5 Home Improvements to Make before You Move In

We can all agree that moving to a new home is very exciting but, at the same time, fairly stressful. All of those pre-relocation tasks such as packing, downsizing and hiring a moving company can be very tiresome.But your job doesn't end there. You need to make sure that your home is completely move-in ready, and you will have to tackle some home improvement projects before all the boxes and furniture get in away. Virtually all new homeowners have to make some home improvements before their moving in. You may, however, not know where to start if you are purchasing your first home. To help you out, here’s a list of 5 home improvements to make before you move in.

1. Get rid of popcorn ceiling and walls

If you bought an older home built anywhere from the 1950s to the 1980s, you may have to deal with the heavily-textured ceiling and walls known as popcorn ceiling or cottage cheese. This style used to be popular for its aesthetics and ability to hide imperfections, but this texture may contain asbestos, so it is better to remove it.  Removing the popcorn ceiling and walls is relatively easy.All you should do is spray the texture with water and scrape it off with a putty knife. Even though the process is easy, it is messy, so it is better to do it before your movers help you move all your household items in the house. We advise you to hire professionals to deal with your popcorn ceiling, given that asbestos is toxic.

Painting is one of the more straightforward home improvements to make before you move in your new home

2.Interior painting

When you are moving to a new home, interior decor is vital. Adding a fresh coat of paint is an easy and affordable home improvement to make before you move in which can add color to your living space. The benefits of repainting your new home are:

·         Personalization–the colors of the walls may be fine, but they might not suit your style, or perhaps the color is outdated, so you can personalize your home to suit your tastes

·         Clean and protect your walls - dirt can accumulate on the walls, so before the walls are painted, they should be cleaned and prepped; once the new paint is applied, your walls will be protected from moisture and dirt, and they will be fresh and clean

·         Easy home makeover -  painting is among the most necessary home improvements to make before moving in; clever color choices will transform your home, and your room will pop with the fresh color

Whether you are going to do the work or you are going to hire professionals, it is a lot easier to paint an empty room. Also, renovating your walls before your moving day means that you will not have to live with the smell of drying paint in your home.

If you have bought an old house, you should refresh the floors 

3. Flooring

If you bought a brand new home, you may not need to make any improvements to your flooring. However, if you bought an old house, you may want to refresh the floors since the flooring takes on a lot of wear and tear. And moving in involves even more scraping and heavy furniture sliding around. Of course, experienced, professional movers (Zippy Shell of Greater Philadelphia are pretty great, unless you already hired someone else) have the tools and skills to make less of a mess, but a little bit of wear is inevitable.

However,flooring is amon g the more expensive home improvements to make before you move in. So,you may need to save up some cash. Many homebuyers choose to do their re-flooring later.  But you can keep your costs lower if you schedule your interior decorating of the floors before move-in day. Plus, if the flooring company doesn't have to take the added task of moving all of your furniture, they will finish the job quickly.

4. Electrical upgrades and smoke alarm systems

Although you can do electrical upgrades anytime, it will be easier to be done with these home improvements before you move in since the rooms are empty. If you are moving to a home made in the mid-90s or earlier, think about installing extra electrical outlets or upgrading the existing ones.  Adding additional outlets will make it easier to arrange your furniture, including computers, speakers and gaming systems. Also, consider installing properly functioning smoke detectors in your new home. Many old houses don't have smoke detectors, so it is crucial to install them. Smoke detectors will not change your home decor, and it is always better to be safe than sorry.

A lovely fence will make your house look like more a home

5. Install fencing

If you bought a home without proper fencing, and you have pets and children, then you should consider installing a fence. Of course, it can be done after you move in, but it is better to do it before your movers get your belongings to your new home.Otherwise, it might be pushed down on your home improvement to-do list.  The fence will make your new house feel like home even before you move in.But more importantly, it will provide safety for your family, protect your landscaping, give you privacy, and much more.

