Pro Or DIY: Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Start A Remodel

Summer is one of the best times of the year for renovation and remodeling projects when you're getting ready to put your house on the market. But before you pick up that sledgehammer to start taking out those old cabinets, it might be a good idea to hit the pause button. First, ask yourself whether it's best to DIY or hire a professional for the job. Those Youtube tutorials may make your DIY project look easy, but you don’t want to ruin your home by biting off more than you can chew.

You don't need to hire a contractor for every renovation job you do, especially if the project is small. But how do you know for sure when it's best to call someone else or when to pull on your safety goggles and save some money?

Here are a few key questions to ask yourself when you're not sure if your remodel requires an experienced set of hands.

Do you have all the tools you need for your project?

One important thing to remember when you plan to DIY a project is that your main goal is to save money. You won't be saving money if you need to invest in a series of expensive tools and equipment to DIY your remodel. You may want to have a machinist tool box for your upcoming project.

That said, when you're still in the planning stages of your remodel, make sure that you're considering every material and tool you might need and the cost of that material. Do you need specialized drills or flexible graphite, which is 95% carbon? Or do you just need a good saw and some new hardware?

If you need more expensive materials or equipment, it may be in your best interest to contact a professional to do the job for you. This way, you're only paying for the contractor's services instead of paying for all of the equipment, which you might not use again.

However, if the materials you're using are inexpensive or you plan on using the equipment you're purchasing again in the future, it might not be a bad idea to DIY your project. Just be sure to do the calculations and compare them with your budget before making your final decision.

Does your remodeling project require specific skills?

Approximately 50% of the world's steel is used for buildings, and you don't necessarily need a degree in engineering to use steel in a remodel if you're going for an industrial design.

However, you might need professional assistance if you want the steel you're using to look a certain way. For instance, powder coating is a popular dry finishing process that represents 15% of the industrial finishing market. Powder coating provides both protection and decoration for steel and other metals.

The same is true for wood materials. You can stain wood cabinets yourself during a kitchen remodel. But if you're looking to paint your cabinets, it might be a good idea to have a professional do the job to avoid any mishaps that might make a potential buyer think twice. After all, 8% of consumers said they "caused damage to my home" as the result of their DIY home improvement projects. In this situation, it’s far better to find a reliable, professional home remodeler to give you the quality and expert finish you’re looking for without causing any damage. 

Do you have the energy to take on a remodeling project?

Once you've established the materials, equipment, and skills you need for the project you've decided to take on, it's important to ask yourself whether you have the energy to do it. This might sound like an odd question, but there's a reason why millennials are more likely to take on a DIY project.

Just one hour of moderate intense exercise such as martial arts can burn up to 500 calories. If you can handle the sweat, you can take on a remodeling project by yourself, with a partner, or with friends and family.

However, if you're on a time crunch for selling your home or you don't have a lot of energy to do the project yourself when you get home from work, it might be a better idea to contact a contractor.

There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to DIY a home project or to hire a professional. But ultimately, the decision comes down to your budget, your schedule, and your capabilities. Small renovations that are on the cheap can easily be done on your own, but be careful with larger and more complicated projects.

Great Reasons To Invest In Real Estate

Apart from putting all your hard-earned money in a savings account, many financially-savvy individuals are always on the lookout for the best avenues in which they could invest. It’s natural to want to strive for financial security and grow your money. This can lead to many individuals looking for passive income opportunities and businesses that make money while you sleep.

Passive income works just like your savings does, except that your money is in another investment form and not in the bank. One of the most promising choices in which you could invest is real estate. This refers to residential homes, commercial buildings, or rental property. As you invest in these properties, you can watch your income grow.

As a start, here is a great guide on residential real estate investing that you can study first. To convince you further, here are some of the best reasons why you should start investing in real estate today:

1. It Allows You To Enjoy High Returns

When you have some extra money on hand, you may constantly be searching for the best ways to get your money to gain high returns. If you currently hold a day job, you might prefer a passive means of earning income through real estate investment. Even as you sleep, your property will continue to earn, and all you have to do is enjoy it. As of 2018, the National Council of Real Estate Fiduciaries found that private commercial market real estate made a return of at least 9.85% over the past years. This percentage is quite substantial when compared to other means of investing, such as through a traditional savings account, which can only give you around 1% to 3% of returns per year.

2. It Gives You A Steady Cash Flow

This section applies to those who are keen on choosing rental properties for their investment. Or you may purchase a residential house or property, and convert it into separate sections that can be rented out. Whether the lease plan for your tenants is long-term or short-term, one thing is for sure: you are going to enjoy a steady cash flow into your account. 

This steady cash flow helps make sure that you are still going to enjoy a monthly income stream. Hence, no matter what happens to the current job that you hold, you know that you are going to be okay. In other instances, too, it may also be the case that you have long been dreaming of having more freedom with your time. Perhaps your full-time job is eating up too much of your time that you tend to forget and neglect your family, or you are also exhausted at the end of the day. With real property investments, you have many ways to earn a steady income.

