Do you own a pool table? Are you moving to another place? If yes, then have you thought about how  you will move your pool table? You better start thinking about it right now because there’s no chance you’ll be able to do that on your own. It turns out that a pool table is big and heavy enough to warrant a professional removalist.

There are a number of things that you need to take care of when moving a pool table. Otherwise, you can injure yourself or damage your pool table. Even if you hire a professional removalist service to move your pool table and transport it to your new home, you will have to be very careful.

You must enjoy playing pool, but you won’t enjoy moving your pool table. Therefore, it’s best you leave this task to the professionals like Quick Pick Movers.

This article will provide you with 3 valuable tips that can help you with moving your pool table easily without damaging the table or injuring yourself.

1-   Hire a Pool Table Removalist

This can make your life easy. All you have to do is find the best pool table removalist company in the area you live in and give them a call. They will take care of the rest. You just have to make sure the professionals are doing their job skilfully. The best thing about hiring a removalist company is that they have all the necessary equipment and tools to remove a pool table. They have a socket wrench, a screwdriver, and a power drill that is required to remove the felt of a pool table. A pool table removalist company will do the job very responsibly. It will label all the dismantled parts and components of the table so that they don’t get mixed up with each other.

2-   Rent a Truck

A pool table removalist company will send a professional to move the table as well as a truck to transport the table to the new location, but if for some reason they don’t, make sure you rent a truck on your own. Some people just try moving their pool table on their own, so for them, it’s really necessary they rent a truck for easy transportation.

3-   Measure the Doorways and Hallways

A pool table is huge. You need to make sure it can pass through the hallways and doorways, even in the disassembled condition. In order to make sure there is no mishap, measure all the doorways, hallways, and staircases and maneuver the table through your house accordingly. Also, make sure all the doors are open and the walls and the flooring is well-protected before you begin to move your pool table. On a side note, it really helps to request the removalist company to send as many helping hands as possible.

These three tips can make the process of moving your pool table from one location to another really easy. Also, the professional removalist service you will hire will reassemble your pool table without you having to worry about it.

25% of Americans have reported moving in the last five years. And you might be one of those embarking on a big move: across the country. Depending on where you’re moving, you’ll most likely want to take your car with you.

We’ll go over some of the options available to you to make that cross-country move and ensure that you have your car at your new home.

Read on for more information on how to transport a car cross-country.

Drive Your Car

An obvious way you can transport your car is to drive it yourself. This is perhaps the cheapest way if you factor in shipping costs and the additional money you’d spend on airfare.

Driving your car isn’t necessarily the cheapest way, however, as not only will it take days on the road, but it will also mean you’ll have to spend nights in hotels along the way. This, as well as the cost of gas to get you there, can add up quickly.

Driving your car across the country can also add a lot of unnecessary mileage to your car. Depending on what point you’re driving from and to, it could be over 3,000 miles.

You should also consider the time of year you’ll be driving your car and through which states. In some cases, this may include severe weather that you may not want to drive through.

If you’re transporting a lot of things, this can be a good way to get some of your essentials into your new home immediately.

For some families who have more than one car, however, this would mean that you might have to drive separately or to drive one car and ship the other.

How to Transport Your Car: Shipping It

You can ship your car from one end of the country to the other at surprisingly affordable rates. It might even be comparable to the price you’d spend on several nights in hotels and gas if you drive the car yourself.

If you’ve ever seen a truck drive along the highway with several tiers of cars attached to it, these trucks are transporting cars. Some of them may be for individuals, like yourself, who are moving long distances. Other cars might be to transport between destinations to sell or lease.

Many people discount shipping their car right off the bat because they assume they’ll get sticker shock. In actuality, it’s only about $1,000 to $1500 in order to have the car shipped.

If you’re interested in having your car shipped, you can read more about it here.

It might just turn out to be your best bet.

Hauling Your Car

This DIY route works best for those who are trying to transport more than one car at a time or have a motorhome.

