Having splendid curb appeal can make or break the sale of a home. First impressions last. It goes that way when meeting new people, and it goes that way when viewing a new home. While it’s obvious that we should dress up a bit to meet someone new who will be important to us, it is of equal importance that we prepare and do some proper landscaping around the house, when we’re selling that home.

It has been stated that an attractive landscape design can potentially add 10-15% to the value of a home. That means that if your home is valued at $300,000, an effective landscaping job could raise the value of the house by $45,000.

Houses with good curb appeal are also likely to sell faster. Spectacular curb appeal is not a guarantee your home will sell. However, it will dramatically improve the odds that it will sell. More people are likely to come see the house as an attractive house exterior makes prospective home buyers want to see the interior of your home as well.

So, let’s get to work at these easy to implement landscaping enhancements to spruce up your curb appeal, and help you sell your home quickly!

Top 10 Landscaping Tips for Selling Your Home

1. Perfecting Your Lawn
   Your lawn is one of the first things to attend to it takes some time for a lawn to improve. Keep a regular watering and cutting schedule, and initiate regrowth and repair of damaged spots. Consider hiring professionals to lay new grass sod if your time to repair the lawn is limited or the lawn has been unkept for a long time. Lush green grass is attractive to new home buyers, while an lawn that is brown, overgrown, or filled with weeds, is a turn-off. Furthermore, prospective buyers may conclude because the yard is unkempt, the rest of the house is not maintained. Ditto for other house exterior elements.

2. Mulching Garden Beds
   Adding mulch to your garden beds is a great and inexpensive way to really make your landscape clean and tidy. Cedar mulch has a nice clean smell and really makes the greenery pop. Best of all, mulch can be applied quickly and easily if your landscape needs a quick pick-me-up before a home showing.

3. Trimming & Pruning
   A very simple way to tidy up your outdoors is to prune up any overgrown trees or shrubs near the home. This will not only make the garden look nice, but it will also highlight the architecture of your home. And you can prune deciduous trees and shrubs any time of the year, which will help if you’re trying to sell your home in the winter.

4. Power-Washing
   An easy way to give your home a new appearance, short of a new paint job, is to power wash its exterior. With little effort, a dingy and dirty surface can shine and look like new! And don’t just stop at your home’s exterior! You can power wash the drive, your deck, a brick sidewalk, fences, or any hard surface that needs sprucing up.

5. Kill mold and mildew.
   Go beyond the sidewalks and driveway with respect to mildew and also eliminate mold on the sides of the house and the roof.

6. Adding Outdoor Lighting
   Many potential home buyers drive by to view your home for sale at dusk or in the evening! Capitalize on this fact and add lighting that highlights the best features of your house and garden. Eg. place low voltage lighting along the driveway or sidewalk or near landscaping that you want highlight. A well-lit patio or deck is more inviting.

7. Being Neat & Tidying up the Garden.
   Ensure overall neatness in your garden, even if it’s woodsy. Stow away unnecessary garden implements and tools. Neatly stack firewood. Get rid of unsightly toys and ‘unfinished projects’.

8. Add Attractive Reds
   Place fed flowering plants and bushes near the front door of your home. The plants/flowers should make a significant, inviting statement. Choose appropriate sizes and choose the nicest pots you can afford if potting them.

9. Raking.
   When you dispose your garden of excessive leaves, even if your lot is wooded, you are highlighting the structure of your garden, rather than reminding prospective owners that a garden can entail some work from time to time.

10. Making it Picture Perfect.
    Taking pictures of your house and garden is a great tool for you to be able to see your house as a prospective house buyer would see it. Add interest to your garden with selected garden art, or plant a few colorful scrubs to fill visual gaps. Your landscaping pictures will suggest the adjustments needed.

Because it can substantially increase the speed of sale as well as the value of the property, it is worth taking care of the landscaping of your house when you are interested in selling your home.

Advice on Home Repair & Improvement, Home Loans and Mortgages. Copyright ©. All Rights Reserved.

To take the sting out of the overwhelming arrangements for a grande family Thanksgiving get together, I’ve come up with a fool-proof plan for a successful Thanksgiving dinner. My plan is to ensure there is fun in the entire process for all, but particularly for me, who’s doing all the prep and the this and the that. The secret is: start early! That is: start NOw!

My Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner – Planning Schedule

First week of November
I flip some magazines at the checkout stand to get some visuals, I browse through my favorite cookbooks for recipes & ideas, and I research recipes online. Then, I choose my menu. Weeks ahead. These days I love picking an upscale restaurant and I try to choose the entire meal (nibbles and all) from their recipe books.

Determine how many people will be coming to your Thanksgiving dinner party. The closer you can get to the exact number, the better. It is a good idea to call and confirm regulars, but also if new girl friends will come along, and that sort of thing.

Make a shopping list right away and keep it in your wallet so you can pick non-perishable items up, during your regular shopping routine. Particularly if you need specialty items from those ‘at the other side of town’-kinda places. Cross off what you have bought. Store your Thanksgiving dinner items in a special (marked) section in your pantry, so that everyone knows it’s ‘hands off’ and so that you can easily find them when the day comes.

