Between physical obstructions, rental agreements, and geography, up to 80% of US households might not have access to a rooftop or ground-based solar solution.
Even more disturbing, of those that do, communities are presenting a large ethnic and racial disparity in solar installation. Why this is happening comes down to a number of historical, economic, and social factors.
One solution that can benefit all is to get into a community solar farm. What are community solar farms? How do they work?
Keep reading to find out how they might be the best idea for you and your neighbors!
What Is a Community Solar Farm?
There are many kinds of ways to access solar energy savings and help the environment at the same time. If solar isn’t an option for your location but you still want to benefit, then community solar farms are the way to go.
A community solar farm is a field of solar panels that are taken care of by their owner. The solar farm feeds electricity into the power grid, producing solar credits for the company. They often use the best technologies available and get round-the-clock maintenance.
They’re high-tech and produce more electricity more efficiently than you would get on your roof. They also constantly upgrade their equipment to be on the leading edge of solar technology.
They’re privately owned solar farms that sell off their energy to people who otherwise can’t install their own systems. This helps to level the playing field and help all involved.
How Does a Community Solar Farm Make Money?
They often sell those credits at a discount to the price of electricity from your utility. For example, if you show them your electric bill, they may be willing to sell you credits at up to 10% off your normal kWh rate.
Those credits will be used against your utility bill, even though you are not the one producing the electricity. A community solar farm is not a utility, but they do work with utilities in a mutually beneficial arrangement for all.
Utilities can focus on power generation at times solar isn’t viable. Solar feeds the grid with clean, environmentally friendly energy during sun exposure. Regular US homeowners don’t need to invest in solar installation and design and still benefit by purchasing the solar farm’s credits.
Bridging the Socio-Economic Gaps
Let’s face it: the United States has some serious socio-economic gaps. From ethnic and racial injustices to gender debates, the nation is in a moment of extreme flux.
One of the ways to bridge those gaps is to take advantage of what a community solar farm can offer. Lower rates without home installation benefit renters and apartment owners alike, no matter the gender, race, ethnicity, or economic position.
Did this help you understand your options for going solar? Keep browsing our articles for more nuggets of solar power wisdom!
Whether you are looking to renovate one room or working on the entire property, renovation is a large project. As experts in remodeling and building, contractors can deal with all the required inspections, permits, materials, and equipment to ensure the smooth completion of the project.
However, failure to choose the contractors wisely may result in frustrations such as project delays, quality compromise, and wastages. Doing business with a contractor requires finding a reliable, reputable and efficient one to avoid such frustrations.
Conduct background checks
Whether you have received recommendations from a relative or a friend, it is important to establish the minimum credentials of the contractor before hiring. Obtain the full name and address of the company and ensure that enough insurance coverage and a state license are available.
Obtain policy and license numbers and verify their validity. Establish whether the company has any pending legal cases or has received complaints from customers in the past. If the potential contractor does not have any pending issues that may affect their work, you will avoid problems when the project is ongoing.
Plan on how to resolve differences
Many homeowners are coming up with diverse property renovation ideas, especially with the current housing boom. With a rush to create a home office, for instance, you may be tempted to ignore conflict resolution strategies.
Hiring a contractor means that you will work with them until the project is complete. Hire someone trustworthy and easy to communicate with. If, for instance, the contractor is setting up office space and something goes wrong, you should have a strategy to resolve conflicts beforehand.
A good contractor will facilitate written agreements to safeguard the interests of both parties. Before the start of the project, enquire how differences and unexpected issues may be handled.
Investigate the work habits and history of the contractor
Contractors may be general or specialists and so you need to ensure that they can handle the project appropriately. Investigate their work habits and the projects they have completed in the past. Look out for quality materials, some similar issues to your project, client satisfaction, and workmanship.
You may also track minor indicators of lack of professionalism. Establish whether the contractor returns calls promptly, whether they keep appointment times and whether their dress code tells something about their ability to be organized. Carelessness in small matters may lead to frustrations as a result of compromising the quality of work.
Have a smart payment schedule
Reliable and reputable contractors often request some upfront payment before they start working. In some states, asking for a down payment exceeding 10% is considered illegal, especially for large projects.
Smaller property upgrades with tailor-made specifications may require between 30% and 50% deposit. You should pay the balance after the completion of the project. Ensure that the payment schedule is clearly stated in the project contract and that it is updated on need.
Find a contractor from reputable sources
Getting recommendations from family members and friends about the contractor’s experiences is a good way to find a company to do business with. However, if you are new in the industry or are uncertain about available options, use online services to find a good contractor.
Most online services review recommendations from users. Your goal should be to ensure that the reviewers have experience working with a contractor you want to hire. Getting accurate information regarding online reviews will guarantee proper project completion.
Interview several contractors before hiring
It is possible to find a reliable contractor online, but online reviews should not substitute meetings in person with the contractor. If you don’t have a specific contractor in mind, you have some options.
Interview several candidates to gather insights into the kind of person you want to hire to undertake the project. Every contractor may have a unique approach, timeline, budget, and connections with subcontractors around your area.