With this route, you’ll attach your car to your trailer, motorhome or another vehicle. You can simply have your other car tag along behind you as you make your way across the country.

Economically, this is perhaps the friendliest route, as you might even be able to save on hauling your things across the country as well. If your motorhome, trailer or other car is large enough, you may be able to get everything you need into the cars and make your way to your new home.

Things to Consider

In addition to the price of shipping your car, there are a few things to consider when deciding which is the best way for you. There isn’t a definitive across the board way that works for everyone, so it is something you’ll need to decide with your family.

One thing to consider is the age of your car. Can your car actually handle being driven across the country? In some cases, if your car is newer, you won’t really have a problem with this. But what about cars that are older or those you’ve purchased second-hand. In those cases, it might be better to try to haul or ship your car.

Additionally, if your car is of incredibly high value, you may want to consider having it shipped. This is because you never know where you’ll end up when you’re driving across the country, and a high-value car can be subject to theft. No matter where you stay or what route you take, you’ll have to stop at some point for gas or to park your car overnight. For many people, that’s not a risk they’re willing to take.

You should also consider the gas prices in your area and across the country. In doing so, think about the type of gas your car will need and how much gas it uses. Some cars are gas guzzlers, while others are much more efficient. If your car will require lots of expensive gasoline, it’s probably a better idea to have it shipped than to worry about emptying your pocket every few hours.

Physically Making the Drive

You should ship your car, as opposed to hauling it or driving it, if you’re concerned that you cannot physically make the drive. Driving in itself is a dangerous activity, and if you don’t trust yourself or your family members or roommates to drive across the country, it’s probably a good idea not to attempt to do it.

Your life is more important than your wallet and should always take first priority.

Getting Your Car Across the Country

In this article, we’ve gone over how to transport a car. You and your family will ultimately have to decide which works best for you and your financial situation.

For more information on Miami real estate, visit our blog.

Thinking about moving to a new city? Wondering how to decide where to live?

Making the choice to move to a new city can open up a lot of new opportunities in your life. But, the decision can be overwhelming as well. It can be hard deciding which city is the perfect choice for you.

Luckily, as long as you know the right things to look for in a new city it doesn’t have to be too difficult to decide. Below we’ll tell you the most important things you need to think about when trying to decide where to live.

1. Know the Cost

One of the most important things to do when trying to decide where to live is to figure out what the costs will be.

If you’re moving for a job, even if you’ll be getting more money, you need to make sure it will be enough for where you will be living. Your income should be around the median of the area you’ll be moving to. It’s important that your income is enough to handle the cost of living in the city you’re moving to.

Even within the same country or state, the cost of living in different cities can vary quite a bit. Make sure you do your research and find out exactly how far your income will go within the city you’re thinking about moving to.

2. Decide Whether You’ll Be Buying or Renting

Another big thing to think about when moving to a different city is whether you plan to buy or rent your home. For example, in some cities, it will be much more cost-effective to rent a home while in some buying a home is the better option.

There’s a lot of research you need to do when choosing what city to live in and it can take time to find a place. If you’re hoping to own a home you should do your research on the market early on to find out what you can expect.

If possible, give yourself plenty of time to look for a place. This will also give you a great chance to look for hidden gems in the area. By the way, if you’re looking for hidden gems in Chattanooga, you may want to check out https://www.travisclosehomes.com.

3. Keep Your Kids in Mind

If you have kids who you’ll be moving with, it’s also important to think about what the new city will be like for them. Some cities will have better schools than others, so you’ll want to find out exactly what to expect.

Your kids will be in school for a long time to come, maybe even longer than you’ll be at your job. You need to make sure they’ll be getting a great education and will be happy and healthy at school among the other kids.

You should also think about the other things in the city as well. Make sure your family will have plenty of recreational opportunities. Clean parks, family entertainment, and great restaurants can all be great to look for.

