Date:Posted By:Category:Decorating

How to Make it Big in the Field of Home Renovation

Nothing feels better than finishing up a home renovation project and looking upon your work. Whether this is a personal one, or working on clients’ home. And getting to experience the joy on your client”s face as well is indescribable.

But not everything in the world of home renovation is as nice as this. Anyone working in this industry will tell you just how competitive the market place is for home renovation. The internet is filled with people offering their design and construction services, all at competitive prices. So how can you go from being a relative unknown to a household name within this industry?

There are a number of different tactics you can utilize to make it big in the field of home renovation. None of them are easy. And they require hard work and dedication. But, if you follow through and stick with it, we can guarantee you will be speeding ahead in no time.

 

Get Your House In Order

Now when we say this we don’t mean your physical house. We mean your company. You need to make sure you are operating like a well-oiled machine. If a potential client calls you, you need to make sure you can answer any and every question they give you. You need to know what you can and can’t do for them. You need to be able to give them exact time frames and price estimates with ease.

To that end, spend a lot of time organizing yourself. We suggest starting with your office. Make sure you have a top-notch secretary or office manager to keep track of everything.

Keep an updated list of your suppliers ready and handy, with attached pricing lists for all your needed materials. Make sure you have a detailed and full client database and keep in touch with potential clients. Establish a good back and forth with them. If you do this, they will feel far more comfortable hiring you.

 

Assemble a Good Team

Your staff will make or break you. The best home renovators have staff with a myriad of different skills and abilities. But it is important you can keep your staff happy and engaged. A big part of this is making sure you are paying them a good wage for the skills they bring to the table. For example, knowing how much welders earn against how much a painter earns is important. One skill requires a lot more training and risk and should come with an increased pay packet.

You will want to make sure you are also taking your staff’s opinions on board. Let them contribute ideas or take the reigns sometimes. Creative freedom in your staff will translate into a commitment to their work and positive reviews further down the line when they make a positive impact on the clients.

 

Marketing is King

All of this will be pointless if you don’t have any customers. To that end: Marketing!

We cannot stress this point enough. You need to invest a lot of time and money into a successful marketing campaign. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Firstly, make sure it is seen by people. It is no use putting up a billboard somewhere no one will see. Make your adverts accessible and clear.

Second, make sure you are targeting the right demographic. Are you working on family homes? If so make sure your adverts reflect this.

Lastly, make sure your contact information is readily available and easy to get to. Make sure there are multiple ways for a client to get in touch with you. Email, Phone, Twitter. The more avenues in you have the more clients you will get.

Date:Posted By:Category:Home, Home Improvement

3 Crazy New Pieces of Kitchen Tech Taking the World by Storm

 

If you are someone who loves spending time in the kitchen cooking up new dishes, then you have definitely taken the time to browse the internet in search of new handy kitchen tech that will heighten your cooking experience. These days a new bit of kitchen tech gets released into the market every day, because of this it can be difficult to choose which tech will benefit your cooking experience more. We have noticed how difficult it can be to pick out some new tech and so we have compiled a list of our top three crazy new pieces of kitchen tech that is currently taking the world by storm, among this list you are bound to find some technology that will fit your needs.

 

Air Fryers

If you are someone who is conscious about what they put into the body and the fats that can be found in food these days, you may already be aware of the wonders of the air fryer. As we have become a more health-conscious society, air fryers have skyrocketed in popularity. They basically operate much like a convection oven and cook the food through the use of hot air. Air fryers eliminate the need for cooking oil and other ingredients that are full of trans fats and so make even the more unhealthy dishes much healthier. It is also widely agreed that cooking your food in an air fryer makes it taste much better, which is why it is common to find an air fryer in most households these days. If you are interested in what other benefits you may experience from the use of an air fryer, you can always read more at reviewho, where they discuss in-depth all of the cool features you could use.

