4 Impactful DIY Projects for Your Home

DIY home improvement projects have been gaining popularity for the last few years, and the global pandemic has only accelerated this surge. While many businesses are still struggling to survive, the home hardware industry recorded 11% more purchases in 2020 than a year before. What's more, the same insight shows that many more consumers also plan post-pandemic DIY home renovations.

Obviously, it has started mostly because so many of us were ordered to stay at home. And when you work from home, relax at home, live at home, entertain yourself at home, and so on, you are bound to see more than you used to when it was only a place where you slept or chilled out once in a while. You may want to look into a safe ladder for such projects.

So, people don’t only spend more time at home and see everything that can be improved there - they also have more free time on their hands, hence the popularity of DIY projects.

And once you gain confidence that you can do it all yourself, there’s no stopping you. And we’re not trying to - on the contrary, we’re here to help. Below, you will find more DIY projects that you can take on in the future. Need more help? find your nearest Beesley and Fildes in the North East.

A DIY Roofing Project

Any roofing project should be carried out only by skilled handymen and with extreme caution. The good news is that for many roofing types, you can easily find roofing kits with everything needed for the job. For example, having a complete EPDM roof kit for your rubber roof, you can focus entirely on what needs to be done. This way, you will also eliminate one of the biggest risks associated with these projects - choosing and working with inappropriate materials.

What’s crucial here is the correct evaluation of your own skills. Sure, you can easily fix a few shingles or set up a rubber roof on your shed, but make sure you’re not taking on, for example, fixing structural issues if you aren’t absolutely positive you know what you’re doing. Most importantly, always put your safety first.

DIY Built-In Bookshelves

Additional bookshelves in your living room will not only make it look more stylish and cosy, but they will also add more storage space, which seems to always be in short supply. When proceeding with the project, you need to ensure all shelves are level and mounted to stud in the wall for security.

Be 100% sure to measure the space appropriately and cut the wood planks accordingly. Move everything to a place where you can work in peace and without worrying about the mess - ideally a garage or workshop - and connect the shelves with shelf sides.

There, you can proceed depending on your desired look and the current state of the wood planks. Staining, dry brushing, painting, decorating the world is basically your oyster when it comes to design, but be sure to follow all the instructions. For example, determine if you will need to clean the wood, or sand it, or which kind of primer you should use.

Then, you can install the shelves, ideally with L brackets. Place them so that they can’t be seen once all the shelves are mounted. By buying several additional wood planks, you can install (and decorate!) a trim.

Freshen Up Your Bathroom Floor

If your bathroom floor is not yet damaged but shows the general signs of wear and tear, which are driving you mad, you can quickly deal with that without ripping up the tiles.

If you decide to paint the tiles yourself, you will save both time and money. Before you start, you should make a detailed plan, including a new design of your floor. You need to know what you will be painting to prepare - plan the layout for available space, buy enough paint, and so on. 

It’s important to choose an appropriate type of paint so that the new design can last for a long time instead of fading after one month of absorbing steam and having people walk all over it. For example, acrylic paint can hold up to water and temperature changes. Consider using a stencil, especially if you’re not much of an artist, or you don’t want an utterly chaotic pattern.

Be sure to sand the tiles and properly clean before you start painting. Use a high-quality primer, plus, you can also apply a top coat once the pattern is finished and dried. Bear in mind, though, that some top coats can change the colouring a bit.

Build a Proper Mailbox

Due to the global pandemic, people have also started to shop online more. As a result, you might have way more packages coming all the time, so it might be a high time to build yourself a proper, theft-proof mailbox. Unfortunately, porch pirates are real, but it is one way of stopping them from taking your packages.

All you need is some wood, screws and hinges, a saw, a drill, and a spray paint of your choice. It’s a relatively easy project if you know how to use these tools, and if not - it’s also suitable (as it’s easy enough) for some experimenting!

Have Some Courage and Experiment!

DIY projects are a great way to occupy yourself now that you might have more free time, but they will also teach you some valuable skills for the future. 

You can come up with more and more projects for yourself - there aren’t many activities more relaxing for your brain than some handiwork - or engage other household members. Spend quality time with your partner or teach your children a thing or two. 

Gradually, you may increase the difficulty level of your projects, but make sure you always put everyone’s safety first. As long as you can soundly evaluate your own capabilities, you can improve your house, learn, and have some fun in the process.

Must-See Places in South America 2021

Last year didn’t give us the best possible travel opportunities to travel and forced many of us to cancel exciting trips. If this has left you hungry for an adventure, why not plan your trip for the next year?. When you run your finger across a map of the world, looking for breathtaking destinations that will reward your lack of travelling last year, you should consider South America. 

