If you’re looking for an alternative to owning or renting a house or an apartment, you may be thinking about living aboard a boat. It is something that a lot of people envision for retirement–not being tied down. Instead, you would be able to take your home out for a fishing trip or a barbeque on the water. If this is something you think you might like to do, you may be interested in the following tips for living on a houseboat. Trial Run Before you actually sell your home with the intention of living on a houseboat, you may want to try it on a trial basis to see if you’ll like it. Contact a boat rental business and make arrangements to live onboard for a little while. During the time you’re living on your rental houseboat, make every effort to treat it as your home. In that way, you’ll be more likely to get a feel for what it’ll be like to have your own houseboat. If you find that you aren’t especially comfortable living on the water for an extended period of time, you can simply move back to your home. But give it a chance. Sometimes it takes a while to get used to new things. Find a Dock If you go through your trial run and find that you like living on a boat, you’ll have to buy one and find a place to dock it. Don’t assume the dockage will be included in the price of the boat. In most cases the dock space will have to be a separate purchase. You’ll have to find out how much the dock rental is per month, and determine whether or not you’ll be able to park your vehicle nearby. If you don’t own a vehicle, you’ll still need a way to get around, which means you’ll need access to public transportation. Downsizing May be Necessary In most cases, your houseboat won’t be nearly as big as your home or apartment. You may have to sell, store, or give away some of your possessions. Take your time and be realistic about what you can and can’t have on your houseboat. Keep in mind that you’ll be living on the water, so humidity will be an issue on a daily basis. You’ll probably have to store some items in waterproof containers so they won’t become moldy or spoil. Safety Issues Because you’ll actually be living on the water, you’ll have to be able to ensure the safety not only to yourself and your family, but to visitors as well. This is extremely important, especially if you have small children or entertain others who do. Your pets will also need to be kept safe. You’ll have to keep life jackets aboard, and make sure the railings are closed. You should also find out if your visitors are able to swim. Even though you’ll probably be docked in rather shallow water, safety precautions are necessary. Upkeep on Your Houseboat Just because you’re going to sell your home for a life on the water doesn’t mean you’ll be exempt from maintenance issues. In fact, you may have to spend even more time and effort on upkeep on your houseboat. Because you’ll be living on the water, your boat will be susceptible to the damage that perpetual humidity can do. Even if your boat is constructed well, it will still suffer weather damage. Painting is something that has to be done on a regular basis on boats, as well as other routine maintenance. If you’re not the handyman type, you’ll have to be prepared to pay someone to do it for you. It’s really no different than keeping up your home, only the chores are different. Instead of mowing your lawn, you’ll be repairing a railing or overhauling the boat’s engine. Be Self-Sufficient Living on a houseboat differs from residing in a house or apartment in another important way–access to utilities. At your home or apartment, all you have to do is contact the power company and have them hook you up. Providing you pay your bills on time you won’t have to worry about keeping warm or having lights. On a houseboat, you’ll probably have access to power via a hookup at the marina, but that will only last as long as you’re docked. If you spend any amount of time out on the open water, you should have a generator so you can have heat and lights. Guest post from Tracy Sheldon. Tracy writes about boat insurance for BoatInsurance.org. Read more »

If you have plans to purchase a home somewhere in the future, you may want to give yourself time to prepare your credit for a mortgage loan. Mortgage loans require your credit to be in fairly good shape, which often requires some time and effort on your part. The following tips will help you prepare your credit for one of the most important loans of your life. 1. Get a Copy of Your Credit Report  Prior to applying for a mortgage loan, you will want to get a copy of your credit report. Your credit report holds key information for mortgage lenders, which is why you should look it over thoroughly and check for any inaccuracies beforehand. You can get a free copy of your credit report once a year, so take advantage of this. Also, make sure to get your report from all three of the main credit reporting agencies, as your credit score can vary from one company to the next. If you find any errors, you should take the proper steps for correcting them. 2. Fix Inaccurate Information When you go over your credit report, there is a good chance you may find information that is not accurate. If you do, you will want to notify the credit reporting agency that has made the error. If you have proof that the information is incorrect, make sure the