Monthly Archives: February 2023

Homes For Sale – Tips To Help Make Your Home More Marketable

February 18, 2023   Matt

Homes For Sale – Tips To Help Make Your Home More Marketable

You’ve finally decided that you want to sell your house. Your house is on the market, and you’ve found a real estate agent you can trust. Now what? The next and most obvious step is to get your home sold. To help aid in the selling of your home, I will outline some tips that I personally believe will benefit in the marketability and potential selling of your home. The goal here is to obtain that all important “stamp of approval” in which the red imprint reads: “SOLD.”

Usually, the first place your potential buyer is going to see, will be the front of your house. The goal here is to make it as attractive as possible, but more importantly, inviting. First impressions are very important. First positive impressions, if you will, are even more important. The key here is to make sure everything looks neat and clean. Cut the grass, pull out the weeds, trim the bushes, plant some flowers, and clear out the walkway.

Make sure your home is clean. These include things like steam cleaning your carpets, mopping your floors, dusting hard-to-reach areas, and cleaning your windows (both inside and out). Potential buyers are very picky people, and as such, they like to inspect as much as they can.

Try and keep both colors and styles neutral. The key here is not to influence your buyer with your own personal style. Someone might walk in, look at a red wall, and be immediately turned off. The idea is to try and make them visualize the colors for themselves. Keeping things neutral is a good solution to this “problem.”

Check lighting. No one wants to look at a house that they can’t see. Seems obvious, right? Unfortunately, as a real estate agent myself, I’ve had quite a few cases where this element has been overlooked. Check your light bulbs, and make sure they’re working. Although I recommend checking all the light bulbs, I’d be more concerned with the areas in the house that are darker or that require more artificial lighting. These include places like the basement and bathrooms. It’s also a good idea to open your curtains. Simply put, the more natural light, the better.

Make repairs if necessary. These include things like a fresh coat of paint, patching up of any holes in the wall, and torn patio screens. You want your buyer to feel like your home has been well taken care of. This is a big plus.

Try to avoid clutter. One of the worst things that can happen is when your buyer feels “boxed in.” Try and keep clutter to a minimum. Remove any unnecessary items such as too many pictures and accessories. The goal here is you want to have your house feel like a home, yet at the same time have it as spacious and organized as possible. You want the buyer to get a good sense of the space and visualize it as their own.

After all is said and done, it is important to note that the aforementioned tips do not guarantee a sell of ones home, although it can certainly help. Everyone is different, and there are other variables to consider. But like I said, these certainly can help. As a final test, invite a friend over and have them share their opinions with you about the presentation of your home. In the best case scenario, it is best to invite someone that has never been to your house (or not that often). In this way, they can view your home with a “fresh pair of eyes.” All of these suggestions boil down to one common goal: You want your home to feel inviting, and have your potential buyer view it as their own.

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Tennis Court Equipment

February 17, 2023   Matt

Tennis Court Equipment

Tennis court equipments facilitate better and comfortable tennis court plays for players, whether you’re running a tennis court business or you just happen to have one privately owned for family and friendly matches.

There are different categories of tennis court equipment. Here are some great tennis court equipments that can complete your tennis court needs:

Ball Hoppers
Two of some good brands for this tennis court equipment category are:

Sam Classic Ball Retriever
This tennis court equipment can gather over 200 balls in a single minute. No more bending over, or lugging bulky baskets, or spending your valuable practice time gathering balls. A detachable polyurethane coated basket holds over 240 balls at a time. This is also ideal for use as a teaching cart. Made up of heavy-duty metal with rust resistant powder coating, the Sam Ball mower is made to last.
Price: 0.00
Easy Ball Pick-up 85 Ball Hopper
If you want something lower on the budget but can do a good job, then this ball hopper can do the job. Easy quick open lid and can stand up and use as a ball feed hopper. Easy to assemble and condense. Holds 85 balls, and is made of plastic and aluminum.
Price: 5.00

Net Posts
You always need dependable durable net posts for your net. Two of good qualities are:

Championship Round Internal Wind Aluminum Net Post
The most durable, attractive, and user-friendly internal wind post. Fast and easy installation with ample cable take-up capacity and a winding mechanism designed for heavy leads without binding. Electro statically applied enamel finish in green or black. Bottom pin with lacing rod, 60 length, 57lbs.
Price: 7.00
Sampson External Wind Net Post
All aluminum crank that won’t rust, going the extra mile with standard features that make the Sampson Post your best choice in exterior wind posts. Uniquely designed all aluminum winding mechanism with housing cover over gear assemble, aluminum caps with aluminum pulley. Sleek slim-lined appearance, with removable handle and electro statically applied enamel finish in green or black. Bottom pin with tie down loop makes it easy to set post at 42 height. 60 length, 57 lbs.
Price: 0.00

Roller Squeegee
A good court is a clean court. This tennis court equipment will help you do that.

