Decorating your house is more fun than setting up security measures. But burglars strike every 30 seconds, so home security should be a top priority.1 As startling as these reports are, the good news is that we can help you to get back to the fun stuff with the list of preventive measures to make a burglar-proof home. 

l Never leave keys in hiding places outside the house.

l Always keep your garage door closed and locked.

l Trim back all bushes under windows.

l Plant prickly, thorny shrubs or bushes under windows to discourage prowlers.

l Bright lights outside around all doors and windows discourage break-ins. Install motion-triggered lights around corners of the home.

l Install a solid core or metal-clad door fitted with both inside hinge pins and a minimum one-inch throw deadbolt lock.

l Doors with windows require a double key deadbolt.

l Secure garage doors with cane bolts and hasps.

l Install a peephole in the front door.

l Secure crank Windows by drilling a hole through the latch frame and handle, then insert a metal pin or nail through the hole to lock the window in place.

l Place Operation Identification stickers on doors and windows.

l If you have a keypad garage door, reprogram the code.

l Never leave your garage door opener visible in your car.

l Never let strangers into your home. Never give out your address or phone number to strangers.

These burglar-proofing tips will help you secure your home and keep your family and property secured. Take good care of yourself and be safe!

Decorating your house is more fun than setting up security measures. But burglars strike every 30 seconds, so home security should be a top priority.1 As startling as these reports are, the good news is that we can help you to get back to the fun stuff with the list of preventive measures to make a burglar-proof home. 

l Never leave keys in hiding places outside the house.

l Always keep your garage door closed and locked.

l Trim back all bushes under windows.

l Plant prickly, thorny shrubs or bushes under windows to discourage prowlers.

l Bright lights outside around all doors and windows discourage break-ins. Install motion-triggered lights around corners of the home.

l Install a solid core or metal-clad door fitted with both inside hinge pins and a minimum one-inch throw deadbolt lock.

l Doors with windows require a double key deadbolt.

l Secure garage doors with cane bolts and hasps.

l Install a peephole in the front door.

l Secure crank Windows by drilling a hole through the latch frame and handle, then insert a metal pin or nail through the hole to lock the window in place.

l Place Operation Identification stickers on doors and windows.

l If you have a keypad garage door, reprogram the code.

l Never leave your garage door opener visible in your car.

l Never let strangers into your home. Never give out your address or phone number to strangers.

These burglar-proofing tips will help you secure your home and keep your family and property secured. Take good care of yourself and be safe!

Feng Shui has been around since the ninth century BC, and is still popular today means that it has had historical impact.The famous ancient Chinese philosophy is pronounced as Fung Shway which means “wind and water,”. This traditional Chinese concept links the destiny of man to his environment. The elements play an important part in everyday life, as in wind and water that bring good harvests, which in turn bring good health and prosperity.

Feng Shui has now become a very popular and practical design element in the western world. It is based on Taoist philosophy, which puts a great deal of stock in living in harmony with nature, and states that land is alive and brimming with energy, or chi (chee). This in turn means that your home is alive and full of chi as well and needs to be arranged in such a way that the chi can be maximized. Find out how to use it in your home decorating at fengshui.

Feng Shui Elements

The five important elements of feng shui are wood, metal, earth, water, and fire.

Wood

Symbolizes growth and vitality. Placing wood items in your space encourages personal growth. Plants and wooden furniture are easy ways to add this element.

Metal

Symbolizes logic and intelligence. It supports knowledge and mental sharpness. Add this element to your space with metal frames or sculptures.

Earth

Symbolizes stability and balance. It helps to ground and stabilize. Bring the earth element inside with rocks, crystals and landscape imagery.

Water

Symbolizes wisdom and serenity. It helps with clarity and relaxation. Mirrors, reflective surfaces and aquariums are ways to add the water element to your space.

Fire

Symbolizes passion and energy. It’s representative of transformation, expansion and volatility. Use candles and red objects to enhance your space with fire.

If you prefer to apply feng shui principles to a room rather than a whole house, here are some things to keep in mind.

Find out how to use it in your home decorating at fengshui.

Optional addition

Source: https://www.invaluable.com/blog/what-is-feng-shui/

Interior Design

LIVING ROOM

When designing your living room, begin with the largest piece of furniture you have (typically, a sofa). Make sure it faces a door or opening and is placed against a wall, ideally the one furthest from the entrance and allows for a few inches of breathing room between.