4. Know That Family and Friends Matter

Many people who are moving to a new city for the first time underestimate how hard it can be to move away from family and friends. It’s important to consider where your family and friends will be when you move and to prepare for not seeing them as often.

Being around family and friends can be very convenient and can improve your wellbeing. Make sure to consider things carefully if you’re thinking about moving far away. In the end, you may decide a move to a city just a few hours away will be a better choice than moving across the entire country.

5. Check the Weather

When you’re considering a move to a new city, you should also know what to expect from the weather. If you’re used to living in a warmer climate, it may be a bit difficult to adjust to an area with cold winters and plenty of snowfall each year. Don’t take the decision to move to a different climate lightly.

Find out what you can expect from the climate and weather before you go through with your move. Be prepared to handle it and know there will probably be a big adjustment period your first year should you decide to move.

6. Keep Safety in Mind

You should also consider safety issues as well when moving to a new city. Different cities have different crime rates as well as other safety hazards.

Weather issues and natural disasters can also be an issue which you should pay attention to. There are different probabilities of a natural disaster occurring in different states, for example. Coastal areas may be more prone to hurricanes while dry areas may have problems with droughts and tornados.

Know what safety precautions to take, especially if you are planning to move to a state with many potential natural disasters throughout the year.

7. Be Ready For Career Moves

One of the most important things you need to do when choosing where to live is to think about your career from every angle. While you may or may not be moving for a job in the first place, it’s important that you know what career prospects you’ll have in a new city and what industries you’ll be able to work in.

Smaller cities may not have the options for upward mobility or career changes you may need in the future. It’s important to find a city you’ll still be able to live in even if your career aspirations go through some big changes over time.

8. Evaluate the Lifestyle

Aside from all the things which look good on paper, it’s also important that you’ll simply enjoy living in the city you’re considering moving to. If you’re looking for a place to retire you’re going to have different needs than a recent college graduate.

Do your research and find out what kind of things you can expect from your everyday lifestyle. Will you enjoy the dining experiences in the city? Are their entertainment and recreation options which fit your needs?

If possible, imagine yourself living in the city or even visit for a few days to find out what you can expect. Make sure you’ll enjoy the ins and outs of actually living there.

How to Decide Where to Live Using These Tips

It’s not always easy to make a move to a new city. But, by using these tips to find out how to decide where to live you’ll have a good chance at making a great decision and not regretting it once you finally make the change.

Looking for the perfect home in Florida? Check out our list of South Florida homes now to find a great place for you.

The real estate industry in Australia has been booming for many years due to rising demand for properties. This is mainly due to investments from foreign nationals, especially Asians, who are aggressively buying real estate in the country. However other factors are also responsible.

A recently published report shows that housing prices have grown steadily over the past five years despite turbulent economic conditions. Government incentives and falling interest rates are also factors that motivated homeowners to buy properties. Commercial property prices on the other hand have not risen in the same manner.

Expected Real Estate Trends

While it is difficult to predict the markets in the long run, data from various property listing and urban development sites shows some common themes in Australian Real Estate buying behaviour. These include the following.

The Housing Markets Will Cool and Prices Will Begin to Stabilize

After the 2008 real estate crisis, the Aussie government undertook measures to support and boost the real estate market. Interest rates were lowered and the government started providing special, low-interest loan programs and grants for new home buyers. For new home buyers, the government was granting up to $21,000 to buy new properties. As the grants decline, the incentive to buy new homes will be gone.

Moving Out From Urban Centers

In the past ten years or so the demand for property locations has also shifted. Today, the majority of Australians prefer homes located in the suburbs and away from major urban centers and downtown area.

Planned developments in the suburbs have more parks and other amenities while providing a peaceful environment which is preferred by a majority of homeowners. Due to better infrastructure, it is also easier to commute back and forth from work. Improved access to offices, commercial centers, medical and educational facilities while living at the edge of the city has caused this shift in demand.

