According to FEMA, floods are the most common natural disaster. That makes it all the more surprising that most homeowners don’t have flood insurance.

That may be because many people believe their homeowner’s insurance covers flooding. It might also be because lenders only require flood insurance for homes located in high-risk zones.

Even if your home is outside a high-risk zone, it’s still a good idea to have flood insurance. How much is flood insurance though? The answer depends on a few factors.

How Much Is Flood Insurance on Average?

The US national average for flood insurance is around $700. You can pay a lot more or a lot less, depending on several different factors.

One of the biggest factors is where you live. Some of the most flood-prone states, like Louisiana and Texas, have a very low flood insurance cost. Florida is actually the cheapest state.

Another factor is where your house is located. Even in a low-cost state like Florida, your flood insurance quote will be much higher if you’re in a high-risk zone. Low-risk zones will pay less in insurance, because it’s less likely a flood will happen.

Discover Your Home’s Risk

Before you buy a home, you can discover where it is on the flood plain. This site has a map of Indiana’s flood plains, along with rates.

Homes located in high-risk zones are more likely to flood. Insurance will cost more for these homes than those located in lower-risk areas.

It’s important to remember homes located in low-risk zones can and do flood. FEMA estimates around a quarter to a third of flood claims are for dwellings in low-risk zones every year.

Keep in mind that you can get flood insurance even if your home has flooded before. It’s a good idea to have flood insurance in place before a flood happens, if at all possible. Knowing your home’s risk can help.

What Does Flood Insurance Cover?

The other significant factor in the cost of flood insurance is coverage. The more your insurance covers, the higher the price is likely to be.

The National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP, provides affordable coverage for most flooding. It’s available through many companies, and can cover any dwelling or structure up to a certain amount.

If your home is worth more than NFIP’s maximums, it’s a good idea to consider private coverage. You may need to supplement NFIP coverage with private insurance. You may even prefer to go entirely with a private insurer.

A private insurance policy may have a different definition of what counts as a flood. They may provide coverage in more situations. Be sure to review deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs before you sign up for any policy.

NFIP does not cover wind-driven rain damage. Most homeowners’ policies cover this kind of damage instead.

Get Peace of Mind with the Right Insurance

The answer to “how much is flood insurance?” is dependent on many factors. In most cases, though, you can’t afford not to have it. Check in with a local insurance provider to get a specific quote for your property.

Looking for more tips on how to protect your investment in your property? We have plenty of how-to guides and tips to help you make the most of your property.

Between the listing and the closing date, an estimated 41% of home sellers had an offer fall through on their house.

While some buyers change their minds or can’t get financing, some back out of the sale because of the home inspection report. Structural problems and expensive repairs can send potential buyers running or make them lower their offer.

The good news is, you can make the inspection process go smoothly. With a little maintenance and preparation, you can prevent the number of problems the inspector finds.

Read on to learn how to prepare for a home inspection.

How to Prepare for a Home Inspection as a Seller vs. Buyer

As a buyer, there’s nothing to do to prepare for an inspection. All you have to do is show up on time to meet the inspector at your prospective new home. It’s important to attend the inspection because you’ll get a better understanding of the home’s condition than you’d get from reading the report.

When it comes to preparing for home inspections, the seller is the one with work to do.  The key is to make sure your home is in the best shape possible before the inspection.

If you don’t prepare for an inspection, the buyer can use the issues in the inspection report to negotiate a lower price. Below are some steps you can take to get the best possible results for your home inspection.

1. Clean and Tidy Up Your House

Before your home inspection, consider doing a deep clean of your home. The inspector (and sometimes the buyers) will look in every closet and under every sink, which is why it should look as clean as possible.

You should also tidy up your home as if you were having an open house. This makes your home look well-maintained and inviting.

Also make sure to empty the dishwasher and remove clothes from the washer and dryer since the inspector will check these appliances during the inspection.

2. Keep Your Utilities Connected

If you’ve already moved out of the house you’re trying to sell, make sure all the utilities are turned back on. If the utilities aren’t on, the inspector won’t be able to do the inspection.

That means the inspector will have to come back at a later date. This could frustrate your potential buyers and make them back out of the sale.