A steady income from real estate starts with getting and developing good properties. Browse through reliable real estate listings in your favorite cities to find your prospects. There are websites dedicated to properties in specific areas. For example, if you’re interested in island properties, Maui Real Estate is an excellent place to start.

3. It Allows You To Enjoy Tax Benefits

When speaking of tax benefits, these can generally differ depending on the state you’re from. Typically, governments often reward rental property owners with tax benefits. For instance, rental property owners get to enjoy lesser tax than other forms of earning an income, as whatever income you may receive from rentals isn’t subjected to self-employment tax. Other tax exemptions that you may enjoy also include:

• Lower tax rates for long-term profits

• Better depreciation adjustments

 To be a hundred percent certain, though, always double check with your local laws.

4. It Appreciates In Value

This is one of the most well-known advantages of investing in real estate. Among all the assets that you can ever own, real estate properties are those with the most growth. You get to enjoy better appreciation, as real estate is always increasing in value. Hence, even if you do not do anything with your property at the moment, or if you also use it for personal purposes, you can still earn from it in the future should you one day decide to sell your property. 

5. It Gives You High Rental Amounts

High rental amounts are beneficial for you as the owner of the rental property. While it may not be the case for your tenants, this is still something that you can enjoy since you are the one who made an investment in the real property. After all, for the first few years, you will also have to take back first whatever it is that you spent to purchase the property. If the prices of commodities are always increasing, you can be sure that rent can increase, too. Hence, you can fairly increase your rental amount in relation with inflation. This means even more income for you as the property owner.

Conclusion

With these reasons and so many more, it is generally safe to say that the choice to invest in real estate is a good one. Real estate is a long-term investment with a value that increases over time. If you are looking for a stable investment that can also be one of the best assets that you can own and pass down through generations, real estate is the best one for you to purchase. As many have used real estate to build their wealth, you can accomplish that for yourself as well.

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Hearst launches new fitness app - All Out Studio

Hearst Magazines launched today All Out Studio – a new fitness app and OTT streaming platform with more than 35 hours of premium video content from Hearst’s premier health and wellness brands including Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Runner’s World, Prevention and Cosmopolitan.

The membership-based platform, launching on July 11, will be available to consumers through a mobile app on iOS and Android devices as well as on Apple TV; with Roku and additional OTT streaming options rolling out later this year.

Related: 5 Reasons to Try CoolSculpting This Winter

For $100 per year (or $15 per month), “All Out Studio” users will have access to results-driven fitness programs created by more than 25 expert trainers, including Don Saladino, Hannah Eden, Eric Leija, and Men’s Health Fitness Director Ebenezer Samuel. Backed by the authority of the world’s largest and most-trusted media brands in the wellness space, app users of all fitness levels can choose from a variety of workout programs – “Superhero Shred,” “Kettlehell,” and “Amped,” among others – designed to transform and enhance physical health.

Related: What To Know About The Trendy New Line ASYSTEM

Of the launch, Hearst Magazines Vice President of Consumer Products Sheel Shah said, “Consumer appetite for on-demand video is at an all-time high with more than 70% of our audience asking for guided workout programs. In the fitness space, there is currently no platform that offers the variety of content and level of programming that we can provide through our media properties. We are excited to offer readers an action-oriented extension of the brands they love in a format that makes fitness accessible wherever they are.”

Related: What Is The MyMark App And Why You Should You Use It

“All Out Studio” will launch with 15 full training programs, with new content continuously added to the platform.

Related: I Tried The Obé Workout For Four Days And This Is What I Thought About It.

Users can download the app on iOS, android, and AppleTV or visit AllOutStudio.com to for more information.

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Spending Money To Get The Life You Want

We all know that, among a few other things, money makes the world go round. In order to get what we want in life, we have to sacrifice the little bills in our pockets and the numbers in our bank accounts. You can’t really get anything for free in this world, unfortunately. Sure, there might be a few lucky souls that have things handed to them on a silver platter, but the rest of us have to graft for it. 

The world we living can often be an unforgiving one in terms of the money we have and the money we spend. What seemed like a good idea one day may turn out to be a terrible one the next day – with heavily grievous consequences. Those instances, however, are few and far between. Those risks we take can come with rewards that benefit us for the rest of our lives. Whether it’s personally or professionally, investing some dough into something can be the difference between getting what we want and just missing out on something special.   

As we said before, you get what you pay for in this life. If you’re unwilling to get out there and part with your money, then you’re probably not going to receive the benefits. Think about what you want out of life or the life that you’ve always pictured; it won’t walk over to you; you must go and get it. Let’s now look at ways in which your investment can affect your life for the better.       

Your Health 

What we know about the universe is that we only get one life. We’re here for around eighty to ninety years (maybe more if we’re lucky) and then that’s it. You’ve got to make sure you comfortable reach that number, and that the journey along the way is smooth. The idea is to work with a little stress and physical harm as possible and retire happily in Beverly Hills or something gorgeous like that, right? Well, investing in health insurance could be make or break for you in this life. It may come across as a monthly burden rearing its ugly face on your bank transactions, but one day may come where it’s absolutely needed. You never know what might be around the corner – an insurance company covering you at the worst of times might be the best thing that can happen to you.  

