What You Need To Know About Selling Your Funeral Home

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Funeral homes are businesses that will never go away as death is a part of everyone’s life. At some point business owners may want to move on and will consider selling their funeral home. There are considerations for doing so. The following contributed post is entitled, What You Need To Know About Selling Your Funeral Home.

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Preparing and organizing everything together so you can get the most value out of selling your funeral home can be overwhelming, and it can be hard to know where to start. To maximize your sale, you need to take into consideration how far in advance you need to plan for the sale before going on the market. This will ensure that you fly through this sale with ease. A Lot of banks will want you to gather up to three to four years of paperwork so they can flick through it, so having this organized into categories and planning can take the stress off your shoulders.

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What’s its worth?

The best place to start when you are beginning the process of selling your funeral home is to get a funeral home valuation because its a great starting point. This can be done in several ways, but comparing your company to other funeral homes that are in similar size is easiest, followed by organising your cash flow listing and putting yourself in the buyer’s shoes. It gives you a good idea of what you are working with and the confidence you need.

Financial paperwork

When the potential buyer comes along, you may be asked to produce specific paperwork and calculations so they can get a feel for the business and see if they are able to set realistic goals to make it work for them. Remember that the buyer could ask for up to four years of paperwork, tax returns and statements. You’ll thank yourself later when you have all the paper you need when you are asked for it, instead of rummaging back through years of paperwork. Investing in some files and binders to keep your stats in separate categories is essential to make your business liable.

Continue the hard work

After spending all those years working hard as well as going the extra mile to please your clients, don’t let it end now. Taking the time to continue the work ethic until the final day is essential to running a quality business, don’t let your hard work go to waste, after all this time. You can often earn an extra sale by doing so. Sometimes your buyer will want to keep your staff members so leading by example and going the extra mile will ensure that your staff make a good impression, potentially securing their jobs.

These are the basics about selling your funeral home so if you are new to the world of selling your company then these tips will help you to maximize the value along with being sure that you are continuing your five-star service for your clients.
Keeping your paperwork will be a big part for your buyer to have confidence in your company, a great way to keep documents is to keep them in folders and backing them up by taking photos or scanning them into a computer. These are all tips that can help your sale to run as smoothly as possible.

The Importance Of Energy Efficiency In New Home Design

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. A significant purchase for most individuals and families is that of their primary residence. One way to save money on your home, particularly when you’re having it designed is the make it energy efficient. Creating a home that’s environmentally friendly and which will save you money in the long run is a win-win. The following contributed post is entitled, The Importance Of Energy Efficiency In New Home Design.

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When it comes to new home design, there are two words that are increasingly cropping up in conversation ‘energy efficiency’. There’s more focus than ever on reducing the carbon footprint of the building process and creating sustainable energy-efficient homes that are better for the environment and more comfortable for people to live in, so what does the future look like for energy-efficient homes?

What does energy efficiency actually mean?

Energy efficiency, when used in the context of building design, means constructing or upgrading a building to reduce the amount of energy required for it to provide its basic services. Put simply, using less energy for everyday processes such as heating and lighting. Older houses have many inefficiencies which are now being corrected during renovations using up-to-date materials that can provide better results. Newer homes, on the other hand, are now being designed in such ways that their inefficiencies are removed from the get-go.

What are the benefits of an energy-efficient home?

Building regulations are in place around the world to try and ensure a minimum standard for energy efficiency in all-new home designs. But prioritizing energy efficiency is about more than simply being compliant.

● Solving an economical issue
Although energy efficiency can greatly benefit the pocket of the home-owner it is also about reducing reliance on resources such as oil, coal and gas, which are becoming critical economic issues. Homes and other buildings account for nearly 40% of total energy use in the United States, making it a key area for the government to tackle.

● Saving home-owners money
An energy-efficient home can save the home-owner money on wasted energy, particularly in areas such as heating costs.

● Reducing greenhouse emissions

Energy production directly contributes to the creation of harmful greenhouse gas emissions that are currently accelerating the rate of global warming. Energy-efficient homes demand less energy production, thus directly reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by running them. Reducing emissions has both local and global effects, reducing pollution and the impact on the environment.

Building an energy-efficient home

The easiest way to ensure energy efficiency within a home is to tackle it at each stage of the building project, making new-build housing sites a key area of attention. Contractors, builders and surveyors such as https://thurlow.co.nz/ are all aligning with regards to the importance of energy-efficiency in their line of work. Some of the things to consider when building an energy-efficient home include:

● Using correct insulation
● Weatherproofing the building
● Using high-quality windows with a low environmental impact
● Installing quality systems that last a lifetime
● Monitoring energy performance through audits and making adjustments when necessary
● Using materials whose production has less impact on the environment
● Trying to use renewable energy sources when possible such as solar or wind power.

