Make Ugly Floors Beautiful

Start your decorating in the most obvious place, the floor.
Most people seem to overlook the benefits of adding
decorations to their floor. Mainly because they see
flooring as a fixed item and until it gets worn-out, it
basically keeps the same look for years.

It is true that flooring is not easily replaced and can
cost thousands of dollars. That is why adding decorations
or eye candy to your floor is such a great idea. Adding
color coordinated flooring accessories will accent a room
and won't get outdated for as long as the flooring stays in
tact.

A perfect accessory to use that will add value and give an
enchanting appeal to any room is decorative floor
registers. They are called many things; floor registers,
grates, air vents, grilles and so forth. But regardless of
what you call them, they are built to serve the same
purpose and add beauty.

Floor registers are available in hundreds of size and color
combinations and can be matched to any type of flooring
product and room scheme. The main consideration for proper
selection is identifying the fixed items of the room where
they are to be placed.

You should not try to get one style or finish and make it
work for every room. Although some styles and finishes are
very universal, the way to accent a room is to get a style
and finish that matches the scheme of that room.

Another thing to consider is the type of flooring that is
installed in each room. Rooms with carpeting will use a
different floor register that a room that has wood floors
such as typical dining room and kitchen areas. By choosing
a decorative register to match that specific type of
flooring, you will achieve the best overall look for the
room.

If you have hardwood flooring in certain room of your home
that have been stained with an unknown color, simply get an
unfinished floor register and have someone match a stain to
your floor. This is the best solution and will ensure that
the register matches perfectly.

Now for matching other items in the room like cabinets,
shelving and wall paper. This is a simple process if you
have flooring that is either a neutral color or has been
matched to the other items in the room. All you have to do
is pick a matching color register with a style that goes
with the scheme of the room.

For rooms that have mixed-matched items, things can be a
little more complicated. The best thing to do is to decide
which item you would replace with a different color at some
time in the future. This way, the floor registers will
compliment the fixed item with the longest expected life
span. You want to have great looks, but without throwing
money in the trash.

Make sure you take the scheme of the room into
consideration as well. If the room has a Victorian look,
get decorative floor registers that match that era. There
are literally hundreds of different styles, types and
colors to choose from, so there is no excuse for installing
a generic register.

Also remember to buy the matching ceiling and wall grilles
to blend with the rooms new look. It is not always
necessary to match a ceiling grille to the floor registers.
An example of this would be if you have mahogany hardwood
flooring and slick finished ceilings coated with white
paint. A mahogany ceiling grille would look extremely out
of place.

Best practice is to use your own judgment and do not get
overboard with trying to accomplish a unique look. In most
cases, a straight forward design with blended accessories
will give the most practical look that you and the rest of
your family can live with for years to come.


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Shane Hester has been helping website owners increase
profits through exclusive webdesign and marketing at
WebFirstCreations.
See his companies latest creation: Floorstogo Floor
Registers, at http://www.flooring-nc.com/registers.htm or
contact him directly at http://www.webfirstcreations.com .

How To Properly Insulate Your Home

Most modern homes are insulated well, but some older homes
could stand to have some additional insulation put in. The
only way to figure out if you need more insulation is to
find out what the recommended R-values for insulation are
in your area. They vary from region to region. Then you
will want to check the amount of insulation you have in
your attic and basement or crawl space to see if it matches
the recommended levels of insulation.

There are various types of insulation you can buy:
blankets, batts, and loose cellulose insulation. They all
are good for different situations. In the attic you can use
any one of these types of insulations. Blankets can be used
in the attic as well. For walls, loose cellulose is often
used by blowing it into the wall spaces. In the basement,
you might want to try putting batts in between the floor
joists and along the walls.

Try to keep a good amount of ventilation in the attic and
crawl space. You don't want to over-insulate the space. If
you don't leave enough air space for insulation, warm air
can rise in the winter and condense in your attic into
moisture where it will end up trapped by too much
insulation. This can cause rotting. The same is true about
the basement, if you have too much insulation water can be
trapped and cause rotting. You should try to keep the
insulation away from any metal flues or recessed light
fixtures. Try to also keep it away from masonry chimneys.

For safety reasons, you should handle the fiberglass
insulation with gloves, goggles, and a respirator on. This
may seem like overkill but you don't want the fiberglass
particles getting into your lungs. Over the years, health
concerns from breathing in fiberglass fibers has increased
and should be taken into consideration when installing your
own insulation.

When insulation your home, don't forget your windows. They
should be weather-stripped to keep drafts from reducing the
energy efficiency of the house. In addition, if you see any
area that has cracks, try to caulk them up. If you have
enough money and want to invest in double-glazed windows,
these help to insulate the home against heat loss from the
windows.

Insulating your home is not a difficult task. There are
many different people who can help you get the information
you need from R-values for your area to the types of
insulation best suited for you job. As always, take your
own personal safety into account when choosing to install
the material. Try to follow the manufacturer's directions
and keep the ventilation clear so that moisture does not
accumulate and cause rot. After you have finished
insulating the basement and attic, take a look at your
windows and doors and see where some additional
weather-stripping might help. If you're still not happy
with the warmth of your home, then think about installing
double-glazed windows for added insulation value and home
efficiency.


