One inch of water can cause $25,000 worth of damage to your house. With so many Floridian living on floodplains, the importance of flood insurance is a no-brainer. 

The biggest concern to most people is flood insurance cost, what’s covered, and fitting that into the budget. If you’re a Florida native or planning to move, here is what to expect for the cost of coverage and what factors impact that pricetag. 

Flood Insurance Requirements in Florida

Per federal regulation, Floridians need to purchase flood insurance if they live in a community that participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or if they have a federally-backed mortgage. 

The NFIP requires homeowners to purchase flood insurance if they live in a high-risk flood zone and coastal high-risk flooding areas. The only way around this is if you qualify for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A registered professional engineer or land surveyor must certify that your property elevation is at or above the base flood elevation.

There are no regulations under Florida state law that require the purchase of flood insurance. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation oversees the compliance and enforcement of state statutes in regard to the business of insurance. 

What Is the Flood Insurance Cost in Florida?

The average annual cost of flood insurance in the state of Florida is $562 for policies through the NFIP.

Depending on where you live, rates vary widely. Your house’s structure, property elevation, and whether you’re in a high-risk flood zone are all determining factors. Check which zone your home is in through the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.

If the house is a rental property or if it’s occupied for less than half the year, your quote may be higher along with higher fees. The NFIP annual surcharge is $25 for each policy but this number jumps to $250 if it’s a vacation home. 

What’s Covered?

Private flood insurance provides coverage for both building property and personal property while NFIP flood insurance requires you to buy them separately. 

Building property coverage is for structural damage including the foundation, HVAC system, appliances, and electrical and plumbing systems. Personal property coverage is for your personal belongings. This includes furniture, food, clothing, and appliances.

Getting a Quote

Even if you’re not required to purchase flood insurance, it’s good to have. The cost of NFIP policies is regulated by the U.S. government and managed by private insurance companies. This means there’s no need to compare providers based on price.

If you need it, it’s best to choose the company that makes the process as simple as possible. 

Are You Covered?

Repairing flood damage isn’t cheap and the only way to protect yourself is with flood insurance. While flood insurance cost may be high in some areas, the protection it offers makes it worth every penny. 

Are you living in Florida or planning to move here? Check out our blog for more about Florida commercial and residential real estate. 

Have the hardwood floors in your home seen better days? If so, you might be thinking about ripping them out and replacing them.

There are some instances in which you’ll want to take this approach. But new hardwood floors will cost you right around $8 per square foot on average, which is why you should at least consider trying to refinish them first.

The cost to refinish hardwood floors will be substantially lower than the cost to replace them. You can usually get away with refinishing wood floors for just a few hundred dollars in most cases.

But the cost to refinish wood floors is going to vary depending on many different factors. You should educate yourself about these factors before you refinish hardwood floors in your home.

Take a look at a few of the factors that will help determine the cost to refinish hardwood floors below.

How Many Hardwood Floors Do You Need Refinished?

Are you only going to be refinishing the hardwood floors in one small room in your home? Or would you like to have all of the hardwood floors throughout your entire house refinished?

The number of hardwood floors that you’re going to refinish is going to play a huge role in the cost to refinish hardwood floors. If you have a bunch of hardwood floors throughout your home, you could end up paying a pretty penny to have them all done.

To combat this, you might want to kick around the idea of refinishing one hardwood floor in your home at a time. It’ll be a great way to keep your costs down while also limiting the disruptions that refinishing hardwood floors can cause.

What Kind of Condition Are Your Hardwood Floors In?

One of the other key factors in determining the cost to refinish wood floors is going to be the condition of your floors at the moment. There can be any number of things wrong with the hardwood floors in your home.

Here are a few of the things that might be dragging the appearance of your floors down:

• Scratches
• Dents
• Discolorations
• Stains
• Water damage

Some of these things are going to be easy to fix. For example, you can get rid of most of the scratches and dents in hardwood flooring without a problem at all.

But some of them are going to present bigger problems. Water damage, for instance, can be a huge headache for those refinishing wood floors. You might have to pay extra to take care of this specific issue.

Are You Going to Have Someone Else Refinish Your Hardwood Floors or Do It Yourself?

When you make the decision to refinish the hardwood floors in your home, you’ll have two options. You can either hire someone else to come into your home and refinish your floors or you can choose to refinish your floors on your own without any help from the professionals.

The cost to refinish hardwood floors is going to change based on which of these two options you go with. You might be able to save yourself some money by taking the DIY approach to refinishing hardwood floors as opposed to bringing someone else on board to do it.

