#hgtv app fixer upper

[re-kalebg]

Quick before and after bathroom shot in a recent flip. What are your thoughts?

[ideatonki]

Hgtv app fixer upper

#HGTV APP FIXER UPPER SERIES#

She’s also on a mission to combat harmful stereotypes that plague the massage industry. In response, Fleming launched the ethics course, “Safety & Solicitation: Gaslighting and Power Dynamics” to help other therapists recognize threatening behavior from clients. I wasn't sure if it was worth it, but I stuck it out, “ says Fleming. So I really contemplated just leaving the industry all together between the vulgar messages and then trying to navigate that. “At that point I now had to process this traumatic experience while also navigating a brand new industry that put me alone in a dark room with strangers. What she didn’t expect was sexual harassment, which she says began almost instantly. Priscilla Fleming became a licensed massage therapist in 2019 to help people.

#HGTV APP FIXER UPPER SERIES#

Magnolia Network boasts more than 350 hours of unscripted programming, including the complete “Fixer Upper” library, in addition to new series “Magnolia Table With Joanna Gaines,” “Fixer Upper: Welcome Home,” “Silos Baking Competition,” “Family Dinner,” “Homegrown,” “Restoration Road With Clint Harp,” “First Time Fixer,” “Super Dad,” “Inn the Works,” “Van Go,” “Growing Floret” and “The Johnnyswim Show.” Shortly after the merger between Discovery and WarnerMedia was sealed this spring, oversight of programming at Magnolia Network, which is headed up by president Allison Page, was moved under HBO/HBO Max content chief Casey Bloys. Discovery, Magnolia Network first launched last July as part of the Discovery+ streaming service and the Magnolia app, and made its linear home on Discovery’s rebranded DIY network in January. The series took home the award at the Daytime Emmys ceremony last month, meaning Magnolia Network is the most-nominated legacy Discovery brand this year, in just its first year of eligibility.Ī joint venture between the Gaineses and Warner Bros. In May, Magnolia Network series “Home Work,” which earlier this year came under fire after allegations from homeowners that hosts Andy and Candis Meredith had damaged their homes, was nominated for outstanding instructional and how-to program. Tuesday’s Emmy nomination for “Fixer Upper: Welcome Home” marks the first for Chip and Joanna Gaines, but not for their new network, which has already won a Daytime Emmy.

[gradh]

RIP Margaret Beaufort you would have loved Megan's Law

RIP Elizabeth of York you would have loved the boymom hashtag on instagram

RIP Catherine of Aragon you would have loved Fixer Upper on HGTV

RIP Anne Boleyn you would have loved the Electra Heart album

RIP Jane Seymour you would have loved the Girl Defined youtube channel

RIP Anne of Cleves you would have loved Facebook

RIP Catherine Howard you would have loved Sephora

RIP Catherine Parr you would have loved the Real Housewives

RIP Mary I you would have loved period tracking apps

RIP Elizabeth I you would have loved the 4B movement

[anitabyars]

End of Story by Kylie Scott is now live!

New York Times bestselling sensation Kylie Scott's sexy, smart and unconventional opposites-attract love story looks at what happens when fate refuses to give up on what's meant to be...

When Susie Bowen inherits a charming fixer-upper from her aunt, she's excited to start living her best HGTV life. But when she opens the door to find that her contractor is none other than her ex's best friend, Lars—the same man who witnessed their humiliating public breakup six months ago—she isn't exactly eager to have anyone around whose alliance is with the enemy. But beggars can't be choosers, and the sooner the repairs are done, the sooner she can get back to embracing singledom.

Things go from awkward to unbelievable when Lars discovers a divorce certificate hidden in a wall and dated ten years in the future—with both their names on it. It couldn't possibly be real...could it? As Susie and Lars work to unravel the document's origins, the impossibility of a spark between them suddenly doesn't seem so far-fetched. But would a relationship between them be doomed before it's even begun?

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3B6I4fC

Apple Books: https://bit.ly/3Q8LwMT

Nook: https://bit.ly/3vztIAZ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/3VBybhn

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3jGWZHx

Audible: http://bit.ly/3jPwAI0

Narrated by: Andi Arndt

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3VRWqbJ

Meet Kylie

Kylie is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-selling, Audie Award winning author. She has sold over 2,000,000 books and was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year four times by the Australian Romance Reader's Association. Her books have been translated into fifteen different languages and she is based in Queensland, Australia.

Connect with Kylie

Website: www.kyliescott.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6476625.Kylie_Scott

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyliescottwriter

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/599197093487040

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkyliescott/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KylieScottbooks

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorkyliescott

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kylie-scott

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/KylieScott

My Review

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

End Of Story by Kylie Scott.

I was absolutely obsessed by this story. Heartwarming, sexy, entertaining and so captivating. These characters are a bit awkward at first, but soon an adorable attraction as well as a steamy connection becomes so much more than they ever imagined. I loved this friends to lovers romance. Getting to watch the progression of their relationship brought all the feels and I just didn’t want this story to end.

