How do I know if it is safe to dig into my backyard?

This article is provided by Jesse Hughes.

Digging in your backyard – is it safe?

Making the most of your outdoor space is often a good idea. You can build an extension to your property, a garden room or even just a workshop where you can go and spend some time away from the chaos that often comes with family life. It is not as simple as just starting to dig up the ground in your yard though. There are things that you need to think about before this happens. 

One of the most important things to consider is the safety aspect of digging in your outside space. If you do not think about this, you could be putting you and your family in danger. 

How do you know if digging in your yard is safe?

You may think that you know everything there is to know about your yard. It is easy to spot a tree or an old piece of fence that may present an obstacle to a building project. You can take these things into account and make sure that the structures you are planning are safely built around them. 

However, it is not as easy to deal with obstacles that may be hidden underground. You cannot see what is happening down there. As a result, there is a chance that you could hit a water pipe or a gas main. This could cause serious issues with your project and could also be dangerous. This is why you should have utility locating work carried out, to ensure that it is safe for you to continue as planned. 

What else do you need to think about?

It is not just safety that you need to think about when you are building on your property. There are other important factors that you need to take into account. 

Checking that you have any permission that is needed.

Depending on what type of structure you are building, you may require permission from the local council. You should always check to see if this is the case, before the digging starts. 

Making sure that you have a realistic budget in place.

There is no point in having the perfect workshop in your yard if all you do is worry about money because you have spent too much on its construction. You need to sit down and work out a realistic budget before the project starts. It is important to include a bit extra to the expected spend so that you can deal with any unexpected issues.

Hiring the right people for the job. 

If you want your building project to be successful, you need to make sure that you have the right people in place to do the work. It is worth taking time to hire a good contractor, so that you can be sure that you have made the right choice. 

You should never neglect the safety aspect when you are thinking of digging in your yard. Make sure that you know about any obstacles, above and below ground, so you can be safe and reduce the risk of unwanted costly surprises. 

5 Steps To A Successful Product Review Blog!

This post is provided by Clarissa Caouette.

A product review blog can be a great place to pursue your passions and get hands on experience with the kinds of products you love. There are dozens of product review sites out there. How do you get started in this lucrative field and make your product review blog successful? 

The first step, of course, it to start a website. You will need to choose a relevant and catchy domain name, find a web host and decide between shared and dedicated hosting, and design your website using a template or by hiring someone to design it for you.

Once you have your site set up, follow these five steps to build a successful product review blog.

Pick Your Niche

General product review sites are fine, but you will find it much easier to find an audience and build a following if you specialize. Even large review sites like CNET focus on software and computers. Consumer Reports may get away with generalization, but you probably would not reach that level at least when you are just starting out. 

Choose something that you are passionate about, but that there are enough new products released regularly that you can continue to blog about them for some time. Things like cell phones, Virtual Reality, apps, software, consumer electronics of all kinds, cars, and kitchen gadgets are all great examples.

Build An Audience

No one is going to give you or offer you discounted products to review unless you have an audience who is reading those reviews. This means you need to build an audience. How do you do that in the area of reviews? Here are some tips:

Write Reviews On Amazon And Other Sites: Review products like the ones you want to review on your blog on other sites and become a trusted reviewer. People who value your opinion will follow you.

Be Active On Social Media: Post your reviews on social media, and make it clear you are a reviewer. Companies will often come to you for reviews of products once they see what you do, and audiences will trust your opinions.

Do Not Forget Reddit And Tumblr: There are many product discussion forums on Tumblr and Reddit and being active there can get you a good reputation as a reviewer and someone whose opinion is unbiased and can be trusted. Facebook groups are another good place to get involved in a particular community. 

Hashtag It: Use the right hashtags to get your product reviews noticed when you share them. This will increase your following in various niche areas. 

The bigger following you have, the more successful your product review blog will be, especially if you have that audience before you even get started. 

