Pest control in the winter? Absolutely! Pest control isn't just something you should have during the summer months. Pests can be a serious problem all year long. In fact, some pests become more of an indoor problem when temperatures outside become undesirable. Let's take a look. RodentsWe have many species of rodents in Tennessee. The most common are mice, Norway rats, and roof rats. These critters can get into your home during any part of the year, but dropping temperatures and a reduction of food options gives them even more reason to come inside. When they do, they can spread harmful bacteria and diseases. They can contaminate stored foods, dishes, silverware, food-prep surfaces, and more. As they explore your home from top to bottom, they can spread parasites around as well. Flea and tick infestations are commonly linked to rodent infestations. These secondary pests bring with them their own list of diseases. Rodents don't just enter homes during the warm months. They can get in any time of the year. SpidersCommon house spiders become even more common when the cold temperatures of fall arrive. While spiders have the ability to create a sort of antifreeze that protects them from freezing to death, most of the food they eat doesn't have this ability. When their food goes inside, the follow. So, when you see overwintering insects during the cold winter months, don't be surprised to see those spiders too. AntsMost ants in Tennessee disappear during the winter months. They hide in their nests underground and wait for conditions outside to become favorable again. But, when an ant species as established itself inside a home, where it is warm, they can be active all winter long. This is especially true of carpenter ants because carpenter ants are much more likely to create a nest inside a man-made structure than other species of ant are. When they do, they can weaken the wood they inhabit. This can be bad news for a property owner looking to protect their equity. Year-Round Pest Control is the Way to GoTennessee pests have a way of getting into our homes and causing trouble all year. The best way to keep them out and reduce the threats they can pose is to have a licensed and experienced service professional apply appropriate treatments in each season and guide you in steps you can take to reduce the impact pests can have on your health and your property. If you need help with this, remember, the team at All-American Pest Control is always available to assist you.
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Of all of the pest infestations someone can have, bedbugs are one of the worst. The bloodsuckers often live in mattresses and couches, and wait until someone lies down to attack-leaving red, itchy bumps and welts in their wake. And get ridding of them isn't easy or cheap. So which cities have the biggest bedbug problem? For the third year in a row, the Baltimore metropolitan area (which includes the city and surrounding suburbs) topped the list, according to a recent report from pest control company Orkin. In addition, searches on Google for “bed bugs” in the metro shot up 42% from May to October-and spiked 78% in October. The study was based on the number of bedbug treatments Orkin performed in each metro from Dec. 1, 2017, through Nov. 30, 2018. The company has 400 nationwide locations. “Bedbugs are the No. 1 urban pest in many cities today,” Chelle Hartzer, an Orkin entomologist, said in a statement. “They are master hitchhikers, so no one is immune. Sanitation has nothing to do with prevention: from public transit to five-star resorts, bedbugs have been and can be found everywhere humans are.” The creepy-crawlies hitch rides on just about anything-luggage and purses, coats, secondhand furniture, etc.-and make their way into homes everywhere. Then they reproduce, with females laying two to five eggs a day. “With people going back and forth between hotels and homes, you get a hitchhiker on your suitcase and you bring that back into your home,” Hartzer tells realtor.com®. “Or your kids have a sleepover and bring one home.” She recommends folks check their hotel or guest rooms thoroughly before bunking down. It can be tough to spot the tiny terrorists, as they're about the size of an apple seed and don't tend to come out during the day. But telltale signs of a bedbug infestation are black or rust-brown spots on or below sheets and mattresses, and teeny, tiny shells on the floor or in the bed. When travelers return home, they should leave their bags by the entryways to their homes-far away from their bedrooms. That's only until they wash and dry their clothes on high heat (which kill the bugs) and then can inspect the empty bags for bugs. If that doesn't work and folks discover the icky critters, they should put their clothing, bed linens, towels, curtains, and stuffed animals through the dryer to kill any pests nesting in them. They should also call in the professionals, says Hartzer. The company will make recommendations on what steps to take next, depending on the severity of the infestation. The top 10 metros for bedbug treatments:
