Archives 2019

Fireplaces should be inspected as part of a routine home inspection before homebuyers purchase their new property. This is a basic safety assessment. Just as a roof caving in could be a hazard, a fireplace that has improper ventilation or creosote build-up can cause harm to homeowners.
Fireplaces are one of the top three features people look for in a home, behind upscale kitchens and outdoor porches, according to the National Association of Home Builders. While new homes are usually equipped with gas fireplaces that produce less pollution in the air and are glassed in to prevent contact with the fire as well as reducing the risk of embers and wood rolling out onto floors, there are still many places that offer wood burning stoves. Most people are aware that chimney flues should be cleaned out once a year in order to prevent creosote from building up on the inside of the chimney. Creosote is a by-product of burning wood and can catch on fire. Creosote fires have been responsible for entire homes burning down.
Home inspectors will also be looking for cracks or leaks which can lead to toxic fumes entering the home. Debris that has gotten caught in the chimney, such as sticks and twigs or birds nesting in unused chimneys can cause a fire inside the chimney that can spread to the home or cause an explosion.
Blockage in the fireplace can lead to fumes being pushed into the home instead of released out. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that can cause death and can leak back into a home with a chimney that doesn’t offer proper ventilation. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is essential for any home with a wood-burning fireplace. Lives literally depend on it.
While fireplaces can add a 10% increase to the value of a home, open fireplaces shouldn’t be used as a sole source of heat. While the heat close to the fire is evident, fireplaces suck up heat from the rest of the house, causing other parts of the home to remain cool or cold. Wood burning stoves are a great alternative.
A home inspector will also ensure the fireplace damper works. If left open when a fire isn’t burning, air gets sucked out of the home. A damper that doesn’t open can cause smoke and fumes to spread into the home.
For those looking at homes with fireplaces, be sure to have a trusted home inspector look at all the aspects of the fireplace during the inspection. Having the chimney cleaned before moving in is recommended unless the current homeowners can provide proof of cleaning within the last year.

Those who sell homes have one thing to rely on every time they try to make that one important deal with their buyers: their reputations. And what better way to keep one’s reputation as a seller as untarnished as possible than to make sure that all the properties he sells are of superb quality and free from those defects, which usually cause the downfall of one too many agents or sellers? A good seller must know when to seek the help of other professionals like him, and in the case of selling homes, seeking a pre-listing home inspection before you decide to put your property out there in the market is indeed a smart move.
Home inspection is essential for that one important factor in every business transaction: consumer satisfaction. As a seller, it is important that your buyers are satisfied with their purchasers. Purchasing a home after all is a big deal. That satisfaction must last not only for the first three days after they purchased the home, but for many more years after that transaction. You would not want to be swamped with complaints after some time just because there were some defects which both you and the consumer failed to see before the perfection of the contract. It is important for you to realize that the buyer will be relying on your words as a seller, and especially in cases of professional sellers and agents, you would want to establish a healthy relationship with the consumer market.
Also, as a seller, you are offering your buyer the guarantee that the home you’re putting up for sale is of great quality. As a professional, you must always be fair and truthful to the buyer. And though you may want to be fair by informing them of all the defects of the home, you may just want to have these defects repaired so you can offer something better to the public. In this way, you save both yourself and your buyer from potential hassles.
By having pre-listing home inspection, you will be able to make a better offering to the public, by selling homes which are livable, free from defects, and safe for the welfare of your buyer. It is the task of home inspectors to identify, through a non-invasive and visual examination, material defects in the different components of the home. Basically, he spots which parts need repair so you will be able to improve on it before you sell it to the buyer, or at least inform the latter of the imperfection in the property. Home inspection also provides an inspection report, which provides a detailed description of the inspected systems and the material defects. In some cases, the reports also contain recommendations which the client may act upon later on. As a seller, these reports will be very useful as your guide in making the repairs or as a reference for your buyer.
As a professional engaged in this business, the last thing you would want is having accusations of defrauding or tricking the buyer being thrown at you, or even worse, lawsuits. And you would not want any of these just because you failed to exercise a little more diligence by seeking a professional home inspection.
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Are you considering using a laundry service in the Newcastle area? If so, then you’re on the right track. As we will discuss below, there are all kinds of reasons why using a professional laundry and ironing service is a good idea. Read on to find out more. 

