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How growing families cancreatemorespace
Manypeoplewilladmit thathomeownership topstheirlistsoflongtermgoals.Findingahomethatis affordablemayrequiremovinginto whatmanyrealestateagentsbill asa“starterhome.”Butthearrival ofachild,andthenmorechildren thereafter,could makeahomethatwasperfectly functionalfortwoorthreefeel toocloseforcomfort.
Anyonewhowouldliketoraisea familyinthefuturemightwant toconsidercertainfactorswhen choosingaresidenceordesigning livingspaces.Ahomethatcangrow withlifechangescantrulybea foreverhome.Thefollowingfeatures canexpandspacewhenafamily grows.
•Declutter. Itisimportanttogo throughbelongingsregularlyand removeanythingthatisnolonger needed.Thiscanbethe firststep tofreeupphysicalspaceinaroom orthehomeingeneral.Donateany itemsthatstillhaveutility.
•Reassessyourexistingstorage. Lookatdifferentwaystomaximize existingstorage.Utilizingvertical spaceisonewaytodoso,soan investmentinshelves,hooksand storagesystemsthatmaximizespace inanupwarddirectioncangetitems offthe floor.Makeuseofstorage underthestairsorineaves.Loftbeds withopen spaceunderneatharegreatfor children’sroomsbecausethey maximize floorarea.
•Thinkabouttoystorage. Children lovetoplaywithtoys,andoncekids areinahome,toyswillaccumulate quitequickly.Haveaplanforkeeping toysneatandstowedawaywhennot inuse.Under-the-bedstorage,toy armoires(thataresecuredtothe wall)andfurniturethatcandoubleas
storage,suchasstorageottomans, areideal.
•Revampacloset. Although closetspacemaybeatapremium, particularlyinolderhomes,acloset canbeturnedintoanooktohold adeskforahomeworkstationor remoteofficespace.Compactand organized,it’seasytohideaway whennotinusebyclosingthedoor.
•Utilizeroomdividers. Open floor planshavebeenthenormforsome time.Butatsomepointasafamily grows,privacyandmulti-functional spacesmaybeneeded.Itcanbe costlytoputuppermanentwalls,but bookcasesorpiecesoftallfurniture canbeusedasroomdividersto cordonoffareasasspecificspaces, likeachild’splayarea.
•Convertabasementorgarage. Garagesandbasementshavea reputationforbeingcatch-alls forstorageboxesandholiday decorations.However,suchrooms haveplentyofpotentialasfunctional livingspaces.Investintransforming agarageorbasementintoaroom thatcangrowwiththefamily.At first itmaybeaplayareaforyoungkids. Afterwards,itcanbeagamingor homeworkhangout.Aschildrengrow older,spacescanbeconvertedtoa familymediaroom.Havingthisextra spacecanfreeuproomintherestof thehousesopeoplecanenjoyalone timewhentheyneedit.
•Maximizeoutdoorspace. Ayard oranotheroutdoorspacecanadd valuablesquarefootagetoahome. Acoveredpatioordeckcanmake theoutdoorareasmoreusable throughouttheyearandzonescan becreatedforfamilymeals,playand relaxation.
Afamilyhomewillneedmorespace astheyearsgoon,andhomeowners shouldkeepthatinmindwhen makingrenovationsorchoosinga property.
A rundown on roo ng projects
No two home renovation projects are the same. Some projects are highly detailed undertakings that take months if not years from start to finish, while others can be tackled by skilled doit-yourselfers over the course of a single weekend. Though each project is different, categorizing renovations as needs or wants can help homeowners determine when the time is right to go forward.
Roof replacement projects typically fall into the “need” category. A decaying roof can jeopardize the safety and security of a home and lead to additional issues, like water damage. It’s unwise to delay roof replacement projects when signs of a decaying roof start to appear. Homeowners who are starting to see such indicators can look to this rundown of roof replacement projects as they begin the process of replacing their roof.
