Category Archives: House Cleaning

How To Sell A Residence Without An Agent

January 23, 2025   Matt

How To Sell A Residence Without An Agent

With a robust real estate market, selling a residence isn’t particularly difficult. Here’s a primer on how to sell your own house.

How To Sell A Residence Without An Agent

First and foremost, you need to educate yourself on how real estate transactions happen. There are online guides and plenty of books on the subject at your local bookstore. When you decided to sell your own house, you are considered a FSBO seller [for sale by owner]. This FSBO market is growing like mad, which means you can find form contracts and agreements ready made for your particular state.

A second thing to realize is real estate laws are generally governed by states, not the federal government. This means the particulars of real estate transactions in your state may be different from those in another state. You should look for references related to your state, not nationwide advice. Nonetheless, here are a few universal pointers.

1. Determine the price of comparable homes in your neighborhood. This is going to give you a very good idea of what you can ask for your house when you put it on the market.

2. Objectively look at your home and make a list of things that need to be fixed. Selling a house often comes down to the details. Buyers are making a big investment, so they are going to be very picky about little things.

3. List your house online with photographs.

4. Post flyers or ads in your local property listings magazines.

5. Put a sign on your lawn indicating you are selling.

6. On the sign post, put a box with flyers describing your home and the asking price.

7. Hold open houses for buyers to view your house.

8. Clean your house before all open houses. Add fragrant flowers to rooms, mow the lawn and so on.

9. Get rid of your junk through a garage sale and the trash. This includes cleaning out the garage and basement. Everything should be pristine.

10. Create a documented record of all the improvements you’ve made to the home to show potential buyers.

11. Become conversant in the offer, counteroffer process.

12. Develop a clear understanding of what happens during closing and make sure you’ll be able to take care of your part.

13. Figure out what you plan to do when you sell the house, to wit, are you going to buy another house and when will you move?

While these guidelines will take you a long way, it is important you understand the specific laws of your state. Once you have those down, the process typically goes fairly smoothly. Considering you’ll save thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in real estate commissions, any bumps in the road will be more than worth it.

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The History Of Vacuum Cleaners

January 18, 2025   Matt

The History Of Vacuum Cleaners

Before the vacuum cleaner the simple task of cleaning floors was not so simple. Area rugs would need to be taken outside, hung from posts and beaten by a large wooden beating stick. Floors were swept and the the debris was picked of by hand and then discarded. Today when we vacuum our floors and carpets it usually takes about ten minutes, but before 1880 cleaning carpets and floors was an all day task.

When vacuum cleaners were first invented they did not resemble the vacuum cleaners of today. These first vacuum cleaners were large and heavy and were usually transported from house to house by horse and carriage or were built in the attics of larger homes with a suction system that was run throughout the house. One of the first large vacuum cleaner units was invented by British engineer called Herbert Booth. Herberts invention consisted of a large box with a gas powdered motor that turned large fans to create suction. Long bendable houses were fed through the doors and windows of a house and debris was sucked into the gas powered unit outside. This first vacuum cleaner was large and heavy and required it to be pulled by horses.

The vacuum cleaner as we know it today was invented in 1908 by James Murray Spangler. This first version of the vacuum cleaner is a far cry from the vacuum cleaners of today due to its simplicity and lack of power. Around 1920 William Hoover purchased the patent for this first vacuum cleaner from James Spangler and the Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Company that we know today was born. This first upright vacuum cleaner resembled a box on a stick with a satin bag attached to catch debris. The actual vacuum cleaner itself was made from a pillow case, an electric fan and a modified soap box. The beater bar was added to the vacuum cleaner around 1926 which dramatically improved the performance of the unit. This Hoover vacuum cleaner soon became know as the Hoover Model 700 and was an instant hit. William Hoovers new patent was soon to catch on and by 1950 nearly every household in America had its very own Hoover vacuum cleaner.

The basic design and principle of the vacuum cleaner remained the same from the 1950’s through to the 1980’s. In this 30 year span additional modifications were made to the principal design such as vacuum cleaner self propulsion and an exterior hose that could quickly attach to the vacuum cleaner to clean baseboards and other hard to reach areas. In the 1980’s James Dyson invented the cyclonic bag less vacuum cleaner with increased suction and the added savings of not needing a filter bag to catch the debris. This cyclonic vacuum cleaner creates a vortex in the debris chamber that sends the debris to the outside walls of the container and the air is then pushed out through an exhaust vent.

In the late 1980’s to early 1990’s many vacuum companies started to manufacturer hybrid vacuum cleaners that were built to perform different vacuum duties. The back pack vacuum is one of these hybrids and consists of a canister like vacuum cleaner that is worn on the back like a back pack with a long hose that is used to clean walls ceilings and hard to reach places. The wet dry vacuum cleaner was introduced not only pick up dry debris but also liquids. This type of vacuum utilizes a motor and a float valve that protects the motor against water contact and damage to the electrical interior of the motor windings.