Susie Bowen is excited to start living her best HGTV life by fixing up the charming house that her dear aunt left to her six months ago. After doing some of the work herself she is excited to have a contractor help get things done for her. But when she opens the door to find her ex’s best friend Lars, she isn’t ready to have anyone in her space that is in alliance with the enemy. But beggars can’t be choosy and she needs the repairs done now.

Lars isn’t to thrilled to be Susie’s contractor but when he finds a divorce certificate hidden in a wall dated ten years in the future with both their names on it. This can’t possibly be real? He accuses Susie of planting it but can’t figure out how she did it. Or why? As they work together to figure out where this certificate came from a spark between them doesn’t seem to be so far-fetched. But would their relationship be doomed before it’s even begun?

You don’t want to miss this magical heartwarming story! Where a little magic helps bring a happily ever after!

I received a early copy and this is my honest review.

[senboago]

IMPORTANT HEADCANONS TO CONSIDER:

CAN THEY USE CHOPSTICKS - Yes, of course. WHAT DO THEY DO WHEN THEY CAN’T SLEEP - Usually read or try short walks around her home on nice nights. WHAT WOULD THEY IMPULSE BUY AT THE GROCERY STORE - Snack foods... Especially nori maki, which happen to be her favorite. WHAT ORDER DO THEY WASH THINGS IN THE SHOWER - Washes and scrubs her body, then shampoos and conditions her hair. She’ll usually soak in the tub afterwards, spending about twenty to thirty minutes in there. After, she’ll wash and moisturize her face. If it’s needed, she’ll wax before taking a shower. WHAT’S THEIR COFFEE ORDER - Her favorite way to have coffee is four or five teaspoons of sugar, a little bit of chocolate and filling a fourth of her cup with milk or creamer. So... very sweet, as she hates the bitter taste of coffee. WHAT SORT OF APPS WOULD THEY HAVE ON THEIR SMARTPHONE -  Messaing/text, email, calendar, an e-book app, some plant identifier, and a majong app. HOW DO THEY ACT AROUND CHILDREN - Sweet and motherly. She loves children and would absolutely be up for spending time and playing with them.  WHAT WOULD THEY WATCH ON TV WHEN THEY’RE BORED AND NOTHING THEY REALLY LIKE IS ON - Anything on HGTV (especially Fixer Upper and other house flipper shows) or Project Runway.  Tagged by: @hanabiira​ Tagging: just steal it off me

[c21amhomes]

Top Things Millennials Consider When Buying Their First Home

Dogs – It’s no secret that us millennials love our dogs. In a recent industry survey, research showed that millennials are now more likely to buy a home because they want a place for their dogs to run around rather than because of the birth of a child. In the top five list, more space for a dog fell at No. 3, with 33 percent of respondents answering such. The birth of a child was the fifth reason, with just 19 percent of respondents answering that way.

Millennials are factoring their pet’s needs when looking to buy a home. Top things we’re looking out for are homeowners associations that would restrict certain breeds and proximity to dog parks, as well as access to doggie daycare options.

Only more living space, 66 percent, and the opportunity to build equity, 36 percent, were noted by more millennials as reasons they bought their first home.

The industry survey also revealed that among millennials who have never purchased a home, 42 percent say that their dog—or the desire to have one—is a key factor in their desire to buy a home in the future.

Fixer-Upper – HGTV has the current state of the housing market to thank for the success of their many fixer-upper shows. It’s true that many millennials are looking for a fixer-upper as their first home because in most of places it’s a financial impossibility to put a down payment on anything else (this also explains the steady rise in renters in this country). Overcome with student debt and faced with less high-paying jobs after graduating, most people my age must either rent or move into a very small home. Fixer-uppers are becoming the third increasingly popular option.

Most millennials can’t afford much more than a small, basic house. Young and educated (and with home-flipping reruns on TV), millennials are open to investing in larger homes in questionable conditions because of the potential value that lies in them.

This year, Home Depot reported that same-store sales rose 6.3 percent, amid forecasts for just a 4.4 percent increase. The company attributes this to millennials who are buying their first home and tend to purchase houses that need repair and remodeling.

According to Houzz’s 2017 House and Home study, buyers who bought their first home in 2016 spent an average of $33,800 on renovations—a 22 percent increase over 2015.

Laundry Room – Year after year, surveys taken on millennials’ buying decisions point to the same thing. When looking for a first home, the No. 1 individual home feature we’re looking for is a separate laundry room. Across the board, millennials are willing to sacrifice comforts like a two-story foyer and extra square footage for a laundry room. And we have our reasons.

In a 2015 NAR survey, 55 percent of millennial respondents said they wouldn’t buy a new home that didn’t have a separate laundry room.

With laundry rooms being such a huge factor in millennials’ buying decisions, you may want to take a closer look at the way you’re presenting the laundry room in your listings. Focus on freshening it up and add more photos of it to your listing.

Eco-Friendly – This point may sound counter-intuitive to millennials’ desire for a fixer-upper, but making a home more attractive to us millennials with a few green features doesn’t have to cost a fortune. When viewing a house, seeing simple things like LED lighting, solar panels and double-paned windows instantly make a property more attractive to us. Not only is energy efficiency trendy, but it will help millennials save money in the long run on power bills—not to mention our generation is very focused on reducing our carbon footprint.