Gathering estimates from several contractors will help you to have a clear perspective on appropriate project costs. You may also understand the kind of work each contractor is likely to provide.
Understand the contract details
Understanding the contract details is one of the best ways to avoid frustrations when doing business with a contractor. A contract should have information regarding fees and building permits and the commencement and completion dates of the project.
It should also have the details of payment terms, products and services to be provided by your contractor and the subcontractor issues. It should define the consequences of failure to honor the terms of the agreement, such as failure to compensate subcontractors.
If anyone needs to modify the contract to adapt to something new, request to sign an addendum and be clear about the updated project estimate. Understanding the contract details will help to minimize possible disputes that may amount to frustrations.
Request for a project estimate
Signing a construction agreement should start by having a formal estimate of the cost of the project. If you have multiple contractors to evaluate, consider a bidding process to narrow down the options. Apart from the timeline and budget, talk to the prospective contractors about your preferred materials and if there is a need to engage subcontractors.
It is also important to know if the contractor has completed similar projects. They could be good in one area of construction or renovation and not good in another. The home contractor should be willing to discuss material recommendations, previous projects similar to yours, and any questions you may raise during bidding.
Getting the project estimate will ensure timeliness and cost-effectiveness of project completion. A contractor who provides project estimates understands the project’s structure and how to integrate various design options. Therefore, it may guarantee a better outcome and minimize possible frustrations.
Conclusion
Construction projects are critical no matter their size and so it is important to take initiatives when hiring a contractor to ensure a smooth flow of work. With the above tips, you should be able to do business with a contractor without frustration. It will ensure the success of a project in terms of scope, time, quality and cost.
Author Bio
Leon Collier is a blogger and one of the best academic essay writers from the UK who works with essay writing service UK. He likes to take on challenges and is always keen to prove his writing prowess with his work, which is always high-quality and unique. His hobbies are reading books and playing tabletop games with his friends. You can reach him via Twitter @LeonCollier12.
Are you looking to give your home a fresh coat of paint before you put it on the market? Have you noticed recently that your property’s exterior paint job is looking a little worse for the wear? If so, then you need to learn a few tricks for painting your home’s exterior to perfection.
Doing so can give your home an aesthetic with precision and a beautiful coat. Anyone that walks/drives past it will be forced to do a double-take.
See below for an in-depth guide on different tips you should follow while painting a house. You’ll be glad that you did!
1. Know the Signs
Did you know that there are telltale signs that your home needs a fresh exterior paint job? Contrary to popular belief, exterior paint serves more of a purpose than improving the looks of your home. It’s also used for benefits such as:
Protecting your home from the elements
Extending the lifespan of your home’s siding material
Preventing rot
Boost the value of your home
You must understand the reasons to repaint your home so that you can make the proper call on what paint brand to use, which exterior painting company to hire, whether or not you need to make a few repairs before you paint, and so on.
Too many homeowners ignore these signs and are forced to deal with the consequences. The value of their home ends up suffering in the long run.
2. Search for Rot
For those of you that have a wooden exterior on your home, you’ll want to take this project as an opportunity to search for signs of rot. After all, if you’re going to go to the effort of painting your home’s exterior, you want to make sure you won’t have to replace certain pieces down the line.
You’ll want to take the time to inspect for rotting on your wood siding, any wooden doors, wooden door frames, wooden window frames, and any other wooden feature on the outside of your home.
This can be done by simply going around and tapping on the wood. Does it sound strong and dense or weak and hollow? If it’s the latter, then it’s generally a sign of rot. You’ll want to replace that piece before you start painting.
Rot can start in a wooden feature of your home’s exterior for a few reasons. It could be due to the moisture the wood was exposed to during a storm, the effect of usual wear and tear, or a sign of a termite infestation problem.
Whatever the reasoning, make sure that all of your features are a-okay before you begin prepping for the paint job.
3. Prepare the Home Exterior for Paint
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when painting your home’s exterior is walking right up to the siding and painting over it without any other form of preparation.
Think of it this way: if you don’t prepare the siding for a new coat of paint, you’re simply painting over all the dirt, debris, and germs that have piled upon it. Therefore, placing a new coat over it will trap the grime inside, which can cause bubbling or running paint.
To get the results that you want, you’re going to need to get it in paint-ready condition. Be sure to rent or purchase a pressure washer to clean the outside of your home. For optimum results, you’ll want to find one that fits the siding of your house.
For example, homes with soft siding (like stucco or wood) should only use one with anywhere between 1,200 to 1,500 psi. However, a home with vinyl siding will require something a bit stronger, such as a pressure washer with anywhere between 2,500 to 3,000 psi.
After you’ve pressure washed the house, make sure to provide a covering for all the plants near the side of your house, as well as remove any statues or figures that risk getting paint on them.
4. Scrap off Lead Paint
Perhaps you were prompted to inquire about exterior painting when you noticed the paint outside your home is starting to crack and peel off. This could be a sign that your home was previously painted with lead paint.