Apartment Prices Will Drop

People preferred to buy apartments so that they can be close to city centers and have quicker access to work and education. As cities are expanding and improved transport has made it easier for people to travel from one place to another, we will see a decline in demand and prices for apartments.

Demand for Solar Homes Will Rise

Technological advances in solar panels and consumer demand for clean energy will see a rise in the price of homes equipped with solar panels. Properties built at angles that allow plenty of sunshine at the roof will see a rise in prices.

Foreign Investor Holdings will Drop

A major portion of the boom in Australian real estate markets was due to investments from Chinese and Japanese investors. The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) found that the number and value of investment for residential properties has been on a decline for the past two years.

FIRB introduced application fees in 2015 and also implemented an intensive compliance regime in 2016. Both these measures are considered responsible for the decline in purchase applications by foreigners.

If you ever get a chance to take a tour of Sydney’s eastern suburbs, you will notice a range of beautiful houses. And one of the beautiful features of these houses is their terraces. The suburban homeowners hire some of the best home renovators to give their terraces a striking and aesthetically appealing look.

It’s true that Australians tend to spend millions of dollars every year on the renovation of their terraces. As it turns out, there are two different purposes for getting a terrace renovated in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Firstly, homeowners consider renovating their terraces as an investment in their property so that the value of their houses increases in the real estate market. This gives them a huge profit when they sell their property. Secondly, homeowners renovate their terraces to make their home look like their dream home.

Whatever the reason behind renovating terraces might be, there are a couple of styling tips that can come in handy if you’re thinking of renovating your terrace. This article will share with you four inspiring tips that will make your terrace renovation more worthwhile.

1-   Spacious Terraces

The most striking thing about terraced houses is that they give a spacious and airy look. If you compromise that space, your terrace will look congested. And that’s not the kind of look you want for your home. Thus, if you’re planning to sacrifice your room sizes in order to add another room on the terrace, then please don’t. Try to use the available space sensibly.

2-   Light & Ventilation

Most of the times Australian homeowners rely completely on fancy fixtures and finishes to enhance the beauty of their terraces and add value to their home. But there’s something that is more important that these people tend to forget. And that’s the light and ventilation. When renovating your terrace, try to focus more on increasing light penetration and cross ventilation. These things are really important to make a terrace fully functional.

3-   Light Furnishings

Terraces are supposed to look spacious. That’s the whole idea. If you furnish your terrace heavily, you end up ruining the whole feel and look of your terrace. The tip here is to avoid visual clutter by keeping the furnishings and finishes bright and light. For more terrace styling tips, consult Advantage Property Styling today!

4-   Large Glass Openings

Large glass openings can make your terrace look wider and larger. By adding a retractable awning and lush foliage to your terrace, you can make it look modern and chic. The suburban homeowners also install timber-lined external wall to soften the boundary wall. It also provides an excellent backdrop for their outdoor kitchen.

It makes a major difference if you’re renovating your terrace for your personal use or to increase the value of your property before selling it. The purpose of renovating a terrace will determine the cost of renovation and a suitable architectural design. With the help of these four tips, your renovated terrace will increase the value of your property and will undoubtedly make your house look aesthetically pleasing.

Look at any real estate website and you’ll see bright, cheerful homes that look move-in ready. You’ll also find gloomy houses cluttered with personal items. What makes one home look better than the other? Home staging.

Home staging is the process of deep cleaning, rearranging, and remodeling your house. The goal is to appeal to the most potential buyers.

The National Association of Realtors found staged homes sell faster. 77 percent of buyers’ agents said staging the home made it easier for people to visualize the house as their future home. Also, 49 percent of buyers’ agents said home staging effects how buyers view a home. The result was buyers offer more money for a staged home.

Staging can range from decluttering to replacing all your furniture with rented pieces. Completely furnishing your home with a neutral palette may seem extreme. But, it’s an effective way to help buyers imagine themselves living there.

So, how much does home staging cost? Does it work? Should you hire a professional home stager? Keep reading for a comprehensive guide to home staging.

