Clean it
Fast - House Cleaning Tips to Clean Up in a Dash! Home Decoration Tips - Working with a Budget
Decorating Color Palettes - Make Colors Work Together
How to get Renters' Insurance
How to Find the Perfect Roommate
Roommates Who Don't Pay Put Your Lease in Jeopardy
Use Ceiling Fans to Reduce Your Heating and Cooling Costs Year Round
Clean it Fast - House Cleaning Tips to Clean Up in a Dash!
Have you ever suddenly found out that visitors will be arriving at your door in just a few minutes and your home is a mess? If you have, then you are not alone. Use these tips below to help you get your home look composed before your guests arrive.
Grab the Trash Can
Grab your trash can and carry it with you as you speed clean around your home. This way, you can toss any trash you see right away. Gather any sort of papers or other trash quickly and toss it in the trash can.
Pick Up While You Clean Up
Pick up dust using a wet dusting cloth while you go around your home straightening anything that is out of place. This might include magazines, fluffing pillows, or repositioning items on a coffee table. Use your cloth to wipe down tables, the television, shelves or anything else that could use a quick dust. Place any dirty dishes in the dishwasher so that they will be out of sight then wipe down kitchen counters and your dining room table. Make sure all of the chairs are in place.
Deal with the Floors
Because you have just dusted, you will most likely have a floor issue to deal with! You should quickly sweep your floor and wet a mop with water and cleaning solution to help you spot clean. This will help your floors look fairly clean and you can give them a thorough cleaning at a later time.
Bathrooms
You certainly don't want your visiting guests to see the disaster zone called your bathroom. Throw any clothing or towels that are on the floor into your hamper. Close the shower curtain so that no one can see if your tub is not clean. Next, toss all of the contents on the countertop in a basket under the sink. Quickly clean the toilet, sink, and mirror. Sweep and spot mop the bathroom floor as well.
Finish up by lighting a few candles in the kitchen and living room areas. Spray air freshener in the bathroom and bedrooms to give them a fresh, clean smell.
Home Decoration Tips - Working with a Budget
If watching HGTV leaves you wondering how to affordable decorate your home on a budget, don't despair; help is on the way! There are plenty of ways to that you can make your home look great without breaking the bank. By following these tips, you can give your home a designer-quality makeover with an affordable budget.
First, get some inspiration for what you want to achieve with your new project. Look at decorating magazines or websites online. You'll save a lot of money by knowing exactly what you want to do with your space before getting started. Take note of what elements of design inspire you the most. Do you like vibrant or neutral colors? Textures or patterns? Try to mimic these elements in your own space.
Once you've planned out how you want to proceed with your design, you can start shopping. If you need furniture for your home makeover, you can still keep your costs low. Consider getting self-assembly furniture like what you can find at IKEA or other stores such as Target or Wal-Mart. You can get ready to assemble furniture in a variety of different styles so the look of your room doesn't have to be limited by your budget. As long as you have some patience and a helper to assist you with the project, you can really save a lot of money on your furniture needs.
Wall treatments and curtains can be really inexpensive. Make sure to go to such stores as TJ Maxx or Marshalls. These stores have a surplus of frames, mirrors, pictures, vases and other items that you can use to decorate your home. Look for other accessories such as candle holders, planters or wall sconces.
Remember, to set a budget and stick with it. You can beautifully decorate your home while maintaining a budget!
Decorating Color Palettes - Make Colors Work Together
Putting decorating color palettes together may seem like it's out of your league, but you match colors everyday without even thinking about it. Use the same principles for decorating that you would for applying cosmetics, putting on clothes, or arranging flowers. Use the world around you for your color inspiration.
Some spices that we use for cooking have very vibrant colors. Most spices have bright colors that are still subdued enough that they won't overwhelm a room. These are earth tones with a punch. Warmer colors can inspire creativity and appetite, so use a spice inspired color palette in a kitchen or office. Cayenne pepper may be the perfect color for a vase while you can down its surroundings with a more subtle nutmeg.
Natural color palettes bring the outdoors in. Think of the color of a rose or a tree and then try to reverse your color palette so that your natural color choices aren't too literal. If you look at a rose, you will find a variety of colors. Each petal has a dark and light side, so does the rose's stem and leaves. Use these colors as inspiration for curtains, your furniture or accessories.
Each time period also has its own color palette. For a funky 80's inspired theme, try putting green and purple together. A vintage kitchen would focus mainly on black and white. Orange and avocado green invoke a 1970's feel. You can modernize your color palette by adding plenty of white, chocolate brown or black. The use of neutral colors are a part of contemporary design.
One of the easiest ways to pick a color palette is to choose one color and then pair it with black and white. This is a no fail color scheme. You could have a room with turquoise fabric for curtains, furniture or pillows, coupled with black wood pieces such as coffee or side tables, followed up with white accessories. Each decorating color palette will have a variety of moods depending on the depth of color that you choose to use.