credit reporting agency knows and sees the proof. Do not give up until all the information contained in your credit report is accurate to the best of your knowledge. You want your credit report to be accurate and free of errors before applying for a mortgage loan. 3. Pay Any Overdue Accounts  If your credit report contains any accounts that are delinquent, this can greatly hurt your credit score and show lenders you are irresponsible with your money. To prepare your credit for a mortgage loan, you will want to take care of any overdue debts that you may have. Although paying overdue accounts will not improve your credit score instantly, it is necessary if you plan on purchasing a home. 4. Do Not Take On Any New Debt  Since a mortgage loan is one of the biggest loans you will take out in your life, it is important to not take on any new debt before applying for a mortgage. Opening numerous accounts prior to applying for a mortgage may show lenders you are not ready to take on such a loan. Try to avoid opening any new accounts, as they will only put you further in debt and hurt your chances of being approved for a mortgage loan. 5. Lower Your Debt-to-Income Ratio When a lender checks your credit, they will look at your overall debt-to-income ratio. This is the ratio that compares your overall debt with the amount of money you bring in. You want to keep your debt percentage as low as possible in comparison to your income, as this shows lenders you are responsible with your credit and not in over your head. All of these tips are great for preparing your credit for a mortgage loan. Remember, you will want to do these things well before applying for a mortgage, as it takes some time for your credit to improve and cannot be accomplished overnight. You want to show lenders you have a responsible credit history, otherwise you may be turned down for a mortgage loan. Guest post from Riley Finnigan. Riley writes for Creditscore.net. Read more »

A lease agreement is a contract between two parties spelling out the requirements that each party will be subject to. Commonly called a lease, it generally includes a time period and compensation details. Once signed, the contract is legally binding for all concerned. As a property owner, the lease agreement is usually created by you and presented to the tenant. They decide whether or not to obligate themselves to the terms of the lease. Following are a few tips on how to create a tenant lease agreement. Rental Agreement vs. Lease Agreement  Although most people that are renting a home or apartment simply say they’re renting a place to stay, there is a difference between a rental agreement and a lease agreement. Signing a lease is usually a much more formal arrangement than a rental agreement, and is legally binding. When you have a rental agreement, you are simply paying rent every month, or whatever term you’ve agreed upon. On the other hand, a lease lays out the conditions of the agreement in very specific terms–due date, amount of money to be paid, and penalties for not meeting the terms of the lease, among other things. Decide What You Want the Lease to Say The first thing you need to do when creating a lease agreement for a tenant is to decide exactly what the terms and conditions will be. Length of Lease  You will need to decide the length of the lease. Will it be for a year? Two years? Six months? Since it is your property, you can make that decision and the tenant will have the choice of either accepting or declining it. Utilities  Will you be paying for utilities? If so, you’ll have to make sure you include a predetermined amount in the lease payment in order to cover the cost. If you won’t be paying the utilities, you should include verbiage that requires the tenant’s to establish and pay for electricity, heat, and other utilities. If the gas service is shut off in the winter because of a tenant’s failure to pay their heat bill, your house could suffer damage to its pipes and other systems. Payment Terms  Most leases include a specified amount for a cleaning deposit, which will be used to alleviate any costs for damages the tenant has done to the property and that you have to fix when the lease expires. In order to protect you from the possibility of a tenant leaving early without paying, a lease agreement may include a proviso for payment of not only the cleaning deposit and first month’s rent up front, but obligates the tenant to also pay the last month’s rent at the same time. You should also be very specific about what day of the month the rent is due and whether or not there will be a grace period. It may be to your advantage to indicate that the check must be received by the end of the business day, or some other specified time. The more precise you make your lease, the less confusion it will create. Types of Provisions A lease agreement may also specify the number of occupants a tenant is allowed to have in the dwelling. It could include whether or not a tenant is permitted to have a pet, and if so, the type and number of pets that are acceptable. Because you own the property, it is your right to include these conditions in the lease. It is up to the tenant whether or not they want to sign the lease, but if they do, they must abide by the contract. You can also stipulate in the lease agreement whether or not the tenant