One and Co

One and Co

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What Is the Best Detox Method for You?

It’s totally understandable to want to detox your mind from all of the craziness going on in the world at this time, but why not just start with your body?

A healthy mind will come as a result of a healthy body, and vice versa.

So know that for the time being, there are ways to declutter your body of all of the 2020 toxins that have robbed you of your physical and mental energy.

Read on to learn the best detox method for you.

Finding the Best Detox Method

1. Purchase Supplements

There are tons of products on the market that promise to aid in detoxifying the body and mind of impurities. Here are a few names to look for when trying out supplements:

  • Glutathione: allows cells to excrete toxins
  • B-Complex: strengthens the immune system and promotes mental stamina
  • Milk thistle: blocks toxins from entering into your cells

If you are currently taking medication, be sure to speak with your doctor and ask for advice and recommendations before taking any detoxifying supplements.

2. Try a Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment

Hyperbaric oxygen treatments allow your body to get access to 100% pure oxygen.

This oxygen promotes the healing of various body functions, while also circulating out any harmful toxins that may be present.

If you are unable to afford hyperbaric oxygen treatments, you can save time and money by simply taking a few minutes to breathe deeply in a well-ventilated area.

Local oxygen bars are also a fun way to detox.

3. Drink More Water

Drinking plenty of water has been a tried and proven way to detoxify the body, and replenishing our bodies daily with clean drinking water can boost our physical health greatly.

Every day we lose water in the following ways:

  • Breathing
  • Urinating
  • Defecating
  • Sweating

Drinking water helps our bodies to flush out the toxins that build up in our bodies every day.

4. Sweat

Sweating is also a great way to detoxify the body. Sweat releases toxins in the form of old water, salt, sugar, and other chemicals.

Because of the benefits of sweating, our body will begin to sweat when we are fighting an illness. Sweating is the result of our body’s effort to detox itself from anything harmful that may be causing us to take sick.

Saunas are hugely promoted within spas for their detoxifying purposes. They place the body under unusual heat so that it can sweat out any toxins, while also assisting in muscle relaxation.

There Are More Ways to Detox

When searching for the best detox method to fit your needs, keep in mind that the ones mentioned in this article are just a few.

There are many ways to detox your body and mind, and it is highly recommended that you try more than one method.

Upon further research, you may find that a combination of multiple detox methods works best for you.

For more articles like this one, be sure to read over our blog.

 

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How to Free up Space on Computer Drives: 4 Hacks to Eliminate Clutter

Remember the days of floppy disks and CDs? Or even overstuffed filing cabinets? Those days weren’t so long ago. Even memory sticks or USB drives are getting used less and less.

That just goes to show how quickly the speed of technology moves, and how often we adapt to keep up.

And the newest version of computer storage is using our actual machines and the cloud to house our files. And that means that now, more than ever, we need to know how to free up space on the computer.

Don’t know where to start? We’ve got your guide, below.

Sneaky Ways How to Free Up Space on The Computer

Think of your computer like a packrat or a hoarder. It really doesn’t like to get rid of files, in case you need them again. It likes to trick people into thinking files are deleted, when really they’re just out of sight – but not out of your CPU storage capacity.

The sneakiest way your computer does this is by not actually deleting things when you send them to the recycle bin. Your recycle bin is essentially just another folder and when you send something there, you’re just moving it around.

For your recycling bin to delete files, you have to open it up and tell it to “empty bin”. Emptying your recycle bin is the only way that the files inside will be permanently deleted.

Go ahead and double click on your recycling bin when you’re done reading this article. How many files are inside? Skim over the files to double-check there’s nothing you need, then click “empty bin”.

Give your computer a quick restart and you should see it running faster already!

1. Delete Programs and Apps You Don’t Use

Computers these days come with a lot of “bloatware”. These are programs the manufacturers think or want you to use that come pre-installed when you buy a new laptop or system.

And just like dragging a file to the recycling bin doesn’t delete it, dragging the icon for a program you don’t use there won’t get rid of it either.

