Category Archives: home improvement

Smart Financial Moves for New Homeowners

You did it. You bought the house. After the whirlwind of showings, inspections, paperwork, and signing what felt like your life away at closing, you’re finally a homeowner. Now that the keys are in your hand and the moving boxes are unpacked (well, mostly), it’s time to shift your focus from buying the home to managing it—and your money—wisely.

Here are some smart financial moves every new homeowner should consider to protect their investment, avoid costly surprises, and stay financially stable through this next chapter.

1. Set Up a Realistic Home Budget

Owning a home means new and ongoing expenses you may not have had as a renter. Property taxes, homeowners insurance, utilities, lawn care, and seasonal maintenance can all creep up on you if you’re not prepared.

Start by tracking your new monthly expenses for a few months. Use this to create a realistic home budget. Make sure it includes room for unexpected costs, even if it’s just $50–$100/month tucked away for “house stuff.” It adds up, and you’ll be glad it’s there when your water heater decides to quit or you need a surprise trip to the hardware store.

2. Build (or Rebuild) Your Emergency Fund

It’s not uncommon for buyers to use a good chunk of their savings for the down payment and closing costs. If you had to dip into your emergency fund to make the deal happen, make it a priority to build that back up.

A solid emergency fund for homeowners should ideally cover 3–6 months of living expenses, including your mortgage. You never know when life might throw a curveball—job loss, health issue, major home repair—and having that cushion can be the difference between peace of mind and panic.

3. Get to Know Your Home Systems

One of the best things you can do early on is to learn how your home works. Know how to shut off the water. Figure out where the circuit breakers are. Learn how to change your HVAC filters, check your sump pump, and test your smoke detectors.

The more familiar you are with the systems in your home, the better you’ll be at spotting problems before they become expensive repairs. Plus, you’ll feel more confident taking care of your space, which is a great feeling as a homeowner.

4. Start a Home Maintenance Routine

A little maintenance now can save you from huge headaches later. Seasonal upkeep like cleaning gutters, checking the roof for damage, servicing your HVAC system, and sealing gaps around windows and doors keeps your home in shape—and helps prevent costly repairs down the road.

Create a simple home maintenance checklist for spring, summer, fall, and winter. Set reminders on your phone or calendar, and try to complete tasks early in the season. Your future self will thank you.

5. Avoid Big Purchases Right Away

It’s tempting to go on a spending spree once you move in. New furniture, shiny appliances, fresh paint—everything feels like it needs an upgrade. But slow down.

Give yourself some time to live in the space and figure out what you actually need versus what you want. Making big purchases right after closing can strain your finances, especially if you’re still adjusting to the new budget. Prioritize what’s essential, and space out the rest over time.

6. Purchase a Home Warranty to Protect Your Savings

One of the smartest financial moves a new homeowner can make? Consider purchasing a home warranty.

A home warranty is a service contract that helps cover the cost of repairs for major systems and appliances in your home—things like your HVAC, water heater, fridge, washer/dryer, and more. While homeowners insurance covers disasters and accidents, a home warranty handles the “my furnace just stopped working” kind of stuff.

It’s especially valuable in your first year of homeownership, when you might not have much left in your emergency fund. A warranty can help prevent a single breakdown from turning into a financial crisis. For example, if you had a HomeMembeship home warranty and your water heater breaks, instead of paying a huge repair bill, you could be reimbursed up to $950.

Even better, some sellers or real estate agents offer a one-year warranty as part of the sale, so it’s worth checking your paperwork to see if you already have one in place. If not, it might be worth the investment.

7. Keep Your Credit in Good Shape

Just because you’ve secured a mortgage doesn’t mean it’s time to ignore your credit score. Keeping your credit healthy will help you down the road if you want to refinance, take out a home equity loan, or make another big financial move.

Pay your mortgage on time every month, keep your credit card balances low, and avoid opening too many new accounts in a short span. Responsible credit habits now will open more doors in the future.

8. Think Long-Term

Finally, try to take the long view. Homeownership is more of a marathon than a sprint. Your house may not look like a Pinterest dream home right away, and that’s okay. Focus on making wise decisions, investing in quality where it matters, and building equity over time.

Your financial choices in these early years will lay the groundwork for long-term stability—and maybe even your next dream home down the line.

Owning a home is a huge accomplishment, but it comes with new financial responsibilities. By setting a budget, planning for maintenance, protecting your systems with a home warranty, and resisting the urge to overspend, you’ll set yourself up for long-term success and enjoy your new home with less stress.

