Contributed Posts – Page 101 – The Big Words Blog Site

Curb Appeal Tricks For Your Business

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you have a ‘brick and mortar’ business, a key consideration is your curb appeal. New customers are more likely to wander in your business has a compelling appearance. The following contributed post is entitled, Curb Appeal Tricks For Your Business.

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The way that your business looks from the outside can make a lot of difference. Curb appeal is one of the many things you need to keep on top of as a business owner and can help to draw in potential customers. When customers or clients walk past or arrive at your business, an outside that looks tidy and smart makes a good impression before they even get inside.

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1. Clean the pavement. Pressure washing is the easiest to thoroughly clean the pavement, your car park, or any paved area outside your business. If the outside is clean, your business will look a lot more inviting.

2. Add some plants. Greenery and flowers are a simple way to add personality and color to the front of your businesses. Fill some planters and put them on either side of your front door. This looks welcoming and also gives visitors the impression that someone is looking after the premises.

3. Give your signage a refresh. If your signage has seen better days or has become faded, it shows that the business isn’t being looked after and this gives a bad impression. Repair any signage that needs to be fixed, and repaint anything that has faded or looks like it would benefit from a refresh. Show off your branding.

4. Sweep outside every day. The outside of your business can easily start to look scruffy, with litter, dead leaves, and cigarette ends gathering. Someone needs to sweep out front every day to clear away this unsightly litter. Before you open for the day, sweep outside so your frontage looks cared for, clean, and ready to entice people in as they arrive.

5. Change your window displays frequently. If your business has a window at the front, make the most of your space for window displays. Show off different ranges of products, and change these displays on a regular basis. If you change the displays, people who walk past the store frequently, such as on the way to work, will notice that there is something different in the window to look at and they could notice something in the window that encourages them to come inside and find out more.

6. Make it obvious what your business actually does. Anyone walking or driving by your premises should be able to tell at a quick glance what your business does. Make sure that your signage makes this very clear.

7. Make sure your parking area is well lit and well sign-posted. If your customers can park at your business, clearly signpost where the parking spaces are so people can find them. Make sure any parking restrictions are also very obvious. Customers will be put off if think they can park, but then get hit with a parking ticket. Make your parking safe with well-maintained parking lot paving and plenty of lights. If people come to your business when it’s dark, they’ll benefit from the lights to help them feel safe. It’s also a useful addition for your staff when they leave at the end of the day.

Landing A Place At The College Of Your Dreams!

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“The higher education landscape is significantly different than what it was years ago. In addition to become more costly, it has also become much more competitive. As such, college prospects must make themselves as competitive as possible. “

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A key focus of my blog is General Education. The higher education landscape is significantly different than what it was years ago. In addition to become more costly, it has also become much more competitive. As such, college prospects must make themselves as competitive as possible. The following contributed post is entitled, Landing A Place At The College Of Your Dreams!

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Getting into college may seem like a monumental process when you begin, but a place in the intuition of your dreams is within your grasp. College doesn’t have to be unattainable and your college search is just the beginning to figuring out what the best options are for your study and your future. College is something you can have if you want it and we’ve got you covered for all you need to know. There are even some things you can do, in particular, that will help make the application process easier and more effective, and make landing that place much more likely. Keep reading to find out what they are.

Getting into college may seem like a monumental process when you begin, but a place in the intuition of your dreams is within your grasp. There are even some things you can do, in particular, that will help make the application process easier and more effective, and make landing that place much more likely. Keep reading to find out what they are.

Maintain a high GPA in high school

Yes, that’s right; no one gets into their dream college without maintaining a high GPA throughout all four years of high school. You will find that students that meet these criteria will be among the first that colleges consider.

Of course, this means consistently hard work, although there are some things you can do to help maximize your chances of keeping your grades up. The first is to embrace organization, yes that’s right if you know what classes you need to be at, and what homework is due when you are much more likely to be able to stay on top of things.

