiring, will only ensure that buyers are not rebuffed when they see the house. But once these are done, there is still plenty you can do on a small budget to increase the value of your home dramatically! Here is a list of the top four DIY projects that can improve your house value.

#1. Plan A Front Yard Makeover

Your front yard is the first impression that potential buyers will receive from your house. So, i the same way that most readers will tend to judge a book by its cover, most buyers will already have formed an opinion of your house when they see the front yard. Therefore it is essential that you take great care of it. Keeping it clean and mowing the lawn is the very minimum that you could do. Remember that your front yard is your way of telling buyers that you took great pride in the home. Working with edges can create clear lines that immediately make a positive impression. Have a little dig online for garden landscaping inspiration: After all the better and the most colorful your front yard will look, the more enthusiastic buyers will be about your house.

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#2. Cozy Living Room

Create a sense of coziness in the living room. For this, you will need to use warm and colorful cushions on the couch to create a feeling of being warm. Additionally, a scented candle will subtly change the ambiance of the room, so pick something soothing such as lavender or jasmine. If your house has a fireplace, do try to have a fire going during the visits as this will enhance the general coziness of the place. If you don’t have a fireplace, you might want to consider the addition of an electric alternative that will create the same impression of warmth. Check the best electric fireplace option for your house and your needs with experts online.

fireplace-1464166_960_720A cozy fire

#3. Attic Insulation

Insulating your attic can not only save you a lot of money on your energy bills, but this is a great selling argument too. You can easily follow DIY tutorials to insulate your attic and your roof with effective but inexpensive materials, and also to caulk around doors and windows. If you are new to this, you may want to count a whole weekend of work, but be assured that this will not be wasted time as buyers will appreciate the effort.

#4. Boost The Bathroom

You can visibly improve the look of your bathroom without starting a big renovation project. Re-grouting your shower for a start will have a positive impact on the room. Little touches, such as new light fixtures and a new mirror, for example, can change a room. And don’t forget to freshen it up with a new coat of paint too! Choose your color wisely as they will create the whole atmosphere for the bathroom! So make it clean and bright!

300817084_31ba59bf08_bPhoto courtesy of Axel Tregoning

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

FOR THE GUYS, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Is It Time for a Home Upgrade? 5 Reasons to Schedule Your Next Home Improvement Right Now

Is It Time for a Home Upgrade? 5 Reasons to Schedule Your Next Home Improvement Right Now

When was the last time you had a home improvement done? Was it a few weeks ago? Months? Years? Or perhaps you used up all your energy and effort to build your own home instead. Whether or not you’ve had a home improvement in the last couple of months, there’s never been a better time to get started and start planning your next big improvement.

Why, you ask? Simple! It’s that season of the year when we’re recovering from the cold weather, we’re using our heaters a little less often and businesses are starting to get back into their usual groove. Very few people plan their improvements for the spring season, but if you’re lucky you can start making outdoor and indoor improvements before the rain comes and before summer hits.

Inside repairs are easier when you can open up a window to help the dust escape. Trying to install drywall kicks up a fine dust that can cover everything, so having ventilation is healthier for you and the house. Don’t want to install it yourself? Hire someone to do it. For example, EZ Service is the best choice for drywall installation in MD and Washington D.C.

Besides ventilation here are five reasons why you should consider planning your home improvements right now!

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  1. Prices are lower

It’s true! Many construction companies and contractors are free during this season because most of them have just come back from extended breaks over the holiday season. As a result, many contractors have open schedules and you can easily book a job as long as you plan it quickly. If you’re still concerned about pricing, then you could always check out personal loans for homeowners to fund your projects.

  1. Prepare for the summer

When the hot season arrives you’re going to need the right equipment and amenities to set up a party for your friends and family. Buff up the back yard and clear out all the frozen and dead plants before they cause more trouble and give your barbeque grill an upgrade before it starts to build up rust and make your food taste nasty.

  1. Get it done before the rain arrives

Spring is known for wet weather across the world. Humidity can be a major issue in certain parts of the world, so it’s best that you get these works done before the rain settles in and it becomes difficult to work on the outsides of your home. Most contractors will refuse jobs if it’s pouring down with rain or the forecast predicts issues in the coming weeks. If you want work done on the outside of your home, you better do it now!