How to Get Renters' Insurance
Shopping for renters insurance? Want to know how to get the best renters insurance at the best price? Here's how ...
Renters Insurance
Contrary to popular belief, your landlord's insurance does not cover your personal possessions if they're damaged or stolen, so if you want to protect them you need to get renters insurance. Here's what renters insurance covers:
Personal Property
Renters insurance covers your personal property like furniture, clothing, TVs, and electronic equipment. It pays to replace this property when it's lost or damaged due to fire, theft, vandalism, explosions, wind and water damage (excluding floods).
There are two types of personal property coverage: 1. Cash value coverage which pays the depreciated value of your damaged or stolen property. 2. Replacement cost coverage which pays the full amount of your property. Replacement cost insurance costs a little more than cash value insurance, but it's worth the extra cost to get full coverage.
Renters insurance pays only a limited amount for expensive items like jewelry, furs, collections, etc., so you'll need to need to get additional insurance in the form of a rider to cover these items.
Personal Liability
If someone were to slip and fall in your residence you could be sued and be liable for thousands of dollars in damages. Renters liability insurance pays for claims made against you by another person for bodily injury or property damage.
Best Renters Insurance Price
Insurance prices vary dramatically from one company to the next, so the first thing you need to do is to go to an insurance comparison website. Here you can get quotes from a number of different companies so you can get the best rate.
These sites have you fill out a questionnaire so you can tailor your insurance to your needs. You'll be asked what deductible you prefer and what discounts you want. Get the lowest deductible you can afford to pay, and all discounts you're eligible for. It's a good idea to contact your car insurance company as they may be able to give you a discounted rate for renter's insurance because you will then be a multi-policy holder.
Some insurance comparison websites also offer a chat feature where you can talk online with an insurance expert who will answer all your questions. You can use this feature to find out what discounts are offered so you can take advantage of them.
You can get Renter's insurance for less than $20 per month. It is a great investment that requires a small monthly payment. For more information about renter's insurance, please feel free to contact our preferred insurance carrier:
Aaron Brumfield
Liberty Mutual Group
3695 Cascade Road, Suite J
Atlanta, GA 30331
404-691-8662 Ext. 57949
770-361-5068 Mobile
404-696-7712 Fax
Aaron.Brumfield@LibertyMutual.com
www.liberytmutual.com/aaronbrumfield
How to Find the Perfect Roommate
Sharing accommodation was always popular among students, but with the economic recession, it's becoming an attractive option for everyone. If you are looking to save money on your living expenses, then it might be a good idea to find a roommate. There are plenty of websites available today offering roommate finder services and depending on your requirements, you can easily find someone who can be the other pea in the pod and won't be an obstacle to your lifestyle.
When you're doing your roommate search, you can start by using a free roommate finder. These are websites meant to help you with matching certain attributes that your chosen roommate must have. For instance, if you love to sleep until late morning, a roommate that wakes up at the crack of dawn is not a person you will like to live with. What should you look for in the perfect roommate?
First, it's your roommate's gender. Some people are quite comfortable with sharing their accommodation with either gender, but you shouldn't be too quick to accept just anyone. Think about how someone from the opposite gender could affect your current household, in terms of existing roommates, varied lifestyles, personalities, certain gender-oriented characteristics etc. The age of your roommate will be another point of consideration. People of different ages hold different viewpoints, interests and living patterns.
Specify whether your household is smoking-friendly or non-smoking. You don't want any arguments after all the living arrangements are made. Drinking habits should also be discussed prior to accepting anyone as a roommate, because if the grocery expenses are shared, either party may not be happy about spending money on alcohol.
Personalities influence a group's dynamics and interaction pattern. If you have several roommates and some of them are quiet and laid-back while the others are loud and outgoing, you will definitely notice some friction between the two types. Ensure you make a thorough selection by understanding each person's personality. Hobbies and interests are equally important in this equation, because if tastes in entertainment, food and activities differ considerably among the roommates, conflicts are quite likely to occur.
Be clear about the roommate's expected length of stay. Some rentals are provided on an annual basis, while others are just monthly or weekly. Clarifying such issues and binding the agreement on paper are essential if you are to have a good relationship with your roommates. Additionally, you should look for a roommate who has a similar entertaining style to you. If you prefer a quiet household and your roommate constantly entertains people, it will not work out very well. Your roommate's level of independence will play a key role as well, especially if it conflicts with your own style. Furthermore, make sure you find out if your chosen roommate has any belongings to be brought into the place. If you have a small apartment and your roommate wants to bring a large sofa set, it won't be a practical arrangement.