That being said, you might not get the best results when you refinish wood floors on your own rather than arranging to have professional hardwood floor refinishing done. You’ll have to figure out if the cost to refinish hardwood floors through a professional is going to be worth it to you.

Who Is Going to Help You Refinish Your Hardwood Floors?

If you decide that you would prefer to hire professionals to help you refinish your hardwood floors instead of doing it on your own, you’re going to find that there are going to be a lot of companies for you to choose from. Google “refinish hardwood floor near me” and you’ll see the names of more than a few companies pop up.

With this in mind, you should make it your mission to find the right company for the job. The company that you call on to help you refinish hardwood floors should have loads of experience when it comes to doing it. They should also be fully licensed and insured and have all the necessary equipment that they’ll need to work on your home’s floors.

On top of all that, they should be able to extend the most affordable cost to refinish hardwood floors to you. It never hurts to call around to a few different companies to see what they’ll charge you for their refinishing services.

How Soon Do You Need Your Hardwood Floors Refinished?

Most people usually aren’t in a huge rush to refinish their home’s hardwood floors. They’re able to be flexible when scheduling hardwood floor refinishing.

But there might be times when you have to refinish hardwood floors ASAP. If your floors sustained water damage or if you’re trying to sell your home quickly and want to refinish the floors before you try to do it, you might need to schedule refinishing services for sooner rather than later.

In this case, you may be asked to pay a little extra to have a company come out to your home last minute to refinish your floors. If possible, you should avoid putting a company into this position so that you don’t see your cost to refinish hardwood floors go up.

All These Factors Will Help Calculate the Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors

As you can see, it’s not all that easy to figure out what the cost to refinish hardwood floors will be. Each and every factor listed here needs to be taken into account when you’re trying to calculate the total cost.

Keep these factors in the back of your mind the next time you need to have hardwood floors refinished. It’ll help you avoid the sticker shock that can sometimes come along with refinishing hardwood floors.

Want to check out more informative articles about restoring the floors in your home? Read through them on the rest of our blog.

An outdated home can make you lose money when it’s time to sell. It can also make you feel stuck in the past decades. If your home has good bones, then there’s no reason not to keep up with modern upgrades. 

How will you know when it’s time to renovate your house, though? A home doesn’t always require a renovation. It’s best to know the signs when a home remodel is necessary before diving into the process. 

Continue reading below for all the signs it’s time to renovate your house!

1. A Room Isn’t Functional

Do you have a room in your home that’s no longer functional? In some cases, rooms are no longer functional due to too much crowding and the need for more storage space or a larger room. In other scenarios, a room loses its functionality due to the way it was originally built. 

For example, are you unable to open a cabinet while the dishwasher is opened? Do you have to wait to close another cabinet to open your refrigerator? Is your bathroom toilet too close to the bathtub or shower?

These are all signs it’s time to renovate. 

2. The Floors Are Worn Down

A worn-down floor is a sure sign it’s time for some renovations. When tile begins to detach from one another or when wood flooring begins to warp, it’s because they’ve suffered a good amount of wear and tear. 

The most common rooms with these issues are the bathroom and kitchen. The same is true for carpeted rooms as well, however. Once carpet begins to lift or hold stubborn stains, rip it out and renovate. 

A floor in need of replacement is the perfect time to renovate. Replace your flooring with new modern flooring. 

3. Kitchen and Bathrooms Are Outdated

The kitchens and bathrooms in a home are some of the most important rooms. They’re huge selling points for any home and should be updated if you want to get the most money for your house. When you realize your kitchen or bathroom is outdated, then it’s time to renovate them.

This could also be a sign it’s time to renovate the rest of the house also. 

4. You’ve Saved Money for It 

If you’ve set aside enough money over time, or gave yourself a home renovation budget and finally met your goal, then now is the perfect time to renovate. A good home renovation including an update to plumbing and heating will provide you with a more comfortable home, but you’ll also see a strong ROI (return on investment). 

This means that all the money you put into your home will come back to you when it comes time to sell. 

Are You Ready to Renovate Your House?

Is it time to renovate your house? Use the information given in this guide above to determine if it’s the right time for you. Remember to complete renovations that’ll give you the biggest ROI as well. 

For other posts with topics on construction/industrial, real estate and home, and more, continue to visit this page regularly!

Are you in a rush to sell your house in Miami? The faster you sell your home, the better, for so many reasons. Thankfully, housing in Miami is a hot commodity, as this is a sought out location. 

To learn more about how to sell your Miami home fast, keep reading. Here are some tips and tricks that can speed up a sale. 

