Framing Basement Walls Can Provide Warmth and Comfort

If you have any experience at carpentry working with framing basement walls can be fun and save you a lot of money. If you have no or very little experience with carpentry you can still learn with the right desire.

So you have an unfinished basement in your home and would like to create another room like a recreation room or laundry room or basement study you can do it. The first thing you need to do is know there are two areas that you will be framing, the outside walls of your basement and the inside walls to create the rooms within.

The outside walls or perimeter walls are the walls that you can either construct to provide warmth and added comfort or just construct as walls to provide added pleasantness to the basement. Framing Basement Walls to provide warmth and comfort is the best way to go if you plan to use the rooms in the basement as part of your living area.

If you want the basement room to be warm and comfortable, you will need to use 2 X 4 wooded studs for your framing around the perimeter. This will let you use insulation between the studs to provide the warmth required between the outside foundation and the inside wall.

The interior walls will also be constructed of wooden 2 X 4 studs, but normally don't require insulation between the studs. If you want added noise protection adding insulation to the inner walls can help deaden sound.

When you spend time framing basement walls correctly you will have a more functional basement area to add value and comfort to your home.

Looking for ways to have an artful and creative basement wall? Discover practical basement remodeling ideas online and turn cheap basement ideas into dream basements at a budget.

Remodeling Off a Cliff

Recently people have been spending big money for remodeling and using "resale" as an excuse to spend outrageous amounts of money. But if you have to sell your house in today's market it could be a loser's game.

Many people are actually refinancing their homes to do the remodels and going into serious debt to pay for the work. They are essentially financing the remodel for significantly longer than most trendy improvements, i.e. granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.

This leads us to our first rule.

1. If you have to refinance to pay for the work, you can't afford it.
2. Clean up. It's a lot of work, but worth the time. Clean, orderly homes always resale better.
3. Get rid of junk. When I have my houses for sale there is nothing sitting on the floor or impeding traffic flow even in the closets.
4. Remove wallpaper and put up soft neutral paint inside and out. Modern buyers do not like wallpaper.
5. Pay more attention to street appeal than interior decorating. Cute houses resell better and faster than other houses.

This last point...the one about street appeal...is the biggest one you need to have on your side if you need to resale fast. How your house looks from the street matters more than your interior. If buyers don't like the outside they won't even come in to see what you have done inside.

If you own a house that has no street appeal in a good neighborhood you might have a great chance to make money even in a slowing real estate market.

But how do you get street appeal?

It is tough. Just ask all the builders who are stuck with inventories of unsold homes. Street appeal is a moving target. Here are some strategies and recommendations.

1. Try to improve the landscaping pushing it out enough to frame the house rather than hiding it.
2. Make a nice wide path to the door.
3. Paint and use more than one color.
4. Make sure all colors work together including the roof.
5. Add some rock.
6. Frame out windows.
7. Stay true to the architecture of the house both inside and out.

You can no longer just throw a house up for sale and expect it to be easy. You have to work at it. Those first days the property is on the market can never be done over. Do your homework and don't put your house on the market until it is ready.

Clean it up, price it competitively and make it the cutest house on the block. Don't follow all the remodeling gurus along with the crowd right off a cliff.

Paula G Stone and George R (Ron) Stone have a note buying business. Their company buys mortgage notes as well as helps home sellers offer owner financing to sell their home fast and for top dollar while selling the private mortgage note at a simultaneous closing. Learn more about note buying and selling at Selling Mortgage

Utilize the Space in Your Home by Using Bedroom Closet Organizers

If you are somebody who would like to be more efficient, you can make a great start by utilizing any space that you may have in your closet. What better way than to become extremely organized, as well as having things placed neater and which is easier to access?

You could build a whole closet organizer system that will help to make full use out of the space, and you also have a chance to be as creative as you like. The beauty of it is that there are so many different things that you can do in order to organize your closet better, whilst getting full functionality out of it too.