If you want to experience the best of what our planet has to offer, the fourth biggest continent in the world should be on the top of your list. There you can find landscapes, mountains, and rivers like you’ve never seen before, and be enchanted by the mixture of cultures, flavours, and contradictions. Urban cities, jungles, and ancient civilisations; this continent has some of the best. But before you head to this giant continent, and start to wonder about the best road to take, let’s explore some of the places that shouldn’t be missed on your trip!

1. Machu Picchu 

It doesn’t need to be mentioned that Machu Picchu holds one of the top positions in travel destinations’ bucket lists. Located in the Andes, this ancient civilisation delights with Incan civilisation’s cultural heritage, surrounded by the magical green hills. 

To see this marvellous citadel preserved from Incan civilisation, to get there, you can hike a trail in the Andes if you want a less taxing adventure you can choose the short Inca trail and enjoy the view of famous ruins without exhaustion. However, hiking isn’t the only option you can simply go there by train.  If you want to experience the magic, this place can offer it would be best to go there in the morning when the stunning ancient architecture is in the sunlight and all its glory.

2. Bogota

Are you a fan of the TV show Narcos? If you want to follow Pablo Escobar’s steps and delve into Colombian’s beating heart, head to Bogota. The vibrant cultural scene, mixed with the historic downtown and surrounded by green hills, can give you a wide range of experiences. From lunch in the city centre’s fancy bars and restaurants to wandering through 300 years- old churches and houses, this city is a must-see during a trip to South America. 

3. Buenos Aires

As Leopoldo Marechal said, “the Tango is the natural pulse of Buenos Aires.” Tango was born in the capital city of Argentina and has lived on ever since. If you want to experience once of the most lively cities in the world, don’t think too long and book a hotel in Buenos, where the music never stops playing, and the steaks are always juicy. 

This place is a quintessence of being alive filled with Latin culture and passion. So go there, see the famous monuments in the morning, feast and sip red wine in the afternoon, and dance all night long when the sun is down. 

4. Galapagos Islands

This destination should be a must-see on your travel plan if you want turquoise water, diverse wildlife, and volcanos. Located near Ecuador, this place is 97% a national park due to the natural beauty. Seeing this volcanic archipelago gives you the sensation of being in a documentary on National Geographic about fascinating species and unknown plants, especially if you decided to try snorkelling or diving there. 

What’s more, it’s a great travel destination any time, as the temperature here is pleasant for visitors all year round and the amount of daylight doesn’t shrink even in winter. 

5. Uruguay

Often unfairly underrated, over other South American wonders, Uruguay finally gets its well-deserved recognition. This second smallest country in the continent is a perfect pick for fans of coastal cities who crave resting on the beautiful sandy beaches. 

Uruguay is also a country of art and friendly locals who are incredibly hospitable towards visitors and will provide you with many unique memories. This amazing country can give you a feeling of familiarity thanks to its small bays, countryside greenery, and sheep that slowly chew grass right next to you.  

Conclusion

South America delights with its diversity and scope of possibilities. You can choose to rest and relax on unspoilt Uruguayan beaches, dance the Tango in Buenos, or admire breathtaking views of the Andes. This place offers something special for all types of travellers who want to explore its natural environment, rich cultural scene or historical heritage. 

Plan your trip thoughtfully and decide which country attracts you the most. It’s also a great idea to have a road trip through the marvels of the continent, so you can taste each flavour that South America offers. Talk to locals, eat exotic fresh food, and feast your eyes on the landscapes that you’ll never forget. 

How Much Is My House Worth: How to Price Your Home to Sell It Fast

Selling your home is not an easy task. After all, your house is much more than just four walls with a roof. It's the place of memories and sentiment. That alone makes it challenging even to decide you should list your home on the market.

However, doing that is crucial if you want to take the next step in your life. Before you get in touch with a reliable realtor, though, there's one thing you should keep in mind. Selling a home is one thing. Listing it at the right price is another.

And when it comes to deciding how much your house is worth, it's a more complicated matter than you may think. Many people ask themselves two questions:

• How can I achieve selling my house fast for cash?

• How to get the highest price possible?

To achieve these two objectives, your asking price should attract potential buyers while ensuring you sell your house for top dollar. To ensure you make that happen, we've prepared the following guide.

Make a Comparative Market Analysis

The easiest way to estimate your home's worth is by doing a real estate market analysis. In fact, it's the first thing to do before you decide it's time to put the "for sale" sign in your front yard.