3. Provide Easy Access to the Attic

An experienced building inspector will know how to climb into tricky attics. But, you should make it as easy as possible for the sake of your inspector’s safety and your report.

Move any boxes or furniture near the attic entrance and inside the attic. If your inspector can’t check out the attic (or any other part of the house), buyers might think you’re trying to hide something.

4. Replace the Filter in Your HVAC System

It’s also a good idea to replace the return filter for your furnace or AC unit. It keeps your system running efficiently and keeps the air clean.

Replacing the filter shows the inspector that you keep up with regular maintenance.

5. Check Your Major Appliances

Before the inspection, make sure your appliances work and don’t have any visible defects or problems. If your washer and dryer aren’t working, buyers might ask you to replace them before they buy the house.

If you have gas-powered appliances, make sure the pilot lights are on. That might include your water heater, gas stove, or furnace. If a pilot light isn’t working, the inspector will note that in the report.

6. Replace Dead Batteries and Light Bulbs

Check your house for any burned out lightbulbs, inside and out. Make sure every bulb from the porch light to the oven light works. If anything is out, the inspector will make note of it.

Also, make sure to check smoke detectors and anything else that’s battery operated. That includes remotes for fans and air conditioning units.

7. Handle Minor Repairs

If you have a dripping faucet, a running toilet, or a hole in the wall that needs patching, handle those repairs before the inspection. You can also check doors and windows to make sure they’re in working order.

They’re simple problems to fix, but if too many small issues show up in the report, it could scare off the buyers.

8. Take Care of Pest Issues

If you’ve noticed ants in your kitchen or wasps in your attic, it’s best to handle these issues before they show up on a home inspection report.

Buyers might not want to move into a house if they learn about a possible infestation. It’s best to take care of it before the inspection.

Call an exterminator to check your home for pests. They can deal with your current problem and spot any risk factors they see for future problems.

9. Provide Keys to Any Locked Areas of Your Home

Whether you have a locked garden shed, a secondary garage, or a pool house, your inspector needs to check out every part of the house.

To make it easier on the inspector, you can open those locks or doors before they arrive. You can also provide keys, as long as you mark them clearly.

10. Leave During the Inspection

Since the prospective buyers will most likely attend the inspection, it’s best to leave the house. That way they can check out the entire house and you won’t feel offended by any questions they ask.

If you have pets, take them with you. If that’s not possible, secure them in a crate or a carrier. The inspector and the buyers will feel more comfortable and you won’t have to worry about your pets getting out.

Get Your Home Ready for an Inspection Today

Selling a house comes with a lot of stressors, from keeping your house show ready to worrying about the listing price. Once you know how to prepare for a home inspection, you’ll have one less thing to worry about.

To find more information for new home buyers, check out our articles on finance or home and garden.

Looking for the best ways to make your home sustainable and eco-friendly? From repurposing old materials to installing solar energy panels, there are so many ways to make your home more energy-efficient.

If you’re looking to make your entire house more sustainable, replacing your old appliances for energy-saving ones will reduce your utility bills and do less damage to the environment. Even installing energy-efficient windows and doors can make your home more eco-friendly.

Keep reading to learn how you can take steps towards a more environmentally-friendly home and start living a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

1. Use Sustainable Materials

Using environmentally-friendly home building materials is the first step in the right direction. If you want to buy or build a sustainable home, consider using eco-friendly and long-lasting materials such as recycled wood, recycled steel, sheep’s wool and straw bales for insulation, precast concrete or hemp concrete, and plant-based polyurethane rigid foam.

Inside the house, you can use sustainable materials for your furniture, bedding, cleaning products, LED lighting, and solar or wind energy.

2. Recycle and Repurpose

If you want a truly eco-friendly home, think about what you can recycle and repurpose around the house. If you need to buy something for the home, consider going to an antique shop, a garage sale, or look for pre-loved items online that you can restore back to life.

This way, you’ll have a unique piece of furniture that’ll look as good as new and at the same time, a more sustainable home.

3. Install a Solar Power System

Solar power systems have been gaining popularity because of their sustainability and ease of use. They’re the perfect solution for the environment, but also for your wallet as you’ll not only lower your utility bills but also use energy that’s already there.