Cost
Roof replacement costs vary considerably depending on a host of variables. Materials, location and the cost of labor, dimensions of the roof, and even choice of contractor all affect the cost of the project. The home renovation experts at Angi indicate the average roof replacement project costs $9,500. Asphalt is among the more affordable roofing materials, costing an average of $1 to $1.20 per square foot, according to Nerdwallet. Slate roofs will be more expensive, costing anywhere from $10 to $30 per square foot.
Life expectancy
Homeowners may blanch at the cost of a roof replacement project, particularly if they choose a more expensive material. However, it’s important to keep life expectancy in mind when receiving roof estimates. Many homeowners never replace a roof twice, making this a potentially costly but ultimately one-time expense. Though slate roofs are expensive, homeowners may find it reassuring that estimates from various roofing resources indicate slate roofs come with a life expectancy ranging from 50 to 200 years. By contrast, Nerdwallet estimates an asphalt roof lasts around 10 to 20 years, while others suggest such roofs can last as long as 30 years.
Materials
Choice of materials is arguably the most significant decision homeowners will make when replacing a roof. The experts at This Old House report that materials typically account for 55 to 65 percent of the overall cost of a roof replacement project. Decisions regarding roof materials will be affected by budget, local climate (certain materials are better suited to particular climates than others), aesthetic appeal, and required maintenance. It’s also important that homeowners consider the material warranty of each roofing product. Some materials offer longer warranties than others, which can provide a measure of security to homeowners investing so much in the project.
A roof replacement project is not a renovation that can be delayed when signs the roof is fading start to appear. Homeowners are urged to consider a wide range of variables before committing to a project.
A well-manicured lawn appeals to homeowners when they look out their windows. But such a view also can look nice when homeowners peruse their bank statements after selling a property.
A well-manicured lawn appeals to homeowners when they look out their windows. But such a view also can look nice when homeowners peruse their bank statements after selling a property. According to the “2023 Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features” from the National Association of Realtors®, standard lawn care service yields an estimated cost recovery of 217 percent. Landscape maintenance, with an estimated cost recovery of 104 percent, and an overall landscape upgrade (100 percent) also yield great returns for homeowners. The NAR® report also noted the effects of such projects related to homeowners’ desire to spend time on their property. Among homeowners who participated in the NAR® report and committed to standard lawn care service, 58 percent indicated they had a greater desire to be at home since completing the project, while 46 percent indicated they have an increased sense of enjoyment when spending time at home.
Home&auto. Easy&affordable.
Dailystepstomake avehiclelastlonger
Moderncarshavelongerlife expectanciesthantheir predecessors.Consumer Reportsindicatesit’snotunheardof formodernvehiclestoendurefor 200,000milesormore.Formany, thatequatesto12to15yearsof usage.
Eventhoughmanyvehiclesarebuilt tohaveincreasedlongevity,itoften isuptothedrivertodohisorher parttoensurecarsandtruckscan lastforyearsandyears.Hereare somedailystepsvehicleownerscan taketoachievelongerlifespansfor theircarsortrucks.
•Takeitslowandsteady. Athletes donothitthegroundrunningattop speed,andneithershouldavehicle. Letthecargraduallyacclimateto beingonthemoveeachdayafter sittingovernight.Gentlyaccelerate andaffordtheenginetimetowarm upandallofthecomponentstoget the fluidstheyrequirebeforeyou jumponthehighwayorrequirethe vehicletogoallout.Mostautomotive expertswarnagainstidlingacar inthedrivewaytowarmitup,but startingoutataslowandsteady paceiskey.
•Don’tbeextreme. Jerkyturns, gunningthegasandbrakinghard leadtounnecessarywearandtear onavehicle.Bysmoothingoutyour driving,you’llputlessstresson mechanicalcomponentsandhelp preventthemfromwearingout prematurely.