Installing Bedroom Closet Organizers

Before rushing in and just doing it any old how, you need to do a bit of preparation that can help to give you a clearer idea of how things will turn out. The first step that you should take before anything else is to measure the space that you have to work with. By having an idea of the amount of space that you have, you can then be knowledgeable as to what you can actually fit in to the closet.

You need to consider what kind of storage is needed for the closet in order to get the most use out of it. For instance, you may need a shelf or a few shelves to put things on, or you may need somewhere to store your shoes etc. A small cupboard whether it is installed on the wall, or whether it is installed on the floor, can be a great way to keep things neat and tidy. Have a look at the things that need to be stored away and by doing this it can really help you to decide what you actually do need for your closet.

With your new found knowledge, this then makes the task in hand simpler when it comes to getting the organizers that you need for your closet. If you have an idea of what you need but you cannot decide when you are shopping for it what you should go for, there may be people in the store that can help you to make a decision upon what is best to go for.

It can be extremely daunting with the amount of selection that is available to choose from, so having a bit of advice can be extremely helpful. It can be so easy to go mad buying lots of things for your closet, but it is also possible to do it on a budget and still get something great to help you with the organization that you need.

It is a simple process installing the organizers for the closet, so the hard work lies in choosing which one to actually go for. As you can see from the points mentioned above, it can be extremely beneficial to have a closet organizer. It helps to keep things in an easy to find place, as well as helping you to be able to get as much functionality out of it as possible. It would be a shame getting the organizer if you are just going to throw anything into it and leave it there untouched for many years. So, if you do have a closet and you are not making the most out of it, why not consider using closet organizers and you can see the benefits for yourself.

Adam Peters enjoys writing about decor for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com You can find more information and resources on storage for bedrooms with no space at his website.

Country Kitchen Designs

Kitchens figure amongst the important rooms of the entire house. Recently, a lot of attention is being paid to their presentation and decoration. This is because the concept of a kitchen being just an interior-cooking place has undergone transformation. Today, kitchens attract architects to provide them with the challenge of designing and decorating each kitchen uniquely. The designs of a kitchen can be done in numerous ways depending upon the desired style, preferable location, available area, and specific budget. The basic elements of the kitchen are to attribute the right kind of items to their appropriate places.

A country kitchen differs from a regular kitchen on the grounds of its plumbing fixtures, ventilations, dishwashers, flooring, and refrigeration. The peculiarity of country kitchens is that all its cabinets and counters are made of wood to give an authentic atmosphere. Two types of wood are used to make the furniture, namely Cedar wood and Oak wood. Another specialty about these kitchens is their in-house plant life and window dressing styles. Flowers such as daises and posies provide freshness to the kitchen. The window-dressing, if done in bright colors such as in red, yellow, or blue, illuminates the entire surrounding.

The country kitchen tables are traditionally round or oval, having matching wooden chairs that can be cushioned with pillows to complement the window dressings. The color combination of the furniture, window dressing, and other modern appliances should be harmonious. To give the kitchen a touch of inimitable charm, accessories such as old model car candleholders, old aluminum serving trays, wooden clocks, and variety of mug collections can be used. To make the bona fide atmosphere complete, country kitchen floors can be made of hardwood floor paneling for the required rustic look.

Country Kitchens can be designed according to the needs of the family members and their tastes. Sometimes professionals are hired to provide expertise on the designing and setting of the entire kitchen.

Kitchen Designs provides detailed information on Kitchen Design, Kitchen Cabinet Design, Kitchen Design Ideas, Kitchen Design Software and more. Kitchen Designs is affiliated with Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas.

Basement Ideas - Turning Your Basement Into A Guest Room

Turning your basement into a guest room is a basement idea that few people consider. One of the main advantages of this is that it frees up another room in your house for other things.

Most of us own homes that don't have enough rooms. Each child wants their own room, many people want offices in their homes now, and bonus rooms are popular as well. Where do the guests stay if you have all the rooms earmarked for other things?

Another advantage of turning the basement into a guest room is that it gives your guests a special sense of privacy. Using this basement idea will give your guests a space to call their own. It may also get them out of your hair if they decide to stay too long!

