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What Colour Works Best for Your Kitchen?

Finding the right colours for your kitchen can be the difference from a fantastic design and one that looks disjointed and uncoordinated.

What colour works best for your kitchen? This is a question that we are going to explore in this weeks' blog at the Kitchen Warehouse.

You might have great cabinets, a new floor or modern appliances but if you mess up the wall colour this can all be in vain. Choosing the right colour to suit your design is vital.

There are a few things to think about first and questions that you need to ask yourself.

How much natural light do you have?

The size of your kitchen and how much natural light you have will have a big impact on your colour scheme.

Kitchen's that have a lot of natural light coming in can afford to have a darker colour on the wall. This could be with windows or even skylights and if there is an abundance of sunlight coming into the room you can potentially choose a duller colour. This is because there is light coming in anyway. In smaller kitchens or kitchens that have limited natural light, using darker colours can have a negative effect. It can make the room feel smaller and claustrophobic.

However, does this mean that dark colours should be avoided altogether?

Should you avoid darker colours?

Not necessarily. Even if you don't have much natural light this doesn't mean that you can't have a darker shade on your wall either.

Some people say that darker colours and dark neutral colours don't promote hunger which is kind of going against the whole point of the room! That being said, the design of every room in your home should be to your taste. If you like darker colours then why not have a dark blue or dark grey on your kitchen walls. If you prefer lighters colours then go for that.

Darker shades shouldn't just be avoided outright. There are a lot of factors that can compliment navy, blacks or grays in the kitchen.

Colours that go well in most kitchens

The debate about what colour works best for your kitchen can last for days without really getting anywhere. We have picked out 5 different colours that are generally universal.

Warm Neutrals

OK, so this isn't 'one' colour per se however warm neutrals cover a range of shades that can work wonders in your kitchen.

Warm neutrals have hints and shades of brown, red, orange, or yellow undertones and work with pretty much any other colour scheme. The reason that warm neutrals tend to work better than what we would call cold neutrals (think colours with undertones of blue or green) is because they are more inviting. These colours fell a lot more homely and provide a friendlier nature to the room overall. You can combine warm neutrals with pretty much anything from striking kitchen cabinets to wood. They are also a good idea to use in a kitchen with an accent wall as we will see below.

White

White can often be seen as a bit boring but it is highly effective in creating a clean and minimalist design.

If you want a kitchen that looks uncluttered then white is a great choice. In fact, white painted rooms have an energy about them and as the kitchen is one of the first rooms you go into in the morning in search of some caffeine, white walls can offer a subconscious perk me up. Why not go white on white and combine this with white kitchen cabinets? It is a popular design trend and is becoming a real hallmark of modern kitchen design.

Blue

Blue is a colour that is not automatically associated with kitchen design. That doesn't mean that it can be used for great effect in the kitchen and it doesn't even need to be as an accent colour either.

The thing with blue is that it provides a real crisp dimension to your room. It is recommended that you use it quite sparingly so resist the temptation to cover every part of the kitchen in blue. If you are wondering what colour works best for your kitchen and are stumped for ideas that are a little bit different than the norm then consider blue. It isn't that common and will make your kitchen have a unique slant.

Green

We've blogged about having green as one of the primary colours in your kitchen before – Why Green Is The New Must Have Colour. Many people think that green is outdated and is better left as a design trend a few decades ago.

This isn't the case. Green can be a very effective colour to have in your kitchen and it can blend in and work very well with whites, grays and other light colours. Not only is it a very inviting colour it is natural too. Green reminds us of nature and if you want a calm and relaxing vibe to your kitchen, a light shade of green can really help to achieve this effect.

Yellow

Finally, we have yellow. A nice bright colour that reminds us of sunshine and summer days. Can it work in your kitchen? Yes!

if you are wondering what colour works best for your kitchen then yellow should be a stronger contender because it can go with nearly anything. In fact, if you have a lot of gray in your room then yellow works fabulously with this and helps to bring it to life. Yellow is great too at reflecting light so if you have a dull kitchen or one that doesn't receive a ton of natural light then yellow can help to brighten to the whole room.

Think about an accent wall too

If you are still debating what colour to paint your kitchen or if you think it could do with something to make it appear more modern then consider an accent wall.

Creating an accent in your kitchen is very easy and can have a massive effect on how your room looks. It can bring attention to one particular part of the room or even just break up an monotony of colour. A kitchen accent can take many forms from accent lighting, accent kitchen cupboard doors or even just painting one room different than the rest. The possibilities here are endless.

What colour works best for your kitchen?

So, what colour works best for your kitchen?

Like everything when it comes to kitchen design, it depends on you, your tastes and what you want.

The colours we have shown you in this blog will generally go with anything in your kitchen. This is why they are so popular but don't be afraid to experiment and try something new. Just remember to ensure that you don't make your kitchen feel smaller wither dark colours if you have poor natural light or make it overly bright with light colours in a room that is already well lit.

Whether you play it safe or go for something a bit left field, adding a splash of colour to your kitchen can really transform the room even if you don't do anything else.

The post What Colour Works Best for Your Kitchen? appeared first on Kitchen Blog | Kitchen Design, Style Tips & Ideas | Kitchen Warehouse UK.

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Bathroom Organization Ideas for Your Small Space

It's easy to find a bathroom in disarray, after all it's one of the smallest rooms in the house that's also used by everyone and guests. Thankfully, there are some bathroom organization ideas that can help shape up your small space!