To delete a program altogether, you have to go to your desktop search bar and search “add or remove programs”.

Once there you’ll see a list of every program on your computer, and you’ll be able to sort them by last used. Scroll to the bottom to find the ones you never use and note whether you installed them or if they came on your machine.

If they came preinstalled, give the program name a quick internet search with the words “can I delete” or “is (program name) necessary?” Before you click uninstall.

Some programs are essential to the functionality of your computer, whether it looks like it or not.

Once you’ve uninstalled what’s not necessary anymore, give your computer a restart (again), and note how much faster everything boots up!

2. Choose a Cloud Storage System

If you have a mac, your computer automatically comes with iCloud storage options. If you have a PC, it likely uses Microsoft OneDrive or GoogleDrive.

No matter what program you have, you’ll need to make sure your settings are configured so things that you save to your machine upload to the cloud as well.

Unless you use it daily, you don’t always have internet, or cloud storage space is an issue for you, there’s no reason to store more than a few files on your computers hard drive.

Think of your computer as a big old car. The heavier it is (with files) the longer it’s going to take to get to a certain speed. The fewer the files, the faster the machine!

Uploading all your files from your hard drive to the cloud is like going from driving a tractor to a BMW – or your choice of a decently fast car.

How to Change Your Cloud Storage Settings

To make sure what you save to your computer saves to your drive, make sure you’re selecting the right location when you go to save a document. You can also set up regular cloud uploads every night or every week to the cloud – and then clear out your files once that’s complete.

If you’re not comfortable deleting something off your computer in case the cloud fails you when you need it most, the next tip is for you.

3. Make File Sizes as Small as Possible

Let’s say you have a work computer and can’t upload things to the cloud yourself, or you’re old school and you want your files where you can see them.

That doesn’t mean you can’t have a well-functioning fast computer! It just means that you’ll have to be more careful when you’re saving things in the first place.

Whenever you’re downloading an image, for example, the program should give you a choice of resolution size. The smaller the resolution, the smaller the file will be.

However, small picture files sacrifice quality, so you’ll have to find a happy medium when it comes to picking your resolution.

Downloading a report or something in a PDF format? Those files don’t have to take up so much room on your hard drive! Learn how to reduce pdf file size before you download, and you’ll be able to keep more files on your computer for longer!

4. Run Your Security Program Often

A lot of people set and forget their anti-virus program, which is great – but it can cause a storage buildup. When your program finds “suspicious” files, it isolates them in a specific folder. Once a month or so, go into your security program and delete those suspicious files from your drive.

Both your computer safety and your hard drive space limit will thank you!

Give Me File Freedom, or Give Me Death!

We hope you found this guide on how to free up space on the computer helpful. We recommend trying at least two of the tips above to see a real impact on computer function and speed.

Finally, give your computer a break every so often by actually powering it off. Sure, it’s a machine – but giving it time to rest will improve its performance in the long run.

Like that content? We have more where that came from – sign up for our newsletter, below!

 

 

 

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How to Make the Perfect Keto Salad

The ketogenic diet offers plenty of benefits, such as reduced glucose levels, cholesterol levels, and weight loss. If you’re on the keto diet, you may always be looking for new recipes to try. Trying out a variety of different keto-friendly salads is a simple way to stay within the diet’s restrictions while enjoying different flavors.

Keto-Friendly Salad Bases

The keto diet restricts carbohydrate intake, making salads (sans croutons) the perfect meal because the most common salad bases have very few carbs. These power-packed leafy vegetables provide robust support as well as the crunch that makes salads so good:

  • Spinach– Packed with vitamins, this leafy vegetable can help strengthen your immune system. Rich in vitamins A and C, spinach can help you feel fuller for longer.
  • Lettuce– This salad vegetable is known for its high water content and may help to regulate blood sugar. The lettuce also has less than five grams of net carbs, making it extremely keto-friendly.
  • Kale- This winter vegetable is an excellent source of vitamin C and may help to aid weight loss.
  • Cabbage– Cabbage is rich in antioxidants and is also an excellent source of fiber.
  • Arugula- Arugula is another rich source of antioxidants, iron, and copper. Plus, arugula has a potent flavor that adds a bit of a kick to your salad.

