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3 Common HVAC Problems and How to Fix Them

For homeowners gearing up for the hotter summer months, now is the best time to check on the household’s air conditioner and air system. It’s best to ensure that the HVAC is running smoothly and is ready to pump cold air throughout the house. During the rest of the year, a good practice for any homeowner is to have regular maintenance on the air system, monitoring both the HVAC and the heater to inspect for possible problems.

However, before the seasons change, this is the most important time to be sure that air conditioner is ready to keep your family comfortable and safe. Here, we will look at just three of the most common HVAC problems and how you can fix them yourself.

1. Your HVAC isn’t blowing cold air.

The most common issue with an air conditioner unit is if the machine isn’t blowing cold air throughout the house. Unlike a similar issue, such as a heat pump that isn’t blowing warm air, checking on a traditional HVAC system is a slightly easier task. With a more modern heat pump, the unit is removing the outside air, cooling it, and distributing it throughout the home. With a traditional air conditioner, however, the most likely issue for cool air solutions has to do with the air filters or refrigerant. Before you call a technician for a maintenance call, check your unit’s air filters. Those filters are responsible for catching and removing debris, dust, and other harmful allergens from the air and purifying your family’s indoor air quality. To ensure this doesn’t become an issue, you should be swapping out your dirty air filter for a clean one every few months. Not only does this improve the air quality, but your machine will get better air flow and use less energy, lowering your monthly energy bills.

However, if the air filters aren’t the issue, double-check your HVAC system’s refrigerant levels. If possible, give your home’s ductwork a quick glance and be sure there isn’t a refrigerant leak. If there is a leak, you may be losing cold air. While this will require the assistant of a professional technician, it’s not an expensive repair. A refrigerant charge is pretty cost-efficient by comparison.

2. Your HVAC doesn’t hit the right temperature.

As the weather gets hotter, you may be noticing that your home isn’t hitting the right room temperature that’s stated on your household’s thermostat. If your thermostat is at a set temperature, yet you don’t feel the cool air circulating around your home, check the smaller unit itself. The good news is that replacing the batteries of your thermostat is significantly cheaper than repairing your HVAC. If possible, try not to adjust the levels of your thermostat too often, as the wear and tear of AC system can lead to larger issues. However, if it’s easier to keep this tip in mind, your family may benefit from a programmable thermostat, ensuring that your monthly energy bills remain consistent the entire season that the air conditioner is in use.

3. Your utility bills keep going up.

If you’ve noticed that your monthly energy bills are higher than usual, or continue to go up, there are a number of ways to figure out the solution. The above-listed tips are the first order of business. Be sure to change out your dirty air filter for a clean one, thus removing any blockages within the vents and ductwork that are hindering your airflow. When the airflow builds up, your family is forced to run the air conditioning unit more frequently and at higher levels. This will immediately drive up your utility bill.

Likewise, keeping your thermostat at a consistent level should help ease the financial burden of cooling your home throughout the summer. If you’ve taken these steps already, yet still see an increase in your home’s energy use, it may be time to call a professional HVAC technician. While you may not have any major issues with your air conditioner, a tech will be able to tell you immediately what’s driving up your bill.

The Top 5 Reasons for Choosing a Trusted Roofing Company

Whether you think about it or not, your roof is an incredibly important part of your home. A maintained roof keeps you and your loved ones safe from rough weather conditions, water damage, and it gives you peace of mind that you’re well-protected from anything that goes on outside. For all of these protective purposes, you want to make sure that you’re choosing a roofing company that you trust to get the job done. To continue exploring other reasons to pick a top-tier roofing company and for some more pertinent information on roofing, keep reading.

1. Understand the different types of roofing.

There are plenty of different types of roofing that homeowners choose from for their new roof. One of the most common types of roofing that many homeowners opt for is asphalt or composite shingles. These are usually chosen for their sleek look, durability, and overall affordability. Other common options include metal roofing, tile roofing, and slate roofing. No matter the type of roofing that you want to pursue, be sure to speak with roofing professionals to pick out the best type for your needs. This way, their expertise will help you maintain a quality home and the right fit before you make this commitment for years to come.

2. Find the right roofing company.

As previously stated, you should deploy the help of a professional roofing company that’s approved by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to achieve the best roof replacement and any roof services. Technicians will meet with you for a consultation to determine what your roof needs. For example, their years of experience will help you determine what level of roof replacement or new roof installation that your home requires to keep it safe and sound. Plus, in addition to your roof, they will inspect various parts of your home like your gutters and can advise you on the potential for other leaks in your attic and throughout your home. This way, you will rest easy knowing your entire home is well taken care of. At the end of the day by opting for these exterior specialists, you can rest easy knowing that they will do a fantastic job with any roof repairs or renovations that you need all for a fair price.

3. Maintain your home’s longevity.

Most homeowners would agree that they want any work done on their home to last for years. Some tell-tale signs that you need roof replacement are that shingles are falling off, leaks, or even growths of plants on the roof. Obviously, if your roof is sagging, you need to get in contact with a technician right away to prevent collapse and possible injury to you or your loved ones. By maintaining your roof with regular home consultations done by quality roofing professionals, you ensure that the entire process of keeping your home safe is more manageable rather than waiting for an unexpected and costly fix.

4. Leak-proof your space.

Arguably one of the biggest parts of maintaining your home’s roof is to guarantee leak protection. If you’re searching for leak detection in Chicago, then you should check out this water leak detection service that will allow you to get the source of the leak that may be comprising your home’s structure. They’re capable of catching any hidden water leaks that may be causing excess moisture and unfortunate water damage that can contribute to mold and mildew growth that’s unhealthy for homeowners. So, by getting any home leaks addressed now, you save on your health and on costly roof damages in the long run too.

