The Men’s Starter Guide to Build a New Home

So you’re thinking of a serious overhaul on your home and want to undertake a knock-down-rebuild project. The whole idea of demolishing your house probably sounds very complicated. However, if you get the right builder to go through the journey with, it can be both fun and rewarding, ending in a beautiful new home.

It may sound both expensive and complicated to knock down your existing house and rebuild it. However, it costs about the same or less than doing detailed renovations. You won’t have as many transaction costs, and you won’t pay stamp duty either.

However, don’t rush into it just yet. There are a few things you need to know and consider before you begin. Here are some tips you should consider while you build your new home.

Know What Has to Go & What Can Stay

Just because you’re demolishing your house doesn’t mean you need to clear everything away. You may, for example, like the swimming pool enough that you think it’s a good idea to keep it. You may have a shed or other building on the outside that you have to keep or even an old tree or other natural feature.

When you know right from the start what you want to keep, you are going to avoid making mistakes while performing the demolition. It also helps you define the scope of work well when you’re sourcing contractors.

Find Out How the Disconnection of Services & Permits Are Handled

Before you do any activity on your block, you want your contractor to know exactly who is going to be responsible for disconnecting services and also permit fees. That includes the disconnection of the gas and power meters as well as their removal. It also includes terminating the water service at the meter and also disconnecting the telephone service. You should have all of this well-defined right from the beginning to make the process much smoother as it proceeds.

Learn About the Potential Fees

If you or your contractor are going to apply for a permit to demolish from the local authorities, then you should already have accounted for the possible charges. This is why it is important to work with a reputable builder. They are going to help you understand all the requirements. However, to be on the safe side of things, you should always keep in mind the fact that there are fees for lots of things like the removal of boundary fences, verge tree protection, verge bonds, council footpaths and so on. All of these should be put into consideration.

Don’t Forget About the Importance of Timing

Once you’ve got the costs down, you should start thinking about the timing. You want your new home approved long before you begin demolition. That means you won’t have to spend too much time, moving out, demolishing the house and starting the construction of your new home. You should partner with a good builder who can coordinate the whole process for you and keep the delays to a minimum.

 

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7 Simple and Cheap Upgrades for Your Garden

One of the best ways to level up and freshen the look of your home is to upgrade your garden! As the saying goes, “First impressions last.” Your garden can make either a good or a wrong lasting impression on people who see your home for the very first time. Before anyone ever gets to see the inside of your home, they see the façade and the garden first. Hence, it is essential to create a positive and beautiful first impression.

It is a common misconception that garden upgrades have to be big and expensive. No, there are many ways for you to DIY or save on costs. Here are some simple and cheap upgrades that you can do for your garden:

1. Upgrade your garden shed.

Most homeowners think that it’s necessary to have a shed so that they can turn it into a storage space. However, it is often the case that the shed is piled up with things that you no longer use, as your proper storage space is usually in your garage. Home experts suggest that you declutter your shed and turn it into something more useful.

You can turn your shed into any of the following:

1. Summer house
2. Playhouse, if you have kids
3. Guesthouse or guest room
4. Family room or receiving area

For more ideas on garden sheds, you can check out EasyShed Garden Sheds for some inspiration.

2. Create a mini vegetable garden.

If you have extra space to spare in the garden, one of the easiest ways for you to make an upgrade is to allocate that space for a little vegetable garden. Aside from its aesthetic value, having a vegetable garden is also one way of ensuring your family’s health by adding fresh and organic vegetables or herbs to your diet sans all the unnecessary and potentially harmful chemicals.

Starting a vegetable garden is not as daunting as it sounds. You can start small by using small pots or plant beds.

3. Clean up, throw away, and donate!

Backyards have the tendency to be a pile-up of many unused items that you decide to keep for future use but you’ve never gotten to actually use them. Over the years, you can be hoarding useless things. All this clutter immediately dampens the total look of your garden or yard. If you can do one great thing for your garden today that does not need so much money, that would be to declutter.

If you want things fast and easy, you can also seek the help of rubbish removal services such as 1300 Rubbish Removal to get rid of your existing pile of unused items in your shed.

4. Upgrade or reupholster your outdoor furniture.

If you’ve had your outdoor furniture for many years now, and it is getting as old as your grandma, maybe it’s about time for you to make an upgrade. Now, you may be thinking that outdoor furniture is expensive. Yes, it can be. However, the options for you to buy cheaper ones are also available. You can scout the following areas:

1. Nearby garage sales
2. Thrift shops or second-hand stores
3. HomeGoods, Home Depot, Ikea, and other furniture shops that offer affordable items or hold sales

If your furniture is relatively new but there needs to be some repair done, then now is the time for you to do it. You can upgrade your outdoor furniture in many ways such as:

1. Reupholster any damaged or outdated areas.
2. Update your pillowcases, cushions, and throws.

5. Check your outdoor lighting.

Outdoor lighting provides more than just the safety aspect at night; it also adds aesthetic value to your garden. You don’t have to go all-out in buying various outdoor lighting. You can start with one area and move to the next area at another time. Home experts suggest the following:

1. Hang rattan ball lights or solar tree lights all around your trees to give your garden a cozy feel.
2. Go for yellow lights as it tends to provide a very relaxing ambiance.
3. Light your path up with little solar lights.