The post The Bedbug Capital of the U.S.: Do You Live There? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. If you're in the process of patio planning, even if you've only just begun your research, then you may have already realized that there's a lot involved. There are so many different factors in play and a big range of choices when it comes to patio materials and even patio builders (all with different price ranges), and you might feel terribly overwhelmed. If you are going to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a new patio, you want it to be perfect. It ought to not only look nice but should not have ongoing problems with it either. You should be able to create a patio that meets your needs and doesn't have you wondering if you wasted your money. Starting in February, you'll see people dressed in Lady Liberty costumes standing on the streets. They'll be holding massive arrows reminding you to file your taxes and get the refund due to you. These costumed advertisers are representatives of Liberty Tax, a brick and mortar tax filing service. But in keeping with the times, Liberty Tax has also created an online presence, so that filers can file their taxes online from the comfort of their own homes. Their website is Liberty Tax Online… which is identical to Liberty Tax's other websites FreeTax.com and eSmartTax.com. Well, it's not quite identical. LibertyTax online costs more than either of the previously mentioned sites, but it also comes with a unique, in-person “Double Check guarantee” at participating Liberty Tax retail locations. Is the added benefit worth the added costs? Quick Summary
Quick Navigation Liberty Tax Online NavigationLiberty Tax Online has a self guided user interface. You can use the menu at the top of the screen to move from the Income Section to the Deductions Section to the Credits etc. Users must then select the options that pertain to their filing situation. To select a section, a user will select “Add” and to edit the information, the user can select Review. Liberty Tax Ease Of UseAs far as tax software goes, Liberty Tax was not the easiest to use. While you can import your old tax documents and W-2 forms, the software doesn't allow any other imports. Additionally, it's built in calculators tended to be subpar. For example, the calculator on the W-2 form doesn't automatically calculate Social Security Income taxes. Instead, users have to multiply their taxable income by 6.2% (and know the calculation) if they want to use the calculator. Of course, most people should simply copy information from their W-2 form. However it's easiest if the tax software enters as much information as possible for users. Liberty Tax Online Double Check GuaranteeAlthough the Liberty Tax Online software isn't particularly easy to use, it has one important draw that's unique to it. Liberty Tax online has Double Check Guarantee. Users who complete their filing online can visit participating Liberty Tax retail locations and have a tax professional review their forms before filing. This guarantee is unique to Liberty Tax Online, and does not come with the eSmart Tax or the FreeTax.com software packages. Liberty Tax Knowledge ArticlesLike eSmart Tax and FreeTax.com, Liberty Tax online has a side bar filled with “Commonly Asked Questions.” The questions have robust explanations of tax concepts, and they also explain some of the more difficult to use aspects of the software. Once again, the articles are very good, but several other software packages offer more and better information. Liberty Tax Pricing And PlansAll of Liberty Tax Online's plans come with audit support. That means in the event of an audit a tax professional will advise you on next steps. It also comes with free “Double Checking” from a tax filing professional at participating Liberty Tax locations.
Promo Code: Take an Extra 20% Off Every Liberty Tax Online Tax Filing Solution. Use Code: LTOCJ20 Who Should Use Liberty Tax Online In 2019?In terms of software, Liberty Tax Online is really identical to lower cost products created by Liberty Tax (including eSmart Tax and FreeTax.com). The only difference is the support (Liberty Tax Online offers the Double Check guarantee while the other services do not). If you're only considering the software, Liberty Tax Online might not be the best choice. Instead consider Credit Karma Tax (for another free tax software option), H&R Block (for a robust product at a great price), or TurboTax (for the easiest product in 2019). If Liberty Tax Online had a better interface, it would be easy to recommend it for new filers and filers with complex situations. However, as it stands, it's tough to make a recommendation to use it this year. The post Liberty Tax Online 2019 Review – Free Double Check Guarantee appeared first on The College Investor. The winter season brings it's fair share of snow, assuming you live in a region where snow is common. Even so, painting a home in the cold is not exactly ideal, even for painting professionals. Instead of breaking out the winter jacket and earmuffs, it might actually be better to focus on your home's interior instead. While you'll want to get the exterior painted eventually, it's better to wait for a more ideal climate than to brave the frigid weather. Consider these four reasons why interior painting is a great place to start this season.