Laundry Services Save You Money

Doing your laundry at home can involve some pretty hefty start-up costs. You have to buy a washing machine and dryer and pay a professional to create the right fittings in your utility room. It can end up costing you thousands of pounds. And we haven’t even included the cost of all the equipment you need for ironing either. 

For many people, therefore, paying a small regular fee to use a professional in the Newcastle area offers much better value. You make low, manageable payments and don’t have to go into debt to finance the equivalent services at home. 

Laundry and Ironing Services Save You Time

Doing the laundry and ironing at home is not only expensive, but it cuts into your time too. Who wants to spend all day sorting through clothes and getting rid of creases? Not you. You would prefer to save that time and invest it in something more productive and enjoyable. 
Ironing and laundry services take almost all the labour out of the process. Not only do they offer full washing and drying facilities, but they can often collect your dirty laundry and deliver it back to you once it is clean, removing the need to travel. 

Laundry and Ironing Services Use High-Quality Equipment
While manufacturers have improved home washing machines, dryers and irons over the years, they can’t compete with professional, high-quality equipment available at laundrettes in Newcastle. Top laundry services segregate fabrics and clean them in such a way that prevents dulling and colour bleeding. With their professional approach to washing and quality detergents, you can rest assured that your clothes will come back smelling and looking beautiful. 

Laundry and Ironing Services Offer You More Options

Laundry and ironing services in Newcastle know that some people are allergic to specific detergents. Many, therefore, offer a customizable service that allows you to choose which detergents and softeners you use. You have a choice of bio and non-bio and can even instruct the laundrette to use specific brands. 
You also give you a choice of how you would like your clothes to be washed. Many offer handwashing and specialised services for delicates, including household upholstery. 

Laundry and Ironing Services Work Around Your Schedule

If you’re a busy person with a hectic life, then laundry and ironing services in Newcastle can help you better organise your time. Most services will bend over backwards to fit around your schedule, allowing you to get on with your day without worrying about when you’ll be able to do the washing. 

Laundry and ironing services, therefore, give you professional results without the hassle. With them, your clothes will always look great, and you won’t have to dedicate your precious free time to chores. 

When challenged with cleaning your entire house, it can be overwhelming. Your key to a successful and clean home starts with being organized and efficient. Using a Home Cleaning Checklist will keep you on task and provide you with direction. Below are some suggestions to help you stay on track.
1. Write a checklist starting with your most important cleaning chores that need your attention. You can print a checklist from the internet by typing “Home Cleaning Checklist” in the Google toolbar if you don’t want to write one yourself.
2. On your checklist start with a headline of your first area of your home. Title the section with the name of the room, like Master Bedroom, Bathroom, Kitchen or Living Room etc. I suggest underlining the Title for emphasis. Under these titles you will write down your tasks in respective category.
3. List all the cleaning chores under each main title, such as lamp shades dusted and wiped down under “Living Room”.
4. When you have completed the chore, draw an empty box beside it to show you have finished the task. Do this for every room you have listed. Be as detailed as possible.
5. Last but not least. Jot down any cleaning supplies you might need to complete your chores. Be sure to review what you already have to ensure time and money savings. There is nothing worse than going to the cupboard or pantry and finding two of this or three of that.
6. Add a cleaning schedule to your Home Cleaning Checklist if you have time restraints. Write in the time you would like to start cleaning these sections or areas of your home. Make sure you write down hourly goals for each section or whatever time you will think is necessary to complete each chore.
7. Draw a box next to the time of day to check off the entire area of your home when you are all finished. I like to hang my home cleaning checklist on the fridge. Then I can check off each item as I go. Happy Cleaning!
Note: If you have anyone living with you or you have children get them involved. Let them be a part of the planning and give them daily jobs too. This makes cleaning a lot of fun and you will actually look forward to planning your daily cleaning schedule and writing your cleaning checklist.