If you want to catch the attention of the growing millennial market, showcase how eco-friendly the property is. Make sure that there’s a high-speed internet connection, and, if not, research an alternative.

Being green is incredibly important to many millennials, so you have leverage when advising the seller to invest in solar panels or replacing appliances that aren’t energy-efficient. Also, be ready to show off the outdoor living space.

Voice-recognized smart home devices from major tech companies are taking over home features. Demonstrate ways that the home can be fully automated with the right products and efforts. Consider featuring safety devices like doorbell cameras that are connected via a smartphone app, as well as smart thermostats, which are slowly becoming the norm.

Jameson Doris is RISMedia’s blog and social media editor. Email him your real estate news ideas at jdoris@rismedia.com. Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2017. All rights reserved.

The post Top Things Millennials Consider When Buying Their First Home appeared first on Century 21 American Homes - Real Estate for Long Island, New York.

[re-kalebg]

Before and after of a floor plan change! This house did not have a dedicated dinning room. This was actually an old addition to the house in the mid 70’s (see the external window on the left hand side). When I moved in it was just used for the fridge. I moved the fridge into the main kitchen and took the window out to turn it into a small dinning room!

A little paint and refinishing original wood floors really made a difference.

[mellowfilmmaker]

Ok Tumblr ads are getting creepy now. I'll tell you why. Yesterday I took my mother to the doctor. I sat in the waiting room while she was getting an x Ray and the TV was playing a HGTV show called Fixer Upper. I was kind of watching it, kind of not ( I was mostly on my phone). Now I have not posted anything about that show, googled it, or even looked it up on IMDB. I have shown little to no interest in the show. Now today I'm on the Tumblr mobile app and it shows me an ad for an article about the show. How the fuck!? I'm assuming that this is just a coincidence because I don't have any other explanation for why I'm getting an ad for an HGTV show that I didn't even know about till yesterday.

[jeramymobley]

Target Is Decked Out and Ready for the Holiday Frenzy

Target is upping its game this holiday season, including boosting wages, hiring an optimistic number of seasonal workers, introducing exclusive brands, renovating stores, teaming with Pinterest and even introducing a new way of online gifting just in time for Christmas.

With new brands, new stores, new workers and new zeal, Target is ready to welcome holiday shoppers. Rebuilding trust with consumers following its massive 2013 data breach, it’s becoming more consumer-led across its operations.

Driven by customer requests, it’s been expanding its grocery section, taking on the transgender-bathroom issue and rolling out new brick-and-mortar store formats for urban customers, such as its just-opened store in New York’s Herald Square. Second-quarter results showed the pay-off: sales increased 1.6 percent, comparable store sales rose 1.3 percent and traffic rose 2.1 percent.

It’s still in the midst of its own brand makeover, including announcing a five-point climate-change action plan. And it has added eight exclusive brands since last year, including Goodfellow & Co. menswear; Project 62, a youthful home decor line; and Hearth & Hand with Magnolia, a farmhouse chic collection from Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines, who are stepping back from their HGTV show to focus on this line, a five-year commitment, their other businesses and of course, their kids.

To take advantage of the season, Target plans to hire 100,000 temp holiday workers this year—40% more than last year—with the expectation that  its lower prices and ramped-up spending on e-commerce will lure enough shoppers to justify the extra labor spread across its stores and online-fulfillment operations.

Those hirees will join existing Target employees in enjoying an increase in the chain’s minimum wage to $11 an hour. While Walmart and other competitors made big announcements about boosting their minimum wages at a time of tightening labor and social agitation about “living wages,” Target quietly boosted starting pay to $10 an hour last year. Target said base-level pay would increase to $15 an hour within three years.

Target also struck a deal with Pinterest to license its camera image search tool, which lets users of the Pinterest app browse photos that are similar to pictures they take themselves. Users will be able to snap photos of items they like and get suggestions from Target for similar products to buy from the chain.

“We believe visual search in particular is incredibly important to our business,” said Kristi Argyilan, senior vice president of marketing for Target, according to the Journal.

Target just announced a new way to help holiday shoppers: Before shipping a present, Target will let online shopers send an email to check if the recipient might want something else instead, USA Today said. The new “GiftNow” button will allow online shoppers to purchase a present and then send an e-mail as an “electronic gift box,” or “e-gift,” for short. The recipient can then accept the present, switch its color and size or swap it out for something else.

The Minneapolis-based chain also is planning to remodel existing supercenters and to open smaller stores in cities, unveiling an initiative to remodel more than 1,000 of its existing 1,800 stores by the end of 2020. “We’re remodeling, and across the street someone is closing the door,” CEO Brian Cornell told the Wall Street Journal.

The post Target Is Decked Out and Ready for the Holiday Frenzy appeared first on brandchannel:.

[cynthiadshaw]

Community Member Spotlight: Kristi McDonald | Owner & Creator

Today we’re excited to introduce you to Kristi McDonald. Kristi is a serial entrepreneur, trailblazer, one of the hardest working and most innovative folks we know and is also a content partner. Content partners help Voyage in so many ways from spreading the word about the work that we do, sponsoring our mission and collaborating with us on content like this. Check out our conversation with Kristi below.