In order to make this basement remodel idea work, however, you are going to have to make sure you do a few thing properly. The basement guest room will have to have:

- A good paint job that is neutral

- Clean rugs or carpets to help protect from the cold floors

- A good sturdy bed tells your guests they are welcome to stay

- Some seating for them to relax such as chairs and a sofa

- A bathroom is preferable so that they don't have to go upstairs in the middle of the night

These things all contribute to having the room feel like a real guest bedroom. Basement ideas like this are great if they are done with attention to detail. If done incorrectly, however, the room can turn into a nightmare.

The important thing is that you make the room feel comfortable and inviting and as much as a real room that you can. You want your guests to feel comfortable and welcome in your house. The last thing you want is for the basement guest room to look or feel like a cold dungeon.

Want more great basement ideas and options? There are lots more at my Basement Ideas websight.

Estimating the Cost of Building a Basement

There are many things to think about before building a basement. One of the most important thing is the cost to build it. Here are a few tips to help you estimate your construction costs.

Excavation

The first thing you need to think about is the cost to excavate the soil. The harder the soil is to excavate, the more expensive it will be. Of course, the depth of the excavation also affects the cost. The deeper the digging the higher the price.

Concrete

The size and shape of your basement will greatly affect your budget for building a basement because they will determine how much concrete you will need for your project. The more complex your perimeter structure is, the more you are going to spend. You will also spend more for deep basements because they will n need higher and thicker walls. You should also include your basement foundation in calculating your building cost.

Reinforcement

Reinforcing your basement walls is very important. This will allow your basement to easily support the load on top of it. Reinforcing the walls will also strengthen it from the constant pressure it receives from the soil around it.

Backfilling

It is highly recommended that you backfill the perimeter of your basement and its bottom. Backfilling will secure your basement from absorbing water or moisture. Since concrete easily absorbs water, backfilling the exterior of your basement will prevent this.

Drain Tile

Installing a Drain Tile to the foundation of your basement should not be forgotten. The Drain Tile will keep you r basement dry by diverting ground water away from it. Other things to consider when building a basement are labor costs, equipment rentals, finishing and of course your building permit.

Considering building a basement? Discover practical basement remodeling ideas online and turn cheap basement ideas into dream basements at a budget.

Senior Safety - Quick Fixes For Yard, Entryway, and Living Room Hazards

Did you know that falls are the leading cause of injury deaths for people 65 years of age and older, per The National Safety Council? Do you worry that your parents have physical or judgment deficits which impact their safety? Do they open the front door for anyone who rings the doorbell? In this article, I will show you how to identify and reduce safety hazards in the living room, yard and entryways of an elderly persons home.

1) Yard and entryways into home:

• Are walkways level and clear of debris and plant overgrowth?
• Is there enough light to see obstacles? A simple motion sensor light makes it easier to insert the key into the lock.
• You may want to install a railing on both sides if there are stairs up to the door.
• Post a No Soliciting sign outside the front door to minimize trips to the door and to lessen the risk of intruders.
• External doors and windows: Be sure that all windows can lock when fully closed and when partially opened. Have deadbolt locks on all external doors and install wide-angle peep-holes. This is a good opportunity for the "avoid opening the door to strangers", "always lock the doors", and "don't give strangers any personal information on the phone" discussions with your elderly loved ones.

2) Living Room Safety:

