Author Archives: Jeffrey Scott Thomas

6 Simple Upgrades That Will Double The Value Of Your Home

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The American housing market is finally picking up some steam. There are many new buyers entering the market.

If you plan on selling your home in the near future, you are probably wondering: Which upgrades will deliver the biggest ROI? What will sell my house above the asking price? How can I sell my home quickly?

Luckily, you don’t have to add a whole new wing to your house to boost its value. A few small upgrades here and there can double the value of your home. Here are some of the best improvements you can make to add significant value to your property:

Energy-Efficient Windows

Your old, single-paned windows can cause a variety of issues. They may look nice, but their charm comes at a cost. They are extremely inefficient insulators, which translates to a higher-cost for air conditioning in the summer and higher heating costs during the winter.

On top of allowing heat to easily pass through, old windows don’t do a good job of muffling sound. If you live in a high traffic area, or have a barking dog in your yard, this can be an issue. Homeowners are usually used to this, so they don’t mind, but potential buyers will certainly notice it.

The best thing to do would be to swap your old windows with ones that have an Energy Star rating. New windows can add significant value to your home, yet they are an affordable and cost-efficient upgrade.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can reduce heat loss through windows by up to 50% just by installing storm windows. If you want to see what type of windows will work best for your climate and geography, check out this Efficient Windows Collective’s rundown.

Kitchen Remodel

The kitchen is the heart of every home, so it’s no news that a kitchen upgrade can double the value of your property. But, you don’t have to go crazy for it to work. You don’t need a commercial-grade gas stove or a $3,000 vent to impress potential buyers.

Most homeowners appreciate the simpler pleasures: contemporary cabinet finishes, decent quality appliances, and, naturally, a good layout. Just a minor kitchen remodel can recoup 81.1% of the initial cost, according to this 2018 Cost vs Value Report.

So, instead of splurging all of your savings on a new kitchen, you can update the cabin faces, put in an energy-efficient fridge, and replace the faucet and sink. But, if you are really adamant about doing a major kitchen remodel, make sure to consider the local market, home value, and your budget.

Steam Shower

Easy upgrades such as updated hardware or a new toilet can add value to your home, but why not go a step further? The average home buyer is in search of a bathroom that evokes an indulging experience.

The bathroom has become an experiential space; we don’t see it just as a utilitarian corner of a house anymore. The best way to tap into this new trend is to install a steam shower. A house that has a steam shower can sell for up to 30.7 % above the expected price, according to Zillow.

Refinish or Install Hardwood Floors

A durable and beautiful hardwood floor will stand up to heavy abuse and foot traffic for decades, while adding rich tones to the décor and improving the looks of the interior. Hardwood floors are popular among homebuyers because they are durable, gorgeous, and easy to clean.

But, if you already have a hardwood floor, it is a good idea to spruce it up a bit before you put your house up for sale. Refinished hardwood floors can recoup 100% of their cost, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Add a Patio or Deck

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and worldwide lockdowns, staycations are becoming increasingly popular. Outdoor living areas are already a big perk, and they will become even more desirable.

One of the best and most unique ways to make your yard more inviting is to add a patio or deck to it. The average national cost of a yard patio is around $54,100. As seen in the 2018 Cost vs Value Report, you can recoup 82.8% of the cost after a deck addition.

Fancy railings, built-in seatings, new deck paint, pendant lights, or spotlights can really go far. Outdoor heaters are generally inexpensive and they can really cozy up your patio.

Spare Room

When pairing homebuyers with the right home, the number of bedrooms is key. A bit of extra room is always appreciated, especially among families. According to Zillow’s 2018 consumer housing trend reports, 63% of homebuyers are interested in having a guest or spare room.

Remodeled basements can be very attractive to potential buyers. To add a magical extra room to your home, you can convert an under-loved or unused area of your home into an attractive living space.

If you already have enough bedrooms in your home, you can style an extra room as a cozy home theater, crafting area, or a game room. The more versatile your home is, the more appealing it will be to potential buyers.

Kevin has gone through an extensive home renovation with his son, which he has both

thoroughly enjoyed, and dreaded every morning. He is now the proud owner of half his dream house (the other half has been waiting for spring). You can read more of Kevin’s work on PlainHelp.

8 Spring Renovations to Uplift Your Mood

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Original image can be found at: https://pixabay.com/photos/bouquet-flowers-garden-3874595/

Spring is a time for new beginnings, and there’s no better way to feel like you’ve got a fresh start than a home renovation. Applying cosmetic and structural changes to your home can completely reinvent how you feel about and use a space. Whether you’re interested in getting more natural light or brightening the room with a splash of color, there are plenty of creative options in your price range to explore.

DIY projects aren’t always the most feasible approach to renovations, but they can be the most cost-effective. If any of these spring renovations sound like something you want to take on yourself, remember to follow our guide on steps to take before getting started on your first renovation. Be safe, and make sure you have an educational resource detailing how to operate and troubleshoot your tools for the task.