Additionally, picking a high school that provides students with a customized learning pathway, tailored to their strengths and needs can make all the difference when it comes to keeping grades high. The good news is that many charter schools now offer the opportunity to follow a customized learning path online. Something that means you can get the optimum K12 school science from the comfort of your very own home, even during the pandemic.

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Understand the application process

Next, if you want to max out your chances of getting into the college you want, you must make an effort to grasp the ins and outs of the application process.

For example, most students don’t realize that many colleges will take either an SAT or an ACT score. Therefore you can take both tests and then only use the one in which you did the best, thus increasing your chance of being accepted.

Create a brag sheet to help teachers make recommendations for you

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Finally, it is essential to remember that teachers and other recommendations can go a long way when it comes to securing a place in your dream college. Unfortunately, educational staff will be asked to complete many recommendations over the application period, which means they might not always have a good handle on what makes you stand out among the best and brightest in your year.

The good news is that you can make it easy for them to remember all your best qualities by creating a brag sheet and distributing this along with your request for a recommendation. The great thing about using this tactic is that you not only will ensure all your personal qualities are covered, but it makes writing a recommendation faster and easier for the staff to which you give it.

Consequently, your recommendation is likely to be more positive, and on time too, because it is less of a chore for the staff member to complete. It’s a win-win for everyone involved and could just tip the scales in your favour and get you a place at your coveted dream college.

Do You Really Understand Your Expenses?

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. Often we purchase things and spend our hard earned money, not know why we’re doing it. We also often don’t understand the long-term ramifications of our expenses. The following contributed post is entitled, Do You Really Understand Your Expenses?

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Understanding your expenses takes a lot more effort than most people seem to think. Sure, they know money is coming in and money is going out, but they’re not taking the time to look at the details that form this big picture. And sometimes, that’s going to be detrimental for their financial health.

And if you’re the kind of person who can be a bit blasé with your money, it might be time to sit back and work out what’s really costing you month by month. Do this before your budget breaks and your savings account looks bare – don’t worry, we’ve got some tips below to help you out.

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The Three Types

It’s said that there are three main types of expenses: recurring, non recurring, and variable. Let’s go through them:

The first type of expense are the things you absolutely have to pay for, such as monthly bills or car insurance if you’re on the road.

The second type are only periodic payments, which can include yearly or bi annual bills, and often enough we forget about these.

And finally we have the variable type – things we don’t need to spend on, but we want to, such as going to the cinema, or buying a whole bunch of new clothes, or even just food shopping.

And Without Knowing the Difference, You Won’t Save Properly

When you don’t know the difference between the three expense types above, you’ll never be able to track and/or save your expenses properly. You won’t be able to distinguish between the things you must pay and the things you only want to pay for; creating a realistic budget, and being able to stick to it, revolves around this whole concept.

Put down your income first. Then fit your recurring expenses into the picture, then the things you only need to periodically pay, and then work out what’s left for the variables. This way you’ll know where savings are manageable, and what you may be spending a little too much on from time to time.

Tracking is Important

And finally, tracking your expenses is the most important thing you can do to better understand what you’re spending on. Once you know what’s recurring, what’s variable, and what’s unnecessary, you can cut back in the right areas, and funnel a bit more money to the places that really need it.

Don’t worry, you’re never going to be alone in tracking your expenses. There are plenty of tools out there to help you; for example, Pigly.Com could help you work out how much of a mortgage you could afford, or how long it’ll take to pay off that credit card debt. Either way, make good use of calculators like this to give you some real numbers to work with.

Understanding your expenses will ensure your bank account both looks good, and feels good to use. Most of all, make sure you’re tracking what’s going out, and never spending over what’s coming in.

How Future-Proofing Your Office Can Save Your Business Money

Three focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. If you’re using an office to conduct your business and operations, you may want to consider future-proofing your office to ensure its continued operations. The following contributed post is entitled, How Future-Proofing Your Office Can Save Your Business Money.

