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Home insurance, often called property insurance, is one of the most rational decisions, which you can make in your lifetime. Home insurance ensures that you and your family members will not have to pay big amount of money in the case of some unpleasant accident. If you live in a restless area, it will protect your savings and will cover expenses resulting from an accident. Let’s see the reasons why we should choose the home insurance and the situations which are usually covered by policy of home insurance.

Why to insure?

Simple – for the sake of your heart peace. For example, if you plan to leave your home for longer period of time, an insurance policy will make your absence much tolerable. And if your home is located in unfavourable location, you can not worry about your financial crash, if, for example, your house is damaged by falling tree or powerful wind casts off the roof. Home insurance will help you to live without worries.

What does home insurance policy cover?

Nowadays there are a lot of different insurance companies, and no one of them have identical conditions, therefore, it is very important to find out, what does each insurance policy cover, choosing your insurance company. Also prices of each insurance company differs – in summers offers often are more favourable, as people insure their properties for some period of time while they are leaving their homes for summer recreation, encouraging insurers to compete for their seasonal clients.

In most cases home insurance includes:

• Insurance against natural conditions – rain, hail, snow, lightning, wind as well as other extreme natural conditions that can harm the housing;
• Insurance against abuse – theft, arson or other types of damage to property;
• Insurance against fire – accidentally or maliciously caused fires, which are the main reason of complete loss of housing;
• Insurance against house troubles – flooded ceilings, fires caused by electricity.

When insuring the property, also equipment, valuables, and other things that are located in the house are insured. There are also policies, which include insurance of temporary residence if it is impossible to live in your house after an accident. Some policies include also building or purchasing of new house. In the case of home insurance, like in cases of other types of insurance, including car insurance, you protect yourself and your relatives against unplanned expenses in the case of some accident.

Our home is the place where we spend the most amount of time and that is why we want it to be as close to perfect as possible. But because according to murphy’s law everything in your home that can go wrong will do so eventually then we need to constantly fix things as well as make improvements.

When we think about all the things that can go wrong inside our home then it is apparent that it is inevitable that some repairs will be needed and you need to think about ways how to finance those repairs. That is why I usually advise my clients to create a Murphy’s savings fund where they transfer some amount of money every month and keep at least 1 to 6 month worth of salary in there. That kind of savings fund can be used for a multitude of situations starting from simple emergency expenses to some crucial home repairs and every buying some home appliances. I have calculated that each ear at least one or two months salaries go into various home repairs and upgrades and comparing to some of my friends that is a small number. You can repair your home only when something really breaks down or you can try to periodically check and upgrade the oldest appliances when you get some spare cash to do so.

But if you have no emergency fund created for these kind of situations then the only option for you is to take out a short term loan so you could cover those unexpected expenses and later pay back your lender. Of course online loans are not the best option to take out because their annual percentage rates are huge and penalty interest is even worst. But in some situations they are the only option that you can use. For example, in the Country Georgia that is just coming out of poverty the banking sector is not that stable and that means the only place where Georgians can get their money is trough non-bank lenders that supply short term loans.

Home improvements are not cheap and you have to constantly think about how to save money and buy things cheaper. But if you own a flat or a house you won’t be able to escape these expenses so be prepared for that!

If you have wooden floors in your house, you probably know that wooden floors require more attention and care than any other type of floors. Only those wooden floors which are regularly cleaned look nice and shiny – it is insufficient to care about wooden floors just couple of times a year. The best way to clean wooden floors is according to schedule. Follow the schedule below and let your floors shine!