•Cleanitoutdaily. Accumulated debrisoftenbuildsupinsideavehicle thatisusedallofthetime.Takinga fewminutestoclearouttrashorto wipedowntheinterioreachdaywill
prolongtheinteriorcomponents, nottomentionmakeiteasiertodo amorethoroughdetailingwhenthe timecomes.
•Findatrustyfuelstation. Badgas canwreakhavoconavehicle.Find astationthatyoutrust,particularly onethattakescareoftheirpumps andregularlychangestheirpump filters.It’sworthittospendalittle moreoverallforgoodgas.
•Readyouroillevel. Oilisessential tomaintainaproperlyoperating engineandvehicle.AARPsuggests routinereadingofacar’soillevel sothatyoucanaddlubricantas necessary.Whilethismightnotbea dailytask,doingitregularlyenough meansyouwillkeepontopofthis importantstep.
•Parkintheshadeoragarage. The sunmayfeelgoodonawarmday, buttheUVraysfromthesuncan taketheirtollonavehicle’spaint. Wheneverpossible,parkoutofdirect sunlightsothatthepaintwillnot fadeandtheinteriorupholsterywill notbleach.Thosewhoneedtopark theirvehiclesforanextendedperiod oftimeshouldchooseaclean,dry, well-ventilatedlocation,advises WawanesaInsurance.
•Beattentive. Listentothesounds yourvehicleismakingandgiveita visualinspectioneachtimeyouget inoroutofthecar.Thesooneryou catchsomethingthatisoutofthe ordinary,theeasieritbecomesto fix problemsbeforetheybecomecostly anddamaging.
Vehicleownerscantakestepseach daytoimprovethelongevityoftheir carsandtrucks.
Autointeriormaintenance andcleaningtips
Anumberoffactorsareinvolved inkeepingavehiclefunctioning andlookinggood.Ensuring avehicleinterioriscleanandtidyis easilyoverlooked,butsucheffortscan improvethedrivingexperience. Driverswhowanttheircarsandtrucks tolooktheirbestshouldnotforgettheir vehicleinteriors.Driversunsurewhere tostartcanspruceuptheirvehicle interiorsinthefollowingways.
•Removeanytrash. Wrappers, receipts,emptywaterbottles,andother itemscanquicklypileupinsideacar, especiallyfordriverswhohaveyoung children.Routinelygothroughthe vehicletogatherandremovedebris.
•Vacuumtheinterior. Startoffwith acanofcompressedairandblow outdustandanyotherdirtthathas accumulatedintightcrevices.Thenuse ahigh-poweredvacuumtoconduct athoroughcleaning.Payattentionto theseamsofcarseats,doorhandles, armrests, floormats(andunderthem), underneathchildsafetyseats,andthe trunkorcargoarea.Ifyoudon’thavea vacuumwithalotofsuction,utilizeone atado-it-yourselfcarwashlocation.
•Scrub floormats. Driverswithrubber matscanremovethemandmakea mildcleaningsolutionofafewdrops ofdishsoapandwarmwater.Usea soft-bristledbrushtocleanthemats.
Upholsteredmatscanbeshampooed usingacarpetcleaner.Thenrinse
andhangtodry.Allmatsshouldbe completelydrybeforebeingreturnedto thevehicle.
•Cleantheupholstery. Seatscanget dirtyanddingyovertime.Forcloth vehicleseats,useapropersprayor foamupholsterycleaner.All-purpose cleanercanworkonvinylseats,but leatherseatsrequireaspecialleather soapandconditioner.Avoidproducts withsilicone,whichcanstainyour clothesandmaymakeinteriorsurfaces tooslippery.
•Addressglasssurfaces. Turnyour attentiontothewindshield,windows andmirrors.Youcanuseastoreboughtglasscleaneronthesesurfaces andalint-freecloth.Avoidproducts containingammonia,whichmay damagetintingonwindows.
•Considerlingeringodors. Ifthe interiorofthecarhasanodor,thecabin air filtermayneedtobechanged,or theremaybewaterenteringthevehicle somewhereandcreatingamustysmell. Seekoutanyproblemsandaddress.A carairfreshenercanfurtherimprove theinteriorsmell.