Handwoven in Morocco – Introducing the Stylish Berber Rug

If you’ve never dug your toes into an authentic Moroccan Berber rug or Beni Ourain rug, you don’t know what you’re missing. Soft, plush and beautiful to the eye, these handcrafted wool rugs have been a tradition of the nomadic Berber tribes of North Africa since as far back as the Paleolithic age.

The Beni Ourain term and the Berber rug synonym refers to the seventeen tribes of Berber people who have thrived in the high-altitude Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia for centuries. It was there in that harsh mountain climate that these simple but luxurious rugs had their beginnings. Woven as a necessity from the rich, cream-colored wool of local sheep, they served as ground coverings, blankets and as shawls to throw over one’s back and shoulders to protect against the cold. And while their original purpose was for practicality, the Berber women that hand wove these rugs individually added their own personal touches with colors, symbols and designs that told the unique stories of their lives. These stories included tales of births and deaths, fertility, rural life and spirituality, and it was not uncommon for talismans to make an appearance in a design as a means to ward off evil spirits. Today’s Berber artisans continue that practice to this day.

Centuries later, these knotted pile rugs have reached a far wider audience becoming particularly popular in the home decor of western society. And because no two rugs are exactly alike, these typically asymmetrical rugs are all the more valuable. Traditional Beni Ourain rugs are notable for their generally cream-colored background and minimalist designs made up of fine black or brown lines or geometric shapes. The darker-colored yarns typically came from local dark sheep and goats, but natural ingredients such as spices, herbs and flowers were also used to make colorful dyes. As a result, Berber rugs as a whole may contain surprisingly bright splashes of color that can make quite a conversation starter as a floor covering in today’s modern homes or displayed on walls as works of art.

While modern society has since created commercialized “knock-offs” that may not even be made in Morocco, true believers can still haggle for an authentic Moroccan Berber Rug or Beni Ourain rug in a Marrakech carpet shop or seek out local sellers who take on that role for them. As the rugs have gained in popularity, artisan villages have sprung to life in the Atlas Mountain regions of Morocco. These talented women use their looms to weave beautiful, unique rugs, often customized to their buyers’ requests. In some cases, they will use synthetic colors to meet specific color requests, but on the whole, the process for making them has changed little over the centuries.

With so much history and culture interwoven in these unique rugs, it is no wonder they are so popular with historians, collectors and designers. The beauty of it is that they also have gained great appeal with those who simply enjoy the nicer things in life.

Durable and Stylish Cowhide Cushions


Are you thinking about redecorating your living room? You can spruce up your living room with some animal hide cushions. It is amazing how cowhide functions in various settings. It has become a symbol of refinement in the modern home. Specifically, the bold style can highlight any decor theme. Animal hides are rustic and elegant. Cowhide cushions look great in any living room. They are soft and silky. Your animal hide cushions can blend well with any decor scheme. The unique print is a visual anchor, and it can make any room look cozier. You can make several cushions the focal point of your living room, or you can accent your sofa with one cushion

They Are Durable
Your pets and kids will relax on your sofa. The cushions will need to withstand wear and tear. Most synthetic cushions will wear down after a few months of regular use. Animal hide cushions are difficult to puncture or tear. Cowhide is a natural shield, and it is an exceptionally resilient material. You do not have to worry about your children or pets damaging your cushions. Your cushions can be a family heirloom. A few shakes will remove dust and debris. The natural oils repel dirt, and the material will not unravel at the seams. You can remove pet fur with a brush or a towel. Most stains can be removed with a moist towel. If a glass of juice is spilled on the cushion, you can remove the stain with mild soap and water. Cowhide cushions should never be laundered in a washing machine. When the cushions need to dry, they can sit outside in the sun for a few hours.

They Are Natural and Unique
Cowhide cushions do not have a complicated manufacturing process. Real animal hide cushions are not dramatically enhanced. A real animal hide cushion will have a unique pattern. The colors can be brown, black or white. Some animal hides have a solid color. The pattern can also be sparingly broken. The earthy colors are soothing, and they can create tranquility in any living space. Animal hide cushions can be used in bedrooms. You can look forward to many restful nights in your bedroom when you lay your head on an animal hide cushion.

They Are Hypoallergenic
If you have allergies, you need to think about fabrics when you are purchasing decor cushions. Synthetic fabrics can cause rashes and respiratory irritation. Natural animal hide cushions are not manufactured with any synthetic fibers. Cowhide is hypoallergenic. The fabric will not aggravate your allergies or irritate your skin.

Add some uniqueness and rustic glamour to your home with these timeless cushions. These classic cushions look great in suburban homes, country homes and upscale condominiums. Your guests will compliment your style. Your cowhide cushions will be a great conversation starter when you have parties. They may want to redecorate after seeing your beautiful cushions. You can let them know that every animal hide cushion is soft and unique.