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If you run your business from an office, you’ll likely also employ many staff to take care of the daily running of things. As you can appreciate, today’s modern offices require a lot of equipment and technology to operate at optimum efficiency.

The trouble is, some business leaders don’t invest much time or money into modernizing their working areas. As a result, it takes longer to do things due to outdated or faulty systems. And that ultimately means a lower annual turnover and reduced profit.

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The good news is that all is not lost. You can take several steps to future-proof your office and ensure that your business is a market leader. Here’s what you can do to bring your company into the 21st century:

Install fiber optic cabling

One of the first things you need to look at is how your business interacts with the outside world internally. All modern business offices have network cabling that allows computers and electronic devices to communicate internally and across the Internet.

But, if you have a large office or your business is spread across several different offices, you could easily face the limitations of CAT5 and CAT6 network cabling. To overcome those challenges, it makes sense to use fiber optic cabling for trunk communications.

You might need fiber optic cable installers to install the cabling for you. But, any person competent in IT communications can install and set up fiber equipment such as switches and routers to utilize fiber optic cabling.

Upgrade to high-speed Internet access

You should also upgrade your office’s Internet access to complement your new fiber optic cabling. The shocking truth about many business locations is they only have basic broadband speeds – completely inadequate for the needs of today’s modern business.

Did you know that fiber optic Internet access is very affordable these days, even for small businesses? It makes sense to upgrade to such Internet connection technology. Plus, as your business grows, you can upgrade to higher speeds in the future with ease.

Upgrade to a unified communications model

It goes without saying that all businesses need telephone systems, whether they are landline-based or mobile. But, one of the challenges that face all companies is tying together the various communication methods they use each day.

Thankfully, it’s now possible to upgrade to a unified communications model in your business. What does that mean exactly? In layman’s terms, you can unify your telephone, voicemail, fax, and email systems into one single setup.

For example, you can receive voicemail messages and faxes in your email inbox. And you can easily divert your phone number to any location around the world, making it easy to work from home or abroad.

Final thoughts

The above is just a few of many ways that you can future-proof your office – and your business. In an extremely competitive market, it makes sense to do everything in your power to stay ahead of the competition.

Future-proofing your office is one of the biggest ways to achieve that goal, yet it’s also one of the least thought of methods.

5 Skills You Should Learn In Life

Two focuses of my blog are Creating Ecosystems of Success and Health/Wellness. Even before the Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic, there were a set of specific essential skills that everyone should’ve had some comfort level with, skills that are now more important than ever. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Skills You Should Learn In Life.

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Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that you never know what is around the corner, and it is important to be prepared for anything. How many people were thrown into the world of homeschooling this year? Or having to do more cooking as they had to stay inside more? Or what about those who have lost their jobs but used their other skills to make money or to help out with the pandemic? It’s so useful to have life skills as you never know when they might come in handy. Right now, if you’re spending more time at home, then it’s the perfect time to learn a new skill.

Cooking
You don’t need to be a Michelin starred chef, and while it’s absolutely fine to order takeaways every now and again and pop a ready meal in the microwave, it’s also really useful to be able to make just a couple of easy meals. There are loads of recipes you can make, which don’t require much effort, and these days with frozen or chopped vegetables, you don’t even have to do much preparation. It’s good to know that your family is eating healthily and that you know what is in their meals. Find your family favorites and begin with cooking those, and you’ll soon get that hang of what ingredients work well together, and you’ll build your confidence to be more adventurous.

Survival Skills
Survival information is important in todays’ world. With more people now taking staycations and doing activities such as camping for their holidays, having survival skills can mean a safer but also a more fun time.

Sewing
When you lose a button or have a hole in your jumper, do you know what to do, or do you just throw your clothes out? Having sewing skills means you don’t have to go out and buy new ones, but you can fix your favorite clothes. Now that’s just if you learn the essentials, but knowing how to make a dress or like in the recent months, those people who are a dab hand at sewing have been so helpful making scrubs for the NHS and making money from making pretty masks for people.

