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Tips for Saving Money on Home Refurbishments

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Buying a house is the biggest investment most of us make, but sometimes, despite the high mortgage, the property will require a further substantial chunk of money to bring it up to standard. Depending on the price you initially paid for the property and how much money (if any) you have left over, you may need to think carefully about budgeting. 

Like any big project, renovating a house can quickly see costs spiral out of control. This means you’re likely looking at ways to save money, even if you have a relatively large budget to work with initially. If you’re unsure where to start with budgeting a home refurbishment, we’re here to help. 

We’ve put together four handy tips that you can use to preserve your budget and make the project less harsh on your finances. 

1. Salvage What You Can 

The first tip is to salvage what you can. Depending on the nature of your refurbishment, this can relate to anything. For example, if the bathroom of your property is in relatively good condition, you won’t necessarily need to replace it all. You might install a new showerhead and lighting, but you can save money by painting the existing tiles and adding decals rather than buying brand new ones. 

If you’re refurbishing the kitchen and like the current layout, you could keep the shell of the cabinets and simply replace the cupboard doors and worktops. Likewise, you can give your sink a new look simply by replacing the taps. 

These are all examples of salvaging what you have which will go a long way to saving you money, as well as making your refurbishment eco-friendlier. 

2. Wait for Sales Before Making Big Purchases 

If you need to make a big purchase as part of your renovation, such as a bath or kitchen appliances, then it’s a good idea to wait a little while before committing to buying. Oftentimes, suppliers will hold sales that see items half in price, meaning you can more often than not find a bargain simply by being patient. 

3. Do Things Yourself 

One of the biggest costs associated with house refurbishments is labor costs. There will inevitably be tasks that require a professional to step in, such as plastering or electrical re-wiring, but you’d be surprised at the number of jobs you can do yourself. The beauty of the internet is that there are video tutorials of almost anything, including costly jobs like tiling and laying carpets. 

By undertaking as much of the work as you can yourself, you’ll soon see just how much money you’re able to save. This is a great option if you’re on a strict budget and don’t mind getting stuck in.

4. Save Up Cash Where Possible 

Our final money saving tip for doing a house refurb is to pay in cash where you can. This means saving up money into a bank account and avoiding using credit or loans where possible. Every time you take out a loan or use a credit card, you’re liable to pay back the initial amount you borrowed as well as interest. The amount of interest you pay will depend on the finance agreement you’ve entered into, but it does mean that what you end up paying is more than it would be if you were to pay in cash. 

Paying using cash means that it might take you a bit longer to save up, but if money is tight and you have the luxury of time, it’s a good idea. If you’re renovating a house to sell it on, borrowing money won’t be an issue because you should stand to make a profit anyway, but otherwise, try and stick to cash. 

We hope you find these tips useful and that your home refurb goes to plan. If you’ve recently undertaken a refurbishment project, what are some tips you implemented to save money?

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What Do I Need to Know to Maintain my Air Conditioner?

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Maintaining your HVAC system is an essential component to your quality of life. When it’s working correctly, you are guaranteed a comfortable environment in all seasons. You are also guaranteed of efficiency in energy consumption. The challenge is that if you do not get the right information on air conditioner maintenance, it can cost you a lot of money. There is also the risk of falling prey to unscrupulous AC repair companies that cost you money and make the problems worse. To help you avoid such issues, here is what you need to know to maintain your AC without challenges.

Finding the Right Company Can Make all the Difference

If you want to maintain your AC without problems, make sure to use a qualified HVAC company. There are multiple ways that you can tell if an HVAC company. The first thing you need to check out for is their certifications. As a rule, always go for a company that has all the right certifications needed for the job. This is usually an indicator that they have the minimum qualifications needed to get the job done. Once you ascertain that they are certified, the next thing to check out for is their customer reputation. One way to tell if a company has a good reputation or not is to check its online reviews. As a rule, go for a company that has more positive reviews than negative ones. It is usually an indicator that they are good at the job, and they deliver on their promises. Using these parameters, one of the best companies you can go for is Doc’s heating and AC Company. They are BBB Accredited and are dealers for top companies like Mitsubishi Electric, Goodman, Amana, Daikin, and Aprilaire. They also have a good reputation with customers including fast response times to customer needs.

Save Money by Taking a DIY Approach to Air Conditioner Maintenance

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AC maintenance is not cheap. However, you can significantly cut on these costs by taking a DIY approach to most of the AC maintenance tasks. Some of the things you can do by yourself and cut on your AC maintenance costs are as below:

  • Replace the air filters

One of the things you can do to cut on costs is to replace the air filters. Replacing the air filter is not hard and you should try and do it once a month. All you need to do is know the right-size filter for your system and stick to it. By replacing the air filter, you avoid a multitude of other issues that will most likely lead to costly repairs.

  • Cleaning up the coils

One of the biggest causes of inefficiencies in AC systems is dirty air coils. When dirt clogs up the coils, it slows down the airflow, reducing the system’s ability to absorb heat. As such, the system works harder leading to higher energy consumption. Luckily, this is an issue that you can easily deal with on your own. Just spend a few minutes of your free time, once or twice a month, to clean the coils.

  • Get rid of debris from the AC unit

One of the biggest causes of inefficiency in AC systems is a buildup of debris in the unit. Some of this debris include leaves and small stones, and you can deal with them without the intervention of a professional. For instance, you can start by cleaning up the area close to the air conditioner of shrubs and other plants.

  • Work on the coil fins

You may have noticed that after a while, the condenser and evaporator coils start to bend. This creates a blockage of the airflow, which then affects the efficiency of the system. To get rid of this problem, try and straighten it whenever you notice that it is starting to coil. It may give you a hard time the first time, but once you learn how to do it, it will take very little of your time, and significantly cut on your cost of maintaining the AC system.