Find a Top Selling Real Estate Agent 

Once you’ve decided you want to put your home on the market, it’s time to find a successful real estate agent you can trust to sell your home in a speedy manner. The real estate agent will be your main point of contact when it comes to scheduling showings, marketing your property and creating your listings. Research some of the top realtors in Miami that will have the experience to get your home sold at a competitive price, and in an efficient manner. 

Be Smart About Your Listing Price 

While it may seem sensible to list your home for the highest logical price, this is not the case. Often, buyers will not pay attention to a price that is not competitive, and if they do, they will likely attempt to negotiate for a lower price. To figure out the most practical price for your home, do some research to see what similar homes in the Miami area are going for and price your home accordingly. 

Appearance Is Everything 

When it comes to selling a home fast, appearance it everything. Making some updates to your home could help to speed up the selling process, and could also increase your sale price. Consider giving your home a fresh repaint, and updating appliances or lighting that needs a modern look. 

Replacing carpets can give your home a fresh, new appearance. You should also consider updating the outside of your home, as this will be what potential buyers will see first. Hire landscapers to give your yard a fresh, polished look, and add some details where necessary. 

Declutter the inside of your home, and work to remove any personal touches. Depersonalizing your home by removing family photos and the like will help potential buyers picture the home as theirs, rather than yours. You want to make sure the home has a brand new appearance that will appeal to buyers. 

If you will already be moved out of your home by the time it’s being shown to potential buyers, staging your home is a great idea. This helps to let potential buyers imagine the purpose of each room rather than walking through an empty and less interesting space. 

Housing in Miami: How to Sell It Fast 

If you’re hoping to sell your home in Miami in a flash, keep these tips and tricks in mind. While housing in Miami tends to be in high demand, it’s still smart to take the necessary steps to get your home selling as quickly as possible. Make your home as appealing to potential buyers as possible to sell your home in no time. 

Are you looking for more advice and news for home sellers? Head to our blog!

The GSA or General Service Administration currently maintains 2 million square feet of green roofs. These carefully planned rooftop gardens are popping up in almost every city.

A green roof improves the aesthetic appeal of a building and the environment of the surrounding area. Despite this, it does present potential issues.

Read our green roof guide to learn what they are and the pros and cons of installing one in your home or business.

What Is a Green Roof?

Also known as living roofs, these rooftop gardens are usually found in urban areas. They’re more complex than placing seeds in a box and should only be installed by professionals.

A full green roof system contains several layers. From top to bottom, they include:

• Vegetation
• A growing medium
• An optional wind erosion layer
• A root barrier
• A drainage system
• Insulation
• Membrane protection
• Membrane

These layers work together to keep the plants healthy, separate them from the rest of the roofing material, and provide a wide range of benefits.

There are two major types of green roof; intensive and extensive. They differ in several ways, and comparing them helps you choose the right one for your needs.

An intensive green roof includes plants, an irrigation system, and walkways and benches for humans to enjoy. This includes a foot or more of growing medium that can weigh 80-150 pounds per square foot.

An extensive green roof uses native ground cover. This makes it lighter at only 15-50 pounds per square foot. It provides the same environmental benefits and is easier to maintain.

Green Roof Benefits

A green roof provides several advantages to building owners and the cities they live in. This explains their rise in popularity.

The benefits of a green roof system include longer lifespans, stormwater management, Urban Heat Island Effect reduction, and legal incentives, as well as increased beauty, marketability, and insulation.

Long-Lasting

A green roof protects against UV or ultraviolet rays, harsh weather conditions, and other types of damage. This makes it durable and strong.

Green roof shingles last 2-3 times longer than traditional asphalt shingles used in most roofs. The green roof as a whole lasts twice as long as traditional options.

Stormwater Management

The soil and plants on a green roof naturally catch up to 50-60% of falling rainwater.

This protects your home or business from water damage and benefits the city you live in. By reducing the demand on its storm systems, it also reduces erosion and pollution.

Urban Heat Island Protection

The temperature of a green roof rarely rises above the air around it and often runs cooler. Other materials can reach 90° above the outside temperature.

Plants keep a green roof cool. During evapotranspiration, water on the leaves evaporates and cools the air. They also provide shade.

These heat-reducing benefits counter the Urban Heat Island Effect. An abundance of reflective and impermeable surfaces makes cities some of the hottest places on the planet, but a green roof can help prevent this.

Increased Insulation

In the winter, a green roof increases insulation by 25% and reduces heat loss from the wind by 50%. In the summer, it reduces energy demands by up to 75%.

These numbers can add up to a savings of up to 25% in cooling costs. You won’t have to use as much electricity or heat to maintain a comfortable home.