That’s true that it’s not easy to have a clean and well-maintained home when you have a busy life. With our everyday chores, we still are responsible for the cleanness of our homes. No one will do it instead of us. Almost no one. There always are people ready to clean our homes, but we all understand that they ask money for this kind of help. And it’s normal, it’s their job. As there are so many people who prefer to hire professionals to clean their home, there is plenty of housecleaning companies that offer their services. In general it’s privately-held companies that provide quality and affordable cleaning services.
You can hire a cleaner to clean your house once a week or twice a month. You will feel free of household chores spending more time enjoying life’s pleasures. There are so many interesting and exiting things to see and do. With the outside help you will be able to sit back and relax in your clean and organized home. Be sure you will be satisfied with the work and customer service the cleaning company provides you with. The cleaners are highly skilled people who follow specific, detailed service procedures. Your home will be thoroughly cleaned, from top to bottom. Every corner and nook will sparkle. Professional cleaners will help you keep your home in perfect condition.
You should look for the cleaning providers that will offer you services within your budgetary constraints. It’s important to emphasize all the details before the cleaners start their work. You should inform them what services exactly they need to provide and what areas should be cleaned. They can charge extra for some additional services, be ready for that. You can sign a contract and order exactly the services you require.
If you want to save money and (what is more important) you have time and desire, clean your home yourself. As a matter of fact, it’s not so hard to spare some hour or even less to cope with one or two cleaning tasks. You can make a schedule and thoroughly follow it. This will help you be always sure that everything planned is completed. So, keep a schedule and clean a different room of the house every few days. Try to make all the rooms of your house spotless. You are strong enough to cope with all the mess in your house. All you need is time and desire.
So, you can save your free time or your money. It’s up to you. Decide what is better for you.

Unfortunately, as everyone knows, house cleaning is a never-ending job. If you get behind, it can soon become an enormous seeming-task, so the obvious answer is to do a little every day to stay on top of things. However, many people’s busy lives make daily cleaning difficult, but if you develop good cleaning habits you can keep your home clean with a minimum of daily effort. The key is to prevent messes from building up and doing a little easy daily maintenance that need only take a few minutes of your valuable time. Here are 5 tips to help you develop better cleaning habits that will save time and effort in the long run.
Clean as you go – While you’re walking from room to room, pick up things that need to be put away or organized. Keep an eye out for simple tasks that can be accomplished while you’re on the phone, for example.
Take your shoes off – When possible, take your shoes off at the door. Shoes carry and deposit a lot of dirt around the house. If you don’t have a lot of time for sweeping or vacuuming, this simple practice can make a big difference. Don’t be shy about making family and guests do the same – tell them you’re turning Japanese.
Develop a routine – Make a schedule for the week and stick to it. Designate a day for different chores, one day for the kitchen, one for the bathroom, etc. – if you stick to it you’ll be surprised at how little time you actually need to spend each week on each chore!
Throw things away – If it’s not really needed, throw it out! It’s easy to allow clutter to take over. That broken toy, those old dog-eared magazines – get rid of them. If you can, recycle or donate anything that might be useful to someone else.
Delegate – Get your family involved in daily cleaning. Use some subtle psychology on the kids and give them fun assignments and rewards for work done. Have each family member be responsible for a different task and use your creativity to make it a successful team effort.
It’s a fact that many people simply don’t have the time to do it all on their own these days. Cleaning services are becoming increasingly necessary for a lot of London families. 2 income families and single parent households are the norm these days, and for those seeking a bit of help it’s good to know that when it comes to cleaning services London offers choices for every budget. Reputable cleaning services are to be found in every neighborhood and it should be easy to find one that meets your family’s needs.

Although vacuums have been around since the turn of the last century, it took a little while for every household to have one. However, once electricity became popular and was finally added to almost every home, housewives ran out to buy one of these new modern marvels. Looking at these earlier models in museums make it apparent that there really isn’t that much difference between then and now.
New ones are stronger, and of course they are aesthetically more pleasing, albeit in some cases that might even be questionable after seeing some newer models that come with all sorts of bells and whistles literally sticking out all over. One major innovation was the replacement of the old disposable bags with HEPA filters that are supposed to be more desirable, however, there are many who disagree with the logic for these HEPA filters since once they are opened to empty out, all the dirt and dust are then exposed to the air, negating the original purpose.
Rechargeable hand held models became popular in the 70s. They were made to hang on a wall in the kitchen and were always nearby for quick cleanups. They had about 15 minutes of use at full power, and when replaced in their charging units they could recharge completely in about the same time.
The original carpet sweeper had a major design rehab soon after when electricity was added. The original models were made for quick cleaning on hard floors but models that could handle a variety of carpet thicknesses were developed almost immediately. These designs were tall and sleek and very lightweight, making them almost a mandatory addition for every housewife. Not necessarily ready to replace the normal household vacuum, they were the perfect companion for every type of flooring need.
A popular choice that has been around since almost the beginning is the canister model. These are smaller, easier to move about, very light as compared to the typical upright models, and are the perfect choice for homes with staircases. The long hoses lend themselves to making any cleaning job easier because of the variety of available attachments to do just about any possible job from floor to walls to furniture and even windows and tight corners.
Lately, models that handle pet fur seem to be the popular choice for anyone who has pets. Pet fur needs special attention because it can become ingrained in carpeting and the fabric of furniture. Models that handle pet fur tend to be very strong when it comes to suction, and much larger than a regular machine. There are special attachments that help get the fur and dander out of just about anything from your favorite easy chair to your wall to wall carpeting.
The newer cordless models are much more powerful than their earlier predecessors and many more styles are available to suit just about any need. Uprights can convert to hand held and some can even handle carpeting of any depth. Certain styles need to be plugged in in order to be recharged, and others need their battery packs recharged in order to use. Both are equally as powerful.