Second week of November
Now is the time to order, if you want to have a fresh one.
Talking about ordering, I have a huge garden which I like to bring inside in the festive season. However, some of my friends want fresh flower arrangements for Thanksgiving. If that’s you, order your floral centerpiece and other arrangements now so that there is no panic at the florist later.

Third & fourth weeks of November
Buy your frozen turkey. If you leave it till the last minute, you may find that they are all the wrong weight (too small, too large). Also, you typically need about 3-4 days to thaw the turkey in the fridge. Give yourself the good part of a week, and you’re fine.

One week before Thanksgiving
Buy the remainder of the non-perishable items on your list, and a bread for the turkey stuffing. Cube the bread and dry on a baking sheet. If you are baking pies and pastries, now is the time to prepare the dough for your desert and other recipes, and keep them ready in the freezer.

Three – four days before Thanksgiving
Put your defrosting frozen turkey towards the back (i.e. the coldest) part of your fridge. Prepare your cranberry sauce and store in the fridge to let the flavors set.
Prepare your entire table setting. Get your nice cloth table cloths and napkins washed, ironed and ready.

The day before Thanksgiving
Pick up your floral arrangements or ensure they are delivered. Do all your fresh food grocery shopping: a fresh turkey (if ordered, or perhaps at the market), fresh breads, diary, seafood, etc.

Given the size of your turkey and the nature of your recipe, now is the time to work out the exact time required for the turkey to cook in the oven. Allow an additional 30 minutes at the end. Calculate backwards from the time you would like to have dinner, and determine the time the turkey needs to go in the oven.

Defrost your pie dough, prepare and bake your pies.
It’s finally time to prepare the stuffing (omitting any raw eggs till the very last minute). Make stock for the gravy from the giblets that come with the bird.
Wash and prepare all vegetable and other side dishes, so that it is very easy to either reheat of finish them off tomorrow.
Pre-peeled potatoes won’t turn black if you refrigerate them in cold water.

Thanksgiving day – early morning
Set the table for the dinner and chill your white wine.
Take the turkey from the fridge to bring it to room temperature (which may take 2 hours).

Thanksgiving day – late morning
Just before you will put the turkey in the oven, complete your stuffing recipe and stuff the bird.
When you are doing the stuffing, preheat the oven.

Put the turkey in the over and bast it every 30 minutes.

Thanksgiving day – early afternoon
Do more prep work, such as boiling the potatoes and mashing them. You can heat them up just before dinner time. Grind the coffee, and set the coffee maker. Do not make the coffee until just before serving.
Prepare garnishes for all your separate dishes.

Thanksgiving day – late afternoon
Remove the turkey from the oven when it has an internal temperature of 180 degrees. About 30 minutes before your calculated time for the turkey to be ready, start checking the internal temperature at the thickest part of the turkey, which is the thigh. If it is not yet done, check back every 15 minutes.

When you remove the turkey from the oven, it needs to rest for about 30 minutes. Use this half hour to round up the gathering to start getting ready for dinner and move to the table. Get a helper for serving. Instruct someone else to pour the drinks. Make the gravy and complete all your vegetable and other side dishes. Garnish and serve.

Happy Thanksgiving Dinner!

Advice on Home Repair & Improvement, Home Loans and Mortgages. Copyright ©. All Rights Reserved.

Worried because you’re moving soon? This really doesn’t have to be a stressful, chaotic time. Here are some tips to help you achieve a successful, organized move.

1. USE A MOVING CHECKLIST. Make yourself a moving checklist outlining everything that needs to be done before, and after, your move.

2. LEAVE IT BEHIND. Avoid moving anything you don’t really need. It is expensive, time-consuming, and physically unnecessary to move things you won’t be using. If you don’t use it now, you most likely won’t use it later.

3. GET RID OF CLUTTER. Dispose of broken tools, old toys, old clothing and other items that you no longer need, before you move. Give usable items to charity or hold a garage sale.

4. DON’T SKIMP ON YOUR MOVING SERVICE. Choose an experienced moving firm with an established reputation for good service and reliability. Choosing someone that is unreliable or inexperienced will waste more time and money than you can imagine.

5. ENLIST ANY HELP YOU CAN GET. You will get a lot more done, with some family members and friends helping you pack and/or unpack. If your children are old enough, they should be helping too.

6. BOX IT. Get boxes in assorted sizes. Be sure they’re clean, in good condition and have covers so they can be closed and sealed with tape. Start collecting them from your local merchants, or purchase them from your moving company. Liquor boxes are excellent. They are sturdy and contain dividers making them ideal for packing glasses, goblets, vases, etc.–but make sure these boxes have lids. By the way, an easy way to store boxes so they do not take up storage space is to open both ends and flatten them out. Cartons can be resealed with tape as you use them.