Keto-friendly Salad Add-ins

Now that you have your base, you can pack in more nutrients (and flavors) with keto-friendly add-ins. You want to avoid anything with significant carb contents, such as croutons, quinoa, potatoes, and beets. Instead, try any of the following:

  • Meat– Adding chicken or bacon bits in moderation would help in adding body to your mixture.
  • Vegetables- Add in broccoli, bell peppers, and tomatoes for more antioxidants and nutrients.
  • Nuts– Almonds, pecan, walnuts, and pine nuts are all packed with monounsaturated fats and, in moderation, may boost your ketones.
  • Seeds- Sunflower, sesame, chia, and flax seeds are excellent sources for omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Eggs-Eggs are an ideal choice for a keto diet because they are low in carbs and high in protein.
  • Fruits– Relatively low-carb fruits include berries, clementines, peaches, and kiwi.

Low-carb Dressing Ideas

Once you’ve created the bulk of the salad, it’s time for the fun part—making the dressing. The following recipes are all keto-friendly on their own, but if you want to hit ketosis even faster, try adding a drizzle of organic MCT oil into the mix.

  • Creamy Basil Vinaigrette– This creamy dressing makes the perfect base for any of your favorite vegetables. To make this dressing, blend a handful of basil leaves, half an avocado, a dash of virgin oil, some apple cider vinegar, and season with salt and pepper according to your tastes.
  • Creamy Jalapeno-Cilantro Dressing– If you prefer adding a bit of spice to your everyday food, a jalapeno-based dressing may do the trick. All you need to do is add half a cup of sour cream, mayo, and whipping cream to a bowl with a pinch of chopped chives and dried dill. Season with a dash of onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, mix well, and add to your vegetables.
  • Keto-Friendly Basil Pesto Salad Dressing– To make this basil pesto salad dressing, start by grating parmesan cheese and blending it with a handful of pine nuts and garlic cloves. Add in chopped parsley, basil, olive oil or MCT oil, lemon juice, and salt according to your taste. Blend the ingredients and store in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
  • Healthy Chipotle Ranch Dressing– Rather than making a traditional ranch dressing with buttermilk, try this chipotle ranch dressing recipe. All you need to do is toss in half a cup of plain greek yogurt, onion powder, a dash of lemon juice, a pinch of dried dill, chipotle chili powder into a bowl or mason jar, then season with salt and pepper and blend. Don’t forget to add a bit of water if the dressing is too thick.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing– To make a healthy apple cider vinegar dressing, add a dash of vegetable oil and apple cider vinegar to a bowl. Mix in a bit of erythritol or your sweetener, a few garlic cloves, a drizzle of mustard, and season with salt and pepper. You can also add in a salad herb blend, such as grated cheese, paprika, basil, and onion powder to spice up your dressing.

Experiment With Ingredients

Staying true to any dieting commitment is never easy, but your diet doesn’t have to be boring or repetitive. Go through your pantry and be creative with the ingredients you find. With a little inspiration, you’ll find countless salad options to keep your lunches interesting while sticking to your keto commitment.

 

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Golf Course Retirement Communities in Florida

Undoubtedly, Florida features more golf courses better than any other state. Since it is considered the number one state to retire, there are more than enough fancy things there. Similarly, the state boasts miles and miles of vast green spaces that inspire this gorgeous attribute.

An array of golf retirement communities in Florida exist to offer retirees and the 55 plus active members of the society ample spaces to relax and enjoy life. When it comes to golf courses, in particular, golf lovers have never had charming areas to pursue what they love most. With miles of coastline on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, golf enthusiasts enjoy stimulating waterfront views as they spend time on the fairways.

With Florida’s rolling hills and thousands of scenic lakes, there are bountiful lush spaces that offer challenging golf experience. Despite the broader range of activities available for active adults, the stunning golf courses across the communities will always attract retirees who are eager to reside within the fairways for endless fun and ease of access.