* No more plastic bags – or at least use fewer. Use your own reusable bags for carrying your shopping. Admittedly, the plastic shopping bags are useful for wrapping nasty rubbish, so maybe you can still have a few for this purpose. Or reuse the ones you have stashed away somewhere (or that you see blowing in the wind). If you haven’t got around to getting reusable carry bags, (a) get around to it immediately with no more excuses (b) recycle any plastic bags you get given, (c) opt for paper bags or cardboard boxes if you have the option.
* If you only need a few things and the shops aren’t that far away, then walk or bike. Take a back-pack to carry your odds and ends if you bike! If you walk and have a child in a pram or pushchair, you will discover that pushchairs have quite a bit of carrying capacity.
* Alternatively, only shop once a week rather than just popping down to the shops whenever you run out of loo paper or coffee.A� This will require planning and writing a shopping list.A� Shopping once a week is also good financial sense. It is only human to succumb to temptation and throw in a few extras, so shopping once a week reduces the occurrence of this to once a week.
* Buy in bulk. This means that you have less packaging to deal with. And it’s usually cheaper. This doesn’t always mean buying the king-sized packs. Sometimes, visiting the bulk-buy bins is all that’s needed (sneaky tip – save and reuse ziplock bags each time you visit, if you can!). You can also club together with other people vegetable co-op style to bulk buy staples like salt and flour at wholesale prices from the factory.
* Don’t nip from supermarket to supermarket to get the specials from each one, as this means you’re using more petrol per shopping trip. Do your homework and find the one that offers the lowest all-round prices. However, you will have to balance this against distance travelled – no point travelling for an hour just because the carrots are 50p cheaper per kilo at Supermarket X.
* Buy things in recyclable containers where possible. Tins are recyclable, and so are containers made from more robust plastic (e.g. ice cream containers, PET bottles, yoghurt bottles). And buy things with as little packaging as possible to reduce waste.A� Excess and unnecessary packaging shoved on by the store is one of the biggest nuisances of modern supermarkets. Resist the temptation to return all the unwanted packaging to the store, even if it gets you mad… hang on a minute; that sounds like a good option for a protest campaign!
* Buy locally grown produce that’s in season. This, like many other of the green shopping tips, is also cheaper.
* Put your money where your mouth is, as much as possible, when it comes to issues like free-range vs. cage eggs, or free-range vs. battery farmed pork.