7. USE THE A-B-C SYSTEM. Everything you pack does not have to be unpacked the first day in your new home. If it contains essential items, mark it PRIORITY A. If the contents are important, but not crucial, mark the box PRIORITY B. If the box contains out of season items, holiday items and other things you won’t need right away, mark the box PRIORITY C. Then, unpack in A, B, C order.

8. WRAP IT. You will need plenty of wrapping paper and heavy- duty tape. Anything wrapped in newsprint will most likely be soiled from the ink and will require cleaning after unpacking. Movers use unprinted newsprint. For items you prefer to keep clean, you can purchase this packing paper from your mover. Kraft paper, tissue paper and shock- resistant corrugated paper make excellent wrapping materials and may be purchased at most major department stores, craft stores or your mover. These papers also make excellent cushioning and lining material.

9. MARK IT. Felt pens are ideal for marking boxes with information such as its contents, destination room, fragile or this side up.

10. LABEL IT. As you’re packing, place removable, colored, circle stickers on your boxes to easily distinguish kitchen items, from bedroom items, from bathroom items, etc. Use a different color for each room. If necessary, make a master list so you’ll know what is in each box. If you can go to your new home ahead of time, you may wish to stick a corresponding colored sticker on the door, or door frame, of the room that the box will be delivered to.

11. LIGHTEN UP. Cartons can be handled easier if they do not exceed 50 lbs., fully packed. Keep this in mind when you’re packing.

12. ROOM BY ROOM. Pack on a room-by-room basis, keeping the contents of each room in separate boxes. This will eliminate confusion and save time when you’re unpacking.

13. PACK EARLY. Even if you only pack two boxes a day, in thirty days you will have packed sixty boxes. Start in areas where the goods are not in frequent use such as the cellar, attic, garage, etc.

14. ORDER ADDRESS LABELS. Order address labels before you move into your new home. They will be great to have on hand when you need to indicate a change of address on anything. Leave a few behind with the people who move into your old home or apartment so they can forward anything that gets delivered to them for you. Give them a few bucks to cover any postage costs.

15. MAKE A SURVIVAL KIT. Make a survival kit for your first night in your new home. This should include items that will get you through the night if it’s too late to unpack or the movers didn’t show up. Helpful items to include might be: non-perishable food, can opener, paper plates, plastic utensils, bottled water, a flashlight, a few towels, sheets, toiletries, a blanket, toilet paper, pen/paper, a few small games or magazines and a change of clothes for everyone.

16. HAVE SOMEONE WATCH THE KIDS. If you have children, especially young children, it might be a good idea to have someone babysit them while you are doing anything that involves your move, such as packing, unpacking, etc. Your kids won’t be interrupting your progress and you’ll accomplish more.

17. USE THE ONE ROOM RULE. Set up ONE room in your new home as quickly as possible. This way, you’ll have a quiet retreat, free of boxes. You and your family will then have a place to go when you need a break from all of the unpacking activities.

18. MAKE IT PET SAFE. If you have pets, be sure you have a plan for when the movers arrive. Perhaps keep your cats in the bathroom with the litter box, or put your dogs in a fenced in yard. Also, take care to do what you can so your pets feel comfortable in your new home. Bring their favorite toys, give them attention, and don’t leave them alone for long periods of time for the first few days.

19. MAKE THE FIRST NIGHT SPECIAL. Make the first night in your new home as special as possible. It can be take-out Chinese food, or pizza, but you may sweeten the evening with flowers, candles and music. It will really make a big difference and will help you to unwind and de-stress.

20. DEVISE A PLAN. Before you begin unpacking randomly, sit down with your family. Discuss a plan, including where things will go, who is responsible for what, etc. It will help things run smoothly.

21. HAVE A TOOL KIT ON HAND. One of the most important things to have on hand when you’re setting up your new home is a basic toolbox that includes basic tools and hardware, such as a hammer, screwdrivers, nails, hooks, etc.

22. FUNCTION BEFORE FORM. It is best to first arrange your furniture, and then unpack accessories and personal items.

23. GET READY FOR BED. As soon as the bedroom furniture is delivered, set it up and put the sheets on the bed. You’ll be grateful that everything is ready for sleeping later on tonight when you’re really tired.

24. LET EVERYONE KNOW. Inform everyone that you’ve moved with simple postcards, or e-mail for those family members who can receive it.

25. GET ACQUAINTED. Once you arrive at your new home, schedule some get acquainted days on your calendar. This is a great time to figure out where the supermarket, bank, post office, etc. are and will give you a chance to get familiar with your area. If there is a tourist bureau in town, stop by and see what events and opportunities your town will be offering.

About The Author

Want to get organized? Get your FREE Get Organized Now! Idea-Pak, filled with tips and ideas to help you organize your home, your office and your life, at the Get Organized Now! Web site. http://www.getorganizednow.com

Advice on Home Repair & Improvement, Home Loans and Mortgages. Copyright ©. All Rights Reserved.

What you need to know for successful home decorating projects. These 14 tips will keep your expectations realistic, on track and on budget. Advice is given for working with professionals.

