Man time has flown by so quickly, the holidays are approaching and that means mo money, mo money, and mo money! October is fresh and here so that means Halloween for the kids and before you know it you'll be will roasting that hopefully juicy turkey in the over for Thanksgiving, no one wants a dry turkey. After all is said and done you will be a few dollars shorter than usual, Christmas is the real holiday breaker. It is going to...more
In today's volatile economic environment you have to think about something I was taught at a very young age, never create or go against the market always study what the market is doing and go with that. Now with that being said what is happening in this market, I'll tell you, people are deal shopping and much of Baton Rouge and America is in financial crises or at the very least watching how they spend money. How do you use this and...more
Clear off your kitchen counters, refrigerator, and wall. Live with the clean area for a few days. Notice your habits and see just what you really use on a daily basis. Then gather the items together and organize them by color, size and, starting with the walls, begin putting some back. Leave the room, come back, checking each time to see if you are satisfied with the result. You may find that what you were so used to having in the room may not be as effective as you thought. Keep moving things around until it's just right.If your kitchen is nice and large but you need more counter space, consider adding a center island. A built in can be outfitted with a sink and a small microwave or even an apartment sized refrigerator. A portable island on casters, perhaps stainless steel, can be pushed aside when not needed and will be convenient for storing extra pots and pans.Replace the hardware on the cabinets. Measure the existing holes so you don't have to drill new ones. Go to your hardware store and find some drawer pulls and cabinet handles that you really think will add some pizzazz to the room. Look for some that are out of the ordinary but reflect...more
Sometimes a complete bathroom redo is not in the budget, so zero in on some easy projects. It's amazing what a little imagination along with some paint or paper can do for a bathroom that has become ho-hum. Look around the room; notice the towel bars, soap dishes or dispensers, hooks used for bathrobes or hangers, pictures on the...more
All new moms could use some organization in their lives. Especially when life starts to get unpredictable with unexpected baby messes, many new items that need to be stored and the need to keep track of all of baby's essentials. That's where strategic baby furniture placement comes into play.Make a List of What You NeedIf you're...more
"Why do I have mold in my house?" is a common question from our clients. Most of us are familiar with, water leaks (roof or plumbing) causing excess moisture and eventually mold. In Moldstoppers of Virginia's experience this is not the most common cause of mold growth. At times mold infestations can appear random and indiscriminate, occurring in some of the less frequently visited areas of our homes; crawl spaces, basements and attics. Let's take a look at each of these areas and examine some of the typical reasons for mold. Crawl Space Mold – Homes are typically built on crawl spaces or basements. Most commonly a crawl space has two to four feet of clearance between grade (the ground) and the floor joists (the beams that hold your floor). We frequently find mold growing in crawl spaces. This mold will devour the wood's organic material and eventually degrade the structural integrity of the home. But why is there any mold if you haven't had a leak? Poor Circulation – Virginia experiences four distinct seasons. The extreme changes in temperature also translate to drastic changes in humidity. Since most crawl spaces, particularly on older homes aren't conditioned,...more
To some, the concept of milling grain at home may appear to be a rather time consuming task. However, as time consuming as it can be, it does hold some great benefits. It is an unfortunate fact that very few families consider milling...more
When you're regularly hunched over your monitor or curled up in your bed, what do you anticipate. Your midsection shortens, creating it to obtrude outward. And that's not pleasing to the eyes. But do you know that with a handful of hot...more
Licensed. You want to be sure that your potential home inspector is licensed. These inspectors are often licensed by the state or agency to which serve. For an example, generally a person performing an inspection for a home buyer and...more
For many new home buyers in the Birmingham area, purchasing a new home is the largest financial decision they will have to make in their lifetime. It is a huge financial investment that could last nearly 30 years. Fortunately there are...more
There probably isn't one multi-millionaire out there who started earning money without getting that initial dollar first. Set some a mini goal to begin with, but keep your eye on the target. Here we provide you with some initial steps...more
An FHA loan is frequently a perfect match for those new to the housing market. These often do not have liquid funds with which to make a down payment. If you are in a similar position as a first time home buyer and can qualify under the...more