 

Electric peeler

If you are someone who regularly makes food from scratch, then you will be more than aware of how tedious the process of peeling each individual piece of veg can be. If you are someone who has a large family, then this will be even more annoying as you will most likely need to prepare large quantities at once. Electric peelers are one of the most useful tools that you could have in your kitchen and simply require you to place your vegetables onto a hook and then the peeler does all of the work, you don’t even need to turn the vegetables.

 

Ice machine

Ice machines are one of those gadgets that everyone wants but nobody thinks they can afford it. Ice machines have drastically decreased in price over the years and so now is the perfect opportunity to grab one. Ice machines can be extremely handy on those hot days when you simply don’t have the patience to wait around for the ice cube trays to freeze. They can also be useful for anyone that regularly entertains, as a bit of ice somehow makes every drink taste a little better.

Date:Posted By:Category:Home Improvement

The DIY Guys: A Guide to Assembling the Perfect Tool Kit

When it comes to putting together the perfect tool kit it is important that every DIY eventuality has been thought of, if you are a professional in this industry there is no predicting what you are going to be asked to do. The nightmare situation of not having the tool you need is something you definitely want to avoid as it can make you look very unprofessional, which is why proper preparation is key. In order to make sure you have all the bases covered with your tools, I would recommend you compartmentalize your tool kit into the different kinds of jobs you may be asked to do.

 

Power Tools

Power tools are a staple for any efficient tool kit, they make processes that would otherwise require a manual tool much easier and less strenuous, many DIY jobs will require you to be able to complete the work as quickly as possible and power tools are the way to do that. If you are in the market for new power tools in particular power drivers, then impactdriverguide.co.uk is a great website to visit for comparisons and reviews on the hottest tools currently available.

 

There are many different options available on the market for power tools, a great way to reduce the cost of the tools would be to opt for a set that is all powered by one battery pack. One of the biggest innovations to come to the power tool industry is the introduction of toolsets with one battery and multiple different tool attachments. These sets are cheaper as only one battery is required and much more efficient as you no longer need to carry around multiple heavy power tools, these sets would be a great investment for anyone working within this industry.

 

Manual Tools

Although power tools are a great addition to any complete tool kit, it is important you don’t forget the basics. Manual tools are essential for the work that power tools are not capable of like smaller DIY jobs. There are multiple essential items that every professional tool kit should include in multiple sizes and variations, in order for you to be able to complete DIY jobs to the very best standard.

 

Screwdriver – every tool kit should contain multiple screwdrivers with different heads corresponding to the different types of screws, although electric screwdrivers are very effective some tasks require a basic handheld screwdriver to avoid damaging your materials.

 

Wrenches – wrenches are required when working with nuts and bolts in order to secure things to one another, a good wrench will be required to conduct DIY work effectively.

 

Wire Cutters – some jobs will require the cutting down of your materials in order for them to fit the designated measurements. Wire cutters are useful for cutting through the metal wire and shaping materials to the specifications of your design.

 

Tape Measure – an often overlooked item within the tool kit, tape measures are vital to ensuring your measurements are correct within your work. If your measurements are off by even a millimeter then your whole work could be ruined, so having a tape measure to hand to check everything is as it should be is crucial.

 

Hammer – another staple in any tool kit, ensuring you have a good quality hammer is very important, if you decide to go for a lower quality hammer you may find that it breaks easily because of the force required to use it.

 

Utility Knife – a utility knife is another item that is often overlooked, having a blade is very important in the event that something needs cutting down or for marking your measurements on your materials.

Date:Posted By:Category:Creative

Dealing with Pests In the Home: A Professionals Guide

For the average Connecticut resident, pests may be a problem. If the trash pickup doesn’t come and you’ve left the trash bins outside, adventurous wildlife could come and dig through the scraps, or if they smell food within your home, and you live somewhere near the woods, raccoons or rats could come into your home looking for their next treat. They could bring bugs into your home, make nests inside, or drag diseases through your home. These are all grim prospects, but they can easily be dealt with if you go by it the right way. One of the best local Connecticut pest control agencies is YalePest, they give guidance and pest control services that will impress and ease the minds of many Connecticut families. This is a step-by-step guide for the professional to work with their client to prevent the problem, if one occurs, identify the problem, create a solution, and give their client a pest-free home.

