Month: February 2020

HOW TO SAFELY CLEAN YOUR TECH DEVICES

We all know our world is full of germs, but it’s likely you don’t really know what’s hanging out on your electronic devices. In fact, you probably don’t want to know. 

These devices carry and spread germs like nobody’s business, so it’s time to get scrubbing. Below, we give you safe and effective ways to clean the various gadgets you use in and around your home every day. 

Cleaning Supplies

• Microfiber cloths
• Cotton swabs
• Distilled water
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Dish soap
• Compressed air

TABLETS AND SMARTPHONES

Like everyone else, you’ve probably taken your tablet or phone into the bathroom with you. No need to be embarrassed. You need something to do while in there, right?

Unfortunately, it’s these trips to the bathroom that leave your gadgets filthy – like get-you-sick filthy. To deep-clean your phone or tablet, remove its case. You have to be careful of its fingerprint-resistant coating, so dampen a microfiber cloth with distilled water and wipe it down. Use cotton swabs to clean around edges and buttons.

LAPTOPS

There’s no telling what kind of gunk and bacterium lives within the keyboard of your laptop since it travels everywhere you do. To begin cleaning this piece of equipment, open it up, turn it upside down, and give it a good shake to remove crumbs and dirt. 

Next, turn the device off and remove its battery. Using a microfiber cloth dampened with alcohol, wipe down its metal and plastic surfaces. If your laptop has an LCD screen, make sure to use a cleaner designed for the purpose. If it’s a touchscreen, use distilled water to wipe it clean.

FLAT SCREEN TV

Flat-screen TVs usually have anti-glare coatings that are sensitive to most household cleaning solutions. To safely clean your TV, dampen a microfiber cloth with distilled water and wipe it down. Avoid using any other type of cleaner as it will likely damage the screen permanently. 

GAME CONSOLES AND CONTROLLERS

You wouldn’t believe the level of nastiness your game controllers can achieve. Since you handle them so much, they collect germs and bacteria like a magnet. 

To clean the console and controllers, dust everything off first with a dry cloth. Next, dampen a cloth with alcohol and wipe all surfaces thoroughly. Dip a cotton swab in alcohol as well and go around any crevices and buttons to remove any buildup there. Since you use these gadgets so often, it’s a good idea to keep some anti-bacterial wipes handy to wipe them down often. 

EARPHONES AND HEADPHONES

These gadgets are so close to you that it’s important to keep them clean. For over-the-ear headphones, wipe them down with a slightly damp microfiber cloth. For earphones, remove any plastic tips and then use a dab of soap on a damp microfiber cloth to remove any built-up earwax. Lastly, gently wipe any cords with a cloth dampened with alcohol. 

In today’s technologically advanced world, we take our gadgets for granted. Unfortunately, these handy pieces carry a plethora of nasty germs and grime that can make us sick. To keep the bacteria to a minimum and stay healthy, use the tips outlined above to clean the various gadgets around your house.  

FOLLOW THESE TIPS WHEN BUYING YOUR FIRST INVESTMENT PROPERTY

1. GET THE MATH RIGHT

One of the biggest mistakes new investors make is miscalculating the expenses and cash flow of owning a rental property. For example, many newbie investors underestimate the cost of making repairs and over-estimate the amount of rent they can charge after the repairs are made. It’s important to do a little research into the surrounding properties to find out what comparable costs and rents are in the area. 

And remember, the longer it takes to make the repairs, the more your property costs you because you have to pay the mortgage, taxes, insurance, and utilities out of your own pocket in the meantime. 

2. DON’T GET EMOTIONAL ABOUT AN INVESTMENT

There is no place in real estate investing for emotions. It’s a business, and as such, you need to stay detached and patient. Getting emotional about an investment property can lead you to make snap decisions that can cause you to miss opportunities or cost you money. 

As an investor, you’ll likely deal with several buyers at once, with only one deal working out in the end. You can’t let your emotions or the emotions of the buyers influence your decisions. The name of the game is profit, and for your best chance at success, leave your emotions out of it. 

3. NEGOTIATE

Most sellers expect to negotiate with interested buyers. If you don’t do a little negotiating, the sellers may not take you seriously. Set a price in your head that you refuse to go over and stick to it. Offer the lowest price you think the sellers will accept and get ready to haggle. 

You may go back and forth with the sellers several times, but if they refuse to accept an offer that falls below your top price, be prepared to walk away. If you’ve stayed emotionally detached, this should be relatively easy. 

If the sellers are in a hurry to get out from under the property, they will likely call you back in a few days to say they are willing to take your offer. By sticking to this practice, you will almost always get a good deal. 

4. HAVE FINANCING IN PLACE BEFORE MAKING AN OFFER

When buying real estate, most sellers want to know you can pay for their property. Whether you’re purchasing a property to flip it, or you plan to hold it as a rental property, you need to get pre-approved for a loan before ever making an offer. 