• Clutter: This may sound like a no-brainer, but it is often overlooked. Clear away unwanted items, especially from all pathways in the home. Besides reducing tripping hazards, this will help lessen fire risks.
• Floors and floor coverings: Don't use cleaning products and floor waxes that leave the surface slippery. Check for loose carpet and tighten it to avoid tripping. Loose rugs should be attached to the floor with double-sided tape. Be sure to move electrical and phone cords out of all pathways. If a walker or cane is used, it is important to remove all throw rugs.
• Lighting: Check all light bulbs to be sure they are working. Light switches need to be within easy reach. There should not be any areas inside the home that can not be illuminated. Use night lights in all pathways, especially from bedroom. Light timers work well for an elderly person who keeps a fairly regular schedule; program to automatically turn off an hour after bedtime, so that they leave the room while still lighted.
• Furniture: All furniture should be sturdy and in good repair. Elderly people tend to grab on to furniture as they walk by; not recommended, but frequently done, so the sturdier the better. Chairs with arms and higher seats are easier and safer to access.
• Emergency plan. Be sure there is a working smoke detector and fire extinguisher on each level of the home. Attach an easy-to-read list of emergency phone numbers near every phone and review emergency procedures with your elderly family members. Since many seniors spend lots of time in the living room, installing a phone in this room is a great idea. You may want to consider a mobile safety alarm which is worn on the wrist or as a pendant, to automatically summon help with the push of a button.

Most elderly people cherish their independence and will do just about anything to keep it. Because many older adults have mild to moderate sensory deficits, balance issues, memory loss or other cognitive deficits, it is important to evaluate their safety at home. Sometimes a simple device or two in the home is all that is needed to keep them safe and independent. If you still are not sure whether your senior loved ones are safe at home, you may want to obtain a safety evaluation performed by a Physical or Occupational Therapist specializing in geriatric care. They are experts in determining safety and judgment while performing activities of daily living and also can recommend appropriate assistive devices and environmental modifications.

Ronna Sather is a licensed physical therapist with over 30 years of professional experience, assisting and guiding thousands of families dealing with the safety and independence of elderly loved ones at home.

You can visit her website at http://www.seniorsafetyathome.com to find more articles, resources and products which promote senior safety and make life easier in the home environment.

Realty Remodeling Rules

Thinking of remodeling or renovating? Make sure you do not 'improve' your home out of the neighborhood. It is okay to do this if you want to stay living in it, but if you are making improvements to sell your home at a higher value - beware!

Realtors accept that there is a ceiling in realty prices, no matter which location you live in. The catch-phrase 'location, location, location' is not just for fun; every location has a 'bottom price and a top price'. If you live in a top location area - the sky is the limit - but sadly most of us do not!

If you are living in a lower price area and put in a swimming pool and an outdoor kitchen before you list your house, it will most certainly bring the buyers to your home. It will no doubt bring in offers for your home and all this is good news.

However, while you will be able to sell at the top neighborhood price, the sale price may not reflect the total cost of your improvements.

In order to avoid this error of judgment, ask an expert in the field of neighborhood prices - your local realtor! He or she will be happy to come and advise you on which specific improvements may potentially add value to your specific home in your specific neighborhood.

This is the type of advice that you want if you are improving solely to make money. Many home improvements have been 'analyzed' to see which ones give the best returns on their initial outlay.

For instance, in the 'Money Magazine' they recommend adding a quality deck to bulk up the potential square footage of your property. It should be no larger than the one third the size of your home.

A deck can be transformed into a luxury class fairly inexpensively - outdoor lighting around the deck area, waterproof speakers and an entry via French doors will help. If you use 'cute' strings of outdoor lighting and decorate with potted trees, the deck will have an appealing ambiance.

A report from HomeGain.com suggests that the outlay for updating a kitchen can add double of the initial cost of the improvement to the value of your home. If you have a closet that you can turn into a pantry - go for it!

The pantry is a sought after feature in a kitchen at the moment. Islands are another wished-for feature, although preferably with a secondary function such as a sink or breakfast bar stools.

Once again, keep a ceiling on your prices. If your neighborhood is for the average family, it is not worth investing thousands of dollars in top of the line appliances if this will price your home out of the local market. The report suggests that looks and newness are the most important factors.

PorchLight Real Estate Group combines local market knowledge with cutting edge marketing skills. For more information on Denver CO real estate or to do a search for Aurora real estate, visit us online at PorchLightGroup.com.

Tips For Removing Linoleum

When it comes time to get new flooring you can save money by removing the old flooring yourself but if you have old linoleum on your floors you might be in for quite a challenge. Depending on how old the linoleum is and the type of adhesive that was used it can be extremely difficult to get up.

