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According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), heat gained by solar energy can be reduced by as much as thirty-three percent when homeowners simply hang medium-colored drapes backed with white plastic. The next time you think about new window treatments, consider the fact that you could actually be paying for them with the money you’ll save.
Here are some money saving window treatments for your consideration:
Shades
When properly installed, window shades are the most effective, and simplest, treatment to save energy. A tight seal, which minimizes both heat gain and loss, is created when shades are mounted as close to the glass as possible. Shades with dual-sided two-toned fabr...
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Maybe you stumbled on ‘the one’ with the first property you looked at, but it’s more likely you’ve been at it for months, critiquing every detail until at long last, you found it. Your dream home. Landscaping to die for surrounding a home just right for you and yours. It has all the neighborhood amenities you wanted. The location is perfect. This is it!
Now what?
Here are some tips to remember when making your first offer to buy.
First, there is no absolute wrong or right way to do this. Be realistic with your offer, however. Working with a good real estate agent can go a long way toward helping you do this. You don’t want to offend anyone by...
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Part of settling into a new house so that it feels like ‘home’ is getting to know the neighbors. Having that community connection helps establish a feeling of permanence and belonging. Here are some ideas for breaking the ice when you’re the new kid on the block.
1. The direct approach … sort of
If you’re an extrovert, then walking up to a neighbor’s home to say hello will be easy. If you’re on the shyer end of the scale, you can build up to it. Wave when driving by or checking the mail; a friendly “Hi” as you walk by with the dog or taking the kiddos to school lets you interact without being committed to stick around. When you’re ready, you can hang out for a chat. Word of caution, avoid dinn...
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Want to give your home a face lift but don’t have a magically refilling wallet? With a budget of about $5,000 and a solid game plan, you can get a fresh new feel for your home this winter!
When working with limited funds, it’s best to focus on the kitchen and bathrooms. These are the areas which are used the most, and if there’s a chance you’ll be selling your home anytime in the future, these are also the areas that buyers will show the most scrutiny over. With some finesse, you can even look at adding living space by enhancing your available outdoor areas.
Kitchens
A functional kitchen is a beautiful ki...
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As time marches on we tend to collect, some might even say hoard, so many “things.” They might be personal mementos such as letters or various and sundry memorabilia from our school years, they might be “fangirl” collections from a book series, shot glasses from every state in the country, or baseball cards. Regardless of what is collected, humans like to gather. It’s in our nature.
The problem with this is that eventually all this gathering leads to clutter, and clutter can lead to mental unease or distress. We're all very sensitive to our surroundings and the state of our living space often has a dramatic impact on our own emotional and mental state. Cluttered closets and messy houses make for...