“People are stuck with a lot of clutter and disorganization going on in their bathroom, because they're in and out fast and don't take the time to put things away,” said Susan Stone, a professional organizer in New England.

If you're ready to create an organization system to keep your bathroom clutter at bay, keep reading for some great bathroom organization ideas from Stone and another professional organizer! Your space and morning routine will be in order in no time.

Only Store Everyday Essentials in a Bathroom

If there are items you don't use every day – such as cold medicine or 20 rolls of toilet paper – then it should be stored in a linen closet or storage space outside the bathroom, said Sara Barba of XOXOrganizing.

“In any bathroom in a regular-size home, you don't have a ton of space,” she said. “If you go and buy in bulk, I always say don't keep everything in your bathroom. That's going to take a lot of space and it's going to take months to get through all that shampoo, or whatever it is.”

If you have a lot of hair products or makeup, only store what you need to get ready the next day.

“Maybe just pare it down to what you're actually using,” said Barba. “I have so many hair products for my curly hair and then I have some for when I'm in my straight hair faze. Take the products that you're not using and store them somewhere else until you're ready to use them again.”

Bathroom Organization Ideas: Utilize Vertical Space

Instead of cramping the space under the sink with towels and bathroom necessities, or your bathroom floor with more cabinets, consider adding shelves or hooks on walls or doors to free up storage space.

“Hang shelves on walls, or baskets and hooks over the door,” said Stone. “Think vertically, because bathrooms are often space-challenged.”

She also suggests adding hooks to the inside of cabinet doors for curling irons or blow dryers, because hanging those items will free up storage space elsewhere.

“This reduces the visible clutter on the back of sinks and toilet tanks,” she said.

But before you go to the store and buy storage bins, shelves or other bathroom organization supplies, make sure you make room for them by removing what you don't need in your bathroom.

“Bins are adding more stuff, and if you're constantly adding stuff your bathroom will start to look really messy,” Barba said. “Make sure you subtract things from your bathroom before you start adding new things.”

Reorganize a Bathroom Seasonally

During your fall or spring cleaning routines, go through you bathroom and toss expired products, switch out seasonal necessities and toss old linens, said Stone.

“You should go through your bathroom once a season, because you'll want to switch out moisturizers in the winter with sunblock in the summer,” she said. “Twice a year, when you're switching out your wardrobe, you should also consider your bathroom products.”

This includes getting rid of items you never used – like a shade of lipstick that you hoped would look good, but never did. Or shampoo brands that you were excited to try, but just didn't work out.

“Your space is really special, and it should only hold the things you also consider special,” said Stone.

The post Bathroom Organization Ideas for Your Small Space appeared first on Public Storage Blog: Decluttering, Moving, Storing Tips – The Organized Life.

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The Secret Ingredient That Makes These 5 Cookies So Amazing

Boy, do I have a treat for you today! :-) What would you about a soft, cake-like cookie that requires only three ingredients to make, AND that can be ready to eat in under 30 minutes? If you're anything like me, you might be skeptical that such a cookie exists, yet intrigued enough to learn more. (I admit it-I have treat-based trust issues! I've been burned before by recipes that sounded amazing, but never lived up to the hype.)

But I swear on my honor that these particular cookies are the real deal! They're called cake mix cookies, because (you guessed it!) you make them using boxed cake mix. The resulting cookies are so soft and chewy, you might have a hard time putting them down! And you can use any cake mix you like to make these cookies, so the possibilities are almost endless!

First, I'll show you exactly how to make these cake mix cookies. (Spoiler alert: it couldn't possibly be any easier.) After that, I'll share 5 different tasty flavor combinations that you can try out at your leisure. By the end of this post, you'll understand exactly why these versatile cookies are quickly becoming the new favorite at our house! :-)

How To Make Cake Mix Cookies

Add the cake mix, butter, and eggs to a mixing bowl. Stir until they come together to form a dough. Drop the dough in rounded tablespoons onto a greased or lined baking sheet.

Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes at 350°F.

Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

5 Delicious Cake Mix Cookies To Try

1. Sandwich Cookies

This is less of a cookie variety and more of a method, but I'm including it anyway! Sandwich cookies are like Oreos-two cookies with a layer of icing in the center. You can use any cake mix for the cookies and any flavor of icing. There are endless ways to mix and match flavors into delicious combinations! Here are a couple of tasty combos to get you inspired:

Red Velvet: We whipped up a batch of cake mix cookies using a red velvet cake mix. For the icing “filling,” we chose a cream cheese frosting. The results were absolutely delicious!

Homemade Oreos: Use a chocolate or devil's food cake mix to make the cookies, and sandwich them together with vanilla icing. It's a tasty ode to the most famous sandwich cookie of all!

2. Birthday Cookies

Use funfetti cake mix to whip up a batch of celebratory birthday cookies! (You can also use a white cake mix with 3 tablespoons of sprinkles mixed in instead. The results are very similar either way!)

3. Caramel Surprise Cookies

Use a devil's food cake mix to prepare a batch of cake mix cookie dough. While you're portioning out the dough, press one Rolo into the center of each ball of cookie dough. The melted chocolate and caramel in these cookies makes for a sweet surprise!

4. Snickerdoodle Cookies

Use a spice cake mix (or yellow cake) to make your dough. Before baking, roll each ball of cookie dough in a shallow dish of cinnamon sugar. Yum!

Lemon Crinkle: Use a similar method to make tangy lemon crinkle cookies! Use a lemon cake mix to make your dough, then roll the balls in a layer of powdered sugar before baking.

5. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

These seasonal favorites are made with a spice cake mix, but the ingredients are slightly different than the other cake mix cookies. Check out the full recipe at the link below!

Related: How To Make The Best Pumpkin Cookies Ever With Only 3 Ingredients

What type of cake mix would you choose to use in these cookies?

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Create a delightful and cozy kid's reading corner

I wanted to make my boy a room that he would love and reflect his love of reading and my nostalgia. The seat in the reading corner was made so he could have a snugly corner.

IKEA items used:

PAX Wardrobe

Fabric

Other materials and tools:

Paint

Board

Hack instructions for our reading corner:

First, I built two PAX wardrobes in the space. (Preferably, anchor the units to the wall.)

Second, I measured and cut a board that was strong enough to hold a small boy and all the books he reads!

After that, I built a baton around the edge of the wall and wardrobes to hold the board.

Finally, I covered the board in the fabulous striped IKEA fabric and placed it on top of the baton to create the reading corner.

Once this was completed I painted the cupboard doors with the same design as the wallpaper.

Most of all, what I like about this retro reading corner is the way the doors provided a basic canvas to produce my art work.

The hardest part about this hack was ensuring I kept my boy inspired as I designed and built the corner.

Looking back, I would have put an undercoat on the coloured paint.

My design is featured in Mini Modern's book in March 2109 on Amazon called Mid-Century Modern Living: The Mini Modern's Guide to Pattern and Style

~ by Emma Clifton-Brown Follow me on Instagram @homesbyemma

You may also like these reading corner hacks

#1 Toy storage and kids reading nook

Natalie used the KALLAX cube, horizontally, to create a zone for reading. The top is removable and lets her cleverly hide away infrequently used toys and kid's things. See more.

#2 Bunk bed with reading nook

Jean-Christophe makes a snug reading spot for his daughter by wrapping wood around the MYDAL bed. Seems like a really cozy nook in there. On the left, there is a bookcase for toys and books. Get the details.

#3 Fabulous BILLY daybed reading nook

Jessica shares her IKEA hack - a daybed reading nook - made from 4 BILLY bookcases. It's amazing how it turned out. See the daybed reading nook.

  The post Create a delightful and cozy kid's reading corner appeared first on IKEA Hackers.

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Evolving Style: From Studio Space to Home Base

Last fall, in our first Evolving Style feature, we took you inside the LA condo of new parents Stephanie Liu Hjelmeseth and her husband Kyle. Through a photo series showing off their previous and current homes, the pair walked us through each of the ways having a child had influenced their personal aesthetic. Overall, the evolution proved to be a masterclass on how to up the ante on practicality without losing your personal design identity.

In today's installment, we're revisiting a co-working space in Delhi, India. When we first peeked inside, Sarah Fotheringham and Maninder Singh, founders of textile brand Safomasi, shared the studio with three other companies whose styles and workflows varied greatly. While beautiful, the Delhi outpost held so many people that function often outshined form.

In the time since we first learned about the studio and the makers it held, all but Sarah and Maninder have moved on. Instead of doing the same, the pair has seized the opportunity, taken over the entire workshop and turned it into a combination live/work space. Seeing as they're now inside these four walls every hour of every day, they've had to make simple – yet impactful – changes to make it work. No matter the tweak, though, each one was born from a simple purpose: Promote productivity from nine to five and relaxation from five to nine. Scroll down to see how they did it, and enjoy! -Garrett

Photography by Kassia Karr and Sahil Sabharwal

Image above: The studio's previous look was an eclectic representation of the four brands it housed. Now, it's filled with textiles from its sole tenant: Safomasi.

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How to Protect Your Souderton Home Against Cockroaches in 2019

If we were to take a guess, we would imagine that cockroaches are at the top of the list of pests that people want to avoid. For one, they aren't very appealing as far as critters go, nothing cute and cuddly about a roach. Two, they are dirty pests that spend much of their time living in filth. The good news is that there are ways to protect your Souderton home against cockroaches in 2019.   During the winter, cockroaches scurry indoors looking for shelter and food. Cockroaches were originally tropical pests and, while they've adapted to cold climates, they still prefer a warm moist location close to food to call their home. They are adept at getting into homes through cracks and crevices as well as through pipes. Cockroaches have also been known to come up through toilets. In areas where homes share walls, such as condos or townhouses, cockroaches can move between walls across pipes and through outlets to get from one dwelling to another.    Souderton homeowners can take prevention steps this winter as well as year-round to try to prevent cockroach infestations. Cockroaches are pests that gravitate toward dirty homes. Keeping your house tidy is a great way to help keep cockroaches away. Cleaning up spills, storing food properly, removing trash frequently, vacuuming and mopping regularly, and even flushing out drains are all great steps to take to prevent cockroaches. Reducing clutter and repairing areas of your home that are in disarray can also help, by decrease hiding spots and entry points for cockroaches.   Unfortunately, most of the time DIY prevention steps fall short and professional pest control experts are the only solution. While it's still a great idea to take the precautions above, call Moyer Pest Control immediately if you suspect a cockroach problem. Getting on top of treatment early can help eradicate the cockroach infestation quickly and efficiently. The longer you allow a cockroach infestation to go on the harder it is to eliminate. The Complete Home Guard plan that we offer at Moyer Pest Control in Souderton includes four quarterly services. We also back our plan with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don't hesitate to call us to set up a plan this winter to help keep cockroaches from entering your home this year.

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Why a Bad Drip Sequence Is Worse than No Drip Sequence

We've all been there.

