Tag: Home

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.

Best Ways To Get Your Home Warm Weather Ready

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. If you’re a homeowner, management of your home’s finances is critical to your overall financial health. A key piece of that is managing your temperatures of your home during all seasons. The following contributed post is entitled, Best Ways To Get Your Home Warm Weather Ready.

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CCO License-Pexels

Warm weather is here. The clocks have gone back and sweater weather is a distant dream. Like many of us, your home upkeep has more than likely been neglected in favour of some more weather suitable pursuits, like curling up under the duvet for marathons of your favourite TV show.

Interior Design can be huge amounts of fun but many smaller exterior problems can spiral out of control if not rectified quickly. Now the weather is getting warmer, it’s an exciting time to get up and get motivated so you can enjoy the coming sunshine!

Ready, Set, Roof!
Winter can wreak havoc on all parts of your home, none more-so than your roof. Wind, rain and other elements can leave your home open to a variety of safety concerns. Something as simple as cleaning rain gutters and ensuring pipes are secure can save you a huge hassle once the weather turns cold again. Before choosing a company ensure your contractor is legitimate, skilled and experienced.

Get Some Greenery
City life means we may not all have the luxury of green space on our doorsteps. However, research has proven that plants and flowers within the home are good for us. So bring the outside to you! Not only do plants add colourful and uplifting decorative accents to the most sparse of living spaces, they also provide extra oxygen that can boost your mood and brain functionality. Browse your local garden centres and botanic markets for container gardens or floor plants that will bloom in the next few weeks.

Colour Chameleon
Breathe a breath of life into stale and grey surroundings, with a fresh lick of paint. If you’re stuck for time, or just aren’t sure about making the commitment, consider an accent wall in a bold, zingy lemon or even a happy pink to refresh your bathroom or kitchen cabinets. Even a few sheets of printed contact paper can upgrade your interior in seconds. Stuck with magnolia walls in your rental? Consider a gallery wall instead!

Get Cosy
Something as simple as a new set of soft furnishings or a new lighting scheme can make your living space feel re-balanced and refreshed. The benefits of LED Lighting can make a room feel inviting when it would otherwise be unwelcoming. A room with textures, patterns and prints, draw the eye in and can make your living space feel larger. Create a plush, cosy space with throws, pillows and blankets in warm and creamy shades. Want something a little more eye catching? Unique and one-of a kind geometric and abstract pieces are easy to find at flea-markets and garage sales.

Deep Clean
The final step is to get rid of all the clutter accumulated over the colder months! It’s a great time take stock of what you have, to donate what you don’t want and even make some money by selling your unwanted goods. Invest in storage boxes, drawer dividers and shoe racks to ensure that the mess doesn’t creep up on you, as it’s sometimes prone to do!

4 Questions About Homeownership

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. Homeownership is a key pillar to building wealth. It can also wreck your finances if you don’t understand the pitfalls of it. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Questions About Homeownership.

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Homeownership is for many the ultimate American Dream. Indeed, we have to remember that the Americans of today were once immigrants who had come – or been shipped – to the country in the hope of making a living. What Thomas Jefferson called the pursuit of happiness is, after all, nothing else than having a place we can call home. However, purchasing a home doesn’t come without risks. Indeed, it doesn’t matter how many of us dream of homeownership; not everyone is ready to become a responsible homeowner today. Indeed, investing in a property is a commitment that requires a change of mindset. Some might even refer to it as the first step of adulting. The truth is that you can’t buy a home if you can’t answer the following questions:

Learn frugality

Can you avoid unnecessary expenses?
Buying a home is an expensive adventure you need to budget. There is no secret; unless you’re lucky enough to have inherited a substantial income, you will need to embrace a frugal lifestyle to save ahead of your property purchase. Frugality being the art of living within your means, it’s an essential skill to develop at the beginning of your homeownership journey. Indeed, it allows you to save money without depriving yourself. More importantly, it’s the key to keeping your budget under control safely.