is allowed to smoke inside the building, and whether or not parking is available, or limited to a specific location. Timeframe  When creating your lease agreement, you should be specific about times and dates. Leave no doubt as to the exact length of the lease. For instance, the lease should state that the tenant can move in at 9 a.m. on the 1st day of June in the specified year, and must be out by midnight of the 31st day of May the following year–unless they either renew this lease, or sign a new one. Make sure you include a precise time of day to lessen the possibility of confusion. If you specify May 31st, you may consider that to mean noon, while the tenant may think it means the end of the business day. By including the exact time, in this case it was midnight, there won’t be any chance of confusion. Renewal  Often a tenant will be entirely satisfied with the terms of a lease agreement, and the place they’re renting, and will want to continue living there for a longer period of time than the lease specifies. The lease agreement should include a clause for renewal, and it should be specified exactly what the terms are. If the tenant plans to vacate at the end of the lease, you may want them to notify you 30 days in advance so you can advertise for new tenants. Guest post from Chris Black. Chris writes about renting and renters insurance for RentersInsurance.com. Read more »

If you’re in the market for a new home, there are a number of things to keep in mind, one of which is that you may need to have a home inspection performed before the transaction can be completed. Having the home inspected can reveal a lot about the property and confirm whether or not it is worth the asking price. Following are a few tips on what to expect from a home inspection. What Is a Home Inspection? Basically, a home inspection is a visual check of the home performed by a trained inspector. They will be looking at the building itself as well as the systems contained within it, such as the water, sewer, plumbing, wiring, and insulation. They will check for water damage, both inside and out, and make sure the electrical and plumbing systems are up-to-date and working the way they should be. In some cases, the inspector may check for mold, termites, or radon. Keep in mind that this is a visual inspection, so they won’t be tearing the walls apart. You Can Learn a Lot Although in most instances it’s not mandatory that you are present while the inspection is being performed, it may be in your best interest to be there. A home inspector is usually knowledgeable about how to perform routine maintenance and will most likely be willing to share their years of experience. You can learn a lot if you pay attention. A professional home inspector will notice things that escaped you during your tour of the house and will be able to point out what needs to be done in order to ensure the home is safe to live in. A home inspection goes far beyond mere cosmetic discrepancies. It is structural damage that you should be concerned about. What a Home Inspector Looks For The inspector will be looking for more than a missing tile in the bathroom or a torn carpet in the living room. They will check everything from the roof to the foundation for structural damage. They will look at the shingles, the gutters, and the siding. The inspector will make sure that water will drain away from the home and make sure that the sidewalks and driveway aren’t potentially dangerous. They will check the structural integrity of any porches, patios, or decks. On the inside the inspector will be looking at the attic, checking to make sure it’s appropriately insulated and properly ventilated. The inspector will also look at the bathroom fixtures, and will usually check for correct water pressure. They will also ensure the electrical system is working properly. Further Checks This may seem like an awful lot of work, and it is. A thorough home inspection will usually take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, and can seem quite tedious. On the other hand, you really should know of any potential problems that exist. In addition to the above mentioned items, a home inspector will also make sure the water heater is in good shape, and the heating system is working right. That includes checks of the furnace, chimney, and fireplace (if there is one.) The inspector will also look at the duct work, and the central air conditioning unit if one is installed (weather permitting.) The kitchen appliances, such as the range, oven, and dishwasher will be checked, as well as the washer and dryer. If there is an attached garage, the inspector will take a close look at the floor, walls, and doors, including an electric garage door opener, if one is being used. Report Time After the inspection is finished, it will be a few days before a report is issued. Don’t be surprised if there is a laundry list of items that need to be addressed. It’s common in most any sale. The inspector will usually separate the essential repairs from the less important ones. Once you are aware of what needs to be done, you’ll be able to determine whether or not you want to go through with the purchase. Usually a compromise of some sort can be worked out between the buyer and the seller as to what each will pay for. Unless the price of the needed repairs is exorbitant you should be able to negotiate a fair and reasonable transfer of ownership. Guest post from Jean Clark. Jean writes about background checking for BackgroundCheck.org. Read more »

