Guest Post: Make Your Home Appealing to a Buyer

 

If you are thinking about selling your home, then you need to begin preparing your home to make sure it is appealing to potential buyers. Keep your home looking nice even when you do not have any viewings coming up because potential buyers might drive past your house to have a look before setting up a viewing and you do not want to be rushing around if someone has set up a last minute viewing. Here are a few tips for you to make sure your home is appealing to any buyers.

-        Temporarily get rid of pets

Obviously, you do not have to keep your pets out of the house for the whole time you are trying to sell, but you may want to send them to a family member’s home while you are showing people around. Some buyers may not like dogs or cats and they could potentially be allergic, so it is best not to have your pets around.

-        Clean your home

Not many people will find a dirty home very attractive, so give it a good clean before anyone comes to view it. If you give your home one good clean, then you will not have to do another big clean again, if you keep on top of it, that is.

-        Make sure it is decluttered

A decluttered home looks more spacious and this is something potential buyers might be looking for. A spacious home is a bonus and no clutter allows the potential buyer to see the home without the mess. Clutter may suggest to a potential buyer that you have something to hide in your home.

-        Make the front look nice

This is the first part of the home potential buyers are going to see, so this counts as the first impression. Make the front of the house look nice by cleaning any cobwebs off the porch and adding a few potted plants. If you have a front lawn, then make sure it is neat.

-        Add simple homely touches

Just adding simple things, such as flowers, around the house can really make it more appealing to a buyer because it seems more like a home.

Obviously these tips will not guarantee a quick house sale for you because it depends on what the buyer is looking for, but following these tips will definitely give you a better chance of selling your home. Basically, just make sure it looks clean and presentable so the potential buyer can see the house for what it really is.

About the Author: Shelly Flaherty is the mother of two children and she loves everything about property and interior design. She recommends taking a look at Alloy Structures if you are in need of more space quickly!

Guest Post: Stress Reduction Tips for Simplicity During the Holidays

The holidays are often a very stressful time of year. Not keeping stress in check can lead to even more stress during the most wonderful time of the year. The good news is that there are ways to prevent stress and stay sane during the holidays so that you can enjoy your loved ones and celebrations.

Image Source: moastidrom.blogspot.com 

Talk it Out: Find a close friend and just talk to them. Getting whatever is causing your stress off of your chest will make a world of difference. Make sure the person you talk to is trustworthy and not a source of your stress, however. You need to be able to be completely honest and open with this person for them to help you in relieving some stress.

Watch Your Budget: It feels good to buy great gifts for everyone on your list, but your bank account and credit card debt may not like this very much. Finances are a major source of stress during the holidays. Your family will not love you any less if you do not get them the most expensive gifts. They just want your love and company. So, create a reasonable budget and stick with it. You will have less stress and enjoy the holidays a lot more.

Throw Perfection Out the Window: Things are not going to go flawlessly. There may be a hot toy that you will not be able to find, a pie that gets a little burned or you may be a few minutes late to a party due to traffic or weather. The holidays never go perfectly. Just know that things can and will happen and regardless, everything will still be fine. In a nutshell, give yourself permission to let go of the things that are out of your control and do not over-analyze the things in your control.

Maintain Your Healthy Habits: It may be hard to exercise with family staying at your house, or to stick to healthy foods with so many tempting treats. However, it is important to keep your healthy habits because this will help make you feel better and you will not have to worry about feeling guilty for over-eating or not exercising. Now, this is not to say that you have to be flawless, but instead of eating in excess, eat the portions you would normally eat and then get your workouts in as you normally would. Your body and mind will thank you. It is also important to keep sugar and fats to a minimum because these can make us just not feel our healthiest.

Plan Ahead: Few things are as stressful as getting things done last minute. Get your shopping done in advance and do a check about a month before a big dinner or party to make sure that you have everything you will need. This way you will have an entire month to get those odds and ends. When the big day comes, you will be able to just concentrate on getting everything together and will not be in a position where you have to rush to the stores to find one or two items that are often flying off the shelves during the holidays.