Review The Things You Use

At first, it may take you a while to get companies to send you sample products to review, so review the ones you already use and intend to buy anyway. Be honest, but positive. No company wants a poor review, and if you are simply product bashing your blog probably would not go far. 

However, brands also like honest feedback about what they can improve and may even follow up with you if you have a great idea for a way their product could be better. 

Post these reviews on your blog and on other sites. Exposure will help with growth, and starting with what you have or need will provide a good foundation for reviews. 

Create Ad Revenue

One you have a certain amount of traffic, you can make good money from ad revenue. This usually means a couple of things. First, you must add code to your site that allows for native ads like Google and Amazon ads, along with others like Outbrain and more. These ads pay you whenever someone clicks on them. 

Affiliate links pay you whenever someone makes a purchase through them. These pay a higher percentage overall, but usually there are fewer conversions so less money overall than PPC ads. 

You can also sell ad space on your site to the manufacturers of the products you review or similar ones. Their products will be displayed where people who want to purchase them are browsing anyway. These can be a great way to make your blog successful. Just do not use too many and clutter your blog space. 

You can also look for a site sponsor. This is a brand that wants to be featured on your site regularly and in ads in various places on the site. A good site sponsor can provide consistent revenue for your site and increase traffic.

Add Sponsored Posts

Lastly, the brands and types of products you review will want to be seen on your site. One of the easiest ways to do this is for them to create blog posts that talk about their product, and then pay you to place them on your site. 

There is a word of caution here. You have built up trust with your readers, and you do not want them to feel like you sold out or are trying to sell them something deliberately. There are also legal obligations about revealing what posts on your site are sponsored, so be sure you are forthright about what you are doing. 

Still, sponsored posts can provide a steady stream of income to your product review site, making it both profitable and successful in helping people make the right choices about products they are investing in. 

A successful product review blog is not hard to create, but it will be work and take time before it becomes successful. Choose a niche, find an engaged audience, and then review away. Done properly, you will end up with a successful product review blog. 

Happy birthday to me!

Guess what? In the blink of an eye, I turned 38 years old today! Happy birthday to me!

During my 38 years on this earth, I have been through a lot of ups and downs, fortunately more happy moments than sad ones in these 15 years so I feel very blessed! I am also thankful that I am able to do what I love, have a loving family and remained healthy (even though I have gain some pounds throughout the years!). :)

To celebrate the special occasion, we went to Chicago two weeks ago. We ate a lot of delicious Asian food and desserts and also did some window shopping at Rejuvenation!

I have also received a Chloe bag (my dream bag!) from hubby a week ago, a bouquet of beautiful roses yesterday and a few lovely surprises this morning!

Getting older isn't so bad after all! I feel so blessed and grateful! 

This year, our family will be going through some big changes so my birthday wish this year is for everything to go smoothly! Wish me luck! 

Ideas To Renovate Your Dorm Room!

This post is provided by Richard Smith.

Your room is your domain when you are studying. With all the stress of essay due dates, socializing and revision that you are under at college, you need to make sure the space that you go home to every night is perfect. 

The Chinese people were on to something when they discovered the power of Feng Shui. It should be obvious that the room you surround yourself with will definitely have an effect on how you do in your studying. With that being said, you need to make sure that you have renovated your dorm room in a way that really supports your studying and helps you to excel to achieve the best you can. But, how can you renovate your room to meet these standards? Well we have a couple of tips, if you have the time and the money, try out some of these tips and see what difference it makes!

Skylight

More light equals a more open-minded viewpoint! How do you let more light into your dorm room? Well if you have a friend that is a bit of a handyman, get a skylight installed. A skylight is a large window that is placed in a room on a slanted ceiling. It allows light to enter the room, and this can result in a lot of lovely, natural light coming into the room! Think about it, sitting down in your dorm room to write a really important essay, or talk to your writing companion on Paperial and you have loads of amazing natural light bursting through your new skylight. It would definitely help you have a more positive, optimistic outlook on your studies and this would definitely help you to excel in your work!

