Tag Archives: homes

5 Changes To Make Inside Your Bedroom So You Will Start Using It More


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Do you spend a lot of time in your bedroom at the moment? Some people do spend quite a lot of time in their bedroom and why not? It’s a perfectly good room that can be used for many different things. There are people on the other side of the fence who never go in there unless it’s to go to sleep at night. They think that is all the room is good for and can’t understand why you would use it for anything else.

Maybe they would think differently if they made some cool changes to their bedroom so they actually enjoyed spending time there. If you’re someone who only goes in there to sleep do you think you would use it more if something was different? It’s obvious you won’t need to go in there if you just have a horrible little bed in the corner, so let’s look at some changes you can make that might help you change your mind. It will almost be like having a new room.

Set-up a Computer Corner

If you are used to sitting with your laptop on your knee all the time you might really appreciate your own little mini-office. You will enjoy it so much better when you actually have a desk to lay the laptop on. It gets even better because you can get the most comfortable leather chair you can possible find to sit on. You won’t want to get up once you’ve sat down. Another thing that is cool is the fact you will have drawers, so all your paperwork won’t end up lying around the house.

Build a Balcony

jørn utzon turns 90 today

This one will work out a little more expensive than buying a desk, but when you have a balcony attached to your bedroom you can’t help but spend time there. You can put in some lovely doors that open out and as soon as you wake up in the morning you can go outside to enjoy your morning coffee while reading the paper. This would suit someone much better if they lived in a hotter part of the country because they would get more use out of it.

Buy a More Comfortable Mattress

Something Simple

When you don’t even feel comfortable in your bed you won’t want to lie in it unless you’re going to sleep. That is a shame because if you have a large television inside your room you can go upstairs and watch some TV before it’s time to turn out the lights. It’s also a great way to watch what you want on TV when there are others in the living room watching something you don’t like. Sunday night football springs to mind.

Build a Walk-in Closet

If there is a large closet inside your room it might be better if you turned it into a walk-in closet where you kept all your clothes. It would look great once you took off the door and replaced it with a curtain then you could hang some mirrors from the wall. You might spend a little more time in there getting ready and trying on clothes. Plus you will feel a lot more glamorous getting dressed compared to what you probably do at the moment.

Learn to Relax

Your bedroom can be a safe haven from the daily grind. Whenever you want to relax you can have a lie down and let the stress melt from your head. In order to do that you should try to make the room smell as lovely as possible. This could be achieved by getting some lovely plants and laying them around the room. You could also burn incense sticks or candles, but remember not to fall asleep before they are put out.

Today’s guest post author is the owner of Australian Garage Doors. He started this comapany 10 years back and has since then made steady progress in the business. He likes blogging and gives valuable advice to home owners about renovation and home improvement.

5 Things To Do As Soon As You Notice Water Damage In Your Home


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Home Water Damage

One of the most annoying things that can ever happen is realizing you have water damage inside your home. No home is ever completely safe and it can happen to anyone. When you notice the first signs of water lying everywhere you’re going to be running around like crazy trying to figure out the best thing to do.

It’s better to know the correct procedure when dealing with it because if you don’t fix it properly there is a good chance it could end up costing you more money than you think. We’re going to now take a look at what you should do, so if you are experiencing problems at the moment you can take care of it properly. If you don’t have any water damage at the moment then please keep it in mind for the future.

1. Make Sure the Area is Safe

Safety is obviously the most important thing you need to take into consideration because rushing in and getting hurt isn’t going to help anyone. Go straight to your power box and kill the electricity as getting electrocuted is going to leave you with more than a sprained ankle. You shouldn’t throw your life on the line to save materialistic possessions. If the water is deep you might also want to check there are no hazards lying in the area you can trip up on.

2. Take out Your Furniture

Before you deal with the water you should take all your furniture away from the damaged area as soon as possible. If the water hasn’t reached anything yet it’s even better because eventually it might, but if your furniture is already wet take it outside and let it air out. It’s too easy to start trying to find out where the water is coming from, but I’m guessing you paid a lot of money for your furniture and you don’t want it to end up ruined.