Kristi, thank you so much for joining us again.  We’re so excited to share more of your story and experiences with our readers.  For those who might have missed our earlier conversations, can you please briefly introduce yourself. 

Hi, I’m Kristi McDonald, serial entrepreneur. I own two amazing companies designed to help the communities they are built in. I own Sip and Shop Texas and E Teacher App. I’m a wine taster, travel junkie & an adventure guru. I’m also the Co-Director of the DFW Chapter of Boss Talks Networks – so I stay busy!

What is Sip & Shop Texas? What can you expect? What does it look like? Did you know that East Texas produces EXCEPTIONAL award-winning wines and craft beers? You don’t have to travel to Napa Valley or Italy to try the best! You can try award winning local Texas Wines & Brews during a fun afternoon with Sip & Shop Texas.

Typically, an afternoon would look like us picking you up at NOON from ETX Brewing Co, just off the square in Tyler. Get there early if you’d like to grab lunch or a snack! You do have to buy tickets in advance, because tours typically sell out pretty quickly. Our most popular wine tour, we’ll start with a visit to Green Goat Winery in Edom, Texas. Nestled among their vineyard, the tasting room at Green Goat is the perfect place to relax & taste a trio of their signature wines. Edom is also known for it’s hidden and charming Art District. Guests always love to browse around Edom for fun & unique finds. We also stop in Ben Wheeler, TX. The lovely ladies of Vintage Cork 917 will host an exclusive tasting of special Texas wines, right in their cute boutique shop! Ben Wheeler, Texas was proud to be named the best little hidden town in Texas. It is always a fun stop. It is such a small community filled with very unique people and places. Jonathan Sibly from Forged in Fire has a studio there, so the men on the tours always love to stop in and see him working on his custom knives. You’ll have time to grab lunch, visit the shops and sample some local wines, before we load up to head to White Fox Vineyards. White Fox Vineyards award winning blueberry wine is always a crowd favorite. Sometimes our tours visit other wineries and other shopping locations – it really just depends on which tour you sign up for.

Our goal at Sip & Shop Texas is to create a positive, fun & healthy community full of friends & neighbors who love to shop local, sip local, support small business and have a lot of fun! We are launching tours in Ft. Worth. I’m very excited to be working with Visit Ft. Worth to create some great weekend experiences there too. We are going to have a lot of fun in Ft. Worth! Of course, everything is paused right now, because of the pandemic – but stay tuned. The magic happens again soon.

Who is on the “Sip & Shop Trail” ? 

When I refer to “The Sip & Shop Trail” or “The Sippin’ Scene” – I’m referring to all of the people involved in making this happen. I have connected with so many great people along this journey. Ellis Classic Coach in Tyler make it possible with their sprinter vans and limos. All of the vineyard owners, restaurant owners, boutiques, art galleries – all the people and places along the way is who makes up “The Sip & Shop Trail.” We’ve even hosted events in Waco, where we stayed in one of the homes featured on HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” and explored all that area had to offer. The Sip and Shop Trail is all the people, places and things that are as unique as Texas and make it such a great experience to be a part of.

  How can businesses get involved and be showcased through Sip and Shop Texas?

In person, it’s easy! We have several festivals throughout the year. We’re always looking for new and interesting places to visit. If you’re a business owner and would like us to stop in on one of our tours – just reach out! You can connect with me through the website, or give me a call. I’m also in the development stages of a Sip and Shop Texas app, that is going to give businesses access to my community and audience – so they can post and promote themselves in the area. We have bi-monthly newsletters, instagram, and facebook. I love creating content for Voyage Dallas and I’ve also recently had a few articles published in Thrive Global and Elephant Journal. With the Sip and Shop app, the vendors, businesses, restaurants, musicians – everyone on the “Sip and Shop Trail” will be able to use the platform to promote themselves and their business.

What is planned for the future? Anything exciting on the horizon? I am excited about the Sip and Shop App. I think it will be a great platform to put some of these smaller businesses in front of a large audience. We have bi-monthly newsletters, instagram, and facebook. I love creating content for Voyage Dallas and I’ve also recently had a few articles published in Thrive Global and Elephant Journal. With the Sip and Shop app, the vendors, businesses, restaurants, musicians – everyone on the “Sip and Shop Trail” will be able to use the platform to promote themselves and their business.

Finally, please let us know how our readers can connect with you and learn more.

SipandShopTexas.com is our website and it shows all the ways to connect with me. There are links to our facebook, instagram, youtube – and even a contact us form. I try to personally respond to each message. I love to collaborate and work with businesses and events in the area.

The post Community Member Spotlight: Kristi McDonald | Owner & Creator appeared first on Voyage Dallas Magazine | Dallas City Guide.

source http://voyagedallas.com/2020/09/14/community-member-spotlight-kristi-mcdonald-owner-creator/

[cprokansascity]

‘Fixer Upper’ stars reveal more about new TV network

Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines, the Waco couple made famous by home renovation show “Fixer Upper,” have revealed more details about their forthcoming TV network, a partnership with Discovery Inc.