So why install a solar power system? Some of the many benefits include:

• Sunlight is a renewable source of energy
• Solar panels are low-maintenance
• You can get government incentives for solar panels
• Solar panels work even if it’s cloudy
• You’ll drastically reduce your energy bills

Solar systems may seem like a big investment, but they pay for themselves in the long run and you can use them forever without worrying about replacing them.

4. Replace Your Appliances

If your appliances are old, consider replacing them with new ones that are made to be energy-efficient. Environmentally-friendly home appliances are specifically made to use the minimum amount of energy to get the job done. If you go a step further, you’ll also find solar-powered appliances that only use the warmth and energy from the sun.

The most common types of energy-efficient appliances include solar-powered water heaters, LED bulbs, new generation washers and dryers, air purifiers, and refrigerators.

5. Install Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors

Your home insulation is crucial for keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. However, improper insulation in the walls and windows can send your energy bills through the roof.

Consider replacing your windows and doors for more energy-efficient ones such as PVC/vinyl or triple-glazed wood-framed windows. Depending on your room positioning and the amount of sunshine and heat you want to let in, you can choose different sizes.

These Tips Will Help You Have a More Environmentally-Friendly Home

Having an environmentally friendly home is not just a trend. It’s the best way to reduce your energy bills, keep your home sustainable, and enjoy just the right amount of heating and cooling all year round.

Want more home maintenance and home improvement tips? Check out the rest of the articles we’ve covered on this topic and stay tuned for the latest industry trends and news.

Maybe its the idea of turning a huge profit, or maybe it’s the notion that you can take a wreck of a house and turn it into a home that appeals to you the most.

Whatever the reason for deciding to go into flipping houses, you need to be ready for the hard work which lays ahead.

Flipping homes has become a very popular technique amount real estate investors who are looking for the largest and quickest profit from the homes that they buy.

Yet what exactly does flipping a house entail?

Here is flipping houses 101, the quick-start guide to real estate investing, and how to flip a house.

What Exactly Does ‘Flipping Houses’ Mean?

First up, before we get our hands dirty we should talk about what we mean by “flipping houses.”

When we talk about flipping houses, we mean buying a house that needs a lot of work, then doing the work to it before selling it on at its rightful market value.

Often, the types of homes that you will be flipping may have structural problems, be very dated, or be in a generally poor state of repair.

There will be many times when these homes are in such poor states of repair that a mortgage provider will refuse a loan against them. In these cases, they will often be sold at auction.

Flipping Houses 101: Honing Your DIY Skills

One of the best ways that you can save money when carrying out the necessary refurbishments on a house flipping project is to do as much of the work as possible yourself. This will save all of the labor costs.

Before you let yourself loose on a major project that should earn you money, you will, first of all, need to hone your skills. If you don’t have too much experience carrying out DIY tasks, everything will take you much longer, and you are more likely to make mistakes.

Read blogs and watch online tutorials for tips on carrying out tasks. Then, you’ll need to experiment.

One of the best places for you to get the experience at completing these DIY tasks is to do them in your home.

Therefore, before you buy a home to renovate, you should give your own home a makeover first.

Assess How Much You Can Spend

For your first project, you may not have that much money to spend. You will need to start off with enough capital to buy a home and the materials needed to restore it though.

You may be able to take out a personal loan large enough to be able to cover the costs of buying and flipping your first property.

Start off small on your first home. Think about getting the cheapest home that you can. You might not get a huge return, but you can reinvent your money into the next project.

Start Finding Your Team

While you should do as much of the work as possible yourself, you’ll still need some professional help along the way.

Find a good architect, real estate broker, insurance company, and contractors. Search the web for practical things like “skip hire near me.” Shop around for them. Read reviews and make sure that you ask other people for recommendations.

If you have a contact book full of reliable businesses that you can call to help you, you’ll find everything much easier.

If you have friends or family who are in any relevant trades, see whether you can get discounts on their services.

Find Your First Property

Once you have the cash in place to buy your first property, it will be time to head to the auctions or the real estate agent and buy.

Before you commit to placing a bid or buying a property make sure you find out everything there is to know about it first. What type of work needs carrying out? How much work needs doing to it?

You’ll need to work out your costs and the potential resale value before so that you know the project is going to be worth your while.

For your first property, you might want to stick to a house that doesn’t need a lot of work doing to it. The easier you can make it on yourself, the better.

