Archives for 2019

Escalating house prices have made property more out of reach, leading to a harder climb onto the property ladder. Dating back to 1996, more than 90% of young adults would have been able to buy a home in their local area. Today, even with a hefty upfront deposit, only around 60% are able to secure even the most low-cost properties, causing many to turn to renting as the only way of affording suitable housing.

As the current property market leaves people renting for longer, it is important to consider all options on how to make your home feel homelier, even with restrictions that may be given to you by a landlord. Nothing is more frustrating than not being allowed to put your own stamp on your new home, whether you are planning to settle there for years to come or only stay for a couple of months. Here are some tips on how to transform your rental property into a cosy humble abode:

1) Embrace what you have been given – If you have moved into a city centre bachelor apartment or an old Edwardian building it is important to think about what will complement the existing aesthetic. You can use this as a basis to really make it your own. If you are renting a 1920’s property it may be worth considering furnishing with art deco style furnishings and fixtures.

2) Consider free standing furniture – If you opt for free standing furniture, this furniture will follow you from home to home. When you are on the move, your furniture moves with you. Choose easy to move pieces that will inject some style and personality into your rented home.

3) Storage can be pretty too – Storage sounds boring right? But, this can actually be a great way to give your home a little bit of a facelift and make it look beautiful while you are at it. Shelving and flat packed units add another dimension to your home and can be a great way to show off some of your other possessions. Complete your brand-new shelving with an intricate vase with some fresh flowers, a nice photo frame of you and your favourite pet or perhaps a few candles to add a little bit of warmth and tranquillity.

4) Light it up – Why not add a statement light to your home? This can be on your desk, on your side table in the lounge, or even a floor lamp in the kitchen. Whatever room you choose lighting fixtures and statement pieces can really add more light, beauty and appeal to your home.

5) Keep everything simple – Don’t overdo it. When looking at decorative pieces, keep in mind that the same piece may need to fit into the colour scheme of your next home. By keeping it simple, and more neutral there is more chance that it will match.

6) Choose what you love – For many, when renting you have a decision to make, whether you wish to buy furniture to see you through multiple properties going into the future or whether you want to buy low cost furniture that you don’t mind leaving behind or discarding of. RW Invest, a property investment company that specialise in buy to let properties, offer a full furniture pack in all of their latest properties available on the market which saves those renting worrying about what furniture to take, as it is all provided for them beforehand.

7) Be creative – Adding textures, materials and colours throughout your rental property gives you the opportunity to reflect your own personality within your home and can create a homelier touch. Splashes of colour through cushions, blankets, rugs and artwork can brighten up even the dullest of apartments.

Did you notice moisture in your wall? Is your paint chipping off? By the time you realize you might need a new roof or your current roof to be repaired it might be too late. One small leak could mean many different problems. Which factors really determine whether a roof repair will solve the problem or the house needs a roof replacement? Click here to contact a roofing expert if you’re really not sure what condition your roof is in would prefer for a professional come out to assess your roof. Whether you choose to get someone in, or to take a look at your roof yourself, these are the things to look out for:

Age of Your Roof

Do you know how old your roof is? When was the last time your roof was looked and examined? Generally speaking most roofs are made to last between 20 and 25 years. There are a few factors that go into it such as roofing materials, shingles, and roof ventilation. For example, if your roof was installed over another layer or several layers and it is older than 20 years, chances are you may need a new roof.  If you think you need a roof or would like to have your current roof inspected, call a reputable company like D’Angelo & Sons Roofing.

Shingles

If your roof is made with shingles, they may be curling and buckling. This is another sign that you need a new roof. If you can see that your shingles are curling up or look like they are missing granules, it may mean that your shingles are past their life expectancy. In the worst case scenario your roof could be defective. If this is the case you need to contact a licensed roofing contractor to get a custom quote or you can get a good idea from a new roof cost estimator.

Roof Valley

If your roof shingles are missing, falling apart, or flaking, you can be almost sure you need a new roof. Roof Valleys are one of the most important areas of your roof. Harsh weather can put a damper on your roof valley since snow and rain flow through valleys and into gutters. If your roof valley is compromised, you could be susceptible to roof leaks.