Install a Garage Floor Perfect for Cold Climates

Not every type of garage flooring is great for areas that are hit with wide temperature fluctuations and heavy snow or ice during the winter. Epoxy is a material that forms a solid bond with the concrete and can withstand the temperature variances and moisture levels of a Chicago winter.

Cold Climates and Snow or Ice

Cold climates like that experienced by Chicago residents bring winters that are filled with falling temperatures, snow, and ice. This moisture ends up being brought in onto your garage floor. Many garages are unheated. The ice and snow initially melting can refreeze and make it a dangerous surface to walk on.

The Beating Concrete Takes In Cold, Wet Weather

Any crack that develops in your garage floor is an area of weakness that will lead to larger areas of damage. As moisture enters the cracks and the temperatures fluctuate the water will freeze and thaw in a daily cycle. Each time it freezes it forces the crack to become wider. Water soaking into the concrete will begin to degrade the material.

How Epoxy Seals Moisture Out

Epoxy is installed a floor-wide layer of material that hardens into a surface that is both durable and waterproof. You will feel more confident that the bonding between the epoxy and concrete is tough enough to withstand years of service in the coldest and snowiest winter conditions. Add the garage floor coating Chicago homeowners need for a longer-lasting surface.

Enjoy a Cleaner, Beautiful Looking Garage Floor for All Seasons

The epoxy surface you have installed is a breeze to keep clean. It will always look and feel cleaner and retain the original beauty of the design and colors of your choice. It’s a comfortable garage floor surface to use any time and season of the year.

You have a surface material available that is quick to install, affordable and is designed to provide better than average protection from cold and wet climates. It’s the perfect choice for areas like Chicago.

A Few Things You Should Know About Your Old AC System

As your home ages, so does its air conditioning system, and if your home wasn’t brand new when you bought it, it may have problems associated with age. At some point, you will need to replace your AC system. The following are a few things you should keep in mind.

You shouldn’t tolerate high repair bills

If your system keeps breaking down, you should think about replacing it. The repair costs will only continue to mount, and unless you plan on replacing every component in the system, you need to replace the system now. In the long run, it will save you money because a new system will have a warranty to protect you against any defects. Once your system is up and running and with proper maintenance, it will last for many years without any issues.

 

New systems are more efficient

Even without high repair bills, your old AC system is likely chewing up a lot of electricity just using it on a daily basis. Today’s modern AC units are more efficient and can cool down your home without using nearly the power that older models need to operate. This is a big factor in your monthly utility bill because your AC is the single largest user of electricity in your home. This can be seen in dramatic fashion in areas of the country that experience hot summers.

 

Choose your new system carefully

You don’t want a unit that is capable of cooling down a home that is much larger than the one you own, and neither do you want a system that is too small. You need to choose your unit carefully, so you can achieve the maximum efficiency for your home without spending more that is necessary to achieve this.

 

Often an AC installation company can help you decide which system is best for your home because they have certain brands and models that they specialize in. An ac replacement tampa company can help determine which size is best for you, and they can also install the system after you have bought one.

 

Lying in a Bed of Roses

Our body longs for a goodnight sleep after spending a day full of activity.  Be it a day at school or at work. Rest is very essential to keep our body recharged and keeps us healthy.  A well rested body is essential for us to keep up with our day to day activities and keeps us away from sickness. A tired body is prone to getting sick and less focus  and the best way to replenish the nutrients and gain back energy is to get enough sleep. So how do we get a goodnight sleep? Of course,  nothing beats sleeping in comfy bed.

3D Pink Roses with Water-Drop Printed Cotton 4-Piece Bedding Sets

Find the best mattress that fits your needs. Make sure that you can move around enough. This will be beneficial for your posture as well. Finding the right position at sleep contribute a lot to a good night sleep.

Another factor is the added comfort of soft and silky bedding that calms your skin when you lie in bed. Make sure that you choose the right quality of texture, color and size to fit your bed.

Design is also one of the things that makes it interesting especially for women. How about lying in a bed of roses from Beddinginn, your online haven for floral bedding!  I love their 3D Pink Roses with Water-Drop Printed Cotton 4-Piece Bedding Sets. The flower seems so lively that  makes you feel literally lying down in bed of roses, right?

You can See more here if you wanted to check out their other designs and colors that will definitely suit your preference and taste when it comes to bedding. they got  Floral Bedding Sets, 3D Bedding, Rose Print Bedding, Butterfly Print Bedding and more.