Miracle Sweep PVA Roller Squeegee
All aluminum frame and handle for ultimate corrosion protection. Three year warranty on frame and handle. PVA: 5/8 polyvinyl alcohol foam. The most durable sponge on the market. Soft when wet, hard when dry.
Price: .00
Clean Sweep Court Roller Squeegee
Dry your court in no time at all with the Clean Sweep Court Roller. Steel handle eliminates wobble and assures ultimate stability. 54” powder coated handle with hang cook for easy storage and drying; 4” replacement roller available. Three year warranty on handle.
Price: .00

Tennis Nets
A tennis court cannot be complete without this tennis court equipment. Here are two of the best tennis nets out in the market:

Duranet 3.0 Double Tennis net w/ Polyester Headband
This net is built to last. Made from 3.0 mm braided solid core polyethylene double layered throughout the entire net, this is the heaviest duty tennis net you can find. 36 ounce double-spun polyester headband, four rows of lock stitching, side pockets with heavy duty fiberglass end sticks galvanized vinyl coated cable.
Price: 3.00
Wilson EZ Tennis Net 16.5
If you’re looking for tennis net that has good quality and simply serves the purpose. This net is for you. EZ setup and take down, 16.5 foot net allows more players, and more fun.
Price: 0.00

Water Broom
This category of tennis court equipments is what you need for convenient and effective way to clean tennis courts.

Clean Sweep 8 Jet Water Broom
This water broom is fast, convenient and the most effective way to clean tennis courts, wind screens and even your driveway or deck with less water. Say goodbye to those unwanted dirt and debris in no time and hardly any effort. Because this water broom uses less water, you can clean a tennis court and be playing on it in less than 30minutes. This water broom easily attaches to any standard garden hose. 42” wide.
Price: .00

Seating
Seating can never be absent in tennis court equipments, they provide haven for players before and after the match.

Deluxe Courtside Seating Poly Tennis Court Bench
The deluxe courtside polybench is durable, attractive, and maintenance-free bench available today. Constructed from extruded high-density polypropylene and PVC. This bench can be bolted to any hard surface for permanent installation. It is 5’ long and comes in four easily assembled pieces.
Price: 5.00

Other court equipments that can be added to your tennis court are: scoretender, gallon cooler stand, court tennis awning, and a lot more that can give you a better, convenient and comfortable tennis court.

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Plumbing Tips You Really Need To Know About

February 15, 2023   Matt

Plumbing Tips You Really Need To Know About

Did you know that faulty air chambers might be why you are hearing a hammering sound in your pipes? The noise is known as water hammer and it may mean that water has entered your air chamber. Here are some tips to help you fix your problem.

Before starting any plumbing project be sure to turn off the main water supply. Water damage can be one of the most expensive things to repair. To minimize damage turn the main water supply off as well as any shut off valves near where you are working. This will save a great deal of hardship later on.

Rigid copper is used for main water lines in many homes. You cannot bend rigid copper, so joints and tees must be soldered on. When soldering, always apply flux (also called soldering paste) to both surfaces. Flux retards oxidation when the copper is heated. Always use lead-free or nearly lead-free solder when sweating a copper joint.

The truth to DIY plumbing is that you’re taking your life on the line when you start a project. You may drive yourself nuts, cost yourself an arm and a leg, and end up having to call in a professional to fix the mess you made – at double the price. Consider a professional first unless you really know what you’re doing.

Do not pour grease and oil down your drains. Cooking grease will build up in your pipes and could cause back-ups. Keep grease and oil in a container in your fridge and throw it in the trash when it is full. Avoid clogging your pipes with any products containing oil or grease.

When chilly weather approaches, it is time to disconnect your water hoses from your outside faucets. If you forget to do this, water in the hoses can freeze and expand. This can cause the faucets and the connecting pipes inside your house to freeze and break. By simply rolling up your garden hoses and storing them for the winter, you can help prevent costly plumbing repairs.