5. Create the curb appeal of your dreams.

One of the less obvious reasons to revamp your roof is the cosmetic aspect. Nonetheless, there’s a lot of power in the curb appeal of your home, so go ahead and choose the roof color you’ve always dreamt of. Not to mention, installing this new roof also provides great protection and promise for home longevity too. Another aspect of your curb appeal is to consider window replacement that serves to frame your beautiful home. If you’ve been looking for a company that does window replacement in Grand Rapids, then look no further. This window installation company will ensure that you get the windows of your dreams for a fair price.

Plus, a perk is that by installing those picturesque, new windows you can improve your home’s energy efficiency too. To make all of your homeowner dreams come true, consider incorporating a few more future projects like repainting your front door for a pop of color, adding a porch swing that speaks to you, or planting some incredible landscaping that makes you smile. Regardless of what home improvement projects you choose to take on, you can rest easy knowing that every step of the way these repairs, renovations, and projects will make your dreams come true while also improving the value of your home at the same time.

How Architects Design Religious Buildings

Architects are some of the most creative professionals in modern industry. They quite literally design the landscapes of our cities and towns. This can come with a set of challenges and a need for creative problem-solving. Whether they are designing a new look for homeowners or building a skyscraper in NYC, architects have to research and commit to the specific needs of the building they are designing. Each new project is going to bring about the need for creativity and present a fun challenge.

One area that is constantly benefiting from new buildings and designs is different religious organizations. As different religions grow and expand, you need a place to house those new congregations. This is a prime example of how architects can work with specific organizations to design something wonderful. Designing a house of God is no easy task. There is a lot of symbolism and tradition that goes into a new church, synagogue, or mosque. A good architect will respect that in every aspect of the function and design. But with the right professional, you can bring new life to a new building with the perfect design and décor for your religious organization.

Get inspiration from other religious buildings.

Many architects gain inspiration from other buildings or work they’ve done before. Great firms like Boulder architecture in Colorado make a point of collaborating and transcending different styles. They pull from different designs and elements of each custom home to find a modern look for your church or religious building. Studying past designs and traditional architecture will help your team create a great look that fits your specific desires.

Communicate with the religious leaders.

Whenever you require architectural services, you want to communicate closely with the designer responsible for your project. They may have specific questions for the religious leaders within your organization as they begin the design. If the architect isn’t familiar with the religion, they may ask about certain rooms or spaces they may not realize. Religious buildings will often require a large sanctuary space, offices, fellowship areas, and more. By communicating these needs with the architect, religious leaders can make sure everything is in place how it is supposed to be for that denomination.

Create a welcome, inviting space.

A religious space is meant to be welcoming and a great way to encourage meaningful relationships. Architects have to keep this in mind as they are designing a religious building. From creating open hallways and community spaces to offering affordable ways to make your kitchen look chic and elegant, they will have plenty of ideas to create durable, affordable options so that your interior design will be welcoming and inviting.

Make room for the specific needs of a religious building.

Architects have to consider the big picture of a building, but also the little details. When designing a religious building, they will be conscious of each religion’s specific needs for their house of worship. For example, a Catholic church will need separate spaces for confession and an area to store Communion supplies. You’ll need to think about curtains and drawers and the texture of different interior design elements. You’ll need a space to dispose of the body of Christ after the communion set has been blessed during service. These are the little details that make an architect great.

Keep with tradition when needed.

Some religious buildings are based on a tremendous amount of tradition. They require steeples or need to be a certain shape. It can help to go with an architect who has a background in these areas and understands the importance of honoring each specific religion they design for.

3 Tools Realtors Use to Succeed

Like any other business professionals, realtors have to stay on top of customer relationships, marketing and advertising, SEO, among others. This way, they can ensure their company’s success and competitiveness in the ever-vibrant housing market.

Luckily, there are many tools the modern real estate agent can rely on to streamline work and stand out from their rivals. These solutions can assist you with various needs, making them must-have additions to your real-estate toolkit. Below are three specific tools used by the most successful real estate agents of today.

1. Video Editing Tools

It’s common knowledge that homebuying is a visual experience, so many realtors invest in video content alongside property photographs. Video is popular with consumers nowadays, so having them is helpful to showcase your listings, introduce your company, and display testimonials. Although it may feel unfamiliar to start making and editing video marketing content for your company, the right tools can help make the entire process more manageable.

These days, various video editing tools offer a wide range of video templates and background music that can get you started quickly. This way, you can easily put together captivating videos that you can share with your target audience. Many real estate companies rely on video editing solutions to help them make awesome content for their websites. Leading real estate management companies such as Venterra Realty are good examples of such businesses.

Venterra Realty manages numerous apartment communities and homes in 11 major US cities in the southern United States. Their properties house more than 35,000 residents and 11,000 pets. Greg Finch, John Foresi, and Andrew Stewart established Venterra in 2001 to offer high-quality real estate management services. Specifically, they’re experts in acquiring, identifying, financing, developing, and managing multi-family apartment communities.

Venterra Realty was recently recognized as the top-ranked company on the 2021 Best Workplaces in Texas List put together by the Great Place to Work Institute. The company’s CEO, Mr. John Foresi, credits its success to its award-winning company culture and the Venterra team‘s dedication to enhancing residents’ lives by offering top-notch customer experiences, one of their four operating pillars besides operating excellence innovation and employee experience. What’s more, they use industry-leading technology in managing their properties, ensuring high-efficiency standards that benefit residents, investors, and employees.