First of all, it's unlikely that you'll be able to just remove the linoleum and adhesive all at once. The surface under the linoleum and the damage you might cause it needs to be considered - especially if that surface is wood. Concrete floors can take a lot more in the way of rough treatment. The type of scraper you use has a lot to do with your success as well as the damage to the floor underneath. Many people use paint scrapers but those with a razor blade are usually more efficient. Be prepared to break some blades it if the adhesive is hard, and you're working on concrete.

Try cutting the linoleum into strips or sections instead of removing the whole chunk at once. This will make it easier to get an edge to pry up. Of course, the linoleum probably wont come up in nice neat sections so be prepared to deal with a lot of left over backing and glue that is still attached to your floor.

One way to deal with those remnants that just wont come up is to apply some kind of solvent or remover. A popular brand is Krud Kutter, which appears to work very well from the customer feedback comments. Follow directions on the label of whatever product you employ, and wear gloves to protect your hands. Do a small section at a time, and then move to the next one.

Another technique is to use boiling water and pour it directly on the backing and adhesive. Let it soak and then scrape up. If you dont want to use water, you can try to heat up the glue with a hair dryer or heat gun. Pick a very inconspicuous area, such as behind a door, to try it. Heat the adhesive with the hair dryer and scrape it up with a straight-blade scraper (like a stiff putty knife with a beveled edge). Move the scraper in the direction of the grain of the wood if you are uncovering a hardwood floor. Have a pan or some other container handy to drop the scrapings into - one that is unlikely to either melt or ignite when coming in contact with hot materials. Be very careful if you are using a heat gun as this can easily damage the floor underneath if it is wood.

If worse comes to worse and you are left with some stubborn adhesive on the floors, it might be time to sand. Of course, if your floors are wood and you plan to refinish them you would need to sand anyway, but during this step you must be careful not to damage the particular area by keeping the sander on it for too long.

Once you finally get the linoleum and all traces of adhesive up, you are ready to seal the floor as recommended for the type of flooring and apply the new floor as recommended!

Lee Dobbins writes for A Kitchen Decorating Idea where you can find more tips on kitchen remodeling and decorating on a budget.

Home Remodeling in a Weak Economy

Over the years, I've talked to thousands of homeowners considering a remodeling project. They are at a decision point. The questions are often similar, often complex, and always cover many facets of life. One of the biggest issues is economics, and the five most common questions on that front are:

1. What do we need?
2. What do we want?
3. What will it cost?
4. What will it be worth?
5. What should we do?

The Big Shift

The way people answer these questions is changing along with the changes in the housing market and economy. Does this mean people won't remodel? No. In fact, I think it means more people will remodel (since less will be building new homes!).

Merge the economic factor with the Green Movement and you get some pretty interesting changes in the answers to these five questions.

What do we need?

Old answer: "More space, more storage, more garage bays...MORE!"

New answer: "Better use of the space we have; better storage, creative solutions, well designed nooks-and-crannies, better flow...BETTER!"

Areas like a small home office are going to be a big part of the future. Not only do people want to make better use of less space, but the trend toward working from home marches on. Home offices are a great place to get creative with design. You can use built-ins to take advantage of even the smallest areas of open space.

What do we want?

Old answer: see "MORE" response above. People haven't always been all that interested in trying to differentiate between wants and needs.

New answer: "We want to create an environment that has great design and feels great to be in! We want to eliminate clutter without giving up amenities. We want to live in a space that speaks to who we are and what we love. We want to vacation in our own home!"

American homeowners are willing to give up some space, but they aren't at all interested in giving up quality!

Words like environment, design, and feel weren't a big part of the ideas of ten years ago. At least not for the masses. That's different now.

The growth of places like Starbucks and Panera show that people want to be surrounded by a thoughtful design.

What will it cost?

Old answer (homeowner): "As long as I can refinance and the cost will be less than $____ per month, let's do it!"

Old answer (contractor): "It's not going to be cheap!"