KXAN reports that the Gaineses will take over and rebrand the DIY Network and will also have a TV Everywhere app, according to an April 10 announcement. They will both be chief creative officers of the joint venture with New York City-based Discovery, while HGTV President Allison Page will be president of…

[diariozombie-ar]

Discovery lanzará su propio servicio de transmisión el 4 de enero " DISCOVERY +" - Mientras Discovery no tiene el nombre reconocido de (digamos) Disney / Disney +, está presentando el servicio como "el servicio de transmisión definitivo para el mejor entretenimiento de la vida real del mundo", con 55,000 episodios en el lanzamiento extraídos de redes Discovery como HGTV, Food Network , TLC, ID, PROPIO, Travel Channel, Discovery Channel y Animal Planet. También llegó a un acuerdo con A&E Networks para presentar contenido de A&E, The History Channel y Lifetime. Y, por supuesto, habrá programación original, incluidos varios spin-offs de "Todo en 90 días", el estreno en Estados Unidos de la serie de la BBC "A Perfect Planet", una serie de competencia topiaria (con Martha Stewart como juez principal) llamada "Clipped", un Kevin Ciervo programa de viajes con el título provisional “Ruta 66” y mucho más. Discovery + también tiene un acuerdo de primera vista con Magnolia Network, una empresa conjunta con las estrellas de "Fixer Upper" Chip y Johanna Gaines. Y contará con contenido original de la empresa de medios digitales Group Nine, respaldada por Discovery, cuyas marcas incluyen The Dodo, NowThis y Thrillist. Si bien el gran lanzamiento en EE. UU. No se realizará hasta enero, discovery + se lanzó en el Reino Unido e Irlanda a través de un acuerdo con Sky el mes pasado, y la compañía planea lanzarse en 21 mercados en 2021. Para los espectadores europeos, el servicio será el transmisión a casa de los Juegos Olímpicos, comenzando con el evento del próximo año en Tokio. En los EE. UU., Discovery + costará $ 4.99 por mes, o $ 6.99 por mes sin publicidad. Discovery también anuncia una asociación con Verizon para ofrecer hasta 12 meses (según el plan) de descubrimiento + acceso gratuito a determinados suscriptores de Internet inalámbrico y residencial. (Verizon es propietario de TechCrunch). En un comunicado, el presidente y director ejecutivo de Discovery, David Zaslav, dijo: Hemos estado trabajando metódicamente los últimos dos años para llevar todas nuestras ventajas estratégicas al lanzamiento de discovery +, incluidas las asociaciones de distribución y publicidad en todo el mundo, una oferta de clase mundial de marcas de calidad, personalidades auténticas y la biblioteca de contenido más grande en el lanzamiento. así como una amplia gama de programación exclusiva. Con discovery +, estamos aprovechando la oportunidad global de ser el producto definitivo del mundo para la narración de historias sin guión, proporcionando a los hogares y a los consumidores móviles una oferta distinta, clara y diferenciada a través de estilos de vida valiosos y duraderos, y verticales de la vida real.Vía redes sociales. https://diariozombie.ar/discovery-lanzara-su-propio-servicio-de-transmision-el-4-de-enero-discovery/ #discovery #transmision #streaming #estreno #radio #teatro #argentina #travel #kla #trip #audioyvideo #app #buenosaires #nature #despelote #radioonline #teatroindependiente #travelgram #alquiler #music #instatravel #917 #onair #cine #landscape #riverplate #studio #actor #travelphotography #ciclon

[alfredrserrano]

'Fixer Upper' stars reveal more about new TV network

Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines, the Waco couple made famous by home renovation show "Fixer Upper," have revealed more details about their forthcoming TV network, a partnership with Discovery Inc. KXAN reports that the Gaineses will take over and rebrand the DIY Network and will also have a TV Everywhere app, according to an April 10 announcement. They will both be chief creative officers of the joint venture with New York City-based Discovery, while HGTV President Allison Page will be president of…

from Fort Lauderdale Real Estate News & Residential Real Estate News - Residential Real Estate News Headlines | Bizjournals.com & Banking & Financial News - Banking & Financial News Headlines | Bizjournals.com http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/industry_21/~3/CazffQyRwzo/fixer-upper-stars-reveal-more-about-new-tv-network.html via

[makemoneyonlineprofit-blog]