6. Plant a tree or shrub.

If your garden has remained to be bare and you have the space for it, you can plant a tree or little shrubs. Although you will have to wait a couple of years for you to enjoy the shade from your tree or the fruits that it will bear, it would be nice for your kids to see a tree grow along with them!

A bonus tip would be to install a tree house if you already have an existing tree that is fit for it!

7. Paint your fence.

The fence is one of the most neglected areas in the garden. You may haven’t noticed it, but maybe your fence is in dire need of a little TLC, such as a brand new paint color. If you’re more on the bold side, paint your fence a different color so that it becomes more apparent that you’ve done something new to upgrade the look of your garden.

Conclusion

All these upgrades are simple, fun, and easy to do. They will not burn a hole in your pocket, nor will it also take away so much of your time. Albeit easy and straightforward, these are also high-quality upgrades that will give your garden a fresh new look. Your house is your haven; be sure to make it feel as homey and relaxing as you can by starting with your garden.

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Aloha Restoration’s Hassle-Free Business Model

2018 has been an exciting year for Dave Farbaky, the president and CEO of Aloha Restoration in Lake Zurich, Illinois. The Chicago Bears appear to be on a legitimate roll. Farbaky, a longtime fan, is all too happy to mix business with pleasure. Aloha Restoration is a title sponsor of each game’s radio broadcast.

Tom Thayer is a former Bears offensive lineman and one of the few veterans of the squad to sport a championship ring. The Bears won the Super Bowl in 1985. Thayer, who now provides the color commentary on Entercom’s WBBM Newsradio, is one of Farbaky’s all-time favorite players.

Aloha Restoration, which specializes in residential services, such as home upgrades, mold removal, and water removal, also partners with WSCR 670 The Score. One of the station’s most popular features is the “Bernstein and Goff Show,” which airs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on weekdays. Bernstein is a Deerfield native and a leading fundraiser for local charities. Farbaky is one of his most avid listeners.

Thayer and Bernstein enthusiastically endorse Aloha Restoration. Joining with two of his idols to cheer the Bears to the playoffs — and, with any luck, the Super Bowl — has been a thrilling but humbling experience for Farbaky. “It’s truly an honor and a blessing for myself and all those who wear the Aloha uniform,” he said recently.

Aloha Construction, the original company, was founded in Lake Zurich in 2010. Initially a small local outfit, it has flourished to become one of the leading providers of general contract work in the Midwest. After just eight years, the family-owned, family-operated company boasts around 20,000 completed projects throughout Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

The Aloha team is made up of inspectors, installers, project managers, field supervisors, and claims specialists. They are committed to providing top-notch quality and unparalleled service. Roof replacement, siding installation, gutter maintenance, and a variety of other services are all in a day’s work. The Aloha leadership is strongly committed to timeliness, attention to detail, and competitive pricing. Courtesy, professionalism, integrity, and safety are guiding values. In 2017, Farbaky’s first company was awarded the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.

Aloha Construction and Aloha Restoration, the sister company launched in 2017, are also admired for their involvement in and support of the local community. Farbaky participates in a number of charitable efforts around town. He founded the Dave Farbaky Foundation to help children in need. His businesses have hosted chronically ill children in VIP seats at Chicago Bulls games and have donated thousands of dollars to a special summer camp for children with cancer. Midwestern entrepreneurs are inspired by Farbaky’s generosity, success at a young age, and enviable work-life balance. Many look to him as a role model.

Farbaky’s new division Aloha Restoration provides residential services to all the Lake County area. It handles kitchen makeovers, bathroom upgrades, basement finishing, and other home remodeling projects. It is one of the busiest carpet cleaning services in the state. In addition, the young company is becoming known for emergency services such as mold removal, water removal, and smoke damage restoration. Mold and other pollutants left behind after a flood or plumbing failure are especially serious. Water removal, mold removal, and sanitation measures eliminate health risks to family members and pets. Time is of the essence, and Aloha responds punctually.

The company also offers thorough yearly home inspections. Spotting wear and tear early on prevents small, affordable problems from becoming huge, expensive headaches down the road.

Another nice thing about Aloha Restoration is its one-stop-shopping business model. Typically, one company is contracted to dry out a water-damaged home or get rid of mold. Another business must be contracted to redo the drywall or install a new shower. But Aloha Restoration can do it all. Working with one timeline and one budget is a hassle-free, efficient way to get several jobs done. Aloha’s expert water removal service, for example, often has properties bone dry in as little as 48 hours. Mold removal quickly follows.

In short, Aloha Restoration arrives, does the work, and leaves without homeowners missing a single moment of a Bears game. Farbaky wouldn’t have it any other way.

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