Articles by Suzana Mikolova

Helping a senior loved one move into assisted living requires some due diligence. You need to find a residence that offers comfortable accommodations and excellent services. Here some qualities that you should look for when you’re evaluating a senior housing option.

Proximity

When you’re helping a loved one move to supportive housing, you want to be able to still see them frequently. It’s important to choose a residence that’s centrally located and near you geographically.

Accessibility

A senior residence needs to be easily accessible to individuals who have limited mobility or rely on the use of a wheelchair. Look for physical features such as ramps, elevators, and handicapped accessible bathrooms.

Community

When a senior moves into a new residence, he or she may feel somewhat disenfranchised. It’s optimal to find a setting that engages residents by promoting social interaction in common areas. When you’re looking for senior housing Fall River, look for a residential facility that makes efforts to provide residents with a sense of community and regularly facilitates group activities.

Communication

If your senior loved one’s preferred language is not English, it would be preferable to find a housing provider who has staff who is capable of communicating in his or her preferred language. If for, example, your loved one prefers to speak Spanish or Portuguese, he or she would value being able to live at a housing facility that offers linguistically appropriate services.

Transportation

A facility that offers transportation options can help ensure that your loved one can easily get where he or she needs to go. Drivers should be experienced in driving vehicles that can serve elderly or disabled passengers.

When you’re evaluating housing options, speak with a manager or director so that you can have all of your questions answered in detail. A well-managed facility with a great staff can help make your senior loved one feel right at home.…

Are you tired of the constant ups and downs of the stock market? You still want to invest your money but want something more reliable and the ability to use the money when you want to. Then investing in real estate Toms River may be a good option for you. Here are three reasons why.

Reason 1: There Are Tax Benefits

Tax deductions are a real estate investor’s best friend. Some examples of things you can deduct are property insurance and taxes, expenses of upkeep and the interest on your mortgage.

Reason 2: It Becomes More Valuable

From year to year, you may see a slight rise or fall in the real estate market, but over time the market always seems to grow. A house you bought just a few years ago could be worth a lot more now, even if you haven’t done anything to it. Imagine what could happen over twenty years. Another way to add value to a real estate investment is to buy low and then fix the property up to then resale for top dollar.

Reason 3: Cash Flow Increases Over Time

If you buy your first real estate investment with a small down payment and a higher mortgage, don’t worry, it won’t be that way forever. As you start to pay down your house and you refinance or pay it off your cash flow will increase as your mortgage decreases. This is nice to help with the upkeep of the property and also to allow you to save money to start investing in more property.

Investing in real estate is a relatively safe and enjoyable investment. You can use the investment to continue to invest and watch the value grow over time. The tax benefits will help offset the cost of expenses. The sooner you invest the sooner you will see your money increase.…

Who likes pests? If you’re like most people, you do not. There is something that needs to be done about pests, and you can do it. There are all kinds of suggestions out there, but here are some pest control tips that can truly help you do what needs to be done.

You do not always have to call an exterminator when you are trying to get rid of mice. There are several methods you can use including glue traps and poison. If you are concerned with harming the mice, you can repel them with specially made electronic devices that emit sounds they don’t like.

Kill ants around your home using an easy-to-make home concoction. Combine borax and sugar in a jar in a 1:1 ratio. Sprinkle the mixture around the outside of your home at its foundation and anywhere else you’ve noticed ants. The sugar will attract the ants, while the borax will kill them.

Eliminate pests naturally. Sometimes you don’t need to resort to chemicals to control pests. Removing sources of water, food and shelter is one way to get rid of them. This is particularly effective in the case of rodents. If you have pets, don’t leave food or water bowls outside, and ensure that you don’t have any holes or cracks in the exterior of your home.

Don’t allow pools of standing water to form near your home. This can be a big problem if you have pests. Check for pipes that are leaking and trays you use for plants. Most pests require standing water to survive; therefore, it is important to remove any standing water.

Do not tackle pest control alone if you live in a multiunit structure. Your individual efforts might be successful temporarily, but ineffective in the long run. Insects could just travel to another condo, apartment or townhome and then return. Consult with the property managers or other owners for a building-wide treatment solution.

If you hear bees in the walls of your home, never try to plug their access hole. This will trap them inside, and they will attempt to break free. Unfortunately, this means that they could come through the wall, into your home. You will have no choice at that point but to exit the premises and call a pest control specialist.