• Daily dust your floors. Dusting is one of the most easy and underestimated work in the process. Daily dusting keeps your floors clean from dust and dirt. Dusting prevents your floors from scratching, thereby extending the beauty and life of it. Daily mopping is essential, because it reduces allergens at home. If you want to mop your floors more effectively, use microfiber material with static charge which attracts more allergens and dust. Microfiber material has smaller fibers which are able to reach into floor pores, lifting dirt more effectively.
• Clean your floors weekly. It seems that there is no wrong way to clean floors, but there is. For example, using too much liquid can damage floors. To clean your floors correctly, look for cleaner which is pH-neutral, non-toxic and biodegradable. Also natural cleaners can clean floors effectively and keep your home safe, without harming the environment. It is recommended to use a washable microfiber pad which is able to remove bacteria and keep surfaces clean.
• Polish your floors quarterly. To restore luster and shine of your floors use water-based polishes every 2 to 3 months. Water-based polishes do not leave residues or harmful toxins, as well as prevent over-cleaning and stripping of your floors. Nowadays polishes have fast drying time, no-waxy buildup and protective layer which fills micro-scratches and improves the appearance of floors.
• Do not use soap-based cleaners, vinegar, water, wax, as well as steam cleaners on your wooden floors, because they can permanently damage them. Vinegar and water gradually dull the floor’s finish, soap and wax leave residues, but steam cleaner puts heat and excessive water on floors.
  In the entry ways or high-traffic areas use carpets and rugs.
• Use felt floor protectors on your furniture, as well as avoid high heels which extremely damages floors. Also pet nails have to be trimmed regularly.
• It is important to use proper tools – for dusting and cleaning use a mop with machine-washable microfiber. Do not use string mops which put excessive water on floors and push dirt around.
• All spills have to be wiped up immediately to avoid permanent stains.
  Maintain a comfortable temperature, preventing humidity.

Seems that everyone knows the saying “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression”. Once potential buyers are inside of your house, you want to be sure that your house is at its best condition. To get this confidence, start with cleaning and tidying. These are two improvements which do not cost anything, but provide a big return. When cleaning and tidying are done, focus on low-cost improvements like painting, using neutral tones which are appropriate for everyone. Devote your money and time to renovations which can bring you a return, not to improvements which you have always wanted to do. If you are one of those sellers, who have a limited budged, we have prepared for you a list of home improvements which can help you to sell your house at the best price.

• Improve a landscape by putting down a fresh sod, replacing tired bushes with new ones and adding some color with flowers in beds and pots.
• Tidy up an entryway by painting an old front door or buying a new one. Also replacing of old numbers and mailboxes can give a fresh look.
• Change light and plumbing fixtures by replacing outdated fixtures, thereby giving your home a modern touch for minimal investments.
• Do only partial renovations, for example, rather than renovate an old bathroom, get a new bath or reface the existing one, but in the kitchen replace the hardware, instead of cabinets.
• Remove popcorn ceilings which may contain asbestos. Taking into account that asbestos is toxic, removing of popcorn ceiling is far from DIY project – you need a licensed specialist who can remove it. If your ceilings are high enough, you can drywall over and create new ceilings.
• If your windows have some coverage, remove it, because potential buyers may not share your taste and uncovered windows also let more light into the house.
• Return rooms to their original uses, for example, if you are using your bedroom as an office, turn it back into a bedroom.
• Replace carpets which are dirty or worn. Of course, you can try to clean them at first, but it is clear, that worn carpets will not become clean. If there are hardwood floors underneath your carpets, better remove them.
• Depersonalize your rooms by packing away family photos and children drawings.
• Clean all rooms, using deep cleaning, so everything shines like new. Do not forget about windows!
• Paint all rooms, using neutral tones which are appropriate for everyone. You may love bright tones, but potential buyer may not. A fresh paint coat also makes rooms look more modern and new.

Interior painting is the most popular DIY home improvement activity, because painting of walls is one of the easiest ways to freshen up our place. There is no better and more affordable way to improve the appearance of room – just one coat of paint and room looks like new. Another plus of painting is that it is not difficult and does not require special practicing. It is believed that anyone can paint – all that is needed is a little patience, practice and some advice. But, unfortunately, is not that simple. Everyone, who has ever painted walls, knows that this project can turn into a nightmare of endless coats and spotted surface. By following tips below you will get great-looking walls without stress and effort. We guarantee that these painting tips will help to achieve professional-quality results.

Prepare the surface

If you want to gain a qualitative result, you have to properly prepare the surface you are going to paint. Scrape, sand and patch it and then fill all holes, cracks and dents to eliminate all imperfections. Of course, it is not the most exciting part of painting, but it is definitely the most important part. There is no paint which could hide a rough surface, regardless of its cost, manufacturer, consistency or color.

Apply the primer

Any surface has to be primed, regardless of whether you are painting a new wall or a previously colored wall. Prime a surface every time you paint! Primer serves three functions – it blocks stains from bleeding through, it allows one-coat coverage and it improves paint attachment, reducing peeling and blisters. Professional painters tint the primer on the last layer of paint, mixing topcoat paint into the primer. Nowadays we can buy paints which contain primers, but none of them coats and improves attachment as good as a dedicated primer.