How Augmented Reality Is Changing the Way Consumers See the World

https://120profit.com/?p=1926&utm_source=SocialAutoPoster&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Tumblr If you’re not familiar with augmented reality (or AR), you’ve at least seen it in action by now. That’s because unlike its cousin virtual reality (VR)—which requires a headset to remove us from this world and immerse us in another—AR uses your smartphone camera to turn the real world around you into a canvas that can be enriched with interactive virtual objects. AR works by using computer vision and tracking through your camera to anchor a virtual object to a physical point in your environment. As you move your camera around it, or closer and further away, the object is able to maintain its scale and location in your view of the real world. But even with all the potential you can imagine for technology like this, the quality of the experiences so far meant it was still fairly easy to write off AR as a gimmick rather than a game-changer in the world of commerce. Until now that is. Augmented Reality: Not-So-New But Vastly Improved The term “augmented reality” was first coined and applied practically in the early 90s. It was developed by the U.S. Air Force's Armstrong Labs and involved a complicated setup that looked like this. Source: Wikimedia CommonsSince then, there have been several attempts—like the Google Glass—at creating a lightweight headset that lets you view augmented reality on the go. But these were never really made with the masses in mind—the technology and the market just weren’t ready for wearable AR. But that wasn’t the case for mobile AR. Snapchat’s Lenses and the popular location-based game Pokemon Go familiarized users with the idea of interacting with virtual objects through their smartphone camera in what were the first significant examples of consumers embracing AR. Source: GIPHYThe technology was far from perfect, though. The objects wouldn’t always stay in place if you moved your camera, nor would they realistically scale in size based on your distance from them. As a result, you could still easily distinguish between real and augmented reality. That changed, however, when Apple announced iOS 11 and ARKit—giving developers the tools to create better, more realistic AR experiences—where the virtual objects that “augment” the reality are almost indistinguishable from the reality they’re dropped in. And with it, augmented reality’s potential has moved beyond the games and mildly amusing tricks of its past, towards more immersive, more practical experiences for consumers and brands alike. Bringing Products to Virtual Life in Front of You Perhaps the biggest commercial opportunity within these improved AR experiences is how they give us a better sense of scale and let us closely evaluate products as if they were right in front of us. “Will this couch fit in the corner of my living room?” “How will this vase look on my table?” Instead of wondering about these things, consumers can project a virtual version of the product into their own homes through their smartphone camera. For Magnolia Market, a home and lifestyle business in Waco, Texas, owned by Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV’s Fixer Upper, AR was the perfect way to let shoppers see what Magnolia’s products would look like in their own homes through the Magnolia Market app. The AR team at Shopify worked with Magnolia to integrate ARKit into their native app. 3D models of select products were created in-house to capture as much detail and realism as possible to let shoppers see a product from the front, back, top, inside—whatever angle they wanted. This was the result: According to Stone Crandall, Digital Experience Manager at Magnolia, “When people come to see us in Waco, we want to make sure every detail captures the true spirit of Magnolia. Not everyone is able to visit us in person, but it was still important to us that the finer details of the in-store experience come through for those shopping online and on-the-go—augmented reality makes that possible.” “With this technology, users can see our products up-close to examine the intricacies that make them special and unique,” Stone says. “We always want our guests to leave feeling inspired by what they’ve experienced, and thanks to the new Magnolia app, they’ll be able to do just that—no matter where they’re located—from the palm of their hands.”  Modelled by Shopify’s AR team, this caliber of experience just wasn’t accessible before ARKit.The option to virtually place products in your own home ultimately leads to a more informed buying experience, explains Stone. “Thanks to AR, online shoppers will now have the answers to: How will this piece look in my home? How big is the item in real life? What does the inside look like, or the back? At the end of the day, nothing tops the in-store experience, but AR provides the capabilities for guests to make equally informed buying decisions from afar, at all hours of the day.” Your Smartphone Camera: An Augmented Mirror For other businesses, the advantages of AR don’t just lie in augmenting your surrounding environment but in your own appearance as well. Flipping your smartphone’s rear camera to your front-facing one, AR promises a “mirror” that lets you answer the question, “I wonder what this would look like on me?” Since facial features are generally consistent across people (the placement of the eyes, nose, mouth etc.), fun applications of this technology on Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat have already become popular through social media. But beyond sporting virtual puppy dog features, some businesses are seeking out practical ways to use facial tracking to augment your selfies. Eyewear and cosmetics immediately come to mind—two types of products that you'd want to try before you buy. That's why, earlier this year, Sephora updated its app with a "virtual try-on" feature that lets you sample their make-up against your specific complexion. Eyewear companies like Glasses.com have also experimented with a similar feature in the past to virtually try on different styles of glasses. Source: SephoraEvery face is different and the option to test out a few different looks in the comfort of your home could revolutionize the way people shop for these products. Improvements in AR can only make these experiences better, more useful, and more common over time.     Building Virtual Worlds On Top of Our Own It sounds crazy when you think about it, but as you walk through the streets, there could be a multitude of virtual worlds layered upon our own. Whether it's searching for fictitious creatures roaming about or large-scale battles to be fought and won, location-based AR forces us to physically be in a certain place that corresponds with that point in the virtual world. This type of AR was actually one of the first to reach smartphones via a browser app launched by Wikitude in 2008. This app let you view information about real world places around you by pointing your camera at them. Now, we're seeing other interesting applications of location-based AR, from Snapchat's AR art installations designed by American artist Jeff Koons, to this clever concept by Neon for a social AR app that helps you find your friends in a crowd.   🤳 1. Hold up your iPhone → 2. Find your festival friends → 3. Rock on 🤟 Courtesy of ARKit 💖 Demo = @neonapp by @mrdavidurbina 🦄 pic.twitter.com/S9mp5Mjlal — ARKit Weekly (@ARKitweekly) August 15, 2017 Building upon our current world with virtual layers is one thing. But the fact that countless virtual versions of the world can exist simultaneously—that you and I can walk into the same room and see completely different things—is what's truly exciting. This Is Only the Beginning for Augmented Reality AR's full potential has often been out of reach of the technology of the present. But that's on the verge of changing. Apple's ARKit (and now Google's ARCore) have given builders the world over the tools they need to make bigger and better bets with AR, to blend the virtual and the real more seamlessly than ever before. And while smartphones have brought us AR experiences that fit comfortably in our palms, how much longer will it be until we start seeing everyday wearable glasses that let us experience AR hands-free? There's still a lot to figure out, but as with all game-changing technology that was once young and untapped, it's only a matter of time until the world of tomorrow becomes today's. Shopify AR provides an accessible toolkit for businesses to create their own AR experiences for their stores. Learn more about Shopify AR !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script','//connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '1904241839800487'); fbq('track', "PageView"); 120profit.com - https://120profit.com/?p=1926&utm_source=SocialAutoPoster&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Tumblr