 

Prevention

All Connecticut residents should have a pest-free home before one occurs, or if the beginning of one occurs, such as spotting a raccoon in their yard, the client should do several things such as remove food, shelter, and water from open areas in the household or yard, clean pets thoroughly after each walk, especially if they’ve rolled about in the mud. Plaster, or block any places in which bugs and pests can set up a nest, lay eggs and hide et cetera. The client should be on pest alert. This means avoiding any secondhand furniture and cleaning all the furniture they currently own. They should also look into buying stronger, smell resistant bins, to avoid drawing in more wildlife.

 

Identify the Problem

The client has identified a pest problem, but perhaps they have not seen the pest yet, maybe the pest has left evidence such as broken and torn trash bags, waste on the floor, or feces. Identify the target by setting up anticoagulant bait traps to see if one can be caught or see if the client has identified scurrying sounds on the floor. For termites, perhaps the client has seen little beige bugs about, holes in the wall, mud tubes, or a thick brown substance running up cracks or the foundation of the house. Bed bugs are easy to spot as they could be on the sofa in droves or the client has woken up, or the children with large red bite marks. These can be dealt with the same way as termites, as most bugs can. A wasp problem would be an unusually large population of wasps swarming the house and a wasp nest can easily be found, either attached to the house, in the basement, or in the house if windows have been left open. Always advise your client to avoid contact with any nests they find, especially wasps nest. When under attack, these creatures become very defensive.

 

The Solution

For termites and bed bugs, heat treatment and pesticides are the go-to. For the termites, holes might need to be drilled to find the nest and breeding ground, but bed bugs are more obvious as they hide underneath furniture. You should invest in pesticides that are going to target the species you are after. Some insect sprays won’t work as well on traditional rodents and vice versa. You also want to consider the impact these chemicals could have on the environment and the building they are being used in. Lasting damage caused to a client’s property could reflect badly on your company.

Date:Posted By:Category:Uncategorized

How Interior Design Trends have Changed over the Years

The world of interior design is something that is always going through some form of change, with different things coming in and out of what is popular. Social media plays a huge part in what is considered to be “in right now”, with influencers showing off their interior style on platforms like Twitter and Instagram.

 

Grey

The color grey has been used as a focal interior design aspect for quite a while, it’s a stylish appeal and very clean design aesthetic make it a great color scheme in any modern household.

 

Ornaments

Ornaments have always been a very popular method of making a house a home, collecting unique pieces that have a personal and meaningful backstory to you is a great way of adding a personal flair to your home. Using ornaments to decorate dates back a long time and this design approach was used as a means of portraying wealth as you have a lot of possessions. Many pieces were often gifts, nowadays you can find great gift options online particularly on vipgearz, which is an online service with a wide selection of ornaments that would make great gifts.

 

Antique

Another more meaningful approach to interior design is the collection and display of antique pieces. The great thing about antiques is that they not only look great but they make your space look a lot more interesting, if you are interested in using antiques within your interior design I would recommend asking about each piece’s backstory as they will probably make great conversation starters when you have guests.

 

Rustic

A final interior design trend we have seen recently would have to be a more Rustic appeal. Bare floorboards and a cozy rug, cozy furniture, and a bare brick wall are all common features that would be considered rustic. Although it’s not for everyone if it is you will find that a more rustic design is a great way of creating a homely area.

