Makeover Season Is Here! 5 Renovation Projects To Work On This Summer!

Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living Discussions and Home/Property Discussions. In addition to being the season for travel and vacationing, the summer is also primetime for home renovation projects. The following contributed post is entitled, Makeover Season Is Here! 5 Renovation Projects To Work On This Summer!

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Photo by Pixabay from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gray-standard-color-book-near-green-eraser-159045/

The Covid-19 pandemic, alongside the lifestyle changes it brought, has encouraged US families to reconsider their priorities and reconfigure their lives. And, as house prices across the nation continue to increase, it isn’t surprising that renovation and remodeling projects have increased by nearly 20% just in 2022.

So, if you have always wanted to renovate your property and create a healthier and more comfortable space for your home, this might be the best time. But where to start? The five projects below are just some of the ones to consider to improve your home environment and increase its value. Let’s start.

Landscape Your Garden and Add a Deck

If you are looking to add livable square footage to your property without looking for a larger home, the first area of the house to focus on should be your garden or patio. Landscaping your garden and adding a deck or veranda are great solutions to boost livability while also creating a recreational area for your family and guests.

Whether you wish to add a firepit, swimming pool, BBQ corner, or reading nook, your home’s outside area can be transformed to support your favorite activities.

Add a Home Office or Private Fitness Studio

If you are looking for a renovation project that will increase the market value of your home as well as its livability, consider reviewing upcoming trends before deciding what to invest in. With the advent of remote working and virtual training courses, adding a home office or private fitness studio can help you improve the functionalities of your property while adding some of the most in-demand features among buyers.

Focus on the Exterior of Your House

Renovating your home’s exterior isn’t just an affordable way to boost its curb appeal, it can also increase the structural soundness of your property and the lifespan of your investments. For example, a high-quality roof can last 10-15 years – but only with property maintenance and care! In turn, some of the projects you should tick off your to-do list this summer should include roof inspection and repair, exterior painting, and driveway renovation.

Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency With Better Insulation

As the energy crisis continues to hold several countries in its grip, it has never been more important to invest in creating healthier, more energy-efficient, and greener homes. Of course, this is important to reduce your household’s impact on the environment, but it can also help you reduce your energy bills as energy prices continue to increase.

Some of the best ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency include:

● Installing better insulation
● Upgrading your HVAC system and air conditioning
● Investing in double- or triple-glazed windows
● Getting a new front door
● Investing in clean energy sources and renewables (i.e.: solar panels)
● Upgrading obsolete or energy-hungry equipment and appliances

Downsize!

The house you live in can have a great impact on your finances and health, and, if you have been looking to reconfigure your lifestyle, you might be looking to change home. In this case, downsizing can be a great way to reduce living costs while also living a more minimalist life. And, yes, the best time of the year to make house hunting and moving more enjoyable is summer!

Successful Homeschooling Tips That Every Parent Should Know

A key focus of my blog is General Education. A topic that’s gaining more momentum today for various reasons is home schooling. Many parents who are dissatisfied with public schools are looking towards this option, but also need to be mindful of all the aspects. The following contributed post is entitled, Successful Homeschooling Tips That Every Parent Should Know.

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In the past, homeschooling was seen as something that would need a great amount of time and effort in order to pull off. This is because homeschooling required that the parent had a lot of resources for teaching. This could mean textbooks, study guides, and other materials that could help the parent set up meaningful lessons that their child could learn from. However, thanks to modern technology and new resources, it’s actually fairly easy for a parent to start teaching their child at home without assistance from their child’s school.

So in this post, we’ll be covering some extremely important homeschooling tips that might be a little different than what you’d expect. Instead of giving out basic information and advice that you can find elsewhere, we’ve prepared some unique advice that will help you change the way you see homeschooling.

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Create homeschooling materials with the resources available on the internet

Many parents believe that homeschooling is extremely difficult due to the lack of available resources. However, one tip that will certainly help is to create your own homeschooling materials instead of just using whatever is available on the internet. Do keep in mind that this can take a considerable amount of work, but there are a couple of ways to drastically shorten the time you spend creating them.

One such example is using your online resources to make homeschooling materials from scratch. For example, you can use templates for everything from quizzes to movie guides thanks to a number of online resources. You can even use online tools and a variety of different software to generate things like crosswords that can be really helpful study materials for children of certain ages. You can even use online tools and a variety of different software to generate things like crosswords that can be really helpful study materials for children of certain ages. You can even look at a site like Age of Learning which has a lot of trackers, planners, and helpful little bits for you to help homeschool your child. The more resources you can find to assist you, the easier it will be to create the best possible materials.