With all that said, more in-depth insight into the top golf retirement communities in Florida revealed the following

The Villages

With over 60.000 homes, The Villages is the largest active adult community in the world. This vibrant and sprawling community has over 100 miles of golf-cart streets and trails, making it a golf lover’s paradise. What makes it outstanding is that whether someone is a pro or not, there are overwhelming opportunities to get training and private lessons.

Residents can enjoy free games at the 40-executive courses or a selection of any 12 championship and country club courses. A majority of the executive golf courses have nine holes.

Lely Resort

Lely Resort is another active and spirited community that boasts three championship 18-hole golf courses. Since they are, only three naming them cannot be any hard. They include the Mustang, the Flaming Island, and the Classics. The Classics Country Club is a private golf club with exclusive access from where golf lovers can enjoy over 6000 miles of space to try hitting the holes. Outstandingly, the Classics feature adorable swaying palm trees lining a majority of the areas and tropical vegetation across manicured vegetation.

The Villages of Citrus Hills

Just an hour’s drive from the mighty The Villages lies this awe-inspiring and beautiful community. For retirees, this is but another option for an excellent residential area with golf courses as well. The luxurious community includes three championship 18-hole golf courses, one 9-hole golf course, and multiple other affluent clubhouses. What makes golfing around this fantastic active neighborhood is that golfers will enjoy convenient access to a golf pro shop for any golf sports spree.

Solivita

With over 6000 homes for retirees to choose from, this Tuscan-themed community brings its share of distinctive flair to its Florida setting. It features various amenities that add to the overwhelming comfort people enjoy here, including two 18-hole championship golf courses. What can a retiree with passionate love ask for apart from all that? Since there are only a dozen of them, naming them is as comfortable, they include the Oaks Course and the Cypress Course.

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Are Condominiums A Good Investment?

It is one thing to relax at ease in a beach facing condominiums, popularly referred to as condos, while on vacation and to own one. The prospect is just as attractive as it sounds. It will not only let you visit the beach as per your will but also serve as an income source by letting out the property when you are not there.

Another standard set of condo buyers include first time home buyers. Ordinary houses need a lot of repairs, and you have to negotiate with a substantial amount of yard work. Additionally, often they are more expensive too. The following information will help you discern if buying a condo might be an excellent opportunity for you.

Don’t Opt For A Double Mortgage

Don’t put your finances to too much strain. This is the very first piece of investment advice for you. While buying a condo, don’t buy the property by burdening yourself with a second, additional mortgage. You should only invest in a condo if you don’t have any existing home loans.

Invest In Local Properties

Suppose you are ready and have just started on your career as a real estate investor. If so, you want to start by buying a condo located somewhere in your current neighborhood rather than in a far-off place. The near real estate site location will make it relatively easy for you to keep up with property screening requests and see this condo you’re eyeing any time you want. It will also help you take care of your condo property once you have bought it, and as your experience handling real estate properties builds up.

It’s Worth It

As a summary answer to the article topic, yes, condos make up a great investment option. You need to refrain from buying properties that are a little better than junk, or the management is weak. You can find plenty of web resources that will let you identify junky condos with management issues. By doing the due research and required reading, you boost your chances of picking out a beautiful flower hiding amongst the weeds.

If the price tags or traditional family houses have seen you sulking, condos provide a fresh breath. While they are still a very costly purchase, they’re significantly cheaper than a family house. It will typically cost you several tens of thousands of dollars less to buy a condo.

Just consider the following figures found out by the National Association of Realtors experts. In May 2019, the median sales price of a condo was $257,100, while single-family homes cost $280,200. That makes the average condo $23,000 cheaper than family houses.

Consider The Owner Occupancy Rate

Another crucial thing you should do while measuring a condo property for investment potential is the owner-occupancy rate. This refers to the number of owners living there vis-a-vis renters. In case the owner’s presence is over the majority of 50%, in all probability, investing in the condo is a good idea. This investing wisdom has its basis on the boost in financing options and the chances of getting a mortgage for high owner-occupancy rates.