1.     Try A New Look with Interior and Exterior Painting

Most people incorporate pops of color into a living space through thoughtful furnishing, but if you’re looking to really switch up your decor, repainting the interior of your home is the next step. Consider an accent wall in your favorite color to add depth to a neutral room or unify the furniture with the rest of the decor. Repainting your home’s faded exterior or giving it a completely new look with a different color is also a great way to renovate your home this spring while also improving curbside appeal.

2.     Reinvent Your Backyard With a Deck

Just because it isn’t barbeque season doesn’t mean you can’t get started on summer backyard improvements like building a deck. Decks allow you to extend your living space and utilize your backyard. Adding light fixtures and outdoor furniture can further transform your deck into a great place for friends and family to gather during summer evenings.

Original image can be found at: https://pixabay.com/photos/wooden-wood-house-architecture-3346929/

3.     Improve the View With a Landscape Makeover

Creative landscaping around your home is about more than keeping your front and backyard looking sharp; it turns your yard into something you can enjoy. If winter has left your lawn looking worse for wear, spring is your chance to redesign your backyard. Planting a vegetable garden, growing unique flower beds, or creating a path with stepping stones are some of the simple landscaping renovations you can do for spring. Fountains and greenhouses require a little extra work, but having a focal point like a beautiful water feature can add a touch of style and class to any yard.

4.     Prepare for Pool Party Season

It may not be warm enough to swim, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting ready for pool party season. Installing a pool in spring gives you time to get everything ready for guests looking to cool off on the hot days to come. Homeowners who are willing to invest in a pool can not only increase the value of their home but also turn their backyards into a stylish paradise everyone can enjoy.

5.     Update Your Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home for many. It is arguably one of the most important spaces in your house, which means having a functional kitchen that meets your needs is essential. If your kitchen is too small, consider exploring new storage solutions or renovating it with an open floor plan. Custom lighting can personalize the space according to your needs and tastes, turning your kitchen from plain and practical to warm and welcoming.

Original image can be found at: https://pixabay.com/photos/solar-panel-array-roof-building-1794514/

6.     Save By Going Green

Many of our suggestions so far have come with sliding scales when it comes to costs, but what about a renovation that saves you money and helps the planet? It’s becoming more and more common to spot houses with solar panels on the roof as people learn about green energy. Other effective eco-friendly changes you can make for your home include water-efficient plumbing or energy-saving insulation and lighting. Even just switching the bulbs in your house to LEDs can reduce your electricity bill, keeping your house and future bright.

7.     Add Sunshine to Your Day With Skylights

Speaking of energy efficiency, opening up your home to more natural light can make you less reliant on interior fixtures. Skylights act like an additional window and can make any room feel cozier by filling it with sunshine. If you have a green thumb, your indoor plants will also love an additional light source as they grow.  Skylights are also great for those of us who enjoy rainy spring days. Nothing beats curling up on the couch with a book and being able to glance up to watch rain clouds as they pass overhead.

Original image can be found at: https://pixabay.com/photos/tools-workshop-equipment-690038/

8.     Take Back Your Garage

Garages are one of the first places we think of when odds and ends pile up and need somewhere else to go. Waking up one day and realizing your garage is a maze of boxes can happen to anyone without notice. Following popular spring cleaning tips and going through what we’ve managed to accumulate over the years may be intimidating at first, but it can also be just as rewarding.

Once you’ve decluttered and freed up space in your garage, the possibilities are endless. It can become an additional space for your family to enjoy, an in-home gym, or the much-needed workspace you’ve been looking for. Turn your garage into a workshop haven for heirloom tools or a playground as an auto hobbyist.

Whether it’s a DIY affair or sitting back while the professionals get to work, these spring renovations can rejuvenate your house. Feel happier and more at ease when you turn any space into a home through renovations of any size, cost, and complexity.

5 Tips to Help You Sleep More Comfortably

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Every single human being on earth needs sleep, and this is a testament to how important a function it is – we usually spend around 1/3rd of our entire life sleeping. That’s why it is important and necessary to make sure your sleeping is as comfortable as possible. Having a healthy and deep sleep is very important to our health, as it helps us to spend all day energized and productive. If you are experiencing trouble sleeping, we’ve compiled a few tips that will help you sleep more comfortably.

#1 Pay Attention to Your Mattress

Switch your mattress after 5 to 7 years of use – if you feel a lot of unevenness in your mattress, or you and your partner are uncomfortable when sleeping on the mattress and you need to find the “good spot” on the bed so you can sleep comfortably, it is time to go to the mattress and buy new brushes.

#2 Keep Your Bedroom Tidy

Make your room tidy and beautiful so that you feel happy and comfortable when entering it. After waking up in the morning, you should arrange your bed, organize your scattered clothes, and place them in their designated places. Studies have shown that very hectic bedrooms have a negative impact on people’s mental health.