2. Custom Website

An excellent website is everything nowadays in the real estate industry, and every realtor is leveraging this valuable tool for success. Websites are great platforms for listing exposure and lead generation, two essential ingredients for success in this crowded marketplace. A custom real estate website also makes it easier to differentiate yourself from rivals by giving your enterprise a unique voice and look.

Therefore, your website can make it likelier for you to enjoy new leads since custom websites quickly build trust and connection with clients. However, it’s crucial to invest in making your website interactive, mobile-friendly, and optimized for the best results. Many businesses in the real estate market have great websites as one of their most effective tools. Reputable enterprises such as Lifescape Colorado are good examples of such companies.

Lifescape Colorado is a leading provider of landscape architecture in Denver, Colorado. Their mission is to create and preserve sustainable outdoor spaces that enrich clients’ lives, enhance the community’s beauty, and conserve planetary resources. They offer landscape construction, design, and outdoor property care for commercial and residential locations alike. Their landscape architects are known for their outstanding design and craftsman-level construction, continually adapting their designs for innovative living. Also, Lifescape is an industry pioneer in sustainable building, water-saving initiatives, and maintenance practices. What’s more, they have years of experience in the design-build industry, providing top-notch services to clients since 1961.

3. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software

Client relationships are especially vital in the real estate industry, so realtors invest in these tools to help them cater to their customers. These tools assist in building relationships with new patrons, as well as maintaining relationships with existing clients. Using CRM software can help you generate more leads, monitor your sales pipeline, and keep customer records.

Additionally, CRM Software can help you schedule and maintain tasks and automate your marketing efforts. Therefore, consider incorporating a CRM solution into your real estate practice to keep you connected, ensuring that your organization operates effectively and efficiently. Besides CRM software, you can also invest in other software solutions to streamline your business operations. For example, the OKR software can help you monitor and track collective progress on your organization’s Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). Additionally, you can leverage OKR consultants for your business to help you build agile plans that keep your teams focused daily, so keep this in mind.

All things considered, modern technology is revolutionizing business operations in multiple industries, including real estate. The points above are three helpful tools real estate agents rely on to operate more cost-effectively and efficiently.

4 Features of a New Boiler Installation

While it’s rarely an ideal situation, sometimes you have to install a new boiler or replace your old one. Boilers often cost a fair deal, and depending on the boiler system you choose; you could pay even more for additional features.

When you’re preparing for a boiler installation or a boiler replacement, you want to ensure that you get the most value for your money. Before you spend on a new boiler, take a look to verify that the boiler has some key features and benefits of a new installation.

1. High efficiency is a must-have feature.

Out of all the features of a new boiler installation, this is perhaps the most important. Especially for gas boilers, natural gas can rays prices. You want your annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) to remain high. It’s also a good idea to look into rebates for boilers with higher efficiency rates. An efficient boiler typically holds an Energy Star rating which indicates greater efficiency. While homeowners often pay more upfront for boilers with higher efficiency rates, the overall energy savings even out over the years. If you’re interested in increased efficiency rates for your new boiler installation, discuss it with your contractor or technician.

2. Look for cost savings from reduced boiler repairs.

Though your boiler should provide savings on your energy costs, there are ways outside of energy bills that homeowners can save money. A high-efficiency boiler not only wastes less energy but also reduces the costs incurred by repairs and ongoing boiler maintenance. An old boiler might have issues with its valves or thermostat, which means regular repairs and regular expenses. A high-efficiency boiler often means you’ll have to call the technician with less frequency. As cost savings accumulate for your hot water boiler, steam boiler, or gas boiler, you’ll notice added deductions on fuel costs, maintenance expenses, and more. It’s beneficial for homeowners at all income levels to invest in a boiler that requires less overhead due to frequent repairs.

3. Your boiler should offer lifestyle improvements.

You know how noisy, clunky, and bothersome an older boiler can be. Combined with low boiler efficiency and you have a problem on your hands. Newly installed boilers are more efficient, but they also provide greater levels of comfort and relaxation. Compared to a standard boiler, modern boilers are less noisy, smaller, and usually more versatile. Whether the installation is for a new home or is replacing an older model, these modern boilers can prevent heat loss, thrive in a cold climate, and help maintain your home ecosystem without temperature fluctuations. When you factor this in, the additional cost for an updated boiler seems as though it pays for itself.

4. Modern boilers feature safety and reliability improvements.

No matter the type of boiler, it’s going to become less reliable as time passes. Old boilers, unfortunately, impact the ambient air and expose you to risks such as fire hazards and respiratory problems. Naturally, this isn’t ideal for new construction, but older homes shouldn’t endure the risk either. The installation cost for your boiler helps ensure that it meets modern safety and reliability regulations and that the system is installed in compliance with local and state regulations. Ultimately, the risks of holding onto an older boiler far outweigh the expenses of a new one.

When you’re ready to buy a water boiler or install a new conventional boiler, you want to look for these key features to help you make the right purchase. Take the time to verify the boiler’s efficiency, ask about radiant floor systems, and request more information on how modern boilers prevent carbon monoxide leaks and maintain water temperature. It’ll help you make a more informed purchase for your home.

How to Prioritize Rooms When You’re Remodeling Your House

It’s no secret that remodeling is an integral aspect of real estate, helping many people modify their living spaces for various reasons. As a homeowner, you’ll likely want to tackle multiple home improvement projects at a go for convenience’s sake.

However, your limited time and money, as well as your many ideas on improving your house, necessitates prioritizing your home improvement projects. Thankfully, there are specific criteria you can use to decide which projects to tackle over others. Here are some great tips to help you with prioritizing rooms when improving your home.

Consider your home’s value.