Another way to create homeschooling materials is to take what’s already been made and then change it a little. For instance, if you want to create a quiz for your child, then you can take a couple of questions from past exam papers and quizzes that you can find on the internet, mix them up into your own quiz, then present it to your child. You can even take the questions and then alter them a little bit. As long as you know how to work out the answer yourself, this can be a fantastic way to create your own study materials.

In short, it’s a good idea to start looking at ways to develop your own study materials instead of just looking at what’s available and giving it to your child. Not only does this get you more involved and invested in the homeschooling process, but it could potentially save you a lot of money as well. We know that there are a lot of parents out there that simply don’t have the time to create their own homeschooling resources. However, if you want to do this properly and give your child the time and attention they need to be successful in their studies, then it helps to spend a few extra hours each week planning their homeschooling lessons.

Look for more interesting ways to educate your child instead of just using school methods

School typically goes something like this; you go in, you sit down, you read a book, and then you converse with the teacher for a while. Then after a while, you’ll be given a test to see how much you’ve learned. This is usually how things go in a regular classroom setting and it works for the most part. However, the way that we learn about new things and take in information can be greatly improved, especially if you’re willing to try out different methods of teaching.

A great example of this could be watching movies. Movies are a brilliant learning tool when used correctly because they can not only be used to teach new vocabulary and language, but it can also be used to teach analytical skills. For instance, you could watch a movie with your child as a fun way to bond with them, but you can also task them with identifying certain things in the movie such as themes in the story and characters. This can then be used as a way to improve your child’s analytical and observational skills while also teaching them valuable lessons that the movie can offer. It’s one of the best ways to grow several different skills at once and is also a lot more entertaining than just reading a book.

It’s also important to emphasize how good hands-on learning can be. When we start to learn something, it’s easy to lose sight of our progress because we’re not actively doing something with our hands. We can read all about something in a book or article, but until we actually try it ourselves we can’t build muscle memory and familiarity. So if you want to teach something to your children quickly, create a practical activity or experiment that they can try out. Doing this will greatly improve the rate at which they learn, and it’ll help them memorize things more easily.

So to conclude, don’t just use books and quizzes as methods of homeschooling. Instead, look at different ways that you can transform the learning experience by providing them with something a little more unique and interesting. However, that’s not to say that textbooks and quizzes don’t work anymore or aren’t effective. The key here is to mix things up so that your child always has something new to try.

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Encourage your child to make more decisions for themselves instead of just directing them every step of the way

Lastly, we have to mention how we guide our children when it comes to teaching them new skills. It’s important to understand that while we do need to give our children some kind of direction so that they can navigate a new subject or topic more easily, we must not strip the control from them entirely. We have to start thinking about how we can encourage them to make their own decisions so that they can be prepared for future academic pursuits which are far more self-reliant than early schooling.

One way to do this would be to present your child with a number of different subjects to tackle at the start of the week. Your child can do them in any order and they can pick their preferred ones. This will help them establish some form of preference which you can then analyze to help you create a more tailored study plan for them later. For example; do they prefer tasks that are more hands-on, or do they seem to prefer studying by reading books and looking at examples? Do they prefer science and math as subjects, or do they gravitate towards more creative and expressive subjects? Every child has their own preference and it’s important that you encourage them to make their own decisions.

Once you start doing this, you’ll notice that your child will be a lot more engaged with homeschooling. Unlike regular school where all the decisions are made for them, homeschool gives them an opportunity to be more self-reliant and expressive with their tastes and preferences. So the next time you put together a lesson plan, make sure you give them some time to choose what they want to do instead of making every decision for them.

We hope that this article has given you some new ideas on how to approach homeschooling, and hopefully even solved a few of the difficulties you’ve had with it.

Tips For Decorating The Interior Of Your New House

Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living Discussions and Home/Property Discussions. In addition to buying your new house in the smartest way, you also want to decorate it to your satisfaction. The following contributed post is entitled, Tips For Decorating The Interior Of Your New House.

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When you are moving into a new house, interior decoration can be a daunting task. There are so many things to consider – what style should you go for, what colors should you choose, and where should everything go? Another important question is what is the best place to order furniture online? The following blog will give you some tips on how to decorate the interior of your new house stylishly and cohesively.