Can you be part of a neighborhood?
You never buy just a house or an apartment. You buy your entry into a neighborhood. It’s the ability to embrace living at the heart of a community that makes your home a safe investment. Why so? Because your property becomes part of an ensemble that shares common values and interests, such as keeping the community safe and clean, for instance. As a homeowner, you agree to participate in the local activities and to get to know your neighbors. Ultimately, active communities are a magnet to shops and other amenities. Additionally, they significantly improve your quality of life. But it only works if you are ready to become a part of it.

Be part of your community

Can you fix things?
Things break. As a tenant, you can call your landlord to get it fixed. As a homeowner, you have to roll up your sleeves and sort it out yourself. While some repair jobs should be left to the pros – such as electrical and plumbing matters – anything else could be fixed with some DIY skills. Prepping and painting a room, for instance, doesn’t require expert knowledge. Dealing with a door that sticks shouldn’t take longer than a few minutes in most cases.

Can you visualize your decor?
Ah, the dilemma of decorating your interior! Many first-time homeowners feel confused when it comes to creating their own style. Indeed, for many, living in a rented place reduced their involvement in interior decor to a minimum. Therefore, it can be tricky to visualize all the options in a room. You’d be surprised to know that many home decor projects end up becoming a waste of money because people fail to take measurements and test their design ideas first.

In conclusion, if you can answer yes to the previous four questions, you are ready to buy your first home. However, if you’re still struggling with some of these elements, it’s a good idea to delay your purchase until you are more confident with your budgeting, community engagement, DIY skills, or decor planning.

3 Home Improvements The 21st-Century Landlord Should Make

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Real Estate is a major wealth-building tool. Landlords who own property must understand how to maintain and even upgrade their residential home properties in order to keep them up to code and also compete with other landlords. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Home Improvements The 21st-Century Landlord Should Make.

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Nowadays, first-time homeowners are more likely to be in their 30s and sometimes even their 40s. Compared to our parents and grandparents, it makes no doubt that the real estate market has evolved dramatically. The price tag has increased tremendously, making it more challenging for buyers to secure the deposit and find an affordable mortgage. As a direct consequence, buy-to-let landlords find that their tenants are more likely to be interested in mid- to long-term tenancy agreements.

Indeed, the difficulty to enter the property market presents a valuable opportunity for landlords. As most tenants are keen to stay for several years, they also seek modern days comfort and facilities in their rented property. The shoe-box, dark property with a low rent doesn’t run the rental market anymore. Tenants want to feel at home, and they expect landlords to create a space that is fit for purpose.

Concrete floor

No tenant wants to look after the garden

The idyllic suburban house with a little garden is a home cliché that nobody cares about anymore. The truth is that your tenants work hard during the week to pay the bills and save money ahead of a deposit. They don’t have any time or interest in maintaining the garden. From lawn mowing to watering, a pretty garden requires a lot of effort – without mentioning money. Your tenants don’t want to spend their weekends clearing the lawn. They want to relax, and therefore, they prefer a front yard that is easy to manage. Consequently, it’s a good idea to work closely with concrete paving contractors to transform your yard into a smooth surface that can act as a cozy patio in summer. Additionally paving slabs are perfect as an impromptu parking space when your tenants receive guests.

Help your tenants save money on energy bills

Windows that let the cold air in and inadequate attic insulation have earned a place in the top ten worst rentals in history, but they are nothing modern tenants are ready to compromise. Indeed, your tenants have no desire of being cold in winter. Many know exactly what to check when they visit a property, and therefore, no landlord can afford to run rentals that waste energy. As most tenants will pay close attention to your windows, your heaters, and the overall temperature in the property, they will quickly spot any issue. But you can also provide additional support towards energy bill management by installing smart technology, which tenants can control with an app. Smart appliances and systems offer a compelling control argument for budget-focused tenants. If it seems as though this would be hard to take care of and that a lot could go wrong, you can hire property managers to deal with any potential issues for you, and you can just concentrate on keeping your tenants as happy as possible.