Real estate investing is a great way to make money and fund your retirement, but it requires a lot of knowledge and work to be successful. If you’re looking to make your first investment property purchase, following the tips above can make it a successful one. 

DISPOSE OF REMODELING DEBRIS THE ECO-FRIENDLY WAY

The most successful home remodeling projects begin with planning. While it’s impossible to predict everything, you can plan things like the materials you’ll use and how you’ll get rid of all the waste and debris the project is sure to generate. 

You may think that simply tossing that old bathroom linoleum in the dumpster is sufficient, but did you know that more than 30 percent of the waste that ends up in landfills comes from home remodeling projects? That’s a lot but committing to sustainability in the way you dispose of your project’s waste by recycling, reusing, or selling it can likely save you a lot of money. 

In the information below, we’ll give you a few ways you can recycle or reuse some of the materials you would otherwise throw away and how you can dispose of paint and other chemicals safely. 

RECYCLING YOUR REMODELING MATERIALS

Nearly 85 percent of all home remodeling materials can be recycled. There are a couple of benefits to recycling your remodeling debris, both of which could save you money. 

• Recycled building materials can be written off at tax time, and
• Some recycling companies will pay you for the remodeling materials you recycle. 

So, not only are you doing your part for the planet when you recycle your unused remodeling materials, but you’re also saving yourself money you wouldn’t have otherwise saved. 

GETTING RID OF UNUSED PAINT

If you’re like most homeowners, you have stacks of paint cans taking up space in a corner of your garage or basement. Since only 3 states (California, Oregon, and Connecticut) have paint buy-back programs, it’s very difficult to get rid of unused paint safely everywhere else in the country. 

Having said that, there are a few things you can do to make sure your leftover paint doesn’t cause environmental concerns once your home remodeling project is finished. 

• Buy eco-friendly latex paint that doesn’t contain volatile ingredients
• Donate unused paint to Habitat for Humanity
• Don’t use oil-based paints as they are more hazardous for the environment
• Buy only the amount of paint you need to complete your project
• Recycle the empty steel cans
• Use leftover lighter shades as base coats on future projects, and
• Add a paint hardener to leftover paint to make it safer to dispose of

REUSING BUILDING MATERIALS

Most home remodeling projects involve demolition rather than deconstruction. Demolition means you remove all the old materials any way you can. Deconstruction is basically reversing the installation process to make it easy to examine and reuse the materials. By deconstructing your project, you can reuse some of the materials as suggested below.

• Carefully remove old cabinetry. You can reuse the wood or the cabinets themselves, or you can donate them to a local non-profit organization. 
• Paint old hardware for a fresh look
• Take drywall sheets down whole to reuse when building new interior walls
• Reuse old screws and nails
• Use reclaimed wood from other areas or locations

Whether you’re doing your home renovation yourself or you hire a company to do it for you, make sure you do your part to save money and the planet by practicing sustainability in the disposal of the project’s waste. 

3 BENEFITS OF ATTENDING OPEN HOUSES

If you’re like most people, you look forward to browsing other people’s homes while looking to buy your dream house. There’s something exciting about getting a peek into the lives of complete strangers. Having said that, there are a few other reasons you should go to open houses, even if you’re not in the market to buy a new home. 

1. EDUCATE YOURSELF

If you’re selling your home or might be in the market to sell soon, visiting open houses gives you an opportunity to take advantage of the listing agent’s knowledge and educate yourself. In addition to seeing what other properties are for sale, you also find out what comparable houses are selling for in the area. 

Take a few minutes to speak with the listing agent to find out what’s happening in the housing market in your area and get her take on future trends well before the media has a chance to report it. 

2. DISCOVER THE CURRENT HOME DESIGN TRENDS

Home sellers present their homes in the best shape possible. This usually means making necessary repairs and updating cosmetic aspects of the home. Sellers often turn to their real estate agent for help in what’s hot and what’s not in home décor, so by visiting open houses, you get a good sense of what’s current in the world of home design and décor. 

Even if you’re not looking to sell your home any time soon, visiting open houses will likely give you a good idea of where to start to bring your own home’s décor into the current decade. 

3. FIND GOOD DESIGNERS AND CONTRACTORS

When you walk into someone else’s home and are awestruck by the beauty within, you may be inspired to do the same in your own home. Visiting open houses gives you plenty of opportunities to gather the contact information of various designers and contractors so you can replicate their awesome work in your own home. 

Of course, it’s a good idea to ask family and friends for referrals if you’re looking to do some remodeling work in your own home, but don’t be afraid to ask a listing agent for referrals, too, if you see something you like while visiting an open house. This will give you more options when you decide it’s time to renovate your home in the future. 

Open houses aren’t just for people looking to buy a new home. Anyone can attend open houses and it’s a good idea, especially if you’re selling a home yourself, need some new ideas for your own home, or are looking for good, reliable contractors for a future project. The next time you see an open house in your neighborhood, take a few minutes to stop and look around – even if you aren’t in the market for a new home.