Tempted by that perfect piece of content, we gladly offer up our email addresses, only to regret it later. With each generic, templated email we receive, we're one step closer to hitting the unsubscribe button.

Well, guess what. If you can sniff out a mass email from a mile away - so can your leads. Because the one thing we seem to keep forgetting is that no two subscribers are ever the same, and over-relying on the same played-out drip sequence won't help you win their loyalty.

But what if you could close more deals with less effort by simply using your tech tools more intentionally?

If you're looking for ways to use automation to connect with your leads on a deeper, more human level - keep reading. We've got some proven tips to help you use tech for good.

Real estate drip campaigns are not a cure-all

Before we dive deeper into how to fix your drip campaigns, let's talk a little more about why they're broken in the first place. Because the irony is, we all know we need to nurture our leads. We've heard it a million times.

We've read all about the business owners who make 50% more sales at 33% less cost because of their awesomely warmed-up databases. And the 18X more revenue targeted emails can bring. But these results often feel like they're meant for someone else, someone who has more time, more resources, or both.

So what most of us end up doing is set up an automated drip sequence, and walk away. We feel good about having ticked another box off the “should-do” marketing list, but deep down, we wonder how effective it'll actually be.

Because the truth is, in today's always-on age of chatbots and social media, having a drip campaign for the sake of simply “staying in front of” your prospects no longer makes sense.

Buyers are more empowered than ever before. And though the volume of homes hasn't changed all that much (we're looking at the first major market shift in a decade), the ways in which we sell those homes have changed dramatically.

It's time come out and say it: All this technology is making agents lazy.

To be fair, maybe “overwhelmed” is a better word. But whichever way you cut it, not calling leads, ignoring emails and sending the same generic auto-responder to all prospects just proves most agents don't really understand their leads - and worse, they're not concerned with making themselves truly valuable to their prospects.

Still, the numbers don't lie. 80% of marketing automation users have seen an increase in leads, and 77% have seen the number of conversions increase. The question isn't whether or not you should use technology - obviously, this stuff works.

The real question is this:

How can you use technology to stay one step ahead of the competitors, disruptors and ultra-informed leads who are permanently changing the way homes are bought and sold?

Scrap the generic drip sequence and close more deals

From VR property viewings to transaction management via the blockchain, most agents are afraid of being replaced by technology.

According to Joshua Smith coach, mentor and host of the #1 Most Downloaded Real Estate Agent Podcast, GSD Mode, “There are several things happening in our industry currently. First, we have a market shift that is taking place, but this is nothing new for our industry, just remember: 'There Is No Such Thing as a Bad Market, It Is Always Good for Someone'. As Real Estate Agents, we need to identify who the market is good for and adapt to serve their needs. That's how you thrive in shifts.”

As disruptors continue to shake up even the most tried and true industry best practices, experts like Joshua say that what separates the winning agents from the rest is whether or not you can resist the urge to bury your head in the sand. “We need to take massive action on this as the future role of the real estate agent depends on it,” says Joshua.

Segment your list based on what really matters

Let's imagine a perfect scenario where prospects walk right into your office with a complete profile including details about their knowledge of your brand, level of interest in buying or selling, what type of house they're into, budget, etc. That'd be amazing, right?

But since it's rarely (if ever) the case that you have that much intel, you need to put a real effort into narrowing down your lead segments based on what you do know about them. Then, regroup your sales and marketing efforts to consistently deliver what they want, when they want it.

Most CRMs allow you to get extremely specific, narrowing it down to:

Demographics: Income, Family size, Occupation, Gender, Race, Generation

Geographic aspects: School district, Neighborhood, Employer, City

Psychographic aspects: Pet owners, Lifestyle seekers, Friends/Family in the neighborhood, etc.

In Follow Up Boss, we think a simple approach is best:

Lead type: New leads, buyer leads, seller leads, past clients and of course, hot leads

Lead behavior: Price, lead stage, last activity

No matter which of the hundreds of CRMs you've singled out as the one that'll work for you and your team, it should be flexible enough to adapt to the real-world behaviors of your leads - and your team - so that you're always ready to act anytime a lead takes a big leap forward in their buying journey.

Keep your emails succinct and human

There's something about the 9-Word Email that makes it so effective.

Business owners who use it say the engagement with their leads is higher and that leads convert faster. So next time you're sending out an email, why not try it out?

You could write something simple like, “Are you still interested in housing in South Carolina?” or “Have you seen our new listings in Wrigleyville, Chicago?”

In Follow Up Boss, you can create Smart Lists of segmented leads and send tailored follow up emails your leads will actually reply to. Here's a quick example:

Hey [Lead Name], I've been sending you new listings for a little while now and just wanted to check in to make sure I'm sending the kinds of houses you're interested in. Want me to make some adjustments? Or any you'd like to schedule a showing of?

[Agent Name]

Let's not forget, one of the main reasons consumers love technology is because it's so simple to get a fast, frictionless reply. Make it easy and they won't be able to resist.

Plus, all customers care about the little things. Let's say you've closed a sale - this doesn't mean your work is done.

Show your gratitude by using a personalized drip campaign to send a short “Thank you for trusting us” email, then add your new customer into a past client follow up sequence that includes a mix of direct mail, phone and email correspondence. Trust us, it will make a difference.

Never forget the power of face-to-face interaction

We obviously believe technology is a force for good. But even we have to admit that it comes with a serious downside.

For one, nearly half of the US population is lonely.