What Is Home Staging?

Thanks to reality television shows, most consumers understand the concept of home staging. It’s when a seller invests time and money on their property to get a better sale price.

The Real Estate Staging Association says that homes staged before listing sell faster than similar non-staged homes. That’s a big difference.

Staging gives sellers a way to beat out the competition without lowering the price of the home. Instead, home staging helps you improve the look and flow of your home. A professional stager helps buyers see all the potential in your house.

Most home buyers start their search online. A professionally staged home means attractive photographs. Appealing photos online are the first step in attracting a buyer to tour your home.

How Much Does Home Staging Cost?

Get estimates and bids from several home stagers before choosing one. There isn’t a set cost for staging a home. Make sure you know exactly what you’re getting for the price.Check the stager’s schedule to make sure it works with your timeframe. Finally, get everything in writing.

Professional house stagers advise on what to keep or remove from the house before listing it. They determine other ways to maximize the home’s value. That may mean replacing cabinet doors or painting the home interior.

The cost to stage a home varies depending on:

• The size of the home
• Length of staging time
• Available furniture
• Type of staging
• Location of the home
• If the real estate agent shares the cost

Sellers should expect to spend between several hundred dollars to a few thousand.

Professional home stagers charge in two ways. Some act as consultants and charge by the hour. Others charge a flat rate. Both methods charge for any materials needed to stage the home. That includes artwork, accessories, and temporary furniture.

If you’re on a budget, consult with a home stager, then take a DIY approach to implement ideas yourself.

Plan on deep cleaning and decluttering your home before staging begins. You may also need to paint and complete repairs first.

Related Staging Costs

Besides the consultant and staging fees, you may have other costs.

Storage Rental

The number one rule of home staging is to declutter. This goes far beyond clearing countertops. Reduce items on shelves, switch big furniture for smaller, and clean out the closets.

If you’re living in the home, you need somewhere to stash your belongings. You don’t want to stuff everything in a shed or garage. That could make potential buyers think there’s a lack of storage space. It also makes it difficult to view those areas.

Instead, realtors recommend renting a storage unit. The cost to rent storage depends on how much stuff you have, and how long it’s in storage.

Rental Furniture

Some stagers own furniture you can rent while your home is on the market. Renting from a local furniture store is another option. It’s smart to use the stager’s furniture. They know the best way to showcase space with their furnishings.

If your budget is tight you may not want to rent furniture the entire time your home is on the market. In that case, rent furniture for marketing photos. You can leave the space vacant, or move some of your own furniture back in.

Post your marketing photos in your online listing. Since everyone begins their home search online, photos are as important as an in-person tour.

Remodeling

If your kitchen or bathroom is in bad shape, remodeling makes sense. This is a more expensive option. During a remodel only choose styles that appeal to the most people. You don’t want to lose a sale because you redid the kitchen in a very specific style. To learn more about the cost of updating your home, consult a professional builder.

Insurance

It’s a good idea to check your homeowner’s insurance coverage before staging. You want coverage in case of any damage to the staged furnishings. Check with the home stager to be sure there is insurance to protect against damages to your home.

Types of Home Staging

There are three common home staging situations.

Staging a Vacant Home

You’ll need extra organization if you’re in the home while it’s for sale. Every room needs a bit of staging. Don’t assume you can put extra furniture or belongings in a spare room. It’s a turnoff for potential buyers.

The cost to stage a 2,000 square foot home that’s vacant is about $2,200. After staging the home, there is a monthly fee until it’s sold.

Staging an Occupied Home

Staging an occupied home with furnishings costs less than prepping a vacant house. The home stager usually charges a one-time fee to organize and declutter.

The home is staged using the occupant’s belongings. The stager will rearrange furniture and accessories and declutter the home. Expect to pay a fee of around $800.

Keep the home tidy. Put kids toys away. Reposition furniture. Don’t block doors or windows. No dirty dishes in the sink or towels on the bathroom floor. The house should be tour-ready at all times.