  • The quality of air conditioner accessories matters
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When looking to maintain your AC, you will regularly need to replace things like coils and air filters. When buying these accessories, go for reputable brands. They will serve their purpose well, and for longer. This will cut on your costs while ensuring that you have good quality service in terms of airflow and energy efficiency. You may spend more initially, but long-term, the costs of maintenance will be lower.

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Expanding Your Home Upwards | TechLipz

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Changing circumstances can mean that our living requirements can shift, whether it’s due to an expanding family or otherwise. Sometimes, it’s not quite enough to just add an extra room to your home and you’re in need of a whole new floor. Although your first thought might be that you need a new house, sometimes parting with the place you call home is absolutely heart-breaking. Therefore, you may consider adding a new storey to your existing home.

There’s no denying that this is a large-scale operation, so for maximum security and optimal results, you will require a professional trained team on hand. Professionals that work with scaffolding require IPAF training, which equips them with the skills that they need to work at a height in a safe capacity. Therefore, if you lack training such as this, you should always refrain from working at a height as this could result in serious injury and lead to a poor-quality project.  

Evaluating the Foundations

Not all structures will be suited to adding another storey, which is why you must evaluate the floor plans ahead or commencing your project. If you can get your hands on the floor plans for your home, you’ll be able to learn what type of foundations are in place. This information includes their depth and whether certain internal walls have foundations. On top of this, you’ll be able to find out more about your drainage system. This information will provide your design team with the means of crafting a plan.

Not everyone can simply attain their floor plans, in this case you would search for your local building records. However, if you’re unsuccessful in doing so, you’ll need to get in touch with a structural engineer to assess your ground conditions for you. In order to do so, they may need to dig some holes to determine the type and depth of the foundations that you have in place. 

On top of digging holes, the engineer may need to take a soil sample to send for testing. Otherwise, a geotechnical consultant might need to liaise with your structural engineer. Ultimately, there are many methods of attaining the information that you need, but the results will effectively determine the remainder of your project. 

Selecting a Frame

A timber frame is the best solution in terms of adding an extension to your home since it’s need for blockwork is minimal. Therefore, you won’t be required to reinforce your existing foundations due to the lightweight properties of timber frames. Underpinning and strengthening foundations is a lengthy and costly procedure, so it’s wise to steer away from this if doable. On average, a timber-framed upwards extension will cost around £1,800/m2.

Before going ahead with a timber-framed solution, you’ll need to get your planning status approved. Typically, a prefabricated timber frame is more efficient than a stick-built alternative. You should get going with your construction as quickly as you can and select one contractor so that your project is at the forefront of their mind. 

Other Things to Contemplate 

In order to avoid the disturbance of creatures in your roof, a bat survey should be executed.

Within the builders’ contract, you should name your timber frame supplier so that you’re able to manage your expenses. This also alleviates some of the responsibility from you as your builder will be liable for some of the paperwork. 

Your scaffolding company will need to be regularly notified about the status of your project to maintain safety measures.

Furthermore, you might sell materials from your existing structure to assist you financially.

Lastly, you should consider an “easi-joist” system as these are simpler than standard joists. 

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3 Ways To Declutter Your Room In Order To Build A Productive Home Workstation

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Since the pandemic has forced everyone indoors, companies around the globe have shifted to the remote work culture to ensure their employees stay healthy and infection-free. Working from home allows people to build a better work-life balance, but it is not free of challenges.

The most common challenge people face when they start working from home is a lack of motivation. Since there is a lack of social engagement, they feel isolated which makes them feel lethargic and depressed. Another reason that contributes to decreased motivation is not having a clutter-free workspace at home.

For a productive work experience, it is essential to have a workstation that is clean, organized and free of distractions. This can help you focus better and you can get the most out of your day. Also, having a workstation with everything arranged well helps in reducing feelings of depression and anxiety.

We have listed before 3 ways to guide you in decluttering your room in order to create a productive workspace:

Start with one Section

It can get overwhelming to completely declutter a room. Most people do not do away with stuff because they want to think hard on its utility. Instead of going through an intensive cleaning drive, dedicate fixed time to one section at a time.

Start with the table that you will be using as your workstation. Check everything that is on it and verify its condition. Do you need it on your desk? Is it something that you will need often? If not, clear it from the desk.

This will ensure your desk is not crowded with things that you don’t need. When you work, it will become easier to find important things quickly as there isn’t too much unnecessary stuff to navigate through.

Part Ways With Anything That You Don’t Use And Won’t Use

This is a difficult part, but must be dealt with sincerity for building a clean workstation. Whichever section you pick to clean, go through each and every piece lying there to think whether or not it is of any use.

For instance, you may find a filled notebook from the past that you no longer use; neither is it ever going to be of any use in the future. It is better to part ways with such things rather than keep storing them for years without ever using them.

If you have old electronics that you no longer use, sell them off for some quick cash. Instead of storing an old tablet that is just adding to the junk, just look for a website to trade in or sell tablet online.

Categorize

This is an important step in the decluttering process. Everything that you decide to keep cannot be put back together in a pile. They have to make sense and be kept with things that belong to the same category.

Club things of the same use together and place them in appropriate sections. For instance, if you have too many work files, categorize them and place the similar ones together. Same goes for electronic items, books and stationary.

When all stationary is in one place, you save a lot of time as you instinctively know where to reach out in order to find what you’re looking for. You can use some existing furniture from your home that has shelves to place files and other other important work items.

Conclusion

Once you have organized a space, the challenge is maintaining its cleanliness. A cluttered space is easier to clean on a daily basis. Before you start working, dedicate 5 minutes everyday in the morning to ensure everything is in the right place.

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