Keep Control of Your Budget

It can be easy to get carried away when you’re renovating a property. You want to turn something that was in the most terrible condition into something great. You need to remember, that you’re not going to live in the property, though.

Do as much work as you can and don’t buy the most expensive fixtures and fittings You could spend lots on bathroom and kitchen fittings only for the new owner to take them out when they move in. As long as everything is finished to a good standard, the home is likely to sell.

Work Fast

The secret to earning as much money as possible from flipping houses is to work fast. The quicker you can put your home back on the market, the sooner you can be onto your next project.

Once you have completed a few projects, you should consider reinvesting the income into buying more houses.

Make sure that the lead times are staggered so that as you are working on one, the other is on the market. That way, you won’t be waiting for a long time for your property to sell.

Flipping Houses is Rewarding in Many Ways

Flipping houses can be rewarding both financially and in other ways. You will see a property go from rack and ruin into something that people can live in once more.

Take all of the advice given in this flipping houses 101 guide and remember that it will be hard work. You will have to carry out much of the manual work yourself, but you’ll get faster and better at it the more you do it.

For more great articles, be sure to check out the rest of the site.

Did you know that an exterior paint job could bring a 51% return on investment?

Yes, the exterior of your home could deliver that much value if you decide to paint your home. After all, it’s the first thing that buyers will notice when they are looking at a home to purchase.

Now, that’s not guaranteed. You have to choose the right exterior home color schemes that will appeal to buyers.

Keep reading to learn about the color schemes you should choose to boost the curb appeal of your home and other ways to get the most value for your home.

1. Shades of Olive

Olive has reached the height of popularity among homeowners and buyers. It’s also the 2020 color of the year, according to the Behr paint company.

You can mix and match different shades of olive to create a unique look to your home. You can also mix the color with a strong accent color like white to make your home stand out.

2. Moss Green and White

A simple exterior home color scheme that is elegant is moss green and white. It’s a simple color scheme that will provide you with enough contrast for the home to pop.

It is also classy and simple, which appeals to many different types of buyers.

3. Red with Accents

A red home is a classic way to make a statement in your neighborhood. It’s also a great way to stand out with buyers. There are a number of ways you can use red as the main color of your home.

You can use a dark shade of red and paint your shutters black and paint white trim. You could also go with a fire engine red with all white trim for a fun and bold look.

4. Gray and Green

At first look, you might not be too impressed with this color scheme. Think about this for a second, though. If you want to create a modern look, you can use these colors beautifully together.

For example, you can go with a slate gray color of the home and contrast that with a lime green door. It’s a stylish look that will be modern.

5. Black and White

How about a classic look if the words lime green scared you off? A white home with black shutters or trim will never go out of style. It will give your home a stunning look.

It also works well with just about every type of architecture. If you want to have a classic American look, add a flagpole to the front yard. You can see many examples of this look at https://flagpolefarm.com/.

6. Natural Wood and Blue

If you like a nautical theme for your home, a natural wood look can stand out with dark blue trim. The final product would depend on the shape of the wood panels.

Rounded shingles may not work as well as flat wood boards. Your best bet is to try having exposed flat boards and add blue trim.

7. Yellow and Blue

Before you think that this combination won’t work because you’re working with two primary colors, remember that you have a lot of play here. Think of the many shades of each color.

You can either create the perfect contrast or go with pale shades of each for a very subtle but cheerful look.

8. Brown and White

Brown and white can create a wonderful contrast in colors if you opt for a darker shade of brown. A lighter shade of brown that is tan could work as well if you want a subtle contrast.

For a larger home, make brown the main color and use white as an accent color. On a smaller home, like a townhouse, white as the main color will stand out more.

9. Aqua and White

Do you have a fun beach house that you want to have some style? An aqua and white combination can do the trick. It’ll give your home a look that fits perfectly with the environment.

Another option is to go with turquoise for a shade that is a little more green. The combination with white will give the home a bright look.

10. Orange and Yellow

There’s a certain buyer that loves bright and bold colors. This is the color scheme that you should choose if you want to appeal to that type of buyer.

You don’t have to make the colors so bright that you need sunglasses to view the exterior of the home. You can go with a darker shade of orange and pair that with a pale shade of yellow.