First Aid
Do you know what to do if someone has an accident? Or if someone is choking? Or even just if they have fallen over and are bleeding? Do you know the signs of a heart attack or stroke? It’s so handy to have the basic skills for your family’s safety and for your own. You can pick up a basic first aid book or sign up for some classes if you want to learn more and make sure you get it right.

DIY
DIY skills can be a very useful set of skills, not just for your own home, but it is something you can make money from too. People always need home repair, and if you know what to do, then you could be very popular. There are plenty of youtube videos available on how to DIY, so not only will you learn something new, fix something that is broken but also enjoy the satisfaction that comes with doing it yourself.

Why Should Every Adult Learn About Tax Returns

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and General Education. While it’s typically covered in many K-12 education core curricula, some adults still don’t understand the purpose of taxes, how they’re raised and how they’re abused by government officials. It’s a topic that every adult should have knowledge of. The following contributed post is entitled, Why Should Every Adult Learn About Tax Returns.

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In my eyes, every adult should learn about tax returns. Ideally, this should begin when you’re a child – or at least when you’re in high school. It sounds like a boring topic, but tax is one of the most important parts of your adult life. Whether you own a business or not, you will pay tax. It is basically how the government gets the money to fund different projects in various communities. As much as people despise paying taxes, it’s a necessity for a successful country.

If you know nothing about tax returns, it’s well worth learning something new. To convince you that this is worthwhile, here’s why every adult should know something about tax returns:

Understand where your money goes

Learning about taxes helps you understand where your money goes. In essence, it teaches you why you have to pay a tax return. For small business owners and the self-employed, tax season is always a bummer. It can feel like you’re parting with hard-earned wages for no reason at all. By learning the ins and outs of taxes, it provides more context to the situation. You may still be irritated by paying your taxes, but at least you understand where the money goes and how it might benefit you in the future.

Pay the right amount

Similarly, gaining knowledge of tax returns allows you to pay the right amount. You will often fall on either side of the spectrum if you don’t know anything about tax returns. Some people pay far too much; others pay too little. If you pay too much, you basically do yourself an injustice as you could’ve held onto some money. Again, suppose you’re self-employed or running a business. In that case, this can be the difference between making a profit and breaking even. Obviously, paying too little is wrong as you can be hit with fines and criminal charges. By understanding tax returns, you will always pay as much as required.

Forge out a new career

Tax returns are an essential part of the world, and loads of people file them. As this entire article suggests, hardly anyone actually understands tax returns. Therefore, your knowledge could help you forge a new career. Take an online course to earn a tax preparer certification, and you can suddenly carry out tax returns for different people and businesses. This service is in demand, meaning you can earn a lot of money. It’s something you can do alongside your current job or as a career in its own right. Don’t just assume that learning about something is good from a personal development standpoint. It can also give you a leg up in life that leads you to more success.

In conclusion, learning about tax returns can be highly beneficial. It’s something all adults should do, and it should form part of an educational program geared towards money management. If I were in charge of education in this country, that would certainly be something I’d push forward. People grow up with pointless knowledge of things they never need in life. Instead, let’s teach people about crucial things like taxes, savings, and so on.

Why More Iowans Are Using Solar Panels in Their Homes and Businesses

Three focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In addition to being more environmentally friendly in terms of powering homes and businesses, there are financial incentives for incorporating this type of technology and one state in the union seems to be leading the charge in terms of its usage. The following contributed post is entitled, Why More Iowans Are Using Solar Panels in Their Homes and Businesses.

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Thanks to a number of incentives available, more and more Iowans have been adopting the use of solar panels in their home. Whether it’s tax incentives or easement laws, it’s become easier than ever to start using solar as your renewable energy source of choice. Regardless if you’re a homeowner or a business owner, solar can reduce your energy bills by a significant amount and also offer you a number of other benefits depending on your use case.