Doing your part

Although energy-efficiency is easiest to consider during the new build stage, we can all do our part to reduce our energy consumption. Consider small home upgrades that can reduce the amount of energy that escapes from your home. Make more environmentally conscious decisions when purchasing new appliances paying attention to their energy efficiency ratings and adopt more eco-friendly habits.

Is Your Home Keeping Your Healthy Or Making You Sick?

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. While our homes are supposed to be safe spaces where we can retreat from the world, they can also be sources of injury, pain and sickness. This is something most people don’t think about. The following contributed post is entitled, Is Your Home Keeping Your Healthy Or Making You Sick?

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When it comes to improving our health, we need to think about more than just the changes we make to our own bodies. We need to think about how our environment affects our health as well. For that reason, we’re going to take a look at the impact that our home can have on us, how it can make us healthy, how it can make us sick, and how to make better use of it.

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You may have more guests than you realize
No one wants pests in their home. That much should be a given. However, many may underestimate just how much harm pests can really do once they’re inside. Their droppings, urine, and other dander can lead to a major risk of allergies and respiratory illnesses. Other pests are disease carriers. Read more here about how to identify whether you might have pests in your home, and what to do about them if you do. There are many pests you may be able to ward off without professional help.

How clean is clean?
If you’re very health conscious, then you’re also likely to be very clean conscious. You want to get rid of bacteria that could get you sick, but what do you use to do it? Common household cleaning products could contain more dangerous ingredients than you might realize. Some can cause irritation, others can exacerbate respiratory issues, and some are even linked to cancer. Learn here about the household cleaning ingredients we should all be much more aware of, as well as some the alternatives that could be much healthier for you and your home.

How well do you manage your air quality?
The very air we breathe is going to have an impact on our health. As such, the home plays an important role in creating a boundary between us and the outside world. If that boundary fails, we can let in all the allergens, not to mention the damp, that can slowly make the air in our home more dangerous. Learn more about keeping the roof repaired and sealing off air gaps to protect the boundary of your home. You shouldn’t simply let the outdoors come in when it wants.

Home is where the head is
When it comes to your mental health, the home can have just as profound an impact on that, as well. For instance, a cluttered, messy home has been shown to increase symptoms and feelings of stress significantly in people. More importantly, the home should act as a comforting haven that you’re glad to return to after a day of dealing with work and other responsibilities. Ways to make your home more welcoming can include incorporating more personal aspects of decor, such as photos, and making use of aromatherapy candles to help relax.

You can’t avoid every malady with the tips above, but it does raise the important question of how our homes contribute to our health. Make sure you take care of your home and it will take better care of you.

5 Ways To Increase Your Curb-Appeal

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. Depending upon where you are in your life, you might have to sell your home. The more appealing your home looks, the easier it will be to sell. There are a few things that will enhance it’s appearance. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Ways To Increase Your Curb-Appeal.

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Curb-appeal is all about how attractive your home looks from the exterior. If you’re selling your home, your curb appeal is everything. Buyers get their very first impression from the outside of your house, so if it’s not up to speed, things won’t be off to a good start. Even if you’re not selling your home right now, keeping the exterior lovely is well worth it for your own pleasure! Whether it’s maintenance issues or those material touches of style, let’s consider five easy ways to increase your curb appeal.

1. Update Your Roof

Updating your roof is a surefire way to increase your curb appeal. Let’s face it, when a roof looks outdated, broken, or discolored; it really does nothing for the look of the house in general. For a modern and bold style, search for ‘metal roofing supply near me.’ With a metal roof, you not only get a great look, but you’ll get a durable option that’s fire-resistant, quick to install and that could add value to your home.

2. Plenty of flowers

One really simple way to improve the exterior of your home is to give your garden some TLC, including plenty of flowers. For the cold weather, try winter blooming flowers like heather and pansies. These can add a beautiful zest of color while also being strong enough to survive the cold. Be sure to make a good compost for your garden, so you can keep everything healthy the natural way.

3. Colorful front door

Give your home a color-pop so that it stands out and turns heads, you can do this easily by painting the front door in a bright color. Try an electric blue, sunflower yellow, or even red if it will match your house. While you’re at it, give the rest of your home a fresh lick of paint (but maybe just stay neutral here)! When it comes to these kinds of jobs, it’s usually worth getting a professional in so you can be sure the paint job is perfectly even with a smooth finish.