Date:Posted By:Category:Garden Ideas, Home

How to Choose the Perfect Sofa for Your Living Room

Decorating your living room and choosing the right furniture is very important as most of us spend a lot of our time there. Whether you spend time there while watching TV or just spending time with family, the living room is one of the most important rooms in the house. Having the perfect sofa in the living room can set it apart and make it look cozier and lived in. If you’re thinking about redecorating, or have just moved into a new home, and are unsure of how to decide on the perfect sofa, here are some helpful tips to consider in the decision process:

 

Size of the room

This is an extremely important first step as you need to know how much space you are working within case the sofa you pick doesn’t fit in the room. Consider different sizes of sofas, whether you choose to go with one long sectional or two smaller sofas that will fit in the corner of the room, there are many sites such as theo-theo that break down the best of these options available. It is important to maximize the amount of sitting space you have whilst not taking up too much of the room as you never know how many guests you will be hosting in the future.

 

Color and material

Ensuring that your sofa matches the rest of the color scheme in the room is a very important detail to factor in when decorating your living room. If the color of the sofa you pick doesn’t match the pre-existing color-scheme, it can make you want to spend less time in the living room when this is a room that you should want to spend much of the day in. Considering the material of the sofa is also important as many things should be factored in, for example, if you have children, pets or are just simply clumsy, it might be a good idea to opt for a leather sofa that is easy to clean. If none of these things apply to you then a sofa in a different material, such as suede might make a nice addition to the room. Comfort is also key when choosing a sofa, so the inner cushions are just as important to consider before coming to a final decision

 

Price

The price of a sofa is, for some people, the most important part of choosing the perfect sofa for your living room. This is because they can be very expensive depending on the size and while it is important to have a high-quality sofa, it is not something many people want to break the bank over. A good tip for finding an affordable sofa is to shop around, don’t settle for the first sofa that you see and like, see what other cheaper options are out there. Furthermore, there are several great options out there to buy second-hand or refurbished sofas, that can be just as good, look brand new and allow you to save a lot of money.

 

Date:Posted By:Category:Creative, Garden Ideas

How to Turn Your Garden Into an Adventure Playground

It is every child’s dream to have an adventure playground in their back garden, where they will be able to have fun and spend hours outside in the fresh air and sunshine. Whether you put together something using only old, miscellaneous objects that you find around the house or in the shed, or you build a treehouse or playground from scratch, either way, you’re bound to end up with something fun. You don’t have to have a lot of money to invest in expensive toys or park sets and treehouses to be able to create an adventure playground. Hours can be spent playing in the garden and it doesn’t just have to be children who get enjoyment from it, especially if the weather is nice and sunny. This not only gets you outside in the fresh air but the process of turning your garden into an adventure playground is bound to be a great exercise activity as well as a chance to bond with your family and friends. Turn it into a party by inviting over your kids’ friends and their parents to enjoy your adventure playground together. If you’re stuck for ideas on how to turn your garden into an adventure playground, look no further, as here are some simple ideas and tips for doing just that, whether on a budget or if you have the cash to spare.

On a Budget

If you want to keep your adventure playground simple and don’t have a lot of cash to spare, there are many cheap yet fun ideas for transforming your garden. If you have any old junk lying around such as boxes, spare pieces of wood or old tires, these are all perfect for putting together a simple yet fun adventure playground. Experts suggest that if you are going to spend money on anything, invest in simple wooden planks, as although to you they might seem boring, to a child wooden planks can turn into a slide or a bridge. Even doing a bit of gardening and planting some bushes or colorful flowers can add to the magic of a child’s imagination. If you want to keep your kids from doing too much climbing, incorporating water into the fun with something simple like a bucket will keep them busy, especially in warm weather. You can even phone around any local companies if they have spare materials such as piping, wood or bricks to create steppingstones and platforms on the ground. Another great idea is to buy some cheap fairy lights to string up, whether on a tree or on your fence, it not only will add a bit of magic but also allows the fun to keep going past sunset.

What makes an adventure playground so special is that it doesn’t require a lot of money to make it fun, a large part of the enjoyment is the opportunity for kids to use their imagination when playing. All it takes is a bit of DIY and imagination to create something impressive and it can even turn into a bonding activity with your family if you all join in on the effort. If you need some guidance on how to do DIY, or for some ideas and tips for working in your garden, turning it into an adventure playground and making the most out of your outdoor space, there are many companies and websites available, such as PursuingOutdoors to help you with this.