The increased insulation provides other benefits as well. It helps clean the air, reducing air particles by 6% and sulfur dioxide by 37%. It can even reduce sound levels by up to 10 decibels.

Legal Incentives

Several large cities such as Chicago are noticing the benefits that a green roof can provide to homeowners and the city as a whole. They provide financial benefits to anyone who installs a green roof system in their home.

You may also be able to receive credit from an organization known as LEED or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. They’ll give you money to help you complete your green roof project.

Increased Beauty and Marketability

A green roof makes your home more aesthetically pleasing to you and everyone who passes by. This includes any potential buyers if you choose to sell.

Adding a green roof makes your home or business more marketable and increases its value by 6-15%. Potential buyers will appreciate the effort you’ve put in to help the environment and the benefits the green roof will provide them.

Once you’ve decided what type of roof you need, check here for effective Boise Roofing solutions.

Green Roof Disadvantages

Despite their many benefits, there are reasons that not every home or business has a green roof installed. They do have a few disadvantages.

High costs and potential damage are two of the main reasons someone may not choose to install a green roof.

High Initial Costs

Turning your home into a green roof house requires a high initial investment. This can scare away potential adopters, especially if they don’t understand the benefits that make it worth the money.

An extensive green roof is more affordable than the more complex intensive variety, but it still costs an average of $8 per square foot compared to $1.25 for a typical BUR or built-up roof.

Despite the high initial costs, a green roof can save you money in the end due to benefits like reduced energy costs. You could save up to $200,000 over its lifetime.

Potential Damage

Plants grow uncontrollably, and their roots could crash into a wall or window. The weight of the plants themselves could also cause sagging and other issues.

You’ll have to pay to repair all these types of damage. To protect yourself, you may also need to purchase insurance for your green roof home. Both can be costly.

As long as you have a qualified professional install your green roof system and manage it carefully, the potential for damage remains minimal.

Where Can I Learn More?

A green roof is a carefully planned type of rooftop garden. They’re common in cities where it’s difficult to find vegetation. They’re becoming more popular as concern for the environment increases.

Green roof systems provide numerous benefits including reduced energy costs, improved insulation, and protection against the Urban Heat Island Effect. The only major disadvantages are high initial costs and the potential for damage.

Read the rest of our content and keep checking back for more information.

How often do you need to mow the lawn?

Mowing the lawn is something that most people have to deal with, but not many know how to do it properly. While you can go out and mow the lawn whenever you like, you won’t ensure you have the healthiest lawn unless you know what kind of grass you have.

Cutting your grass may seem tedious, but it doesn’t require as much work as everything thinks. In most cases, you can pick a day in the week to mow the lawn without having to worry about anything. This will give you plenty of time to do the things you enjoy while having a nice lawn.

So how often should you mow your lawn? Read on to learn more about grass so you can figure out.

Things That Affect How Fast Grass Grows

When people start thinking about how often to cut grass, they often don’t consider what causes their grass to grow. Depending on where you live, your grass may grow slowly or quickly due to a variety of things. Sunlight, water, the type of grass, and how often you mow the lawn will affect the growth speed.

Sunlight

Sunlight is one of the most important things grass needs to grow properly. When grass doesn’t get enough sunlight, it will grow much slower than it normally would. This is why grass growth tends to slow down in a season like Fall when the skies are usually dark.

Water

After sunlight, the next important thing for grass to grow is water. Water is responsible for transporting nutrients that are essential for growth throughout the grass. These nutrients often come from the soil, though you can add them to your grass if some areas are struggling to grow.

Grass Type

Whether you live in a cold or warm environment, you can get grass that will be better suited for the weather. For example, Bermudagrass often grows in warmer climates whereas Kentucky Bluegrass grows in cooler climates. Depending on what kind of grass you have, it may take longer for it to grow. 

Mowing the Lawn

Cutting your grass affects how often you’ll need to keep doing it. When you let the grass get too long, the roots will never be exposed to the sun. While this is good once in a while, it will cause the roots to burn once they get exposed if they’ve been shaded for too long.

When those roots get burnt, the grass will die and you may need to plant new seeds for growth. Getting a good understanding of how quickly your grass grows will make it easier for you to determine how often you should mow it.

Choosing the Length of Your Grass

Although your grass shouldn’t be extremely high or low, you have a lot of room to choose a length that suits your needs. Most people don’t care about a specific length and cut their grass as short as possible. 

If you’re mowing the lawn of a home, you won’t need to worry about the length as much as someone who’s mowing grass in a golf course. However, some lengths are more desirable if you’re looking to do outdoor activities.