The last thing you want to consider while examining the investment potential of a condo is asking yourself whether you would want to move there with your family. If the answer is not affirmative, you should know that it will be a no for many renters.

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Aviators Vs. Wayfarers: Which Style Works For You

When we think of the iconic Aviator sunglasses, we automatically think of Tom Cruise in Top Gun, while the Wayfarer is a style for Ray Charles and JFK, who both love the face-hugging shape, and if you are wondering which of the two styles suits you the best, here are a few aspects you might like to consider.

The Shape of your Face

If you have more of a rounded face, the Aviator tear-drop style would balance the roundness, adding a little length to your look, whereas a long face is best paired with Wayfarers, which have the eyebrows slightly pointing inwards. If you are lucky enough to have high cheek bones, then either style works as they can sit against your cheeks, giving more support than just the nose pads.

The Bridge of your Nose

This is another aspect to consider, which might be high, medium or low, and if you have a prominent bridge that stands out from your nose, then Aviators will sit nicely on the side of your nose. If you have a low bridge, Wayfarers would probably offer the best fit, as the underside of the glasses will sit nicely on your cheeks, but as we are all unique, try both designs to see the effect. Check out Humps exclusive mens Aviator sunglasses that come in a wide range of designs, plus they have a great selection of Wayfarers, so you can view both. When you buy designer sunglasses online, you can expect to save 15-25% on the recommended retail prices, as the online retailer does not have the huge overheads of the traditional retail store.

Classic American Style

If you like the rugged American look, Aviators are the ideal choice, which is best seen when looking at a photo of Tom Cruise astride his motorcycle in the 1986 blockbuster movie, Top Gun, and with a range of tints from yellow to black, you can choose a pair that look right on you. The Aviator design was invented in the 1930s for aviation pilots who required an anti-glare solution, with the Ray-Ban sunglasses on sale to the public shortly after, and, of course, when Tom Cruise sported the design in Top Gun, this really pushed Aviators to the top of the fashion tree. Both styles have been copied by all the major manufacturers and many stars wear them as much today as they did in the previous decades.

The Smart Street Style

Wayfarers are for the cool, streetwise guy who has an air of mystery, and of course, you have the option of mirrored lenses, which really do make all the difference. A Google image search will bring you hundreds of photos of male models and movie stars wearing both designs and for many fashion-conscious men, owning both designs is the perfect solution. With online designer sunglasses suppliers, you can afford to buy at least one of each style.

Both the Aviator and the Wayfarer have their own unique look and with a couple of pairs of each, you can choose which you prefer on the day.

 

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5 Tips for Staying Calm in a Stressful Situation

It would be nice to avoid the undesirable feelings of stress completely, but the reality is that stress—both good stress, like trying to learn a new skill, and bad stress, like fighting with your partner—is an inherent part of existence. However, while stress is something that everyone deals with in life, how you choose to deal with it makes a big difference in how much of an impact it has on physical health and well-being. But how can you learn to stay calm even when faced with difficult situations? If you’re looking to reduce your stress and improve your resilience, here are five tips for staying calm in a stressful situation.

 

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1. Consider using natural substances to calm your nerves

Much like we rely on coffee for a pick-me-up when we’re feeling low on energy, there are plenty of natural substances out there that can serve to calm us down when an external situation has exceeded our ability to cope. Take, for example, cannabidiol, or as it’s more commonly known, CBD.

 

CBD is a substance that’s purported to have major relaxation benefits, providing you with a quick cool down whenever you need it most. Of course, just like coffee, you need to make sure that you’re purchasing your products from a trustworthy, high-quality vendor. One great company to turn to during your time of need is Plainjane. Plain Jane is a CBD company based in Oregon that focuses on providing customers with locally sourced, high-quality, affordable CBD flowers (and similar products like CBD oil) to those who are looking to reap the benefits that CBD may offer. If you find yourself faced with stressful situations regularly, turning to a company like Plain Jane can help you stock up on all the CBD you need to make it through any difficult period in life.

