Value Boosting Home Improvements You Can Do In A Weekend

If you want to sell your house in the near future, it’s worth it right now to think about how much more value a few improvements could add to it. You spend a little to make a lot, and your home is snapped up within just a few weeks - what could be a better deal for you? But some home improvements add more value than others, and some of those can even be done within a weekend; check out our list of such projects you’ll only need a 48 hour turnaround for.

Redesign Your Front Lawn

Your front lawn can make a big impression, and if you’ve not designed it to be a lovely way to walk up to your house, it’s time to change things. After all, a well landscaped lawn can add upwards of 2% to your home’s value - if a buyer can see the potential in an outdoor space, they’re going to already be thinking about the many different ways they can make it their own. So get out there and see what plants you should include, and whether or not to paint the front door - you could even just manage this project in a day. 

Replace the Windows

Windows are a big part of a property, and replacing them when you want to sell up is a great way to add around 1% extra value to your home’s selling price. After all, a new window is likely to be much more clean and durable, and installing something like a Hurricane Window in states that suffer from this kind of extreme weather will get you a real leg up in the property market. And windows don’t take long to cut out and seal in - if you have a couple days and a professional on hand, you can get both the top and bottom floor done comfortably. 

Add More Kitchen Storage

Storage in the kitchen is a great addition to a home, thanks to just how much use you get out of this room in the first place. Maybe an island with cupboards needs to be installed? Or maybe you should get a breakfast nook in place with underseat storage? Any way you can add a bit more crockery and appliance room to a kitchen, the more value you can squeeze out of the overall price tag. 

Add Some Color to the Bathroom

Color in the bathroom might not sound revolutionary, but considering the amount of white tile currently in use, it truly is! And making your bathroom feel more colourful and fresh to be in can really help your house stand out. Your home’s value could go up by 1% by just slapping a bit of paint or new tiling on the wall, and all in a simple weekend. 

If you’ve got only a weekend to add some value, we’ve got the perfect jobs for you! Use ideas like these for inspiration and get an extra 5% or more out of your home.

5 Things that will make you Stand Out from the Crowd

In a world full of people, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. This is especially true in the fashion industry, where trends come and go at lightning speed. How can you make sure that your unique style is seen and appreciated? By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to standing out from the pack!

1) Dress for success. 

This doesn't mean that you need to wear a suit or dress every day. Instead, focus on clothing that makes you feel like someone important. When you look good, you'll feel good - and that confidence will show through in everything you do.

If you're not sure where to start, take a look at some fashion blogs or magazines for inspiration. You can consider exploring bespoke clothing and shoes for a truly unique style. And don't be afraid to experiment! Trying new styles is part of the fun of fashion.

2) Get the right hairstyle.

Your hair is one of the first things people notice about you, so make sure it's sending the right message. If you're not sure what style best suits you, consult with a professional stylist. They can help you find a look that enhances your natural features and makes you feel great.

When it comes to hair, sometimes less is more. A simple, well-styled cut can be much more eye-catching than an over-the-top 'do.

3) Wear the right jewelry.

Like your clothes, the jewelry you wear should reflect your personal style. Choose pieces that you love and feel good wearing. And don't be afraid to mix things up! Wearing a piece of statement jewelry with a more low-key outfit can really make you stand out from the crowd. Wear pieces like moissanite tennis chains, loop ear rings, cuban link, bracelets

4) Bags and shoes matter, too!

The right accessories can make or break an outfit. Invest in a few key pieces that you love and feel confident carrying. Again, it's all about finding what works for you. If you're not sure where to start, take a look at some fashion blogs or magazines for inspiration.

And don't forget - comfort is important, too. You don't want to be hobbling around in ill-fitting shoes or lugging around a heavy bag all day. Choose footwear and handbags that are both stylish and practical.

5) The way you walk says a lot about you.

Confidence is key when it comes to fashion. No matter what you're wearing, carrying yourself with confidence will make you look and feel your best. So stand up straight, make eye contact, and walk with purpose. The way you carry yourself says a lot about who you are - so make sure it's saying what you want it to!

There's no need to be stiff or formal, but try to avoid slouching or looking like you're not paying attention. Good posture and confident body language will make you look (and feel) like a million bucks.

Following these simple tips will help you to stand out from the fashion crowd! Just remember to be confident, comfortable, and true to your own style. With a little effort, you'll be sure to turn heads wherever you go.

What Makes Cannabis Strains Top-Shelf?

Cannabis flowers offered at dispensaries are classified as Low Shelf, Mid-Shelf, Top Shelf, and Private Reserve. Because many shops do not carry Private Reserve cannabis, the Top Shelf is frequently the most costly cannabis accessible. A top shelf bud like the Wedding Crasher strain is high grade, typically potent, and usually harder to obtain.