Regardless of what type of paint it is, that cracked paint has to be removed before you put on a fresh coat. Otherwise, it could cause the new paint to bubble or drip.
Grab as many friends, relatives, and neighbors as you can, then get them all to help you scrape off the paint from the side of your house.
5. Hire a Professional Painting Company
Is painting your home’s exterior more overwhelming than you originally thought? Perhaps you didn’t realize that repainting your home’s exterior would include things like pressure washing, scraping, and sanding.
If so, then you should hire a professional exterior painting company to do the work. That way, this project is put in the hands of experienced professionals with the manpower and equipment for the job.
The result will be a high-quality paint job that will make interested buyers salivate. It’s sure to up the curb appeal of your entire house.
Paint Your Home’s Exterior Today
Now that you have seen an in-depth guide on how to paint your home’s exterior and all the steps it requires to do it right, be sure to use this information to your advantage.
Start by browsing our website for more articles on painting the inside and outside of your home, as well as many other helpful topics that you will enjoy.
Las Vegas is one of the most popular places to buy a home in. Every year, the worldwide population visits the most expensive city in the US and has a great time doing the things they love. If settling in Vegas has been your dream too, then there is a list of Henderson Las Vegas home for sale. But, before buying a home, consider reading these things that can be important for you to know.
1. You get a variety to select from
Before you decide anything, you have to settle on a budget. There are a variety of places available for you to settle down but, you should be aware that the hottest real estate place in the market has to come at a greater price. So, decide on a budget and start searching for a place that suits you the best. The type of home you are looking for also depends on your budget as they all have different prices. If you are looking for a villa, you are expected to keep your budget higher than an apartment.
2. You should go through the requirements of buying a home in Vegas
Once you are through in successfully selecting the home of your dreams, the next thing in line is looking at the requirements to buy a home in the area of your choice. You might need a pre-approved home loan before settling down at one residence. Make sure that the approval is not from anyone but a decent lender. You have to keep other things in mind, and for that, it’s best to consult someone with experience. If you can’t find a home yet, try the list of Henderson Las Vegas homes for sale. We are sure something will come up!
3. Have you heard about the green neighborhood?
If you are a planet lover and want to find a place that saves the environment, look for a green neighborhood house. Such sites are environmentally friendly but come at an expensive rate. These days more and more people are trying to look for a place here. It not only helps save the environment but makes sure you are safe too!
4. Living away from the strip is always a better idea
Looking for the best property in Las Vegas, then you should avoid the area near the strip. This is because you will have to research a lot when finding a school or amenities like a gym nearby. Going here on vacation purposes does make sense, but why take a home that is not family-friendly and involves many struggles? Shifting to a new home should always be convenient and easy.
5. It might be expensive so negotiating is a must
Negotiating on small things like a pen or a notebook might not make sense but negotiating on the house does! Wouldn’t it be good if you save some dollars while hunting for the best home in the town? Real estate being hotter in Las Vegas makes the property dealer more accountable in asking for a higher price. Helping yourself might get you a better deal, and there is nothing harmful in trying, right?
6. You have to decide early as houses are selling soon
Construction in Las Vegas is catching up speed because of which moderately priced properties are selling at a faster rate. So, acting fast is one option you have! Making a decision ASAP is an important step as you never know next day you will find the same house at the same price or not! Try to negotiate to an extent where the seller does not get tempted by someone who is paying a little more than you.
7. It won’t be that easy to buy a house in the hottest market
Just like you, there are a lot of people looking for a place to settle in L. A. It is not impossible, but it might not be easy for you to settle on a property because the demand and supply are running together. While the legal process can be easy and fast, you have to make sure that your decision-making power is one the same rate as well. You might love a few houses, and by the time you decide on one, all your choices are sold! As the market is on fire, it is not a smooth task to buy the home of your dreams.
8. Try creative offers to impress buyers
Creativity is one of the best ways to impress someone uniquely. While all the buyers are approaching in an ordinary fashion, you can make a difference and get the house with your creativity to pitch differently. Tr y taking a homebuyer education course to learn all the details. A few tips from us include, try making an offer before they speak about the price. Try to work with experienced men who know the field and will help you in the best way possible.
Buying a place in Las Vegas might not be a daunting task if you have the right people behind you. It is the hottest market globally, and things might work on a priority basis, but if you try and work it out, you can get what you are looking for without much of a problem.
You plan for a lot of things in life, like vacations, choosing which car to buy and even buying a house. However, many people don’t consider estate planning. Estate planning decides who will inherit your assets after you pass away, and holds a lot of value. It might not be as fun to think about as your next vacation, but estate planning is necessary to ensure your belongings go to the right people or places.
Estate planning may sound like it’s just for the wealthy, but everyone should have an estate plan. Without settling your affairs, your loved ones can be negatively impacted after you pass away. Here’s why estate planning is important at any age.
Protects Beneficiaries
End of life planning is necessary for all people, especially those with families. It’s not just about who gets what, but helps create a plan to decide who will be in charge of everything from typical household activities, to paying taxes. Even if you’re not leaving much behind, if you don’t decide who receives what you do have, you won’t have any control over what happens to it.