Take Advantage of Your Holiday VacationIf you're snowed in, consider this perfect timing to take a closer look at your home's interior. Even if you aren't snowed in, chances are you've taken some time off work and have some time to kill anyway. Just make sure you purchase the paint you want to use beforehand in case you do get snowed in. While you're at it, it may be good to purchase other supplies commonly found in paint stores, such as shovels or salt for your driveway. Faster Drying PaintAlternatively, those who live in dryer climates throughout the year can also take advantage of the winter season. Summer means higher rates of humidity, which is not exactly ideal for the drying process. Because winter weather is generally a dryer season, your paint job should dry noticeably quicker than it would during other times of the year. Just make sure to crack the windows so proper ventilation can get in. Earlier Natural LightSince daylight savings time occurs during the winter season, you'll get more light during the morning hours. This should act as good incentive to get up early and start your paint job then. If your room has windows and you live in a snowy climate, you can also take advantage of the natural light reflecting off of the snow outside. More light makes it easier for you to see areas of your interior you may miss. It also allows you to work more efficiently, shortening the process overall. Save Money on Professional PaintingIf you plan on hiring a painting company, you'll learn that their rates go down during the winter season. According to some estimates, painting during the winter season can be as much as 40 percent cheaper compared to hiring services during the summer. Getting a professional paint job at a lower rate is always a benefit! Additionally, getting your interior paint job done now will give you more time to focus on the exterior once the weather gets warmer. You'll also have more time to focus on outdoor projects in general, including garden plots, deck repairs and utility maintenance. No longer do you have to ask yourself “when is the best time to paint inside my house?” There's no better time than winter to work with a painting company. Call a professional to get your estimate today! About Platinum PaintingThe team members at Platinum Painting are interior experts who only focus on residential homes. That means you can expect knowledge that's catered to you as a homeowner, not vague information that could help any average client. It also means you can get your cabinets and doors painted along with your walls. To learn more about their work or get a free estimate, you can contact them through their website. The post Why Winter is the Best Time to Complete Your Interior Painting appeared first on Platinum Painting Blog. Prefab homes can be roughly defined as a home building method which uses parts made, assembled and manufactured inside a factory that are then assembled on the construction site. That makes Prefab homes a great way to get “a place to call your own.” Enticing, exciting, exhilarating are just three words to describe the feeling you get when you think about your dream home. However, it is a daunting decision to select the right home to build and where to build it. Here are some excellent reasons why you might want to consider a prefab for your next home. Prefab Homes: The Millenial's ChoiceThat is why choosing what kind of home to build, along with when and where to build it is sometimes a daunting decision. Aside from these considerations, you have several different factors you must also take into account before you decide to build. These include financial stability, mental readiness, and future-mindedness. There are many different types of home from which to select such as traditional stick-built, boats, apartments or even floating homes if that is what interests you. However, prefab homes have made a big splash in recent years. But what really sets apart prefab homes from the other types of homes? What is so special about these kinds of homes? Continue reading to find out more about why more and more homebuyers are choosing prefab homes. Faster Building PeriodThe main reason why prefab homes have a relatively fast building period is that the construction process takes place inside a factory. This being the case, prefab homes are not affected by weather and climate constraints. Conversely, these are the types of delays you will see in other types of home construction. As from their very definition above, prefab homes have parts that are made inside factories. This encourages an uninterrupted and systematic production time which makes it time efficient and cost-effective. Cost-Effective SolutionSince prefab homes brag a relatively fast building period, the homeowner saves on unforeseen labor costs. The assembly is faster since the parts are premade and construction takes place in the factory. Fewer days of construction also reduce the risk of unexpected weather constraints and on-site construction-related accidents. Customization in the FactoryThe materials and components made inside the factory of the prefab home builder can be customized to suit your taste. Excellent prefab home companies research on the latest trends so as to become updated in the new architectural designs. This enables them to be more versatile and to continuously improve in the field of prefab home building. Utility Saving FeaturesPrefab homes are also famous for their ability to cut up on overall energy consumption. During winter, owners of prefab homes may notice that their homes consume much lower energy than when they were on their previous homes. This is because prefab homes have specifications which regulate and insulate heat well inside the home. Your Dream Prefab HomeIf you are in the market for a prefab home, I recommend that you start with the links in this article to begin your search and education. There are so many possibilities in the modern prefab home that they are too numerous for just one article, so keep researching and taking notes to find the most wonderful prefab home of your dreams. Other Posts You Might Enjoy:3 Examples of Wellness Architecture for Your Home The Magnificence of Arches in your Home Interior 12 Unique Trends to Expect in Interior Design 2019 The Best Marble Designs for Room Interiors The post 4 Reasons why Prefab Homes are the Millenial's Best Choice appeared first on Dig This Design. Every new year millions of people make resolutions to get organized, simplify, lose weight, exercise more, spend less time on their phones, save money, etc.