4. Get scrubbing

There’s nothing worse than a dirty fence or driveway to leave your home looking shabby. Get out your cleaning essentials, and be sure to use a pressure washer if you have one. Once all the dirt is gone, treat your fence with a stain to protect the wood and make it shine. Sweep up the leaves and debris while you’re out there, it’s the little things that contribute to a beautiful home.

5. Redo your pathway

The pathway leading up to your home should look neat, elegant, and inviting. Worn out and overgrown paths are no way to show off your home’s potential. Do a little research before you choose something because there are plenty of options to suit different tastes and budgets. You’ll want to choose a pathway that suits the overall theme of your house.

When we are choosing where to live, we are always going to be influenced by the aesthetics. With these five tips, you’ll be sure to attract potential buyers.

Home Work: 4 Ways To Ready Your Home-Based Business For The Next Phase

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Home-based businesses are some of the most effective enterprises out there. If you’ve had some initial success, you’ll want to take your business to the next level. The following contributed post is entitled, Home Work: 4 Ways To Ready Your Home-Based Business For The Next Phase.

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The vast majority of us have no choice but to start our business in modest surroundings. While you might have dreams about acquiring a commercial property when you are running a home-based business you need to put a lot of leg work into it. And whether it’s become a full-time endeavor or a side hustle that’s making significant inroads, what do you need to do to ensure that your business is ready for the next phase?

Getting Your Finances In Order
For those people who start with a modest side hustle, it can get to the point where you’ve got to have your books in order. When you are at the point where you’ve got to start paying your tax it can benefit to get a QuickBooks accountant so you don’t have to keep track of everything. If you are somebody who has already been in charge of your finances, an accountant can give you a new perspective of things. It’s not just about cooking the books but it’s about addressing areas that can be reduced. Accountants can also provide you with invaluable information relating to tax breaks.

Diversify Your Marketing Efforts
Whether you’ve been using affiliate marketing techniques or have been able to get a dedicated group of customers without necessarily advertising your products, when you start to improve your efforts you will begin to see significant returns. Marketing is one of those things that can seem like an expensive investment. While so many people use social media as the one singular way of marketing, setting up your own website and creating marketing strategies to acquire extra custom will make sure that you stay competitive.

Focus On Fine-Tuning The Processes
Look at what you’ve done right and start to see if the process can be shortened. Working at home means you have your own way of working but when you struggle to find a new approach you might be losing time, and therefore, money. There are numerous ways to help a business improve its processes. Automation is one of the best ways to help any company make more of its processes. A small home-based business usually means that you do everything. And even if you’re not able to automate if you can find ways of doing things quicker, for example, dictating emails rather than typing them gives you the opportunity to multitask more effectively.

Start To Employ
Part of readying your business for the next phase is about getting additional help to push your products. It’s all about supply and demand. Even if you have the money you might think that it’s worth purchasing more products to be ready for market demand. The same applies to employees. To begin with, it might just help by getting a family member to help you out. This is cheap labor after all! But when you need to make significant inroads and require people with skill this is when you can start to hire freelancers and then get a full-time employee. It’s not as anxiety-inducing as you may think. The key is about looking at what you really need and finding a person that fits the mold.

How to Find Your Perfect Home

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. Does the perfect home exist? If so, how do you find it with all the houses available in your particular location? There are a couple of key considerations when searching. The following contributed post is entitled, How to Find Your Perfect Home.

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Are you looking for a new home? Or maybe a first home. Everyone wants a home as it is a valuable asset, and owning one gives you that peace of mind you have been craving. There are a lot of options on the market, and it may not be very easy to narrow down precisely what you want. For a lot of us, money is the major driving factor in purchasing a home, and there are also considerations such as the area, school, vicinity to shops, etc. Not to mention the house itself, does it tick all the boxes and more. Whatever type of home you are looking for, here are some tips on how to find that perfect home.

Image from Pixabay

Make a list
Talking of boxes, well it is a good idea to create a list of things you want, and another list of things you do not want. If you want the perfect house, you have to know what you want. Price is going to have to be on the list for some of you a ceiling price you cannot surpass. There are also considerations such as the number of bedrooms, if you want a house, or would settle with a flat, sharing entrances and exits. Have you thought about a fixer-upper? It may be worth thinking about how much work you would be willing to do yourself. Once you have your list then, you can search with a narrowed focus.