If you want to keep aphids from bothering your kitchen or any other indoor area, steal a gardening trick. Plant and grow chives or nasturiums indoors in pots or containers. Both of these plants are very successful in keeping aphids from injuring nearby plants, so also work to keep these little flies from bothering you indoors too.

Even if your home doesn’t show any issues, check the entire thing on occasion. Any part of the dwelling that is underground could be affected by subterranean termites. Check on the crawl spaces and basement.

Whether you hire a professional or tackle your pest problem, there are things you can do right away. Make sure you are proactive about this problem, and you will be able to avoid worse annoyances. Use the tips laid out here to really help you get rid of these creatures.…

The popularity of boating seems to be increasing each year. There are numerous water activities to participate in, such as fishing, swimming, water skiing and wake surfing. If you’re looking to buy a boat and don’t know where to begin, here are three tips to help you narrow down your search.

1. Determine Activities

One way to figure out what type of boat you want to buy is to decide what activities you’re going to do. Fishing, water skiing, wakeboarding and wake surfing activities require various types of boats. New technology has even emerged to tailor boats to specific water activities. The best first step you can take before buying a boat is narrowing down what activities you and your family want to spend the most time doing. There are also boats that are designed for a variety of activities, such as fish-and-ski boats, so don’t get too fixated on choosing only one activity.

2. Determine Budget

Once you’ve determined what types of activities you want to do on the water, you’ll also want to consider your budget. Boats differ a great deal in size, price and style. You’ll also need to buy a boat trailer to transport your boat. Trailer parts Maryland companies offer a variety of boat trailers to fit your needs. Before you visit a boat dealer, determine your budget by factoring in the cost of the boat, trailer and water sports equipment.

3. Determine Number of Passengers

The next step in narrowing down your search includes determining the number of passengers you want to fit in your boat. If you want to fit more people on your boat, you’re going to be limited to specific types of boats. Whether you want a fishing boat fit for two people or a motor yacht that can accommodate 15 people, you can find the right boat.

Choosing the right boat may seem overwhelming. Fortunately, you can simplify your search by determining your activities, budget and number of passengers.…

It is important to keep appliances in your house functional, but this can be difficult if you aren’t an expert. Here are some tips to know if you should replace your AC unit, or if it just needs slight repairs.

Before any strange noises occur, a homeowner should take steps to prevent malfunction. The filter should be replaced whenever the previous filter is clogged, even before the recommended change by date. A user should keep in mind conditions that could cause a premature clogged filter, like smoking in the household or pets. Also, an AC unit should be regularly inspected by a professional for tune-ups, to ensure small problems do not turn into big problems. Finally, a homeowner should treat the AC unit like the expensive piece of equipment it is. If it is making an alarming sound, call someone to check it out.

Rattling or banging is common, and it could mean several things. Rattling could be caused by debris or a loose screw. If it is an older unit, it could be coming from the compressor, and be the first sign of compressor failure. A homeowner’s first response, in this case, should be to tighten up any loose bolts, to check if that solves the problem.

Rattling or banging can quickly progress to clanking, which signals more loose parts, and likely the need for a replacement unit, or several replacement parts within the unit. At this point, it is necessary to call a professional.

If there is a grinding noise, there is a problem with the fans. They could be worn and require a tune-up.

Popping could be heard, but it would not be coming from the AC unit. If a homeowner hears popping, they should turn to the air ducts. Like all equipment, as they age, they get worn down. Ductwork also requires tune-ups from time to time and if there is popping, for the ducts to effectively move cold air throughout the house, they should be checked and repaired, if needed.

Clicking is not necessarily a problem, but it can signal a failing thermostat. It is by no means an emergency, but a homeowner should keep an eye on the machine.

If there is hissing that is definitely from the machine, it is time to call a professional. Although there could be hissing from the air duct, if the hissing is coming from the machine, it means a refrigerant leak.

Buzzing could mean many things, including loose parts, debris in the machine, the blower is going bad, the filter needs to be changed or the machine should be cleaned. If buzzing persists or gets worse after a filter is changed and the machine is cleaned by the owner, a professional of AC replacement in Ellis County should be called.

Squealing can be a common sound in some units, but if an owner identifies the sequel sound as new, it can indicate the malfunction of internal parts of the unit. In that case, a professional should be called.