New answer (homeowner): "It can't cost more than $________ because that's how much cash I have to put into this."

New answer (contractor): "It's not going to be cheap, but it will cost less than it would have last year, and I am willing to work creatively to get you more for your money."

Times have changed, though surprisingly the cost contractors pay to get work done really hasn't changed much. Amazingly, all the price increases attributed to the high price of fuel remain exactly as they were. Labor rates haven't dropped and workers don't work faster.

But budgets have changed. People have less to spend or at least less they are willing to spend. It will be interesting to see how these forces meet. I think we'll see an increase in people going the D.I.Y. route.

What people must be careful of in a time like this is to NOT hire unlicensed contractors or worse! Even a complete beginner would wish they had just done the job themselves if they end up in a serious mess as a result of bringing in the wrong help to save a buck.

What will it be worth?

Old answer: "It's gonna be worth at least __% more than I pay for it!"

New answer: "Unless I buy this extremely well, it's going to take at least ___ years before I can get my money back."

This does not mean people won't remodel. It just means that they will remodel for themselves, for what they want and need, not for some future, "maybe, maybe-not" ROI.

What should we DO?

My answer: Create a retreat; make an environment that makes you feel amazing when you're home. Be sure it encompasses both indoors and out. Don't let economic worries or budget concerns stop you from making the most of the place where you spend so much of your life.

Whatever the budget, there is a solution. Especially if you're willing to do a little research and get your hands dirty!

Tim Layton

Remodeling Guy

Visit The Remodeling Guy Blog - Helping you build your dream, without losing your mind, your money, or your marriage!

http://www.remodelingguy.net

How to Shingle a Roof - Don't Rack Your Brain Or Your Shingles!

If you're looking for "how to shingle roof" information, you've come to the right place. One of your first decisions is which pattern to use. You basically have two choices...

How to Shingle Roof - The Racking Method

Running your shingles straight up the roof in columns, is called "racking". It has been around as long as there have been three-tabs, which were designed to be lined up nice and straight. When they're not, they look just awful and you don't have to be an expert to notice it. Even your neighbor, (who doesn't know anything about roofing), knows those tabs are supposed to be straight!

Racking is the best way to keep them straight. When a shingle is out of alignment, it is easy to spot and can be corrected on the very next column.

But manufacturers' don't like racking. This goes back to the days when quality control of the granule colors wasn't as good as it is now. Slight variations in shading were less apparent when the stair step method was used, so that is what they specified then, and they still do,

Although racking is a common trade practice, it occasionally becomes an issue. Since the manufacturers' installation instructions specify the stair step method, some inspectors demand that they be installed that way. That can be a real problem after the new roof is installed!

Your best bet is check first with your roofing inspector first to see if you can rack them, or just use the stair-step method.

How to Shingle Roof - The Stair Step Method

The problem is that it's tough to keep three-tabs in alignment using the stair step method. Perhaps the best solution is to upgrade to an architectural shingle. Sometimes called "dimensional" or "laminated", these were designed to be installed with the stair step method. There is no fussy vertical alignment to contend with.

And when you consider that architectural shingles are typically larger than the three-tab variety, they are much faster to install. They also last longer because they don't have the side gaps, which are the "Achilles Heal" of three-tabs. That's the first place they wear out.

But just because there is no fussy vertical alignment with the architectural type, it doesn't mean you can install them any which way. Follow the directions on the wrapper when creating the steps rather than making your cuts in a random manner. And be sure to watch your nail placement. You don't want any seams to fall within three inches of the nails in the course below.

Of course, there's a lot more "how to shingle roof" information you need to know. To make the job easier and help you avoid big mistakes, go to: http://www.roofingsecrets.com

John C Bishop is the author of "Roofing Secrets: How to Avoid Leaks and Save Thousands of Dollars!"

Are Indoor Humidity Levels Affecting Your Health?