No matter how many awesome tech tools are at our disposal, nothing can replace human connection. Successful real estate agents know it's important to truly connect with their leads and clients - on the phone, via video and, not least, in person.

Want more on how to win with video? See how agents like Taylor Hack, Team Leader of HACK&Co use video to build a personal connection with leads.

Leading agents use tools like BombBomb to put a face to their drip campaigns, making it that much easier to stand out above the noise get a face-to-face appointment. In fact, even simply using the word “video” in your subject line can boost open rates by 19% and clickthrough rates by 65%.

This stuff is powerful.

For times when you can't connect in person, sending a quick, personalized thank you video message is the next best thing. And if you want to get even more personal with your leads, check out how real estate agent Kinny Landrum uses BombBomb to send (belated but still awesome) birthday wishes.

Your focus is all you have

With technology taking over industry after industry, it's natural to feel a bit uneasy. But whatever you do, don't waste your time focusing on the wrong things. Because at the end of the day, your focus is the only thing that matters.

It's the one thing you can count on to make sure that every time you pick up the phone, text a reply or hit send on an email, the person on the other side knows you're worth their time. So focus your full attention on the people who are most ready to buy. And do it every day.

For everyone else, take a day or two to step out of the chaos and create a truly relevant drip sequence that delivers value at every step of the journey. Keep them short, sweet and use the tools available to you to show them you're a real person with real insights they can rely on. Automation is here to help you with that. But it can't do it all on its own.

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Survey: Gen-Xers & Older Millennials Believe Stocks are a Better Investment than Real Estate

35-44 year olds were hit hardest by the housing bust just as they reached prime first-time homebuying age

Less than half of homebuyers and sellers between the ages of 35 and 44 believe that real estate is a better long-term investment than the stock market, according to a survey Redfin commissioned in December of more than 2,600 people nationwide who bought or sold a home in the last year, attempted to do so, or have plans to buy or sell soon.

Buyers who reached the median first-time homebuyer age of 31 years old between 2008 and 2012 during the Great Recession and housing market collapse are now 38 to 42 years old. Redfin's survey results show that this was the only age group that has less confidence in real estate as an investment than the stock market. Just 48 percent of homebuyers and sellers in this age group believe that real estate is a better long-term investment than the stock market.

“The oldest Millennials and youngest Gen-Xers entered their late twenties or early thirties during the housing crash, which explains why they are more skeptical about investing in real-estate,” said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. “This generation experienced a major setback during the housing bust, which hit just as they were most likely to be getting married, starting a family, and becoming a first time homeowner. Looking into the future, we expect to see homeownership increase as Millennials enter prime home-buying age. This is because Millennials have a more favorable opinion of real estate as an investment than Gen-Xers, and Millennials are a larger group than Gen-Xers.”

In every other age group, buyers and sellers who believe that real estate is a better long-term investment outnumbered those who believe the stock market is better.

This finding is surprising given that it comes from a survey of people specifically buying or selling homes, which is a group that presumably would be biased toward real estate to begin with. Younger Baby Boomers, respondents aged 55 to 64, were the most optimistic about real estate as an investment. Previous Redfin surveys of homebuyers and sellers have not asked this specific question, so we do not yet have any data on whether this has changed over time.

Methodology

Redfin contracted Qualtrics to field a study between November 2 and December 10, 2018 of 2,647 people from the general population who indicated they had bought or sold a home in the past year, tried to buy or sell a home in the past year or plan to do so this year.

This report focused included data from the 1,784 people who answered the question: “Which do you believe is the better investment for those who do not plan to move their money in the long term, the stock market or real estate?” People who answered either “Real estate is the slightly better investment” or “Real estate is the better investment by far” were grouped together, and those who answered “The stock market is the slightly better investment” or “The stock market is the better investment by far” were grouped together.

The survey had respondents from all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

For more information about the survey and its findings, contact Redfin Journalist Services at press@redfin.com.

The post Survey: Gen-Xers & Older Millennials Believe Stocks are a Better Investment than Real Estate appeared first on Redfin Real-Time.

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Prepping and Preparing: 3 Easy Whole30 Recipes From Pederson's Farms

Sponsored by Pederson's Farms

Hey there! Neil Dudley, VP of Pederson's Farms, here. I'm so happy that you're joining us for the #JanuaryWhole30. I wanted to pop in and let you know about three ways our team at Pederson's Farms wants to help you stay prepped and eating well through your Whole30.

1 | We're Passionate about Pork

Whether you're currently doing the #JanuaryWhole30 or planning to start one soon, we've created more than 20 Whole30 Approved® pork products to support you. Pederson's products are easy to find … they have the Whole30 Approved logo right on the label and are available online and in stores everywhere.

I don't mean to brag, but we produce some really awesome, responsibly-raised, high-quality pork. Our pork tastes delicious and is raised without the use of antibiotics or growth stimulants, and never fed any animal by-products. Our products are minimally processed with no artificial ingredients, preservatives, nitrates/nitrites, gluten, lactose, or MSG … and wait for it … no sugar! As in “no sugar bacon?” You bet. We're famous for it.

2 | Our Whole30 Meal Prep Box Makes Meal Planning Easy

I know the idea of Whole30 meal planning can be a bit daunting at first. Preparing to prep and cook nearly all of your meals at home means you need to find compliant recipes and compliant proteins to keep you going all month long. That's why we offer our Ultimate Whole30 Meal Prep Box.