Athoroughdeepcleaningcanbedone atleastonceamonthtokeepavehicle’s interiorfreshandclean.However, keepingupwithinteriorcleaning andmaintenancebydoingsmalljobs regularlywillreducetheneedfor routinedeepcleaning.
Consumersincreasinglyareturningtoelectricvehicles(EVs)because oftheirperceivedbenefitstotheenvironmentandadditional perks.TheUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgencysays EVstypicallyhavesmallercarbonfootprintsthangasolinecars,evenwhen accountingfortheelectricityusedforcharging.Inaddition,EVscanbe moreefficientinregardtoenergyuse.However,itisimportanttonote thatminingthematerialsthatareusedinthebatteriesrequiredforEVs canmaketheEVmanufacturingprocessmoreenergy-intensivethan makinginternalcombustionenergyvehicles(ICE),accordingtoEarth.org. TheInternetworkforSustainabilitysaysEVsandhybridcarsemitmore carbondioxidethantraditionalcarsduringproduction.Theadditional environmentalcostoftransportingthesebatteriesalsoresultsinahigher carbonfootprintthanICEvehicles.However,theEPApointsoutthat thegreenhousegasemissionsassociatedwithanEVoveritslifetimeare typicallylowerthanthosefromanICEvehicle,evenwhenaccountingfor manufacturing.
Thebasicsof3 popularsidingmaterials
Fewhomerenovation projectscanchangethelook ofahomeassignificantlyas newsiding.Newsidingcanmake ahomelookbrandnew,andanew colorcandramaticallychangethe perceptionofahome. Ashomeownersbegintoconsider sidingreplacementprojects,they mightbesurprisedtolearntheir optionsinrelationtomaterialsare sonumerous.Thoughit’sgreat tohaveoptions,italsocanbe difficulttopickamaterialwhen therearesomanyproductsto choosefrom.Vinyl, fibercement andwoodarethreepopularsiding materials,andunderstandingthe characteristicsofeachcanhelp homeownersmakemoreinformed decisions.
Vinyl
Vinylsidinghaslongbeenamong themostpopularsidingmaterials. TheNationalAssociationofHome Buildersnotesthatpopularity hasdeclinedinrecentyears, withthemarketshareofvinyl sidingdropping5percentover thelastdecadeandnearly13 percentoverthelast20years. Despitethatdecliningpopularity, vinylremainsastrongoption formanyhomeownersdueto itsaffordabilityandminimal maintenancerequirements. ConsumerReportsalsonotes thatvinylsidingisimperviousto insectsandwater,anattribute that’shighlyappealingtomany homeowners.
Fibercement
ConsumerReportsnotesthat fibercementsidingblends cement,sandandcellulose.Many homeownerslike fibercement sidingbecauseofitsaesthetic appeal,asitlookslikerealwood withoutthevulnerabilities associatedwithwood(seebelow). Thehomerenovationexpertsat ThisOldHousereportthat fiber cementsidinghasexceptional durabilityandoffersgreat resistancetoenvironmental factorslikeharshweather,UV raysandmoisture.Fibercement sidingalsoisalow-maintenance, insect-resistantoptionthatwon’t warporrot.Fibercementsiding isnoteasilyinstalled,which contributestoahigheroverall cost.
Wood
Sidingmaterialsdon’tgetmuch moretraditionalthanwood.It shouldn’tsurprisehomeownersto learnthatwoodsidingcanwarp orrot,andanythingmadefrom woodcanbevulnerabletoinsects. However,well-maintainedwood sidingcanbeverydurableand certaintypesarelessvulnerable torotthanothers.Localclimate willaffectwhichwoodsiding optionsarebestforagiven area.Manyseewoodsidingas characteristicofahigh-endhome, makingthesomewhathigherprice tagcomparedtovinylsidingeasier tojustify. There’snorightorwrongdecision whenchoosingsidingmaterials forahome.Homeownersare urgedtodotheirhomework, includingstudyingcostandthe localclimate,beforechoosinga materialfortheirhome.