Specific home improvements are better investments than others because they contribute more to increasing your home value. Therefore, it’s a good idea to give preference to these projects over their less value-adding counterparts. These days, some of the popular projects that boost home value are bathroom additions, kitchen remodels, patio and deck additions, plumbing updates, and installing energy-efficient insulation. As such, you can invest in these areas over others, especially if you’re considering selling your home in the future since homeowners value these upgrades. If you want to refurbish your kitchen or bathroom, finding the best contractor for the task is essential to guarantee a job well done. Leading remodeling companies such as CMK Construction can handle these concerns.

CMK Construction offers commercial, residential, kitchen, and bathroom remodeling in Tampa, FL. They provide bathroom design services, helping you build various bathroom types, including half baths and master bathrooms. They also conduct bathroom remodel projects like tub and shower conversions, installing new toilets, faucets, showerheads, and sinks. The CMK Construction contractors also help clients realize their dream kitchen spaces, and they can assist with fixing new kitchen cabinets and countertops and complete custom kitchen remodeling. What’s more, they have years of experience in the kitchen and bathroom renovation industries, helping Tampa residents with their remodeling and renovation needs for about 17 years.

Put necessity first.

Necessity should also largely influence which rooms to work on first, so keep this in mind. Necessities are primary living conditions that are non-negotiable to the safety and comfort within your house. Therefore, if the living room has outdated electrical systems, a leaky roof, and an efficient design, it makes sense to work on this space before considering other home areas. Similarly, if your kitchen has non-stop plumbing issues, old tiles, and a cluttered design, you’re better off working on this area’s plumbing, flooring, and design, respectively. Since indoor air quality is vital to your home’s comfort, you should also consider investing in air purifiers to enjoy clean air in all of your rooms. Esteemed home and kitchen retail brands such as Vremi can help with this need.

Vremi offers top-notch, user-friendly, and affordable home and kitchen goods to various customers worldwide. There are many pollutants within the home—like pollen, mold, and pet dander, and even pests like air dust mites that can trigger asthma symptoms and allergies in many people. You can use an air purifier with a HEPA filter to improve indoor air quality within your living spaces, enjoying all the health benefits of fresh air. However, it’s prudent to regularly invest in an air purifier filter to maintain your purifier’s efficiency. Vremi’s air purifier replacement filters have a three-stage filtration system, with HEPA H13 and activated carbon filters that remove microscopic and other airborne particles for cleaner and fresher indoor air. These filters are compatible with the Vremi Premium True HEPA Air Purifier, a powerful air cleaning and odor elimination device that works well in all medium to large rooms.

Factor in your current and future stage in life.

Assessing your current and future stages in life is also essential to prioritize your home improvements. If you live in a starter home, you generally won’t have to conduct major remodels, besides adding new kitchen appliances or updating your bathrooms. You can also indulge yourself with fancy additions like hot tubs in your bathrooms and converting a room into a home theater when planning for life as an empty nester. Also, you are better off focusing on kitchen and family area expansions and improvements if you’re expecting a growing family. If you’re retiring at home, you can also prioritize areas like the bathroom, master bedroom, and living room for improved accessibility. Your present and future are always vital considerations in life, so it isn’t surprising to see many people interested in astrology as they make these decisions. Trusted experts such as Ask Astrology will come in handy when seeking expert insights on all things related to your Zodiac sign.

Ask Astrology is a team of astrologists, experts, and enthusiasts that helps you learn more about astrology, besides offering answers to various astrology-related questions. Their article on what you dislike about your sun sign enables you to understand your Zodiac sign’s downsides and how you can navigate them. For example, a Sagittarius loves spontaneity but may end up being too blunt at times. Geminis may be prone to too much multitasking, Scorpios are too intense, Virgos obsess over perfection, and Pisces often struggle with emotional expression. Knowing these flaws is essential to find ways around them or unapologetically embrace them as central to your personality.

Consider your budget.

Budgets are always constraining, so you must consider how much money you have to spend before deciding which rooms are worth the investment. Since the kitchen is an integral part of the home for many busy families, you can consider several amenities to add to your kitchen to simplify your family’s life. Appliances and gadgets like refrigerators, dishwashers, and coffee makers are necessary, alongside organizational kitchen amenities like drawers to store utensils and saucepans.

If you intend to use a particular home space for something urgent, it also makes sense to spend money on that room over others. For example, if you’re looking to start a cannabis cooking show, your kitchen must be your first remodeling project. Many people are cooking cannabis-infused dishes like pot brownies to enjoy CBD’s many health benefits. CBD or cannabidiol is a cannabis plant derivative that is widely popular nowadays, commonly used in making products like tinctures, gummies, and cannabis edibles. If you’re trying CBD for the first time, be sure to ask a doctor before eating any pot brownies in the first place.

Remodeling is essential to homeowners worldwide, who must consider various factors to determine which rooms to improve over others. The above-listed points are helpful guidelines worth remembering to prioritize rooms when remodeling your house.

4 Issues Caused by Dirty Air Ducts

Most buildings have heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to regulate their internal temperature. Many buildings have HVAC systems that use ducts to move air. Ducts connect return vents to the HVAC system, enabling it to pull in the air that needs to be heated or cooled. Ducts also connect the HVAC system to supply vents that distribute hot or cold air throughout the building.

Ducts play a critical role in maintaining a building’s temperature and air quality. Your air quality, HVAC system, and energy bills can all be affected by air ducts that aren’t cleaned properly.

1. Dirty ducts can cause health issues.

Moisture can build up inside your ducts and cause bacteria to grow. It’s possible for ducts to harbor mold, pet dander, pollen, biological pollutants, and insects. Your return vents can draw these toxins into the duct, which means they may be pulled into your system’s filter and redistributed throughout your home. Forced air traveling through your ducts can distribute these toxins and allergens throughout your home, infecting family members with viruses and triggering asthma attacks. Pollutants can cause several health issues, including sore throats, runny noses, headaches, and allergic reactions.