If you’re fortunate enough to own property that’s has considerable value, you should make an effort to carry adequate insurance. Personal possessions such as jewelry, paintings, antiques, or collectibles are worth a great deal of money, and some items may be impossible to replace. Having adequate insurance coverage is important, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay an excessive price to get it. Following are a few tips on how to insure your valuables for less. Homeowner’s Insurance Traditional homeowners insurance probably won’t cover items of great value–you will have to stipulate that you need the additional coverage in order to ensure you’re completely covered. Each policy will have limits built in, so you’ll need to take out extra coverage for expensive items like expensive jewelry, one-of-a-kind paintings, or a collection of antique figurines. Get an Appraisal It will probably be necessary to have an independent appraisal done for each item or items that are part of a collection. Keep in mind that the way an insurance company looks at valuables may differ from an appraiser. Because the cost of precious metals continues to rise, your antique pocket watch that was handed down from your uncle could be increasing in value not only because of its age, but because the metal itself may be worth more now than it was in the past. You need to make sure your insurance policy will cover each item’s actual worth, which means carrying a replacement value policy. Travel Insurance When taking out a personal possessions policy, sometimes called a PAF or personal articles floater, find out if the items in questions will be covered while you’re traveling. If you take a vacation overseas and wear your expensive jewelry, you will want to make sure you’re still covered. If your present policy doesn’t cover you, you may want to consider taking out an additional travel insurance policy. Determine Your Needs After you’ve determined the value of your possessions, you need to decide the extent of coverage you’ll need. If you’ve been collecting valuable coins, stamps, or antiques, their value could fluctuate according to the market for that particular item, so you should carry adequate insurance to protect against their loss or damage. Make sure your policy will cover additions to your collection, as well. Since these items are more than likely not covered by your regular policy, there will be an additional premium charge. The object is to make sure you’re adequately covered without paying outrageous prices. High Deductibles As with any other type of insurance, the cost of personal possession floaters can be alleviated somewhat by raising your deductibles. It is standard practice within the insurance industry to lower your premiums as you raise your deductibles. Because the items you’re insuring are considered to be extremely valuable you should use caution if you decide to take this route, because the deductible could be excessive. Having a high deductible policy will mean that if you need to file a claim because your collection of rare baseball cards was damaged in a fire, you will be required to pay the deductible before your insurance policy will kick in. It would be a good idea to open a savings account designated strictly as an emergency fund. If you deposit money into this account on a regular basis, it will accrue interest and be available if you need to pay a deductible–providing you exercise the necessary will power and avoid tapping into the account for non essential items. Shop for the Best Price Because the insurance industry is extremely competitive, you should shop for the best price on insurance coverage. This is true for any type of insurance, but extremely important for additional coverage such as a personal possession floater. Because this is additional insurance made necessary due to the value of the items it’s designed to protect, it probably won’t be cheap. Shopping for the best price could begin by gathering quotes from online insurance companies. Use these quotes for comparison when you call on the more traditional brick and mortar insurance companies. Tell the agents you talk to what items you’re looking to insure and ask them for their best price. Also ask if you qualify for any discounts. If you already do business with an insurance company, make sure you tell them the best price you’ve been offered. If they want to keep your business, they will make every attempt to match or beat the price. Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes about free insurance quotes for InsuranceQuotes.org. Read more »