Open plan

Do you have a dorm room that you are looking to renovate heavily? A big change in your surroundings can produce a big change in your studies and education. Well, one of the best things you can do to clear your living space is to actually set it out as an open floor plan. This means that you would not have any walls or doors between your rooms. You can move freely between your rooms with ease, and when you are sitting in your room, you will have a much more open and free mindset. Whether you have got to buy essay resources, or do an essay yourself! Walls and doors can invite an enclosed and introverted mentality. But an open floor plan can really serve to exile all the obstacles and tribulations from your mindset. This can result in a much better work ethic.

Renovating your dorm room can really be the secret weapon that results in much a much clearer head and much more determined work ethic. Studying is hard, but it is even harder when you live in a crowded dorm room that is dark and dull and full of walls and obstacles to overcome! But if you take into account some of these tips, you will improve your study time instantly!

Enhance Your Decor With Metal Wall Art!

This post is provided by Rosa Broughton.

Metal wall art has become so much in fashion these days. A bold piece of metal art when exhibited on the walls draws a lot of attention and creates a lasting impression on the viewer. This is because any metal wall art is created with some or the other form of metal which is molded or shaped in such a way that it looks beautiful on your walls. 

There is some made using iron, while others are made up of aluminium as well. Aluminium metal art looks exceptionally beautiful and artistic on walls. Only an art lover can know the essence of wall art and will buy this decorative accessory either for himself or for his loved one. Metal arts are ideal for gifting purpose especially on the occasion of newly opened office or a wedding party or in honor of a well-written free essay.

There are some metal arts such as fishes and trees or a painting drawn with the metal, and give a wonderful feel to the room. It requires lots of skills and creativity to cast and then shape a metal in desired form and then a final piece is ready which adds to the beauty of your home decor. The metal art available these days have been through the final finished coating process which helps them retain their color and shine for years to come. A lot of metal arts are designed carefully so that they do not rust nor does their color fade away. 

There are many interesting pieces of metal wall art that one can place in their patio or living room that will add a bit of richness to the room. The first thing that comes to our mind when someone mentions a metal wall art is they are bound to be abstract and in weird shapes or size.

One that we can not comprehend, but that is not true, the metal art are beautiful and as aesthetic as a painting can be. Such is the world of metal wall art which is today becoming a popular choice of career. Most of the artists involved in this form enjoy creating something breathtaking out of pieces of metal which would surprise an onlooker.

Green Home Building Techniques!

This post is provided by Jesse Hughes.

Most people are familiar with the usual ways to make our home greener or environmentally-friendly, like using efficient appliances and low-flow water fixtures. But what about ideas that make our homes more eco-conscious right from the ground up? There is only so much we can do once the house is built, so it can be more effective to take green steps during construction as well. 

Professional construction companies like Advanced Group Services (http://www.advancedgroupservices.com.au/) are changing the way they build houses to use as many green techniques as possible. 

Adding Insulation

One of the very best ways to keep a house energy efficient is to prevent heat loss, especially in areas where the winters are below freezing on average. Taking the extra step to keep a house insulated is important for this. Extra layers of insulation in the attic, proper duct and pipe wraps and careful sealing of all potential openings around window and door frames. 

Heat is also lost directly through window glass, so using windows with a high R-value during construction will help keep your heat in where it belongs. 

Sustainable Materials

A great deal of material goes into building a house and it makes environmental sense to use as much reclaimed or sustainable products as you can. Insulation can be made from recycled fibers, wood can be reused from other projects, and even many fixtures can be found second-hand to reduce the impact of your building. If you can't reclaim, you can choose sustainable materials like bamboo for flooring or products made from recycled plastic and metal. 