Product: Antibacterials
Used for: Disinfecting everything you can think of, ranging from kids’ toys to toilets.
Nasty inside: Tricoslan, an endocrine (hormone) disrupter that doesn’t break down easily (it kills bacteria and bacteria are often the agents of biodegrading). Excessive use of potent chemical disinfectants to sterilise everything in the home is probably associated with asthma and other autoimmune problems, as an over-clean home leads to a bored, restless immune system that starts reacting to non-threats.
Natural cleaning alternative: Soap and water will do most of the cleaning and kill most of the germs you need to worry about. Vinegar, salt, ultraviolet light (sunshine), boiling water and strong alcohol are other natural disinfectants.
Product: Detergents
Used for: Nearly every sort of cleaner imaginable, mostly because it can work up a grease and grime busting lather in all sorts of water – even hard water – without getting gunky white scum all over everything.
Nasty inside: Phosphate. This is more of a nuisance in the water system, as it breaks down very slowly and allows too much algae to grow in the waterways, leading to environmental problems. Also, detergent in general is harsher on the skin and hair, leading to dry hair (the least of your problems) and cracking, flaking itchy skin.
Natural cleaning alternative: Soap won’t form that ghastly scum if it is used alongside a water softener such as washing soda. Alternatively, look out for reduced phosphate or phosphate-free cleaning products such as laundry powder.
Product: Synthetic fragrances
Used for: Air fresheners. Also used in a range of other cleaning products such as those spray on kitchen cleaners and bathroom cleaners because the active ingredients in these products pong. Baby products. Cheap perfumes and cosmetics.
Nasty inside: Toluene, which is a probable asthma and allergy trigger. Synthetic musk, which does all sorts of peculiar things to the hormones if you are exposed to too much of it.
Natural cleaning alternative: Make your own natural cleaners and add essential oils. Open windows to remove pongs. Use essential oils, pot pourri and fresh flowers to scent the air delicately. Don’t overuse perfume – just a few dabs on the pulse points will be adequate.
Product: Solvents
Used for: Dry cleaning fluid, spot cleaning treatments. Found in all sorts of common household products.
Nasty inside: This really depends on the solvent in question. There are half a dozen different types (or more) and each has its problems. The chlorinated ones are the worst – one of these can cause permanent brain damage if too much is inhaled.
Natural cleaning alternative: Oddly, mineral turpentine – which isn’t exactly natural – is one of the least harmful solvent. Strong alcohol also makes a decent solvent for everyday household cleaning. Don’t dry clean clothes or toys unless it is absolutely essential. Eucalyptus oil makes a good spot treatment.
Product: Ammonium compounds
Used for: Floor cleaners, glass cleaners and bathroom cleaners.
Nasty inside: Ammonia gas in itself is pretty awful if inhaled. It is positively lethal if mixed with chlorine. Avoid if you have chlorinated water and never mix ammonia-based cleaners with chlorine based cleaners. However, ammonia breaks down easily and doesn’t last long in the environment.
Natural cleaning alternative: For window cleaning, use dilute vinegar. For cleaning floors, use warm soapy water. For cleaning the bathroom, either use baking soda or use vinegar. If you have to use ammonia based products, make sure that the area you are cleaning is well ventilated.

One of the most common things you’re going to fight about with your child is the topic of chores. You probably find yourself asking them if they have done their chores only to get talked back at saying that they’ll do it later on. The reason behind their disgruntlement towards being told to do chores is because most of them find it boring and tiresome. With all of the means of entertainment available nowadays such as computers and video games, most children do not want to spend their time doing chores that they usually see their parents do for them.
There are many ways to get your children to do chores, but two main approaches. The first is the serious and punishment-laden approach for when nothing else will work, and the happy and rewarding approach for when your children are willing to do chores if you give them a bit of an incentive.
First, we’ll talk about the serious approach. Before you and your child get into another argument, you have to set your foot down and explain to them why they must do chores. Sit them down and ask them about why they don’t like to do chores, and try to tell them why they need to do them. If your child needs to be punished, you can try to time their chores. For example, give them 30 minutes to finish a certain chore or their bedtime will be made earlier by 30 minutes. You can turn this into an incentive though, by telling them that if they do it within the given time, then they’ll get a later bedtime.
Punishments for not doing chores should only be given as a last resort though. So you should try giving them an incentive instead. For example, you can give them an allowance or pay-by-the-task if they do their chores. If they don’t do their chores, then they don’t get as much allowance. This can apply to certain chores. Not everything they do around the house should be done for pay.
If you have young children, then a great way to get them to help out with chores is by making it fun. Young kids love feather dusters since they’re soft so you can give them the duty to dust things. Spraying and wiping is also fun for children, so they can do windows or tables. You can even make chores like a game. For example, folding clothes quickly and neatly or matching socks can be fun. Put on some fun music.
When children need to clean up their room, then you can hide sweets or a quarter in the room for them to have after they find it when cleaning up. You can role play when cleaning up to by playing maids and butlers or handymen. You can pretend to be the toys and talk to your child as the toys while they are being picked up.
Making children do chores doesn’t have to be so hard. All you need to do is use the appropriate approach for your children. Soon enough, they’ll be able to do their chores without groaning or griping, and both you and your children will be happy. Remember to appreciate their work all the time as well, so that they will feel like they’re really helping out. It can also be helpful if parents work at household chores at the same time their children do, so they are set the right example with the right attitude.