Give your tenants control

Switch the carpet for eco-friendly and easy-care solutions

What is the most common flooring solution? If you’re still thinking in terms of costs, you’re approaching the problem from the wrong angle. As a landlord, you need to consider flooring solutions that are easy to maintain – and therefore don’t require replacing each time you put your property back on the market. Concrete floors can be not only elegant, but they are durable, easy to clean, and non-traditional. Wood carpets share the same qualities and can be used for centuries!

Making your rental property appealing is all about putting your tenants’ needs first. Something else to consider that was not mentioned in this post is Attic Cleanup. Making sure the attic is suitable is another important aspect prospective tenants will ponder before moving into your property. Your tenants want something that is easy to manage, that provides great cost control, and that is durable – therefore, they don’t need to worry about it. From your curb appeal to your flooring solutions, it’s time to transform your rental.

Best ways to save money through efficient heating and cooling

The first principle of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. A major component of everyone’s personal finances is their utilities. Depending on where you live, keeping your dwelling at the appropriate and comfortable temperature can be costly. It’s important to know how to control this cost. The following contributed post is entitled, Best ways to save money through efficient heating and cooling.

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Alex Perz

When you think about saving money, heating and cooling for your home would probably be the last things in your mind. It’s really hard to save money if you have your AC running during hot, humid days, or your heater going on cold, winter months.

But what if there’s a way for you to save money, even when you’re not depriving your home of heating and cooling?

The key to substantial savings is to keep your heating and cooling systems efficient, so even with prolonged use, there won’t be any wasted energy, and you’ll only get the right amount of coolness or warmth that you need.

If you’re really keen on saving every cent possible for your home’s heating and air conditioning, start by ensuring that your hardware is up to the task, and that it’s not wasting energy due to dirt build up or presence of leaks. Regularly checking the system that you have will save you a lot of money from repairs in the near future. Keeping them in top condition saves you more by ensuring that they don’t deteriorate with every use, thus the need for new units.

Here are some of the areas you need to consider if you want to see substantial savings.

Right-sizing the heating and cooling systems for your home.

This is easily one of the most overlooked factors when buying a new HVAC unit for your home. Instead of thinking about the size of your home, you were easily swayed by the price, as well as the big savings when compared to competitors. The right size will save you a considerable amount, especially if you’re using them regularly. You can also have an energy audit or calculation from your local dealer. With that, you’ll know exactly what you need for efficient cooling and heating.

Bigger is not better when it comes to heating and cooling systems.

As mentioned earlier, getting the wrong sized heating and cooling equipment would be wasteful and inefficient. They’ll cost a lot more to operate and maintain, so aside from the initial purchase price, you’ll also be dealing with the maintenance cost. Think about how energy efficiency in schools works, they are big buildings and getting a unit that’s too small for your space drives up the utility cost as it will struggle to heat or cool your home. Overexerting to produce the necessary heating and cooling can also be taxing to the hardware, thus effectively reducing its durability.

Regular cleaning and maintenance is a must.

Now that you have the right size heating and cooling units installed, you’ll slowly begin to reap the benefits of what you’ve sown. You can also focus your savings efforts on properly maintaining your hardware. For example, by regularly cleaning the vents and filters of your HVAC, you’re able to prolong its life and keep it working optimally. Always follow your manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, so that you’ll have it cleaned and maintained accordingly. The vents and piping of your HVAC unit are always clean and ready for anything. Any obstruction or dust build up in these can cause the efficiency of your hardware to drop.

Adding Personal Touches to Your Home

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. One of the most important purchases any of us will ever make is the purchase of our homes. One important consideration is how to personalize your home so that it’s unique to your tastes. The following contributed post is entitled, Adding Personal Touches to Your Home.

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You probably spend a lot of time in your house. We start and end our days there. We entertain friends in our dining rooms. We rest and relax after a long day in our lounges. We feed our families from our kitchens. We enjoy a bit of sun in our gardens, and we look after our health and hygiene in our bathrooms. Your home is the one place on earth where you should always feel safe and protected. Your home should be somewhere that you love.