Search
If you want the perfect house, you are going to have to put in the leg work. Start online, adding all the desired parameters into the real estate search engine sites, and create as big a radius area as possible. Then you need to go out and start looking. View as many houses as possible. Only through this will you get the best idea of how the reality of what you want stacks up against the dream. Perhaps this will alter some of your immovable items on the checklist. You may decide that a Bellriver house & land package is the best option for you. Anyway, the more you hunt, the more you will develop a feeling about houses, and when you finally walk into the one you want, you will know. Everything will fall into place, and it will have that home feeling.

Be a tough bargainer
In this world, the only person you can rely upon is yourself. Searching the real estate market is no different. Do not allow yourself to be swayed by beautiful salesy talk. Stay focused at all times, and know what you like and don’t like. If they see a crack in your resolve, they will go for it. Bid low and negotiate. Ensure you go through all the correct routes like having the house surveyed, and do not overlook the basics. If you see something you do not like, point it out. Make another list of all the potential problems and ensure you discuss them with the agent. The more problems you spot, the cheaper you will be able to get it for.

Tips To Help Sell A Home Quickly

Two of the key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. For many people, their primary residence is their greatest investment. As with all investments, it’s important understand how to resell your home and as expediently as possible. The following contributed post is entitled, Tips To Help Sell A Home Quickly.

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Selling your home can be a whirlwind, but it can also be something that takes a lot of time and effort to make successful. Whenever you are selling a property, you want to be able to do it efficiently and with the best results. So here are some tips to help sell a home quickly.

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Think About First Impressions

First impressions are something that really matters, and when it comes to selling a home, you want to do everything you can so that they leave that property with wanting to sign on the dotted line. Create an environment that makes the buyer want to live in your home right there and then. Display some flowers in the living space and set up the dining table with all your nice cutlery and crockery. Make sure the property smells nice and that there’s lots of natural light shining through. Think about curb appeal and ensuring everything is pruned and trimmed nicely when it comes to the outdoor space. The more you do as the owner, the better you have of securing offers on the home.

Declutter Your Home

Decluttering is essential even before you go letting a photographer into your home to take photos. Whether your home is in Griffith Park or tucked away down an unfamiliar street, a messy home isn’t going to be enjoyable to view. Try to remove everything that’s causing a mess or creating a problem area in your home, and that might be obstructing a view of your property. Whether that’s toys thrown in a pile in a corner or clunky furniture leaning haphazardly against a window or door frame. Declutter and organize your home so that it’s functional for people to walk around freely and without discomfort.

Choose The Right Agents

The agents you pick will influence how quickly you sell your property. You want to make sure that they are familiar with the type of property you have and that they have potential buyers lined up to view the property as soon as possible. The longer it stays on the market, the more dangerous that can be for the value of your home. So choose your agent wisely and don’t be too quick to jump into a partnership unless you are really sure that they are the right match for you.

Be Careful With Your Price

The price you set for your home is important because if you set it too high, then you might not get anyone who is interested. If you set it too low, you could end up missing out yourself on a good deal. Try to discuss your prices with the agents and be sure to do some research in the surrounding area. Look at what you may or may not be in competition with. Set a reasonable amount and know what your lowest would be in terms of asking price.

Selling a home quickly isn’t always something that’s achieved, but with these tips, you can give yourself the best chance possible.

Giving Your House Its Groove Back

Two key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. The greatest investment many people will make is their house/primary residence. In addition to enjoying your home in the here and now, it’s important to also think about reselling it one day which may require some updates and renovations. The following contributed post is entitled, Giving Your House Its Groove Back.

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From time to time, we all get bored; after all, we are only human. Boredom can strike at work, with a partner, and most prominently, it can strike at home. We are all guilty of taking a look around the home and wishing things were different.

For most people, they want to give their home a new lease of life, but available finances can often get in the way. In this post, we are going to be examining what exactly gives a house a new feel, and then we will take a look at a few things you can do around the house to really give it a brand new spark of life.

Image Credit – Pexels – CC0 Licence

Things To Consider When Updating Your Property

When it comes to updating your home, there are a few reasons you may want to give it a boost, and depending on these reasons, there are certain things on today’s list you may wish to consider.

The first reason most people give their home a little update is just that they want a fresh feel to their home; secondly, people also choose to freshen up their home in more extreme ways, and these ways will often be to add value to the home.

Whichever of these groups you fit into, there are a few things to consider, for those looking to add value, you will need to spend a little in order to see some return on your investment. For those who want to achieve a little freshness in the home, it’s probably not a great idea to spend huge amounts on things that won’t do a lot to the value of your property.
What Gives A House Its Groove?