Do Some Deep Breathing: When you feel like steam is about to start coming out of your ears, take 15 minutes, go somewhere where you can be alone and do some deep breathing. If you have a house full of people, go out to your car. Just find a quiet place where you can get comfortable, close your eyes and breathe deeply for 10 to 15 minutes. This will calm your nerves and restore your inner calm.

 

About the Author: Richard Tucker is a father of 2 who has been writing about self-improvement and simple living for many years. When he’s not writing, you can find Rich reviewing energy efficient elevator replacement components.

Guest Post: Planting a Vegetable Garden in an Outdoor Space

Planting a Vegetable Garden in an Outdoor Space

Everyone is taking about how important it is to eat enough fresh vegetables, yet far too often it can be expensive to get five servings a day. One of the most cost effective and rewarding options is to plan a vegetable garden right in your own outdoor space. From backyard gardens to rooftop container gardening, anyone can start living the good life as a vegetable grower.

Outdoor Vegetable Garden Ideas

Here are some ways to plant a vegetable garden in any outdoor space, whether you live in the country or the city.

Raised container gardening is very easy to try for a first time grower or anyone looking to control the gardening space. This is especially helpful if you have a small yard, or want something in easy reach. For older people or those with handicaps that prevent a lot of bending and lifting, a raised vegetable garden can be ideal. Start by choosing your raised container type and size. You may want to start with a wooden frame placed on top of a solid surface. Add your soil; get it to the proper pH level, while you start your seedlings indoors. Then, plant for each season of vegetables tending to the weeds and pests.

Porch, veranda and patio gardening offers so many unique opportunities to grow healthful vegetables in limited space, without all the digging and soil prep that a traditional garden requires. Choose the plants you would like to grow and determine the type of root depth and space each plant needs to be healthy. Then purchase low cost containers made from porous material, like terra cotta, and fill with soil and starter plants. Use trellises to support vines, and use the right amount of watering and fertilizer to keep your plants producing. Or you may try an upside-down planter for tomatoes and peppers.

Your back yard outdoor entertainment areas can be a great location for planting a vegetable garden too, because they offer plenty of shade and shelter from the elements. Choose to add a small flower bed along one side of your house and include a few colorful vegetable and herb plants too. Red peppers, carrots, and parsley often look stunning nestled among flowering shrubs. You can also try hanging plant containers and grow your vegetables above your head, somewhat out of sight from guests, but in easy reach for salads.

In many urban and suburb regions, entire neighborhoods are participating in communal vegetable gardening to support a more sustainable lifestyle. This means you may be able to get together with those in your community to earn approval to plant vegetables in a local park instead of letting it go to ruin. While you can benefit from having access to a wider array of fresh vegetables, you can also provide a bountiful harvest for local food pantries and soup kitchens for those dealing with homelessness and poverty. This can make not only a difference in your life, but to others at the same time.

Growing a vegetable garden outdoors can be a highly rewarding experience that’s good for your health, your food budget and your environment.

 

About the author: Lindsay Parrich is a renowned freelance writer with many years of experience with the home & garden industry. She also covers humane rodent control companies such as Bird-X in her free time.

Guest Post: A Green Home is Easier than you Think

 A Green Home is Easier than you Think- by Brianna Perkle

While I very much want to have a green home, I’ve sometimes been confused and a little flustered about the best ways to make it happen. I’m not super-organized, and I didn’t want the effort to take over my life. Luckily there are lots of ideas that are just a few clicks away.One of the simplest things to do is recycle. It was easy to set up bins to separate each type of recycling as I went along, and trash day has become a breeze. On the flip side, I also try to buy things with containers made of post-consumer recycled products.The inside of my house has been “re-energized” with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and tighter seals around windows and doors to prevent excess energy usage.