Staging Main Rooms Only

You can choose to stage the main rooms of the house. This costs less, but still makes the home appealing to buyers. Commonly staged rooms are the living room, kitchen, family room, and master bedroom. Plan to pay $400 to $700 to stage a 12 x 12-foot room.

Pay close attention to the front of your home. You want to make a great first impression. Stage the front door and entry. Does the doorbell work? Is the porch light bright? Make sure the first room buyers enter is inviting.

The more expensive the home, the more it costs to stage it. Yet, the cost of staging your home is always less than the first price reduction on the asking price.

What Isn’t Included in Staging?

What is included depends on the home stager. Updates like painting, new flooring, and landscaping are the responsibility of the homeowner. Paint colors and product recommendations may come from the stager.

The owner must clean the home before staging, and during the time it’s on the market. Packing, moving, and storing any belongings is the owner’s responsibility.

Home buyers notice burnt out light bulbs and missing outlet covers. If you neglect little things buyers won’t trust that you’ve maintained the big things. Upgrade lighting. Fix outlet and light switch covers. Replace door stops and handles. Oil squeaky door hinges. Consider re-caulking the kitchen and bathroom for a fresh look.

Freshen your landscaping. Weed and mulch flower beds. Make sure the exterior of your home has curb appeal.

Discuss pets with your professional stager. Many stagers won’t stage a home with cats since the cat can scratch rented furnishings. Some home stagers won’t work on homes with pets. Others only stage homes where pets aren’t allowed in the staged rooms.

Hire a Home Stager to Boost Your Sale Price

Buyers decide they like a home or not within minutes of entering. You only have one chance to make a first impression. If you skip home staging, many buyers won’t see your property’s best attributes.

The fact is, many people can’t visualize a space’s potential. When you stage your home, they can imagine how to arrange furniture. They don’t have to look past clutter or decor they don’t like. Instead, they see appreciate the home.

Real estate sales are competitive. If you don’t hire a professional stager, you’re competition will. Ask yourself how much does home staging cost compared to not staging your home. Don’t risk losing a buyer to a nearby property that’s staged to sell.

The stager isn’t attached to your house. A professional home stager can give honest, unbiased advice on how to present your home. It’s important to remember that selling your home isn’t about you. You want to appeal to the most buyers. A detached third party can help you do that.

A professionally staged house sells for more than a non-staged house. They also sell faster. Most staged homes sell in 11 days or less. That’s because proper staging shows the buyer the true potential of the home. When the home looks great potential buyers don’t need to make costly renovations. That results in higher offers.

Want to learn more? Read our blog for more articles and information to help you buy or sell a home.

Sales of luxury homes are on the up. 6% more properties have sold for $1 million or above this year compared to 2017, according to Builder Online. Things are looking rosy in Miami too. The number of Miami beach condos sold during the first quarter of the year increased by a staggering 92%. However with the median price of a luxury single-family home in sunny Miami coming in at $1.415 million, having a well thought out property plan alongside a strict budget is essential.

How much down payment do you have?

In most cases, the down payment you can come up with will dictate the budget of your luxury property. It’s highly recommended that a down payment of 20% is offered. Therefore, you should be looking to have $283,000 in savings, as well as extra for realtor costs, legal fees and moving charges. However, there’s no need to worry if you can’t secure this much of a deposit as prestige properties in South Florida can be picked up for less than the current median sold price. Additionally, The LA Times reports that 60% of homebuyers put down a down payment of just 6%. So, there is plenty of opportunities to adjust your final budget accordingly.

Consider other financial commitments

A mortgage on a luxury property will be the biggest financial commitment you’ve ever had. But, when it comes to setting the budget for your new home, it’s essential you consider your other financial plow to ensure that you can comfortably afford your repayments. If you’re one of the 107 million Americans who has an auto loan, consider ways to pay it off quicker. One way to cover this personal expense is to use a credit card which offers a 0% APR period as this will help to lower your monthly interest rate. Alternatively, it might be worth dipping into your down payment savings to eradicate the commitment. By doing this, you’ll know exactly how much cash you’ve got to plough into your new luxury accommodation.