If you have additional seating like a lounge chair, choose where to put it based on what is conducive for conversation. Try not to cramp the space. The goal is to create energy flow.

When deciding on a coffee table, try to avoid harsh angles. If a circle or oval feels too contrasting to the rest of your furniture, just contrast the shapes in the smaller element as this creates better balance.

Use sheer window coverings to allow light in but prevent energy from escaping. If you prefer completely uncovered windows, try placing a plant nearby.

Adding red elements will help invigorate the room and help to energize.

BEDROOM 

Similar to the living room, start with your bed and place it far away from the doorway, but not directly facing it. Try to avoid having too many electrical components close to your sleeping space.

If possible, avoid putting a television in your private space. This often becomes the focal point of the room, which takes away from the calming energy.

Combine masculine and feminine details to make sure both parties are represented and a balance is established. If you have a metal or wooden bed frame, choose soft-colored linens.

Fill your bedroom with cozy material to invite a restful, calming energy. Using hues in green and blue can add to this type of feeling. Clearing out whatever is under your bed also helps energy flow.

HOME OFFICE 

The biggest tip for home office decor is removing the clutter. As much as 50 percent of your desk should be clear, which means it’s time to hide those cords!

Similar to the layout in the other rooms, position your desk facing the door because this gives you a position of power, which is important for your place of work or productivity.

Decorate this space with a few personal objects like a family photo and incorporate greenery as the energy from plants will help you stay focused. To invigorate the area, add red details.

In terms of color, use gentle yellows and greens to calm and center. Add earth tones for stability and flowers or a motto to remind you of what you need to accomplish.   

There are so many terms out there for the types of houses that are available that it’s hard to keep everything straight. What follows is a quick course in the various types of houses available.

Site-built and stick-built homes usually refer to a traditional single-family residence that is built at the same site on which the finished home will stand. It is built by a local building contractor who builds the house according to local construction codes. A stick-built home can also refer to a modular home, but not site built. Confused yet? Let’s move on to mobile homes and their new, improved image.

First of all, forget the term “mobile home” – they’re now called “manufactured” homes. The old rectangular shoeboxes you used to see (and still do) packed together along the highway have been replaced by 2,500-square-foot structures with sunrooms and decks. The Manufactured Housing Institute defines a manufactured home as "a single-family house constructed entirely in a controlled factory environment, built to the federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, better known as the HUD Code." Most people still refer to them as mobile homes, but the MHI says that "mobile home" is the term used for homes built before June 15, 1976, when the HUD Code went into effect.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to further clarify, defines a manufactured home as a dwelling that contains at least 320 square feet with a permanent chassis for transportability (or “mobility”) of the home. These homes are constructed according to the Federal code that applies nationwide. Thanks to the uniform code, these structures are thoroughly inspected at the factory and have to pass muster. Most manufactured homes are sold through retailers.

Twenty-five percent of new residential construction and home sales annually in the U.S. are manufactured homes. One reason: this is the lowest cost stand-alone residence available. You can purchase a brand new single-section manufactured home for less than $29,000! And manufactured homes are losing their stigma thanks to the new design – in other words, mobile homes have lost their boxy look.

There are a few drawbacks, of course. One is that many communities do not allow manufactured homes (the old stigma rearing its ugly head) and another is potentially costly insurance. This is thanks to the perceived risks to manufactured homes. Insurance costs are based primarily on exposure to risk, and statistically, according to insurers, manufactured homes are the riskiest types of homes. Take weather damage, for example. Manufactured homes are less able to sustain high winds because they’re lighter than stick-built homes and easier to blow over. And while manufactured homes are not more likely to catch fire, they are more likely to suffer heavy damage, if not complete devastation. Frozen pipes are another danger because the walls are often not as well insulated.

And now for a look at the new kid on the block, modular housing. Most people have a hazy-at-best idea of modular homes – are they made of molded plastic? Are the rooms ultra-modern pods, or what? No, and no. Once built, they are virtually indistinguishable from traditional site-built homes.

