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How to Get Rid of Pesky Lawn Mosquitoes
Summer is here, and after a long hard day at the office, you are ready to sip on some ice-cold lemonade in the backyard. You settle into your hammock, unaware of the lurking danger that is about to strike when you feel it, an itching sensation on your legs.
You swat at the air, but there are too many, and you realize your summer is now ruined by the horrors of those pesky mosquitoes, the deadliest creature in the world!
Mosquitoes are the cause of over 1 million deaths each year so continue reading, and we’ll show you how to get rid of mosquitoes in the yard to make it a safe haven once more.
Cut Off Their Water Supply
If you think you might have a mosquito infestation, the first thing you should do is look for standing water in your yard. Mosquitos lay about 100-200 eggs and need stagnant water for the larvae to hatch.
Clean out gutters, to ensure water is not trapped and is flowing properly. Check for puddles or anywhere a pool of water might be hiding, such as under a debris pile, or inside kids’ outdoor play sets. Treat ponds so that larvae do not survive.
Mosquitos need very little water to lay their eggs in, but by doing a weekly check of your yard, you can cut back on the mosquito population by up to 70 percent. If at any time you are uncertain of where mosquitos might be lurking, then calling a pest control service, such as Holmes Lawn & Pest, can help you determine the source of their breeding grounds.
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in the Yard Without Chemicals
If you are looking for ways to treat your yard without using harsh chemicals, essential oils are the way to go. Some of the oils that are known to repel mosquitos are:
- Lavender
- Eucalyptus
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Lemongrass
You may already know that citronella candles are effective at keeping mosquitos away, but did you know they can also help reduce stress? Studies show that citronella oil can significantly reduce blood pressure and lower heart rate, and after a long day at work, who doesn’t want that?
Do Bug Zappers Work?
We are all familiar with the infamous zapping sound that is made when a bug is being electrocuted, but how effective are they when it comes to mosquito control?
The answer may surprise you. According to the Colorado State University Extension, there is no research to show that bug zapping devices reduce the outdoor biting ratio. Research shows that they actually do more harm than good, since they tend to attract the wrong bugs.
Moths are more than happy to fly into anything that glows but moths play an important role at night just as bees do during the day. A study done by the U.S. Forest Service shows that moths help to pollinate a large variety of plants and crops. Moths can carry the pollen over greater distances, so stay clear of the zappers and stick with repellents and yard cleanup to help get rid of mosquitos in the yard.
Call a Professional
When all else fails and you are still unsure of how to get rid of mosquitoes in the yard, seek outside help. Professionals are well equipped and will be able to better assist you in finding the right methods for mosquito control, so fight back, and don’t let your backyard become a horror movie this summer!
If you enjoyed this article, check out the rest of our site to read all the great lifestyle-oriented content we have to offer.
4 Ways to Save Electricity in Your Home
Is there anything that can ruin a day faster than seeing your monthly electricity bill in your mailbox? You may even feel the need to brace yourself as you open the letter.
Instead of cringing when you see the number, you’ll find that reducing how much you rely on electricity can help save you money. However, you may be wondering what you can do to cut back.
If you want to save electricity around your home but aren’t sure where to start, keep reading for some of the best tips to cut costs and reduce environmental strains.
1. Unplug
One of the most obvious ways to reduce your dependency on electricity is to turn off your appliances when they’re not in use. However, you may not know that unplugging them is just as important!
Even when lights had appliances are switched off, they can still consume energy when left plugged in. Unplugging small appliances like blenders, hairdryers, and space heaters can help reduce your energy bill.
2. Go Solar
If you want to make a drastic change, you can install solar panels on your property!
Instead of connecting your home to a local grid and using fossil fuels to power your home, solar panels transform the sun’s energy into power for your home.
Though the initial cost of solar installation may leave you wondering if the system is worth it, the drastic reduction will pay itself off. Plus, there are state solar incentives to help make the system all the more worth it.
3. Watch How You Wash
Even if you have energy-efficient appliances, they still consume large amounts of power.
One of the best ways to combat this is to save your dryer for emergencies! Instead of running your dryer for every load, take advantage of mother nature – let the air dry your clothing.
You may also want to wash the bulk of your clothes in cold water to impact your energy savings. Though you may find that some clothes should be washed in warm water, most articles can withstand the cold water.
4. Get Outside!
Finally, one of the best ways to save energy and reduce how much electricity you consume is to get out of the house! When you spend hours in front of the television, your bill will reflect this.
Instead, turning off the television and heading out can reduce your monthly bill. This is a great way to save the environment while exploring it! Whether you take a hike or pack a picnic, there are plenty of fun outdoor activities.