For example, if you like playing soccer in your yard, you won’t want the grass to be tall enough to where it stops the ball. You also don’t want it to be short enough for the ball to slide without any resistance. You’ll need to mow your lawn a few times until you find a nice balance to suit your needs.

Maintaining Healthy Grass

When you get a good idea of what grass length you’d like to have, you’ll need to start mowing it at the right times to maintain its healthiness. Grass can be difficult to manage because you can’t let it get too long but you also can’t cut it constantly.

Most people will cut their grass once a week whereas some will cut parts of the lawn on different days. If your lawn has several types of grass, you may need to cut it more than once a week to keep everything balanced.

It’s best to keep the height of your grass the same height at all times. Doing this will prevent some parts of the grass from lacking sunlight, creating an imbalance in the height. While this will require attention to detail, it’s best if you want your grass to be as healthy as possible.

If you can, you can spread the grass clippings throughout your grass after mowing it. These clippings will act as natural fertilizers because they’ll provide the grass with more nutrients.

Understanding how often to mow your lawn will require you to do it several times until you can come up with a schedule that fits your lifestyle. 

Try to dedicate a day in the week in which you can mow it. If you need to mow it several times a week, set time aside. For those that are looking to spend a lot less time on their lawn, try to plant the same grass seeds across your entire lawn to prevent some areas from being higher or colored differently.

When all else fails, you can hire someone like this lawn mowing company to take care of everything. They can mow your lawn at the proper height that the grass requires. They’ll also recommend things you can do to make the lawn better.

So How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn? As Often as You Need

Cutting your grass is all about figuring out what works for you. Although there aren’t any rules, you can follow advice to help you decide what’s best for your lawn. If your lawn consists of the same type of grass, you can get away with cutting it once a week. Those with various types may need to do it several times a week.

We encourage you to start looking at your lawn and decide what the appropriate action is instead of asking, “How often should you mow your lawn?” Try to find out what types of grass you have to help you create a schedule.

Check out our articles to learn more about a variety of topics!

 

As of last year, 44 million American households were rental properties. Renting is among one of the fastest housing trends to date and growing. But why?

If you’re weighing the renting vs buying pros and cons, that’s a good place to be. It means you’re discerning. That in itself explains why the rental trend’s growing—buying’s no longer the only instinct.

When it comes to buying vs renting a home, two parts of humankind are at play.

Renting represents the nomadic society we used to be and what many are returning to. Homeownership remains a staple of The American Dream and both aspects are valid.

Which do you most resonate with? Here’s what to know.

Buying vs Renting a Home

If you’re wondering about buying vs renting a home, it’s possible your nomadic and structured parts of you are warring. The following factors can clarify your stance on whether to rent vs buy.

When to Rent vs Buy

The biggest reason most consider renting vs buying a house is money. 82% of renters say it’s more affordable—that’s more than a rumor; that’s the majority experience. Here’s why:

1. Affordability

Rentals involve less maintenance, sometimes less space, and less of a financial commitment. There are rental deposits, monthly rent, and rental insurances, but homeowning has:

• Closing fees
• Mortgage and mortgage insurance
• Property taxes
• Homeowners insurance
• Ongoing maintenance, repairs, replacements, and renovations
• HOA fees

Knowing the financial commitments can help you feel into your willingness.

2. Maintenance

It feels nice to offset maintenance labor with rentals. Property management companies like Renterspad (https://renterspad.com/best-property-management-companies/) can take a load off your home experience.

If you care about what happens outside the home more than inside it, renting may be for you.

3. Space

Depending on your budget and income, rentals can offer the right space for your lifestyle. Rentals invite a conscious awareness of how much space you want and need.

As a result, you can live economically and focus your money elsewhere. It’s helpful to consider how buying vs renting an apartment would be different than a house. Do you like quaint, simple spaces?

How do envision the word home?

4. Rootedness

No matter if you rent or own, a sense of home can be unique to you. If you need a house to feel secure, protected, and safe, you may be willing to jump through hoops to get one.

If you live freely and don’t want to commit somewhere long-term, renting’s the right option.

5. Priorities

Consider where your rent vs buy conversation comes from. What fuels it? Society or your personal desires?

A good way to tell’s by knowing your mind. Do you have a life plan? Do you foresee a family and kids?

Do you envision your life 10 years from now, or play things by ear? Knowing yourself can clarify your vision.

Home Is in the Heart

It’s true that only you can decide what’s best for you. Your financial situation, your willingness, and your desires will tip the buying vs renting a home scale accordingly.