Like manufactured houses, they are built in a factory and quality inspected every step of the way. Unlike manufactured homes, the pieces (“modules'') of the house are transported to the building site where they are put together by a local building contractor, and they have no chassis or wheels. Since all work is done indoors, there is no weather damage or delay. Some floor plans can be built in the factory in as little as one to two weeks, and two to four more weeks to attach the modules to a concrete foundation, hook up utilities and complete the home.

Unlike manufactured homes, modular must conform to building codes in your specific location. And while they do cost more than manufactured homes in general, they usually cost less per square foot than for a comparable site-built house and are extremely energy efficient. Few communities have restrictions against modular other than size requirements. Thanks to computer-aided design technology, you can select from a virtually unlimited range of styles. The modules even can be shipped with wall finish, carpeting, bathroom fixtures, cabinets, countertops, plumbing, floor coverings, electrical systems, and insulation already installed.

Modular housing may be the wave of the future. It accounts for 60 percent of all residences in Sweden and 30 percent in Japan. Modulars work well for people who want to build in remote locations and rural areas, and unlike site-built homes, they cut waste and environmental impacts. Most of the time, modular homes qualify for traditional mortgages because they are usually part of a land and home purchase like site-built homes. Best of all, modular homes are built a lot faster than the regular home building process which may take 2-3 years to complete. Vendors can deliver finished modular homes in just over a year. 

Displeased by that dull exterior with peeling paints, cracks, and discoloration? You can easily upgrade your curb appeal with a fresh coat of paint. 

Getting ready

The first task is to estimate how much paint you will need. Measure the length of all sides of the house, then multiply the length of all sides by the height of the house, adding two feet to the height for overhang. There’s no need to subtract doors and windows as you will probably need the extra for touch-ups. Now divide the total square footage of your project by the coverage rate displayed on the can of paint you have selected.

Color of choice

Your home exterior color scheme plays a pivotal role in its overall look and feel. Before you jump out and choose your house color, check if your housing developments have restrictions. You can proceed with choosing the combination of paint colors on your siding, trim, front door, and other exterior elements. Know what exterior color scheme you want and start to mix and match shades and undertones. Identify an accent piece on your home (window frame, shutters, trim, or the front door) and paint it either a darker or a lighter shade of your main color. 

Kinds of Paint

There are different kinds of paint as well:

1. Gloss exterior acrylic enamel is usually used only on smooth, flawless surfaces, as the high sheen accentuates imperfections. It’s also the most difficult and time-consuming exterior paint, not to mention the most expensive.

2. Satin exterior acrylic latex provides excellent coverage and good looks. Another advantage to this type is that it does not attract dirt and dust like other paints.

3. Flat exterior acrylic latex is the most commonly used exterior paint thanks to its good coverage, reasonable price, and versatility. It is also easier to touch up and does not show imperfections as much as gloss.

4. Semi-gloss exterior acrylic latex is mostly used for doors, gutters, and window trim as it is washable and resists stains.

5. Solvent-based paints are the most versatile, providing ease of application in a variety of temperatures and moisture conditions.

Identifying the right tools

Once you’ve decided on the paint color and paint type that you are going to use, then you're almost ready to go. You will need applicators, tools, and painting materials. There are three types of paint applicators, and you may use any one or a combination of them: brushes, rollers, and sprayers. You’ll also need wide-width masking tape, scrapers of various sizes, and a utility knife.

Let’s Get Started

Now that you have your materials, you’re ready to get started with the most important step: surface preparation. To ensure the best coverage, remove dirt and dust buildup from the house. First, scrape loose paint until most of the surface is exposed. Next, use sandpaper to dull the surface and make it smooth. After that, repair damaged surfaces and fill any unnecessary gaps between and trim around doors and windows using exterior caulk.  Use a pressure washer with a commercial cleaning solution to wash the surface of the house and rinse thoroughly from top to bottom. Let it dry at least 24 hours before painting. You may need to prime the surface before applying the paint.

Let’s move on to covering the windows, doors, and trim, using plasticsheeting and painter’s tape.You’re ready to begin painting. Take your time and do a thorough job. You have added more value to your home, slowed down deterioration, and have given yourself a sense of accomplishment.

Your curb will be one of your assets. If you are looking forward to selling your house in the current hot real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me. I'll make sure you get the maximum marketing exposure on the market to get the best offer.