#3 Install an Air Freshener in Your Bedroom

The ambiance and smell of your room hugely influence how comfortable your sleep will be – especially certain smells, like lavender’s, have been scientifically shown to improve the quality of sleep. There are air fresheners that add to the aesthetics of your room by looking really special or refreshing the air in the form of fumes that look really beautiful. It is also really inexpensive to install air fresheners in your home, and it will barely cost you anything.

If you don’t like air fresheners, you can install windows in your room to let fresh air in. This is an excellent choice for people who like a more natural approach. Installing one of Walbert Windows products in your bedroom will make it feel much more comforting.

#4 Add Comfy Bed Sheets to Your Bed

At the end of the day, no matter how comfy you make the rest of your bedroom, the only place you’re going to sleep in is in your bed directly. That’s why it is so vital to make sure the bed specifically is really comfortable, and this starts with the bedsheets.

You’re going to sleep on the bedsheets, wrap them around yourself, etc. and if they are made of materials that don’t make you feel comfortable, you will have a worse-quality sleep that doesn’t allow you to fully rest. 

#5 Add Comfy Lamps with Warm Colors

Research has clearly shown that colors affect our mood, sleep quality, and much more. If you really want to sleep as comfortably as possible, you absolutely must take the color and ambiance of your room into account.

Nowadays, there are many kinds of bedroom lamps that add a natural warm ambiance that makes the room feel cozier and helps people sleep more comfortably. You definitely need to look into it if you don’t like the room being super dark when you sleep.

Jewelry Space Saving Idea

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Here is a great idea to save space and to display and make your jewelry selection available in a simple way. This is a pants clothes hanger that has hinged bars that you release at one side which would enable you to pull jewelry off and on when it is open and keep them in place when it is closed. It should cost no more then 4-5 dollars and can be obtained from almost any department store or organizational type stores. Keep your jewelry in your closet and keep it at your finger tips when you get dressed.

Five Best-Animated Science Fiction Sitcoms

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Five best-animated science fiction sitcoms

Science fiction is adorned by thousands worldwide. Animated science fiction is liked by children and adults alike. In this article, the five best-animated television shows that can blend science fiction with the magic of fantasies are listed.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

 This animated series is counted as the best-animated sci-fi series. The first episode was premiered in 2005. With three seasons that comprise of sixty-one chapter, this American cartoon could win the hearts of many. It features the art of ‘bending,’ which is a Chinese martial art. The last one in the row premiered in 2008. The cartoon comes under multiple genres that include action, adventure, fantasy and comedy-drama.

Futurama

The second best one in the row is the American animated science fiction sitcom, Futurama. The first season of this cartoon was premiered on 28th March 1999. It was aired on Fox, and Matt Groening is the creator of this television show. With seven seasons that composes of 140 episodes, the sitcom has won the hearts of many. The protagonist is Philip J Fry, whose adventures are what adds the essence to the storyline.

Rick and Morty

The third best-animated sci-fi sitcom is Rick and Morty, which was created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland. The infamous Warner Bros. television distribution distributes the sitcom. The first season was released on 2nd December 2013. From then on, it could win the hearts of the viewers and the critics. Humor, creativity, and originality made the series stand out from the other situation comedy animations available at the time. Over time, the animation was highly accepted worldwide and gained a reputation.

Every season that was published won the hearts of the people. People were always entertained and was keenly looking forward to more and more. Three seasons were released in a row with an adequate period in between. The fans that spread extensively throughout the world had been waiting for the 4th season. But,‘ is there a Rick and Morty season 4?

Many uncertainties were laid over the premiering of another season of Rick and Morty. Finally, the creators announced the fourth season. In 10th November 2019, the fourth one was premiered. However, there was no sign of the following episodes after the fifth episode of season 4. To know more about the future possibilities of the subsequent chapters, go to the link.

Gravity Falls

The fourth best-animated television show is the Gravity falls created by Alex Hirsch. The series started on 15th June 2012 and was premiered on Disney XD and Disney channel. It is counted as a sitcom mystery that amused the people worldwide. With two seasons that composes of forty numbers of episodes, the series had been a hit. The series highlights the adventures of Dipper Pines and his twin sister, Mabel, who spent their summer with their uncle at a mysterious town called Gravity.

The Dragon Prince

It has been on Netflix since the year 2018. The dragon prince is An American-Canadian animated fantasy series created by Aaron Ehasz. With three seasons that comprise of27 episodes, the creators were able to entertain a large group of people with this series.

Concluding note

Animated television series have always been able to conquer the hearts of viewers irrespective of the age-group. Five of the best in this genre are listed in the above excerpts. The choice has been made based on the success and acceptance of these television shows. A blend of science fiction, along with comedy and drama, makes each of these unique.