A lot goes into creating a home that you love, and feel safe in. Many of us stick to similar furniture, saving money by buying mass-produced flatpack from large retailers. But, none of us wants our homes to be exactly the same as everyone else. Even though thousands of people might have your sofa, you don’t want your lounge to look like anyone else’s. You want it to reflect your personality and speak for who you are. That’s the only way that it will ever become your safe haven.

Fortunately, it’s entirely possible to create a unique home, even without spending a fortune, making sure all of your furniture is one of a kind.

Get Something Custom Made

Yes, custom made large pieces can be costly. But, large pieces aren’t your only option. Find a local crafter that’s creating things like photo frames or small tables, or commission some metal work such as brackets for shelves, from https://naimormetalfabrication.com/ for something a little different.

Add Prints

Credit – https://pixabay.com/photos/picture-frames-wall-art-interior-1149414/

Original artwork can also be very expensive. Prints can be a cheaper alternative. They won’t be one of a kind, but art is a very personal choice, so it’s unlikely that anyone you know would choose the same prints.

If you are looking for other ways to create quirky artwork, consider framing things like wallpaper samples, textiles, greetings cards and postcards and even pages from a magazine.

If you truly want a one of a kind area, create a gallery wall with family photos, pictures that you like, framed pictures that your children have drawn and even your own creations.

Get Crafting

Creating your own home accessories and soft furnishings is a brilliant way to save money while making your home a little different. Even better, you don’t need to be a talented artist, create a piece with meaning. Check out https://www.pinterest.co.uk/ratkinson/home-decor-crafts/ for some ideas.

Accessorize

Credit – https://pixabay.com/photos/pillow-sofa-cozy-furniture-2092155/

So, your sofa is the same as next doors? Add a colorful throw and some patterned cushions, and it’s suddenly completely different. Turn a boring nest of tables into a trendy surface with the addition of frames, candles and fresh flowers. Your accessories can completely change how your home looks, and are a cheap way to add your own unique style to plained areas of your home.

Have Stuff

The modern world is much more minimal. All of your books can be on your Kindle and all of your films on your Fire Stick. You don’t need to buy books or DVDs, and you certainly don’t need CDS. But, having belongings on display shows visitors who you are. Your book collection says a lot about you, so why not let people see it? Even if you are downsizing and mainly going digital, keep a few favorites on display to add personality to your shelves.

Three Reasons To Implement Preventative Maintenance In Your Home or Business

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Preventative maintenance is an underrated component of homeownership and business. This one category however can save you time, money and headaches going forward. The following contributed post is entitled, Three Reasons To Implement Preventative Maintenance In Your Home or Business.

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If your home or business maintenance schedule is still run on a reactive basis, you need to get your head around Preventative Maintenance. Why? Because fixing problems before they get really bad will save money. What better reason do you need?

Image Source: Pexels

When it comes to fixing that clogged pipe in your home or business location, do you take a reactive or preventative approach? If you’re not sure, you’re probably being reactive, which is costing you money. While they might sound like similar practices, preventive maintenance and reactive maintenance could not be more different in approach. While reactive maintenance focuses on fixing problems when they happen, preventative maintenance is geared towards stopping those problems from rearing their ugly heads at all. (No prizes for guessing which approach is better.)

If you still need a little convincing, the following benefits of preventative maintenance will have you scheduling in those checks and services in no time.

Enhance the Longevity of Your Equipment

Not only will preventive maintenance save you money when you don’t have to perform pricey emergency fixes, it will also extend the life of your infrastructure, machinery or equipment. For example, getting your boiler serviced regularly, before it starts to give trouble, will delay the time when the boiler eventually needs to be replaced, giving you years more use, and therefore rendering that initial installation much more cost-effective. Whether it’s in the home or at work, your expensive installations will last you longer if you schedule in regular maintenance and upkeep to avoid nasty surprises.