3. Remove the Flooring

If you want to deal with the problem properly you will have to lift any carpets or linoleum from the floor. There is no way it will be able to dry out properly unless the flooring is lifted and when water damage doesn’t dry properly there is a much greater chance of mold growing. Take it outside and let it dry naturally before it goes back down. If there are any rugs on the floor you can throw them in the washing machine.

4. Dry it Properly

Leaving the puddle for a few days to dry up naturally is a bad idea and it needs to be taken care of as soon as possible. You should use a professional vacuum cleaner which can be hired from somewhere to soak up all the water. Grab a bucket of soap and water to scrub the surrounding areas to make sure everything is nice and clean. Now get as much fans as possible and blast the air onto the damp area until it’s dry. This is important and it will keep mold away.

5. Contact a Plumber

Plumber James

Just because you think the area is fine doesn’t mean the problem is taken care of. There is a good chance the water will come back and it’s equally as likely there could be more damage in places you can’t see. Without a professional coming to take a look you are really taking a big risk. If anything does need to be dealt with straight away the plumber can sort it out. Don’t forget to have your electrical appliances seen to be an electrician before you use them again if they were sitting in water.

Jimmy Hayden is the owner of Granwood Flooring. He likes blogging and is very vocal about various topics related to home improvement. Not only does he gives advise on his blog but also likes to take part in many social causes and has spent considerable time with an independant NGO.

5 Great Ways To Renovate A Basement On The Cheap


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Jackie Martinez (#30275)

When you feel like your home is getting too small for your family there is an easy solution that means you don’t need to pack up and move. You could turn your basement into a new room. If your basement is a decent size it’s easy to transform it into anything you want. Some people don’t like this idea because it sounds expensive. The thought of spending more money at the moment while everything is tight just doesn’t sound like a sensible option.

You don’t need to worry because everything is not as dark and gloomy as it seems. There are things you can do to guarantee you don’t end up spending more money than you need to and at the end of the day you still end up with a brand new room. What could possibly go wrong? Just to make sure nothing does, we can look at some things to remember should you wish to carry out any renovations and they will help you save a good amount of money.

Make sure you plan everything

A lot of people spend more money carrying out renovations because they don’t know what they want. They even end up changing their mind half way through and adding extra bits and pieces. If you sit down and work out what you’re trying to do it means you can think of ways to cut costs. If something is going to be too expensive you don’t need to do it and you will know from the start.

Do the work yourself

Venn Collective Studio's Basement

If you get a professional in to carry out the work for you it’s going to cost a lot of money. If you do it yourself you are not paying for anyone’s time and the only thing you will need to buy are the materials. Renovating a basement isn’t a very hard thing to do if you have some DIY experience and you could even try to rope in a few friends at the weekend that do know what they are doing. You might only need to hire a professional for dealing with the electricity or plumbing.

Take proper measurements

Paying for materials is going to be your biggest expense if you are carrying out the work yourself. Do you know how many people end up with far more material than they actually need? Just about the same amount of people that end up with far too little and it’s because they don’t take proper measurements. Know exactly how much of everything you need before you go to the store and it will save you money. Even buying too little the first time around might cost you if you get a discount with a bulk order.

Stop when you see moisture

Because your basement could suffer from water damage you will need to waterproof the walls before doing anything. It’s also important to check for cracks and dampness because if they are visible you will have water damage in the future. That means it will cost you even more money having to do everything again. Don’t start working on your basement until you are absolutely sure there are no signs of water damage and you’ll save yourself a headache.

Buy secondhand materials

When you’re buying furniture for the new room there is no reason why it has to be brand new. You could easily pick up some great secondhand bargains because people have decided they don’t want them anymore. This alone could save you thousands of dollars and the quality of furniture you’re buying could be just as good as anything you’d get new from the store. Just be careful taken secondhand wood into your home and have it treated first.