1. Whether you are working by yourself or working w/ an interior designer, keep an open mind and sometimes agree to disagree.

2. It is never too early in a project to bring in an interior designer, don’t wait until the architect is finished with the plans. Design and construction do go hand in hand. The architect or builder can’t place electrical and plumbing properly if you haven’t worked out the interior furniture floor plan. This avoids very costly changes down the road. Some designers will even consult on builder plans in home developments. An interior designer has a better idea of how a space will work for your family and no emotional attachment to getting a new home. They can say if an idea is good or bad and if the problem areas are fixable.

3. Know what textures, styles and colors appeal to you.

4. Don’t be too opinionated. You may miss out on great ideas or opportunities if you are too fixed in your thinking.

5. Be willing to look at styles that you think aren’t for you.

6. Don’t be intimidated into thinking an interior designer is going to create something for them rather than you. Their job is to take the best of what you like and bring it up a couple of levels and get you stretch a bit. Sure they are sales people (aren’t we all) but ultimately any good designer knows they make a lot more money by creating great spaces that people truly enjoy rather than selling you a bunch of expensive furnishings.

7. Budget: It helps everyone. A budget, even if it is loose, will help to make certain you get what you want and aren’t met with surprises you don’t want to pay for later on. It also keeps the builder, designer or architect from wasting time.

8. It is not fun for anyone to be part way thru a project and decide you’ve run out of $$$.

9. Remember you do not have to do it all at once. Maybe you can do the living room this year and the media room another year.

10. No matter how much $$$ you have there is always a budget. If you don’t know what it should be, ask. Please don’t be embarrassed. An easy way to create a budget is to give your wish list to your designer and builder if it is a remodeling project. Ask them to add a realistic figure to each item. Do not pull a number out of the air. A budget is an educated guess not an uneducated demand.

11. Allow for mistakes and set backs. Furniture doesn’t always arrive on time. You may get something in a room and despite everyone’s good intentions it just doesn’t seem right. If it is truly wrong, the designer will know and you can work together to figure out what to do.

12. Yes, in this day and age custom still means NOT RETURNABLE. If something is made wrong or damaged that is one thing, but if you decide you don’t like it or have buyer’s remorse – tough.

13. Refusing to pay is not the appropriate way to exercise control or show your dissatisfaction. If you have a complaint or issue say so and allow the sales person, manufacturer, designer or builder to work with you.

14. Be polite and respectful to all sales people, trades people and others in your employ and you will meet your home decorating and design goals.

About the Author

Lisa M. Smith is an interior designer and owner of Interior Design Factory, Ltd. She specializes in creating beautiful and inviting residential interiors that are timeless and look collected, not like a showroom. Real design for real people. She produces individualized results using creative solutions that are livable and tell a story.

http://www.InteriorDesignFactory.com

Advice on Home Repair & Improvement, Home Loans and Mortgages. Copyright ©. All Rights Reserved.

If you’re wanting to have a qualified professional draw your house plans, here are a few tips on what to provide the designer or architect with.

You have probably spent a great deal of time trying to find out what you are wanting. This is only natural as you are wanting your home to be not only functional but to fit your personal needs as well. Don’t hesitate to sketch out ideas on grid paper. This is one of the best resources I’ve received from a client. Think about the size rooms you need as in most homes, each room is specialized with specific purposes. Think about porches and entrances, where you are wanting windows, then note them on your sketch.

If you have already selected a lot, obtain a survey, preferably with topography. A good survey should have existing utilities, right of ways, easements, and even setbacks on it. If not, then it’s probably a good idea to hire a registered land surveyor to provide you with one. If the lot is in a subdivision, most likely this is already completed and available through the real estate agent or subdivision board.

As for the exterior of the home, spend time looking around your area at different homes or look in architecture magazines and books. Take photos or make photocopies of what you like and mark them with the things you liked. Hey, a picture paints a thousand words. Take care not to duplicate a copyrighted set of plans.

And make sure you tell them what your needs are as far as electrical. If they are drawing the electrical plan also, you may wind up with a generic electrical plan. Considerations there are ceiling fans and their locations, more outlets in specific areas, how much exterior lighting you are wanting, etc…

Some of my colleagues are probably going to not like this next paragraph. Oh well. If the truth hurts? I’ve seen many a future home owner not get what they are wanting in a home in place of what the professional wanted through artistic license. Not only for the fact that you are one paying the bill, but also for the fact that you are the one who inevitably has to live with the house after it’s built. Stick to your guns about what you want. The only reason you wouldn’t get what you’re wanting is if it’s either prohibited by code, physically impossible, or it just isn’t in the budget.

Make sure that they spell out what you’ll receive with your plan package from the beginning. That’s generally the case if you’re looking on the internet for the design professional. If they are wanting to be upfront with you, they will spell out on their web site what you will receive and generally how much it will cost.

Most of all, a bit of common sense would be not paying for the entire job until it’s complete. If you make arrangements to pay one third or half up front, that’s fine. But make sure you can see the finished product before you pay the final amount.