 

2. Turn to relaxation exercises when things are overwhelming

 

Your body and mind are both affected by stress, causing racing thoughts, panicked thinking, and physical symptoms like shaking and a racing heart. In order to move into a more effective space for dealing with the issue that is causing stress, you must be able to calm your body down. Turning to relaxation exercises like deep breathing, taking a moment to freeze and stop what you are doing, and grounding yourself by looking at your surroundings can help you to calm down so that you can successfully tackle the issue at hand.

 

3. Ask “What now?” rather than “What if?”

When faced with a disaster, it can be easy to ask, what if? However, this type of negative thinking only makes it harder to calm down and think rationally. Instead, stop yourself and ease your worries by asking yourself, what now? By choosing to focus on what the solution to the problem might be rather than its potential outcome, you might be able to calm yourself down and show yourself that you can make it through this with the right course of action. The more you learn how to respond rather than react, the better you’ll be able to remain calm and deal with stressful situations.

 

4. Cultivate mindfulness to eliminate reactivity

 

People who find themselves trapped in their thoughts have a difficult time breaking free of their mind when stress strikes. Pursuing a daily exercise like mindfulness meditation serves to help you become more rooted in the present, making it easier to stay focused on the now rather than worrying about the past or the future. Beyond its mental health benefits, mindfulness meditation promotes physical health as well, making it the perfect exercise for stressed-out individuals who are looking to alleviate the symptoms that accompany stressful situations.

 

5. Walk away to compose yourself and approach the situation again

We live in a society where we’re expected to take care of everything right now. However, when dealing with a stressful situation, it can be hard to make major decisions if you can’t think clearly. To give yourself time and space to breathe, walk away from the situation that is stressing you out. Then, when you’ve had time to think it through and properly relax, come back to it and respond accordingly. Remember, while some things may be urgent, there is always time to take a break and compose yourself before dealing with it.

 

Staying calm in the face of stress can be difficult, but it’s entirely possible. Next time you encounter a stressful situation that overwhelms your ability to cope, use the five tips above to calm yourself, recalibrate, and come back with the mindset needed to successfully tackle what’s challenging you.

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5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Builder for Your New Home

You’ve gone through the experience of being a first-time home buyer, and now you are ready to go through the experience of being a first-time home builder. Customizing your new home from the ground up is exciting and emotional. A project of this magnitude can’t be taken on by just any contractor or construction company. There are several important factors that you need to consider when looking for the right person to build your new home.

 

1. Price and Budget

The first thing you need to know is that there is a builder to fit your price and budget. Specialists exist for first-time buyer homes, mid-range projects, high-end custom designs, and luxury projects. It’s important to choose a person with the correct specialization. Approaching a first-home builder for a luxury home project doesn’t make sense, and neither does seeking out a high-end home builder for a small, modest home build.

 

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2. Home Style and Preferences

Builders typically specialize in specific home styles. It’s important to seek out someone who specializes in your desired home style and preferences. For example, a small-project builder who specializes in single-story homes wouldn’t be a good fit for multi-level, complex home design. Eco-friendly and sustainable features aren’t something that every builder has experience in, so if this matters, you need to seek out a specialist with experience. Always give their portfolio a look to get an idea of any specialty work and whether it fits your vision.

 

A great way to add usable square feet to your single-family residence in Los Angeles or Santa Monica is to build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) with Levi Construction. Whether you are looking for a detached ADU that reaches the property line or an attached ADU that expands the size of the main house, Levi Construction specializes in all types of ADUs.

 

A garage conversion or a stand-alone unit like a backyard cottage can make a great rental unit to earn homeowners passive income. When adding an in-law unit within a primary residence, make sure to designed a separate entrance for tenants’ privacy.

 

The ADU contractor will conduct a free consultation at your residence to determine the feasibility of your project. They will provide an up-front cost estimate based on the parameters of your ADU project so you know right away what to expect. Theses ADU Los Angeles builders will work with you to create a floor plan with all the functions, bedrooms, square feet, and maximum height you require. Before the construction phase begins, they will get all the necessary permits from the local government and ensure that your dwelling is built according to state standards.