Other factors like partners, family, neighbors, and desired location can help you know where to land. Either way, your future’s at your fingertips! Enjoy it.

For more on how the right properties can better your life, check out our latest blog posts!

The lighting of your home should serve multiple purposes. Not only is lighting meant to be functional, but it can also be used to create ambiance and highlight some of your home’s best features. 

This being said, there are a few rooms in the home that could benefit from downlighting, also known as recessed lights. Downlighting serves both a functional and aesthetic purpose. 

Here’s how to incorporate this type of lighting in key areas around the house. 

What to Consider Before Installing Downlighting

The lighting of your home should accomplish three main objectives: functionality (task lighting), illumination, and mood lighting (ambient lighting). 

The great thing about downlighting or recessed lights is that it achieves all three of the above objectives. Downlighting is also neat, and sleek, offering a beautifully minimalist appearance. 

Due to this, they can be placed almost anywhere inside (and outside) your home to create gentle and shadow-free light in any room. An added bonus is that LED downlights consume less energy, so this means you save on your energy bill. 

But before you go ahead and install downlights, here’s what to consider first: 

• Ensure that there are no joists, pipes, or wires in the ceiling that would interfere with the downlighting installation
• Use a plaster saw to cut neat holes in the ceiling before re-plastering for a sleek finish — learn more about how to fit downlights here 
• Carefully consider your lighting placement — think about which areas of the room need light most 

While downlights are best-suited to most rooms, they work really well in larger rooms or rooms with low ceilings.

They are especially efficient at lighting up the space, making the room feel warm, without being stuffy. This also helps to lift the ceiling, creating the illusion of more space. 

The Best Rooms For Downlighting 

Due to the fact that downlighting is so good at illuminating larger rooms, you may want to consider installation in the following areas of your home: 

• Large, open-plan kitchens 
• Large living room spaces 
• A large master bedroom and en-suite bathroom
• Dining areas – both indoor and outdoor 
• Patio/outdoor entertainment areas 

Downlighting can be evenly distributed across your ceiling, meaning you can install more lamps than you would any other form of lighting.

Ultimately, light is able to reach all corners of the room, without lighting fixtures becoming excessive or obnoxious.

A Quick Guide on How to Install Downlights 

In order to install downlighting, you will need to cut neat holes in your ceiling for each downlight, or lamp. As mentioned, the best tool for this job is a plaster saw. 

Second, you’ll need to install a junction box in the area you are embedding your lighting. The junction box must be placed in the ceiling above each light fixture as it contains all necessary cables and wires, which are connected to your main power supply. 

Make sure to double-check the insulation contact level (IC) of each downlight. It must be compatible with the type of insulation used in your ceiling. But before you dive into the physical tasks, you’ll need to plan first: 

Why You Should Choose LED Bulbs 

The general rule-of-thumb when choosing LED bulbs is to choose the right power wattage in order to avoid hazards, such as fire. 

If you choose a bulb with a greater power recommendation than needed, this can pose a fire risk. LED light bulbs are great because they give off more light, and consume less energy than other bulbs variations. 

Essentially, you can maximize your light output with LED bulbs, reduce your need for maintenance, and save on energy costs. LED bulbs also keep cool and protect your home from fire hazards! 

Dust and Water Exposure 

If you plan on installing downlights in a bathroom or outdoors, you’ll need to find bulbs that can withstand water and dust exposure. 

This is generally indicated by the bulb’s protection level, also known as an IP. Make sure you go with an IP rating of 65 for both bathroom and outdoor downlighting. 

Choosing the Right Size LED Bulbs 

You can find a variety of different sized LED bulbs on the market today. So do your homework beforehand and choose the right size to suit each room. 

If you’re looking for a more elegant, modern feel, it’s best to go with smaller downlights, rather than larger versions. But, this is also dependent on the size of the room. 

If the room is on the larger side, it may be better to go with bigger downlights in order to supply sufficient lighting throughout the room. 

When choosing the size and amount of downlights, create a lighting layout for each room. This way you can determine which areas need the most light and where to place your bulbs. 

Carefully Consider Spacing 

Generally, you want to place your downlights at least 1.5-2 feet from each wall. From there, you can determine the space between each downlight. To do this, simply measure the height of the room, and divide that number. 

So, if your ceiling is 12-feet from the floor, you should leave a 6-foot space between each downlight. It may even be useful to draw a map of the ceiling and specifically plot out each spot for each downlight. 

How to Determine Lighting/Color Temperature 

The color temperature of a light bulb is measured in kelvin. This color temperature is what affects the overall color or hue of the room when it’s lit up. 