Onlwe 3D Butterflies and Blush Pink Peonies Digital Printed 4-Piece Bedding Sets/Duvet Covers

 

Christmas is just around the corner. This the perfect time to buy bedding as gifts for your loved ones.  Most items are currently on sale! Check it out…

How to Create Your Perfect Bedroom

Bedrooms are incredibly personal. It’s the one room in your house that’s just yours (and maybe your partner’s). The kids don’t go in there much, you don’t entertain guests in there. It’s just yours. It’s the room where you relax at the end of the day. It’s where you are at your most intimate and your most exposed. So, it’s important that you find ways to make it suit you perfectly. Here are some tips to help.

A Great Bed

Choosing a bed is a very personal choice and you are unlikely to love the first one you see. Your bed should always be the focus of your bedroom, the thing you see first when you walk through the door, welcoming you into the room and getting you in the mood to relax. So, it’s important to take your time to get it right. Check out Revival Beds who have a huge range of beds in different shapes and sizes to suit all needs and tastes.

Once you’ve chosen your bedframe, think about what kind of mattress you want. Your mattress is incredibly important so, if you can, spend a little more and get something you know will help you to get a great night’s sleep for years to come.

Bedding

Your bedding should be soft, comfortable and stylish. Try to stick to light soothing colours, which can help you to feel relaxed and peaceful.

Pictures

One of the best ways to make your room more personal is to add some artwork and photographs to your walls and shelves. Art is very personal, so don’t worry about what’s popular or what other people like. Shop around until you spot something you love. If you don’t want to spend money on originals, prints can make a brilliant alternative and once they are hung or framed, you can barely tell the difference.

Seating

If you’ve got space, adding some seating to your bedroom can be a fantastic way to give it some extra comfort. Create a reading nook with plenty of soft furnishings and all your favourite books nearby. This lovely relaxing space can be a great addition to your home.

Colour

Try to stick to lighter colours in your bedroom. Neutral walls are great as they make it easy to accessorise. But, if you’d prefer some colour, try cooling blues or purples, which are exceptionally relaxing. Keep the bolder colours to your accessories and soft furnishing.

Flooring

Wooden floors are stylish and easy to look after, but nothing beats the feeling of a nice fluffy carpet under your feet in the morning. If you want the best of both, add a luxurious rug to your wooden floor.

Accessories

Adding soft furnishings such as cushions, blankets, and bed runners is a nice way to make the room appear more relaxing and comfortable by creating a cosy atmosphere.

There is a lot to think about when it comes to designing your perfect room so take your time. Write some ideas down, try some different colours together and get some samples. Then remember to have some fun. Decorating doesn’t need to be stressful. Let yourself enjoy creating your perfect space.

 

Benefits of Installing Roller Shutters for Your Home

There’s nothing quite like returning home after a stressful day at the office. Your home is your own private sanctuary where you can cook the food you love, watch whatever you want on the TV and get a good night’s sleep in your comfortable bed. However, you won’t be able to relax so easily if you find that your home has been burglarised while you were at work. You might have a comprehensive home insurance package that pays for your lost items, but you’ll no doubt have some belongings that are priceless, and being robbed can leave you shaken up. For those reasons, it’s best to make sure your home is as secure as possible, and that’s why you should have some home security
enhancements installed.

At the very least, you should have sturdy locks on your doors and windows and a reliable home security alarm system that’s connected to a dedicated security company, but you might want to go even further than that to make sure your home is extra secure. You might not realise it, but window shutters in Perth are a great way to make your home impenetrable, and they also bolster your home’s aesthetic appeal if you purchase them from a reputable company.

Window shutters by Perth Roller Shutters are commonly sought after because they’re manufactured with high-quality materials and are available in a wide variety of designs and styles. Plus, they’re much less expensive than you might expect.  Below, this article will detail a few of the main benefits  of roller shutters.

The Benefits of Roller Shutters

Almost every single shop found on the high street has roller shutters installed for security purposes,so why not do the same for your home? To help you decide whether you should have roller shutters installed, this article takes a look at some of the main benefits of doing so below.

– They work as a deterrent – Needless to say, you want to make your home look as if it’s impossible to break into, and window shutters will do just that. Criminals look for easy
opportunities and will stay away from home’s that look like too much hassle to burgle.

– They deny access to your home – The only entrances to your home are your doors and windows, so it’s vital to make sure they’re as secure as possible. Window shutters won’t break even if put under a tremendous amount of pressure.

– They can improve the look of your home – Thanks to the fact that there are many types of shutters to choose from, you can purchase shutters that won’t ruin the look of your home.