This Box was designed give you peace of mind when it comes to finding compliant, high-quality protein. It stocks your freezer with 10 of our most popular Whole30 Approved pork products in one easy order. The pricing works out to about $3.50 per meal … it's hard to beat that deal! Plus, when you purchase a bundle, we'll donate $10.00 towards our ongoing effort to support children with Type 1 Diabetes.

3 | We like tasty Whole30 recipes just as much as you do

In fact, we've created a 7-day Whole30 Meal Prep Guide stuffed with delicious Whole30 recipes. We'll share that for free when you order a Whole30 Meal Prep Bundle. It's full of delicious, satisfying, easy recipes inspired by the phenomenal Whole30 community. Want proof? I'm sharing 3 of my favorites in this blog post … just scroll down!

But first … enter to win a free Whole30 Meal Prep Bundle HERE & we'll give you  coupon for $15.00 off

BLT Ranch Salad

(Save or bookmark it here!)

Ingredients

1 pound Pederson's No Sugar Bacon 4 tablespoons Primal Kitchen Ranch Dressing One head iceberg lettuce 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes Coarse salt Cracked pepper

Instructions

PREHEAT  oven to 400-degrees. PLACE bacon slices on a baking tray and bake until desired crispiness. Set aside to cool. CHOP a head of iceberg lettuce into quarters and cut the cherry tomatoes into halves,while the bacon cools. When the bacon is cool, chop it into bits or small pieces. PLACE the lettuce wedges cut sides facing up, then sprinkle with bacon bits and tomato halves. DRIZZLE with ranch dressing and add salt and pepper to taste

Italian Sausage Egg Pizza

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Ingredients

1 package of Pederson's Italian Sausage 2 large eggs 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes 1/2 each of green, red, & yellow bell peppers 1/2 small yellow onion Coarse salt Cracked pepper

Instructions

DICE your peppers and onion into 1/8-inch pieces, then set aside. BROWN the Pederson's Italian Sausage in a skillet over medium heat, until fully cooked through. CRACK eggs in a bowl and whisk until combined. HEAT  a small nonstick skillet on medium-low heat and add the eggs. Stir gently until small “curds” begin to form. LOWER heat and continue to cook undisturbed until the eggs are cooked through, then carefully transfer to a plate without breaking or folding the egg “crust”. SPRINKLE the eggs with the desired amount of sausage, peppers, and onions. SEASON with salt and pepper to taste.

Deli Ham Sushi Style Bites

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Ingredients

8 slices of Pederson's Farms Black Forest Ham 1 small cucumber 1 avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced into 16 pieces 1 purple onion, sliced into thin strips 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips 1 orange bell pepper, sliced into thin strips

Instructions

LAY a piece of deli meat on work service. ARRANGE a small handful of the veggies (bell peppers, onion, and cucumber) along the bottom third of the deli ham. LAY 2 slices of avocado over top. STARTING from the bottom, roll tightly to enclose the veggies. LAY the roll seam-side down and cut into 6 pieces using toothpicks to hold each “roll” together. REPEAT with the remaining ham and veggies.

Let them Eat Bacon (and Ham, and Sausage…)

There you have it! The Ultimate Whole30 Meal Prep Box from Pederson's Farms is the perfect solution to finding tasty proteins that will make your Whole30 recipes shine. I wish you all of the best with your #JanuaryWhole30.

Grab your $15 coupon HERE.

This post was sponsored by Pederson's Farms. Thank you for supporting our Whole30 partners!

The post Prepping and Preparing: 3 Easy Whole30 Recipes From Pederson's Farms appeared first on The Whole30® Program.

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Why You Should Buy an Investment Property First and a Home Second

Becoming a homeowner is frequently associated with stability, security, accomplishment, and prosperity. That's why for many people buying a home is a compulsory step towards feeling successful and completed. The truth of the matter is, however, that although buying a home might be a very emotional achievement, it does not always make the most financial sense.

If you've come to a point in life where you have saved up enough cash to put down on a house, it is the smarter financial move to buy an investment property and not a home. You are better off investing your money in a rental property, which will make more money for you while continuing renting. In a few years' time, you will have enough cash to not only buy the home of your dreams, but to also grow your real estate investment portfolio with another rental property.

Let's have a look at the reasons why you should buy an investment property first and only then buy your own home:

1. Financing the Purchase

Most people have to take a mortgage loan when buying a home. Very few are lucky to have enough money in the bank to pay in all cash. Moreover, the majority of lenders (other than traditional banks and a few government programs) are hesitant to lend money to homebuyers as they don't have a guarantee.

The situation is different with real estate investors. When buying a rental property, you are not limited to a conventional loan, but can also finance your property purchase through hard money lenders, private money lenders, crowdfunding, syndication, and other forms of partnerships. You have more options to get creative with financing as the rental income you'll make from the property will help you pay off your loan faster and more efficiently.

In a sense, when you invest in real estate, it is your tenants – and not you – who make the monthly loan payments. So, month after month, you grow equity in your property without paying from your own pocket. Actually, your renters pay for all other recurring expenses such as property tax, insurance, maintenance, utilities, etc. as well. That's one of the most important reasons to go for an investment property before purchasing a home, where you will be the one making all the payments.

2. Making Money in the Short Run

As a real estate investor, you should only buy positive cash flow properties. For this purpose, you have to conduct careful investment property analysis before deciding on a property. With positive cash flow properties, tenants not only make the monthly mortgage payments to the bank, but also make you money. Any part of the rent which doesn't go towards the ongoing rental property expenses comes straight to your pocket in the form of profit. Indeed, as long as you buy a profitable property in the right market and manage it reasonably, rent is the most stable source of income out there. Moreover, you can start making money right away – all you need is a property in a condition which allows to rent it out.