With Cash to Spare

If you have the time and money to invest in turning your garden into an adventure playground, there are a lot of opportunities and ideas on how to do something incredible that your children are bound to love and enjoy. Building a treehouse or hiring someone to put it together for you is always a good way to impress, as they provide a spot in the garden for a child to imagine themselves as a king or queen in a castle as well as providing a teenager or adult somewhere away from the house for some peace and quiet if required. Another good and popular option with kids is buying a swing set, something so simple can allow for so much fun as long as it is properly secured in the ground and has enough room around it, you could swing for hours without rest. Sandpits are classic and must-have for the adventure playground in your garden as well as water features such as a slip ‘n’ slide or a mini fountain to splash around in on a hot day. Perhaps more obvious but just as fun is an obstacle course. Whether this is made through a combination of different purchases or a pre-made set, you can turn it into a fun competition and challenge each other to complete it in the fastest time.

 

Although going out to an adventure playground can be a lot of fun, it doesn’t have to take a lot of money or effort to turn your own garden into one. Doing this not only reduces the necessity to travel but also provides hours of entertainment for you and your kids right outside your door. Whether you have a large budget or can only afford to use old junk and assorted objects that you already own, what makes an adventure playground special is the fun that kids get to have with their imagination and the bonding that it allows between family.

Date:Posted By:Category:Home Improvement

The 8 Most Common Electrical Problems You’ll Face as a Home Owner

Canada is a land of luscious landscape, thriving and friendly communities and bountiful wildlife. It is no doubt hundreds flock here to settle down. But, as with any home, you will be faced with a number of problems, including electrical. Finding an electrician in Ottawa or anywhere in Canada shouldn’t be a problem. So below are some of the most common problems you will face.

Short Fuse

Perhaps the most common problem you will face is your electrics short fusing. This could be a random accident but most likely the cause will be you have overloaded a socket with too many appliances. This can simply be fixed by going to your fuse box and resetting the fuses.

Faulty Wiring

This could be a problem with the installed electrics of the house or caused by installing some new tech. If the wiring within the building is off it can have a direct impact on the rest of your electronics. This issue will require a much more professional hand to do as it will involve working with complex wiring.

Snowstorms

This is an issue that will present itself in a snowy area. Rolling snowstorms can knock out power grids for a considerable amount of time with no quick fix. If this happens there is very little you can personally do to change it. In an environment where this is possible it is wise to make sure you have emergency torches and candles in safe locations to deal with the dark.

Rodents

This is one of the more unlikely, yet still possible occurrences. If rodents get into your walls or near some wire lines, they can gnaw through them and cause massive problems with your home electrics. These issues are fixable, but you can stop them before they occur by setting traps for rodents and keeping good hygiene standards.

Rolling Blackouts

Different from a normal blackout, rolling blackouts are sometimes implemented during heavy storm seasons or times when the grid is facing a lot of strain. This is when blackouts happen on a schedule across a certain area. This can cause a lot of problems to your day to day lifestyle and you will need to make sure you are prepared for it by stocking up on supplies.

Electrical Interference

A common occurrence for new homeowners is to get a bunch of new gadgets and fill your home with them. But this can cause electrical interference which is a constant annoyance. It can cause a constant ringing noise that hangs around your house, but it can also cause issues with your other appliances around your house. A lot of the time these issues can manifest as issues that are caused by internal issues, which means you can end up spending money fixing a device that isn’t broken but simply being affected by the interference.

Shoddy Installations

Cowboy installers can cause several issues in your home when it comes to electrical issues. This is why it is vital you find a company that will do a decent job that will not leave you with more issues than you started with. A lot of the more intricate technical installations you will have will require an electrician so you will have to hire someone in to do this. For example, installing new plug sockets or installing new ethernet ports is a full job that requires expertise. And if these jobs are done shoddily you will end up paying more out of pocket.