The author of today’s guest post is Aaron Wright. He runs a firm which provides dewatering services in Australia. He has a lot of experience in this field and shares his thoughts on blogging sites about different aspects related to home improvement.

How To Accomplish All Your Home Improvement Goals


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Home improvement is a never-ending process: the cleaning, the organizing, and the room design are all important duties to think about. Slacking in one area can directly affect other aspects of your home-improvement. This is why it’s imperative that you do what you can, when you can, with what you have and find ways to make keeping your home the way you want it simple.

Taking Note of the Small Picture versus Big Picture

When prepping for any project, whether it involves an entire home or a single bedroom, there are many things to take into consideration. While it can be very easy to get caught up in the stress of any given task as a whole, sometimes breaking things down into smaller pieces is the better way to go. For example, building that new bookshelf for your child’s bedroom may not mean a completely decorated room quite yet but it’s a great starting point. No matter how minor each project may seem, removing anything from your to-do list feels great. Another perfect example of such a case would be adding a new back splash in order to better protect your walls from damage, keeping them nicer, longer. Preventive additions (things that are going to help maintain the area you have worked so hard on) are wonderful because they have long-lasting effects.

Cleaning and Organizing on a Consistent Basis

24. Le dernier mot

Cleaning is an important aspect of any home and one of the most simple, yet never-ending tasks. The job of cleaning has no expiration date. We are constantly picking up after our children, pets and guests. The longer we wait to clean, the bigger our to-do list becomes.

Organizing and cleaning go hand in hand. Having paperwork, toys, books, etc in locations that make sense is not only going to improve the look of a space, but this is also going to make finding things a breeze. Ever ran around your home trying to find your car keys or your child’s favorite teddy bear? These types of stresses can be kept to a minimum when you clean and organize what you see, when you first see it, as much as you possibly can.

Putting More Focus on High-Traffic Areas

Kitchen Hallway

One of the most easily dirtied areas of any home is the kitchen. Not only does food preparation and excessive foot traffic cause physical messes but with it being one of the most active areas in a home, it can seem next to impossible to keep tidy. Pantries are one of the trickiest areas to keep neat. You may want to consider adding a spice rack, or spinning carousel to keep certain food items in easier-to-spot locations. Hanging some of your favorite cups can also save quite a bit of cupboard and counter space.

Creating a Comfortable Environment

There is nothing better than coming home to an atmosphere that looks great, smells great and feels great. Whether you have a few thousand dollars to spend on your improvements, a few hundred or less than a hundred, there are things you can do. Even with zero money set aside for improvement purposes, you can still make changes that will greatly benefit your family. For instance, moving that file cabinet that you have old paperwork stored in and adding your current bills or office notes to it could help you clean off that overloaded desk, giving you more space to work with. Many of us tend to try to keep everything over the years, but it never hurts to go through the things you have and decide what you truly need and what you could live without.

Adding Little Comforts, Affordably

Not have enough money or time to paint your living room and sick of its current look? Maybe all you need are a few family photos put up around the space for now to give you something fresh and new to look at. What about those projects your children made at school? Those would probably look fantastic on the walls. Keep in mind; you don’t necessarily need to paint the entire area. An accent wall or even a strip of paint can really give new life to an area. New and improved colors have a way of bringing everything in a room together, not just in the form of paint but decorations, as well.

Jamie Kirk is a civil engineer and works for Lean to conservatories. A hard task master he expects full commitment from people working in his team and works tirelessly to complete his tasks in an orderly and efficient manner. Over the years he has seen many changes come up in the property development sector and has taken a liking to the small conservatories that are found in many modern homes.

6 Reasons You Should Downsize Your Home To Enjoy A Better Life


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Desert Hills Home Tour - 03/14/2008

Buying a large home seems like a good idea at the time, but eventually it dawns on you that maybe a smaller home would be better. Just because we have this crazy notion that anything bigger means better doesn’t mean it’s true. There are some things we do because it sounds right rather than how it makes us feel. You don’t need to do everything everyone else does because you want to fit in. Take a look at these reasons why you could be missing out on a smaller home.