Your water heater works more during the fall and winter so make sure that you eliminate all sediment buildup around this piece of equipment. Flushing this device can lead to increased longevity so that you do not face plumbing problems during the winter. This precaution will save time, money and effort.

If you are going to work on valves, you should look for a cutaway diagram of the type of valve you have. This will help you understand how the valve works, and how you can put it back together if you have to take it apart to find the problem.

If you are not able to shut off a main valve to your home before you leave for vacation, shut off the individual valves under the sinks and behind the toilets. Be sure that the valves are in good working order before you make the mistake of turning one that is ready to be broken at any time.

You know what can cause that hammering noise, plus a lot more plumbing information. You just saved yourself a lot of money if any of those issues became unbearable or resulted in broken parts. Take time to read back over this article periodically to make sure that you are on top of your plumbing skills.

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Dangers of Chlorine in Showers, Pools and Cleaning Products

February 13, 2023   Matt

Dangers of Chlorine in Showers, Pools and Cleaning Products

Who would want to take a bath first thing in the morning if they knew that their showers are filled with toxins? And not only that; if you bathe in your pool or when you’re using cleaning products, are you aware that they contain toxins too? Well, that is already a proven fact and you should know because it concerns you and your family’s health. Some of the dangers of chlorine in showers, pools, and cleaning products include increasing the risk of skin allergies, cancer, sinuses, and at can also cause harm to your lungs.

It is the toxins that can damage an individual’s health. Chlorine is just one of those toxins. Most of the suppliers of water use chlorine for disinfection purposes. However, what these water suppliers don’t know is that the chlorine can harden arteries, irritate skin, destroy body proteins, aggravate asthma and sinus conditions, allergies, and most specially, respiratory problems.

There have been many studies showing that people who drink chlorinated water were more susceptible to rectal and bladder cancer. Skin absorbs chlorine. So when you take a shower or you bathe in the pool, your body is absorbing a lot of chlorine. Some tests even showed that the absorption of chlorine is far higher when an individual is taking a bath rather than simply drinking the water. When you’re cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, you usually use cleaning products. The same thing happens; it’s just like taking a bath because you wet your hands (this is where chlorine is absorbed) and you can inhale the toxins.

You might think that it’s impossible but it is definitely true. You see, when you’re taking a shower, your pores are opened and when this happens, the whole body will work similar to that of a sponge. Chlorine vapors are inhaled and absorbed by the skin. It goes directly to the bloodstream. This is much faster than drinking the water because chlorine will still pass to other organs of the body.

The risks can be divided into short term and long term. In the short term of exposure to chlorine, you can suffer from sinus, skin, and eye irritations. Over the long term, people can suffer from hardened arteries, oxidation (wherein cells and tissues age fast), and susceptibility to cancer. Individuals suffering from asthma, allergies, skin rashes, and emphysema should lessen the exposure to chlorinated water because their conditions can become worse.

Because of these alarming facts, there are now counteractive measures that people can turn to. For shower and pools, make sure that you use a proper water filter. There are shower filters available in the market but just make sure that you buy one with the KDF medium. Pool filters are also widely available. In the case of cleaning products, you should look into the ingredients before you make a purchase. If you want, you can turn to the basics and use baking soda or vinegar to clean the house.

As a responsible homeowner, you should be aware of the dangers of chlorine in showers, pool, and cleaning products. This is the only way to live a much safer life. Who could ever think that danger is lurking in the comforts of your home? Stay safe and take the necessary measures in order to address the chlorine problems.

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Choosing a Surveillance Product

February 12, 2023   Matt

Choosing a Surveillance Product

Today, while homeowners are away making a living or away on vacation, homes are left empty for large amounts of time, leaving homes and possessions unprotected. With burglaries and home invasions more pervasive than in past times, homeowners are taking measures to protect themselves from these invasive threats. One technique on the rise is the use of surveillance equipment.

There are many different types of security and surveillance products on the market, from high-tech surveillance systems to do-it-yourself alarm systems. Having a well-designed plan and choosing the appropriate surveillance product for your home is important for optimal security and protection.

Fake surveillance cameras are exactly that, fake! They are inexpensive look-alikes that are designed only as deterrent. These fake cameras are only mounted to a building and are not wired to anything, therefore unable to record. The only advantage to this type of camera is its price and ease of installation.