What do you buy the man who has everything for Christmas this year? These classic gift ideas should help you pick the ideal gift for your partner. Remember that even the man who has everything is always happy to get an upgrade. Although many men will keep using an item until it falls apart most really are happy to receive a newer version so replacing items that are worn and seen better days is always a good idea. As well as the classic gifts we have added a few new ideas too, here is our round-up. 1. A Stylish Hi-Tech Watch Modern hi-tech watches tend to look stylish too so you can actually get a two-in-one here. There are so many watches on the market now that you can always meet the needs and desires of any man. For outdoor types watches come with GPS, altimeters and a compass. These watches are not just for mountaineers but also great for runners and cyclists. Some come with heart rate monitors and route tracking systems. The combination of style and technology is a winner. 2. Personalised Cufflinks If your man wears cufflinks then what better present than a pair of personalised cufflinks? Many jewellers will engrave plain cufflinks with a message of your choosing. These make a very discreet and personal gift. 3. Traditional Shaving Kit For the man who likes to stay well-groomed a new shaver is always a great option. A good quality traditional wet shaving kit will deliver a cut that is closer and smoother than either an electric razor or the usual combination of disposable razor and foam. 4. Leather Belt Leather goods always make great presents. Simple but always appreciated. A good belt provides a fashion statement as well as additional comfort. If you are unsure of the correct size always make sure that the belt is on the larger size rather being too small! 5. A New Wallet Wallets are the second of the leather presents. A typical man will use the same wallet until the leather has worn through. There are some items that you should not replace as they get older, but a new wallet is always a winner. Buy a similar design but and make sure that it is made from a high quality leather for the extra stylish look. 6. Sunglasses A pair of designer sunglasses chosen to suit your partners features can make a great present. If they wear glasses already then it is easier to choose the right style. If you are unsure which style to choose take his photo to an opticians and ask their advice. 7. Remote control car All men are really just big kids at heart. Today remote control cars are so much better than they were a couple of decades ago. Remote control cars generally fall into three categories: battery-powered, petrol-powered and nitro-powered. For the novice the best cars are electric cars. Petrol and nitro-powered cars require more care and servicing to keep them running. 8. Digital Golf Cart If your man is a keen golfer then a new golf cart can make a great special gift. Electric golf carts do more than just make walking between the holes easier. Now you can measure the distance to the ball with great accuracy so your partner can easily keep track of their longest shots. No more guessing required. Some now come with GPS to track the game and some allow you to set the caddy to auto-pilot so that you do not even have to push it. 9. Experience Days Experience days are a modern classic when it comes to gifts. Send your man away for a day of driving fast cars, indoor skydiving, gliding or sphereing. There are so many great experiences that a man can have. These days are guaranteed to de-stress even the most overworked male. 10. Vinyl Record Frame If your partner has a prized record collection then these make an excellent gift. A simple but stylish frame in which a 12 inch vinyl LP with cover can be displayed. Allow your partner to display his favourite records on the wall. Anthony Collins is a writer for online grooming store Brummells Of London. It would also seem he has a pretty good idea of what he would like for Christmas himself this year if this article is anything to go by… Read more »

There’s something special about being able to cook in the great outdoors that makes food tastes so much better. Maybe it’s a combination of the open-air and being surrounded by friends and family. It gives you a chance to get back to nature and really return to your roots for wonderful food. Nothing beats a campsite barbecue in terms of authenticity and taste. Depending on the equipment you use, there might not be anything fancy about your routine at all. After all, all you really need is an open fire and wonderful meat that you can grill. Of course if you want to take things up a notch, you can bring some of the modern conveniences of home into your camping environment as well. Either way you go, you’ll be sure to be rewarded with a wonderful meal and a memorable experience. Here are some barbecue tips to remember whenever you go camping. Choose the right grill – it’s all about the equipment when it comes to barbecue, and you should always pick the right product for the job. While it might be tempting to bring your backyard barbecue to your campsite, you have to be realistic and pragmatic as well. In many cases, a portable barbecue will do quite nicely. If you need more grill space then you can go ahead and purchase two or more of these smaller grills to give you more cooking options. Also remember to keep your equipment clean and trying to do it after each cooking session. Food safety – just because you aren’t at home doesn’t mean you can throw food safety rules out the window. In fact, in this type of environment you have to be more careful than ever. After all, nothing can ruin your camping trip faster than a bad bout of food poisoning. Keep your food and nice and cool in a sturdy cooler, and try to have more than one so that you can add variety to your routine. For example, you can keep beverages in a cooler of their own so that kids