When it comes to the bedroom or communal living areas, opt for a warm-colored bulb. This gives off a calming and welcoming ambiance in these rooms. 

For the kitchen, you want to go for a natural, white light. This is a good way to highlight the best areas of your kitchen. It also provides strong, functional light that aids in kitchen tasks. 

For other rooms in your home, such as an office, and bedrooms, go for a cool, white light. This casts a soothing, gentle hue around the room and can help to improve focus.  

Brush Up on Your Property Market Knowledge 

Downlighting is a sure-fire way to add value to your property in today’s market because it’s multi-functional, modern, and sustainable. 

If you’re looking to learn more about the property market, real estate marketing, or require the services of a developer, be sure to explore this site for more

 

So, you never thought you’d need any kind of legal representation all your life? Well, you’re not alone, many people rarely need lawyers. But now you’re here, and you need someone to help protect your property.

You have to choose a real estate attorney and to be sincere; you don’t know where to start. How do you find the right property insurance law firm to represent you? You’re definitely asking this question right now.

We have the answer for you with a comprehensive guide on what to look for in a law firm. Let’s get started.

Check the Experience

Law firms tend to handle different kinds of cases, and you might find out that the one you choose rarely deals with property insurance issues. Your firm must have a proven track record of dealing with property insurance issues.

While most disputes are solved out of court, you also need to get a lawyer that has experience dealing with a substantial trial. Just in case it reaches a point where the issues get to court, the lawyer should have a track record of beating the other party in a trial.

This means the law firm you choose to work with should be able to obtain the results you deserve. This will only happen if they are in a position to provide the topmost services. Check out their website to see the reviews and ask for testimonials from friends. Always carry out enough research to gauge the experience level of the firm you intend to work with.

The Credibility of the Law Firm

When it comes to legal representation, one thing matters more than anything, and that is trust. Yes, you must find out how credible the law firm is. Do they have their clients’ interests at heart? Is there any conflict of interest that may jeopardize your case?

The trust level in the firm you choose to work with should not just be with the attorneys but everyone else working at the firm, including the secretary. Any law firm that cares about their customers should work hard and build their credibility.

How Big Is the Firm?

Don’t be led into thinking that big firms mean best. Big firms, most of the times, have thousands of cases to handle and will not pay more attention to your case. They also work with large bureaucracies that may be difficult for their clients to navigate.

You want a lawyer that handles the unique aspects of your case and not just throwing them in a batch of all other cases. Your lawyer will have way too many cases to handle that they will pay no special attention to your case.

That’s why it’s essential to work with smaller law firms like Shochet legal that pay closer attention to their clients’ needs regarding the specific insurance case.

Contingency Fees

One of the reasons most people avoid working with lawyers is the fees needed. How would you want to pay the big amount if you’re not even sure if the outcome will be in your favor after all?

Well, this is not the problem anymore because most firms now work on a contingency fee basis. This payment plan provides you with the best ways to reduce risks, just in case the case wasn’t successful.

Contingency fees mostly apply to cases where you’re trying to claim some money using an attorney. This means you will not pay fees to the law firm unless the attorney manages to get the compensation you were fighting for. The firm will then take their service fee from a percentage of the compensation.

When looking for top law firms for your property insurance, you should, therefore, find one that is willing to work on contingency payment basis. But don’t be swayed by this, you should also look at the service charges. Just because they agree on contingency fee terms doesn’t mean that they should charge excess.

Communication Is Important

One way to know a good mortgage law firm is how they communicate with their clients. Phone calls, emails, or text messages are not bad. But if these are the only means of communication with your lawyer, then you need to find another firm.

A good lawyer should make a point of meeting their prospects personally at least once in a while. Face to face meetings is essential, especially in cases that need critical decisions. Meeting your lawyer personally will give you the chance to ask all critical questions and get the best answers as you prepare for the case.

Check Martindale-Hubbell Rating

When looking for information about your lawyer, Martindale-Hubbell can be a great source of information on everything you need to know about a law firm and their lawyers. This information is easily available in law libraries or public libraries at Martindale.com.

When you search for a firm or a lawyer at the site, you will find all practice profile data on lawyers in Canada and the United States. You will get professional biographies of lawyers and their respective law firms to help you make an informed decision when choosing a firm to work with for your property insurance case.

You can also get the information about a lawyer here based on peer reviews. If you want to choose a lawyer with the highest professional levels and ethical standards, you should go for an AV rating which is the highest.

