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5 Ways To Save Money On Annual Swimming Pool Maintenance Costs

One of the best things about the summer season is that fact that it’s the peak time of the year to go swimming. And if you’re someone who happens to own a swimming pool in your own backyard, that’s even better because it makes it convenient to swim whenever you’d like.

Of course, in order for you to be able to make the most out of your pool swimming experience, it’s important that you properly maintain it. So, if you’re interested in knowing about some of the ways that you can save money on annual swimming pool maintenance costs, we’ve got five great tips for you below:

Run the pool pump on a timer. Something that helps to keep your swimming pool clean on a constant basis is to have a pool pump inside of your pool. That is what draws the water from your pool into the skimmer. One reason why this can get to be a pretty hefty expense is because some people leave their pump running for hours and hours. Something that you can do to avoid this and also reduce your energy costs is to install a pool pump that comes with a timer. That way, it will automatically cut off when it’s done doing its job.

April 28, 2014

General

Renting An Apartment Rather Than Buying A Home: What Are The Benefits?

Many people are torn between the decision to continue renting or buy a home. While buying does present several benefits since it is an investment, for many people, renting is actually a better option and presents just as many potential benefits. Here are some of the best benefits to renting an apartment rather than taking the plunge and purchasing a home of your own.

Less commitment, more flexibility. Buying a home is a huge commitment. You are committing to staying in a specific location for at least a few years. If you aren’t ready to settle down, want to explore, or if work moves you around frequently, buying is likely not a good option for you. Renting provides you with flexibility to choose 6 month or year long leases. Some apartment complexes will even allow you to rent from month to month if you are uncertain about your living situation or where exactly you will end up. Short Term Rentals in Washington DC are an option if you plan to stay in the area only for a short time, for example.

Fewer unexpected costs for maintenance or repairs. As a renter, your landlord takes care of all maintenance, repairs and issues. You pay for a lot of this upfront when you pay rent each month. So, if your toilet is clogged, the roof is damaged, or a something breaks, you simply tell your landlord and they call the necessary people and pay them to correct the issue. As a homeowner, however, you become your own landlord, essentially! You would have to pay out of pocket for any repairs and call the necessary handy person to come to your home and fix the issue. This means more work for you and less predictability regarding your month to month home maintenance expenses.

April 19, 2014

General

5 Key Steps In The Home Buying Process

The prospect of buying a home fills most people with a giddy excitement. After all, this is a major purchase that will catapult you into adulthood. Of course, the thought of going into debt with this big-ticket item can also be a bit frightening, which is why you may want to take the steps necessary to prepare yourself before you actually start looking at homes on the market. What this entails, for the most part, is figuring out how to ensure that you spend your money wisely and find a home that is going to suit your needs for the foreseeable future. So here are just a few key strategies you’ll probably want to observe when you embark upon your mission to buy a home.

Make a list of must-haves. Before you set foot in any homes, you need to take the time to make a list of what you need to make a home livable, what you want, and what you don’t want in a property. Then you need to prioritize because chances are you’re not going to find a home that meets every requirement on your list. For example, you may be looking for a large yard, ample square footage, and a specific number of bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as amenities like a highly-ranked school district and proximity to your work. And it probably needs to fit in a price range. However, your priorities may be enough bedrooms for every family member and the top school district within a given geographic region. It’s important to understand the difference between what you want versus what you can’t live without.

April 13, 2014

General

Common Home Insurance Coverage Mistakes That Can Cost You Money

When it comes to buying home insurance, you may think that it’s just as simple as walking in the door, purchasing the right policy, and going on your merry way. But there’s a lot more to the process, especially if you want a homeowners policy that is tailor-made to fit your needs. And the unfortunate truth is that you’re likely to make some cardinal mistakes along the way that will lead to higher rates. That said, so long as you have an idea of what might go wrong, you should be able to avoid any serious mistakes and save some scratch along the way. Here are some home insurance coverage blunders that could end up costing you.

The biggest mistake most homeowners make is failing to exercise due diligence when it comes to shopping around for insurance. As a consumer, it’s your duty to comparison shop in order to get the best products and services at the most affordable rate, all things considered. So why is it that so many homeowners simply sign up with whatever insurance company their family has been with for generations, or worse, choose the one that is the cheapest without considering that it might not provide the best coverage? It is not the job of your insurance provider to make sure that you get exactly what you’re looking for – it’s your job to find it. And if you end up overpaying because you refused to shop around, there’s no one to blame but yourself.

March 28, 2014

General

5 Effective Tips For Selling Your Home Fast In A Slow Housing Market

Sometimes the housing market can slow down to a snail’s pace. During these times – even with relentless marketing and advertising – it seems like it is close to impossible to sell your home. So, do you wait a few years until the market picks up again and rent your home in the meantime, or do you trudge along? The truth is that there are countless measures you can take to make your home more sellable, so that you can get it off the market and off your hands in a much shorter amount of time. Here are five effective tips for selling your home fast in a slow housing market.

List the home slightly below market value. If the housing market is going through a downswing, you may want to bite the bullet and list your home for lower than it’s worth. This may be tough, but it may also be the smartest move. If you are in a precarious situation and need to move your home fast, lowering the offering price will attract many more buyers looking for scavenger deals on properties.

March 23, 2014

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