Know which outgoings will increase

If you already own a property, you’ll likely know how much your bills cost each month. However, your new luxury home will be larger and grander and will cost more to run. Therefore, on paper it might look like you have a bigger budget than you realistically do. A typical American home spends $104 a month on electricity, according to The Nest. In a condo, electricity costs can easily be double this depending on the overall square footage. Similarly, your other utilities, including gas and water, will be more expensive too. Therefore, it’s worth speaking to condo owners to find out what they pay. Utility providers should also be able to provide you with projected costs for your new luxury home too.

Buying a luxury home in South Florida is an exciting experience. However, it’s essential you spend time creating the budget for your new property to ensure that you continue to live within your means. Therefore, be sure to consider how much down payment you can pull together, your other financial commitments and plan for increased living expenses.

When you hear the word “chandelier”, it may conjure up mental images of old opera houses and murder mystery mansions. But did you know that these magnificent lighting fixtures are making a comeback? In fact, vintage lighting is currently trending in modern home decor.

If you’re curious about integrating chandelier decor into your home’s interior design, don’t jump in unprepared. Chandeliers need to be carefully selected and styled to perfectly balance a room

Keep reading to learn about chandelier placement and how to pick out the perfect one for your home. Let’s get started!

How Chandelier Decor Can Compliment Your Home

Chandeliers come in many shapes, sizes, and styles. Check out these chandelier decorating ideas to see how they can work in every room in your home.

Entryway

Install a chandelier in your entryway to make a statement from the moment guests step into your home. No matter how small or large your home is, an entryway chandelier is appropriate. It will either signal to visitors that a grand space is ahead, or make even a small apartment look luxurious.

Kitchen

Whether you’re decorating your holiday home or your home base, the sleek, sharp lines of a kitchen lend themselves to a playfully styled chandelier. Lighten up this area of your home with a whimsical kitchen chandelier. Have fun with it!

Bedroom

Nothing says master bedroom like an elegant lighting fixture. Try a bedroom chandelier to add a layer of charm to your sleeping chamber.

If you have a high ceiling, opt for a layered, larger piece. For low ceilings, try something more understated.

Living Room

Install a chandelier in your living room to create the perfect mood for lounging. Look for moody, metal fixtures for a decadent touch.

Dining Room

The dining room is the most classic place to find a chandelier. For this reason, it’s the best place to provide an unexpected style.

Break the mold with a rectangular chandelier dining room fixture or a collection of glass bulbs. Eccentric designs like this will offset even the most traditional dining setting.

How to Buy the Perfect Chandelier

So, how do you pick out the perfect chandelier for your home? Let’s find out.

Shop Online and Offline

Don’t limit yourself. Check out your local lighting stores as well as the options online. Research chandelier decor styles beforehand to get an idea of what you might like.

Don’t Forget About Size

It’s easy to ignore size in favor of style when you’re shopping online. But, as we already know, not every size chandelier is appropriate for every room. Pay attention to each fixture’s dimensions to avoid any issues.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, chandelier decor adds a layer of sophistication or whimsy to any room in a home. With these eye-catching fixtures, you’re sure to impress.

Remember to shop both online and offline for chandeliers and do your research ahead of time.

Opt for fixtures that both juxtapose and compliment the room they’re in. And don’t forget to pay close attention to the sizing dimensions!

Want to read more? Check out our blog page for tons more awesome articles and information!

Retirement is a time to treat yourself – now could be the time to hunt for that perfect home with all the luxury features you’ve ever wanted. At the same time, however, you need to think practically and prepare for the future. Here are just a few nuggets of advice that will help you to make the right decision and find that perfect home to retire to. Many people get homes with a stair lift once they hit retirement age for convenience and maximum mobility.