can reach in and grab their favorite drink without losing any of the temperature. Above all else, be extra careful when it comes to safe food handling, and make sure to separate utensils that have touched raw food. The best flavor – now that you have some of the practical things taken care of, it’s time to concentrate on maximizing flavor. An outdoor barbecue is a great chance to experience true authentic flavor mixed with smoky goodness. You can even benefit from using certain types of wood found in your campsite. Just make sure that you don’t get overzealous and start chopping down trees. Take the time to marinade your food beforehand, and this can sometimes be done before you put your food into the cooler. You can also think about a variety of fresh herbs and spices to really punch up your barbecue food even more. Be patient with the process – barbecue is all about taking a slow and steady approach even though you’re working with high temperatures. Don’t make the mistake of getting too excited and serving your food too soon. You have to make sure that it is thoroughly cooked in addition to giving a time to rest after the cooking process is Don. Don’t flip your food too often and make sure you don’t cut into it to see if it’s done. Try to get a general feel by touching your food and judging from general resistance. Better yet, time the process at home so you know exactly how long certain types of food take to cook. Be smart with your grill – sometimes people get very excited when gas grills enter the picture, but it’s important to have your overall safety in mind. Food safety has already been mentioned, but you should also take general precautions as well. Never make the mistake of barbecuing inside your tent no matter how small a charcoal grill you might be working with. Also bring along fire safety precautions so that things don’t get out of hand. You should also check with the local rules at your campsite regarding campfires, and make sure that your barbecue equipment is well away from dry leaves or wood. Remember, a campsite is there for everyone to enjoy and it’s your responsibility to look after it so that you can go back for years to come. This look at barbecuing in the great outdoors comes to us from our friends at gasgrillsandbbq.com, a site that celebrates the art of barbecue and perfect place to find information about new gas grills. Read more »

When it comes to selling a house for the best price in the shortest amount of time, home staging is a valuable tool to attract more potential buyers and get more offers. However, staging a home properly can be both time consuming and costly, and sellers may find it hard to justify the added expense. That’s where community co-opting comes in, a win-win process wherein local businesses add their special touches to make a home more presentable, at the same time promoting their products and services to open house attendees. Here’s a look at 7 ways to utilize local vendors to help you stage a successful and very cost-effective open house. 1. Enlist the local nursery: First impressions start with the outside of the home, so why not enlist the local nursery to help you create the best first impression possible? From providing potted plants on loan to be place strategically in the yard, to sprucing up key rooms with more colorful plants and flowers, nurseries can make a major difference in the first impressions department. If fresh cut flowers are not a part of what the nursery provides, get the local flower shop involved. To promote their services without detracting, vendor business cards can be paired with some of the more prominent plants and arrangements. As an added incentive to ensure vendor participation, a “thank you” flyer listing each participating vendor, along with contact information may be distributed to open house attendees along with the more home-specific hand-outs. 2. Call the local candle company: Few items can do more to create a pleasant atmosphere in a home than candles, especially the scented kind. Kitchens with candles producing the aromas of fresh baked goods become cozier, Living rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms boasting the scents of lavender and jasmine seem more relaxing and inviting. Larger candles can be decorated with ribbons and small tags bearing the candle shop’s name and logo, with business cards propped up against candle holders in more prominent rooms. The key with candles is not to get carried away, as too many flames and fragrances can detract from the rooms themselves. 