When we look at the things that really give a house its spark, on the outside, we think of how appealing it is to onlookers, and on the inside, we have to consider not only how the house looks, but also how the house feels.

Now, when we talk about how the house feels, we don’t mean a system based on where your furniture is, we mean how your house feels based on psychological facts. If you aren’t quite sure what we are on about, worry not, we will be explaining a little further into the post.

Give Your Garden A Revamp

Something that often gets left until last when it comes to updating the home is the garden. If you are blessed with having space in the garden, there is no better time than now to really put some love into it.

While the inside of the house is incredibly important, having somewhere to escape to that’s peaceful and that allows you just to appreciate the world can be equally, if not more important. When it comes to giving your garden a revamp, you may consider lawn treatments and flowers as a standard, but there are some additions that will really give your garden a little extra life.

A great and cheap addition to every garden could be an awning close to the house. These awnings can provide protection from the weather, both bad and good, and can also be a great separator in the garden.

If you just want to simply clean up your garden, then you should consider Industrial Pressure Washing on any paving or decking. While some will opt for standard pressure washers, the performance levels are generally quite low, and you won’t get the same crisp, clean finish.

Create Some More Space

The next item on the list is great for both people wanting to stay in their forever home and for those hoping to increase the value of their homes, and that is some form of extension.

One of the most popular forms of extension nowadays is to create a ton of room by having the basement renovated. Unbelievable, there are over 132 million homes in the US with a basement, and most of them go completely unused.

By converting your basement, you can extend the space in your home exponentially, and if you ever come to sell the home, the renovation will usually pay for itself and then add some profit on top of that too.

Alternatively, should you not have space on the lower levels of your home, you could always aim higher. Another addition to the home that adds space and value is an attic conversion.
Just like basement conversions, a loft conversion can have many uses. Unfortunately, there are some things that cannot be used for, and this is usually why basement projects are more popular.

Update Your Flooring

If you haven’t updated the flooring in your house for some years, your house may have a certain aged feel that no amount of decorating will shake.

If you have an old carpet, this can really drain the personality from your house, and the only solution to getting it back is an extreme one. One of the best ways to really give a house that modern and sophisticated look is to update the flooring throughout.

In today’s world, the most popular option for flooring seems to be hardwood or laminate. Flooring like this is so popular generally due to its simplicity to manage. While carpets may be wonderful, warm and homely, they take on dirt very easily and can stain and be destroyed in no time at all.

When it comes to laminate or hardwood, you can set your Roomba to clean all day, and you can tackle any dirt with a simple wipe over with a mop or cloth.

Hardwood floors can also add a little extra value to the home, but it’s recommended to go with laminate should you be considering selling up.

Get Spring Cleaning

The final thing to make the post today is the one that costs nothing. While this tip is completely free, you may find yourself amazed at what a real clean and declutter can do for your home.

As we mention briefly, early when your house has its groove back, it will have psychological and visual benefits, and this is the main one that will really make your house feel amazing. When you really start to deep clean a house, you often find yourself getting rid of years of accumulated junk. The moment you start to get rid of junk, this is when you start to realize just how much space you really have in your home.

A lot of people store so much stuff that’s collected over the years, and this post isn’t saying throw everything away; it’s simply saying be mindful of keeping things around when you don’t use them.

If you have items that you could store, you should do so, as a simple spring clean can completely give your house a brand new lease of life.

Conclusion

As you can probably imagine, there is so much that you can do with your house to give it a brand new feel. Whether it’s spending to create space or even just doing a spring clean, the options are almost endless.

While we have only mentioned a few things in this post, you shouldn’t restrict yourself to just these. Maybe this post can just serve as an inspiration to you when you are trying to give your house it’s long lost groove.

Managing A Busy Home And Helping You To Stay Sane

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Health and Wellness. Keeping our homes properly running is a job all in itself. With careers and in some instances having additional commitments and tasks can make managing a home a gargantuan task. The following contributed post is entitled, Managing A Busy Home And Helping You To Stay Sane.

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When it comes to the home, we can all feel a little overwhelmed and lose our minds with bills, tasks and keeping things running smoothly. However, no matter how hard you try, life can always be a busy and hectic. With that in mind, here are some of the best ways to manage a busy home effectively.