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/mIlvCv21W1s (CC0)

What are the benefits of solar energy?

Solar panels come with a range of different benefits, but the most important ones are:

● A renewable energy source that reduces your carbon footprint.
● Reduced electricity bills thanks to solar energy powering many devices and electronics in your home.
● Low maintenance costs due to no moving parts and high reliability.
● Low maintenance as a user; all you need to do is clean it occasionally to remove debris and dirt that covers the panels.
● Constant technological improvements to efficiency and power generation.
● Space-saving design; solar panels typically stay on your roof and don’t demand extra space in your home or business.

The average cost of solar panel installations in Iowa

According to Energy Sage, the average cost of installing a solar panel in Iowa ranges from $14,408 to $19,492. This can seem extremely expensive, but it offers a constant return in the form of energy savings and there are many financial options and incentives to help you afford the installation. For many businesses and homes, you can expect to get your investment back in just 8 years. This is also known as the solar payback period. After that 8 year mark, any savings from solar are going to be pure savings that will be helping you save money.

These numbers are a rough estimate so it’s important to get in touch with a local solar company such as Iowa Solar to help you crunch the numbers and give you an accurate estimate based on your use case and location. Although the amount of sunlight that Iowa gets per year is fairly average by U.S. standards, it’s the incentives that have helped push many Iowans to adopt solar in their homes and businesses.

Iowa’s history as a renewable energy leader

Even back in March, Iowa passed important legislation that provided opportunities for solar energy to grow in the state. The bill highlighted the codifying of net metering in Iowa law and the grandfathering of existing customers into their current plans. It also discussed the transition to a Value of Solar rate in the future. Thanks to this legislation, Iowa’s solar industry has become a little more predictable and will continue to focus on low costs for all customers for both residential and commercial uses of solar.

Iowa has been a leader in renewable energy sources for many years now. They’ve constantly been pushing for wind and solar investments and, thanks to many collaborations between different organizations, Iowans have continued to enjoy the benefits of the state’s transition to clean energy at all levels.

The Not So Secret Life of Your Voting Record

A key focus of my blog is Current Events. The United States is on the precipice of potentially the most pivotal election in history at potentially the most tumultuous time in its history. We’re in an environment where it isn’t necessarily safe to say who your voting preference is. Even if you don’t disclose it yourself, is your voting record still confidential? The following contributed post is entitled, The Not So Secret Life of Your Voting Record.

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How you vote in the next election is confidential. But whether you are a democrat or republican is not the only piece of information that is recorded when you send in your ballot. Many citizens make the mistake of thinking that all the information associated with their vote remains private, but the reality is very different.

What details are recorded?

When you register to vote, your data is stored in your state’s voting records. Identifying details such as your;

-Name
-Date and place of birth
-Gender
-Social security number
-Passport and/or license number
-Family names and maiden names
-Address (including previous addresses), and
-Contact information such as email and phone numbers

Who can access my record?

Not all of this information is publicly available, however, your name, address, and party affiliation is available, regardless of state. Apps such as OutVote and VoteWithMe make these records easily accessible by the general public. Additional information may be accessed by law enforcement or purchased from the registry by political parties.

State law dictates who can access records, and how the information can be used. It is generally the case that third parties can view your voting history online. The intent of this publicly available information is not generally for commercial purposes; however, it is rare that there are specific safeguards in place to prevent this being the case.

Whilst there are strict state and federal laws surrounding voter records and the safety of voter information, there have been incidents where this information has been unlawfully offered up for sale in the public domain.

How can I privatise my record?

You may be exempt from being required to have your information on the public voter registry. Status as a protected voter is given on a case by case basis, and can include:

-Law enforcement officers and their spouses
-Victims and witnesses of crime (including domestic violence)
-Healthcare professionals, including volunteers
-Some healthcare patients
-Foster parents

6 Common Types of Urine Tests

A key focus of my blog is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Urine tests are a critical tool in the medical sciences and forensics. Certain illnesses can be detected and identified through urine tests in addition to the presence of pharmaceuticals, illegal drugs and toxins. The following contributed post is entitled, 6 Common Types of Urine Tests.