If you decide to buy a home instead, you don't get to make money. Of course, you can say that if you continue to rent the place where you live, you will have to pay rent to the landlord, so you are losing money. The trick is to buy an investment property which brings you more cash than your own rent. You can do that by finding a profitable property type in a strong investment market.

3. Making Money in the Long Term

As a real estate investor, your goal is to make money. A rental property helps you achieve this goal not only in the short term but also in the long run. Once your housing market has experienced enough real estate appreciation, you can sell your investment property. The price you receive for it will be much higher than what you paid for it a few years ago.

Natural appreciation is one of the most important benefits of real estate investing. Thanks to it, you get to make money without putting any efforts into your property. All you have to do is to assure that you maintain it well.

This is different from selling your home. While you can easily sell your investment property to buy a bigger one or to buy two rental properties instead, selling your own home is a very emotional decision, which few will take upon.

4. Having No Limits on the Market

If you are buying a home, you obviously have to choose a property in your local housing market or within a few miles from it. This doesn't make much sense in a high price to rent ratio market, where property prices are too high compared to monthly rental rates. For example, the price to rent ratio in Miami is really high at 29. The average monthly rent is $1,740, while the average property price is $616,000. Such a property price is not something which everyone can afford. In such a housing market, speaking from a purely financial point, it is more rational to rent rather than to buy a home.

At the same time though, if you are buying an investment property, you are not limited to any particular market. With the advancement of professional property management companies, out of state real estate investing is becoming an ever more popular option among property investors. With real estate investments, the sky is the limit. You can find a housing market with high rental demand and relatively low property prices to get high return on your investment.

5. Facing No Restrictions on the Property Type

When you buy a home, you have to take care to choose a property which will serve your needs for decades to come. If you have a family or are thinking of starting one, you better go for a single-family home which will have enough rooms and space for your growing family. This limits the type and number of properties you can purchase in the local market. Not to mention that single-family homes cost significantly more than apartments or condos, let's say.

If you are buying an investment property, however, you can choose any property type, as long as you can afford the down payment. This gives you significantly more options and opportunities to find a property within your budget.

6. Benefiting from Tax Deductions

When you buy a home, you have to start paying property taxes. This is not to say that you don't have to pay taxes if you buy real estate for investment purposes. To the contrary, you have to pay property tax and income tax as well, but you can get tax deductions on many of your business expenses such as travel, office space, utilities, and others. As a real estate investor, you should utilize every opportunity to increase your cash flow and return on investment, so make sure to study all available tax deductions carefully as they apply to your particular situation.

Even if you've spent all your life to this point hearing how important it is to buy a home, you should keep your mind open and realize that this is not necessarily the best decision from a financial point of view. As a matter of fact, buying an investment property makes more sense. If you do your market research and property search well to land a positive cash flow property, you can start making and saving money from month one while growing your equity in your rental property. In this way, your investment property will help you save up enough money soon to buy the home of your dreams.

Daniela Andreevska is Marketing Director at Mashvisor, a real estate analytics tool which helps real estate investors quickly find traditional and Airbnb investment properties. A research process that's usually 3 months now can take 15 minutes. We provide all the real estate information in easy to understand visualizations.

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Advil Cold & Flu Moneymaker at Walgreens!

(Note: The links in this post are affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Read our disclosure policy here.)

You can get Advil Cold & Flu for free plus overage at Walgreens right now! Here's how:

Buy 2 Advil Cold & Flu – $5.99 each Buy 2, Get 3,000 Balance Reward Points Use 2 $3/1 printable Pay $5.98 out of pocket Submit for 2 $2 Ibotta cash back Earn $3 Balance Reward Points Free plus overage after coupons, cash back and points

Thanks, Kosher On A Budget!

[rolanddrazo1932-blog]

Why I'm storing dry goods in a kitchen pantry with containers and bay leaves.

Happy New Year! Anyone else dreaming about cleaning and purging? I admit, I have started with the Marie Condo method once again and hit my own closet hard!  And even took a trip to the dump after giving my workshop a good clean after the table saw lesson from my brother Les. Things are coming […]

The post Why I'm storing dry goods in a kitchen pantry with containers and bay leaves. appeared first on Funky Junk Interiors.

[rolanddrazo1932-blog]

What Does a Water Damage Restoration Technician Do? [Complete Career Guide]

It's more than a job:

It's a career path that leads to helping residents when they need it most. As a water damage restoration technician, you're positioned to assist home and business owners recover their property, their belongings and their peace of mind.

This exciting field is wide open to both men and women. The work can be hard. The projects can be long-term. The satisfaction that comes from helping others through difficult times is always rewarding.

With this guide, we lay out an overview of the information you need to make a meaningful career choice. We cover it all from general qualifications and hands-on training to course studies and industry certification.

Water Restoration Technician Job Description

Your job as a WRT puts you in the field tackling all types of water mitigation projects. You're part of a team of highly trained technicians restoring water-damaged properties and personal belongings.

Most scheduling happens within the bounds of a normal work week, and you're sometimes on emergency standby. The restoration business serves customers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

These are examples of the different processes you handle in your role as a certified water restoration technician.