If, when the unit is turned on, it emits a loud, screaming sound, turn the unit off immediately. This could be caused by a pressurized compressor or a refrigerant leak. Either is dangerous. If a unit turns off on its own, do not attempt to turn it back on. Likely, a sensor turned it off because a part is malfunctioning in a potentially dangerous way. Call a professional.

Sounds are the first sign of malfunction. If sounds persist or get worse, the best course of action is to call a professional on AC replacement in Ellis County.

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Many homeowners are nor sure what to do if they come across a pest problem in the home. Their first instinct is to grab the phone and call in the professionals. There is no need for this. You can exterminate these pests on your own. Keep reading to learn how.

Never step on a cockroach to kill it. When you step on it, it can release its egg sac. The eggs can then be transferred from the bottom of your shoes throughout the carpets and rugs in your home. The eggs survive in your carpet until they are ready to hatch, leaving you with a much bigger roach problem.

If you notice that there are mice lurking around the house, set up a mouse trap. Peanut butter is the best thing that you can use to lure the mice in, as this will help to catch them. Try to place many of these around the house to increase your chances of catching it.

Check to see if you have any centipedes around the house. Centipedes usually will prey on other bugs, so if you have a lot of them, you may be infested. In this case, the best thing that you can do is to hire a professional to help get rid of the issue in your home.

Install a cap on your chimney to prevent birds, squirrels and other nuisances from entering. Not only do these animals’ nests present a fire hazard, but the critters themselves can carry lice and other parasites. The cap acts as a barricade, keeping intruders out while allowing smoke to pass through.

Keep sweet smelling food products in sealed containers or in the fridge. Sweet foods can easily attract a vast variety of pests, from rodents to ants. If you do not have enough containers to seal your sugar, cereal and breads you should invest in them. It will cost you a lot less than paying an exterminator.

Check to see if your windows or screens are cracked or ripped as insects can easily penetrate any inconsistencies in your infrastructure. If you see that a seal has been broken, make sure that you fix this or get it replaced immediately so that it does not become an issue in the future.

You can kill hornets and wasps by something most people have in their bathrooms- hairspray. Use aerosol hairspray to spray their nests effectively sealing the larvae in the nest. If you are being bothered by adult wasps,simply point and spray directly at the hornet to stop him in his tracks.

Bugs and other types of pests love clutter. It gives them lots of shelter and places to hide. When you reduce the amount of clutter in and around your home, you are reducing the habitat for these pests. Remove old clothes, books, boxes, and other clutter from around your home to reduce your chances of an infestation.

Pests will be a problem no more in your home. Any time there is an issue, you will know just what to do. You can take all that money you would have paid an exterminator and treat yourself to a nice dinner and come home to a home that is pest free.…

When spring makes its grand entrance, you’ll need to be armed with a rake and a positive attitude. Winter can be relentless and if you own a business in addition to a home, they’ll both need special care. Here are four springtime clean-up projects you shouldn’t ever ignore.

Turning Over Flower Beds

As soon as the earth becomes soft, remember an important part of your seasonal clean up Kent is to begin turning over your flower beds. Even though you can’t plant yet, it’s good to get the soil aerated and begin fertilizing it. Pluck out all the old and rotting plants from last year before weeds begin taking over. Before you know it, you’ll be planting all your beautiful new flowers.

Sweeping Driveways and Parking Lots

If you own a business, don’t forget to show a little TLC to your parking lot. Parking lots and driveways are notorious for accumulating sand, rocks, litter and all kinds of garbage over the winter. Be sure to have your lot professionally swept every year so it looks attractive to your customers.

Cleaning Drains and Gutters

Along with all the debris that accumulated over the fall and winter, don’t forget drains and gutters. If they fill up and get clogged, you’ll be looking at a lot of unwanted overflow and excess moisture. Get them cleaned out as soon as it’s possible.

Washing Down Lawn Furniture

Warmer weather means spending more time outside and you’ll be able to break out all your yard furniture and lawn ornaments. Since they’ll be dusty and grimy, choose a sunny morning to bring them out for a nice, soapy bath with the hose, then let them dry in the sun.

Using Time Wisely

When spring finally arrives, you’ve only got a small window before heat and weeds take over. Use your time wisely to get things cleaned up and ready so you can start the season right.…