You can minimize the risk of developing health issues from dirty ducts by hiring a certified HVAC technician to inspect and clean your HVAC unit and ducts regularly. Duct cleaning removes debris, toxins, allergens, and other pollutants from your ducts, improving airflow and indoor air quality.

2. Dirty ducts can lead to expensive repairs.

Your dirty air ducts could harbor toys, jewelry, or other small items that fell through your system’s vents. Children’s toys, pet toys, and small tools or materials could be pulled through the vents and enter your HVAC system. Although these items may be small, they could still cause significant damage to your HVAC system. If you hear banging in your HVAC unit, it could be a sign something’s in your ducts that shouldn’t be there. Cleaning your ducts or hiring an HVAC technician to inspect your duct system can ensure you locate hazardous items before they damage your HVAC unit.

Dirty ducts can also be a haven for rodents. Mice and rats may make nests inside your ducts. Viruses from rodent feces and allergens from their dander can contribute to health issues. Rodents also damage heating and air conditioning systems and ducts. They may chew through the ducts to build nests and chew through wires in the system, preventing your system from working correctly and increasing the risk of an electrical fire in your home.

3. Your energy costs could increase if you have dirty ducts.

Your heating and air conditioning system must draw air in and distribute air throughout your home to work correctly. Your ducts can be obstructed by rodents, dead animals, debris, toys, jewelry, and other unwanted items inside the air ducts. When obstructions block the ducts, your heating and air conditioning system can’t move air. Your system will work harder to draw in air and redistribute the air, but its inability to move a sufficient amount of air through the air ducts means it will run for more extended periods. When heating and ventilation systems run longer, they work harder and use more energy. Consequently, uncleaned air ducts can cause high energy bills.

4. You won’t be comfortable in your home if your air ducts are dirty.

You won’t enjoy your home if you have air ducts that are dirty. You may be forced to spend time away from your home to protect family members with asthma, autoimmune diseases, or respiratory issues. You may also incur expensive medical bills, which could cause you to have negative feelings about your home. Your family home should be a sanctuary where you feel safe, and issues with critical home systems can cause emotional distress and discomfort, as well as health issues and financial problems.

Dirt in your air ducts can cause several issues. You or your family members may suffer from serious health problems caused by uncleaned air ducts. You may also incur expensive repairs and have high energy bills. Ultimately, issues with uncleaned air ducts may prevent you from feeling comfortable and safe in your home.

How to Plan a Top-Notch Event at Your Home

Entertaining at home is a fun way to celebrate with your family and friends. Besides having all your loved ones together in one place, a party at your house puts you in control. You control who shows up, what food and drinks will be served, the playlist, the décor—it’s all in your hands. However, if you don’t plan or find ways to properly accommodate your guests, your reputation as a great host will be tarnished. To make sure yours is the party everyone will be talking about years from now, follow these simple tips.

Who’s on the guest list?

Your guest list might just be the thing that breaks or makes your party. Before you send out your invitations, consider how much space you have, your budget, any dietary restrictions, and your ideal gathering size. If you can manage it, try and keep it to 20 people maximum. Smaller groups are more intimate, which is what you want at your party.

However, if you’re planning a mixer where you’ll have a diverse group of people who ordinarily wouldn’t have talked to each other outside your party, then you might want to plan for a group of about 40. Most importantly, send out your party invitations in advance to allow your guests to add your event to their schedules. No one likes last-minute cancellations, right?

As you send your invites out, also consider your party’s dress code. Most people go into a full-on panic over wardrobe choice when the invitations are vague about the preferred attire. To ease all of these burdens (including yourself), specify the dress code in the party invites. Your guests will be grateful for it.

Do certain areas of your home need a face-lift?

Whether you’re hosting a dinner party, barbeque, or laid-back luncheon, your kitchen, most especially, needs to be functional. Your kitchen area should be big enough to accommodate multiple cooks and stylish enough for your guests to want to hang out in it.

If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, consider an outdoor artisan kitchen design remodel. Outdoor kitchens are growing in popularity for several reasons. These new kitchen types are a great way to keep food odors outside, as some food smells can linger for days. Artisan kitchens are also a great way to add more appliances, storage space (outdoor kitchen cabinets), countertops, a unique backsplash, and extra seating. In this way, you can have an extra space for your guests to mingle.

Take care of your pets.

It’s important to let your guests know that they’ll be coming into a home with pets, just in case they’re scared of animals or have pet allergies. Also, make it clear that your pets aren’t to be fed any party food. This is because most party foods have chocolate, alcohol, onions, and grapes, all of which are toxic to pets.

For added security, make sure that all exit points in your home all secured. Advise your guests not to leave any gates or doors open. Also, make sure that all your entrance and exit points are well supervised. This is important because pets can run away. To avoid having to put out, “have you seen this dog?” fliers on the day after the party, make sure your dog is fitted with a collar on the day of the party.

Custom dog collars are an excellent way to make sure that your dogs are easily identifiable, should they wander away from the party and the team at JoyRide Harness’ can help you make the perfect collar. Theirs are the best custom dog collars on the market, and you can ensure that your pet has a reflective collar with the right fit so that it’s easy to find them in the dark, regardless of what dog breed they are. Their no-pull dog harness is a great option for both big and small dogs because it can be fit to match your dog’s neck size.