Photo by Terry Magallanes

1) Take A Look At The Overall Layout Of Your New House

Before you start decorating, it is essential to take a look at the overall layout of your new house. This will help you decide on the best way to utilize the space and how to create a flow between different rooms. For example, if you have an open-plan living area, you might want to consider creating separate zones for different activities.

If you are unsure about the layout of your new house, don’t hesitate to ask for help from a professional interior designer. They will be able to give you expert advice on how to make the most of your space.

2) Choose A Color Scheme

One of the most important aspects of interior decoration is choosing a color scheme. This will be the foundation of your entire design, so it is essential to take some time to think about what colors you would like to use.

If you are struggling to decide on a color scheme, many online resources can help you. Alternatively, you could ask for help from a professional interior designer. They can give you expert advice on which colors would work well in your new house.

Once you have chosen a color scheme, it is essential to stick to it when selecting furniture and other decorative items. This will create a cohesive look throughout your house.

3) Make Sure You Choose The Right Fabric

When you are choosing fabric, from a fabric sample book, for your new house, it is essential to think about both practicality and style. You will need to consider things like how often the fabric will be used, whether it needs to be durable, and whether it is easy to clean.

It is also essential to consider your new house’s style when selecting fabric. For example, if you are going for a more traditional look, you might want to choose fabrics with floral patterns or rich colors. Alternatively, if you want a more modern look, you might want to choose simple fabrics with geometric patterns.

4) Add Some Personal Touches

One of the best things about decorating your new house is that you can add personal touches to make it feel like home. This could be anything from family photos to pieces of art that you have collected over the years.

Adding personal touches will make your house feel more comfortable and inviting. It is also a great way to show off your personality and style.

In conclusion, these are just a few tips to help you decorate the interior of your new house in a stylish and cohesive way. By taking the time to plan your design and choose the right colors and fabrics, you can create a beautiful home that is perfect for you and your family.

4 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Home Office

A key focus of my blog Home/Living Discussions. A key piece of your home is your home office. If you set it up correctly, it could arguably become the most important part of your house. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Home Office.

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Having a home office is great, as it allows you to enjoy all of the comforts of your home while still being able to maintain your productivity. Whether you’re working from home or trying to run your own online business, you need your office if you’re going to get things done without too many distractions. Many who work from home struggle to keep up the productivity that they’re able to while in the office because they feel a lot more relaxed and open to being distracted by what’s around them. While that doesn’t necessarily impact how much work they do, it can drag days out much longer.

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Maintain appearances

If you want to make sure you can be as productive in your home office as you are at work, then you’ll want to make sure it still somewhat feels like you’re at work. That doesn’t necessarily mean redecorating your office to match your work environment, but it could mean dressing formally and not overindulging in the things that you enjoy as decoration. It’s about being able to put yourself into the right mindset to get things done, and feeling too at home might cause you to be a little too lax for your liking.

Check your internet

If you’re going to be able to keep up with the same things that you do in the office, then you have to invest in the best satellite internet to make sure your internet is up to the job. Those who are frequently downloading and uploading for their job might face difficulties when trying to maintain their pace on a slow internet connection. A slow connection can cost you minutes if not hours of your day trying to download and upload files – which is far from ideal.

You should consider looking into different internet providers if you’re wanting to speed up your internet. There are plenty that can offer you a decent package for your money, and you might find that there are better ones with your current providers depending on how old your contract is.

Keep it tidy

One of the most difficult things about working from home is trying not to get distracted. You’re free to do what you want, and you could just get up and walk around your home doing whatever. When it comes to your office, you should make sure there’s not too much that can distract you. Any mess that you’ve left can cause you to procrastinate, so it’s best to make sure that you handle any of that before it comes time to get your work done.

Remember to take breaks

Just because you’re at home and comfortable, doesn’t mean you don’t need breaks of your own. You should make sure that you take breaks at usual times, if not longer if your schedule allows it. Working from home is something that should still be comfortable, and there’s no need to overwork yourself – even if you’re running your own business, you should break up your days.

How To Reduce Your Plumbing Repair Costs

Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living Discussions and Home/Property Discussions. One of the key costs to owning a home is your plumbing costs. If you manage them correctly, your plumbing costs can be controlled. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Reduce Your Plumbing Repair Costs.