For example, you can’t just assume that your home will be handed down to your children if you pass away. An estate plan is the only way to guarantee that everything you leave behind is left to your loved ones, and allows you to ensure their protection.
The main component of end of life planning is choosing the heirs for your assets, whether it’s your house or your favorite vase. Without this plan, the courts will decide who gets your assets, which can be a long and ugly process that can hurt your loved ones and their relationships with one another.
A will specifically names who gets your assets, so it’s important that you create one as soon as possible to make sure your family gets everything they need.
Protects Young Children
While you don’t want to consider what will happen if you die young, you need to think about the future. If you’re the parent of an underage child, you need to prepare yourself and them for what’s to come if you pass away. To ensure that your children are cared for the way you want them to be, you will name guardians who will take over custody if both parents were to pass away before the children are over the age of 18. Without naming these individuals, the courts will determine who will raise your children.
If you have anyone specific in mind who you think would be a good guardian to your children, talk to them about it to make sure that it’s something they are comfortable with. Many parents choose to name godparents for their children within their extended family, but this can also extend to friends or other loved ones. However, unless these individuals are specifically mentioned in your estate plan, then you cannot guarantee that these will be the people to take care of your children if you pass away.
Prevents Heirs From Paying Hefty Taxes
Estate planning is all about ensuring the protection of your loved ones, which can mean helping them save money. When you transfer assets to heirs, there will be a tax burden on them. However, with the right planning, you can lessen the amount they’ll pay on taxes when transferring your assets. To help with your taxes, you can use an easy-to-use, professional tax software.
Eliminates Family Drama
We’ve all watched the horror stories unfold on our favorite soap operas, but nobody wants to experience family drama due to a lack of an estate plan in real life. When someone with money or assets dies, family members typically start a war between one another. One sibling may believe that they are entitled to more than everyone, while another believes they should be the one in charge of the finances.
This type of fighting can get ugly quickly and end up in court with your family members pitted against each other, forced to choose sides.
An estate plan enables you to stop the fighting before it even begins. You are the one in control of where your finances and assets go if you become incapacitated or pass away. This can help you avoid family drama and keep your loved ones from fighting.
Saves Time and Money
If you pass away without an estate plan, the laws where you live will determine what happens to your estate. Probate court will name a representative to make sure your assets are distributed. This job typically goes to the surviving spouse, but if you don’t have one and no family member is willing to take on the task, the court will name a public trustee.
During this period, no one will be able to touch your assets or carry out any of your directives. Everything is essentially frozen until the court figures everything out. This probate process involves paperwork and court appearances, which means your loved ones will be spending valuable time away from their jobs and families to make sure your affairs are settled.
Estate Planning Ensures Your Safety
Estate planning doesn’t just mean drafting a will for after you pass away. In fact, it can take care of you while you’re still alive. An estate plan can include a power of attorney (POA) and healthcare proxy that ensure your wishes are fulfilled if you become incapable of fulfilling them yourself. Power of attorney designates someone who is authorized to handle your legal and financial affairs when you can’t, while a healthcare proxy is someone who can make healthcare decisions for you.
Without this living will, determining who among your family members can take care of these important duties can get difficult. The court might have to appoint someone who is unfamiliar with your wishes to make decisions for you.
Takeaway
While you may be young now, you never know what the future holds. If you have young children, you should at least have a will drafted to ensure their safety and protection. Whether you’re married or single, having an estate plan can help you and your loved ones in the future.
Estate planning also gives you a sense of control over your property, which can be taken by the state if there’s no one to give your assets to. As someone who might be single, an estate plan gives you the power to give your assets to a friend or charity instead of the government.
Matt Casadona
Matt Casadona has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. Matt is passionate about marketing and business strategy and enjoys San Diego life, traveling, and music.
Your growing family needs more space, and you may quickly consider converting your basement or garage into a bedroom. But are you aware that your attic has more potential to become a unique room?
You may think that it is a daunting task to plan an attic conversion because you need money and time to make it happen. However, with proper planning, you can have your new bedroom with minimal stress. Here are some steps to help you:
1. Building Code and Permits
An attic conversation may require a building permit during the planning stages. A building code has several safety standards that ensure the stability and safety of your house. It includes considerations about the ceiling height, width, and total square footage of the room. Your proposed bedroom must meet the building code requirements, especially if you plan to lease or sell it later in the future.
You can check with your local government unit to know if your attic conversion needs a permit. You must bring the completed plans for a quick and accurate answer. If you are adding windows or changing the roofline, you will need to obtain a permit first.
2. Angled Ceilings
The steep slope ceiling can be a problem when you decide to convert your attic into a bedroom because it limits the usable space and blocks any headroom. You can solve this issue by putting a unique piece of architecture to highlight the elements, such as using ceiling treatments. You may add a design by painting it using an eye-catching color or use paneling on the angles with molding. You can prefer to create a textured wall by painting over the molding to add visual interest.