Tim Davis has been a professional home designer since 1990. His website is at http://customhouseplans.8m.com and he also teaches architectural drafting at http://houseplandrafting101.net

Advice on Home Repair & Improvement, Home Loans and Mortgages. Copyright ©. All Rights Reserved.

If you are thinking you might want to design your own house, what do you need to do before you get started? Designing a house is a big project and you need to stay organized to insure you don’t get off track. Here are some steps you should take right from the beginning:

1) Look around at other houses to get a general idea of what you want. We have all driven by a house and said to ourselves “what a cool house, I wish that were mine!”. Try to find houses that have features you like so you can get a general idea of what you want. If you do find that cool house somewhere, stop your car and knock on the door. You might be able to let the owner give you a quick tour!

2) Look through as many home books and real estate magazines as you can. Again, this is to get ideas of what you like and don’t like. It always helps to see a real picture of something you like rather than just having the idea in your head.

3) Try to get get input from all family members to find out what they might want. By including family members, including the children, you get everyone involved and make everyone feel like they are part of the project. Designing your own house can be great fun if you involve everyone.

4) Once you have a few ideas, you can use an inexpensive 3D computer program to see them on your computer. With today’s technology, you can now actually see your ideas come to life in 3D and have a much better idea of what they will look like in real life. Many of these computer software programs can be bought for under $100.00 and saves you from having to pay an architect the big bucks to draw up your house plans.

5) Once you have decided on a house plan, you will need to take it to an architect for some suggestions and modifications. He/she will be able to answer most of your questions that the 3D software could not such as a ballpark figure of costs.

These are some of the basic steps you can take to get started designing your own house. Remember, this is a big project which requires a lot of commitment from you. Many people start out to design their own house and realize it is just too much work. Taking these steps will give you a better idea of whether you are up for the challenge!

Read more great ideas on designing your own house at my website Design Your Own House.

Advice on Home Repair & Improvement, Home Loans and Mortgages. Copyright ©. All Rights Reserved.

Texture is an interior design element everyone enjoys. We all like how things feel. However, we often forget to consider texture as its own interior design component. All interior design elements have some type of texture. When creating a room design it is vital to coordinate all the textures in a room to achieve visual and tactile interest. A well designed room incorporates a careful selection of different textures.

Texture can be visual or tactile or both. It may have dimension or it may have none. It goes way beyond smooth or rough. Texture is not always obvious sometimes it is only implied. This occurs when an object looks one way but feels completely different. Tactile impression is the way an item makes us think it will feel. Texture is as important on items in a room we would never touch (ceiling, walls or architectural details) as it is on items people would be in consistent contact with (floor, carpet or upholstery).

People tend to get caught up in the way a few items feel and forget the rest. This works in reverse too, like when one is overly concerned the scratchy feeling on a wool drapery fabric. You aren’t going to snuggle up with it! The scratchy aspect happens to be part of the filament fiber which gives wool its’ superb ability to hang beautifully. It is important to pay attention to the texture of every item in a room. The aspect of this people are often most familiar with, other than in furniture is paint. Do you want flat, matte, semi-gloss, or gloss? If you haven’t considered the texture of everything else in the room, you aren’t ready to answer that question yet.

For the same reason one doesn’t fill a living room with all and only chairs, you need to be mindful of mixing textures. Variation is essential. Texture and the mix of such is a secret to creating a comfortable interior and a vital component in a monochromatic color scheme.

The materials as well as the actual composition of an item contribute to the texture. Wood is considered hard but in certain furniture, cabinet or floor applications it provides a soft and warm quality. Shiny is a common description for metal though one would not ordinarily attribute soft as a tactile element of metal, but when woven with silk into a fabric it can feel soft and have a shiny luster. Mohair resembles fresh cut grass the way each wool fiber stands up tall and straight. It has a crisp edge yet it is really wonderful to use in upholstery because it is very comfortable, feels luxurious to the touch, shapes well and is incredibly durable. In a monochromatic scheme using such opposing textures and materials can allow for what appears to be color changes when in fact they are all the same color.

Mixing textures creates interest and is a requirement of any well designed interior regardless of the color scheme. It is equally important to place the right texture in the appropriate location. Items people are going to sit on or feel should be of materials that are comfortable and pleasant to touch. Shiny pink patent vinyl may be the look your daughter has to have in her bedroom but rather than use it on a chair seat which would feel sticky on bare legs, it would be better as an upholstered headboard where one leans against pillows and doesn’t actually come in consistent contact with the vinyl.

Items that aren’t necessary great to touch can be fabulous to look at. Reclaimed, unfinished barn siding can look great on an interior wall in the right room but it would loose much if its characteristics if it was planed for flooring or cut-up for furniture. Glass beads are cool on wallcovering as created by Maya Romanoff (www.mayaromanoff.com) but would not work well on upholstery or as floorcovering. Tiny glass beads are invisibly attached to wallcovering in various colors or patterns which achieve a very glamorous effect on a wall or ceiling as light passes through the clear glass. This look belongs in an often seen location because it will have all your friends salivating.