An overview of top-shelf cannabis strain

"Top shelf" cannabis bud is of the best grade; hence, it is displayed on the highest shelf in the store rather than concealed down on the low shelf. Quality growers provide top-shelf strains with strong potency and unique tastes and smells. They are often produced indoors, giving the producer greater control over the final output. The "Private Reserve" cannabis flower is now available, a level above the top shelf. Private Reserve strains are distinguished because they are typically exotic and cultivated by well-known growers or brands.

Indicators of top-shelf cannabis

Top-shelf cannabis is another term for marijuana products of the finest grade available on the market. In terms of cannabis flowers, these buds will have exceptional features that the ordinary consumer can discern. Top-shelf cannabis has a visually appealing and colorful look. This high-quality cannabis will have a robust appearance and be fresh and lively. Another clue of high-quality cannabis is its aroma. While distinct odors vary from strain to strain, high-quality cannabis should have a unique and powerful perfume. It should have a strong aroma that is neither vegetal nor chemical.

Additionally, touching your bud might also give information about its quality. Top-shelf marijuana should be sticky and slightly spongy because of the trichomes (the source of cannabinoids in the cannabis plant). When handled, it should not be dry or crumbly. It should never feel moist or wet. Any marijuana that looks pretty light or airy is probably less powerful.

Does genetics impact the quality of cannabis strains?

The strain of each given cannabis plant has been defined through selective breeding in recent years and decades. This selective breeding produces a plant selected to exhibit particular features over others. And in the world of cannabis, this means cultivating plants with specific chemical profiles in the form of cannabinoids and terpenes that give the majority of the effects when consumed. Plants have been developed for many years with these desired features in mind, resulting in the vast number of strains accessible today.

Furthermore, you may now obtain a specific strain at every stage of the production process, from an online seed bank to purchasing buds at a dispensary. These alternatives provide various effects that a customer might utilize recreationally or for a specific medicinal issue. Understanding the strain of your seeds is also essential if you wish to cultivate your plants. If you know what kind of feeling you want (i.e., what kind of high), you may ask a budtender, and they will point you in the right direction.

The most crucial deciding element in a good cannabis strain is you. Suppose you locate a strain like the Grease Monkey strain that gives you the necessary results and know it was cultivated without using hazardous chemicals. In that case, you obtain a strain worth maintaining. Furthermore, finding high-quality cannabis is no longer a problem, owing to internet dispensaries that make it simpler to purchase top-shelf cannabis strains online.

Using DSCR Loans to Boost Your Real Estate Portfolio

Real estate investment can be a lucrative venture, especially if you get involved in the right markets. Though it can lead to amazing profits that will secure your financial future, it does take a decent amount of research and know-how to be successful in this sector. There are right ways and wrong ways to pursue this type of venture, and knowing the right strategies could make the difference between turning a profit and making a bad investment that yields few benefits.

One of the most effective strategies to boost your real estate investment portfolio is the use of DSCR loans. These loans are very different from your typical personal or business loan, and many investors may be unaware of the benefits that they offer. Once you know what makes these loans unique, you will want to use them for every future property purchase. 

How can DSCR loans be a game-changer for your investment strategy, and therefore, potential profits? Let’s break it down.

Based on Property Cash Flow

DSCR stands for debt service coverage ratio. This ratio is calculated by dividing the amount of property income by the total expenses and loan payments. A ratio of 1 means that your projected cash flow from the property would cover no more and no less than the total expenses for owning the property plus the principal and interest payments on the loan. The further above 1 your calculated ratio is, the more likely you are to receive a DSCR mortgage loan to purchase the property. If the ratio is lower than one, then you may have to prove to lenders that your personal resources can cover that gap. 

Most Loans are Based on Personal Income

This is the main difference between DSCR loans and other types of loans. Usually, you have to prove that your level of income will allow you to cover loan payments each month. You will have to put up collateral in the form of assets that you own that the lender can seize if you fail to pay back the loan. Since DSCR loans are granted based on property income, you do not have to show that your income levels will cover the payments since the property cash flow will do so.

Better Scalability

Many loans require that a previous loan be paid off before you can receive another one. This would limit the number of properties you can invest in if you rely on commercial or personal loans. With a DSCR loan, however, there is no limit to how many you can take out at once. This means you could purchase multiple properties with multiple loans at once, so long as you have the capital to cover down payments.