11. Contrasts for Brick Homes

If your home is a brick home, don’t think that will limit your options for an exterior paint job. There are a number of exterior color schemes that you can employ.

For example, you can opt to go with a charcoal brick exterior with red accents. You can opt to pain the bricks white and leave black or red for accents.

Of course, you can paint the bricks a brick red color and have a dark or light accent color. You just need to be creative in the colors you choose.

12. Taupe and White

What color is taupe? It’s a neutral color that is close to beige, but it leans a little more in the direction of gray than brown. Since taupe is a neutral color, it will work well with just about any form of architecture.

It will work wonders for your home if it’s more of a classical type of architecture. It’s a simple way to preserve the history of the home while maintaining a clean and modern look.

You can use taupe as the main color of the home and then use white trim to brighten up the look of the home.

The Best Exterior Home Color Schemes

If you want to add some curb appeal to your home fast, you can’t go wrong with painting the exterior of the home. Well, you can go wrong if you choose the wrong color schemes.

The best exterior home color schemes are ones that provide a lot of contrast and match the architectural style of your home. They’re classic colors that will never go out of style.

Be sure to visit the Home and Garden section of this site for more home improvement tips.

From Tuscon to New York, housing markets across the country are cooling due to recent economic downturns. This has left some sellers desperate to part ways with their property and has created wonderful opportunities for inspired buyers.

If you’re among those that have tried to capitalize on the current state of things, received a mortgage loan, and then found that your loan was denied shortly before entering into the closing phase of your purchase, you may be wondering what happened.

Whether you’ve experienced that sad mortgage loan denied last minute feeling or you’re trying to avoid it, you’re in the right place.

In this post, we outline the most common reasons for last-minute mortgage denials. We hope that by being armed with this information, you’ll be able to more reliably borrow money for housing in the future.

1. Assets Changed Dramatically

The amount of money you’re approved for when you take out a loan will be largely contingent on the number of assets you have.

If your lender looks over your existing assets and values them at $100,000, they’re going to be alarmed if just before closing, your assets are halved. That’s because they see lower assets as less cushion should you fall behind on your mortgage payments.

To avoid raising red flags regarding your assets when managing a home loan, do not spend a lot until your housing purchase closes.

2. Loss of Job

Employment is very important when it comes to taking out a home loan. It’s what lenders assume will enable you to keep up with your payments.

Should your employment status change while you’re going through your home closing process, there’s a good chance you’ll run into mortgage loan denied last minute issues.

Frankly, if you feel your job is on the rocks, it’s best not to take on a mortgage. If you get hit with a surprise layoff, be grateful that it happened before purchasing a large asset as opposed to after.

3. Issues With the Home You’re Buying

When you borrow money from the bank to buy a home, they’ll need the house to be appraised to ensure you’re not buying into a dud. This necessitates you having to pay for an appraiser to look your house over.

While most appraisals won’t turn up anything out of the ordinary, some reveal catastrophic flaws like a foundational crack. Once this information is brought to light, banks will almost certainly cancel your pre-approved mortgage.

The good news is that your bank can extend you a new line of lending to invest in another home that’s in better condition.

4. Income Verification Failure

Income verification is diligence that’s performed by your lender to ensure the assets you own/money you’re making exist. Verification is carried out in several ways including looking over your bank statements and talking to your employer.

While verification is relatively straightforward for most, for others, things can get complicated. This is especially true for self-employed individuals that don’t receive W2s.

It could be that after submitting all of your income documentation, late in the home buying process, an evaluator decides that trusting the numbers you outline for your business is too risky, derailing your purchase.

If you’re finding that lenders are struggling with you given your unconventional income streams, try to find lenders that specifically advertise catering to non-W2 individuals.

5. A Shift in Credit Score

As with all loans, your credit score will have a major implication on your loan approval or denial. If your credit score is in excellent shape when you apply for a loan, you’ll likely get approved for the full amount you’re asking for and at a great interest rate.

But what if your credit score shifts before you close on your housing deal? Most likely, your lender will be notified of a major shift in your credit score and may either adjust your interest rate or deny your loan altogether.

Avoiding credit score shifts while house hunting is usually as easy as not applying for any new lines of credit during this period.