  1. Finish works while the kids are at school

With the school season in full swing again, it’s a good time to get works done during the day when your kids are at school or visiting their friends. With a clear house, there’s less risk that your kids will injure themselves on tools or loose materials from the construction area, and they won’t complain about the noise or lack of things to do when their bedroom is being remodeled.

  1. Live up to the resolutions that you promised yourself

If one of your resolutions for the new year was to become more active, get involved with the home or set up an improvement, then now’s a good time to act. Most people don’t manage to meet their resolutions in the span of a year, but if you want to feel great about accomplishing a goal so early in the year, then start planning those renovations!

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

FOR THE GUYS, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Do It Yourself: Basic Carpentry Skills All Homeowners Need

Do It Yourself: Basic Carpentry Skills All Homeowners Need

There is one skillset that lots of homeowners wish they had. And that is basic carpentry skills! No matter what type of home project or DIY task you decide to have a go at, you will no doubt be faced with working with wood at some point sooner or later. Rather than hiring a professional carpenter to sort all this out for you, why don’t you learn the tricks of the trade yourself? This will work out a lot cheaper than paying someone else to do the job for you! So which carpentry skills are the most important when it comes to doing small jobs around the house? Here are some of the basics that you need to know.

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Plan Ahead

Before you get going with your next DIY job, it is very important that you take some time before you get started to plan everything you need to do. You should write down the tools you will need, and the materials that you will have to buy. It is also worth trying to sketch your ideas down as well. This can help you to see whether your ideas will work and are practical. If your sketch doesn’t look too promising, now is the time to rethink all your ideas and plans. It’s much better to rethink your plans now rather than to get started and waste a lot of materials by going ahead with poorly thought out plans.

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Measuring

You may think that all the skill of carpentry is in putting together pieces of wood, and giving them a nice finish so that the whole project looks professional. However, full-time carpenters know that that isn’t the case. They know that the key to doing a fantastic job is getting the measuring just right. After all, if you miscalculate your measurements by a few centimeters, you will end up not being able to put all the pieces together correctly. And your project will be very likely to fail! Before you start work, make sure you have a lockable and retractable tape measure. This is a carpenter’s most important tool! It will help you measure accurately and efficiently. One good tip is to use the same measurer for the whole job. This way, there is no chance you will be foiled by tape measurers that show slightly different readings.

Marking

OK, so you have measured all your wood at least twice. Now you need to mark it so that you cut it correctly. When you are measuring, make sure you mark where you need to cut with a pencil. Rather than just dotting a little spot on the wood, use a ruler to turn the small dot into a straight line that crosses the whole of the wood. You can then follow this whole line with your saw rather than simply cutting straight from the dot and hoping you are going straight!

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Get The Right Tools

I’ve already touched upon the fact that it is very important to get the right tape measure for your projects. And that goes for all the tools you use for your home maintenance and DIY jobs. No matter whether you need a new saw, some hot melt glue sticks, or some paint, you should try and invest as much money into them as you can. That way, you know you will be happy in the knowledge that you have some really top-quality tools. The tools you use are extremely important, and using the best you can buy will make a big difference compared to cheap tools. They will be able to go a fantastic job, one that looks like a professional did it for you!

Practice Certain Skills Beforehand

It’s a good idea to practice some skills before you launch straight into your project. Otherwise, if your skills aren’t too up to scratch, this could be very noticeable, and your project might look quite amateurish. So, as you can see, it is well worth spending some time to practice as many skills as you can. One key skill that many people aren’t too hot with is hammering and nailing. Take an old piece of wood, your hammer, and some nails. Make sure you keep on practicing until you are able to hammer nails in that are straight and look very neat.

You will certainly find that doing all your own home improvements and DIY jobs are very rewarding and things that will make you feel incredibly proud. So what are you waiting for? Time to get to work!

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

FOR THE GUYS, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Dreams Of Building Your Own Home? Ask Yourself These Crucial Questions First

Dreams Of Building Your Own Home? Ask Yourself These Crucial Questions First

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Building your own home is the ultimate domestic fantasy for many Americans. Having an idea of a charming colonial style or flipping through plans of McArthur Homes, can be the ultimate experience of power when it comes to being able to design it from the bottom up, so it fits your style, your ethos, and your specifications is an extremely attractive prospect. But, as you might imagine, it doesn’t come without its own difficulties. From the costs of materials and labor, to time and emotional effort, there’s a lot to consider before you take the plunge. If you share the dream of building your own home, make sure you ask yourselves these questions before you dive in head first.