The ideal indoor humidity level is either 35% to 45% or 40% to 50% depending on who you ask. Thankfully, the human body is quite flexible and you do not have too aim at an exact figure. The important thing is to avoid extremes. Living indoors is not entirely natural. The artificial environments that we create for ourselves can sometimes cause extremes of humidity to occur. For short periods of time this is nothing to worry about, but the long term effects can be quite unpleasant.

If the humidity level regularly exceeds 50% you are likely to experience a rapidly increasing dust mite population, which will affect allergy sufferers. Permanently damp rooms tend to have a musty smell. The damp air is a perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew and fungus, which can cause serious health problems. Where ever possible the cause of such conditions should be removed, but it is not always that simple and a dehumidifier may be required. A modern dehumidifier with built in humidistat can be programmed to maintain a humidity level below 50%. There are a wide variety available, so it is important to find the correct type for your situation. A useful guide to dehumidifiers can be found at DehumidifierTips.com

Consistently low humidity levels are also bad. This tends to occur when the weather is cold outside and we turn up the heat in our homes. The most noticeable effects are a sore throat and sinus pain, symptoms that are common in modern society at certain times of year. You can also get dry skin and itchy eyes. The solution is to buy a humidifier that will put moisture back into the air. Like dehumidifiers, these can be programmed to operate automatically, and there is a huge range available that make the most of a variety of different humidification techniques. These techniques are explored in detail at HumidifierInformation.com together with everything else you need to know on the subject.

If any of these symptoms sound familiar, maybe you should buy a hygrometer (humidity meter) and take some readings to find out if humidity is the cause. With modern technology at your disposal there is no need for your health to suffer.

You can find out more about optimum indoor humidity levels at http://www.humidifierinformation.com

Remodeling in a Recession - A Wise Investment?

It's true that right nowmay not be the best time to sell your home. With real estate values dropping, many homeowners who want to sell won't be able to sell their home for what they thought theymay have been able to a few years ago.

However, if you aren't trying to sell your home right now, and have been putting off a remodeling job this might just be the best time to tackle the project. Why you ask?

Just as the cost of homes is dropping, the cost of remodeling is dropping- including building materials and contractor's fees. And while it may be difficult to think about spending money on your home when the values are falling- taking advantage of lower remodeling costs could be a great investment if you are not planning on selling your home anytime soon.

As disclosed in a study by HousingEconomics.com, the number of building permits in the United States has decreased in 2008 by 41% from 2007.This means less people are building, which can be good for a consumer trying to get competitive pricing from a contractor.

Not only can your contractor charge less for materials (because they are paying less) but they are also willing to charge less for labor in order to secure more work.

Even DIYers can save money on renovations right now just by saving on materials. For example, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), framing lumber prices are the lowest they have been in 4 years.

The trick, of course, if you do have a home sale anywhere in your future, is to assess the current value of your home and the value that your remodel will add to your home. When you sell, you will only recoup some of the value in your resale so you want to make sure you are not investing too much more than what you may get in return. For a good idea of national remodeling costs and recouped costs, visit Remodeling magazine's cost vs. recoup report. Note: If you do hire a contractor, make sure they have insurance to cover them incase they are injured on your property, otherwise, check your homeowners insurance policy to see if you have enough.

Carrie VanBrunt
http://HomeInsurance.com

Getting Rid of Mice the Natural Way

In the world of home ownership, uninvited guests show up from time to time. Everything from In-laws to grown children, from spiders to mice always seem to appear as if out of nowhere, bags of luggage and a used one way ticket in hand. Though there may be no repellent for some of these guests, mice can usually be controlled.

However, controlling mice is easier said than done. Simply asking them to leave falls on deaf (albeit large) ears, setting traps provides them with something to outsmart (and is too cruel for some people), using poison forces you to chance that your pet will find the deceased mouse, eat it, and unknowingly consume the poison as well, and, of course, laying out eviction notices only results in the echo of quiet, yet condescending, mouse laughter. For all these reasons, the plan to rid mice from your home needs some tweaking, tweaking you just might find in a natural home remedy.