6. Changed Lending Guidelines

It’s rare but sudden economic downturns can lead to lending guidelines changing. That shift often creates situations where pending mortgages get dropped for not meeting new criteria.

There’s not much you can do to avoid this mortgage cancellation trigger. The best defense you have is to try to be overqualified when applying for lending products.

7. Late Documentation

Getting your mortgage suddenly denied can come down to something as simple as not filing your paperwork. Don’t fall victim to this devastating and avoidable snag.

Keep in constant communication with your loan officer during the lending process, always ask them if they need anything else from you and, if needed, pick your real estate agent’s brain for advice on how best to proceed.

Leverage Our Tips to Avoid Mortgage Loan Denied Last Minute Drama

There’s nothing worst than being excited about buying a house only to run into mortgage loan denied last minute drama. We hope that the tips we’ve shared make it easier to avoid that fate.

Remember, there’s lots of excellent help out there, some of which is free when it comes to home buying.

Talk to an advisor at your bank. Chat with a real estate agent. You might even choose to locate first-time home buyer non-profits to source information on common mortgage pitfalls.

Our team welcomes you to browse more of our content if you’d like to dive deeper into topics surrounding real estate now!

When it comes to curb appeal, having a green lawn is key to turning heads. In fact, 91 percent of Americans think it’s important to live near trees, grass, or landscaping, and nearly 85 percent feel it’s important that their lawn is well-maintained.

So, how do you get a beautiful lawn? Here are five tips for creating and maintaining an eye-catching yard.

1. Planting New Grass? Test Your Soil

If your landscaping plans include starting from scratch, then testing your soil is the place to start. A soil test can reveal any nutrient deficiencies that may prevent grass from growing. It can also tell you the pH level of the soil.

For a healthy lawn, you’ll want the pH level to be neutral, or fall between 6.2 and 7.2. Having this information before planting new grass can set you up for success and help you get that beautiful lawn.

2. Use the Right Grass

Being aware of your environment is crucial to having a healthy lawn. If you live somewhere with a lot of direct sunlight and higher temperatures, then you should find a grass seed that thrives in that environment.

For warmer climates, try options like Bermuda grass and zoysia grass. But if your home is located somewhere with colder weather, then bentgrass and ryegrass can be better options.

3. Adjust Your Sprinklers

The way you water your grass can affect whether or not you have green grass and a healthy lawn. The trick? Deep watering. You want the water to soak six inches into the ground. To reach that depth, your lawn will need about one inch of water per week.

The time of day can also influence how effective watering is. To get a green lawn and enviable landscaping, remember to water in the morning. Cooler temperatures will lessen the amount of evaporation.

4. Mowing Correctly Is the Trick to a Beautiful Lawn

When it comes to mowing, there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind. The first is to make sure you’re using a sharp blade. This ensures your grass is cut cleanly and consistently each time.

It’s also important to adjust your mower height based on the time of year. In the summer, let your grass grow taller. In the fall and winter, it’s better to lower the cutting deck.

5. Watch Out for Weeds

Nothing can ruin the appearance of a beautiful lawn like weeds, and it’s important to control them as they appear. Anytime you see a weed in your lawn, spot-treat them. This can keep them from running rampant in your landscaping.

You can also take steps to prevent weeds from growing in the first place. Mulching is one of the easiest ways to keep them from taking root.

Have a Healthy Lawn in No Time

If you’re unhappy with your landscaping, there’s no need to worry. There are plenty of simple adjustments you can make to get a beautiful lawn, from mowing differently to treating weeds.

To learn more about landscaping, check out the rest of our site.

Did you know that 77% of American households were gardening in 2018?

Gardening is a great hobby that many people worldwide enjoy, it can also help you become self-sufficient when you grow your own fruit and vegetables.

Keep reading if you’re just starting out with gardening or if you’re an experienced gardener looking for tips on the essential gardening tools that you’ll need this summer.

6 Gardening Tools You Need to Have

There are many tools that you can purchase to help your garden function and look great. However, it can be confusing for beginners to know what essential garden tools they need. Have a look at our essential gardening tools list and make sure you have all of these handy tools in your shed.

1. Gardening Gloves

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, you need to make sure you have a good pair of gloves. Gloves can help protect your hands from getting dirty and from sharp thorns.