3. Walls
Your attic bedroom will not have more wall space than your other rooms because of the steep ceiling angle. You may try using wall treatments by adding an extra interior wall. If you have a smaller space, you may try light colors to make the room look larger and more open. A more polished finish is also feasible by having faux panels with molding.
You can build shorter closets to maximize small areas and gain valuable square footage. Taller walls can match the angle and meet the ceiling, but it can be challenging to find furniture that will fit. You may prefer to have custom-made storage to correspond to the unconventional space. You can add shelving units into the walls to keep clutter off the floor.
4. Windows
Your window design must fit your space because a standard small window may not be enough for it to reach its full potential and make the space livable. You may opt for an easily accessible larger window that meets the building code. It has to be accessible and serve as an emergency exit in case of fire.
Windows also offer natural light, which helps your room look larger and brighter. You may prefer skylights because they provide a natural fit into a roofline and provide added headroom. The Dormer window extends from a sloped roofline for small nooks. It creates a dynamic element to the exterior, and you can add a desk or bench that also serves as a storage unit.
5. Floors
Flooring is essential in your bedroom conversion, but you must check that your floor has a structurally sound and robust surface. You can consider the amount of weight and movement that your flooring must accommodate when you transform the attic into a bedroom. Reinforcing the floor joists can make the flooring safe.
Hardwood floors may be suitable for other rooms in your house, but for the attic bedroom, a carpet can be your best bet because of its soundproofing benefits. You don’t want to create a lot of noise below that will disturb other family members. Carpets absorb sound and require an additional layer of subflooring to eliminate the noise from below.
6. Stairs
Many attics have ladders because their original intention is for storage areas. If you convert it to a bedroom, you may need to build a staircase because ladders are not stable and unsafe for everyday use. A conventional stair is more reliable than a ladder but occupies more floor space below. You may opt for a spiral stair as it has wide steps but does not occupy a lot of space.
7. Utilities
More often than not, your attic’s design is strictly for storage; thus, it does not have the appropriate utilities such as temperature control and electricity.
Temperature Control
The attic is hotter than the rest of your house during the winter and summer. You must install temperature control to ensure that you are comfortable in your planned bedroom. You may place a ceiling fan to cut down on your cooling and heating bills. However, it will not solve all your temperature control issues.
You may also invest in spray foam insulation to fill the crevices. It reduces your utility bills and helps soundproof your room. You can install insulation in your ceiling, walls, or floor to control the temperature. If your attic has an HVAC system, you may still prefer to add more temperature control because you will have someone moving in the room full time.
Electric
Your attic may already have electrical wiring, but you need more light fixtures and outlets if you wish to convert it into a bedroom. You can select light fixture designs that do not give off a lot of heat. You may prefer recessed lights because they provide light without heating the space. You can tuck them into the ceiling.
Your dream to convert your attic into a livable space is exciting, but you must ensure that you do it right to save on time and costs. You may consider the steps listed to add value to your home and have more bedrooms for your growing family.
About the Author
Leon Collier is the UK’s prolific academic writer and blogger with vast experience working as one of the essay writers providing college essay papers. He is someone you will love to collaborate with because he loves challenges and delivers outstanding work regularly. He is a voracious book reader and enjoys playing tabletop games when he is not busy with work. You can follow him on Twitter @LeonCollier12.
When you build your home from scratch, you will be able to design it in a way that suits your needs perfectly. This is the case for tiny houses. When you plan your tiny home, you make sure to utilize every part of it maximally so you don’t have an inch of space left unused. However, to live in and adequately enjoy your tiny home, you need to power it sufficiently, whether you’re on the grid or off the grid.
It may be easier to focus more on the fun activities involved in the design of your tiny home, such as picking out your furniture or choosing the exterior paint color. However, some decisions are more urgent and need to be sorted before others. One such decision is how to power your tiny home. This is essential as it can affect your construction process. So you must sort it out as soon as possible. For instance, some of the things you have to consider during your design are electrical panels, light switches placement, necessary connections for solar, etc., depending on which method or power source you go for.
You need intended parking locations and available budget as major components while you plan the building to establish your power. There are three different options that you may consider:
1. External power generators
You may decide to live on-grid and hook your home up to an electricity provider. However, this is not an option that most tiny homeowners resort to. One of the most typical ways for tiny homeowners to power their home is by using power generators. With a power generator, you don’t have to live on-grid to power your home. You can be off-grid, so this allows you to build your tiny home anywhere you desire without fear of powering it. Getting a portable external power generator gives you the level of flexibility that you need to power your home on the go, and it doesn’t require wiring.
While many of these generators use gasoline-style or propane fuel, there are several other options that you can settle for. Thankfully, the market is now ridden with more clean energy generators. This allows you to build your tiny home in line with environmental-friendly standards and also get a portable clean energy generator to power it.
If your tiny home is built on wheels, then you are better off getting portable solar generators that allow you to move freely whenever you want to. However, it is more cost-effective to use this as a backup option than the primary power source because of the recharge time and limited capacity.
You should note, though, that it may be more costly to power your home with a generator if you want to live off-grid. This is because you have to rely on fuels, and if you are always indoors, the monies add up pretty quickly.