A simple tip to remember when combining textures is that old saying that opposites attract. High gloss can be great paired with rough hewn timbers. Thick and luxurious rugs look fantastic on wood or stone floors. A cork kitchen floor provides visual texture as opposed to the flatter/sleek aspect of kitchen cabinets and countertops and against the hardness of those surfaces cork has a soft sound absorbing quality. The opposing combinations are endless.

The next time you are planning an interior design project or just adding something to an existing room make sure you carefully study all the textures involved. Be especially careful to mix different and opposing textures so you can pull off a well designed, comfortable and happy living space. Mixing is where the real fun comes in. So go out and mix things up!

About the Author

Lisa M. Smith is an interior designer and owner of Interior Design Factory, Ltd. She specializes in creating beautiful and inviting residential interiors that are timeless and look collected, not like a showroom. Real design for real people. She produces individualized results using creative solutions that are liveable and tell a story. Good design is for everyone and available in every budget.

Hire an Interior Designer Now for only $4.95. Click on website to ask your personal design question. You can even send pictures. Get design advice and answers just for you!

www.InteriorDesignFactory.com

Advice on Home Repair & Improvement, Home Loans and Mortgages. Copyright ©. All Rights Reserved.

Home renovations are exciting and new. However, it can be a time of stress, though all the hard work eventually pays off. If you have a pet, home renovations can become dangerous, as well as upsetting for your precious pooch. Here are a few helpful hints to keeping your dog safe and secure during your home renovations!

First, if you have decided to hire workers to renovate your home, you will need to consider your pet’s reaction. If your pet tends to be overtly protective of your home and family, you will most likely want to take a moment to introduce your pet to the workers to assure them that the workers are nice and there is no one or no thing to be afraid of. Show them that the workers are good people, not bad people and that they are there to help.

A major aspect of home renovation that is sometimes difficult for pets to adjust to are the loud noises that almost always comes with construction work on your home. Hammering, sawing, and banging are constant sounds that can be upsetting to your pet. The best thing to do is t place your pet in a smaller space (such as a laundry room or office) with their bed, a comforting blanket, and a few of their favorite toys. Don’t forget to periodically check in on them and give them comfort to assure your pet that everything is all right and that you have not forgotten about them. If the weather is nice outside and you have a securely fenced in backyard, you may want to put your pet outside for part of the day. There, the noise should not be quite so loud and upsetting.

Because the safety of your family and pets are of the highest priority, be sure to be on the lookout for hazards around the house once the workers go home. There can often be nails, sharp objects and projections lying around that could easily injure you or your pet. Other hazards include paint (wet or dry), power tools, paint remover or thinner, wood stain, sawdust, minerals, tape…almost anything!

Bare wires and electrical cords are also often present during reconstruction. These cords and wires certainly pose a threat of shocking or possibly even electrocuting your pet if they are chewed on or even touched. You can either find something to cover such spots, or investing in baby gates to block off the construction areas may be your best option.

The best way to care for your pet during home renovations is to consider your pet, and put yourself in their paws. Try to see what they see, and consider what may be interesting or intriguing to them. If you plan on extensively renovating your home, you may want to consider renovating one room or space at a time; this will make it easier on you, your family, and your pet. It is easier to stay out of one room instead of a whole floor. Though it may take longer, the safety of your family and pet is well worth the time spent!

This article brought to you by http://www.dog-fence.org. Visit us for valuable information on how to keep your pet safe from avoidable accidents. Discover the benefits of dog fences today!

Advice on Home Repair & Improvement, Home Loans and Mortgages. Copyright ©. All Rights Reserved.

Kitchen interior design is one of the most popular areas of interior design. It is also one of the most expensive rooms to re-design.

Many people attempt to do it themselves when it comes to remodeling their kitchen. However, if you choose to hire an interior designer then be prepared to spend a lot more money.

Whether you do it yourself or hire a designer for your kitchen interior design, careful planning is needed to achieve the effect you are looking for in the design. If doing it yourself you must be aware of some of the biggest mistakes made by homeowners when re-designing their kitchen.

One of these mistakes in kitchen interior design is not taking advantage of the storage spaces in the kitchen. There should be approximately forty-eight to seventy-two inches of cabinets for dishes and glasses above your sink and dishwasher for convenience. There should be approximately forty-eight to seventy-two inches of cabinet space near your oven for holding the cooking dishes and supplies. Floor cabinets or base cabinets should be placed near the stovetop for pots and pans.

Another way to utilize space is to outfit blind corners with storage devices such as a Lazy Susan or something called a cookware caddie. Kitchen drawers can be fitted with dividers or full extension glides to make use of their space efficiently as well.

Another big mistake of kitchen interior design is installing an island that is just too big. Island countertops are a great addition to a kitchen but they should only be about thirty six to forty eight inches deep and about thirty six to one hundred and twenty inches wide. If you get into larger size islands they are just harder to use and a lot more work to clean.