The reality is only about 8% of people succeed in keeping their resolutions. Why do so many people, who have great intentions fail? The problem is most people have a laundry list of things they want to change or improve each year and the goals aren't very specific. For example, one year I decided I wanted to simplify my life. That's a great goal because who really wants a more complicated life? But how could I actually simplify things? What I should have said was: “This year I'm going to wait 48 hours before I say “yes” to any new commitments so I can evaluate whether or not it is worth saying yes to.” In order to keep your resolutions, you need can't just say you want to get organized or lose weight. You need a plan. How to Keep Your ResolutionsBe specificIt is easy to say, “I want to get in shape” but it is actually hard to get in shape. A few years ago I decided that I would always take the stairs if possible. Taking the stairs is something specific I could do to move towards a healthier lifestyle. It was also achievable. I'm in good health, so going up and down stairs was something I was capable of doing. Sometimes I would get winded, but I resolved to get in better shape so that going up a few flights of stairs was no problem. Today I can easily carry luggage up and down the stairs at the airport without breaking a sweat. The small change of taking the stairs, triggered other changes in my life. I didn't want to get sweaty and gross walking up the stairs so I focused more on my physical fitness. Make them achievableWhen thinking about setting resolutions, try to come up with specific and achievable goals. If you want to get organized, take an afternoon to create an organizing plan. Instead of writing down, “organize house” write down “organize pantry” or “clean out coat closet” Set a goal of organizing one specific space a week (or a day). Everyone is capable of organizing spaces one at a time by making a few small changes to your daily or weekly routine. If you aren't naturally organized check out a book at the library for motivation or purchase a daily/ weekly checklist. Ask one of your super organized friends to come over and help you get started. Make sure the goals you set are ones you have the ability to reach. Be accountableWhen I started to get fit, I did not like going to the gym. I hated it. I decided to hire a trainer to keep me accountable. Not everyone can afford a trainer (I needed one due to a previous back surgery) but everyone needs someone to hold them accountable. Share your goals with a friend or family member so they can check up on you and maybe even work towards those goals with you. I've found that with every big accomplishment in my life, there has been someone that was constantly checking up on me making sure I stayed on track. Make it enjoyableIf you absolutely hate what you are doing, chances are you are going to try and avoid doing it at all costs. If you hate to cook, you probably are not going to want to menu plan and make dinner seven nights a week. I like to build in little rewards to motivate me to do things I don't love to do. So if I hated to cook I would probably reward myself with two nights off a week (either go out or have the kids make sandwiches for themselves) if I cooked the other five nights. Or I would find out how much money I saved by cooking at home and use the extra funds to do something fun like take a weekend vacation or buy something fun for the house. A few years ago I stopped making resolutions. I decided instead to evaluate my schedule/ life every month and decide what I needed to focus on. For example this month I decided to focus on making dinner every night. This is actually quite challenging since my girls have practice every night of the week from 5:30-7:30pm. However I realized that because of these practices my family was eating way to many frozen pizzas and junk food. I looked at my schedule and realized there were some nights we could eat dinner at 4:30 and other days the child with practice could either take dinner with them to practice or eat when they got home. So far I've made dinner every single night of 2019 and my kids aren't complaining. ? These dinners aren't fancy (chicken, tacos, spaghetti) but I'm getting into a routine and finding out what works for our schedule. I anticipate by the end of the month I'll have figured out how to make it work with our crazy practice schedule. I might not make dinner every single night of 2019 (and I don't want to, lol) but I will have created a system and routine that allows me to make dinner more often than not. Next month I'll be in a routine of making dinner more frequently and be able to focus on the next project. Here are a few of my favorite things this month. Adore your WardrobeThis course from my friend Kelly is LIFE CHANGING! You can look amazing no matter what your size or your budget based on principals found in math and science. Kelly's course completely changed how I dressed and how I felt about clothes. She only offers the course a few times a year so check it out. Ultimate Home ChecklistI LOVE lists. The Ultimate Home Checklist is a great tool for keeping your home organized through specific tasks you do each day. This planner breaks down chores into small projects that can be done in a few minutes. If you struggle with keeping your house clean and organized this planner is for you! Freezer CookingI use to think freezer cooking was bland casseroles and lots of lasagna. But it really isn't. I love freezer cooking because I don't have to think about dinner. The meals are already prepared and ready to be put in the oven or the crock pot. It really does take the stress out of cooking dinner every night. I use My Freezeasy for freezer meal ideas, recipes, and shopping lists but you can find them on Pinterest too! The In-BetweenI read this book last summer and it really changed my perspective on life in the mundane. It's a quick read about learning to live in the “tension between now and the next big thing' and I highly recommend it! The post How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions appeared first on The Happy Housewife™. Prefab homes can be roughly defined as a home building method which uses parts made, assembled and manufactured inside a factory that are then assembled on the construction site. That makes