The latest and greatest innovation in vacuum cleaners is the closed system vacuum cleaner. It is currently being designed in England and its primary goal is to not suck air in and then exhaust it out but to circulate the air in a closed chamber so that dust particles are not released into the air. By keeping dust and other particles in the vacuum cleaner chamber the air in the environment that is being cleaned is not polluted.

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Some Ideas To Help You Shop For Jewelry

January 03, 2025   Matt

Some Ideas To Help You Shop For Jewelry

If you’ve purchased jewelry, it’s important to take the time to take care of it. Just a little effort can make even a simple piece of jewelry last for a long time. In this article, you’ll find out ways you can take better care of your jewelry, and how you can make old jewelry look like new.

To best protect the investment you made in your jewelry purchase, take care of it. Do not wear it when you do something like cleaning your house. If you do this, the chemicals you expose your jewelry to could harm the precious metals and stones. It’s likely worth the minute that it takes to remove it.

Keep your silver jewelry untarnished and clean. Your pieces do not look good when they are dirty. You can clean them at home using toothpaste or baking soda. Lightly scrub with the toothpaste or soak in baking soda overnight. You will wake up in the morning to clean shiny silver.

Jewelry is a very personal item, and picking a nice peace is largely a subjective decision. You should examine your tastes and decide whether you would like to spend you allotted budget on a few nice pieces or on many pieces of lower quality. Once you have made this choice, you can focus on what pieces you need.

Try displaying your jewelry with a fine jewelry box that opens with drawers or a vertical jewelry box with glass doors. Don’t just allow your jewelry to hide away in the dark; properly display it, complete with a gorgeous box. Most vertical boxes also include hooks for fishhook earrings, necklaces and bracelets.

Use broken jewelry as well as odds and ends jewelry pieces to glue onto a picture frame to hold a special photo. A clear silicone is all that is needed to create a dazzling frame just perfect for a wedding photo or use old costume jewelry from the right era to surround a photo of a favorite grandmother. Jewelry-covered frames make gorgeous gifts too!

When looking to invest in jewelry containing sapphires, opals or rubies make sure that you understand what lab created means. Lab created gemstones are grown in a laboratory using scientific means. Jewelry that you see labeled as lab created such as sapphire has never seen Mother Nature. If you are looking for natural gemstones, you may be paying a higher price and spend significant time looking for a vendor outside of your local mall.

When it comes to taking care of your jewelry be sure that you are using only mild cleaning solutions when cleaning it. This will ensure that you are not compromising the structural integrity of your jewelry as well as not causing further surface damage such as discoloration. When in doubt, look for jewelry safe cleaning products when shopping.

Taking care of your jewelry lets you get the most for your money. A quality piece of jewelry should be able to last you a lifetime. Thanks to the tips in this article, you now know how to keep your jewelry looking great. If you keep the advice here in mind, you’ll be enjoying your favorite earrings and necklaces for years to come.

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How To Start Your Own Dog Care Home Business

December 29, 2024   Matt

How To Start Your Own Dog Care Home Business

Do you love dogs? If you happen to love dogs, you might want to start a dog care home business. A lot of dog owners don’t have time to groom or walk their dogs that they will often rely on pet care businesses to do the job for them. Considering the number of dog owners in the country today, you will not really run-out of clients who will ask to groom and walk their dogs.

Setting up a dog bath

The first thing that you will need is a place where you can bath and groom dogs. If you live in a house with a big lawn, you may want to set up a place where you can bath dogs. Never attempt to bath dogs, especially the big once inside your house. Dogs love to wiggle around and shake their hair during baths thus creating a huge mess. Playful and rowdy big dogs are adorable but when they start running around your house in their wet coats, things will not really look very funny at all so keep them out of the house. There is no point of wasting a lot of energy cleaning after a wet dog.

When setting up a dog bath, a tub or a huge basin, a garden hose, some dog soap, shampoo, a brush and some cotton towels. You don’t really need something elaborate when bathing dogs. Certainly not those pet washers that torture the poor things. Some experts believe that using pet washers where you simply put the dog inside a box and turn on the water cause emotional trauma on the dogs and must not be used at all. Well, who wouldn’t be traumatized if they were put inside a closed box with water gushing all over the place? If you want to bath dogs, forget about the pet washer and do things the old fashioned way. Dogs love it when you brush their coat and massage them. Besides, bathing a dog the old fashioned way could be a lot of fun for you too.

Setting up a grooming area

For grooming dogs, select a quite area inside the house. Of course you can set-up a grooming area outside of the house if you want to but grooming a dog inside the house is lot better. First, most dogs are less playful when they are inside the house than when they are in the yard, second, there are less distractions inside the house and third, it would be easier on your part to store all your grooming stuff. For grooming dogs, you will need the following materials; a table, towels, cotton, mineral oil, eye ointment, nails clippers and a brush. You can easily get all these stuff at your favorite pet shop.