Can we afford it?

At first glance, building a home from scratch appears cheaper than a ready-made home. Unfortunately, this figure doesn’t often take into account reality. When delays in the build happen then labor costs increase as a result, and it’s often the case that once the builders get on the site, people realize there is more to be done to prepare the land than previously anticipated. While there are ways to keep the costs down, make sure you can afford the initial quote or have your loan secured, with a fair amount extra for wiggle room too.

Are we patient enough?

The process can be long, drawn-out, and stressful. If you want a new home as a quick fix, this probably isn’t the right way to go about it. Even beautiful modular homes built off-site can take a few months before they’re erected and completed. You’ve got to be a patient person with the ability to deal with stress to be able to enjoy the process.

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What do you want from it?

What are your needs, goals, and desires from the house? Does every invested party, including the kids, agree on the end product? Write a list of everything you want from your home, all the way down to the types of door fittings, and spend some time categorizing as “want†and “needâ€. Don’t allow yourself to compromise on something you need, because you could end up regretting it years down the line.

Can we withstand the pressure?

A project of this magnitude can put immense amounts of pressure on couples and families, so it’s important that you ensure you’re all in the right frame of mind, and that your lifestyle is stable enough before you take on the commitment. The last thing anyone wants is for the stress of the endeavor to put undue pressure on your marriage.

Who will do it?

Do you have a builder in mind to undertake the project? Will you opt for prefabricated, modular homes which are built off-site, or would you prefer a full construction team on-site every day? Remember to factor this into your costs. Choosing the right builder could make or break this construction, so don’t take the decision lightly.

Designing and building your own home to your personal specifications can be hugely rewarding when it’s done right. There is no room for error, though, so make sure you’ve got everything in line before taking the plunge.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

FOR THE GUYS, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Get That Tech! Three Ways To Modernise Your Home

Get That Tech! Three Ways To Modernise Your Home

Update Your Technology

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If it’s been a while since you last updated your technology, now might just be the time to do it – after all, it’s still the start of a brand new year, so why not try out a brand new you? If you still have some of your Christmas bonus left over, then you’re probably thinking about what exactly you could do with it. Now could be the right time to upgrade your laptop to the latest model. If you’re not entirely sure which one would be the best for you, write down exactly what you need from your laptop. The requirements of a serious gamer would be very different from someone who just likes to send some emails and browse the internet from time to time! Talk to a shop assistant about what exactly you need. You could also add some speakers to your front room, especially if you really enjoy watching TV in the evenings, as surround sound will really improve the experience.

Go For A Smart Home

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If you’re really into technology and thinking about new innovations, then chances are you’re already looking into smart living and the possibility of home automation. This works by connecting the appliances in your house to the internet so you can access them and control them no matter where you are – for instance, you could turn all your lights on or off without being at home. It could help you save money, improve your home security, improve your home entertainment system, and help improve your health by decreasing your stress and improving your sleep. If you’re really looking for a home that belongs in the future, home automation really is it. You can even use voice commands to tell your kettle to boil its water so you can make a cup of tea! Look online to learn more about home automation.

Use Different Energy

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If you’ve been lagging behind the rest of the world in the environmental revolution, now is your chance to change the way you think so you can reduce both your greenhouse emissions and your energy bills. If you’re in a part of the world where the sun shines, why not go for solar energy? Not only is this fully sustainable but it just involves the one time cost of installing the panels on your home, meaning that in the future your energy bills will be far lower. The same would be true if you replace your traditional light bulbs with LED lights. They last for longer and use far less energy. If you’ve noticed that your energy bills are way up over the winter, there are also a few practical solutions. Firstly, check your windows and doors for draughts, and use draught excluders to keep the cold air out. Secondly, add more insulation to your attic. You can buy lagging at any good hardware store. Heat escapes through your roof just like it escapes through your head – you need to put a hat on your house by adding more insulation to the roof to keep it nice and warm.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.