With their harness, you can clip your leash for extra support and also include your dog’s personal information such as their name and your phone number. In case your pup slips off at night, there’s a reflective strip on the leash to make your pooch visible in the nighttime, as mentioned, and having your dog’s information on the ID tag will give you more peace of mind during the party.

Clean your home.

Your home directly reflects you are, so, if your home appears dirty, this will probably not be a great look. To avoid all this bad press, plan to have all areas of your home thoroughly cleaned. Also, put away any personal or fragile items that you’re uncomfortable with other people seeing.

To be on the safe side, stock your bathrooms and laundry rooms with extra cleaning supplies like paper towels, wet wipes, a broom, and a sanitizer, in case a guest makes a mess. Also, make sure that you have enough toilet paper stocked.

Most of all, remember to have fun. This is your party, you’ve planned this day, and you must be exhausted. Despite all this, remember why you started. Pull out your most festive stick on nails, give yourself an at-home gel nail manicure, throw on your favorite outfit and have a good time.

How to Know When to Invest in Furnace Repair

As a homeowner, you want all of your appliances to work as efficiently as possible to save on your monthly bills. The HVAC system works hard throughout the year to keep your home cool and warm with the seasons. When your heating unit isn’t performing at its best, it becomes less efficient and more expensive to run. There are plenty of DIY maintenance tasks you can do for your heater that will save you money on hiring technicians. There are some signs of a malfunctioning furnace that are worth investing in professional repairs.

Why is routine maintenance important?

Never wait until the last minute to maintain your HVAC system. Running a clean, well-adjusted heating system is the best way to keep your home comfortable, save money on electricity, and prolong the life of your heater. You should clean your heating unit annually before cold autumn weather sets in. Failing to keep your heater clean could not only cause it to wear out sooner, but it could pump carbon monoxide into your home. You can do several heater cleaning tasks yourself, but it never hurts to have an HVAC professional do a thorough cleaning and inspection.

While you can save a pretty penny doing your own heater repairs, it’s important to understand the furnace repair requires expertise for many reasons. Mediagistic explains why it pays to work with technicians who have years of experience handling emergency repairs and breakdowns on heating systems. You can quickly fail at your repair attempt if you make the wrong assessment or purchase the wrong parts.

You could nullify your HVAC system’s warranty if repair work isn’t done by licensed service technicians, or make the problem worse. When dealing with a ventilation issue, you cause a carbon monoxide leak if you don’t know what you’re doing. Potential home buyers will want proof that your HVAC system has been maintained. Not having certification of work by professional HVAC contractors could make selling your house difficult.

DIY furnace repair options.

Homeowners often panic when their heating unit won’t turn on. It’s common for a tripped breaker or flipped switch to cause your unit not to turn on. Rather than immediately shopping for a new furnace, simply check the power source. It’s important to check the air filter annually and ensure it’s clean. A dirty air filter restricts airflow and causes the heater to work harder and overheat. Your unit may fail to run if it keeps overheating due to a dirty air filter. You can either clean dirty air filters or replace them if they are worse for wear.

Common signs that it’s best to call a professional.

There are several signs that it’s time to call in an HVAC contractor to assess your furnace and make the necessary repairs. When something in your heating system causes it to cut off before running a full heating cycle, this could be a sign that the fan motor is dying or the heat sensor needs cleaning. If you notice the burner flame color of your gas-powered furnace to be yellow in color, you need to hire an expert. This color indicates that you have a dirty burner and the gas isn’t burning off completely. When your furnace isn’t heating to its potential, it’s possible that carbon monoxide isn’t being vented properly.

Leaks from the roof or plumbing lines can cause your flue lines to rust and corrode. You need a properly functioning flue system to vent the high levels of carbon monoxide produced by a gas furnace. If you notice a huge spike in your monthly utility bills, this could be a sign that your heater isn’t performing well. Professional technicians can assess the performance of your unit and pinpoint what repairs will keep it in peak condition.

Before investing in a company, it’s a smart idea to get a full view of a company’s earnings, operating expenses, debt ratio, interest obligations, and other financial information that serves as an indicator of a company’s investment worth. The times’ interest earned ratio (TIE ratio), or the interest coverage ratio, is a calculation that serves as a measure of a company’s ability to meet its debt obligations. A higher ratio indicates a company’s ability to pay off its interest expense.

Mers In Biz explains how to calculate times interest earned ratio by looking at a company’s earnings before taxes and divide it by the interest expense. You can think of the TIE ratio as a solvency ratio. A high ratio maintained for a long-term basis indicates consistent earnings to cover all current interest expenses.

Keeping up with regular maintenance and repairs is the best way to help your heater perform at its best.

How Much Buying a House Really Costs

Homeownership is a celebrated milestone for several people in America and beyond. For many, purchasing your own home is the crowning moment in the rite of passage to adulthood. It’s also the most significant financial investment many people will ever make in their lives.

There are numerous perks to owning a home, but it’s a costly endeavor. Although every home has a price tag, the actual costs of acquiring a house often exceed the price on the listing. Therefore, it’s essential to know about all these extra costs before committing to a long-term purchase. Below are some insights into expenses you should be prepared for when buying a home.

Down Payment

Your down payment is almost always the first financial consideration you should factor in when estimating how much your home will cost. It’s a portion of the sales price you must pay upfront when purchasing a home. Then, the rest of the sales price will be financed by your mortgage plan. Traditionally, 20% of your home’s total cost is widely considered the gold standard for down payments. Major financial institutions like credit unions and banks offer government-insured and conventional loans, and your choice will significantly impact how much down payment is required to kick-start the home buying process. However, several financial experts advise that the more money you set aside for your down payment, the better. Since homes are significant residential real estate investments, some organizations have taken up property maintenance and management upon acquisition to ensure long-term profitability. Reputable real estate management companies such as Venterra Realty are great examples of such businesses.