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3. Reputation and References

A reputable home builder will come with a strong reputation and positive testimonials. Talk to customers and ask about their overall experience with whomever you’re considering and the outcome of their home build. Read reviews on the builder’s website and see what customers have to say. A reputable builder won’t mind potential customers looking into verifiable references.

 

Dennis Family has years of experience building dream homes to meet the lifestyles and demands of families. They deliver quality, function, and style in every custom design pattern. These expert construction company has a builder class and builder pattern for every clients needs. Whether you are seeking a home that incorporates sustainable and eco-friendly features or need a wow-factor template for an ultra-luxurious home, they’ll have a builder who’s right for you.

 

At dennisfamily.com.au potential clients can explore project portfolios and different representations of home styles, read client testimonials, and see all of the industry awards for quality and design that their tradesmen have earned. The same tradesmen who construct Dennis Family’s display homes will be building your future home, so you can trust that what you see is what you get.

 

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4. Quality vs Quantity

The number of homes that a builder has completed isn’t an indication of their skill. The best way to evaluate a potential home builder is to look at the quality of their work and review all testimonials or portfolios available. A good builder is savvy when working with a client’s budget, and doesn’t cut corners on safety standards to save a few pennies. A good builder should have established relationships with local contractors, which will help save you money and time during the construction process.

 

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5. Personality and Work Style

Building a house doesn’t happen overnight. You will be spending several months interacting and working with your builder. It’s important to consider the builder’s personality and work style before hiring them. Bigger builders change site supervisors regularly, which means inconsistency in the on-site rapport between client and supervisor. A small builder is likely to give you a more personal service and encourage your involvement in the construction process.

 

The right home builder for your project can deliver your vision according to your budget and price point while delivering the level of service that you expect. Keep these things in mind when considering a builder for your new home.

 

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Home Renovations: How to Have the Ultimate ‘Before and After’ Experience

It’s amazing what a little cosmetic surgery can do for the casa, right? Renovating your house can make it feel like a brand new home. Making those fixes can be costly but when you’re satisfied with the results, that’s a priceless feeling.

One of the best parts about doing renovations is getting to glory in the drastic difference between the before and after versions of your house. For tips on how to renovate like the pros on HGTV and help your home get its groove back, keep reading.

Come up with a budget and a gameplan.

While exciting, renovating your home can also cause stress on your budget and your sanity. There are so many bases to cover, materials to buy, and contractors to pay that it will make your head spin.

 

The best thing you can do to alleviate any stress that may come during the renovating process is to come up with a budget and a gameplan beforehand. If you don’t have an idea of what you’d like to spend or how you’d like your house to look when you’re done, then you’re flying blind.

The first thing you need to do is come up with a vision for how you would like your home to look. It’s not enough to know that you want to change some things in your home—you need to know what changes you want to make. Once you’ve decided what areas of your house you want to renovate and how you want to make them over, the next thing on your agenda is to decide on a spending limit and abide by it.

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Take care of the essentials first.

When you start doing renovations, it’s important to start with the essentials first. Before you start handling the cosmetic aspects of the renovations, you need to turn your attention toward structural repairs.

Your roof is one of the most critical parts of your home’s structure and should be high atop your list of priorities. Leaks in your roof can lead to caving ceilings, mold on the walls and ceiling, and can even cause your walls and ceilings to be disjointed.

 

Rather than trying to DIY your roof repairs, rely on professional contractors like Metro City Roofing Services. They’ve got years of experience in residential roofing Denver homes, and they can fix your roof system as well. Roof repairs are too important to leave them to chance, so turn to experienced professionals and get the job done right the first time.

 

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Take pictures of your house during all phases of the renovating process.

Sometimes when you’re in the midst of a large project, it’s easy to get frustrated and lose sight of your vision and the progress you’ve made since starting on your project. Sometimes you need a reminder of just how far along you’ve come in the process, and that’s what pictures are for.