Another way in which your health would be benefited through what you spend is in relation to the food you eat. As a collective society, we’re not the most educated on how to structure and maintain and fabulous diet that’ll keep the ticker going for a long time. Spending your money on all of the right foods instead of processed and fast foods will skyrocket your life magnificently, however. 

Finally, throwing money at schemes that offer you results in a matter of weeks is something we all know is a bad move. Anything that ever produces great results always has time and work attached to it. Working with professionals that know what they’re doing will benefit you hugely. Whether it’s a nutritionist or personal trainer, expert guidance is a sure-fire way of getting what you’re after.

Your Work 

We said it before: you can’t expect to hit the heights you’ve always imagine with spending a little on it. Everyone has had a vision before about owning a business of their own, and in order to get things moving, you need to dip into your own funds. A small firm that isn’t committed doesn’t ever get anywhere. Sometimes, if you want that wonderful ROI, you need to take the plunge.  

There are so many ways you can spend money to earn money. Investing in something like real estate is a great way of bringing in money passively and actively. Working on homes and reselling them at a higher price is something you could do if you’re willing to put in the effort. You’re bound to make outrageously large passive income if you were to buy and let out architectural luxury homes in los angeles or something of that ilk. People will always need homes, so the demand isn’t going anywhere.  

Travel 

If you’re okay with staying exactly where you are for your entire life, then that’s okay. But I’m not sure that’s something you’d like to do. Nobody wants to sit, bored, in the same town or city for decades. Branching out and getting to know this world that we occupy is in our nature – we are hunters, gatherers, and travelers, after all. In order to reach newer (maybe greener) pastures, you need to set aside some money that would then be utilized accordingly. 

Life isn’t just about the serious stuff, though. We all need that relaxation time or that exploration time. Work is what makes our society function, but batteries need to be recharged, and R&R is a necessity; otherwise, we’ll all go loopy. The life you’ve pictured involves hitting vacation spots that are in your wildest fantasies; you’ve got to chuck some money at flights and wonderful accommodation once in a while to make that dream a reality. Like with anything, vacations can have their hiccups. Doing the smart thing and investing in some travel insurance would be smart. It would keep you feeling clear mentally too. 

Your Family

Your flesh and blood and probably the reason you do all of the things you do. When you have those you love around you, it makes everything worthwhile. So why wouldn’t you prioritize them over everything else? We talked about your own health care, but when it comes to your loved ones, all of that becomes obsolete. 

Your family home is something that means more to you than most. It’s more than just four walls and a roof. Dipping into your purse and creating the perfect family home is something we’d all like to do. Create that forever home that we all crave.  

Your kids and their futures are probably the things you care about most in this world. They’re going to need to have a clear road ahead of them if they’re to achieve. Their education is of paramount importance, so if you want what’s best for them, setting aside a college fund or something similar would be an excellent idea.

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Tribeca Select The Elite New Lifestyle Program

Tribeca Select, a new program customized exclusively for 30 Warren residents that brings the best of Tribeca inside the boutique condominium’s amenity spaces and right to the residents' front doors. Designed by developer Cape Advisors, Tribeca Select calls on neighborhood favorites like Yoga Shanti and local personalities like acclaimed sommelier Paul Grieco to provide residents with unique in-home services, authentic experiences as well as priority access to the community’s most renowned retailers, restaurants and institutions.

The program introduces a hassle-free lifestyle in Tribeca where consulting with a top sommelier, taking classes with a renowned yoga instructor or even hiring a top professional for piano lessons is at one’s fingertips.

The program includes such necessities as.

• Sommelier and wine services: Resident Sommelier and Founder of Terroir Tribeca Paul Grieco offers 30 Warren residents an array of services from hosting private wine tastings to offering advice on wine collecting, food pairing and auction participation. Residents can enjoy VIP reservation status at Terroir as well as in-home catering.

• Wine collecting and cellar storage: Chambers Street Wines, specialists in naturally made and rare wines from the Loire, Piedmont, the Rhône, Burgundy, Champagne, Spain, Germany and the United States, offers 30 Warren residents access to its unique selection and provides convenient, temperature-controlled wine storage service.

• Yoga and wellness: Yoga Shanti provides residents with a wide range of yoga and meditation classes at all levels for adults and children. Perks include discounted pricing, priority reservation status for classes at the studio’s Tribeca location, plus access to private lessons in one’s home or in 30 Warren’s yoga studio.

• Creative classes for all ages: Church Street School for Music and Art offers an extensive curriculum for all ages. Its acclaimed faculty is available for customized art and musical instrument lessons and experiences in one’s home, at the school or in the 30 Warren children’s movement studio.

• Dog walking and pet services – Poochi NYC offers 30 Warren residents discounted pricing for pet concierge services, designed to meet the need and goals of every pet. Services include daily private and semi-private walks, overnight stays, grooming appointments, veterinarian visits and training sessions.

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.