You Deserve the Right Help

You deserve the best representation, and only the right law firm can ensure you get that. Don’t choose a firm because of the size or work with an attorney based on their academic qualifications. Find a firm that focuses on that specific area of expertise and a lawyer that have handled such issues and has a track record of winning trials.

Apart from helping you with information on how to hire a law firm, we’re also here to help you with other issues concerning property acquisition, real estate investment, and property development, among other things. Read our blogs for all the information you need concerning your property.

It’s the worst nightmare for many homeowners—a mice infestation. Mice may be tiny and even considered cute by some, but they can do serious damages to both your home and your health.

Mice can easily get into your home, especially in colder months, and may like it so much they decide not to leave. Are you wondering how to tell if you have mice in your home?

It’s not always easy to see mice, but you may notice evidence that they’ve moved in without your permission. Keep reading to find some of the most common ways to tell if you have mice in your home.

How to Tell If You Have Mice? Look for Droppings

One of the telltale signs of mice in a home is their droppings. You may notice the droppings before you ever even see a mouse!

Mice droppings look like small, dark brown pellets. They are quite small and usually around ¼ inch in size.

If the droppings look darker and dry, they are probably older. You can find them anywhere in a home, but they’re often seen in drawers, on floorboards, or behind items of furniture.

While droppings may seem harmless, both mice and their excrement can carry diseases. These include hantavirus and hemorrhagic fever, which can be serious to humans.

You may also see or smell urine from the mice, also commonly spotted near the walls or along the floorboards of a house. The urine tends to smell like ammonia and can be hard to get rid of, even after the mice are gone.

Listen for Sounds in the Walls and Ceiling

Scampering sounds are the most common signs of mice in walls. Mice are very tiny, but they can make much more noise than you may imagine!

You may hear the pitter-patter of small footsteps or a fast scampering sound as the mice run back and forth between the walls and ceiling. These noises are frequently heard in the evenings and may wake you up at night.

Calling a mice pest control company is the best way to remove unwanted pests from your home and help you and your family sleep more soundly.

Unusual Smells

Wondering how to tell if you have mice? Use your nose.

Mice don’t smell particularly pleasant, especially in large numbers. You may notice a musty or dirty smell, and you may even notice the smell of dead animals.

It’s not uncommon for mice to die within the home, and you may smell their remains. It’s a horrible odor and definitely something you will want to deal with right away.

Your Pets May Be Acting Up

If you have dogs or cats at home, they may notice the mice before you do. Animals have a much more defined sense of smell than humans and can pick up on smells we never notice.

Your pets also spend more time on the floor than we do, so they may see a mouse scurry around and notice it. If your pets seem to be chasing something, acting unusual, or barking at seemingly nothing, this could be because they’ve spotted a mouse in the home.

Mice may also eat through a bag of dog or cat food, so make sure your pet’s food hasn’t been tampered with. You may want to store it in an airtight container that mice can’t get into, such as metal or aluminum.

Look for Marks on Furniture

Mice, along with rats and most rodents, are known for their chewing. They have teeth that grow constantly, so gnawing and chewing is necessary to help wear them down.

If mice are in your home, they are going to be looking for things they can gnaw on. Unfortunately, they love to gnaw on wood or plastic, so your furniture is likely to be a target.

Keep an eye out for markings on table or chair legs, TV stands, or bookshelves. They also love cardboard, so if you’re storing boxed items in the basement or attic, this is sure to attract their attention.

Once mice get into cardboard, they will not only eat holes in the box but will also damage the contents inside and litter it with droppings—a real mess. Or, they may make nests within the cardboard, giving birth to offspring.

The last thing you want is rodents destroying your valuable furniture or family heirlooms, so call a pest removal service as soon as you notice these signs.

Check for Footprints

Mice aren’t known for their cleanliness, so you’re likely to see footprints in your home. When they walk through water or even their own urine), dust, or dirty surfaces, they will leave little footprints.

If you notice footprints, it’s solid evidence that you have a mice infestation. You may notice them anywhere in the house, but particularly in the kitchen, basement, or near any food storage areas.

Seek Professional Help If You Notice Signs of Mice

As you can see, there are many signs that mice may be in your home, even if you can’t see them. Mice are extremely small and timid, so you may see evidence that they are in your house without ever actually seeing a mouse.

Now that you know that answer to ‘how to tell if you have mice’, do any of the points above apply to your home? If so, there’s a good chance that you have a problem with mice or rodents.

In that case, the best solution is to call a mice control company in your area. They can visit your property, check for signs of mice, and advise on the best treatment options for removal.

Soon, your home will be free of mice, bringing peace of mind to you and your family.

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