If your security plan requires the monitoring of only one area a wired surveillance camera may best serve your purposes? These cameras are fairly simple to install. However, there are models on the market that do require specialized technicians for installation.

Wireless surveillance cameras, in comparison to wired systems, are more flexible. They can easily be relocated throughout a property and there is no wiring to reveal the cameras location. And unlike its wired counterpart, these cameras can be networked with greater ease. Following the installation instructions, the property owner can install many wireless devices.

A more conspicuous device is the covert surveillance camera. These systems are the James Bond of the surveillance camera market. These cameras can be placed in regular looking items, such as a doll or potted plant, and allow the property owner to observe activity without provoking suspicion. These systems, although more expensive, are a great interior monitoring device to observe the activity of, for example, nannies, babysitters, and store cashiers.

For areas where lighting is low, night vision surveillance cameras are recommended. This style of camera produces strictly black and white images. To produce a black and white image requires less light than the production of color. Many corporations, shopping malls, and parking complexes use this type of camera to monitor their parking lots because of the lighting situations found in those locations.

The most common surveillance camera purchased by homeowners is the home surveillance camera. Generally, this camera system is packaged into a complete kit, providing the homeowner with all the necessary wiring and hardware, to include detailed instruction, for installation.

There are many surveillance products that can be used for home security. There mechanisms differ on the situation in which they are to be used. The most basic is the home security cameras that can observe and record every corner of a home using internal and external night vision cameras. If you are indecisive of the surveillance product you need a security camera kit can be pretty handy since all you need to do is plug and play. Another useful surveillance product is the security quad processor that is capable of networking multiple security cameras and playing them on one monitor. There are other useful products as well that can be found and are convenient security experts like RF modulators, DVR recorders, Internet monitoring of security cameras, wires and other accessories.

There are many factors to consider when planning the purchase of a home surveillance system and the success of any security system is dependent on the expertise of the installer. The layout of the home, the exterior lighting, wiring systems, and other factors must be evaluated as part of your home protection plan. Most professional security companies highly recommend that a qualified technician perform the installation of a surveillance system. The Internet provides listings for practically every home security need, the producers of the products available, and detailed information about the company’s products and reputation.

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Plumbing Tips That Can Save You A Fortune (3)

February 10, 2023   Matt

Plumbing Tips That Can Save You A Fortune

Were you aware that you could get something as cheap and easy to install as a rubber blanket for your pipes in order to take care of that banging noise you hear in your house? Use this article for this and more great plumbing tips to help you today!

Every now and then, you should pour a large bucket of water down your basement floor drain. This will help to keep the trap seal full and prevent certain gases from coming up into your home. Also, be sure that you have your floor drain checked by a professional every few years.

Be careful with putting household cleaners in your toilet. They can cause the toilet to malfunction. The debris that these cleaners leave can sit in your toilet’s pipes and harden, making them almost impossible to get rid of. If it does harden, it usually requires the help of a professional.

Are you looking for a simple tip to determine if your toilet has a hidden leak? Here is one that is not only simple, it also will not make a big dent in your wallet. Simply add six drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. If your toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes.

If water is backing up into multiple fixtures all over the house, it is no longer going to be effective for you to use chemicals or a small hand snake. This is evidence of a blockage in the main line, and you must contact a professional to take care of this problem for you.

Completing a leak test after replacing or repairing plumbing is the key to ensuring that you don’t end up with water damage. You must aggressively turn the water on and off, so that the pipes will move to their full extent and the water pressure will max out. Do the test on both hot and cold water!

Avoid using hard cleaners on your toilets, such as drop-in cleaner tabs in the tank. When these tabs are almost completely dissolved, what’s left of the tab gets washed into the bowl. This can then end up clogging the toilet’s port holes, preventing the toilet from flushing properly. It can take months for this debris to finish dissolving in those holes.

Before you being a plumbing job, take a few key steps so that you can avoid any mishaps. Turn off all water supplies before starting a project. Make sure that you have protected items nearby with tarps to keep them from getting damaged by spraying water. It is better to be prepared than it is to deal with damage after the fact.

If you are the kind of person who travels a great deal, then remember that different countries may have very different kinds of plumbing systems available. If you are not sure of how things work in the region where you experience problems, then you should either do research or avoid fixing the problem yourself.

In conclusion, there is a lot that you can easily do in your own home when it comes to dealing with plumbing issues. Hopefully you learned a few things and will be able to act on them. Use this advice today and be confident in all of the plumbing work that you do.

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