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According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American family of four uses about 400 gallons of water every day. Indeed, water is crucial to domestic life, and you have your plumbing system to thank for delivering clean water to your home. This system is vital but is often hidden from view and doesn’t get much attention. Therefore, it is very frustrating to discover that you need plumbing repairs, particularly if it is an emergency. What’s more, these repairs can be quite expensive, so it is best to find numerous ways to reduce costs. Below are some effective things you can do to lower your plumbing repair costs.

1. Know how to shut off the water

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Water damage is one of the main reasons why many experts recommend never handling a plumbing issue yourself. This damage is hard to clean and expensive to restore, so you should avoid it at all costs. Therefore, know how to shut off your water to limit the damage caused by plumbing mishaps and save money. Sinks, toilets, and other individual plumbing components have shutoff valves. A toilet’s valve is located behind it, while a sink’s valve is under it. Consequently, simply turn these valves to the right to shut the water off and reduce the odds of water damage. Additionally, know where your home’s main water shutoff is, so you can turn it off during a major flood to cut water supply to your house and reduce repair costs.

2. Go trenchless

Trenchless sewer line repair is always worth considering to save money when your plumbing system develops a problem. This method of repairing sewer lines involves structurally restoring existing pipes internally using the failed or spoilt pipe as a host for a new one. As a result, there is no need for disruptive and expensive trench digging and regular pipe repair and restoration of floors, cabinetry, walls, foundations, and any impacted surfaces. Your sewer lines will be inspected and clean, and a flexible tube will be directly inserted into the existing drainage pipe. This tube contains epoxy that hardens to form a new structural line, creating a new pipe within an old one. Besides saving you money, this method is faster, less intrusive, and more environmentally friendly than traditional repair.

3. Prepare for repairs

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Home Guide’s 2022 plumber rates reveal that a plumber can charge you $500 to $800 for large repairs and $125 to $350 for little jobs like repairing sinks and toilets. However, it is essential to note that a plumber will charge you more if they have to spend a lot of time on your issue. Plumbers often have to handle other tasks in addition to their plumbing repair works, and they always charge homeowners more for the additional time spent. Therefore, keep your repair costs down by preparing the place for them so they only have to focus on the main plumbing issue. For instance, if your basement is flooded, clear the excess water out yourself before calling a plumber. Similarly, you can move your possessions out of the way and rip out your drywall to offer easy access to this area if necessary. This way, your plumber will spend less time on your issue and give you a cheaper bill.

How To Protect Your Property Against Damage

A key focus of my blog is home/property discussions. A key consideration when owning a property of any kind is protecting it against damage as that there will be infinite opportunities for that to happen. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Protect Your Property Against Damage.

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Damage to property can come in many forms, from natural disasters to accidental damage. Regardless of how it happens, property damage can be costly and disruptive. The blog post will discuss some ways that you can protect your property against damage. It will cover both natural and man-made disasters, as well as ways to prevent accidental damage. Read on for tips on how to keep your property safe!

Photo by Jessica Bryant from Pexels

1) Natural Disasters Can Cause Extensive Damage To Property

A natural disaster can cause extensive damage to your property, often leaving you with a costly repair bill. Some of the most common natural disasters that affect property are hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. If you live in an area that is prone to these types of disasters, it is essential to take steps to protect your property.

One way to protect your home from a hurricane is by installing storm shutters. These shutters will help to keep the wind and rain out of your home, and they can also help to protect your windows from being broken. Another way to prepare for a hurricane is by packing up any valuable items and moving them into a safe place. This could include putting furniture in the attic or basement or storing them in a safe deposit box.

If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, it is essential to take steps to waterproof your home. One way to do this is by installing a waterproofing system on your roof. You can also install flood barriers around your home or move any valuables to a higher floor.

2) Accidental Damage Can Be Costly And Disruptive

Accidental damage is one of the most common causes of property damage. This type of damage can be caused by various things, such as fires, leaks, and accidents.

One way to protect your home against fire damage is by installing smoke detectors and fire alarms. These devices will help to alert you if there is a fire in your home so that you can take action quickly. You should also have a fire extinguisher on hand in case of an emergency.

Leaks can cause extensive damage to your property, so it is essential to be proactive about preventing them. One way to do this is by regularly checking for leaks in your plumbing system. If you do find a leak, make sure to repair it immediately.