Save Electricity (And Money!) With These Tips
There are so many benefits to going green. Not only will you help save the environment, but you can help save another kind of green – cash!
You’ll notice a significant change in your energy bill when makes these easy changes to your daily routine.
If these tips to help you save electricity inspired you to rethink your habits, you’ll want to check out the rest of our website. There, you’ll find more great home tips and tricks.
4 Tips to Save on Your Home Renovation
Whether you’re working with a small or big budget, home renovation costs can quickly get out of hand if you don’t have a tight grip on your finances. After all, these types of projects aren’t cheap—beyond the equipment, material, and labor costs, there’s also a chance that you’ll encounter unexpected expenses as you make the desired adjustments and changes to your humble abode. So follow these tips to ensure that you achieve the intended outcome without breaking the bank in the process.
- Establish your budget
You’ll be surprised at how many homeowners renovating their properties fail to set a budget for the first time. And the reason why this is so important is that you’ll have a better idea of how much you can comfortably spend on the project. Thus, you’ll know what your limits are. If you don’t, you could end up paying more than you can afford and delay its completion due to a lack of funds.
For this reason, you must establish a budget first before you begin making any design choices. Then, once you have a number, allot an additional twenty percent for flexibility so you can deal with any unforeseen costs.
- Sell unused materials
During the renovation process, you’ll likely end up with a lot of materials you’ll no longer need. Instead of just throwing them away, try looking for recycling facilities that can take them from you. For example, some companies partner with aluminum can recycling Kansas City companies to take care of their scrap metals. Apart from being a more environmentally-friendly approach, you could also earn a little money by selling the material.
- Don’t rush the process
It’s not always a bad thing to wait when it comes to renovating. After all, rushing the process will only make you more susceptible to potentially costly mistakes. Moreover, having some patience and waiting for the money to come before you commit will ensure that you have the funds to support the project instead of putting up with multiple delays because of a lack of cash.
- Always pay with cash
It might be tempting to use your credit card to pay for the equipment or services you require, but the fact of the matter is that it’ll give you a false sense of financial security. In other words, you’ll be tempted to keep on using it even if you can no longer afford it, raking up a pretty sizable debt as a result. Fortunately, it’s an easy mistake to avoid. All you need to do is to pay with cash only. In this way, you’ll only be paying with the money you have on hand.
Conclusion
Home renovations can be exciting. However, they can also be substantial money pits. If you don’t want to break your budget before completing your project, make sure that you follow these tips. Doing so will allow you to keep your costs at a reasonable level and ensure that you’re able to finance your renovation with ease.
Tips For Building An Upcycled Bathroom
Many people assume that renovating your bathroom is one of the more expensive home projects you can undertake; after all, not only will you spend money on home interior design but also on technical fixtures and fittings too. While bathroom renovation can be both costly and time-consuming, it does not have to be. Building an upcycled bathroom is a great way to get a beautiful, renovated space without the cost of buying everything from new.
If you are interested in building an upcycled bathroom, then this guide is here to help you learn everything you need to know.
1. Think Outside The Box
Adopting the right mindset is critical when it comes to building an upcycled bathroom. Thinking outside the box is a great way to discover some new, fun, and innovative ways to upcycle items and furniture that would not traditionally be seen in the bathroom context. There are so many possibilities when it comes to building an upcycled bathroom if you are thinking outside the box. For example, you could use a vintage ladder as an industrial-looking shelving unit or pebbles you have collected from the beach to make a statement shower wall.
2. Look For Inspiration
If you do not have a vision for how you want your upcycled bathroom to look, then it can be difficult to identify the possibilities in objects or items that you could upcycle. Before you start your project, it is a good idea to spend some time looking for inspiration. There are so many places online where you can look for interior design inspiration for your bathroom renovation. For example, you can look on Pinterest or Instagram for some helpful ideas you can take inspiration from.
3. Hire a Professional
When you are building an upcycled bathroom, it is likely that you will be looking to do quite a lot of the work yourself. While it is a good idea to do some jobs yourself, there are others that will require professional expertise. As gjsplumbingandheating.co.uk explains, the effects of having poorly fitted bathroom features might not be noticeable at first but can have devastating effects over time. Making sure that you hire an experienced professional to assist with the technical jobs is vital to help you ensure you are not at risk of experiencing serious, time-consuming, and expensive problems in the future.