One other big mistake that we will focus on is not enough light in the kitchen. Appropriate lighting for your kitchen workspaces would include halogen or fluorescent lighting. Not enough light in the kitchen will make it difficult to do your daily tasks. Kitchen interior designers insist that proper ventilation be added to ensure that offending odors and excess heat is removed from the home. Many do it yourself kitchen re-modelers neglect this important aspect of kitchen design.

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home. It also adds aesthetic and substantial value to your home. Therefore, a good kitchen design is extremely important. In today’s fast-paced world, many families only see each other in the kitchen for a quick breakfast or dinner. If your kitchen is not functional then these important family meal times can be functionally difficult. Many people like to entertain and it is important for them to socialize with their family and friends while cooking a meal, which again results in the importance of kitchen interior design. The kitchen should be inviting and serve its purpose of providing a space to prepare and cook meals.

If you are planning on a complete kitchen interior design, whether doing it yourself or hiring a professional, make sure you get your plans in writing before beginning the transformation of your kitchen into something you would see on a television-remodeling program. Good luck with your new kitchen.

About the Author

Planning to remodel your kitchen? Are you interested in a career in Kitchen Interior Design? Use our site as a valuable reference point for
Kitchen Interior Design
By T.D. Houser

Advice on Home Repair & Improvement, Home Loans and Mortgages. Copyright ©. All Rights Reserved.

Natural and unnatural disasters affect everyone. Some areas of the United States are so prone to natural disturbances that many private insurance companies will not offer coverage. For example, most homeowners insurance will not cover damage caused by floods or earthquakes, and few will cover forest fires if your property is in an undeveloped area.

When evaluating what kind of insurance coverage you need, consider what your current policy covers, any inexpensive additions (or endorsements) to your active policy and your location related to the risk of natural disaster.

There are many types of disasters to consider, including natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, forest fires, tornadoes and hurricanes. Unnatural disasters include war, nuclear accidents, civil disobedience and terrorism.

NATURAL DISASTERS

Floods

Who is at risk? Everyone. Any area can experience an unusually wet season and the wastewater management systems of most cities do not have the means to control a rapid increase of water in paved areas. Generally, if your property lies near a body of water or in an area prone to hurricanes or flash floods the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) considers you to be at a high risk.

To determine the level of risk in your area: Visit http://www.floodsmart.com, sponsored by the NFIP, to see floodplain maps and search by zip code the flood risk of a specific area.

Insurance: Traditional homeowners insurance does not cover flooding. Many lenders require flood insurance if the property is located in a high-risk area. Private agencies do not provide flood insurance; flood insurance is available through the NFIP, who is under FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. Information about this insurance program is available at the NFIP website or through an insurance quote service. Flood insurance offered by the NFIP usually also covers flooding caused by hurricanes, rivers and tidal waves if two acres or two adjacent properties are affected. Water damage from broken pipes, backed-up sewers and from fire hoses is usually covered by standard insurance.

Earthquakes

Who is at risk? In the United States, the most active areas are along the Pacific Ocean including Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon and Washington. Inland areas of activity include Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and a small area between the three connecting corners of Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri.

To determine the level of risk in your area: The United States Geological Society Earthquakes Hazards Program hosts maps at http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/neis/epic/epic_circ.html that are updated by the hour for the entire planet. Residents of California can go to http://www.quake.abag.ca.gov to view an interactive shaking and liquefaction map.

Insurance: Earthquake endorsements can be added to most insurance policies purchased through a private agency. In California, residents can purchase earthquake insurance through the California Earthquake Authority. The probability of an earthquake, your location, soil type and building structure determine premiums. Deductibles on earthquake insurance are typically very high, often up to 10 to 15 percent of the building’s structural limit. Damage caused by broken gas lines or water pipes as a result of an earthquake typically may be covered by standard insurance. Earthquake damage to vehicles is covered by comprehensive insurance. Liquefaction can cause water damage by mud and standing water resulting from an earthquake. Consult your policy to determine whether your earthquake endorsement or other additions cover this type of phenomenon.

Forest Fires

Who is at Risk? Properties in wooded or dry grassland areas or located far from fire stations are considered at risk.

To determine the level of risk in your area: The National Interagency Fire Center publishes current fire maps at http://www.nifc.gov/firemaps.html.

Insurance: It is quite common for insurance companies to refuse coverage for properties in wooded areas or far from fire stations. Fortunately, unless you are in certain high-risk areas, many agencies will offer coverage or endorsements. Some policies offer benefits to help clean smoke damage and cover accidental fires or lightening fires in developed areas. Many insurance companies will extend discounts if preventative products are in place, including fire alarms or sprinklers, fire extinguishers and fire-resistant roofs.

Tornadoes

Who is at Risk? Tornadoes are most common in the states located east of the Rockies. However, they occasionally do occur in other areas.

To determine the level of risk in your area: The National Climatic Data Center tracks severe weather. To view maps and historical information related to tornadoes visit http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/tornadoes.html.