Prefab homes a great way to get “a place to call your own.” Enticing, exciting, exhilarating are just three words to describe the feeling you get when you think about your dream home. However, it is a daunting decision to select the right home to build and where to build it. Here are some excellent reasons why you might want to consider a prefab for your next home. Prefab Homes: The Millenial's ChoiceThat is why choosing what kind of home to build, along with when and where to build it is sometimes a daunting decision. Aside from these considerations, you have several different factors you must also take into account before you decide to build. These include financial stability, mental readiness, and future-mindedness. There are many different types of home from which to select such as traditional stick-built, boats, apartments or even floating homes if that is what interests you. However, prefab homes have made a big splash in recent years. But what really sets apart prefab homes from the other types of homes? What is so special about these kinds of homes? Continue reading to find out more about why more and more homebuyers are choosing prefab homes. Faster Building PeriodThe main reason why prefab homes have a relatively fast building period is that the construction process takes place inside a factory. This being the case, prefab homes are not affected by weather and climate constraints. Conversely, these are the types of delays you will see in other types of home construction. As from their very definition above, prefab homes have parts that are made inside factories. This encourages an uninterrupted and systematic production time which makes it time efficient and cost-effective. Cost-Effective SolutionSince prefab homes brag a relatively fast building period, the homeowner saves on unforeseen labor costs. The assembly is faster since the parts are premade and construction takes place in the factory. Fewer days of construction also reduce the risk of unexpected weather constraints and on-site construction-related accidents. Customization in the FactoryThe materials and components made inside the factory of the prefab home builder can be customized to suit your taste. Excellent prefab home companies research on the latest trends so as to become updated in the new architectural designs. This enables them to be more versatile and to continuously improve in the field of prefab home building. Utility Saving FeaturesPrefab homes are also famous for their ability to cut up on overall energy consumption. During winter, owners of prefab homes may notice that their homes consume much lower energy than when they were on their previous homes. This is because prefab homes have specifications which regulate and insulate heat well inside the home. Your Dream Prefab HomeIf you are in the market for a prefab home, I recommend that you start with the links in this article to begin your search and education. There are so many possibilities in the modern prefab home that they are too numerous for just one article, so keep researching and taking notes to find the most wonderful prefab home of your dreams. Other Posts You Might Enjoy:3 Examples of Wellness Architecture for Your Home The Magnificence of Arches in your Home Interior 12 Unique Trends to Expect in Interior Design 2019 The Best Marble Designs for Room Interiors The post 4 Reasons why Prefab Homes are the Millenial's Best Choice appeared first on Dig This Design. Posted by Cynthia Ewer on January 9, 2019
It's January. Do you know where your New Years resolutions are? All those resolutions that looked so basic, so easy, so noble through the champagne haze of New Year's Eve have lost their rosy glow, when viewed in the stark light of a January morning. With the children back to school and holiday decorations back in their attic boxes, our resolve for a better, thinner, healthier and wealthier year has once more washed up against the hard and niggling realities of daily life. Be of good cheer! There's a tried-and-true boost for just about anybody's New Year's resolutions. I'm talking about cleaning the refrigerator. Spearing the Great White Whale. Read More >> Printables:And so it begins. Back to routines, back to work. Did you enjoy wonderful holidays? I hope the last few weeks have been restful and restorative. I was able to spend lots of time with my family and just enjoy being at home and mostly stayed off of social media. It was wonderful. I didn't get to write this post before the year's end but I thought it would be nice to reshare some of the things we did in 2018 - and fill you in on what we have planned for the year ahead! Truth be told, 2018 wasn't a great year but I am exceptionally excited for 2019! SPRINGWe started the year working on #ProjectCraftsDept. It was an empty shell of a room, and we started with vintage-coastal inspiration and installed the flooring. And finally, we finished off this room: Later on in the spring, I shared a room I rarely showed on the blog, our kitchen Soon after, we started tackling another unsightly room, the master bedroom, as one of the featured designers of the One Room Challenge. We figured out the layout, added in furnishings and took the room from blue and awkward... SUMMERSummer was all about adding final touches to some of our favourite spaces. The prettiest fabrics brought charm to our country cottage... I gave our cottage bedroom a refresh and we finally got rid of the eyesore in front of our house and rebuilt our fence! FALLCrisp fall days brought exercises in decorating and the debut of my first product collection, the Rambling Renovators x Tonic Living collaboration! WINTERWe ended the year with a reveal of a new floral dining room, a new stair railing, and a bright white one-day paint transformation. It was a wonderful second year in this house and we made great strides in making this home more our own. So what's planned for 2019?? We'll be tackling at least these three spaces: The powder room Chloe's bedroom The basement and likely more. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that we've finished one of these rooms already! I'll share it here on the blog soon. I hope you'll continue to join me over the next year as we take on more renovating and DIY adventures. Wishing you a wonderful 2019! |
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