Renovation timelines vary depending on the scale of the project. Painting may take a week or two, while a kitchen or bathroom remodel may last anywhere from four to 16 weeks. Larger projects like adding a room can take between three and six months, say the experts at John Merrill Homes. Projects also often take longer than expected, as surprises may be in store once homeowners begin peeling back the layers in homes. Homeowners about to embark on lengthy renovation projects can embrace these tips to come through on the other side relatively unscathed.
Choose your timing
The timing of a renovation may have to coincide with contractor availability or having the budget to fund the project. But homeowners should consider life circumstances and season before starting a project.
A guide to survive lengthy home renovations
Renovations can transform homes into spaces that mirror homeowners’ dreams. Regardless of the scope of a project, a home renovation will involve some level of disruption to residents’ daily lives. Lengthy, more involved projects may impact daily life considerably.
You might not have the energy to take on a project right before the holidays. If kids play on sports teams that require a lot of travel, it might be better to wait until the season winds down. Figure out what you can realistically take on to reduce the likelihood that you’ll feel overwhelmed.
Plan accordingly
Creating and sticking to a daily schedule, and knowing what is happening each day, can keep a project on track. It also allows you to determine which days will be the most chaotic. Demolition days can be noisy and messy, and maybe those are days when you plan to be away from the house for a few hours.
Store items out of harm’s way
Invest in a storage solution for the duration of the renovation. Decluttering and removing items before the project is in full force will make it easier to work
and maneuver, and it also means fewer items will need to be cleaned afterwards. Renovations tend to kick up a lot of construction dust, after all.
Designate a safe zone
Establish a room or rooms as work-free areas to which residents can retreat. If multiple rooms are being renovated, you might consider spending time with a family member or friend, or getting a hotel for a short duration until the bulk of disruption dies down.
Lower your standards
Homecooked meals may be your standard most days of the week, but it’s alright to be a bit lax when remodeling projects begin. Relying on frozen foods or takeout might be necessary for a little while. Remodeling projects can be disruptive and stressful, but certain strategies can make it easier to get through projects without too much disruption.
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Signsitistime toreplacebrakes
Eachcomponentofavehicle performsanimportantfunction thatensuresthecarrunssafely andsoundly.Aworkingbrakesystem isvitaltovehiclesafety,soanyissues affectingthebrakesmeritattention. Fortunately,therearevariouswarning signsthatindicatetovehicleownersit istimetoreplacebrakes.
•Grindingsound: SunAutoService saysadeepgrindingmetalsound indicatesthatbrakesarewearing down.Brakepadstypicallycome equippedwithtinymetalridgeson thebottomofthepadstoalertthe driverthatthepadshaveworndown. Continuingtodrivelikethiswillput metalonmetal,whichcandamagethe rotors.
•Squealingsound: Somebrakepads havebuilt-inwearindicators.Adriver maynoticeasquealing,screeching orwhiningnoisewhenthebrakesare engaged,saysBridgestone.Grinding orsquealingoftenindicatesthatthe brakesneedtobereplaced.
•Pullingtooneside: Whenbraking, driversmightnoticethecarpulling
Vehicle maintenance schedule
Modernvehicleshave surpassedtheir predecessorsthanksto innovationsthatmakedrivingand maintenancesafer,easierand moreconvenient.Inspiteofthe mostimpressiveadvancements, vehicleownershipstillrequires thatdriversmaintaintheircars andtruckssotheyperformas designed.Suchupkeepalso helpstoimprovesafetyandsave peoplemoneybyheadingoff morecostlyrepairs.Following arecommendedmaintenance schedulecanensurevehicles functionproperly.Beloware somemileage-basedguidelines relatedtovehiclemaintenance, courtesyofCarFaxandAdvance AutoParts.
maybeagoodtimetoalso changethecabinandengineair filters.Lookunderthehoodand givethebatteryterminalacheck, lookingforanycorrosionorloose cables.