Use Odors: Mice, like all creatures, find certain odors repelling. Ammonia and mothballs, for instance, both produce a scent that mice want to stay away from. The flip side, however, is that ammonia and mothballs also produce a scent that people want to stay away from. Luckily, there are also nice smells that mice abhor: peppermint is one of these odors. Saturating cotton balls with peppermint extract or laying mint leaves near the areas where mice invade will help keep them from coming in. Some people also swear that the smell of onions, or even planting onions in a backyard garden, is enough to help keep mice away: their odor will make them peel out.

Get a cat: It is believed that cats were first domesticated to help rid homes of mice. A house with a cat, a mouses natural nemesis, is less likely to have a mice problem than one without a live version of Tom and Jerry. But, of course, this isnt always an option. Some people may be allergic to cats, others may just not like them. Some cats might find hunting mice beneath them (honestly, arent most things beneath them?). And some cats might even initiate the mouse problem by bringing live mice into your home. If this happens, take care of your cat problem by getting a dog.

Use Fox Urine: A predator to mice, the scent of a fox quickly deters mice from making themselves at home; if they believe a fox is on the premises, they will stay away. Luckily for you, you dont need the whole fox to make them believe this: you only need his urine. Simply spraying the mouse infested areas of your house - or the areas where they enter - with fox urine will give the mice cause to move out quickly or stay away altogether. Filled with convenience, it's sold in bottles as a mouse deterrent: you dont have to go around asking the local foxes for urine samples; lets face it, that kind of makes an awkward situation for everyone.

Jennifer Jordan is the senior editor for http://www.etodoors.com. Someone who changes her mind every five minutes, her house is in a perpetual state of home improvement.

Glass Shower Doors - The Earth Friendly Option

Going green is a new phrase you hear more and more about these days. Basically going green refers to living in such a way that you do not impact the earth negatively. If also refers to the products we buy for our homes.

Going green is here to stay; it is not just another trend or fad that people are buying into. Our planet is heating up - fact. Looking after our earth should be part of everyone daily routine. Because lets face it, without our earth we would have nowhere to live. Unless we start looking after our planet it won't be long before it heats up creating inhabitable conditions for our great great grandkids. And we can't exactly move onto the moon or another planet just yet. So looking after our planet is very important and we need to be an example to our children so they look after the earth when we have gone.

If you are interested in 'going green' there are plenty things you can do. Recycling your food packaging would be a good start. All cardboard, paper, plastics and aluminum cans can be recycled. Glass is recyclable as are our clothes. Most towns have recycle centers where you can recycle all of your household goods which means your doing your bit for the environment.

Air pollution is another green issue, but most of us think about the outside air being polluted not the air in our homes. But the air in our homes could also be polluted because of PVC items like shower curtains.

A study has shown that PVC shower curtains can be hazardous to your health because they can release up to 108 toxic chemicals in the air. These chemicals can have an adverse affect on your lungs, central nervous system, liver and kidneys according to the US based Centre for Health Environment and Justice. It is quite possible in the future PVC curtains could be banned from production and quite rightly so. Also PVC is very bad for the environment because it never breaks down.

To improve the quality of the air in your home you need to replace your vinyl shower curtains with organic cotton or glass. The trouble with cotton is that you will find it hard to keep them looking new and clean, whereas a glass shower door is very easy to keep clean and it will look fabulous for years to come.

Glass Shower doors are very popular and can be found in most hotels and homes.
Apart from looking a lot better than the old environmentally bad plastic curtains they are much more hygienic and can look fantastic too. They also actually work better at holding the water in the shower or bath than the old plastic shower curtains.

You will be spoilt for choice when shopping for a glass shower door. They come in many different options. Maybe you like the idea of a swing door or a sliding door. You could even have a custom designed shower door made with your exact specifications. Whatever type of door you choose, the choice of glass is important and worth thinking about. You can get just about any type of glass although it has to be strong if you want it without a frame.

Whatever glass shower door you choose, you can rest your mind that you are not polluting your air or causing unnecessary damage to the environment

For More information on glass shower doors and their impact on earth please visit http://www.glassforbath.com