By looking at the pricing of similar homes, you'll be able to determine what your starting price should be. In short, you have to look at the market through buyers' eyes.

And what if you don't have time to go through every offer you see? Well, if you want to sell your home fast, all you need to do to determine the listing price is by using the comparison website.

All it takes is typing in the square footage of your property, the date your home was built, the neighborhood you live in, and other crucial factors. Once you do that, the system will show you the list of comparable homes in your area, allowing you to set your price.

Talk With Other Home Sellers

If you know any people who sold their homes or are also listing their properties, sharing your experiences is an excellent idea. It will allow you to find out how to attract a buyer and how long it might take for you to sell your home.

What's more, it will show you the mistakes you should avoid, and yes, how to set the right pricing for your house. You may think that reading a few articles is enough, but speaking to someone who has experience in house selling is not something you should underestimate.

Size Matters

The bigger the house, the higher the price, right? Well, not necessarily. While size matters, the crucial factor to consider is the available living space.

For instance, if your house has an attic, basement, and garage, it's worth more money than a one that hasn't got these features, even if the other home is "bigger."

Bear in mind that living space also means bathrooms, bedrooms, and other essential rooms; the more of them, the better for your home's value.

Consider Your House Upgrades

Adding upgrades costs is a common practice among house sellers. After all, you've invested a reasonable amount of money in your home. Logically, it should increase your home value, right? Unfortunately, it is not always the case.

Sure, if your kitchen looks fantastic because you renovated it last year, more buyers may be willing to purchase your home. However, not all upgrades will significantly increase the value of your home.

That's why you must know what to renovate when deciding on a project to increase the price of your home. For instance, the National Association of Realtors research shows that an average seller recoups 59 % of their renovation costs.

What does it tell you? Don't invest money in excessive renovations. Just because you spent $40,000 on a kitchen remodel doesn't mean you can increase your home price range by that sum.

Consult Your Real Estate Agent

However, before you decide on pricing your home and putting it on the market, you should get in touch with a reliable real estate agent. Sure, you can do everything yourself, but with a little help from a professional, you'll be able not only to estimate better how much your home is worth but also sell it at a better price.

Besides selling your home for the price you want, a real estate agent will also make sure your offer gets more attention. And don't forget that the higher the number of potential buyers, the better the chance of selling your property faster and for more money.

How to Get the Best Price for Your Home

Let's say you've estimated the price of your home correctly. Yet, you still believe that the list price should be higher. Is it possible to boost the price without investing in upgrades? The answer is yes.

In fact, there are many techniques you can implement to get the best price possible. You just have to know the basic factors and learn how to use them to your advantage. For instance, things like the time of year or area significantly impact your home value.

Here's what you can do to increase the price:

• Get a reliable real estate agent

• Ensure the photos of your home look top-quality

• Sell your home in spring/summer

• Attract more buyers to get a higher number of bids

• Clean your property and conduct minor repairs

These are simple things that may not sound like significant home value-boosting factors. You can be sure that they will increase your chance of attracting more potential buyers.

Bottom Line

As you can see, pricing your home is more complicated than it sounds. You need to consider many factors, like the current real estate market situation, the area you live in, your property's size with its living space, and any upgrades you conducted.

Before you price your home, though, don't forget to consult your real estate agent. They will help you determine your starting point price so that more buyers will be willing to purchase your property.

Agents also help in negotiations, making your effort to sell look more professional and increase your chance of receiving the highest offer possible. And sure, you can do everything yourself. It all depends on whether you have time to spare and know a thing or two about the market.

How to Find a Personal Injury Lawyer That Will Take Your Case Seriously

You might not overthink about a personal injury lawyer unless you’re in an accident. As humans, we’re not immune to danger, and we sometimes get injured in all kinds of ways. In most occurrences, these issues are due to someone else’s negligence. In some cases, the accident may be severe, and the recovery period long.

If you’ve been in an accident, it would be best to contact a professional attorney. These attorneys have the relevant experience for negotiating fair compensation with the insurance companies and other third-parties at-fault. But how do I find an excellent personal injury attorney? What exactly should I look for? You’re not alone. Here are strategies to aid you along the way.

1. Start with the Local Bar Consortium

Each county has a local bar consortium that is attached to the larger state bar association. Many attorneys who practice before the county’s or district’s court will be registered with this association. According to law experts from https://finzfirm.com/, you can get in touch with the association’s president or head. Additionally, you can also get the contact details from your local courthouse. This is because sometimes, the details are not posted online. After making contact, you should explain that you are looking for an experienced personal injury attorney. In many cases, these firms will list the lawyers based on their specializations. They will also list if a particular lawyer has been marked for legal discipline or malpractice.