Venterra Realty Inc. is a property management company that oversees many apartment homes and communities in 11 major US cities across the southern United States. Their properties house more than 35,000 residents and 11,000 pets. John Foresi and Andrew Stewart established Venterra Realty in 2001 to provide quality real estate management services to clients. The company specializes in identifying, financing, developing, managing, and acquiring multi-family apartment communities. John Foresi from Venterra Realty credits Venterra’s success to their award-winning company culture and dedicated, passionate, and caring employees. Foresi, the CEO of Venterra Realty, also praises the Venterra team’s commitment to improving residents’ lives by guaranteeing industry-leading customer experiences. Venterra Realty self-manages all of your property management aspects because they regard operational control as vital to their efficacy. What’s more, they use industry-leading technology in the property management industry, maintaining high-efficiency standards that benefit residents, investors, and employees.

Closing Costs

Closing costs are third-party and lender fees that you must pay at the end of a house buying transaction. They account for approximately 2% to 5% of the home’s overall purchase price. You can negotiate these fees as part of your offer, and the costs are typically split between the seller and buyer. These prices usually include appraisal fees that must be paid to an appraiser who provides your lender with your home’s market value estimate. Home inspectors who evaluate your house’s condition to determine whether it’s in good condition will also need to be paid inspection fees for their services.

Property survey fees may also be necessary if your lender requires a surveyor to determine your home’s legal boundaries and lot size. Prepaid taxes and insurance, home warranties, title search and title insurance, loan origination, and transfer tax fees are other petty costs that should constitute your entire budget to ensure that you close successfully. As a result, you can consider accessing more cash to help you close by leveraging services such as your local pawn shop. These pawn shop services offer you money for your jewelry, antiques, and other valuables. Pawnbrokers also provide pawn loans that require you to exchange items as collateral for cash, and you can even trade items for merchandise like musical instruments or sporting equipment.

Mortgage Payments

Unless you paid in full for your house upfront, monthly mortgage payments are expenses that you should consider when budgeting for a home purchase. Several factors contribute to how much you’ll pay, including the amount of money you borrowed to purchase your home (principal). Interest rates are also essential, and these costs are the fees your lender charges for the loans they give you to buy your house. Mortgage interest rates often fluctuate, but many borrowers pay below 3% for a thirty-year fixed loan. Homeowners insurance, property taxes levied by the government to fund local services, and HOA dues also influence how much your monthly mortgage payment will be.

You may also need to pay Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) if your down payment is less than the 20% standard. These premiums secure lenders if you default on repayment. You can pay an upfront sum and continue to defray the balance with premiums that are lumped in with your monthly payments until the remaining principal balance on your mortgage falls below 80% of your home’s value. Consequently, it’s a good idea to set up financial goals that can help you meet your monthly mortgage payments. For example, you can use a savings goal calculator to determine how much money to contribute monthly to reach your savings goal of having your monthly mortgage payment ready every month.

Reserves

First-time homebuyers are particularly unfamiliar with reserves when buying their properties. Reserves aren’t necessarily a cost you must incur when purchasing your home, but these funds are necessary monies you should have in the bank after paying your closing costs and down payments. Several mortgage companies don’t want borrowers to deplete their savings after buying their homes, so they ask to see reserves that can last you for at least two months. This way, they’re more confident in your ability to make good on your monthly payments. Many financial experts suggest three to six months of emergency fund savings when buying your home, so keep this in mind. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need for emergency savings, as it has hit the global economy hard. Thankfully, vaccines are now available but now’s the right time to conduct COVID-19 testing if you’re a business owner. Some labs offer COVID-19 tests for large groups like employees and conference attendees, so consider partnering with them for fast and reliable COVID-19 tests and results.

There are several costs beyond the mere price tag of a home listed for sale. The points above are examples of some expenses you should plan for to avoid being overwhelmed when closing your home purchase.

Why You Should Consider New Construction

Homes available on the housing market have varying styles, sizes, price ranges, locations, and ages, enabling home seekers to select the one that matches their needs and preferences the most. While most people can successfully choose the right home, others may not be so fortunate—they may not find a property on the market that’s exactly suited to their desires or needs.

One effective solution for future homeowners who don’t want the existing homes available on the market is to have their homes built. By having their new home built from the ground up, home seekers will be able to customize their property and ensure that it comes complete with amenities and features suited to their lifestyle, habits, and preferences, and those of their families or prospective roommates.

The idea of owning a brand new property—especially a custom-made one—may be appealing and exciting to some individuals. Others, however, may be unsure if they should go with new construction because they may have concerns regarding the building project. Would a custom-made house cost more? How long does building a house take? Choosing between purchasing an existing home or having a new property built just for you can be an overwhelming decision to make. Described below are reasons why new construction can be beneficial and why you should consider it.

You can choose the location of your new property.

As part of the home buying process, people typically have to decide if they prefer larger cities and more accessible neighborhoods or smaller towns and quieter communities. People who have their homes built will face these same decisions, and neighborhood size and accessibility may be factors that help them determine a good location for buying vacant land and serving as the site of their new home.

People searching for acres of land to own can examine the neighborhood they want to live in and determine how suitable it is to their lifestyle and preferences. Considering the distance between your land and your job, school, hospitals and medical centers, stores, restaurants, other essential establishments, and your family members’ and friends’ homes can be beneficial.