2. Solar power
Using solar energy to power your house is an excellent idea for a tiny house. This enables you to be self-sufficient and gives you more off-grid flexibility. However, solar power doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all solution for tiny houses. Each one would have a unique solution based on the daily energy usage in each house.
Thankfully, several companies offer this service, letting you leverage sunshine to provide power to your tiny home, especially in an environmentally friendly manner. However, you may need to get specialist advice to be well-informed about everything you should know about this power source. Also, you have to keep yourself informed about the most budget-friendly products that you need for installing a solar power system in your tiny home.
You don’t have to panic if you are living in a place where there isn’t much fun. Solar power allows you to generate energy under rainy or cloudy climates still. So, there’s no reason to miss out on this sustainable power source in your home, wherever you are.
Another thing that you should know is that using solar energy is not necessarily a big commitment or a big project like covering your roof with solar panels. You don’t have to commit yourself that much. You could start small, but you need to get appliances that can run on the available solar energy.
The placement of your home is another thing that you should pay attention to if you are going to power it through solar energy. It would be more helpful if you paid more attention to your home’s exposure to the sky. If you are going to make the most of the sunlight, then it makes sense that your tiny house is built directly under the sky where your panels have clear access to the sun and can leverage on it.
3. Wind power
Wind power is another excellent option for you if you are looking to live sustainably and away from the use of fossil fuels. You could get small turbines that can fit into the top of your tiny home. Using wind power doesn’t have the limitations of needing a large property or space. It can work well for your tiny house too. However, these small turbines may not have enough in them to generate the amount of electricity that you need to power your home entirely. So, it makes more sense to have this energy source as a backup or second option while you use additional sources such as power generators and solar panels to power your tiny house.
If you can go for the giant wind turbine and mount it on a tower, then you will be able to use it fully to power your home. However, you must be living in a region with a windy climate. Otherwise, you won’t be able to generate enough electricity to power your house still.
Whether you are building or buying a tiny home, if your preferred source of energy is wind power, then you must be sure that you are located in an area where there’s enough wind to generate the needed power. A microturbine mounted on a tower needs an approximate 36-foot diameter footprint before it can be installed. This makes it better suited for homesteads.
Conclusion
An advantage of living in a tiny home is that it allows you to stay off-grid if that’s your preference. However, you need alternative means to power your home, which have been discussed in this article. Additionally, the power source that you choose will affect your daily lifestyle.
Author Bio
Charlie Svensson is a fast, engaging, freelance writer and dissertation writer providing essay writing services reviews for EssayAssistant. He is skilled in content writing and blogging. The favorite topics of his posts are education, social media, marketing, SEO, motivation blogging, and self-growth. Excellent adaptability of skills to reach diverse audiences.
Selling a home can be a tiresome process especially for someone who has never done it before. There are a lot of things that you need to consider to avoid getting ripped off. Everything from the real estate agent you hire to the ads that you post online will determine how successful you’ll become at the end of the selling process.
Before you think of posting your property on the real estate market, you need to ensure that you get the ideal listing price. This might sound like an easy thing to do. However, it’s more complicated than what the majority of people think. This is because a lot of factors affect the value of your house in the market. At times, the smallest things such as a faulty garage door can negatively affect the value of your house.
Therefore, finding out the worth of your home is not a process that you should take lightly. To help you avoid getting stressed and overwhelmed, we’ve compiled a few practical tips that will help you find the price of your house in the local area. Let’s get started!
What affects the value of your home?
As we said earlier, there are a lot of things that affect the market value of your home. Knowing these aspects is essential if you want to get the best price for your house. In this section, we are going to talk about these important aspects.
The first is location. The distance from amenities, schools, roads, and your neighborhood can make a huge difference when determining the worth of your house.
The second is the size of your property. You need to measure the square footage and the usable space available. You shouldn’t be surprised by the fact that buyers are willing to pay more for bigger homes. However, don’t get carried away by this fact.
Another important aspect that determines your home’s value is its current state and age. In most cases, older homes tend to be cheaper than newer homes. Keeping your home in shape by improving it consistently can greatly boost its value. Other important things that can affect the value of your home include:
The conditions of the real estate market
The number of bathrooms and bedrooms
Economic aspects such as interest rates
Previous sale prices
Home upgrades
Estimating the value of your home
Now that you are aware of the factors that determine the value of your home, let’s discuss a few important ways how you can estimate the value of your home before listing it.
1. Utilize online tools
Most people today use automated valuation models (AVMs) to discover the value of their homes. According to a recent study, 22 percent of homeowners use websites to find out the worth of their homes. These tools analyze records such as location, property taxes, listing prices, and recent sales to predict the value of your home. The use of an online estimator is one of the best ways to discover the worth of your property. However, you should keep in mind that these online tools don’t provide a 100 percent accurate value to your property. Nevertheless, you’ll get a clue of its value.