Image source – Pixabay – CC0 License

Stay on top of the bills

When it comes to a busy home, it is understandable that the finances can get a little ignored over time. This is when you tend to let things leave your account, or just let a direct debit run its course without realising that you could be making a saving. This is when it is vital to ensure that you get regular checks such as energy deals and car insurance quotes to ensure that you are always paying the best possible price.

The food bill is one of those weekly or monthly expenses that we need to have, but we also have complete control over. As a mom, this job can often be down to us, so it’s important to ensure that you manage it right, rather than overspend. After all, every little saved can be put towards other things like vacations or days out. If you find that the food bill is getting a little out of control, then consider writing a list before you head to the shops. Changing the supermarket in which you shop in, or even consider batch cooking or meal planning as an alternative habit.

Create a cleaning schedule

Cleaning is one of the biggest pet hates of many people. No matter how hard you try, it can often feel like huge task each and every time you take it on. However, there is a solution to this dilemma, and it can help you manage the cleaning activities for your home, rather than feel drowned by them. Creating a cleaning schedule can help you keep on top of the chores in your home. From the things that need to be done daily such as cleaning surfaces or wiping down toilets, to weekly and monthly chores, it will help you keep accountable for what needs doing, and also help you manage it more consistently. It helps to spread the jobs out over the course of a week and a month which means that the tasks themselves shouldn’t feel too demanding on your day, and subsequently should free up more time for you as a mom.

Delegate chores

While on the subject of cleaning and managing your home this shouldn’t be something that is left solely to you, no wonder many of us can feel too overwhelmed by the task at hand. It’s important to delegate some jobs. Children as young as four can be accountable for their own bedrooms or make their beds. Older children can put their clothes away and even take on some of the general chores like vacuuming or dusting the furniture. You can ask your partner to take on some other chores like putting the bins out or doing some of the bigger tasks like cleaning windows or clearing out the gutters. There are plenty of jobs that can be shared amongst the family and this can really take some of the stress away from you, freeing up time to do other things that will ultimately be helpful towards you family and your home.

Let’s hope these tips help you to manage a busy home.

Home Renovation Preparation Tips

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. One of the biggest investments any of us will make is our home. One way people increase the values of their homes is through home renovations. Renovations are tricky in that sometimes they can add value, while others don’t. The following contributed post is entitled, Home Renovation Preparation Tips.

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Planning for a home renovation can be a really exciting but daunting prospect. Once you have decided what you’re going to do – loft conversion, garden overhauls, kitchen makeover or maybe a full conservatory and extension – it is time to get down to the details.

With the proper planning, you can trim the fat on the budget and get exactly what you want.

Photo by Nolan Issac on Unsplash

Budget

Everything should start with how much you have to spend. Significant renovations can wolf a lot of cash – even more, if they run over the time, you had allocated. It is often the case that people will take a loan to cover the cost of the renovation, in which case you’ll need to carefully factor in repayment to your monthly budget for the duration of the loan.

Scope

Once you have decided on the budget, you can start working out what is realistic. If you have 1000 to spend, then you might have to be content with repainting and some new furniture rather than a whole extension build.

Consider what the most critical parts of the project for you are. Is it just giving a quick makeover or do you need the extra cupboards? With everything item that gets added to your ‘must-haves’, more money will be eaten in the budget too. You will need to consider your construction site preparation also, because the more you have done in advance, the more likely it is your contractor can hit the ground running – saving time and money.

Materials

Long before you speak to a contractor, you should have an idea of the materials that you want and do as much research as you can about if those materials are actually going to work. Because while you might want a particular type of wood, there might be an issue with sourcing, importing or the suitability for what you had in mind. So you can write the ideal material down, and then add some alternatives that you would be happy with too. It also pays to find the most budget materials too. So if you have to reduce the spend somewhere, you will already have a clear idea of where that could happen.

DIY

Beware of suddenly thinking you can do 50% of the job yourself just to save money. There will be some things that you can do. The finishing touches, cleaning and smaller jobs are almost certainly no problem. But unless you are in the trade or you are a professional, then the chances are you are going to be better leaving it to people who do it for a living. It can be worse if you think you can tackle a job yourself, don’t hire the appropriate people – only to find you can’t, and someone needs to be called in asap.

Hire Well

Get references and ask to see examples of work too. Ideally, you will have lined up a few different companies to interview and make sure that you talk them through what you are thinking, and let them talk about how they would do it and the time frame. Watch out for any work that seems too low priced or if they are cutting weeks of the projected timeline.

Finally, you will need to mentally prepare yourself for weeks on end that there will be noise and mess while the work is being done. People often underestimate how much of an impact home renovation work takes.