Finding acres of land to buy isn’t an easy task, especially considering that vacant acres typically don’t show up on popular online real estate marketplaces. Due to the exclusion of vacant land from online real estate sites, it can take land buyers more than nine months to locate the perfect piece of land to purchase. However, utilizing a web resource like AcreBin enables land seekers to overcome this gap in the real estate technology marketplace. By connecting with the top U.S. land brokerages and displaying the best land listings available, AcreBin helps people locate the best land worth owning to serve as the site of their new property.

Newly constructed homes allow for more customization.

As the first occupants of the home, people may provide input into their home’s design. For instance, some home builders may let future homeowners choose the type of flooring to use throughout the house or the location of the bedrooms and bathrooms. Likewise, homeowners may get to design their home’s outdoor living space, which could ultimately help them increase their property’s curb appeal.

Homeowners who want to add a patio to make their outdoor space more comfortable or include a fountain to enhance the property’s exterior beauty, for instance, can consult contractors and make such external transformations happen. By relying on the furniture retail store that provides the best outdoor furniture, such as modern outdoor fountains, fireplaces, or tables, new homeowners can make their backyard and home exterior more visually appealing.

A new home is more likely to have efficient systems and technology and require fewer repairs.

Another advantage to new construction is that contractors and other professionals now work with more efficient, durable, and advanced materials when they build properties. A new house with no previous occupants will have a newly built roof, new plumbing systems and pipes, and unused appliances. Essentially, a new construction won’t need the same repairs in the coming years as an older home.

Builders are more likely to equip new properties with features like energy-saving heating and cooling systems, security systems, programmable thermostats, and efficient showerheads. Showers can contribute significantly to residential water consumption and energy use, so an energy-efficient showerhead installation can help people save water, energy, and money. If you can afford more transformations, don’t stop there—consider getting the best shower, shower space, and tub around altogether. For the best shower replacement, revamp your shower walls’ tiles and have your bathrooms equipped with Lux Bath Kohler showers. All Kohler showers have a sleek design that can give your new home the style it deserves; the Kohler Luxstone Shower is the perfect solution for enhancing efficiency and bringing a luxurious feel to your custom home.

Choosing new construction requires patience and planning, but ultimately allows people to prioritize their wants and must-haves for their home’s functionality and exercise their creativity when transforming a new house into a home.

Smart Tips To Weatherproof Your Home

Weatherproofing your home is crucial as Mother Nature has the habit of pulling up surprises. The seasons are ever-changing. One day, it’s cold; the next day, it’s too hot or too windy. Whichever way, it doesn’t have to impair your comfort as long as you’re ready for whatever nature has in store. What’s more, you don’t have to start making emergency fixes that will likely cost more than expected. That said, check out these smart tips to weatherproof your home.

1. Inspect your roof periodically.

Year in, year out, your roof endures many pressures from outdoor elements. As a homeowner, you’ll be making a huge mistake to assume everything is fine. On the contrary, the weather has its way of causing havoc on your roof. Believe it or not, water from rain or dissolved ice is a common culprit. That’s why protecting your roof is vital because water can destroy furniture, electronic appliances. The good news is that you can spot water damage early by looking out for discolored patches on your ceiling before the damage gets bigger or the water starts coming in.

Some roof checks might not be an easy DIY job so that you might need the help of professionals. They’ll look out for loosed shingles and protruding nails. Remember roofers are busy and offer costlier service during winter, so make this move earlier before winter or the rain arrives.

2. Inspect your heating system.

The last challenge you want to face is a heating problem, especially if you live in a cold climate and the winter decides to bite hard. According to the United States Fire Administration, heating systems are one of the major causes of fire in residential buildings. Therefore, staying warm isn’t only the goal here, but keeping safe as well. If you don’t know what to look out for, let the experts come in to do a comprehensive check. They likely suggest you install heat pumps. If you already have an air source heat pump installed, you may need to update high-efficiency heat pumps that provide heating in icy climatic regions. With this, you’ll stay well protected from the Armageddon of winters.

3. Don’t forget your garden.

If you have flowers outside your home, the changing weather means you may need to take steps to keep your plants safe from unforeseen harsh winter conditions. Furthermore, having trees around your home is great as they help break the wind and beautify your surroundings. However, strong winds can break tree branches. That could mean a couple of hundreds or thousands of dollars in damage as tree branches can destroy your roof and car. Also, you might need professional help to detach large tree branches.

4. Seal windows and doors.

Cold outdoor air can leak into your home via windows and doors during winter. This can potentially decrease your energy savings as you’ll require more warm air from the heaters. The best option is to seal your doors and windows, a simple DIY job that you can carry out with a naked flame from a candle. Place the lit candle close to the doors and windows, and observe if the flames aren’t steady.

Move it around the door and window frame to ensure you don’t miss any spot. You can seal it by yourself with a weather seal or hire a handyman for the job. You’ll not only keep the cold out but also drop energy costs by 25%‚Äîsince you’ll be retaining more heat while your heating system may be off for a while.

This is a great move, especially if you have small children or pets in the home. Many pet owners don’t know that their furry friends or companions can also get very cold in the winter and need a lot of veterinary care. Like humans, they’re also susceptible to cold weather that causes allergy symptoms, frostbite,s and hypothermia. However, if you’re considering adopting a pet, this shouldn’t stop you. Pets are a great company and are so much fun when you can’t go outdoors in the harsh winter. So, should you get a pet? Definitely yes. Very likely, most dog owners will agree.

5. Use heat reflective paint.

Weatherproofing isn’t for the winter seasons only. If you live in places like Australia and the tropics, temperatures can get a little mean. You can adopt heat reflective paint on your room and walls to keep things a bit cool. These paints can reflect above 70% of solar radiation. What’s more, if you’re cool indoors, you don’t have to use the cooling system all the time, which can reduce your energy consumption significantly.