Buy or rent?

If you’ve paid off a mortgage on an existing property, you may have the funds to buy a property outright. If you don’t have this money, buying could be a struggle. Older people have a tougher time taking out a mortgage as there’s less chance of them paying it off – as a result, many lenders won’t give out mortgages, whilst others will do but at the expense of high monthly payments. Renting could be a better option in such cases – you could end up spending a lot less each month.

Consider the costs

As much as you may want to splash out on a luxury home, it’s important that you take into account your retirement budget. Many people have a much smaller pension to live on than the salary they had before – if you’re yet to retire, you may not have fully got to grips with this and may have to think about making cuts. Downsizing or moving to a cheaper area could both be good options for saving you money each month.

Assess the location

There are so many factors that go into choosing the perfect location – it would be impossible to list them all here. Some of the biggest factors could include local amenities, the sense of community and the distance from the rest of your family. Retiring to a state across the country have long been your dream, but you need to be certain that it’s a practical decision – it could make it hard to see your family.

Widen your search

In order to find that perfect home, make sure that you’re searching far and wide. Don’t just rely on agencies to find a property – there are many listing sites such as this FSBO Florida site where you can find independent sellers. Don’t rush the process and allow yourself to view lots of properties so that you have a good idea of what you can get for your money. From here, you can focus your energy on finding the best-suited home for your needs.

Think practical

There could be practical implications to consider too. If you plan to live out the rest of your life in your chosen home, you’ll want to ensure that it’s senior friendly – you may not have any mobility issues now, but there’s nothing to say you won’t suffer from them later down the line. For this reason, you may want to avoid high rise apartments. Downsizing meanwhile could be a practical option if the kids have moved out and you don’t need extra space. Having less space in your home could make it easier to manage, which could be important as you get older.

If you’re looking for a low risk way to earn passive income then there are few better ways than becoming a property landlord. You have money landing in your account every month with little to no work needing to be done to earn it- however it’s not always plain sailing. Here are a few things to bear in mind.

Knowing whether to accept children and/ or pets

Lots of landlords will rule out tenants with children and/ or pets due to the damage that they can cause. And it’s true, you could end up with ruined carpets, damage to walls and doors and unhappy neighbours due to noise should you accept pets or children. However, renting to a family has many benefits. They’re much more likely to settle as they tend to move around less than professional couples, meaning you’re more likely to have long term tenants.

This means less messing around finding new tenants every six months which can be expensive and result in months in between where you’re not getting any rent. With pet owners, many can be perfectly responsible and so it makes no sense to tar everyone with the same brush. You could ask to meet the pet beforehand so you have an idea about their size and temperament. You could ask for a higher security deposit to cover any potential damage. Lots of renters have pets and by excluding these people you could be missing out on good tenants.

Verifying tenants identities

It’s important you know exactly who your tenants are. If you end up needing to take legal action against them for example then their identity is crucial, plus you may want to check things like criminal history so you know exactly who you’re letting your property out to. You can verify your customers with Jumio and other ID companies, so be sure to run background checks before letting them sign on the dotted line.

Properties taking a long time to let

In most places, the rental market is strong and landlords don’t tend to have too many problems renting out their properties. However, if you are struggling and it’s taking longer than you’d hope to get a tenant then there are things you can do. First of all, improve the home- since most tenants won’t want to pay for things like replacement carpets they have to live with what’s down. And if what’s down looks awful then it could be enough to put them off.

You don’t have to spend a fortune, often new flooring and a coat of neutral paint will create a nice blank canvas that tenants can make into a home. If the place is full of old fashioned furniture, clear this out and offer it as unfurnished rather than furnished. In most cases (unless you’re renting to students) people will prefer their own items. The price is another factor, be sure that you’re not charging way over the odds based on similar properties nearby and be aware of the kind of renters that are likely to be in the area. Most working families will have a limit of what they’re able to afford, go above this and you’re at risk of pricing everyone out.