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Image by Polina Tankilevitch via Pexels

When it comes to testing for diseases, urine has special prominence as the ideal specimen. This is because it has a specific composition, and foreign substances usually point to particular ailments. For instance, excessive protein in the urine, known as proteinuria, often indicates heart issues or poor kidney function.

Urine samples can be collected in various ways for specific tests. Here is all you need to know about the standard urine tests and what ailments and conditions they point to.

6 Common Types of Urine Tests

1. Random Urine Tests

As the name suggests, these tests are done without any prior scheduling. They are typical during routine testing, especially before a patient is admitted to the hospital or before surgery. Some random urine tests, like rapid tests, can even be carried out at home.

Rapid urine tests generally come as strips that change color depending on the specimen’s chemical composition. You can then interpret the results using the table that usually accompanies the test. Although you can carry out the test on your own, it is best to seek a trained medical professional’s opinion and advice.

These tests indicate the presence of various substances in the urine, including such compounds as bilirubin, proteins, sugar, urinary casts, and ketones. These substances are not usually present in urine, and their presence usually indicates that a part of the body is malfunctioning.

For instance, urinary casts, which are cylindrical solids in urine, indicate a problem with the kidneys’ renal tubes. On the other hand, high cholesterol levels show that a patient has excessive amounts of this unhealthy substance.

2. First Morning Urine Tests

These tests are also called 8-hour urine tests. The first urine sample of the day is used for these tests. They are typically more accurate than random urine tests since they tend to be more concentrated, having stayed in the bladder for a longer time.

3. Mid-Stream Clean Catch Urine Tests

Mid-stream clean catch tests are used to collect urine under sterile conditions, which is then tested for germs. The patient starts by cleaning the genital area using water or antiseptic wet wipes to perform the test. Then, they begin emptying the bladder into the toilet, pause midway, collect the mid-sample in a sterile container and then finish voiding in the bathroom.

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To create a bacteria culture, a medium on which bacteria can grow, like glass, is placed in the collected urine. The sample is placed in an incubator for two to four days. By four days, any bacteria in the urine will have started to form colonies that a Urine Collector can identify.

4. 24-hour Urine Tests

With these tests, the patient collects all their urine for 24 hours and then submits it for a laboratory test. However, the first urine of the day is usually not included in the tests. Instead, the urine sample for the period after the 24 hours is collected and used for testing.

24-hour urine tests are virtually the best for indicating how much of each substance is contained in a patient’s urine. Whether it is excessive amounts of salt, protein, or white blood cells, the 24-hour urine test can shed more light on what is ailing a patient. Some common diseases tested for using the 24-hour urine test include diabetes, urinary tract infection, heart failure, and kidney disease.

5. Pregnancy Tests

If a woman suspects that she is pregnant, she can carry out a urine test to confirm her suspicions. A pregnant woman’s urine contains the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone, which can be detected by a urine strip test. Most such tests have detailed instructions on how to go about the process, and many deliver results in seconds. However, be warned about the possibility of the test returning false results, especially if you are under medication or have taken too much water. It is always best to have your doctor confirm whether or not you are pregnant.

6. Drug Tests

Another common urine test is a drug test, typically done in learning institutions, by employers, and even law enforcement agencies. Drugs, like weed and heroin, remain in the body for a long time after consumption, hence can be detected through urine tests with ease. Weed, in particular, remains in the bloodstream for weeks after you smoke it.

Conclusion

Urine is one of the best specimens that doctors use to diagnose different diseases. Some of these diseases include heart failure, kidney disease, diabetes, and bacterial infections. It can also be used to test for pregnancy or drug use. A urine test is easily one of the best ways to tell how well your body is doing.