Avoid Downtime

It is a truth universally acknowledged that time is money. If you’re a business owner, or if you’ve had to take time off work to fix something that’s gone wrong in your home, you know that every day that an essential piece of machinery or equipment spends in a non-functioning state costs you money. Extended unplanned downtime can be a real disaster for your business which can result in ruin. If your business employs people who are responsible for operating the equipment that is acting up, you’re going to be paying their wages until the repairs have been carried out. And if you work in manufacturing, it goes without saying that you’ll be losing money when you fail to meet the required output because of mechanical faults. A little downtime once in a blue moon cannot be avoided entirely, but if you think ahead and implement preventive maintenance, you’re going to dramatically reduce the amount of downtime you have to account for in your business or work schedule. Whether it’s lubrication, hydro jetting, cleaning, repairs or replacing parts, the time and money you put in will pay off when you look at the downtime you’ve avoided in the long run.

Photo by Agto Nugroho on Unsplash

More Efficient Operations

The machinery runs most efficiently when it is in perfect working order. This means that when your equipment starts to function at less than optimal rates, your energy bill is going to creep up. You may not notice this right away, but if you let the problem continue, your bills will suddenly see extraordinarily high, and you’ll be wondering what has caused it. This is a really common problem, which can easily be avoided with a little forward planning. If you put in place routines that guarantee your equipment is going to be maintained, you will notice that your energy use remains constant, saving you money and reducing your environmental impact.

Whether you’re running a massive operation or simply keeping your home in order, preventative maintenance is the key to saving money and preventing expensive call-outs.

How To Keep Your Home Business Running Smoothly

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you’re going to run a home business you want to make sure that it runs smoothly. There are a couple of keys to doing so. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Keep Your Home Business Running Smoothly.

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Running a business from home certainly has its perks. You get to wear whatever you want, set your own hours, and don’t have a boss nagging at you every minute of the day. Plus, you save time and money by eliminating the commute. That being said, there are troublesome aspects of owning a home-based business too. With so much freedom and so many things around to distract you, it can be more difficult to stay productive and get your work done on time. With that in mind, here are ten things that you can do to keep your home business running smoothly.

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1. Stay Connected To Business
Although you run a home-based business, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be in the house all day, every day. Sometimes you’ll want to work in a cafe or restaurant, while at other times you’ll have to work on the way to a meeting. Because of this, it’s crucial that you have access to business information at all times. Instead of keeping important documents on your computer, you should store them on a flash drive, or, better yet, in the cloud, for access from anywhere.

2. Plan Out The Day
The freedom of being your own boss means that you can work whenever you want to. However, that doesn’t mean that your business hours should change every day. Not only will this make it difficult for customers and clients to contact you, but it also leads to a lack of productivity. Your days need some structure, so choose business hours, create daily and weekly goal lists, and stick to them. If you don’t, you’ll waste a lot of time each day deciding what task to do next.

3. Create A Comfortable Workspace
We tend to see our homes as a relaxing space. This can cause trouble when you’re trying to get your work done. The simple remedy to this problem is to create a workspace in your house. Contact a skip bin hire and clear all of the junk out of a room to make way for office furniture and equipment. Ideally, this room should be bright, quiet, and not too small. Once you have this area, make sure you do all of your work there. This will create boundaries between work and home.

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4. Never Skimp On Necessities
When you first start out in business, choosing the cheapest options or going without certain things seems to make sense. After all, you don’t have that much money to play with, and you don’t want to run out. That being said, you shouldn’t overlook the purchases that you need to make. High-quality internet services, for example, is vital for any home business. You’ll also need ergonomic office furniture, including a desk and chair, to stay comfortable and avoid an injury.

5. Dress For The Job
As tempting as it may be, you shouldn’t ever work in your pajamas. You don’t have to dress in a suit and tie every day, but you do need to shower and get changed before heading to the home office. Like creating a workspace, this will separate your business and personal lives, making it easier for you to stay productive when working and relax at home. A jeans and t-shirt are usually enough to put you in the working mood, or you can opt for workout gear for extra comfort.