Another thing that you should consider is to get an insurance plan from companies, like La Playa Insurance, so that they can also potentially cover some of the cost of the damage.

3) There Are A Number Of Ways To Protect Against Earthquake Damage

Earthquakes can cause extensive damage to your property, so it is essential to take steps to protect it. One way to do this is by installing an earthquake safety system in your home. This system will help to keep your property safe during an earthquake.

You can also protect your property against earthquake damage by securing heavy objects. These objects can be secured with straps or braces, which will help them from falling over and causing damage during an earthquake. Another way to secure heavy objects is by bolting them to the wall or floor.

In conclusion, there are a number of ways that you can protect your property against damage. By taking some simple steps, you can help to keep your property safe from natural disasters, accidental damage, and earthquakes. Do not wait until it is too late to take action – start protecting your property today!

How To Keep Your Home Warm In The Winter

Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living Discussions and Home/Property Discussions. Keeping your home warm in the winter will impact both your personal health and your personal finances. Collectively, these will impact your piece of mind. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Keep Your Home Warm In The Winter.

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There is nothing worse than a cold house during the winter. Waking up, needing the toilet, and being afraid to get out of bed because of the biting cold. Those early morning get-ups, becoming tantamount to torture before you can drink that cup of coffee to warm you up. Trying to watch television the evening and seeing your breath in the air. None of these scenarios are particularly good for your health, and luckily there are some great ways you can avoid them. So, let’s take a look at a few now:

Image from Pixabay

Your Boiler
Clearly, one of the best ways to keep your home warm is to have a fully functional boiler. That means you need to have regular maintenance on it, and if it breaks down a lot, you need to invest in a new one. Regular maintenance is generally better to be performed before it gets cold, so late summer. This means that it is far less likely to break down when you need it the most. However, the good news is that you are able to get boiler rentals if your boiler does break down and it is the middle of winter. Generally speaking, it is very difficult to get an appointment for a boiler repair or a new installation over this busy period due to all the breakdowns. But a rental is a great way to tide you over should this occur.

Timer and Thermostat
If your boiler has a timer on it, it is a good idea to set the timer to come on at least thirty minutes before you wake u in the morning, so you do not have to suffer the deep chill of the morning. Another thing to bear in mind when it comes to your boiler is to set the temperature of the thermostat to somewhere between 18 °C and 23 °C. Any hotter is just a waste of energy and is actually too hot for an ambient temperature n your house.

Thick Curtains
Thick curtains do wonders for keeping the heat from being stolen by your windows. Keeping your curtains shut as much as you can on those dull days and evening is a must to retain as the heat in your home. Also, if it is sunny, then open those curtains and allow the window to convert that energy into heat energy. This can increase your home’s temperature without using your heating system, and therefore it can save you money.

Upgrade Your Windows
If you have single glazing you can upgrade to double glazing, or triple glazing. Triple glazing is so much more efficient at retaining heat than double glazing, which is again a lot more efficient than single glazing. The home loses so much heat through the window, as much as 30% can be lost this way. So it makes sense to upgrade if you can. If you do not have the funds at this time to replace all your windows, when it gets very cold, you could layer clingfilm to the windows, which can help prevent hat loss. No, it’s not that attractive and can be difficult to see through, but it may well keep those temperatures above freezing.

Insulate
Insulation is essential to retaining the heat. Your home loses so much heat through the ceiling, so you need to make sure that you have the right insulation. Look for items like layered rockwool loft insulation, so you can avoid losing excessive heat through the ceiling. Another way to sort out the loft is to convert it into a room. However, that just shifts the insulation into the roof. Consider cavity wall insulation, draft excluders, etc. All these things together can save you a fortune on your energy bill. It may be an idea to hire a professional to come and look at how best to insulate your home. If you have a lot of nooks and crannies where drafts can get in, it is probably wise to fill these will some form of poly filler too.

Radiators
If you have any large objects that are in the way of the radiators, it is time to move them. One of the main culprits in this respect is the sofa. Sometimes we are limited for space and plonk the sofa where it will fit. However, you may be spending hundreds of dollars to heat up the sofa while a minimal amount is heating the air. If you are struggling for space, perhaps you need to rethink the layout or invest in new furniture.

Home Schooling: Set Up The Ideal Space With These Tips

A key focus of my blog is General Education. Many parents are decided to home school these days. While you may be able to do educate your youngsters more effectively than the schools system, there are some things you need to consider. The following contributed post is entitled, Home Schooling: Set Up The Ideal Space With These Tips.