4. Pick The Right Paint
Paint is one of the most useful tools when it comes to upcycling; choosing the right paint can breathe new life into a new object and completely change the personality of a piece. When it comes to building an upcycled bathroom, it is important that you choose the right paint. You should spend some time choosing the right color scheme for the space. Once you have found the right colors for the space, you should then consider what type of paint you are going to use. It is particularly important when you are choosing paint for a bathroom that you opt for paint that is long-lasting in hot, moist environments.
5 Ways To Increase The Value Of Your Home
Owning a home is a treasure trove of opportunity. You can keep the home and live in it for your whole life. You can buy and quickly sell the home for a profit. You may also choose to do both and live in the home while slowly working to improve it and build equity.
If you’re looking to turn a profit on your home at resale, you’ll have to work to make it better than it was when you bought it. Take a quick peek at this compilation of some of the most useful ways to increase the value of your home, and get to work today.
Add livable space outside
Upgrading your home while you live in it will add value to the property, but not all upgrades were created equally. Some upgrades are more lucrative than others, and you’ll get a better ROI (return on investment) when you upgrade the hotspots of your home.
For instance, adding an outdoor living space will draw a comfortable return. Adding a DIY outdoor kitchen will do even more to raise the value of your property. Spending money adding a kids play area outside won’t bring as good of a return.
Upgrade the kitchen
The kitchen is a central space in a home, and homebuyers value a capable, comfortable kitchen setting. Investing in your kitchen will almost always bring close to a 100 ROI, so it’s always worth the money to spruce up the kitchen.
Quality countertops, solid storage options, energy saving appliances, and plenty of seating options will give you a good start on a stellar kitchen design.
Pay higher payments on your mortgage
You can always build equity in your home by paying it off faster. If you pay more than your minimum payment each month, you’re saving yourself the cost of interest. Every time you knock off a payment cycle, you gain equity. Pay double payments each month, and you could save thousands on interest.
Pay a bigger down payment
Making a bigger down payment in the very beginning is also helpful. A large down payment means that there will be less to finance, less interest to accrue, and a shorter repayment period. All of those things are extremely helpful in maximizing the return on your real estate investment.
Time is also a big helper
Of course, you could always just live in and maintain the home for a while. Time is a proper tool for increasing the value of your home. Real estate waxes and wanes in value, but the overall value of your home will always increase over the years. Just wait long enough, and you’ll be able to sell the home for more than you paid for it.
Home decor ideas during the lockdowns
Home improvements and home decor become a popular thing for homeowners to turn to during the lockdown periods with them looking at ways to upgrade their homes with the newfound spare time that they had due to the pandemic.
Outdoor improvements have taken off recently due to more homeowners wanting outdoor spaces to either host friends or family members. One outdoor improvement that has become very popular over time is an outside building or extension that can be used as an extra room with homeowners using these rooms for many different reasons.
A lot of homeowners would turn the rooms outside into entertainment rooms where they would have friends or family members around and whilst having a few drinks which usually led to groups of friends visiting non UK licensed casinos like the ones at TBC where they would have a weekly games night in their entertainment or games room.
The casino industry has become very busy over the past year with a lot of website traffic coming from people having a weekly games night at their friend’s home sports room or man cave as some people call them. These rooms have not only been popular additions outside, but homeowners have also been having them created inside their homes as well.
When the pandemic first started it brought in the introduction of lockdowns across the world which led a lot of people to turn towards decorating and improving their homes with them having the time to now do so during the lockdown periods. Even with the pandemic easing and lockdowns being lifted, home improvements inside or outside are just as popular as ever before with homeowners wanting to get their homes ready for the summer months to have friends and family over.
Most homeowners are wanting to provide a room where they can unwind and relax or for some turn the rooms into a games/entertainment room where they have a weekly game or film night with friends. Home decor become one of the most popular things for people around the world to take part in with building firms becoming busier than they ever have been before. Some building firms even had to turn work down due to them being so busy during the pandemic with homeowners wanting to improve their homes.
Some house buyers are only looking to buy a house that is already kitted out with one of these rooms either inside or outside the house due to them being used to spending time in them during the time they spent at friends one during the lockdown which has led a lot of house buyers looking for homes that already have one.
The Brief Guide That Makes Choosing the Best Home Inspector Simple
Did you know that over 5 million homes were sold last year alone? The real estate market this year has been equally busy, making it challenging to find a property while competing with other buyers. And once you find one, it’s important to get a home inspection done to make sure that it is in good shape.
But not all home inspectors are created equal. Make sure you do your due diligence first before you book an inspection. Check out this guide that makes choosing the best home inspector simple.
Get Recommendations for the Best Home Inspector
The first step in finding a local home inspector is to get referrals from friends and family who have recently bought homes. You can ask them who they used, and what their experience was. You can also seek help from online communities in the area and ask for recommendations.