Before you begin going to work on your home, you should take photos of every room and area inside and outside of the house you plan on renovating. Once you’ve finished the project, get some after shots of your work as well. If you don’t want photos of your home’s glow-up operation clogging up your phone, consider uploading them to an online photo storage device. With an ibi photo manager, you can upload photos from your phone and store them safely in its terabyte of memory.

 

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Don’t forget the yard.

When you’re renovating, be sure to save some of your budget and creativity for the yard. Your house may look pristine, but your front and backyards need to match the swag of your home—in other words, give your yard a little TLC as well.

 

With a little imagination, you could transform your backyard into the perfect summertime hangout spot. Consider putting up a gazebo and decking it with nice, comfortable lawn furniture. You can even put an outdoor bar in the backyard and run decorative lights from the bar to the gazebo to give it a cabana vibe.

 

 

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5 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Upgrades You Can Make This Month

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your kitchen, take this as your sign to go for it! Upgrading your kitchen will do wonders for all of those delicious meals you plan to cook, not to mention, give it a stylish new look!

 

Of course, you’d want to achieve these things without breaking the bank; budgeting is always a great idea, right? Fortunately, we’ve found a few ways to upgrade your kitchen in an affordable way. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

 

1. Repair your appliances.

Appliances have a pretty important job in the kitchen; between cleaning dishes, storing food, and cooking meals, their roles are essential. Keeping your appliances in tip-top shape will help ensure that everything in your kitchen is being used correctly (and safely).

 

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Tehama Appliance Repair is an appliance repair company with a brick-and-mortar location that’s based in Redding, California. If you need appliance repair in Redding, you don’t need to look any further! They’re known to fix a plethora of appliances: a refrigerant, dryer, dishwasher, freezer, stove, washing machine, and several other home appliances. When you have a repairman or technician from this appliance repair service show up for their appointment, you can rest assured that you’ll be getting great service. Visit Tehama Appliance Repair to learn more about their repair service.

 

2. Pick up some new home and kitchen products for a great price.

Looking to add some new cookware into your collection? You can stop here: we know who has the best products for the best price.

 

Outlet Sale is an online store that sells amazing European home and kitchen products at great prices. Why pay that extra charge if you can get the same quality at a lower price? Homeowners always have a great time finding amazing deals on major brand (similar to Kitchenaid) appliances and products. Your first visit to this online store may feel like your first trip to the candy store; you may get overwhelmed, but it’ll be pretty sweet.

 

3. Add some cute accessories to liven up your kitchen decor.

Grab your shopping bag and put on your creative glasses; let’s get artsy!

 

If you’re big into cooking, your kitchen is most likely the heart of your home. Not only do you spend a lot of time there, but you create a lot of memories as well. It would be nice to have your kitchen look as warm and loving as it makes you feel. By shopping at stores such as Williams-Sonoma, Crate and Barrel, and West Elm, you can find cute towels, trinkets, and other similar tokens to add some personality to your kitchen. Before you get to shopping, visit Pinterest to see what type of theme you’d like for your kitchen.

 

 

4. Give your kitchen a little color.

A fresh count of paint can immediately upgrade anything.

 

If you’re looking for a new change, consider painting your kitchen cabinets and drawers. It’s super easy on your budget to pick up a can of paint (or two) to create a whole new look for your kitchen. The change in color will be a fresh addition that adds excitement to your special place.

 

Pro tip: You can also paint the floors! If you’re tired of walking across an old, dreary floor, take the project up a notch and refresh your floors with a few coats of paint. (Same goes for walls!)

 

 

5. Let’s lighten up a little.

With these clever DIY fixtures, you’ll brighten your cheery kitchen even more.

 

A recessed lighting conversion kit is so easy to navigate that you won’t need to hire a technician. Plus, they’re only about $20; installing new lighting has never been so affordable! To install these kits, screw the parts right into the light; the brace will hold the new fixture in its new spot, and you’ll be able to use a cover to shield the recessed light. Sounds easy, right? Visit HGTV to learn more about this DIY kit.