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For helpful space savers and home organization items, visit
Get Organized at http://www.shopgetorganized.com

 

Hot Tub Profile when choosing a Hot Tub Jacuzzi Spa

Why do Hot Tub Jacuzzi Spa manufacturers make masses of
different models in various shapes, sizes, designs and
specifications? It is because they can't make just one
model that suits everyone.   People are different shapes,
sizes, heights and of course their individual lifestyles
vary considerably. Before you go to the Spa dealer, take a
few moments to think about why you want to buy a Hot Tub
spa and what it is that you want from it.

Read these questions and answer them carefully, write down
your answers so that you have a profile to take with you to
the Spa dealer.

1. Will you use your spa just for enjoyment and spending
quality time with your Family or do you want it for
relaxation, hydrotherapy and to help with  aches and pains?
 
2.For most of the time, how many people will use it?
3.Will you have guests round to use the spa and if you
will, what is the maximum number you will have in your spa
at one time?
4. How tall are the people who will use the spa, are there
big differences in height between the tallest and shortest?
5. Will it used every day or  just once or twice a week?
6. What times of the day or evening do you think you will
use it?
7. How much can you spend on purchasing the spa and having
it installed?
8. What is your budget for running your spa on a weekly
basis when it has been installed?
9. How much time can you commit to looking after the Spa
and keeping it maintained correctly?
10. How much space do you have available for the Spa?
11. Is there good clear access to get a spa to your chosen
area?
12. Are you prepared to take some risk to save money by
buying on the internet or would you prefer the security of
having a local dealer who can support you at all times?
13. Is there free access to all sides of the spa at your
intended location or will some sides be inaccessible, (next
to a wall etc.)?
14. Is a crane required to install the Hot Tub?

Now you have answered these questions you are well on your
way to having created a Spa Profile, which will assist you,
and your dealer in making the correct choice of Spa for
your specific needs.


----------------------------------------------------
The author supplies premium quality Hot Tubs on the Costa
Del Sol In Spain and his web site is at
http://www.spas4you.com  email  spas4you@yahoo.co.uk

 

5 Simple Rules for a Faster, Smoother Home Sale

Congratulations! You've decided to sell your home.

Now what?

No doubt you've heard about challenges in the real estate
market recently, and wonder what that means for you.

Here's the truth: Whether it's interest rates, home values,
local competition, or just "the market" in general, selling
your home isn't as tough as you might think.

In fact, you actually have a lot of control over getting
your home sold as fast as possible, and for a desirable
price, too. By working with a reputable Realtor and keeping
in mind a few rules of thumb, you'll be surprised at how
simple the process can be.

Rule #1: Make a good first impression. Good looks count for
a lot when it comes to valuing your home and making it
appealing to buyers. Make sure your landscaping is neat,
painting touchups are done, and yard clutter (tools, toys,
equipment, etc.) are neatly stored and out of sight.

Rule #2: Knock out that "To-Do" list. The burned out
exterior floodlight bulb? The kitchen drawer with the
missing knob? The bathroom door that sticks, and the slow
drain in the sink? Take care of these little things, or
they'll become larger and larger issues in the minds of
potential buyers.

Rule #3: Straighten up, but don't obsess. No one's
expecting you to pass a white-glove test, but interior
neatness is important. Before a prospective buyer comes
into your home, do your best to make sure there aren't any
dishes in the sink, move life's daily clutter out of common
areas, put clothes in the hamper, and run the vacuum.

Rule #4: Seduce the senses. Open curtains and blinds to let
light in. If it's warm out, open the windows, too. To
engage a potential buyer's sense of smell, brew a pot of
coffee, bake a loaf of bread, or light a good-quality
scented candle. For the ear, play some nice mood music
quietly in the background. (Be sure to avoid jarring music
or talk shows.)

Rule #5: Relax, and let your Realtor do the talking. You've
got a Realtor to help you sell your home, so let them do
what they do best! They know how to handle buyers, and
often read between the lines to hear the real concerns they
may be masking with otherwise innocent-sounding questions.
And besides, do YOU want a homeowner following you around
everywhere when you look at a home to buy?

When you think of how different every single home sale is,
it won't come as a surprise to learn that nothing in these
rules equals a guaranteed sale. But over time, Realtors
have come to learn that when sellers follow these rules of
thumb, the process goes more smoothly, and the odds for a
faster sale tend to rise.

And here's a bonus. Instead of seeing your home as
something you're just trying to get rid of, by following
these simple rules, you'll also start seeing your home as
something truly valuable you've invested in, you take pride
in, and you're happy to be offering it to the lucky
homebuyer who says, "I'll take it!"


----------------------------------------------------
Alpine Lakes Real Estate has been building long-term
relationships in the White Mountains region for more than
20 years. Their extensive real estate expertise is enhanced
by their vast knowledge of the entire building process.
With offices in Lincoln and Campton, NH, they also offer
assistance with IRS 1031 "like-kind" exchanges, and the
Design-Build services of their in-house architect. For more
information, go to http://www.AlpineLakes.com .