•Every10,000miles: It’stime totakethecarintohavethe tiresrotated.Rotatingthetires atregularintervalshelpsavoid unevenwearandtear.The vehiclealsomayneedatire alignment,especiallyifdrivers noticeitispullingtooneside. Brakeproblemstendtobeselfalerting,butdriversalsomay wanttovisuallyinspectbrakes atthistimejusttobesurethere isn’ttoomuchwear.
overtooneside.Thisindicatesbrake padsareunevenlywornout,causing thecartopulltoonesidewhen braking.
•Visiblewearandtear: Avisual inspectionofthebrakescangive driversanideaoftheircondition.Ifthe padsarelessthanaquarter-inchthick, itistimetohavetheminspectedor replaced.
•Brakepedalvibration: Whenbrakes areworkingproperly,thevehiclewill smoothlyslowtoastop.Ifthebrakes arewornoutoriftherotorsare damaged,thebreakpedalcanvibrate andthecarmayevenbuckasitcomes toastop.Thismeansthebrakesand possiblytherotorswillneedtobe changed.
•Failuretostop: Ofcourse,aclear indicationthatitcouldbetimeto replacethebrakesisifthecardoes notrespondpromptlytobrakingwhen thebrakepedalispressed.Asoftbrake pedalorlongerstoptimesmightmean brake fluidislowormayindicatethe needforabrakereplacement. Varioussignsmayindicateitistimeto replaceavehicle’sbrakes.
•Every3,000miles: Thisisa goodtimetocheckuponall fluidsinthecartobesurethe levelsarewheretheyshouldbe. Theseincludecoolant,brake fluid,windshieldwasher fluid, andengineoil,amongothers.
•Every5,000miles: Change thevehicle’soilandfuel filterif usingconventionaloil.Vehicles usingsyntheticoilmaybeable togofurtherbetweenchanges. Manyvehicleswilluseaninternal computersystemtoalertwhen itistimetochangetheoil.This
•At36,000miles: Newvehicle ownersmaywanttohavetheir vehicleslookedoverthoroughly beforethestandardthree-year warrantyexpires.Thiswaythey canhaveanyissuescorrected beforetheywillcostmoreto repair.
•At50,000miles+: Inspect theexhaust,emissionsand suspensionsystemsatthistime. Onealsocandrainandreplace transmission fluid.Tiresmaybe inneedofreplacementatthis timeaswell.
Light-emittingdiodebulbs (LEDs)areenergy-efficient anddurableoptions.
LEDsconvertelectricityintolight insteadofheat,andincreasinglyare usedinawiderangeofproducts, includinglighting fixtures.According toEnergyStar®,LEDsproducelight upto90percentmoreefficientlythan incandescentlightbulbs.LEDsalso donottypically“burnout”orfail,like othertypesofbulbs.Becauseoftheir performancebenefits,homeowners maybeinterestedinswitchingover toLEDbulbstopowertheirexisting lighting fixtures.Generallyspeaking, LEDbulbscanworkinmostnon-LED fixtures,providedthebasetypematches thesocket.TheLEDbulbalsoshould beratedforthesamelinevoltagefor the fixture.Also,the fixtureshouldnot beenclosed,suchasglass-encased ceilinglightsorcertainoutdoor fixtures. Thelackofventilationcancauseheat buildup,leadingtodamageorfailure. Insuchinstances,oneshould purchaseLEDsspecificallyrated forenclosed fixtures.
Lighting foreveryroominthehome
Lightinginahomeiseasily overlooked.Butpower outagesserveasastark reminderoftheimportanceof lighting,whichaddstothesafety, functionalityandaestheticappealof aspace.
Whenhomeownersgoroomto room,theycanconsidervarious typesoflightingtoaddauniquefeel toeachspace.