2. Friends, Family Members, and Acquaintances’

You can talk with friends or coworkers who have been represented by an attorney in their injury lawsuits. If the family member or friend recommends the lawyers, you can add him or her to your list of individuals with whom to have an initial consultation. However, we would advise against making your decision based on someone else’s recommendation. People have various responses to an attorney’s personality and style. Additionally, a lawyer may also have a different mood and energy depending on a specific case. The bottom line is, do not make up your mind about hiring a new person before you have met them and discuss your case’s details.

3. Do You Have a Particular Lawyer You Know?

Sometimes we have lawyer friends who we know personally or because the attorney has represented you before in a legal issue. If they did a good job, you could also give them a second shot with your case. This means if you have a personal injury claim before you, it would seem obvious hiring them for this task. Sometimes, your attorney might not be experienced in handling personal injury claims. Instead of referring you to more experienced lawyers, they might hold on to the case because of a reluctance to disappoint you. It’s best to keep friendship ties aside. Ask them to refer you to an individual who is well-versed in that area. Attorney’s are used to referring cases to one another, and they know who performs better in a particular jurisdiction.

4. Online Platforms

You can also research attorneys online. Ensure they are licensed and in stable standing in the state where your incident took place. As we mentioned above, every state has its local bar consortium. This means all the lawyers are registered in their databases. You can also check their bar status and whether any disciplinary measures have been leveled against them. However, refrain from choosing a lawyer based on the verdict numbers listed on the website. Each case is unique in its way, and the number of damages in your claim depends on many factors.

5. Does He/She Have the Necessary Resources?

When hiring a lawyer, look around. Do they look successful? What does their office say about them? Does he or she have personal assets to prepare your case properly? If a personal injury claim is severe, it may be expensive to prepare. You claim may involve hiring a ton of people such as a doctor, accident constructionists, life care planners, among others. This is why you should ensure your lawyer has enough cash to play with the big parties.

6. Referral Services

Many local bar consortiums have lawyer referral services through which you can get the name of an attorney specialized in a specific niche. You can contact your local bar consortium referral service and ask for a few names of lawyers who deal with personal injury claims.

Following our tips will land you with the best personal injury attorney for your claim. Additionally, you can also consider the lawyer’s general experience and background and how long they’ve been in practice. Dealing with the right lawyer means you will receive the right settlement for your claim.

How to Easily Find Interesting Food Recipes

Pretty much everyone loves eating, but few select individuals love cooking and trying out new delicious meal recipes. Those who prepare their own food at home often go out of their way to learn new cooking methods and find the freshest ingredients for their meals. Some TV lovers spend hours in front of their screens while in their kitchens, trying to find inspiration and learn new tips that will help them prepare professional-grade food at home. Cooking is not that hard, and anyone can learn to make delicious meals for their loved ones; you just need to find the right resources. Mentioned in this article are a few methods of finding new food recipes that can inspire the little chef inside you and fill your tummy with love.

Recipe Books

Books are one great place that all intellectuals go to whenever they are seeking wisdom, inspiration, or knowledge. Whether you’re one of those people or you just use books as a daily get-away from your boring routine, you can’t deny how powerful books are at delivering information. Books have a way of stimulating our imagination and strengthening our story-building skills. They take you on a different adventure and into a different world with each having its own theme and vibe. This is why reading a recipe is way better than learning it from someone or hearing about it. Reading the instructions will engage your brain and stimulate your creativity for better results. The best thing is that there are millions of books where you can find food recipes, and you can even choose the category of meals you would like to cook and buy a book dedicated to that category.

The Internet 

The internet is the largest source of information and the fastest way of learning about new things is through online research. It goes without saying that you can find literally anything you want online. Between blogs, websites, and social media feeds, everybody has the ability to learn about their favorite topics without leaving their home or making any purchases. Cooking is one of those things you can learn at home. 

You can find a wide variety of delicious recipes and recipe categories in more than one place. Writers from https://www.momdot.com/ suggest that learning new recipes from online websites can help you gain access to more than one category of meals at the same place. This means that one website can give you all you need to know about cooking all three meals at home, either for yourself or for your family. However, the best thing about finding food recipes online is that you can search in more than one place and collect information from multiple sources. This will broaden your cooking knowledge and inspire you to be more creative in the kitchen. Simply open a search engine and search for a recipe, food type, ingredient, or anything else that you can think of.