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Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

Many new homeschoolers ask how to best set up their classroom. The options can be overwhelming. Here are some suggestions for creating a comfortable and productive homeschooling environment.

Keep Your Mind Open

It doesn’t have to be a classroom! You’ll need a work surface, comfortable seating, good lighting, and storage space. It should be near the parent or home teacher so they can answer questions when not directly involved in the student’s work.

Choose The Right Worksurface

If possible, set aside a large table or desk where work can be spread out and returned to as needed. Consider employing a table that is only used occasionally or for one purpose. Keep a shared surface clean and uncluttered, and make it a family habit to clean thoroughly between uses.

Make It Comfortable

Choose a chair that you can sit in comfortably. Afraid of their seats? So are their parents! Ensure that each student and the adult(s) assisting them to have enough space and comfortable sitting. Consider extra seating for colleagues.

Build Up Supplies And Materials

Some families set up a homeschooling area in a separate room, while others use the kitchen table. Large chalkboards are used for lessons or seasonal drawings. Keep your stuff organized and have your kids help you.

Locate shelves and storage containers for easy access to resources. To keep supplies organized, use a mix of shelves, drawers, and other storage solutions. Storage for curriculum, reference, and library materials is also required. Using an inbox and outbox or dividers can help organize work in progress. All of the classroom resources require a place to live.

Keep Clutter And Distraction To A Minimum

Having a clutter-free homeschool and playroom for your child can be really relaxing. Rotating play pieces frees up space and allows for more imaginative usage. Some toys may be stored for many seasons and only be used for a few weeks. Year-round toys (like blocks and dolls) can be neatly stored each afternoon. Even very young children can learn to help “put the toys to bed” at the end of the day.

Minimizing noise can also help. Avoid background noises like music, TV, and computers while in class. Singing a song between activities is simple and can be found in the library, online, or in our bookstore under K-8 Resource Books.

The Decor

Aesthetics are also vital when planning your homeschooling space. Are the colours appealing to the primary users? If you can repaint the walls, choose a soothing colour like pale green, light blue, or muted lavender. Paint a portion of one wall chalkboard.

Display current academic and artistic work in a visible homemade art gallery. To keep the learning area simple and uncluttered, choose a wall away from the learning area. If you want to decorate a specific wall, use a large bulletin board or cork wall tiles to define it. Have a look at Miss Jacobs’s succulent classroom theme for some inspiration.

Above all, don’t stress if your space isn’t ideal! Follow your emotions, creativity, and experience. Homeschooling is like life. Do you have any other tips that could help? Please share some of them in the comments below.

Is Adding A Home Extension A Smart Choice?

Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living and Home/Property Discussions. A part of homeownership is making updates to your property if you so desire. The following contributed post is entitled, Is Adding A Home Extension A Smart Choice?

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A home is never just a place to live. It’s also the most important investment that you will make and manage in your adult life. You need to ensure that you are handling this the right way. There are a few factors to keep in mind here and one of these is whether you should increase the size of the home once you purchase it. Adding an extension does provide significant benefits. For instance, you will be able to make sure that you do increase the value of the home, often beyond 25%. It can also give you more space which is great if you have a growing family. However, you will need to make sure that you approach the extension the right way. Let’s look at the key considerations that you must keep in mind here.

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Cost Concerns

First, you need to think about the cost of the extension. You must make sure that you are not spending more than you are likely going to regain when you sell your property. This is going to depend on when you are thinking about selling the home. If you have a deadline as to when you need to sell, it’s important to keep the cost as low as possible.

You might have the money that you need to cover the costs of your extension available in savings. Or, you could need to borrow to cover the expense. If you need to borrow, then you should think about exploring short term loans. If you are looking for a loan, then do make sure that you understand the interest rates and the cost that you will need to handle in the future. It’s important to guarantee that you will be able to cover the costs of the extension for the long term. This will be easier to guarantee if you are planning to sell your home shortly rather than in the next couple of years.

Quality Guaranteed

If you want to see the greatest benefits from your extension then you do need to make sure that it is built to the right quality standards. Quality issues will impact whether you can sell your home on the market for the price that you hoped for. It could even leave you liable to a lawsuit after you sell if it is revealed that the extension was not built to the right safety standards and leads to an incident. One of the ways that you can handle this is by being careful to choose the right contractor. You need to make sure that they have reviews that suggest a great level of service. You might even want to think about using a referral. Relying on a referral will provide you with the peace of mind that you are using a team that you can trust.