Moving to a new home is a challenging task especially if you have some home improvements to make before you move in. Renovating your home may be a time-consuming and expensive endeavor at times, but you will also benefit a lot from this investment. With these small home improvements, you will make your life in your new home comfortable, safe, and fuss-free.

One-Third Of Dog Owners Believe Plant-Based Pet Diets Are Better

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Research shows one-third of dog owners believe a plant-based diet is better for their pets. The plant-based trend seems to be everywhere with alternatives such as plant-based burgers and kinds of milk for humans. Did you know that plant-based foods can also positively impact your pet’s health too?

More than 4 in 10 (43 percent) of dog food buyers think limiting red meat eaten by pets is healthier than not limiting it at all. So what’s driving these beliefs and what are the potential health benefits of feeding pets plant-based foods?

Plant-based foods for humans are undergoing rapid growth and it’s outpacing overall food growth by more than five times in grocery retailers. Even major companies such as Purina, Pedigree, and Natural Balance have started offering vegetarian and vegan foods for dogs and cats, using ingredients such as brown rice, barley, peas, spinach, and potatoes. Startups such as Wild Earth are sourcing protein from yeast for their dog food. In the future, pet food could be made from sustainable ingredients such as duckweed and algae.

Younger dog owners (aged 16 to 24) might be more likely to reduce the amount of red meat in their dogs’ diet compared with older dog food buyers (older than 45). 40 percent of younger dog food buyers (age 16 to 24) were in favor of regularly dishing up plant-based meals compared with just 21% of those older than 55.

Research by the American Veterinary Medical Association has found little evidence to suggest vegan or vegetarian diets are beneficial to animals. However, anecdotal evidence and testimonials from pet owners suggest some pets could thrive on plant-based diets. Industry players such as V-Dog, a vegan dog food company, believe vegan diets could lead to longevity, increased mobility, decreased allergies, better bowel movements, and excellent weight maintenance.

More generally, in terms of health outcomes, 76 percent of pet owners are looking for better digestive health and 44 percent believed pet food with good bacteria, such as fermented foods, could support pet health. 71 percent agreed a pet’s diet had a direct impact on the animal’s emotional well-being and 51 percent were interested in foods with calming ingredients such as hemp/CBD and chamomile. The environmental impact of meat is also one of the driving factors.

These trends, as with the plant-based pet food trend, could be a reflection of the humanization of pet trends, where owners are looking for ways to adopt the same diet and health trends for their pets. These days, pet owners travel with their pets, allow them to sleep in the same bed, and generally treat their pets as family members. Pet diets tend to reflect the choices of their human owners. As more people eat less meat and embrace plant-based diets some or all of the time, they’re exploring ways to adopt a similar diet for their pets, whether it’s for digestive and gut health or other well-being benefits.

Experts such as Megan Shepherd from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, say it’s critical to keep in mind dogs are omnivores, not herbivores, and they have different nutritional requirements to humans. Dogs tend to struggle on high-fiber and can be at risk of nutritional deficiencies if fed a vegan diet. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they can develop serious health conditions if they’re fed a plant-based diet. For example, cats can absorb the essential amino acid taurine only from animal sources.

Shepherd says owners who feed their dogs plant-based diets should be careful about choosing foods with the right nutritional profile. This is especially true when it comes to amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, and fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A and vitamin D. She says vegetarian diets can be low in the amino acid methionine. Nutritional biochemist Wanda McCormick from the University of Northampton adds dogs have very specific nutritional requirements based on breed, age, size, and sex.

While more pet owners are looking for plant-based pet foods, dogs might need some animal products in their diet to thrive. Cats undoubtedly do need a carnivorous diet to be healthy. Supplementation could offer an option for dog owners, but issues such as bioavailability and interference with other nutrients would need to be carefully studied first.