Find a pair that fit your hands well, as you want to avoid them falling off or causing blisters. You also need to find a pair of gloves that aren’t too bulky because you’ll want to use them for working with seeds as well as cleaning your gardening.

Other features to look for in a good pair of gloves include durability, breathability, and ones that are waterproof.

2. Watering Can

Up next in the gardening tools list, is the watering can. This essential item comes in a variety of styles, colors, sizes, materials, and nozzle options. You can easily use a watering can to ensure your plants get the water they need to grow.

Watering cans can either be made from metal or plastic. Plastic watering cans are lighter but might not last as long. Whereas metal watering cans can be a lot heavier but will be more durable over the years, providing that you protect it from rusting.

Another key thing to consider when looking at purchasing a watering can is the nozzle type. A larger nozzle will provide more water for a larger surface area, so is better for larger plants and those plants that are outside. While a smaller nozzle is better for smaller plants and indoor plants because it provides a more precise water outlet.

3. Secateurs/Hand Pruners

Secateurs (or hand pruners) are one of the none negotiable garden hand tools that you need. You can use your secateurs to control plants that are growing everywhere and need a little trim. You can also use them to de-head flowers to ensure the plant keeps on flowering.

You can get bypass secateurs, which cut with a sharp blade that passes a sharp-edged flat surface (similar to a pair of scissors). Bypass pruners are best for live plants and green wood.

Or you can get anvil secateurs, which cut with a sharp blade that meets a flat surface (similar to a knife on a board). Anvil pruners work better on dead wood, as they can cause damage to green stems and branches.

It is important to keep your secateurs, or pruners, sharp to ensure cleaner cuts and reduce damage to your plants, so make sure you sharpen them regularly.

4. Loppers

Loppers are similar to pruners, but they provide a longer handle which is handy for those hard to reach places. Loppers are also good for cutting thicker branches, that pruners might have problems cutting.

You can get various sized loppers, ranging from a handle length of 16 to 36 inches. There are also two types of loppers, known as bypass and anvil loppers. Bypass loppers provide a more precise cut than anvil ones.

If you get a good pair of loppers, they should be able to last several years. You’ll need to sharpen them regularly though, to ensure they stay in good condition.

For thicker branches and trees, you might want to consider getting an axe, such as the pulaski axe. Have a look at the uses of pulaski axes to see whether this is the right choice for you. Alternatively, if you have large trees in your garden, you might want to get a professional tree surgeon to help cut your trees.

5. Spade

Digging is a common task you can expect to do in your garden, so you need to have a good spade to hand. Spades are ideal for digging holes for plants, moving dirt around so your plants have the best ground to grow in, and edging your borders.

Some spades can be expensive, however, the initial upfront cost of a high-quality stainless steel spade is worth it because they can last a lifetime. Remember to maintain the spade and prevent it from rusting, otherwise, it might need replacing sooner rather than later.

The best type of spade is one that comes with a longer handle because it provides more leverage when you’re digging. However, these can be heavier than shorter handled spades.

6. Wheelbarrow

The wheelbarrow is every gardener’s friend as these handy tools make it easier to transport heavy items around the garden. For example, you can use a wheelbarrow to carry soil and compost and to carry plants from one spot to another. You can also carry heavy garden items, such as chopped tree branches.

Remember to store your wheelbarrow in a dry location, such as a shed. This will help to prevent it from rusting. Another maintenance tip is to keep the wheels inflated and regularly check that they’re okay.

Stock up on These Essential Gardening Tools and Transform Your Garden

The changes of the seasons are incredible to see in your garden, so make use of your space by planting seasonal flowers and shrubs. But before you do that, prepare your garden for its beautiful transformation by ensuring you have these essential gardening tools.

Remember to always maintain your tools and look after them because this will save you a lot of money in the long run. Well looked after gardening tools can provide a lifetime of use.

Check out some of our other articles to find out more about how to make your garden look prim and pretty this summer.

When you’re in the middle of summer or a particular hot string of summer days, one of the worst things that can happen to you is having your air conditioner break or stop working efficiently. If this happens at your home, you may not be able to use your a/c to get to the ideal temperature in your house, which can not only be uncomfortable, but could also be unsafe.

To help you make it through those hot moments while you wait for your air conditioner to get fixed, here are three ways to stay cool if your air conditioner breaks.