You need to make sure that you avoid cowboy contractors that are going to deliver a poor solution and then disappear. You should also be ready to ask any of the key questions that you need answers to. Transparency is an essential requirement when you are searching for the right business team. You need to make sure that any contractor that you are working with is going to remain honest and open to answering any queries that you might have.

Size Considerations

Next, you should think about the size of the extension that you are considering adding to your home. The size is obviously going to impact the price but there are other implications to keep in mind here as well. For instance, adding a larger extension to your home may be more difficult to secure. But, if the extension is too small then it could be rather pointless compared to the rest of your property.

If you choose the right contractor, they should be able to help you effectively navigate the process for a change like this to your home. Don’t forget, if you are looking to add value, making an extension as large as possible might seem like a good idea. But, there is the possibility that you could outprice potential buyers who would have been interested in your home. You might also significantly reduce the amount of land a homeowner has around the property. Do be aware that a lot of buyers are looking for at least a modest-sized garden to ensure that they have plenty of room outside for their kids.

Purpose

Finally, you should consider the reason for your extension. You may have a specific reason why you want to add an extension to your home. For instance, you might be interested in adding a sunroom or a family room that can be used for entertainment purposes. If the extension has a reason for existing, then it’s far more likely to add value to the property.

Do be aware that the aesthetic is important. You should consider the aesthetic of your extension inside and out. It needs to look great with at least one unique feature that is going to ensure that buyers are impressed by the additional space.

The design is also a place where you might be able to cut the costs down. There are various materials that will provide a stunning aesthetic without adding to the overall expense of a home addition like this. Again, your contractor might have some ideas about the right choices.

We hope this helps you understand some of the key factors that you should keep in mind when you are deciding whether to add a home extension to your property. Ultimately, an extension could be the right option, but only if you approach it the right way. For instance, it needs to reach the same quality levels as the rest of the home. If there are issues here, then you will struggle to see the ROI that you hoped for when it’s time to sell the property on the market. You could also be required to fix the extension which will then add to the overall costs that you are managing.

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4 Disasters To Avoid At Home

Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living and Home/Property Discussions. One thing you have to consider when owning a home is avoiding disasters. There are some common ones. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Disasters To Avoid At Home.

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There are so many disasters that can take place in any home. No matter how careful you are, you never actually know what is going to happen in your home. Of course, that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth trying to avoid these happening, as you can at least reduce your chances of these disasters happening, and that is worth doing. In this post, we are going to look specifically at four of the more common disasters that frequently take place in homes, and what you can do to reduce your chances of them happening – as well as what to do if they do occur anyway.

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Fire

It goes without saying that a fire breaking out in the home is a true disaster, and one that can be incredibly damaging. At its worst, it can even be fatal. So you will definitely want to make sure you are doing all you can to keep the risk of fire as low as possible. There are a lot of ways you can make sure of this, from being careful with using electrical equipment to taking care with lighters and matches. You should also ensure you have the appropriate fire safety equipment in your home. And make sure you know what to do in case of fire – being prepared makes all the difference.

Water Damage

Of course, fire is not the only element that can damage your home. Water can also be surprisingly damaging, and in fact a lot of people fail to really comprehend just how dangerous it can be. Not only can it lead to serious damage throughout the home, but it might be hand in hand with flooding too, which can be truly disastrous. Water damage repair is important if this takes place in your home, and to prevent it you should make sure that the plumbing is up to scratch at all times.

Roof Damage

At first glance it might not sound as though a damaged roof is the most worrying problem in the world. However, the truth is that this can lead to all sorts of problems, and it is the kind of thing that you are going to want to be aware of if you are keen to keep your home in one piece. A damaged roof could lead to a leak or flood, or being exposed to the elements, and it might mean a cold home that is more prone to damp too. Be sure to have it checked regularly, and fix any tiles that might need fixing.

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Electrical Failure

Electrics are another very important part of the home, and when they go wrong the consequences can range from frustrating to fatal. In order to avoid this kind of problem, you should make sure that you have a professional, qualified electrician come in as and when it might be necessary to check it all out. That way, you should be able to avoid most problems with electrics, and this will mean your home is much safer on the whole.