Making Your Home Extra Secure
Perth is a city that enjoys a relatively low crime rate, but you still need to be diligent to avoid becoming a victim of theft. As long as you buy shutters from a company you can trust, you can feel confident that your home is unlikely to be burglarised.

How does the Handyman Survive in the Current World of Professionals and Specialists

Handymen can be found in communities in every country all over the world, offering low-cost services ranging from home repair, to painting, to rubbish removal for their customers. At times you may need home repairs that you shouldn’t try to do or can’t complete on your own. Professional handymen can assist in this task by using technical trade skills to complete the job. Anything from plumbing, electrical projects, painting a wall or property maintenance, are examples of common handymen responsibilities. Most people have had something go wrong when they least expect it, or a part of the home is in need of repairs, and who better to call than a professional and qualified handyman??

Why bring in a handyman?

You’ve got a slowly increasing list of home improvement jobs that need doing, like changing a leaking bathroom tap, replacing a rotted kitchen door or painting the living room walls. You could hire a plumber, carpenter and painter, who may have conflicting schedules with when you will be available at home, or you could hire a qualified handyman to complete all three projects in one day, saving you time and hassle.

Getting it right

A homeowner can save time and money on home improvement and renovations by hiring a handyman complete a wide range of jobs at an affordable rate. A service charge from a plumber or roofer to come to your home could equal or even exceed the cost of hiring a handyman for a few hours.You will also be less likely to be overcharged if you hire a handyman. Although handymen have less expenses, they do supply all their own tools, so there’s no need to invest in extra equipment you won’t use often or at all.

Finding the best

It is usually easy quite easy to find a decent and qualified handyman; most advertise in phone books or with fliers around town, they can be easily found on the Internet, and if you are lucky, you may have heard about a good one through word of mouth recommendations. Some people who have had their repairs and renovations done by excellent handymen, will trust them to do other jobs for them in the future, since a good one can be hard to find. It may be a good idea to keep a reputable one’s number handy in a phone book or on your mobile phone. A renowned and leading company with over 20 years’ experience in the Perth region of Western Australia, is http://www.menbehavinghandy.com.au Keep that address well handy in case you are in need of it!

Home is where the heart is

Nobody loves their home more than the owner, and it makes perfect sense that you should only hire the very best to carry out any kind of repairs. Knowing that somebody is doing the job how it should be done, gives one that special peace of mind. And that’s what we all want, right?

5 Best Waste Management Methods Around The World

All around the world, people are becoming more and more educated about the damage that’s being done to the environment by humans. When people think about how they can help the environment, they usually consider how they can reduce their carbon footprint by using less electricity. That may mean remembering to turn the lights off, only driving when necessary, or even having solar panels installed on their property’s roof.

However, while minimising the effects of global warming are extremely important, looking after the precious resources the world has to offer is also crucial.

Most developed countries have populations that consume as much as they can afford, but all that consumption results in a lot of waste. The problem is, that waste needs to be disposed of some way or another, but simply throwing everything into landfills is far from ideal.

As a result, people are being urged to recycle as much as they possibly can, and in many countries, people are supplied with recycling bins so that they can easily separate their general waste from materials that could be used again.

Of course, in some situations, separating a huge amount of waste into what can and can’t be recycled can be a monumental task, and that’s where hiring a skip bin comes in useful.

Bin hire provides people with a way to dispose of their waste responsibly without having to do any of the hard work. In situations where bins can’t accommodate the huge amount of waste a homeowner has to deal with, good skip hire companies will provide a bin and then dispose of its contents responsibly.

Recover Bin supply skip bins in Perth WA that can be filled with a huge amount of waste which then gets disposed of in the most responsible way. Below, this article will take a look at five of the most common waste disposal methods that are used around the world.

  • Landfill – Though most countries are increasingly trying to avoid using landfills, they remain the most popular method of disposing of waste.
  • Incineration – This is where certain metals are heated to extremely high temperatures in order to reduce the amount of space they take up, therefore reducing the stress on landfills.
  • Recycling – This is a process that involves turning old waste into new products as to avoid filling landfills.
  • Composting –The remains of plants and some kitchen waste can be turned into nutrient-rich food for plants.
  • Recover energy – This is a series of complicated processes that convert non-recyclable waste into heat, electricity or fuel.

Unfortunately, the majority of countries around the world are still very far away from managing waste in the most efficient way possible. There is still too much waste unnecessarily being thrown into landfills, and that’s something that needs to be stopped so that the world’s natural resources don’t run out. That’s why it’s always a good idea for homeowners to find a reputable company for skip hire when they have too much waste to dispose of responsibly by themselves.