3. Bring in a bakery or candy shop: While the aroma of freshly baked cookies emanating from candles is a pleasant surprise in the kitchen, why not invite the local bakery or candy store to provide your open house guests with the real deal? Even modest offerings of cookies and confections will make a positive impression. Just make sure that the treats are not too messy, as unwanted impressions might be made on the carpet. A smart way for bakery and candy  vendors to promote their goods naturally is to provide bottled water for guests to wash down the tasty treats. The bottles could carry labels with custom-printed business logos, or business cards firmly affixed with clear tape. 4. Contact a caterer: Taking the food factor a step further, a local caterer could be contacted to supply plates or hors’ devours for open house guests to enjoy. The caterer might even provide a waiter attired with a jacket or apron bearing the catering company’s logo. While not all open houses may warrant a caterer, those held around the holidays would certainly be better for it. 5. Find a frame shop or photographer: As professional stagers will tell you, one of the prime goals in staging a house is to eliminate clutter. Another goal is to create a neutral atmosphere by putting family photographs away. That being said, a few paintings or pictures, properly framed and hung in strategic places, such as over mantles or on obviously barren walls, can go a long way in enhancing the overall impression of the home. Professional photographers are also an excellent resource for providing photographs, primarily of natural settings, that elicit a positive response. 6. Connect with a quilt shop or baby boutique: When showing homes with nurseries or other rooms that could use a touch of warmth, such as bedrooms and family rooms, handmade specialty items from quilt shops and baby boutiques can create a feeling of warmth and security in a home. Living rooms with large couches can also benefit from a casually strewn quilt to make the area seem more inviting. Items supplied by these vendors can be tastefully accompanied with decorative ribbons bearing the company logo on tags or business cards. 7. Invite an interior decorator: Depending on the house, the seller’s motivation, and the time of year, it may be appropriate to invite an interior decorator to make sure that all elements of the staging process combine to produce the desired  effect on open house attendees. In turn, the decorator may place promotional business cards or brochures in appropriate places about the home, and their logo and contact information would be featured on the “thank you” flyer. Promotion: While having any of the above vendors participate in the staging process,  no amount of planning and preparation can make up for a poorly attended open house. However, the inclusion of local businesses creates a powerful opportunity to promote the open house through websites and social media. When inviting vendors to participate, be sure to explain to them how your open house is an impending event, an event that they can promote through business websites and social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. By utilizing each vendor’s unique product or service, along with  leveraging their ability to promote your showing over the internet, you are well on your way to staging the kind of open house that can quickly turn a “For Sale” sign into a “Sold” sign. Erica Lendell is a freelance writer for Park’s Edge Park City. Read more »

In this current period of economic uncertainty and lack of job opportunities it is becoming more attractive than ever to learn a trade. There are many different fields of work that you can enter as a tradesman and acquiring a set of unique skills can set you up for a long and successful career within your chosen industry. It is often hard work to learn a trade as you will most likely have to serve an apprenticeship, go to college and in some cases pass exams. Once you have done all this then you will be free to work for someone, a company or even as your own boss and you can end up having an extremely lucrative and fulfilling career. Here are some of the different types of trades that are available for you to learn. Electrician As an electrician you will perform such tasks as wiring entire buildings, fixing domestic electrical problems and installing complex electrical appliances. This trade requires years of training and on the job experience. It can be a dangerous profession as of course if you make a mistake you will be running the risk of being electrocuted. It is also a very closely regulated profession as there are obvious safety issues involved as if you fail to perform the task correctly then you could be putting lives in danger. The dangerous nature of the job and strict regulations are weighed with an attractive typical salary and being an electrician is widely regarded as one of the most lucrative trades you can do. Joiner Like an electrician in order to become a joiner you will have to study and serve an apprenticeship under a fully qualified senior joiner. As a joiner you will be required to undertake a large variety of tasks such as laying down a wooden floor, hanging doors, constructing roofing material and basically fitting an out entire building’s wooden features. For this trade you must be good with your hands and with tools as you will be constantly adjusting the sizes and shape of the material that you will be using. Welder There are many operations that a welder will carry out on a daily basis from cutting and shaping metal materials to constructing an object through following a design process. What you will be designing can change on a daily basis and working as a welder requires a close eye for detail and concentration on the job at hand. To become a welder you will need to study the techniques involved with the role and obtain a certificate in welding. Mechanic Being a mechanic can be a very lucrative profession as there is always a high demand for someone who knows how to fix a car. Many of us rely very heavily on our cars but know very little about how they operate. Like