6. Set Office Ground Rules
There’s no use in having an office if your family and friends think that they can come and sit in there whenever they like. Far too many loved ones make the mistake of assuming that, because you’re at home, you don’t need to be working. To break them out of that mindset, you need to set out a few office ground rules. For example, you could ask that they knock before coming in or don’t come in at certain times of the day. This would make it much easier for you to focus.

7. Build A Talented Team
Working from your own home doesn’t have to mean working alone. Just like any other, a home business can become overwhelming if you try to handle it by yourself. When the workload starts to pile up, therefore, you should begin bringing on staff to help you out. Sometimes those employees will work from their own houses, but you might choose to have them come work with you in yours. If you opt for the latter, then you’ll have to set them rules for the rest of your house.

8. Outsource When It’s Needed
Hiring employees is not cheap. In fact, it can be incredibly expensive. On top of the salary, you have to offer a competitive benefits package, advertise for the position, and spend time and money interviewing and training candidates. Plus, if an employee chooses to leave, you have to do it all over again. Outsourcing, therefore, might be the best option for your business. This includes many fewer costs but offers the same great service that you want for your company.

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9. Network With Other Entrepreneurs
Although it may seem like it at times, you’re not the only person running a home business or facing the struggles that come with it. There are thousands of other people who know exactly what you’re going through. These people can provide support, as well as advice with your troubles. They might also be able to help with finding providers, potential clients, and leads. For this reason, you should network with these individuals, either in a formal or informal setting.

10. Move Out The House
For many people, working from home is a starting point. In the early days of running your business, money is sure to be tight, so the house is the best office space available if you want to keep overheads low. Once your company starts to grow, however, keeping your business in the home can hold it back. You won’t be able to build your team or client base, as you simply won’t have enough space to do so. It’s at this point that you should consider moving the office outside.

Running a business from home can be tricky, but, with these tips, you should be able to make the task a little smoother.

The Benefits of a Custom-Built Home

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. The greatest purchase many people will make in their lifetime is their personal residence. Instead of buying previously owned homes, some individuals opt to have their homes custom built. The following contributed post is entitled, The Benefits of a Custom-Built Home.

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If you’re looking to move into a new home, you might want to move away from the traditional way of searching the real estate market and instead opt for a custom build. There are many benefits associated with doing that, and it’s something that you should definitely consider. We’re going to talk more about those benefits and why they matter below, so read on to find out more.

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You Have More Control Over Where You Want Your Home to Be

When you build your own custom home, you have more control over where you want the home to be. There are plots of land all over the place, so you’ll have lots of options. Sure, you probably can’t build in the middle of a city, but if you’re looking to live out of the city, you’ll have lots of options and control over the process. That’s not as easy when you’re simply buying real estate.

Work Closely with Top Professionals Throughout the Process

You’ll get the chance to turn your vision into reality with the help of some top professionals. They’ll include architects, builders and interior designers. You could turn to Mark Saunders builder, for example, if you’re looking for someone with a good track record on these kinds of projects. These kinds of pros help ensure the outcomes exceed your expectations.

Make it Specific to You

You can make sure that the home you eventually build is specific to you, your family and your specific needs. Everyone is different and everyone uses their home in specific and unique qays. If you want to make sure that your home is specific to you, it’s best to have a home custom built. That’s the only way to have complete control over the layout, size and shape of a home.

The Process Allows You to Learn a Lot and Have a Unique Experience

There’s no doubt about it; building your home is a unique experience and for most people it’ll be a once in a lifetime experience too. You’ll learn a lot about all sorts of things because there’s so much that goes into the process of designing and building a home from the ground up. Sure, there will be stress and problems along the way but that’s all just part of the fun.

Ensure the Right Standards Are Met

People tend to have different expectations of their homes and what they should be able to offer. If you’re going to get the most out of your home, you want it to be finished to the highest standards. When you build your own home, you can make sure all the little things and finishing touches are completed in the way you want them to be.

It might be a huge project to take on, but it could be worth it for you and your family over the long-term. You’ll end up with a home that’s perfect for you and meets the specific needs of your family, so be sure to keep all of this in mind as you decide whether or not this is something you should pursue.