2. Hire a professional
Most people hire a professional home appraiser to determine whether they can get and afford to pay the mortgage. However, you can hire one to help you determine the value of your property whenever you want. A recent survey found out that 28 percent of homeowners hire an appraiser to help them find out the value of their property. An appraiser will do much more than help you discover the value of your property. They can:
Describe the characteristics of your property
Compare properties
Help you know more about the real estate market in your area
After looking at all these factors, your appraiser will deliver a report on the value of your home.
3. Perform a comparative market analysis
You can estimate the value of your house by requesting your real estate agent to conduct a comparative market analysis. While this report won’t be as detailed as that of a professional appraiser, it will still be accurate. Real estate agents usually perform this analysis for a few dollars or at times, for free. However, when you ask your realtor to estimate the value of your home, they will treat it as an invitation to work with you throughout this process. Before asking for comparative market analysis, you need to choose an agent that you can work with comfortably.
4. The FHFA House Index Price Calculator
Another great way to get a thorough analysis of your property is by using the Federal Housing Financing Agency house price index. This is a scientific method that provides an accurate value. The house price index uses the repeat sales method which involves analyzing the home’s change in value in previous sales using mortgage transactions data that has been gathered since the early 70s. It uses this information to estimate the value of your property given the current market trends. The disadvantages of this method are:
It only analyzes conforming home mortgages
It doesn’t consider inflation or seasonal changes
5. Evaluate similar homes
You can discover the value of your home by comparing other similar homes in your area. It’s the most famous and simplest method in the US since most homeowners use it before selling their property. You need to ensure that you are comparing your home with the right ones. You need to look at homes with a similar location, age, size, condition, and upgrades. Think of other houses that your prospective buyer would choose instead of yours. Compare at least three homes to get an accurate price of your home.
6. Look at expired and withdrawn listings
Look at withdrawn and expired listings to discover the value of your home. Expired listings are all the agreements that ran out without them being bought. On the other hand, withdrawn means that the homeowner doesn’t want to sell the property. Finding out the value of these properties in your neighborhood will help you find out the value of your property.
Conclusion
As you’ve seen, evaluating your property is extremely important. The process can be tiring and time-consuming. However, it’s worth it in the long run. Look at all the available options and try using at least two valuation methods.
Author Bio:
Leon Collier is a blogger and academic writer from the UK who has vast experience working with dissertation writing services and professional essay writing services. He loves to take on every challenge thrown at him and has the ability to deliver outstanding work regularly. When he’s not busy writing, he loves reading books and playing tabletop games with his friends. Follow him on Twitter @LeonCollier12.
A reverse mortgage is a special type of loan that some older homeowners can take out. This loan allows them to access their home equity and receive cash payments, either as a lump sum or in installments over time. Many seniors turn to a reverse mortgage loan in retirement to bolster their income, and they can use this money to maintain their home, pay for healthcare, or cover any other costs in their lives.
If used under the right circumstances, the money you receive from a reverse mortgage can provide you with a greater degree of financial freedom in retirement. So is a reverse mortgage right for you? In this article, we’ll take a look at four major benefits of a reverse mortgage loan.
What is a Reverse Mortgage?
A reverse mortgage loan allows homeowners to borrow money by tapping into their home equity, and using their home as collateral for the loan. This means, essentially, that you’re able to borrow money without having to make monthly principal and interest payments. It can be a great way to improve cash flow and, since there are very few restrictions on how to spend the money you get from the loan, you can use it to pay for a wide range of costs and expenses.
One of the most unique aspects of a reverse mortgage loan is that there’s no set due date for when you have to pay back the money. While you can make payments on the loan at your convenience, the total balance of the loan only becomes due once you sell the home, move away, or die.
Who Qualifies for a Reverse Mortgage?
To qualify for a reverse mortgage, you generally have to be 62 or older and must either own your home outright or have a considerable amount of equity in the house. The exact amount of home equity you need varies depending on the lender you’re working with, but as a rule of thumb you should have at least 50% equity in your home to take out a reverse mortgage loan.
A reverse mortgage can be a useful tool depending on your own financial situation. For example, if any of the following statements apply to your situation, then a reverse mortgage may be for you:
Most of your net worth is tied up in your home
You’re in need of cash and don’t have other sources of income
You don’t plan on ever leaving your home
Benefits of a Reverse Mortgage
Reverse mortgage loans offer borrowers a variety of benefits. Under the right circumstances, it can be a very powerful tool that allows you more freedom and flexibility in your finances. Here we’ll take a look at some of the main benefits that come with a reverse mortgage loan:
#1: Increased Cash Flow
When you stop working and retire, you typically lose your main source of income. However, your other expenses, such as your mortgage, utilities, insurance, maintenance costs, and so on generally stay the same. If you don’t have an ample savings account, this can create a situation where you feel stressed out or overwhelmed by these costs.
A reverse mortgage allows you to pull money you wouldn’t normally be able to access out of your property. This supplies you with an income stream that can help you more comfortably manage your expenses in retirement.
#2: No Monthly Mortgage Payments
As a homeowner, you won’t have to make monthly mortgage payments on a reverse mortgage. That’s because a reverse mortgage, unlike a traditional mortgage, doesn’t require the homeowner to make any loan payments. Instead, payments are made to you for the length of time that you continue to live in your home.