Education Save Money

You will save money

Who can honestly say they don’t care about money? We’re all going through a tough time and paying all our wages towards a mortgage isn’t something anyone enjoys. With what little is left over you give it straight to your energy company. A huge home takes a lot to keep it going and you don’t get away with not keeping it heated. When you live in a small home your mortgage and monthly bills will drop instantly.

Knotty Walnut Natural [bedroom]

Buy nice things

Everyone dreams of buying beautiful furniture for their home. When the place looks good your home is stylish whether big or not. Paying out all that money on electricity and bank interest doesn’t leave you much for buying that fancy bed you’ve always wanted. With a small home you get to kit it out with some amazing things knowing you will easily have the money to pay for them. That means you’re going to start enjoying your home a lot more.

Rain stopped play

Less work to do

Cutting your grass is hard enough and it takes a while to motivate yourself, but when you know you will be there for half the morning it’s heartbreaking. Your smaller home should have a smaller garden and it means less time you have to spend taking care of it. The same also goes for regular housework because you can cut the time you spend polishing and cleaning in half. Think about how much time that will save you over the course of a whole year.

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More time with the family

If you already feel you’re not spending enough time with your family then it could be the size of your home that’s causing it. When you’re in one room watching television and your kids are in the living room the only time you meet might be at dinner and that is if you even eat at the same table. You can’t hide from each other when there is not enough room to do so. It means you get to spend more quality time with the kids.

comfort zone

Less stressful

When you have a large home it’s easy to lose stuff and it feels like you’re always searching for something. You also have so much crap lying around because it’s easy for you to hoard it until things are spilling out of the windows. Once you live in a smaller home it means you only buy the stuff you truly need and it becomes much more relaxing because you have fewer things to worry about. Who knew that having less material possessions would be more enjoyable?

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Easier repairs

When you have one of the world’s biggest roofs it takes a lifetime to repair. That means people are walking about on your property for ages. If you want to erect a new garden fence it could take someone much longer to do it if the garden is double the size. A small home means easier repairs, cheaper repairs, and also quicker repairs. The last thing you will need to worry about is something going wrong and messing up your comfortable life.

Patrick is a successful interior designer. He believes that the less furniture you have in your house the more spectacular it looks. He says having a concrete polished flooring gives your house a more sophisticated look.

Home Improvement Tips To Help Sell Your Home


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Selling your home can be tough, especially in the current market. The element of increased competition due to the slow market conditions, means that anything you can do to make your home more sale worth matters.

Of course, there are a number of things that you can do with the interior of your home that will allow you to improve your prospects and get a higher price for your house, and more importantly sell it faster.

Home Improvement Tips

Basement

If your home has a basement then you want to ensure that it’s as warm and dry as it can be. Wet or musty basements are trouble and can cause the worst of impressions thanks to the smell and conditions at hand. However, most of the solutions are easy and can be fixed easily. It’s usually simple things like improper grade draining or roof downspout discharge that causes damp and these are easily fixed and then dried out with a dehumidifier.

Waste Line Drainage

Slow or staggered draining sinks or tubs are going to cause issues and are very noticeable. They will also put potential buyers off and if not that those that arrive to do the housing inspection. They can be cleared quite easily usually, meaning full service can resume and you can sell your home that little bit faster.

Garbage Disposal

If the person looking at the house doesn’t take a look at the garbage disposal, the person doing the house report most certainly will. Make sure that it’s free flowing and working well to prevent any issues and if not get a professional to take a look or hire some tools from a company that offers the best at hire in your area.

Electrical Panel

One of the biggest and most obvious issues that will turn people off a home is a poorly maintained circuit or electrical panel. If the panel looks badly maintained, there are tripped circuit breakers or popped fuses you are in trouble. Get an electrician in to sort out the issue and you may even need a new panel – so, prepare for the cost. This is not something you should tamper with alone, so get professional help.