Shoddy Signal

This is an issue that should be looked into before you decide on where to live. Signalling issues can be caused by any number of things. Electrical interference or physical interference. This can cause massive issues when you want to make mobile calls or utilize wi-fi to its full potential. So when you are purchasing your new home it could be an idea to try making a few calls around the house to make sure the signal is solid. If you find the wi-fi signal in your new home isn’t as strong as it could be you can invest in a wi-fi booster to make it stronger.

Date:Posted By:Category:Uncategorized

Common Issues you Will Face as a New Homeowner

So, you’ve just bought your first house, or maybe you’re thinking now is the time to fly the nest. Whatever your reason is, it’s a massive responsibility. If you’re feeling like your parents are suffocating you or you’re wanting your own space to do whatever you want, getting a new house may seem like a tempting option. But, it’s important to be aware that owning your own house isn’t quite as straightforward as it may seem in movies. There are a lot of things you’ll need to consider when you relinquish the help of your parents, here are some common issues you’ll face as a new homeowner.

 

Neighbors Aren’t Always Perfect

Contrary to popular belief, we won’t all be lucky enough to move in beside the perfect neighbors in our first house. Nobody’s perfect and it can be a surprise realizing your neighbors probably won’t be either. The easiest way to deal with difficult neighbors is by striking up a conversation and establishing a relationship with them. They’ll be far more likely to appreciate your concerns if you aren’t known as ‘that rude new person’, word travels.

Furniture is Expensive

Decorating your new house may be one of the things you’re most excited about but, I’m sorry to be the one to break it to you, furniture is expensive. It’s important to do some searching online to see what sort of things you want in your house and even more searching to find where you can find the closest thing for the least amount of money.

There’s a Bill for Everything

Living alone for the first time is expensive. Whether WiFi, electricity, rent or anything else people can think to charge for, you’ll find yourself struggling financially for the first few months. But don’t worry, if you’re looking for help with your personal finances or if you’re looking for ways to save, there are plenty of resources online to help. Many are even targeted for new homeowners.

Things Break

Pretty self-explanatory, but it’s still something we tend to forget. Things break and often they can end up being expensive to fix or replace. Yet another cost to add.

Doing Everything Yourself Sucks

You will never be more thankful your parents than when you first move out on your own. Independence sounds great, but when you’re staring at a massive pile of dirty clothes and another pile of dirty dishes and you’re hovering above your oven unsure what setting is ‘fan’, you’ll be running for the phone for some advice.

Date:Posted By:Category:Uncategorized

3 Cost Effective Ways to Spruce up your Home

Your home is your safe space and where you arguably spend most of your time. Because of this, it should be a place that makes you feel good to spend a lot of time at. There is no better way to feel comfortable than being in beautiful surroundings that you can be proud of, here are 3 cost effective ways to Spruce up your Home.

Lighting

Lighting can really add ambience to a room and can be a really inexpensive way to make any room look better. Check out local shops and online to find some cheap lighting tools. Amazon and eBay are great sources for hanging fairy lights and quirky lamps, just keep your eyes peeled and you’ll be able to come across plenty of bargains. If you’re looking at any online sites you can come across bargains, as well as discount coupons to bring the price down even further. If you’re looking at finding some coupons, it may be worth looking at sites like https://www.yourbestdeals.com/store/autonomous-coupon-codes/, where you’ll find lots of options.

Thrift

Thrifting has made a come back in recent years and because of this, thrift shops have been receiving new and trendy donations all of the time. You can find some really good pieces of furniture in thrift shops like tables or ornaments for a fraction of the original price. A lot of the furniture that you can find are in perfect condition.

Pillows and throws

Pillow, Sofa, Cozy, Furniture, Seat Cushions, Couch

The power of pillows and throws is very underappreciated. Adding a colourful and quirky pillow to an item of furniture will really Spruce it up and give it new life. The same can be said for throws. If you feel like your sofa or couch could use with an upgrade but don’t have the funds for it, adding a colourful and comfy throw to it can make it feel like a whole new piece of furniture.