TV

Did you know that the majority of modern moms learn their cooking recipes from TV shows and programs? We bet you didn’t. Well, it’s no surprise as most people who cook at home stay at home for the larger part of their day. This means they get to spend more time watching TV and exploring TV channels. A lot of these channels are dedicated to cooking and TV shows about chefs are great at teaching viewers how they can imitate their creations. For the most part, watching a famous person cook a delicious meal in a fancy kitchen in front of the camera inspires most of us to get up and recreate these meals to try them ourselves and impress others. This is why watching TV shows that are aired on cooking channels is a very fun way of learning new recipes and enjoying the learning process.

Mobile Apps

Phone users can now find hundreds of phone applications that list meal recipes. These apps may require a little space in your phone’s storage to download their list of recipes onto your phone or they can work online and allow you to access multiple recipe resources when you are connected to the internet. Either way, they are a fast way of finding interesting recipes without searching or reading long articles before finding your targeted recipe. Most of these apps are free of charge and require no internet to connect you to a recipe list of creative meals.

Anyone can learn how to cook, as there is an abundance of recipes available everywhere and anyone can access these resources and cooking instructions easily. The internet has made everything easier and even more difficult skills are now taught online, and for free, in some cases. Learning new recipes from TV cooking shows is another fun method of expanding your culinary knowledge and skills. There are lots of options out there, so go try them out and have fun cooking delicious meals.

6 grooming tips for people with large dogs

If you live with a large four-legged friend, knowledge about grooming is indispensable. Whereas you can get away with some unknown things with a small dog, when you have a large one, grooming becomes a much more demanding task. Washing, brushing, clipping and all that good stuff takes up more time and requires a lot more concentration when your canine is just plain large. So, what can you do to simplify grooming and reduce the time it takes? Luckily, we have 6 tips just for that!

Tip No. 1 – Always have a schedule

Dogs love a rut. You may not, but if that time of day comes, and they know you’re standing up from a sofa to get their leash and you will go outside, they get ecstatic. In general, all dogs are not too keen on surprises, so it’s best to keep them to a minimum. Make a schedule for grooming and do it regularly. You can use products for your dog like hip and joint meal toppers that you can get from Mighty Munch. This will help them maintain joint health and support mobility in dogs. Your dog will get used to things and grooming will gradually become uneventful. If you don’t do that and catch them by surprise, well, prepare to clean the mess then...

Tip No. 2 – Select the best tools for the job

It’s easy to just go for some cheap shampoo or nail clippers that were advertised online or ones that you saw on TV. But did you know that clippers are more often than not, the inferior tool for nail cutting? It’s way better to pick a nail grinder for large dogs. Even though it takes time to get used to the noise (for the pet), they are a lot safer and more accurate. Thus, it’s essential that you pick the best tools for hair cutting, washing, brushing and nail trimming. 

Tip No. 3 – Treat them right

After you successfully cut their hair or trimmed their nails – give them a treat. It’s the best way to ensure that both you and your pet are on the same page when they’re being groomed. You can hold a small pup in place but what about a Great Dane, a playful Lab, a German Shepheard, a Husky or a Rottweiler as well as other bigger breeds? If they move, you move and if they’re very reluctant to do something, it can be close to impossible. Use your smarts and make them want to behave the way you want them to behave.

Tip No. 4 – Let them adapt

It’s not smart to expect your pup to submit and behave the way you want them to right away. It can take time to get on solid ground. When you buy a new grinder that whirs and makes noise, let them adapt to it. The same applies to the hair trimmer. Gently apply the stream of water from the shower, etc. Be slow and results will show!

Tip No. 5 – Use services

There are dog grooming centres and dog SPA’s even. Professionals work there, so you shouldn’t shy away from bringing your dog there every once in a while. They can groom your pooch with the highest degree of precision and professionalism. Of course, dog grooming services aren’t all that cheap, which is especially true in the case of large pooches. But if you want them spick & span – that’s the right choice to make.

Tip No. 6 – Get some help

If your dog is sometimes too much to handle all by yourselves, get some help from your friends and/or family members. Ask them to help keep your canine friend in place while you trim their nails or fur. Don’t be afraid to ask for help lifting them into the shower and taking them out. It’s not all that easy, especially if you’re a beginner or have some physical problems.

Some final words

We hope that these tips were helpful to you. In the end, it’s all about persuading the dog and using all of your advantages to get on good terms with them. If you want to read more insightful tips about living with a pet and get more information about dog grooming, go to Our Pets Mag!