Kitchen
Kitchensareheavilytraffickedrooms inmanyhomes.Acombinationof overheadlightingthatwillilluminate theentirespaceandfocusedtask lighting,likeunder-cabinetlightsfor mealprep,canhelpinthekitchen. Separatetasklightingforabillpayingareaorhomeworkstation alsocanbeausefultouch.
Bedroom
Bedroomsarecozyretreatswhere homeownersspendmostoftheir timerestingandrelaxing.Harsh lightingmaynotbeapplicablehere, soconsidersidelamps fittedwith warm-huedbulbsplacedbeside abed.Lightingcanbemorestark andtargetedinclosetstohelp homeownersseeclothingandother belongings.
Bathroom
Bathroomlightingamenitiescan includeacombinationoffeatures tofullyoptimizethisspace.Most homeownerswillwantsomesortof overheadlightingtoshedlighton mostofthespace.Tasklightingby themirrorcanoffermorevisibility whileshavingorapplyingmakeup. Lightinginabathingareacankeep suchspacessaferbyimproving visibilityinagenerallyslipperyarea. Inbathroomswithspa-likesettings, moodlightingpairedwithfeatures likesteamcapabilitiescanenhance thespaceevenfurther.
Garageandbasement
Utilityareaslikegarages,basements andcrawlspacesneedhigh-wattage brightlightingforsafety.Installation ofbrightLEDsintheseareascan makeworkprojectseasierandsafer. Well-litareasalsoaregenerallyless invitingtopestslikeinsectsand rodents,sobrightlightingmaydeter
thesecreaturesinareaswherethey tendtoenterahome.
Livingroom/greatroom
Livingareascanbenefitfroma combinationofambientlighting sources.Tablelampsalongsidesofas andchairswillprovideenoughlight, butwillnotcompetewithtelevisions orhometheatersetups.Lighting thathighlightsartworkorhome accentsalsocanaddacozyappealto thespace.
Additionallighting
Homeownersmaywanttoconsider afewadditionallightingscenarios toimprovetheirspaces.Lighting inafoyerorabovecoatracks orshoecubbiescankeepthe spacefunctionalbutattractive.A combinationofoverheadlighting andaccentlightingcanmakea laundryroomlessutilitarian.And diningspacescanbeintimateor grandiosedependingonthe fixtures featuredintheroom.
Homeownersalsocanutilizesmart devicesandbulbstoeasilycontrol thelightswhileathomeoraway. Lightingplaysakeyroleinahome, affectingthesafety.functionality andaestheticsofrooms.
ways to 3 get more use out of a garage
Even though no two homes are the same, rooms have a tendency to take on similar characteristics regardless of which property they’re a part of. Kitchens tend to be popular gathering spaces, while basements have become go-to spots for game rooms and watch parties.
Garages also tend to share certain characteristics between homes, and one notable attribute is the tendency to become difficult-tonavigate dumping grounds for a wide range of items, including lawn and garden tools, children’s toys, sporting goods, and seasonal home decor. Though there’s nothing wrong with utilizing a garage as a storage space, the following are three simple ways homeowners can get more out of these spaces.
1. Utilize the wall space. The walls in a garage have lots of potential. Effective use of walls within a garage can ensure garden tools, small toys and other items do not accumulate on the floor. Such accumulations contribute much to the reputation of garages as dumping grounds for miscellaneous items. By clearing the floors of clutter, and utilizing wall spaces to store items, homeowners can open up the spaces to serve any number of functions, including home gyms, art studios or even parking spaces to protect vehicles from the elements. A storage organizer system with various hooks can be mounted on a garage wall to free up floor space, while shelving can be hung to store paint cans, power tool batteries and other items.
2. Look upward. If garage ceilings extend several feet above the height of homeowners’ vehicles, then the spaces above where cars might be parked can be converted into storage
space for large recreational items, like canoes or kayaks, or seasonal decor that does not need to be accessed on a regular basis. A simple kayak hoist utilizing a pulley system clears floor space and allows kayaks to be stored overhead. Lifting storage racks work in similar fashion and make for great additions for anyone who needs to store containers full of seasonal decor but does not want to do so by stacking items on the floor. A hand crack system for a lifting storage rack makes for easy and safe access.