Drywall

Drywall problems are clear to see and problems such as holes are cosmetic but will put people off buying. Small children may cause problems of this kind, however that’s no excuse and you will need to fix them before viewings.

Paint

Old or dirty paint will take the sheen off your home and will take money off the price and add time to how long it takes to sell the residence. Painting is easy to do and can really add to your home’s price and the first impressions it makes – so give it a lick.

Follow these tips and you’ll speed up the sale and also increase the price of the home.

Exterior Home And Property Improvements That Offer More Privacy And Improve Curb Appeal


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While your family may spend more time inside your home, everyone else sees the outside first, so in terms of home value and first impressions, this is the area that should be focused on most. There are many great ways to not only improve that curb appeal, increasing the price tag on your home in your neighborhood but also create a bit more privacy for those you love most. Even if you aren’t planning on selling anytime soon, that may change unexpectedly in the distant future as opportunities arise or your family expands.

What Buyers (and Your Guests) Notice First

Front Yard Landscaping by Reflections Blue

One of the first things anyone walking or driving past your home notices right off the bat is the walkway that leads to your front door. They are going to glance at your mailbox, your roof, siding and gutters. Built up dirt may not seem like a very big deal to you but a quick scrub or pressure wash, as well as updated paint to all of these areas can instantly take what will appear to be years off of your home.

Putting Up Boundaries and Creating More Privacy

Fencing off a private life

Is it currently difficult to determine exactly where your property ends and your neighbors’ properties begin? Especially if you have children or pets, it can make your life much easier to incorporate a fence or some sort of object that is going to help keep your yard separate from surrounding yards. Keep in mind, you don’t necessarily need to make a single selection. You may want to have a section of your property blocked off by a fence, while other portions may simply have hedges or vertical gardens as a way to offer your family more personal space.

Capturing Attention to Your Yard

A Lot Less Bother With A Hover

Flowers, trees and rockeries are great ways to add a bit of depth to your property, but there are many other ways to get the most out of the space you have to work with. Making sure your lawn is properly mowed and maintained is going to allow you to not only enjoy the area more than ever before, but it will also make people want to visit.

Keeping up with and Inspiring the Competition

Many home owners do not realize this, but you are in constant competition with the homes surrounding yours. That is, if you are ever trying to sell at the same time they are. What your neighbors do to their property is also going to directly affect the quality of your home. Making beautiful upgrades may just inspire those on the same street to take a second look at their current setups and take better care of their properties. As you can see, the little changes make a big difference. A lawn with dying plants, tall grass and tools lying around is going to be far less intriguing, whereas a beautiful property and home will capture attention and show that you care about your home. While it may not always be the case, many assume that if the outside is not kept up, then the inside is going to be the same. A potential buyer may drive past, not giving your property a second look simply because they are expected the inside to be something that it may not actually be.

Offer What Others Want Most

With more homes being built quicker than ever before, space is becoming more of a luxury and something people crave. Finding unique ways to keep the space you have, but also expand your privacy is going to mean a much more valuable and desired living space.

Jack Straw is a property dealer in Perth, WA. The major part of his day is spent going from place to place showing his clients the best of properties in Perth and surrounding suburbs. One important feature he has noticed with regards to the houses is that the exteriors have improved a lot over the years and many of them have also opted for glass pool fencing to protect their kids.

Super Bowl Appearances vs. Real Estate Prices


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What do New York, San Francisco, Miami, and Washington, D.C. all have in common? These three cities all have residential real estate values that are much higher than the national median home value and, coincidentally, host NFL teams that have been to the Super Bowl many times.

Consider San Francisco. With a median home price of $751,600, it has some of the highest real estate prices in the country. “The City by the Bay” also hosts one of the NFL’s most dominant teams, the 49ers, that has been to the Super Bowl a whopping five times.