5 Problems With Buying an Old House

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“However, while many people will romanticize old homes, they come with their fair share of issues, so if you’re planning on investing in an older property, you must understand what problems you might encounter.”

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Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Home and Living Discussions. Our primary residences are the biggest purchases many people will ever make. The age of the property is a significant consideration and there can be issues with purchasing older houses. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Problems With Buying an Old House.

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Old homes come with a particular elegance and grace. Unlike new builds, they are filled with history and, depending on where you live, you may be the latest in a long line of inhabitants to make this house into a home. However, while many people will romanticize old homes, they come with their fair share of issues, so if you’re planning on investing in an older property, you must understand what problems you might encounter.

It Is Not Energy Efficient

New homes are made to conserve and retain energy. Some homes are so good at this that you may not even know it’s winter, as the insulation is so effective that it efficiently traps the heat inside. This is not the same as old houses, especially considering they do not come with double glazing and other amenities essential for conserving energy.

While this might not be much of an issue in the summer, you want to enjoy the heat; it will become a problem in winter. You might think you can counteract the chill with a wood fire or ramp the heating up, but this will make your energy bills skyrocket, which is never something you want.

It Can Be Difficult To Upgrade

If you’re someone who wants to combine the traditional with the modern, it’s perhaps best to wait and make sure this is possible. Old homes do not come with the convenience of newer builds, or even houses that are 10 to 20 years old.

This will make it difficult and expensive to upgrade them. For example, if you want to bring smart home technology into your house, you might be in for a surprise. Often, there is not the space to do so, and the foundations may not be as stable as you’d like them to be, which will make any upgrades challenging at best and dangerous at worst.

The Pipes May Be Rusted

Likewise, there’s also the risk that the pipes have not been updated in years, which means there could be rust and decay within the walls. If you’ve ever owned a property before, you don’t need reminding how hazardous this can be, so it’s worth checking on the pipes before moving in.

There are several ways to do this. You can request an inspection to ensure the house is safe for you to live in and fit for purchase. Alternatively, you might want to look at dye tablets for leak detection, which can identify any issues later on. This approach is useful for any house, but it may be most useful for an older house with the original pipes.

The Roof Could Be Damaged

A damaged roof is another issue that you may encounter when purchasing an old house, especially if the house is close to woodland or near overhanging tree branches. Over time, these environments can cause debris to damage the roof, causing the tiles to crack or fall, and this opens up the chance for gaps in the roof.

This will impact energy efficiency, making it impossible to keep warm, and it could also cause severe issues with the house’s frame. As houses are made of wood, weather damage can cause damp, and therefore rot, which will affect the house’s structural integrity, which is not something you want to encounter. It could be both costly and dangerous if you do not spot the issue quickly enough.

Pests And More

If you’re used to modern homes, you are going to be shocked at how easily bugs, critters, and pests can get into an old house. There are many reasons this would happen, and it usually relates to holes in the brickwork, but a damaged roof can also be inviting for them, especially during winter.

Pests and more are not something you want in your house, even if you’re an animal lover. If you are scared of bugs and spiders, it can put you off purchasing an old house altogether, but you can take action to keep these pests out, so they do not make things worse. Call an exterminator to deal with termites that could affect the structure, and seal up any gaps that you find.

This Old Place

While elegant and steeped in history, an old home can come with an array of issues. With this in mind, you must ensure that you know what you’re getting yourself into and whether all the repairs and upgrades will be worth it. If you decide they are, then you can enjoy a house that will soon become a home once again, as it has for many centuries before you.

That being said, an old property is not for everyone. This is why a lot of new home buyers prefer to invest in modern houses, such as these townhomes in King of Prussia, for example. Remember that when buying a property, you want to invest in what feels homely to you, whether it’s a brand-new 2-story townhome or an old house with a long history. The key is to approach the journey with your eyes open so that you are fully aware of the pros and cons of each property.