Cuddle With Something Cold

If you get cold in the winter, sleeping with a hot water bottle is one way to heat yourself up. And in the summer, the same principles can apply.

According to Sophia Breene, a contributor to Greatist.com, a hot water bottle can also be filled with water and then stuck in your freezer in order to get nice and cold. Once it’s set, or even just cooler than the air temperature in your home, you can hold it to your body to help yourself cool off and get much more comfortable. Some other options for using something cold to cuddle with and cool your body off include things like wet towels or even bags of ice or other frozen foods.

Know Which Body Parts To Keep Cool

When trying to cool yourself off by putting something cold on your body, it can be helpful to know which body parts to initially focus on in order to drop your body temperature as quickly as possible and get yourself more comfortable.

The best areas to start with this, according to Alan Henry, a contributor to LifeHacker.com, are your neck and wrists. Additionally, you should move onto your groin, armpits, and feet before trying to cool off other areas of your body. So even if you think that a cold washcloth on your forehead feels good, that’s not going to help keep you as cool as putting that washcloth on other areas.

Blast All Your Fans

Oftentimes, it’s not necessarily cold air that you need in order to cool off your home. Usually, just having some air movement can help you to feel cooler and keep your house at a lower temperature as well. This works because, as your body gets hot and starts sweating, having air moving across your skin can help to cool that sweat and make your body colder as well.

If you’re going to be using your fans, Katie Bandurski, a contributor to Better Homes and Gardens, recommends that you turn them all on so that you can get the maximum effect. And if you’re needing the air to be colder than it is, you can always try putting a bowl of ice in front of the fan.

If you have issues with your air conditioner this summer, consider using the tips mentioned above to help keep yourself and your home cool still.

 

Do you know that only 0.007% of the world’s water is safe for human use? This should make you realize the important function of water tanks.

You’ve just got your water tank, and you’re ready to prop it up so it can serve its purpose. Naturally, you’d want to place the water tank where it won’t be too much of an eyesore or somewhere high up. Not a bad idea, but perhaps there are better places to put your tank.

You might not know it, but where you place your water tanks at home plays a critical role in their performance and durability. That’s why you need to be extra careful about where you put your tanks.

Here are a few tips for choosing a location for your tank.

1. The Slope

The first thing you should consider when picking a location for your tank is the slope of an area. Typically most people place their tanks on the top of slopes. However, it gives your water pump a lot of work when it has to pump water against gravity.

It’s way better when you place your tank on a level surface. That way, the water pump doesn’t have to work against gravity to get water to the tank or to where it’s supposed to go.

Find a level area to place your water tank. Also, make sure the surface is flat, so the tank sits stable on the ground.

2. Location of the Downpipe

Once you have your tank sitting pretty, don’t forget about the downpipe.

The closer your downpipes are to the tank, the better it is for you. Having downpipes far away from the pipe only hurts the efficiency of your pump and is also more expensive.

3. Local Regulations

Depending on your region, you might have to install your tank in line with specific placement regulations.  Some common regulations include:

• Tanks shouldn’t be visible from the street
• Tanks should be a particular distance away from the property

However, note that these regulations don’t apply across the board and vary from region to region. Sometimes these placement regulations depend on water use.  Just make sure you comply with all placement regulations the state, county, or region stipulates.

4. The Tank Dimensions

You should carve out enough space in your compound to comfortably accommodate the tank. Though some tanks, like this model, are designed to take up as little space as possible, most tanks take up lots of space.

As such, it’s important to measure the tank and get enough space for the tank to fit. Also, remember to leave some space for other installations and for you to access the tank.

5. Aesthetic Considerations

Tanks aren’t necessarily a visual highlight, so you’d want to try your best to conceal them.

You can consider an underground tank, but it’s typically more expensive than ordinary tanks.  If you’re feeling stylish, you can consider tanks with a couple of color options.

Never Overlook Location of Water Tanks at Home

Where you place your tank will greatly impact how your tank will perform, how long it’ll last, and the efficiency of your water pump.

As such, you need to be very careful about the location of your water tanks at home and not just because of aesthetic reasons.  Choose your tanks wisely and choose ones that can fit in the available space.

For more insightful reads, check out other articles on the site.