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How to Invest in Real Estate: 7 Ways of Buying a Property

Investing in real estate can mean dozens of different things. Here's what to know about how to invest while buying property and how to invest without buying property. (BY STEVE FIORILLO FOR THESTREET.COM)

Investments are inherently risky - real estate in particular. The subprime mortgage crisis was barely a decade ago and it played a large role in a devastating recession.

Is real estate a good investment today? As with any potential investment, doing thorough research and examining all your options is crucial. One of the causes of the subprime mortgage crisis was predatory loan companies taking advantage of vulnerable homebuyers.

Understand the risks and avoid working with lenders and companies that use questionable practices. Investing in real estate isn't for everyone. If you're willing to dip your toes in the water, your first step is to weigh whether you want to invest by buying property, or without buying property (Without property---see our next article).

7 Ways to Invest in Real Estate by Buying Property

For many of the methods of investing in real estate, you'll need to have money saved. That's especially true if you are going to buy actual property.If you have that money ready, buying property is the most direct and hands-on way to invest in real estate. But  purchasing a house involves quite a bit more than simply holding onto it.Here are seven ways to invest in real estate that involve a purchase of actual property.

1. Buy and Fix Up a Home

Flipping a house like you're on HGTV is as hands-on as you can get for an investment. You buy the property, you put funds into fixing it up, and sell it for a profit.

Ideally, anyway. Fixing a home requires funds beyond the initial investment, and more time than you might have. It's a process, and one that requires a solid knowledge of real estate and home improvement. Even  profitable flips can seem like money losers for a long time. Patience is crucial if you're going to commit to a fixer-upper.

2. Rent-to-Own a Home

Rent-to-own is a tactic where you sign a contract to rent a home for a predetermined period of time with the option to purchase the home once that time expires. Often, that option is a requirement, a promise that you will be buying the home.

A percentage of your monthly rent payments go toward the down payment on a mortgage when the purchase becomes official.

Rent-to-own agreements come with risks, but they're good for people who cannot currently commit to buying a home. This gives people with other loans (credit card debt, hospital bills, etc.) time to pay those off without the added financial burden of a monthly mortgage. Comb through the rent-to-own contract carefully to make sure the details are in your favor, and it has the potential to help you ease your way into an investment.

3. Buy Rental Property

This can mean a few different things. In theory, if you have the money you could purchase an entire rental property and rent out any room or apartment to tenants. Keep your expenses low so you can keep rent affordable to entice prospective tenants.

You also could purchase property that you live in, while renting out other rooms in the property. Either way, you're the landlord. Be a good one, and you'll be in a much better position to succeed on this investment. Keep the property in great condition, be readily available to your tenants when needed, and if necessary hire someone who can help with repairs.

4. Purchase Vacation Property

Vacation property means renting out to tenants for shorter periods. Maintain a good house in the right area, and you may be able to make the same money off a few vacation tenants that you might make from a year-round tenant elsewhere.

Vacation rentals, because they are so often in a desirable area, can be expensive both to buy and maintain. Who wants to rent out a pigsty for their vacation? Weigh the pros and cons carefully. If you do it right - research carefully and consult with good Realtors - a beach rental can be lucrative come summer.

5. Use Lodging Apps Like Airbnb

Airbnb has become a popular way for some property owners to supplement their income. Why not incorporate it into your own investment?

How Airbnb works: Register your house on the app, specify the type of lodging you're offering (you can offer a room or the entire property), how many people it can accommodate and its availability. You also get to approve the guests staying at your property.

Airbnb can be a good choice in certain areas. Desirable vacation destination? Close to a music festival? Nice apartment in a popular city? You may be able to make a decent profit using Airbnb. If it's a property you own but don't reside in, the added availability can help out a lot.

6. Purchase Commercial, Non-Residential Property

Commercial property - retail buildings or office buildings -  is an intriguing option for those who want to invest in real estate beyond just residential property. It's costlier, and you may want to look for partners in this investment.

As owner or part-owner of the property you can rent it out to businesses in need of space. It is high-risk, high-reward real-estate investing. Income made from renting space to businesses is generally higher than that from residents, and often the contracts to lease commercial buildings are longer than residential ones.

7. Buy Your House... That's It

Yes, if you bought a house and now live in it, congrats. You're a real-estate investor!