Insurance: Coverage for this type of disaster is usually available through a standard insurance policy. Most policies will also cover structural damage from hail that quite often accompanies this type of weather. Damage to trees and landscaping is not usually covered unless an addition is purchased.

Hurricanes

Who is at Risk? Hurricanes occur most often over and near the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Indian Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. In the United States areas surrounding the Gulf of Mexico and along the eastern coastlines of Florida to Maine are particularly prone to this type of severe weather.

To determine the level of risk in your area: View hurricane maps published by the National Climatic Data Center at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/hurricanes.html.

Insurance: Many standard insurance policies will cover damages covered by wind but not by flooding. Flood insurance must be purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program.

UNNATURAL DISASTERS

War

Damage to property from war activity, due to modern technology, could potentially happen anywhere. Most insurance policies will not cover losses caused by a war.

Nuclear Accidents

If a nearby power plant irradiates your property, insurance will generally not cover damages. However, it may help to express liability concerns to the owners of the plant. Before purchasing a property, you may want to visit the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission website at http://www.nrc.gov to discover if an active plant is located in the area.

Civil Disobedience

Civil disobedience usually refers to a riot or other civil commotion. Standard insurance will generally cover damages resulting from a riot, unless you were actively involved. If your property is broken into and items are stolen or vandalized, most insurance policies will cover the cost of repairs and replace stolen items. However, in order to receive the full value of lost items you may have to purchase “replacement cost coverage.”

Terrorism

On November 26, 2002, President Bush signed the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, which stated that private insurers and the federal government share the risk of losses attributed to terrorism. The act also rescinded state exclusions for terrorism. This act was set for a three-year period; check in your state to find out how your state currently enforces coverage for acts of terrorism. Additionally, evaluate your particular insurance policy to see what benefits you may receive if an act of terrorism affects your property.

Additional Considerations:

• Homeowners may want to consider, regardless of location, Additional Living Expenses (ALE), which is a benefit that will reimburse up to 10-20% of the structural coverage of your home to help with temporary living expenses.
• Business owners may want to consider purchasing ‘contingent business interruption’ or ‘contingent business income’ coverage that can help cover profit loss or extra expenses that occur as a direct result of interruption of supply due to events outside the businesses control. This type of coverage could be beneficial if your main supplier or customer is located in an affected area.
• Landslides often are not caused by earthquakes or flooding. This unique kind of earth movement falls into a commonly undefined area of coverage; consult your policy to see if your insurance covers this type of occurrence.
• Standard insurance may cover some natural disasters, such as damage from windstorms, hail, lightning and volcanic eruptions.
• Even if you purchase complete coverage, relief does not come instantly. With this in mind, it is a good idea to keep on hand food, water, cash, a battery operated radio, first-aid supplies and protection from the elements to last at least three to four days.
• Document your belongings well. Keep an accurate and up-to-date copy of your records and policies off the premises in a safe place.

In Summary

Once you’ve determined what the risks are in your area carefully review your policies. Keep in mind that policies may offer different levels of benefits with regards to property. Evaluate coverage in terms of the structure and content of a building, the outer buildings such as sheds, barns or garages, landscaping, and temporary living or relocation expenses.

Understanding your policies can be difficult. Nevertheless, it is better to invest a little time now, than worry about it later. If you think your insurance coverage falls a little short, shop around to find the kind of coverage you need or speak with your representative about additions to your current policy. You may also want to try on online service like insurancefinder.com.

References

Association of Bay Area Governments. Earthquake Maps and Information, Liquefaction and Information. http://quake.abag.ca.gov.

Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA). What is a Flood? http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/whatflood.jsp.

Insure.com. The Basics of Earthquake Insurance. http://info.insure.com/home/quake.html.

Insurance Information Institute. Earthquakes: Risk and Insurance Issues. http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/earthquake/.

Kreidler, Mike. Facts about Earthquake Insurance http://www.insurance.wa.gov/factsheets/factsheet_detail.asp?FctShtRcdNum=20.

National Interagency Fire Center. Fire Maps. http://www.nifc.gov/firemaps.html.

U.S. Department of Commerce. NOAA Satellite and Information Service, National Climatic Data Center. Hurricanes. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/hurricanes.html.

U.S. Department of Commerce. NOAA Satellite and Information Service, National Climatic Data Center. Tornadoes. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/tornadoes.html.

U.S. Department of Interior. US Geological Survey, Earthquakes Hazards Program. http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/neis/epic/epic_circ.html.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Facility Information Finder.http://www.nrc.gov.

Weston, Liz Pulliam. What Your Home Insurance Doesn’t Cover. http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Insurance/Insureyourhome/P35342.asp.

About the Author

Pamela Stevens.

Pamela Stevens writes for TopTenREVIEWS.com, an online review service that publishes unbasied software, online service and hardware reviews. TopTenReviews also publishes movie reviews and entertainment pages. Please see http://toptenreviews.com for reviews and articles on a wide variety of topics.

Advice on Home Repair & Improvement, Home Loans and Mortgages. Copyright ©. All Rights Reserved.