Start your roommate search by using all of this as practical guidelines. You can utilize a free roommate search facility or roommate finder service to ensure you find just the right roommate.
A Few More Tips:
1. You may not want to live with your friends. Friends can be especially abusive when it comes to making late payments, eating food that doesn't belong to them, etc. Your friend may be your best friend before you move in with them and learn all of their bad habits.
2. Keep it business at all times. Make sure that all of the payments for the utilities, rent, or any other bills are paid on time.
3. When it comes to buying food, it is best to not share in this expense together. You will be upset if you split the food bills and your roommate eats more food than you. Play it safe, save some money and buy your own food.
4. Sign a "Roommate Agreement." You can find one online; just do a Google search.
Roommates Who Don't Pay Put Your Lease in Jeopardy
Just because you pay your share of the rent on time, doesn't mean you are immune from late fees and possibly eviction when your roommate continues to pay a portion of their rent late. It is stunning how many people think this is the case, but let's take a closer look.
If two people sign a lease agreement with the understanding that they will be paying their apartment complex a sum total of rent each month, the property manager's only concern is that that sum total shows up in their mailbox every month. It is of no concern to the property manager how the two roommates decide to split the payment up during the course of their lease agreement. The legal term for this is 'joint and several liability.
Let's say you rent a 2-bedroom unit with your roommate at a total rent of $1,200 per month. You and your roommate agree that you'll pay $650/month because you have the master bedroom suite and your roommate will pay $550/month for taking a secondary bedroom. Six months into your lease agreement, your roommate informs you that they will be short on this month's rent. But you say, "I'm paying my entire share, what's it to me if they are late?" Well, to put it bluntly, you will be in violation of "joint and several liability" and would legally be responsible for any late fees and could be evicted just like your non-paying roommate! It may not seem fair to you, but that's what you are agreeing to when you sign your lease agreement.
Even if you have a written agreement with your roommate agreeing to who pays what, you will still both be responsible for paying the full amount each and every month. Having a written agreement (outside the lease agreement) is still a decent idea because it may help you collect the amount your roommate owes if they miss a payment or two. However, it will not stand in court should the landlord decide to evict you both. You can, however, sue them for the amount that they owe you in small claims court.
The best thing to do would be to contact your property manager to let him or her know that there is a problem with your rent payment. Your property manager may be willing to work with you in collecting the full amount of rent. Please be sure that your roommate does not make paying late a routine habit. Once someone is in the hole, it is hard for them to get back out, even if it is for a small amount. People who have trouble budgeting their money will never be able to prioritize their bills without first organizing their financial situations. Ensuring that your living situation is secure by making payments on time is crucial. You don't want to be out on the street because of someone else. What if another apartment complex won't rent to you because of your past eviction?
It is up to you to do your due diligence when you agree to live with a roommate. Avoid the obvious... moving in with people that can't pay their full share of rent.
The long and short of it is that one of the most important part of being someone's roommate is knowing that you are on the hook collectively for the full amount of the rent. Considering you could be evicted due to your roommate's poor financial planning, you should make it a priority to determine if that person would make a good roommate before you move in together. Take the time to determine whether or not they will be financially reliable.
If you are currently in a scenario like the one I used as an example, it would be prudent to begin looking for a new roommate. As I have mentioned, if you stay in this situation, you are putting your tenancy at risk. Don't get evicted due to someone else's inabilities.
Use Ceiling Fans to Reduce Your Heating and Cooling Costs Year Round
Reduce Heating Costs this Winter by Using Ceiling Fans
With fuel costs rising and winter on its way, now is the time to make sure your house is winterized and weather proof. If you already have ceiling fans, winter is definitely the time to turn them on. While most people think of installing a ceiling fan for summer cooling, studies show that you can save about 10% on your heating bill by using these fans in conjunction with your heating system. Fans are especially useful if you have high ceilings. However, since most ceilings are 8 feet or higher the gently spinning blades will push the warm air down and towards the center of the room.
Winter Set-up
To get the most out of your ceiling fan this winter, make sure that you have your blades spinning in a clockwise direction. If your fan is mounted on a high ceiling you may need a step ladder or 8 foot ladder to actually get up into the fan and reverse the direction of the switch. If you have a wall control for the ceiling fan, you will also want to adjust the blade speed to the slowest spin.
Summer Set-up
Using a ceiling fan does not actually lower the temperature of your room as does a cooling system. What it does do, though, is blow cool air around making you feel about 8 degrees cooler. So, what you can do is set your thermostat a few degrees higher (this is how you start saving money) and the breeze from the fan will keep you comfortable.
To set up your fan, make sure that your blades are spinning in a counter-clockwise position. For maximum cooling put your fan on the highest possible setting.
By using a ceiling fan in conjunction with your cooling system or air conditioner you can save up to 40% off your overall summer cooling bill.