This makes it easier for serious investors to scale their portfolios. You could purchase an apartment complex with one loan, an Airbnb property in the Hamptons with another, and then a high-demand business property with a third. This freedom will allow your profits to skyrocket, and you can quickly reinvest profits from one property into a DSCR loan down payment for another.

Faster Processing

Although the barriers to securing the loan are more strict, such as a higher down payment requirement and a strong credit score, the process from start to finish is usually much faster than a regular loan. This means that you can close your property deals much sooner. No longer will you have to wait months, continuously submitting the most recent pay stubs and bank statements as the loan application drags on. Since a DSCR mortgage is based on property income, it can be calculated and granted much faster. The amount of documentation that must be provided to the lender is much lower than conventional loans. This could give you a leg up on other potential buyers that are looking at the same property since you can put in your offer sooner with an approved loan ready to go. 

Borrowing Through an LLC or Other Entity

Another advantage of DSCR loans is that borrowers can obtain them through an LLC or other entity if they wish to protect their identity. Though borrowing from an LLC has extra layers and requirements, it can help protect the private resources of the borrower. That is not the case for conventional loans, which require that the loan is under the name of the individual. This is a popular strategy for experienced real estate investors, and it may work for you as well.

Take Advantage of DSCR Loans to Boost Your Portfolio

With faster processing periods, greater potential for scaling, and a basis on property income over personal assets, DSCR loans are the perfect tool for the serious real estate investor. They are ideal for those with some extra capital to spend on a sizeable down payment but without the personal income levels that would be needed for other types of loans. If you want to improve your portfolio and get closer to achieving your financial dreams, then consider securing a DSCR loan for your next property purchase. 

Surrealism art in Eastern Europe

Surrealism is probably one of the most attractive art styles for artists and viewers. It is fascinating because of its paradoxical and metaphysical nature.

Why is surreal drawing such a popular type of drawing?

Surrealism emerged in the 1920s as a reaction to the discoveries in psychology. Surrealist artists, wanting to escape from the absurdity of the world around them, began to look for revelations in the subconscious, in the depths of the human soul. Relying on intuition, they created worlds in which the physical laws changed: people flew through the sky, horses grew spider legs, and staircases twisted into mazes. If rationality has not brought humanity happiness, said the Surrealists, down with it! A hundred years later, aren't we saying the same thing, seeing that reason and progress have not brought happiness to earthlings? Maybe that's why the surrealist style is still popular today - people are eager to escape from reality into fantasy. If you're interested in oil paintings and want to start here's a Guide To Using Oil Paints.

Famous surreal artworks

Surrealist masterpieces are fascinating are also available on our website. Looking at the works of René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, Paul Delvaux, Giorgio de Chirico, Yves Tanguy, Nikos Engonopoulos and other artists, the viewer can see the worlds they have created, invent stories about night cities, pale beautiful women, flying tigers... Even those who are far from art can understand the pictures of surrealists. They are replicated in mass culture, used in advertising and design, such as the hero of Magritte's works, the mysterious man in the black bowler hat, or the 'molten' watch by Dalí.

How to become a famous surrealism artist?

There are many surrealist artists in the world today, but no one knows the sure recipe - how to become the best, how to equal the fame of Max Ernst or Joan Miró. The peculiarity of surrealism is that each artist invents his own universe anew, looking for a unique language and technique. According to the precepts of the first surrealists, the artist must learn to "read" the signals of the subconscious, understand and create symbols of another reality, as well as argue with logic (as Magritte did, for example). Of course, this requires a flexible psyche and a great propensity for fantasy. But no fantasy can bring glory without a refined technique, without mastery.

How to draw an expensive surreal painting?

Probably the most expensive surrealist paintings today are Dalí's Portrait of Paul Éluard ($22.4 million) and Magritte's Principal de la Pleasure ($26.8 million). It took decades for their works to command such a price. But how does a contemporary artist sell his surrealist works dearly? Let's try to give some tips:

  • develop your creativity

  • develop your skills, and explore different techniques

  • take part in exhibitions, contests, art-residencies

  • work on your reputation, make a name for yourself

  • Paint big paintings (oil on canvas or acrylic)

  • try your hand at sculpture and objects

Where to buy surrealism artworks?

Any artist dreams of finding a successful art dealer (Peggy Guggenheim famously carried Max Ernst's paintings to New York dealers) and selling them in galleries. But then they would also cost a pretty penny. Collectors of contemporary surrealism can be advised to choose and buy them online at Internet sites where prices are lower than in galleries and showrooms, and the choice is vast. For example, the international art platform G.ART Gallery sells online surrealism oil painting by professional artists from Eastern Europe - only individually selected quality works with all the guarantees.