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Real Estate Buying And Selling Tips

December 24, 2024   Matt

Real Estate Buying And Selling Tips

In purchasing a property, an interested buyer should consider the time he intends to stay in the place, since selling a house too soon would probably not be a profitable move, especially if there is instability in the market. Make sure that you stick with your price range and to minimize lower depreciation for your house, buy a property that is a little bit cheaper than those in your neighborhood. The added wisdom in this is lesser vulnerability to market volatility, with nearby luxury homes pulling the neighborhood’s price range in times of market boom. It would also be beneficial if you talk to a real estate agent on the market condition of your desired neighborhood.

Ask for special incentives in buying a house, as there are a lot of sellers now and the market is quite saturated. Be very attentive on the financial terms offered by the seller and try to determine any possibility of reducing your transaction costs, such as asking the seller to shoulder the closing cost.

More importantly, always consider the location of the house you wish to purchase. Try to avoid properties near busy streets or places where a lot of people converge at particular times of the day. Choose a house located in a community with viable economy, to ensure your property will still sell a few years down the line. Examine also the local services available, as well as the crime rate. A property near a good school is considered a good find. Do not be discourage if the house is located in a community with higher property tax, as this often translates to better services and infrastructures.

Hire a home inspector to check whether appliances are in good working order, the electrical wirings are all in order, and determine the state of the heating and air conditioning systems. A good home inspector should also scrutinize the exterior of the house, including the roofing. Have the inspector check the plumbing, ventilation and the general foundation of the house.

At the other end of the spectrum, selling your house also entails that you must first formulate a good marketing plan. This includes considering several listing contracts with your real estate agents, who will be the one bringing the clients to your house. Evaluate also your asking price and try to adjust it with the current pricing trends in the local area. Timing is also important as it will do you no good to sell during a market slump. Next, improve your house’s appeal through cleaning, tidying up the yard and even adding a fresh coat of paint. Remember that first impression always makes a big impact on potential buyers. Make sure that you are also familiar with disclosure laws in your area. Lastly, be discriminating in who you allow inside your house. The value of a good real estate agent comes into play here, as it is always good to have somebody around who is quite knowledgeable and can answer questions regarding real estate.

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Renting with Dogs

December 19, 2024   Matt

Renting with Dogs

Renters who have a dog or more than one dog may face additional challenges when renting an apartment or a house. One of the primary challenges the renters may face is finding a living situation which is acceptable to them and also willing to accept their pets. This can be difficult as many rental properties do not allow dogs at all. Those who do allow animals on the property may place certain restrictions on they size and breed of dog which may reside on the property.

Finding an Acceptable Living Situation

The first step in renting with dogs is to find an acceptable living situation. For those who wish to rent with dogs, the first question to be asked should be whether or not dogs are allowed to live on the property. This is important because it can save the renter a great deal of time. The renter may otherwise invest a great deal of time learning more about the property or even undergoing a credit check only to find out pet are not permitted.

For some dog owners, finding a rental situation which allows dogs is not the end of the search. The renter should also confirm the type of dog he owns will be allowed to live on the property. This may include both the size of the dog as well as the breed as some apartment complexes place limitations on the size of the dog and also prohibit certain breeds. Again confirming these facts early in the search for an apartment can be a tremendous time savings especially for those who own large or commonly banned breeds.

Renters should also consider the surrounding area when selecting a rental property. An ideal location would be one in which there is an adequate location to walk and exercise the dogs. Areas with large grassy areas may be ideal while areas which do not have a location to walk a dog may be problematic.

Read Contracts Carefully

Renters who have dogs should read their contract carefully before making a decision to rent a particular property. This is important because many landlords may impose restrictions on renters who own dogs. These restrictions may include, but are not limited to, requiring an additional security deposit for the renter, requiring specific cleaning methods on the carpets after the renter vacates the apartment and holding the renter responsible if the dog engages in nuisance barking. Nuisance barking can be a problem in apartment situations where the apartments are located close together and even share a common wall. Renters should be aware that in some situations, nuisance barking can be a cause for eviction. For these reasons, renters who own dogs should take the time to familiarize themselves with the rental contract.

Take Care of Your Rental Property

Finally, renters who have dogs may have to take additional efforts to maintain their apartment. This may include more diligent cleaning, especially of the carpets. Renters with dogs should respond quickly to accidents in the house to minimize the possibility of permanent staining and odors. Each accident should be addressed immediately and every effort should be made to clean the affected area completely.

Renters with dogs should also vacuum regularly especially if their dog is a heavy shedder. This will help to keep the living environment cleaner and will also minimize the amount of cleaning required when the renter vacates the property. Regularly vacuuming will prevent hair from being embedded into the carpet so deeply that it is difficult to remove.

Finally, renters with dogs should take care to pick up after their dogs while on walks and to keep their dogs leashed while in common areas. Many cities have leash laws and laws regarding picking up after dogs. Even if these laws are not in effect, renters should follow these policies as a courtesy to their neighbors. Additionally, keeping dogs on leashes during walks helps to ensure their safety by preventing them from running into the street.

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