Read Reviews Online
When you have a list of potential inspectors, it’s time to go online and read reviews. While some may be inaccurate, they should still give you a good overall picture of the person and their services. Don’t skip this homework, since it’s a key part of helping you get the best home inspection for your property.
Check Credentials
Once you’ve narrowed your list down be sure to check their credentials and see if they are licensed. Certain states require the inspector to sit for an exam. If you are in one of those, then the inspector should have taken the National Home Inspector Exam and have the certification to prove it.
Look for Experience
Another thing to look for when choosing a home inspector is experience. It’s always better to go with an individual who has had many years or even decades in the business. While seasoned inspectors might charge more for an inspection, it can be worth it if you benefit from their time spent in the industry.
Get Assistance From a Realtor
There are many reasons for getting a realtor to help you buy a home, but one of the top ones is that you will benefit from their expert advice. They can refer you to trusted professionals like home inspectors and more to help make the home buying process easier. But don’t get an inspector referral from the seller’s real estate agent, since they might steer you towards an inspector who might give a favorable outcome to make the sale go through.
Ready To Find a Home Inspector?
Now that you’ve learned the top tips on how to find the best home inspector, you can proceed with confidence. Don’t be afraid to ask other homeowners about their experiences with their own home own inspectors. If you have a real estate agent, you can ask them for guidance in choosing a trusted home inspector to look at your new potential home.
Did you find this article useful? Want to explore other exciting real estate-related topics? Then check out the rest of our site!
The Different Types of Antiques That You Should Start Collecting
Looking for a new hobby that doesn’t involve a screen or a streaming service? Collecting antiques is a great way to reconnect with the past and even other people in your life. And you can also make some money along the way.
If you’re looking at all the different types of antiques and don’t know where to start, this list will give you a good idea. Collecting doesn’t have to take up your whole life, it can occupy a single shelf in your basement if you want.
Distracted by the Decoy
Have you ever seen those old wooden mallards lying about? Maybe someone has it on a shelf or it’s amongst a bunch of other wooden carvings at a thrift store or flea market. Decoys can sell for tens of thousands of dollars if made by a good company and in good condition.
Don’t be distracted by shinier objects when building your antique collection. A gold mine could be right under your nose in the shape of an old duck.
Nose to the Books
There are so many types of hobbies, and reading is a fairly common one. But when you’re considering the best antiques to collect, rare books are an excellent choice.
They can get quite pricey, so if you stick with the basics and only shop at cheaper flea markets and the like you could make some great finds. If they are well maintained their value can grow, and you can enjoy a shelf of beautiful works in the meantime.
Time to Clock In
Vintage clocks can be worth tons of money, and even those that are more common can garner some attention and cash. Antique clocks are one of the best collections you can build. They’re worth something, especially if you find a rare one, and you can go as big or as small as you want.
You can collect standing grandfather clocks or go for vintage timepieces kept in your pocket. Some of the best collections have a wide variety of styles and ages represented. Don’t limit yourself on one time period or timepiece, expand your options and your collection will expand as well.
Keep It in the Kitchen
If you’re going to build an antique collection, why not choose something useful? You collect 60s glassware or only cutlery, it’s up to you. There are many amazing old kitchen tools and tableware that are worth collecting.
From stoneware to glassware there are all kinds of styles to choose from for your collection. And if you already have a lot of one thing, like enamelware, learn more about it at https://barebonesliving.com/blogs/products-notes/the-history-and-benefits-of-enamelware.
All Types of Antiques
Some of the best collections aren’t limited by the types of antiques collected. Once you get started, you may find you have an eye for several different styles, or maybe one specific time period. Collecting can be exhilarating and it only takes up as much time as you want to put in.
So don’t wait to get started. Find the places near you selling antiques and get hunting today. And if you found this helpful in finding some inspiration, keep reading for more good tips.
A Checklist for Updating Your Home’s Exterior
Waking up to the morning sun and the sounds of hummingbirds and butterflies is something many homeowners want but few get to enjoy. Your home’s exterior can give your home a significant boost, but the reality is that many homes are bought in a not-so-great condition. The good news is that it’s never too late to give the outdoor areas of your house a new look. Here’s a checklist to guide you in updating your home’s exterior.
Roofing
When maintaining your home’s exterior, your DIY skills can come in handy. You can easily handle common problems like changing the backyard bulb or pruning stubborn branches to let in as much sun as possible. However, roofing is not an area to be messed with, as issues concerning the installation of a new roof can be complex for DIY. Calling professional roofers for a little help might be a good idea.