Prefer canvas rather than plastic

Usage of plastic dropcloths is an inexpensive way to protect floors and furnishing from paint spatters, but better investment is canvas which are extremely durable and lay flat, preventing tripping hazard. Canvas unlike plastic dropcloths absorb paint drops, not becoming slippery. Canvas unlike plastic dropcloths can be easily folded around corners. Another advantage of canvas is that canvas dropcloths last a lifetime unlike plastic dropcloths which must be thrown out after usage.

Get an extension pole

Stop using the stepladder and get a telescopic extension pole which can be connected with your paint roller. Extension poles are available in different lengths, so you can purchase the one which is suitable for the height of your ceiling. To connect an extension pole and a paint roller the handle of your paint roller must have a threaded hole in the end, so it can be twisted onto the extension pole. Look for an extension pole which has a soft and nonslip grip, and metal core, because plastic handles are too flexible and uncontrollable.

Use a paint grid instead of tray

It is not a secret that usage of paint tray is an annoying and messy process. Much better alternative of paint tray is a paint grid. A paint grid is a rectangular, metal or plastic screen which hooks onto the rim of the paint bucket. A paint grid helps to remove an excess paint, preventing paint flows on walls.

Overnight storage

If you have not finished painting in one day, you do not have to clean your paintbrushes and paint rollers. All you have to do is brush or roll off an excess paint and wrap them in some plastic bag or film to seal out any air. When brushes and rollers are wrapped, place them in the refrigerator which will keep them fresh. It may seem weird, but it really works – the paint does not dry and the equipment stays usable.

We have prepared a to-do list for home maintenance which will be helpful for everyone who cares about its house – it will help to find out how often each task of home maintenance should be done. By following this list your home will be in tip-top shape.

Daily

During showering use a bathroom fan which will protect your bathroom’s surfaces against mold and mildew. Do not forget to wipe all surfaces in kitchen, bathroom and laundry rooms. Also floors in kitchen, bathroom and in other hard-floored rooms have to be swept.

Weekly

Every week vacuum carpets and mop floors in all rooms. Do not forget about scrubbing of toilets, sinks, showers and tubs. Clear debris and leaves from the foundation of your house.

Monthly

Check whether there are water leaks somewhere in the house which may be caused my intense rain, snow or ice. Once a month dust curtains and other surfaces in your home. Remember to clean mirrors and wipe such places as lamps, switch plates and door knobs.

Seasonally

Winter

Clean your drain gutters, as well as kitchen exhaust fan and filter. If it is necessary, change your air filter. It is useful to tighten any knobs, handles, shelves or anything else which can become loose. Do not forget to check and repair all locks and deadbolts of doors and windows. Winter is perfect time for inspect and deep clean of basement.

Spring

Clear drain gutters and change the air filter if needed. Taking into account that summer is coming, check the air conditioner. Check your inspect screens and replace those which have holes to protect your house against uninvited guests – insects. Also inspect your roof for leaks, cracks or broken tiles. Do not forget to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Spring is the best time for washing of windows inside and out, as well as for changing of seasonal bedding. Spring is known as spring-cleaning time, so remember to clean your kitchen and bathroom like never before, cleaning your kitchen exhaust fan and filter as well. It is recommended to re-caulk sinks, showers and tubs to prevent water damages to walls.

Summer

Clear drain gutters and if it is necessary change the air filter. Make sure that your house is clean from seasonal insects. Summer when there is less moisture in the air is perfect time for cleaning of carpets. Also kitchen appliances must be cleaned inside and out, as well as kitchen exhaust fan and filter.

Autumn

Decalcify all faucets and aerators to clear any mineral build-up. As in previous seasons clear drain gutters and change the air filter. Also kitchen exhaust fan and filter must be cleaned. Make sure your heater works to be prepared for winter season. It is important to update fire extinguishers and seal any exterior cracks in the house. Test and repair indoor faucets, toilets and showers for proper water flow. If your house has chimney, clean it out, as well as change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If your house is equipped with hot-water system, check the water pressure and drain the expansion tank. To protect your walls against water damage, re-caulk sinks, showers and tubs. Also roof must be inspected for any leaks, cracks or broken tiles.