San Francisco’s real estate prices and the 49ers’ ability to make it to the Super Bowl are indicative of a greater trend. The ten NFL teams that have been to the Super Bowl the most have an average median home price of $339,800. This value indicates that homes in these cities are more than 50 percent more expensive than they are in the U.S. as a whole, as the national median home value is $216,700.

The opposite is also true; the ten NFL teams that have been to the Super Bowl the least have an average median home price of $212,450. This means that the worst NFL teams (in terms of Super Bowl appearances) come from cities with real estate prices lower than both the average of the best NFL teams’ cities’ median home prices and the national median home price.

Does this mean that there is a correlation between an NFL team’s ability to make it to the Super Bowl and the home prices in the city they come from? Probably not.

There are three highly significant exceptions to this trend. The Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Dallas Cowboys are arguably the NFL’s most renowned teams and have been to the Super Bowl a combined 21 times – eight times apiece for the Steelers and Cowboys and five times for the Cowboys. However, these teams come from cities with relatively low real estate prices; $135,600 for Dallas real estate, $129,800 for Green Bay, and a shockingly low value of $92,500 for Pittsburgh.

This year’s Super Bowl also provides evidence that there is no correlation between Super Bowl appearances and real estate prices. While the existence of this correlation would support the presence of the 49ers at the big game, it would not be able to explain how the Ravens made it there. Baltimore’s real estate prices are relatively low when compared to other large East Coast cities; it has a median home price of $168,400. If real estate prices really did determine what NFL teams make it to the Super Bowl, a team like the Patriots would have played against the 49ers.

Super Bowl Appearances vs. Real Estate Prices

5 Ways To Protect Your Home Before Scumbag Burglars Pay You A Visit


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Crime Scene

What happens when you walk downstairs one morning and suddenly you realize all your valuable possessions are missing? Or worse, someone could attack a member of your family, especially if they walked downstairs while a burglary was taking place and the intruder was disturbed. You might think things like that only happen it Hollywood movies, but pick up the newspaper every day this week and you will find out it happens to more people than you think.

Giving someone the chance to turn your life upside down seems crazy and that is what most people are doing. That doesn’t mean they do it intentionally, but it is what it is. If you don’t protect your home from that sort of danger you can’t be surprised when scum decides to pay your home a visit. You can’t stop anyone from getting inside because anyone could get in if they really wanted to, but you can do a few things we’re going to discuss now which will keep out nearly everyone.

Close your curtains

Nobody likes the unknown and they don’t want to chance anything. When someone walks past your home and they see all the lights off they won’t know what awaits them. What possible reason could they have for coming inside? Maybe you don’t have any nice stuff and risking jail on a hunch is silly. They will probably go and find someone who doesn’t close their curtains so they can see what is inside and how easily it will be to enter.

Give them an invitation

I know the world is running out of metal and soon there will be none left, but I bet you one hundred dollars your blacksmith still has enough to cut you a second or third key. It’s got to be much safer than leaving the only one you have under the most obvious rock at the front of the house. Common sense would tell you at the very least to leave it with a neighbor and you should start doing it because I don’t want you finding out the hard way just how silly leaving it under a rock is.

Installing an alarm system

Burglar Alarm Box

An alarm system will work better than anything else except it only works once someone has already decided to break in. You might have a damaged door or a broken window, but at least as soon as the alarm starts ringing they should turn around and sprint away from your home as fast as they can. Even a simple alarm system will do the trick and you don’t need to go spending all your savings on one. It’s a last line of defense you really should have.

Brighten the place up

If you want something that will scare someone away before they get a chance to break any of your windows, you won’t go wrong hanging some motion detecting lights on the side of your home. There are not a lot of people who are stupid enough to try breaking into somewhere that is lighten up like a Christmas tree. Even if they do try and come in there is a better chance one of your neighbors will see them and they can call the police.