• Advanced equipment setup and operation • Heavy-duty water removal and extraction • Property cleanup including sanitation processes • Site-wide structural drying and dehumidifying • Recovery of salvageable personal belongings • Damaged material tear-out and replacement • Property-wide reconstruction and restoration

Becoming a WRT doesn't require a professional trade license. However, once you've completed your training, we highly recommended that you follow through with industry-approved certification.

What Does Water Damage Restoration Technician Training Offer?

Water damage restoration training involves course studies and hands-on field experience.

As you advance through various learning stages, you become familiar with the science behind the work. For example, you understand the importance of psychrometry and how it applies to the restoration process.

Study courses cover a variety of procedures including dealing with hazardous sewage backups and black water contamination. You learn the full effects of all types of water damage, how to handle different projects and the requirements for WRT certification.

On-the-job training maximizes your understanding of course studies. In the field, you partner with experienced technicians who explain the details involved in water extraction, containment and cleanup. You soon become confident in your abilities to tackle any job from emergency dispatch and damage assessment to final restoration.

What Does IICRC Certification Mean and Why Is It Important?

The Institution of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification is recognized for promoting professionalism and establishing the highest standards across our industry. The IICRC supports more than 50,000 certified technicians and 6,000 businesses around the globe.

Successful certification is based on course completion, written examination and skill demonstration. By fulfilling IICRC requirements for WRT certification, you establish your credentials as an expert in water damage restoration.

When you become an IICRC-certified technician, you have documentation of your experience, training and understanding of water damage restoration procedures. It's not a requirement for working in this field, but it does give you a big advantage over technicians who don't have industry-approved certification.

How Much Does a Water Damage Restoration Technician Make?

Established, reputable restoration companies always offer fair hourly wages. They also consider IICRC certification as a valuable asset on your resume. In general, WRT jobs average an hourly pay rate of $14. Highly experienced technicians can earn an average of $20 or more per hour.

Water damage restoration often involves extra hours on the clock, and that results in overtime pay. When a technician goes above and beyond job expectations, it's not unusual for customers to offer their appreciation with cash tips.

You increase your earnings by developing your job skills in the field and expanding your industry knowledge with ongoing education. You might advance into a leadership role with a salary of $60,000 or more per year.

Who Benefits From Your Hard Work?

Every day, you assist people who face the aftermath of water damage to their property and belongings. It can be a very stressful time for home or business owners, but your skills and professionalism help them regain their sense of well-being. These are just a few examples of the settings you encounter as a water restoration technician.

• Homes and condos • Apartment buildings • Retail complexes • Office buildings • Restaurants and hotels • Health care facilities • Public and private schools • Government buildings • Sporting and event facilities

Why Should You Make WRT a Career?

The restoration business continues to grow every year, and that helps build job security into your career.

If you enjoy working with your hands and your head, you look forward to projects that keep your skills sharp. If you enjoy helping other people, you take home the satisfaction of making a positive difference every day.

Working as a WRT offers on-the-job experiences that set the profession apart from other trades. Last year, our teams headed to Texas after Hurricane Harvey where we took care of home and business owners all along the Gulf Coast. From there, we headed to Florida to assist residents through the aftermath Hurricane Irma. It was exhausting work, but it was also very rewarding professionally and personally.

As a water damage restoration technician, you're in a unique position to help people recover more than their property:

You help them regain their peace of mind, and that always makes the job worthwhile.

Where Do You Get Started?

If you're in the Chicago area, we invite you to contact us for more information about your career as a WRT. You can also find information online about IICRC certification classes in your city.

We're proud to be leading members of the industry with our certified water damage restoration services in Chicago and the suburbs. It's our pleasure to share our knowledge and enthusiasm, so feel free to give us a call here at ServiceMaster by Zaba.

The post What Does a Water Damage Restoration Technician Do? [Complete Career Guide] appeared first on ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba.

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5 Reasons Credit Cards Rule for Family Vacations

Ever come back from a family vacation feeling like you need a vacation? All the planning, packing, kid-corralling and sightseeing can make adventure time an exhausting time. Here's a tip: Try thinking of your credit card as an efficient little suitcase. If you have the right one, you can unpack a bundle of time- and money-saving...

Robin Saks Frankel is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: rfrankel@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @robinsaks.

The article 5 Reasons Credit Cards Rule for Family Vacations originally appeared on NerdWallet.

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Spice Labels

Use our spice labels to add to your spice bottles. They are a great way to organize your kitchen spices and to make the bottles a pretty addition to your kitchen decor. SPICE LABELS Looking for some cute spice labels printables? You came to the right place! I just created some for my own kitchen ... Read More about Spice Labels

The post Spice Labels appeared first on The Idea Room.

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Can I Switch Out the Cabinets Underneath My Granite Countertop?

Here's a common dilemma for our Kitchen Magic clientele: They are happy with their cabinets, the paint color in their kitchen looks great-but it's definitely time to replace the outdated countertops. So, the old countertops are torn out and replaced with a beautiful new granite slab.

[rolanddrazo1932-blog]

[Infographic]: The Cold, Hard Truth - Budgeting for Commercial Property Taxes

It is a cold, hard truth that budgeting for commercial property taxes can be difficult. The stakes are high. If you get it wrong, your annual property tax bill can often be a budget-breaker. To create a meaningful budget that truly helps you manage your cash flow, owners need to know and understand the realities of property tax.

• GAAP won't work - GAAP requires amortized historical cost while property tax requires fair market value.

• Unpredictable - Process controlled by local taxing authorities and tax payers have the burden of proof.

• Local resources - State law is executed at the local level with available resources.

Before you need to grab a lifeboat, learn more in our infographic below.