Rather than buying a house specifically to flip it, buying and holding can sometimes be incidental to why you actually bought the house: to live there. But consistently paying your mortgage and doing general upkeep for the house to make improvements can up the value of your home should you one day look for a new place to live. Treat your house like a long-term investment, and it could pay off down the line. Written By Steve Fiorillo for The Street (www.TheStreet.com)

COMING NEXT: 10 Ways to Invest in Real Estate Without Buying Property

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Leading 10 Residence Renovation Tips Every Property Owner Must Know

It doesn't matter if you've bought a newly built home, a condo in a maintained community, or a fixer-upper—owning your own place brings out the home improvement itch in us all (or at least requires us to do necessary repairs and maintenance tasks). Here are ten pieces of advice to help turn your dwelling place into a better home.

10. Choose the Improvements That Add the Most Value to Your Home

If you were offered $100,000, no strings attached, what home improvements would you do? Chances are, a long laundry list of changes come to mind, from refinishing the hardwood floors to adding a new bathroom. Some home improvements, however, are more likely to increase your home's value than others. Although you shouldn't think of your home as an investment, with limited home improvement funds, it's good to consider whether a project has a decent return on investment.

9. Tackle the Quick Projects That Are Most Timely

Whether winter is coming or you're considering projects in another season, some home improvements are more urgent than others—saving you money immediately or preventing devastating damage. Sometimes it only takes ten minutes or less to make simple changes around the house that boost your living space.

8. Decide to DIY or Not

Even if you're a weekend warrior with a well-stocked workshop, not all home improvement projects are suitable to do yourself (or at least, without the help of a professional). Know your limits, start small if you're a beginner, and then keep calm and DIY on (if you so wish).

7. Hone Your Home Improvement Skills

Big projects or small, probably all of us could stand to learn some decent home repair or home improvement skills. (All around the home, there are things we should never have to pay others to fix for us.) Learn Bob Villa-worthy skills and help others at the same time by volunteering or through free clinics and other resources. Turn to great reading resources and try starter projects too. If you get stuck on a project, iOS app Fountain will connect you to a home improvement expert to answer your question for $5. (Also, did you know we have a home improvement subblog here at Lifehacker called Workshop?)

6. Find Inspiration for Your Next Home Project

Pinterest is your friend, homeowners. As is Houzz, This Old House, and BHG. Zillow Diggs is pretty neat because it not only shows you project photos, but cost estimates and contractors as well. You can also binge watch HGTV on Netflix, but I'm warning you, you may never leave the house again.

5. Get the Right Tools

You can't really improve your home much with just your bare hands (you'll need a multi-tool at least!). Equip your toolbox with the essential tools for any minor repair or major project, such as basic plumbing tools. Don't forget your smartphone might be the best DIY tool in your kit, though, and, when all else fails, there's duct tape.

4. Find Money for Your Home Improvement

Unfortunately, most home improvements do not pay for themselves. If you can't afford to finance the project in full with cash, know the different ways you can finance your home improvement without putting your home at risk. Also, if you know the difference between tax breaks you get for home repairs or home improvements, you can make the proper deductions at tax time and get some money back from your project. Similarly, if you're paying private mortgage insurance, home improvements that increase the value of your home could help you eliminate that cost, which, although it doesn't raise funds for your project, can reduce your housing expenses overall.

3. Choose the Right Contractor

About as important as finding a good dentist and finding a good therapist: Finding a responsible handyman or contractor. Horror stories of homeowners being scammed by contractors or having work done so shoddily that it cost thousands of dollars to redo (not to mention the money already spent) give me the shivers. Vet your contractors carefully:

Get recommendations from friends, neighbors, and supply houses. Check for complaints against the contractor. Find out what licenses and permits they need. Check out the contractor's insurance. Don't skip this step! Meet with the contractor. Get quotes. Track the quote variables with a spreadsheet or other list. Ask for references and check them out. The FTC offers advice on questions you should ask a contractor, during which you might want to slyly take a look at their trucks and tools for telling signs.

2. Save Money on Your Home Improvement Projects

The more money we save on one home improvement project, the more we have left for all the other ones we want to do. In addition to knowing the remodeling projects that offer the most bang for your buck, know which elements of a project you can splurge or skimp on—spend more on items that are hard to replace, such as the bathtub, but skimp on the faucet, for example, or spend more on a professional range if you're a gourmet cook and save on the decorative tiles and flooring that look like premium materials.

Shop at reuse centers (including architectural salvage stores) to save big bucks on materials, appliances, and furnishings. And after your project, pay it forward by donating your home improvement leftovers to Habitat for Humanity.

1. Have a Plan

Last but not least, one of the worst things you can do when it comes to home improvements is to start a project without the major details—cost, time, materials, and design—as realistic as possible from the start. Nothing costs more than having to "change horses in midstream" (e.g., you want to move the fridge somewhere else now or want to change your tile choice). Use design tools to conceptualize your project and add a healthy buffer (10-15% more) to your time and financial budget to account for the inevitable surprises.

Even if you don't do major projects like remodeling the kitchen or building a deck, it's wise to set aside some money each year for repair costs and use an essential maintenance calendar to keep your home sweet home in tip-top shape all year round.

Original article here: https://lifehacker.com/top-10-home-improvement-tips-every-homeowner-should-kno-1656251243