Health promotion along with environmental and ethical guilt could be driving the trend. As such, the future of pet food could be slaughter-free meat grown in labs that’s both cruelty-free and environmentally sustainable. Insect-based pet foods could be another alternative for environmentally conscious pet owners to consider in the coming years. 

Related article: Plant-based meat

5 Common DIY Plumbing Mistakes To Avoid

DIY plumbing is a satisfying way to get your handiwork done around the house, and are generally great weekend projects or ones that you can complete in a single afternoon. With DY plumbing, you’ll not only save money but also expand your repair skills and impress your family.

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You usually won’t have to call an external plumber for small jobs, but before you go diving into your pipes, it’s a good idea to do a bit of research. Most jobs call for the right tools and a bit of elbow grease, but you’ll want to know the right tools, valves, and procedures to use to avoid DIY mistakes in the future.

The wrong equipment can lead to further repairs down the road, and it’s always better to do it once correctly and then forget about it. Repeat repairs are expensive, and calling in the professionals can be even more so. Avoiding these five common DIY plumbing mistakes will help you tackle that to-do list with ease.

Common mistake 1: Overusing drain cleaner

A lot of DIY-ers reach for the drain cleaner to remove clogs from their sink pipes. The problem with this is that often, too much product is used which can cause damage to metal and pipes. Liquid drain cleaner can also dissolve rubber fittings resulting in leaks.

For blocked drains, it’s better to use a snake or barbed drain cleaning tool. This will do a lot less damage to your sockets, drains, and pipes. Using these tools means your clogged drain small fix doesn’t turn into a plumbing disaster in the future.

Common mistake 2: Not turning off the water

It might seem like the most obvious thing to do, but it’s one that DIY plumbers often overlook. Not turning off the water to your home is a rookie error, and an important one to remember to do. This adds more stress to the job than is necessary, especially if you’re racing against the clock to change a part whilst battling fountains of water.

This can quickly cause water damage to your home, leading to expensive repairs. 

Turning off the water to your home is a quick way to make sure you’re safely and expertly doing your DIY repairs.

Common mistake 3: Using too much manpower

If taps or knobs won’t turn, you might be tempted to strain harder to open them up and get water flowing. This is a problem for many reasons and could lead to unnecessary injury to your body or cause the knob on the valve to break.

Using an adjustable wrench to loosen a tight valve is the easiest way to make sure you’re working smart - not hard. Save those muscles for the gym and other physical activities, instead of overstressing them on home repairs.

Common mistake 4: Using incorrect tools or inferior pieces

Quality valves are built to withstand the test of time so that fewer repairs or replacements are needed over their lifespan. Choosing to skimp on quality products, pieces and tools might mean you save money now, but you’re certainly going to be spending more down the track.

Do your research to ensure you’re using the right tools for the job. You may find that regular clamps or pliers apply too much pressure on joints and valves, leading to further damage. The right tools will save you time, effort and money; so it’s a winning situation all round to choose the correct equipment for the job.

Common mistake 5: Forgetting how things go back together

DIY usually doesn’t come with a handy manual full of pictorials to follow. Once you’ve taken something apart to clean or fix a section, you might have forgotten how it all goes back together with disastrous results.

A good idea is to take notes or draw your own pictures as you’re taking something apart. This is good practice not just for plumbing, but for your other home DIY projects too. Grab a black Sharpie and label your pieces as you take them apart, as this will be much more helpful to you when it comes time to put everything back together.

Give DIY plumbing a try

It’s fun to get stuck into manual jobs, especially DIY around the house. This enthusiasm has led many a DIYer astray, but with a bit of preparation, your repairs will be built to last first and every time. Whether you’re unclogging a drain or giving your bathroom a makeover; arming yourself with the facts and right equipment will make your weekend projects satisfying ones.

Author bio: Luke Fitzpatrick has been published in Forbes, Yahoo! News, Influencive and Tech In Asia. He is a guest lecturer at the University of Sydney, lecturing in Cross-Cultural Management and the Pre-MBA Program.

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