3. Install new lighting. Without ample lighting, garages may not be conducive to recreational pursuits like painting, crafting or even exercising. A lighting upgrade is a relatively affordable renovation that can make a big difference, illuminating spaces not exactly known for brightness, especially if there’s no windows. If you want to spend time in the garage during winter and stay warm, then some new lighting can make that possible.
Homeowners whose garages are currently serving as cluttered storage closets can do much to get more out of these useful spaces.
benefitsof servicing avehicle atthe dealership
Routinemaintenanceisrequiredtoensure thesafetyandperformanceofanyvehicle. Althoughvehicleownershavedifferent optionswhenitcomestoservicingtheircarsand trucks,includingdoingitthemselvesorvisitingan independentautorepaircenter,therearevarious benefitstousingadealershipforservicingneeds. AccordingtoastudybyKelleyBlueBook,35 percentofallcarswereservicedatadealership in2021.By2023,that figurehaddroppedto30 percent.Servicechains,liketireservicecenters andquicklubebrands,aregaininggroundinthe automotiveservicingmarket.Herearesixreasons whyconsumersmaywanttothinkaboutreturning tothedealershiptomaintaintheirvehicles.
1.Cost
KBBsaysthatownersarenotsavingmuchby shiftingtheirbusinesstoservicecenters.In2023, theaveragedealershipservicevisitcost$258,while avisittoanon-dealerservicecenterwas$249on average.Customersmaybeabletonegotiatewith dealershipswheretheypurchasedthecarforlower pricesorcouponincentives,asdealershipstypically liketobuildrelationshipswithcustomerstoensure repeatbusiness.
2.Originalequipmentmanufacturerparts
Abigadvantagetogoingtothedealershipfor serviceisoriginalequipmentmanufacturerparts, knownasOEMpartsandaccessories.OEMmeans thecomponentsusedintheserviceorrepairwill bethesameasthoseusedbythemanufacturerin theirownworkshops,guaranteeingbothqualityand compatibility,accordingtoDCHHonda.Thiscanbe especiallyimportantforelectricalcomponents.
3.Certifiedtechnicians
Modernvehiclesarecomplexanduniquebetween makeandmodel.Visitingadealershipforservice meansyou’llbegettingaservicetechnicianwho hasspecificknowledgeaboutthevehiclesthat dealershipsells.Techniciansatdealershipshave tobemanufacturer-certified,meaningtheywill havethemostup-to-dateknowledgeandaccessto cutting-edgeequipment.
4.Warrantysavings
Moreoftenthannot,newvehiclescomewith manufacturerwarranties.Certainservicemay becoveredbythemanufacturerordealershipat nocosttothevehicleowner.Plus,thedealership caneasilylookupandapplythewarrantypricing ifapplicable.Also,theservicemayneedtobe performedatadealershipbyacertifiedtechnician forawarrantytocontinuetobevalid.
5.Accessiblerecords
Ifandwhenthetimecomestimetosella vehicle,havingahandylogofallservicingcanbe advantageous.Thisiseasiertocomebyifallofthe visitstookplaceatadealership.Theycansimply pulluparecordofthevehicleandprovideittothe owner;otherwise,onemayscrambletocompilethe vehiclehistoryfromvariousservicecenters.
6.Loanervehicle
Oftentimesdealershipswillprovidecourtesycarsto customerswhileserviceistakingplace.Thismeans thatcustomerswillnotbeinconveniencedifrepairs takeadayormore,andwillnothavetospendoutof-pockettogetarentalcar.
Evenifcustomersknowandtrustanindependent mechanic,orfeelconfidentintheirownrepair skills,therearetimeswhengoingtoadealershipfor servicingmaybeabetteridea.