the previous trades you will have to undergo extensive study and on the job training to become a fully qualified mechanic but once you do you can reap the rewards of a very challenging and varied profession. Plumber To become a plumber you will need to study the different aspects of the role which are taught in many different collages throughout the UK. You will also need to serve as an apprentice and pass industry examinations in order to become a certified plumber. Once you are qualified you can choose which of the many areas of plumbing you want to specialise in. You could focus on the installation and maintenance of household appliances such as showers, baths and washing machines or you could focus on more complex appliances such as boiler installation and maintenance. Plumbers are also required to fit out newly built buildings with quality pipes and water supplies. There is always a high demand for the services of plumbers as if you have a problem with the waterworks in your home it is not usually something that can be put off, it usually need to be dealt with straight away. Another aspect to plumbing that you may not have considered is fitting air conditioning and solar panel devices. This is an entirely different area that you could focus on. Heating, air conditioning and waterworks all fall under the trade of plumbing.   Sam Qam is a qualified plumber who used to specialise in boiler repair but has recently began working with solar companies in Edinburgh. He believes that learning a trade is the best solution for any young people who are out of work. Read more »

After a whole lot of years working with my hands, I’ve learned some pretty good tips when it comes to building, painting, working with a crew, etc.  Now that I’m getting ready to retire, I’m starting to think about trying to pass on a bit of “wisdom,” if you can call it that.  The technical stuff is important, but you can learn that through videos, manuals, and (best of all) on the job training.  There’s not much about the techniques of craftsmanship that I can communicate in a blog.  But I can try to pass on a bit of my experience in terms of a few observations I’ve made.  This is my first attempt, so bear with me. If you are running a crew, you may have to make some tough decisions.  As much as I hate to say it, you can’t afford to keep a guy around on your work crew who is going to cost you money.  I’ve had employees who were the nicest guys in the world but who were just accident prone, clumsy, or unable to get their act together.  I’ve probably lost thousands over the years because I kept nice guys on the crew who broke things, made messes, upset customers, or just slacked off all the time.  This one guy was named Max – great kid but as clumsy as they come.  I couldn’t bear to fire him, but I started calculating private estimates of how much damage he was probably going to do on a given job – X$ for materials, X$ for payroll, X$ for gas and vehicle maintenance, and X$ for what I figured he would destroy.  I called it The Max Factor.  He always broke or ruined something.  It cost me a fortune, but I was a pushover.  The way I handle this now is, after a few heart-to-heart talks that don’t work, I try to figure out what they are good at and find another job for them.  In a few cases, I just had to let them go with a good letter of recommendation focusing on their strong points.  In some cases, you just can’t do much for someone.  Of course, you should always be as nice as possible about the whole thing, while still covering your own tail. A lot of things I’ve realized are common sense, but easily overlooked.  Working on a painting crew, I learned that it’s worth it to buy the best rollers you can afford.  If you actually clean them after each job, and store them in plastic to keep the moisture in (to keep the paint from drying on the roller), you can use the same rollers for months.   This may not be the most interesting tip, but it can save you a lot of cash in the long run. If you experiment with different oscillating tool blades, you can really make your life easier with a lot of jobs.  I don’t even know how I survived without a multi tool.  They’re relatively light, easy to use, and really versatile.  You just need one tool and a bunch of multi tool blades and you can do all kinds of things – cut just about anything, scrape dried paint or concrete, sculpt wood, score stone and concrete board, and many other jobs that would have taken a ton of tools.  Having one of these makes it a lot easier to work on tricky job sites.  It really beats lugging a giant tool box up ladders, down basement steps, across mud or ice, or into tight spots.  The replacement blades can be pricey but you can find inexpensive off-brand blades that are just as good as the name-brand blades. When it comes to hiring workers, I think college kids are the best.  Of course, not all college kids are hard workers, but you can get a feel for your local colleges and which types of students tend to be serious and responsible.  Once you find a few good workers, they’re likely to lead you to friends who have a similar work ethic.   The author is a crafting professional who has recently written a variety of articles on painting businesses, common construction mistakes, and selecting the best oscillating tool blades.   Read more »