The total balance of the loan only becomes due once the borrower sells the home, permanently moves to a different home, or dies. However, it’s very important to keep in mind that a reverse mortgage doesn’t let you off the hook for costs like home insurance and property taxes.
#3: Protection Against Decline in Housing Market
A reverse mortgage loan is insured by the federal government, and this provides you with a great deal of security. It means that if the value of the reverse mortgage loan exceeds the value of your home when that loan comes due, the federal government will take care of the difference.
So, with a reverse mortgage, you won’t ever have to worry about owing the lender more than your home is actually worth, even if the real estate market tanks and negatively impacts your home’s value. Additionally, if, in the future, you or your heirs want to pay off the entirety of the loan and stay in the home rather than sell it, you wouldn’t be required to pay more than the value of the home.
#4: Flexibility in How You Receive Payments
With a reverse mortgage, the loan payments made to you can be disbursed in a few different ways. The methods in which you can be paid include:
Lump sum. In this case, you’d get the full amount of the loan in a single payment. You can receive a full or partial lump sum once your loan has been approved.
Equal monthly payments. This means that as long as at least one borrower lives in the home, the lender will continue making steady monthly payments to them.
Term payments. The lender will issue even monthly payments over the course of a term set by the borrower.
Taking out a reverse mortgage is a big decision and it can often be pretty confusing for the average person to understand and navigate. While it provides a number of major benefits, it also has its downsides. There are certain fees that come with a reverse mortgage, the amount you’re required to pay back grows over time, you’re still responsible for other home-related expenses, and you lose home equity as your loan balance increases.
That’s why, if you’re considering taking out a reverse mortgage, it’s important to consider all of the pros and cons. Do some research and weigh the benefits listed above against the potential drawbacks. If you’re still unsure, consider consulting with a financial planning professional to see if a reverse mortgage can help you in retirement.
Matt Casadona
Matt Casadona has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. He is currently a contributing editor for 365 Business Tips. Matt is passionate about marketing and business strategy and enjoys the San Diego life, traveling and music.
A study reveals that people invest about 60% of their time viewing photos and 40% on the property description while buying a home. High-quality property photographs are critical to rope in real estate buyers. Photo editing services are a sophisticated way of enhancing real estate images. Image editing can cover different enhancement works. Image enhancement by Styldod allows you with services like improve colours, add elements, background removal, cropping, colour enhancement, and many more. Virtual Home staging is another way to showcase homes, where a property is decorated to display its best qualities to attract buyers and the goal of selling the home faster at a higher price. Outsourcing photo editing services will edit the images to match your taste and requirement for successful virtual home staging. Here are the key benefits of outsourcing real estate photo editing services:
1. Cost-Effective
Outsourcing photo editing tasks can save the cost of hiring a dedicated team for editing photos, and you can get your work done at a minimum charge if you considered this option.
2. Quality Work
Professional editors are updated with all the functionalities, features, techniques and elements of photo editing tools and software. They have the expertise to edit your photo to match your style as closely as possible and deliver quality work.
3. Reduced Turnaround Time
Professional editors are familiar and experienced in using editing tools. Thus quick to modify real estate photos and deliver supreme quality work. Some professionals even offer “Next Day Turnaround” options.
4. High-Quality Images
Property buyers are drawn towards beautiful images of homes they wish to buy. Clear, crisp, and top-quality increases the chances of a listing to be viewed and sold. A professionally edited real estate photo ensures High Quality finished images and provides potential buyers with a glimpse of their dream home.
5. Use of Hi-Tech Editing Tools
Using advanced tech toolscan quickly transform the look and feel. Agents hosting virtual staging can maximize the value of it. Real estate agents can easily find many options for editing services and get the tasks done in their preferred ways over the internet.
6. Huge Volume
Professional editors have enormous resources for pictures, stock images, and other elements that aid in enhancing photos and delivering a massive volume of work even in a short timeline
7. Error-Free Outputs
Hiring a professional image editing servicing provider can rectify imperfections in photographs. They use the latest technology and advanced image editing tools. The edited images look natural and will be suitable for listing properties across multiple platforms.
Photo editing helps real estate agents gain efficiency, maximize output, and stay ahead in the competition.If you wish to get supreme photo editing services for your real estate business that can increase sales and efficiency, you can get in touch with Styldod’s photo editing services. The creative team will assist you with all your Real Estate Photo Editing requirements.
Autor Bio:
Rahul Agarwal is the Co-founder & Chief Business Officer at Styldod, where he has taught a computer to do interior design! Styldod provides the most hassle-free & inexpensive virtual staging solutions for real estate agents so they can sell their listings faster, and for higher prices. Rahul was also a co-founder of Mebelkart (which is acquired by Ask Me). He’s your everyday IIT Kanpur nerd who pushes the boundaries with his innovative entrepreneurial stints and is also a sound startup investor & advisor. Rahul attributes his success as a professional to the discipline he has learned from his district hockey days, being a swimmer and a gym enthusiast.