Plant some trees and bushes

The Neighborhood

If your garden is open it’s easy for someone to see your home when walking past. They might notice that the lights are off and if this is the case for a few days they can only assume you are on holiday and the house is nice and empty. If you plant trees and bushes around the outside of your home it means people will have a hard time noticing your lighting arrangements without specifically checking. It’s an easy way to stop opportunistic burglars who are looking for easy targets that are not home.

Jack Hobbs is a security officer at a private security agency. He has handled many cases of burglary and assault in his career span. Apart from his professional assignments, he also advises people by giving them burglary prevention tips via his blogs.

Cleaning Tips For New Home Owners: Accomplish More, Miss Less


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cleaning tips

Cleaning is one of those things we all need to do. No matter how tidy you are and how well you keep up with your family, there is always a long assignment list at the end of the day, because there are always new things to accomplish. Life is a never-ending to-do list. Whether you work a 9-to-5 job, are a stay at home parent, or own your own business, tidying up and organizing are a part of everyday life.

So, how can you go about making the process an easier one to handle? How can you both save time and get everything that needs to be done, done? For business owners, or those who work in an office, staying on top of everything is even more crucial because your reputation is on the line.

Have a Plan and Stick to It

img_2386.jpg

Planning is one of the best ways to accomplish anything. If you have what feels like a million things to do and no organizations tool such as: sticky notes, a to-do list or other system to stay on track, it becomes very easy for things to be missed.

Scheduling

One idea that may work for your family or office is to create a daily cleaning schedule. This can work for a single person or for a group of individuals. You can either choose to assign certain tasks to the same people across the board or maybe switch up cleaning projects depending on the day of the week, making them feel less monotonous. Some things may need to be done at certain times (sterilizing a coffee machine at the beginning of the day), or certain days of the week (cleaning out the fridge, so the contents will be taken out on trash pick-up day).

Track What’s Completed and By Who

Highlighting projects as they are completed, erasing them from a chalk or whiteboard are just a few ways to make sure everyone knows who has completed their specified jobs and who has yet to do so. This would be a great opportunity to take a closer look at who is doing what and possibly making changes to the plan, offering those with harder assignments a handful of simpler tasks instead, so they have enough time in the day to get everything done.

See the Area through Others’ Eyes

This can be a lot easier said than done, and takes practice but every time you walk into your office, business, or home, scan the entire area. Takes notes (either mental or physical), starting from what you see as you walk up to the building or room and what you see when you step inside. Doing this on a regular basis is going to help you catch things that someone who is present daily (you, family members or even employees) may not typically notice.

Commonly Missed Tasks

Especially when you’re in an area much of the time, it becomes very easy to bypass what may be ‘obvious’ to others. For example, many individuals will forget to sweep under tables, near chairs or wipe counters that are not used as often. Ceiling fans and walls are also commonly forgotten because they slowly become dirty over time. These are areas that you may want to have on a ‘weekly cleaning list’, rather than your ‘daily chore list’.

A lot of the time, when distracted by something or someone unexpected, an entire day can be ‘thrown off’ and without the proper plan and walk-through, you may not notice these types of things. Set yourself up for success and you are going to achieve much more than if you approach the situation without properly coordinate responsibilities.

Busy Schedules Don’t Have to Get in the Way

Cleaning

Lead a busy life? Many people do and that doesn’t necessarily have to affect how well you can clean and your ability to accomplish all of your daily tasks. Hiring a professional cleaning company or individual is an option many people are turning to these days. Trusting someone to come into your home (or business), especially when you are away makes many first-time customers uneasy but it doesn’t have to.

Look for cleaning professionals who have a business license and can refer you to previous and/or existing customers. Never hesitate to verify that a company is affiliated with the BBB. Not all companies will be but it never hurts to check to see as you learn more about your potential future choices. Before contacting each company you are interested in, try to figure out how often you predict you will require their services and ask if they have lower rates for repeat customers.

Today’s guest post was contributed by Harvey Simpson. He gives home improvement, health and business tips on his blogs. He says unlike style, cleanliness is not an option. He recommends office cleaners in Welshpool to enure your office is always spick-and-span.