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When I remodel my kitchen in the coming months, the focus will definitely be on green alternatives. I’m replacing the lot—dishwasher, fridge, microwave, and stove—and the new versions will all have an energy star label. This means they’ll use less energy while still providing me with excellent results.

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Green cleaning products can now be found in almost every major grocery store. These new cleaners not only keep toxins out of the environment but out of my lungs as I use them. Those with asthma or other breathing issues find this especially helpful.

In my search to be live green, I found many other ideas that are simple and easy to accomplish.

• Buy USDA Certified Organic coffee. This means it has been grown with sustainability in mind.
• Put your computer in sleep mode if you’ll be away for more than 20 minutes, or set it up to automatically sleep after that much time.
• Bring your own bags when shopping. Some retailers will now pay you for not leaving with one of their plastic bags.
• Plug your electronics into an energy-efficient power strip, and shut the strip off at night to prevent a constant energy drain.
• Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. You’ll reduce the amount of wasted water and lower your water bill.

It takes some thought and effort to have a green home, but it’s not difficult and the results will have an impact for generations to come. Start with a few small steps and let the good feelings push you to do more. If I can be green, anyone can!

Guest Post: Frugal Furnishings by Allison Dean

Frugal Furnishing by Allison Dean

Furnishing your home can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. There are lots of small changes you can make to make your house feel more like home. Finding inexpensive ideas for furnishing your home can be a hassle, and finding the time for do it yourself projects can be even more difficult. However, if you are willing to put in a little time and effort, you can decorate your home regardless of your budget. When you find great deals and use simple styles you can find ideas to design your home so that it looks as if a high priced personal designer did it for you.

The first thing you should do is consider your lighting and how it is affecting how your room looks. Changing the brightness, position, design of the light fixtures in your room can drastically affect the atmosphere. You may have to experiment with the lighting before you find the perfect balance, but your efforts will be well worth it in the end. You don’t need some high priced designer lamp to improve the room either. Flea markets, garage sales, and second hand stores are great places to look for used lamps at a low price. Once you have found a general design that you like, you can alter the paint color or lamp shade to inexpensively improve your secondhand find into a work of art.

Another inexpensive option to help you change the room is organization. Sometimes, being untidy can be the biggest problem with a room. No matter how nice or expensive your furniture and other accessories are, they won’t be well presented in a room full of clutter. Getting rid of that clutter will be the cheapest way to make your room shine. In fact, if you are willing to sell some unnecessary objects, you could even make money while improving the room. Make sure everything has a place, and you will find that the room looks much better.

If you are looking for a few decorating ideas on how to change up a room, here are a few tips on little, inexpensive things that will make a big difference.

1. Bring in flowers – Put some fresh or, better yet, fake flowers in a vibrant vase to help brighten a room.
2. Create new roles – Stack a bunch of your favorite books to make an end table or use old silverware to create a beautiful centerpiece. The possibilities are truly endless.
3. Put a pattern on the floor – Get an inexpensive rug with a vibrant pattern to make a room more interesting.
4. Add some color to your walls – Sometimes, all your room will need is a fresh coat of paint. Put some color on your walls to make a room warm and lively. If you are afraid to get too bold, try an accent wall.
5. Hang a mirror – You will make any room look brighter and appear larger when you add a mirror.
6. Use pillows to match your style – Pillows are the most inexpensive way to change up a room. Whenever you get tired of a certain pattern, they are very easy to change.
7. Decorate with candles – Not only will the candles themselves provide some great character and smell fantastic, but you can also find some wonderful and inexpensive candle holders to help you improve your room.
8. Use something old – Before you let your grandmother sell her old china, consider hanging it up in your home. Some of the greatest pieces are usually found in the strangest places.

Allison Dean is an author who writes guest posts on the topics of business, marketing, credit cards, and personal finance. Additionally, she works for a website that focuses on educating readers who may be wondering: How does Rent to Own Work.