Shingle granules in the gutters

If you can see inside your gutters and see shingle granule particles, it’s not a good sign. It’s a common sign that your shingles are in bad shape and need to be replaced. If you can’t look in your gutters hire a contractor to check your roof and gutters for you. If your shingle color is inconsistent or darker color on some parts of the roof, it’s another sign the granules have worn away and need replacing.

Daylight through the roof boards

If you can see daylight through your roof boards, you may be in deep trouble. If you went on your roof and noticed it felt dense and bouncy, it could mean that you have roof rot. You do not want the underlying decking of your roof to be weakened as this is a sign you could have moisture damage. If your attic is easily accessible be sure to check it for water damage as well. See if there is any light coming through the beams in your attic.

While there are many factors that contribute to your roof longevity, in order to get the most amount of years out of your roof, check your walls and attic frequently. Don’t mistake a spot or stain on your wall or ceiling as something minor. It could cost you thousands i

There are many cheap health insurance covers for kids. In this article we’re going to talk about three most important ones: Short-term health insurance, Children’s Health Insurance Program and Major medical plans. All parents want what’s best for their child. When your family is uninsured, you might be tempted to keep everyone safe so you won’t have to pay for medical care.

As a general idea, both parents and children should have minimum essential coverage, because it’s required under the Affordable Care Act. It’s not always the case with many families. Perhaps you want to get a health insurance for your kid.

Short-term health insurance

If you want temporary benefits, you might want to go for dependent-only coverage.

This insurance gives you from 30 to 364 days – it depends on the state. The child-only insurances are available for kids that are two years or older. The advantage here is the money, they cost less than others. The rates are lower for this one because they offer coverage to help you pay for unexpected cases, or high-cost illnesses. However, it’s not considered to be a minimum essential coverage that goes ok with the ACA’s individual mandate, and they do not include vaccinations, behavioral assessment, or autism screening. Not even hearing and vision screening. As a general rule, the stronger the short-term plan benefits, the higher you’ll have to pay.

There are many different health plans with different types of coverage. Connect Plus offers limited benefits for some pre-existing conditions – and not many have this benefit. A pre-existing condition is any kind of medical condition that came up before you started to coverage with the new health insurance policy.

You might want to go for this if your child is two years old, or older, if he or she is qualified for an exemption from the ACA’s mandate, or if he or she does not qualify for an ACA subsidy and needs an affordable health insurance. Also, you can get it if your kid needs coverage very quickly, like tomorrow.

Major medical health insurance

The major medical insurance is a policy made to help you pay for covered healthcare expenses that come from preventive services to emergency care. The ACA (short for Affordable Care Act) requires all the major medical plans to have guaranteed issue and it basically includes the basic requirements – the ten essential health benefits.

If your kid needs a long-term health insurance (that’s for more than 90 days), then a major medical health insurance is what you should go for. It’s true, they may cost more, but they do qualify as minimum essential coverage, and they include no-cost preventive care services and healthcare services for about ten categories from the ACA. They are

also guaranteed issue, and that means that your child won’t be denied the coverage, based on his or her health history or pre-existing conditions – they all must be covered.

It covers emergency services and hospitalization, mental health care, maternity and newborn care and ambulatory patient services. Also, it includes prescription drugs, lab services, habilitative services and devices, pediatric services, vision and oral care, and health services and chronic disease management. It really depends on the coverage you have. And the coinsurance and deductible amounts, plus the network restrictions have an impact on how much money you’ll have to pay for the insurance.

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

CHIP is short for Children’s Health Insurance Program and it’s available for all the kids from families that earn too much actually to qualify for Medicaid, however, not enough to buy a family or an individual health insurance plan from a state-based exchange or from the private market.

The thing with this one is that each state makes up its own CHIP eligibility requirements, which means that the program differs from one state to another.

Overall, it provides the standard Medicaid benefit package and periodic and early screening, diagnostic and treatments. It also comes with mental and dental services.

There are also some separate CHIP benefits, like benchmark coverage, Benchmark-Equivalent coverage or secretary-approved coverage.

Benchmark coverage is based on the State employee’s coverage plan and the HMO plan. Also, on the standard Blue Cross or Blue Shield preferred provider option that’s offered to Federal employees

Benchmark-Equivalent coverage includes Physician’s services, Laboratory and x-ray services, Inpatient (and outpatient) hospital services, surgical and any kind of medical services and Well-baby and well-child care (including immunization).

Secretary-approved coverage offers any other kind of health coverage that’s acceptable by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.