Enlisting roof repair experts from your community to do an excellent job will save you a lot of headache. For instance, if you’re in Merritt Island or its surrounding areas, a quick search for a “Merritt Island roofing contractor” on Google can bring up several results for your roofing needs. The reason is that the roofing industry has many varieties in materials, installation technologies, colors, and more. Professional roofing contractor companies with years of experience know which plan best fits your outdoor roof project. There’s also the issue of climate change, which requires different roofing choices to match a specific place’s rainfall pattern and other conditions. For example, getting a tile roof for your Merritt Island home may work well, but it may not be an ideal choice for someone staying around Melbourne Beach and other surrounding areas. Different factors come into play, and it pays to have the right hands to guide your way to the best exterior decisions.
Garden
An outdoor garden or patio decorated with outside plants is a great way to upgrade your home’s exterior. For many people, greenery is valuable and can also significantly impact a home’s value. Aside from the aesthetic value, outside patios with the right plants and flowers can be the perfect place for relaxation. However, cultivating new plants or creating a new garden from scratch is no easy task.
Generally, you’ll need water, sunlight, fertilizer, and other related knickknacks for your patio to bloom, but dealing with pests and other crop failure factors can be hectic for beginners. So, it’s important to know which plants are easy to maintain and will have no problem growing in your outdoor garden (considering the amount of time and resources needed for plant care). For example, some plants need much sunlight and can grow in extreme temperatures, but opting for such plants might not be a good idea if your local area doesn’t have the full sun in view. Others require much water and do well in moist soil conditions.
Choose the ones that fit your needs and try your best to do a great job with gardening. A blooming garden’s benefits are endless. You can get lovely plants like tomatoes for food. To lighten your mood, you can depend on flowers like hibiscus, petunia, and more. According to some health experts, blooming flowers like geraniums can help reduce susceptibility to depression and other mental health disorders.
Walkways
Adding color and aesthetics to your home’s walkways can make your outdoor areas appealing and easy to navigate. You can theme your walkways around a central garden from which every other sidewalk flows, just like a typical quadrangle. If you have a large compound, you can install walkway sheds to shield your visitors from the effects of the outside temperature.
These ideas can help you elevate the look of your home’s exterior!
Construction Tips to Know Before Building Your First Home
If you happen to be delving into the vast world of construction for the very first time, you likely have an exciting and incredibly testing time ahead of you.
The reward for perseverance is of course huge – you get to say that you built your own custom home!
There are some big pitfalls to avoid, however, and many, many details to ponder over. When it all comes together and starts to run smoothly, the process can feel great.
Before you go ahead with the build, however, it is well-worth taking a look at a few handy construction tips to set you off in the right direction.
Don’t Forget the Air Barriers
If you want to make sure your home is sufficiently protected from the elements, and that its structural integrity is kept sound after all of your hard work, installing dependable air barriers is a must.
Without them, you may fail to optimize your home’s indoor climate, resulting in a poorly optimized build.
This can help you prevent air leakage, saving you both money and energy at the same time, it’s a win-win.
Plus, air leakage may end up damaging your build itself, particularly if you live in a climate that provides the conditions for mold to thrive in.
Choose Reliable Materials
Opting for cheaper, lower quality materials may come back to bite you in the long run. Making a saving on cheaper materials will not be a saving at all if it ends up costing you money in repairs.
Sometimes, opting for the higher quality straight out of the gate is the only way to go in construction.
It is worth noting that cheaper does not always mean less quality, particularly when you consider material like concrete it its sheet form.
It will change the overall look of your house, however, so maintaining your adaptability is key in order to avoid disappointment.
Keep an Eye on the Budget
Construction can be extremely expensive. Even after accounting for the upfront costs of labor, equipment, machinery and materials, your final figure will probably change over and over again throughout the process.
This can be for a huge number of reasons, like the discovery of some foundational issues, a shortage in raw materials, environmental setbacks or a lack of available workforce.
Allow yourself room for flexibility, and make sure that your budget contains a large enough buffer to support you in case anything too disastrous happens.
Access to Power
When getting caught up in all the excitement of putting your very first home together, it can be bizarrely easy to forget about some of the smaller, yet nonetheless essential details that can improve the quality of your finished build.
Access to power outlets is a prime example of this. No matter how intricate or simple your build, if you cannot access essential utilities, it might not be comfortable to live inside.
Consulting an electrician and an architect may help you out in this area. If you wanted to bring your design to life before you spent vast amounts of money on it, you may find some virtual reality software can come in handy.