Size

Of course, everyone has different space needs and a family of 7 is not going to be happy with a house built for 2. But the days of huge mansions are over and people are choosing to live in more reasonable spaces to save on materials and for lower utility bills later. You do not necessarily have to join the tiny house movement to appreciate the savings of a smaller home. 

Rainwater Use

It is getting quite common to "harvest" rainwater with some barrels out in the yard, usually placed under the downspouts. They can provide hundreds of gallons of water for gardening or even household needs. You can capitalize on this idea during construction by planning a rainwater system with a cistern tank and proper drainage. If it is incorporated into the house at the building stage, you can even plan the plumbing so that this free water is used to flush the toilets as well as serve the outside yard. 

On-Demand Hot Water

While technically, this is not part of home construction but most home builders plan for hot water systems in these initial stages of development. A hot water tank uses a lot of energy through the day, keeping a large volume of water hot just in case it is needed. Why not use a system that just heats the water when you need it? Known as tankless or on-demand hot water systems, these new formats use much less energy and take up less room compared to the older bulky tanks. 

The effect of faulty construction on building maintenance!

This post is provided by Jesse Hughes.

Faulty construction is unfortunately a fact of life, and it impacts the overall life and maintenance of any building. If you are concerned about the construction quality of your home, you could get a professional strata report and get more details on the property history. 

Poor construction practices do not just result in a shortened lifespan for the building. It also has a huge impact on the ongoing maintenance as well. Here are a few examples of how construction issues can manifest themselves. 

Leaks

One of the biggest maintenance problems that comes from poor construction is leaks. Roofing is the biggest area for this. Flimsy materials for sheet roofing or shingles as well as imprecise laying of the material that leaves gaps will leave the roof vulnerable to water penetration. It would not take long for a rainstorm to bring water dripping indoors.  

And leaks can come from other parts of the house than just the roof. Siding or cladding that has not been fastened properly will leave opening for water, and even brick can lead to leaks if the mortar was not done correctly. Small cracks start to form and in comes the water. 

Cracks Inside And Out

If the building site was not properly prepared, or the foundation itself was poorly constructed, it will weaken the entire building. An unstable foundation will soon lead to cracks in the interior walls as the floors settle unevenly, and doors can stop swinging properly in their frames. When parts of the house shift, there can be even more damage to pipes or wiring within the walls. 

All of these potential gaps and cracks can also ruin the insulation value of the home, creating heat loss and drafts that impact comfort and utility use all year long. 

Drainage Problems

Another possible result of a bad foundation is poor drainage, especially in the basement. As floors shift position, water would not flow the same was as it once did, leaving drain holes high and dry. It could even mean that the bathtub does not completely empty if one end of the tub becomes slightly too high. 

Utility Costs

On the subject of insulation, that is another area that can be done in a sub-standard way that leads to many problems later on. Insufficient insulation or the use of improper materials will mean that heat can be lost, making a building difficult to heat in cold weather. It also effects sound quality in the home, and that you can hear noises from one room to the other more than you should. 

Though the origins of these problems come from the construction itself, that does not mean there is nothing you can do. Fixing a poorly done roof is a big project, though certainly not impossible. Adding new insulation can also be done without too much reconstruction. Problems with a foundation may not be truly fixable without razing the building but a good contractor should be able to help get things stabilized and straightened out to some degree. 

Five Ways To Go Green In Your Home!

This article is provided by Katherine Smith.

As a homeowner, there are many reasons why you may be contemplating the decision to go green in your home, with the most common reasons being to improve the environment and slash energy costs. An efficiency in energy consumption will not only cut your energy bill, but it will also improve property value.  

Here are five reasons why the idea of making your home eco-friendlier is more popular than ever in the US.

1. Going solar will reduce and possibly even eliminate your electric bills.  

Going solar can be counted as one of the things that you could do that would make the biggest impact because you will get a fabulous return on your investment, protect your household budget against rising energy costs, and increase the value of your property. Moreover, besides encouraging other homeowners in your neighborhood by demonstrating your commitment to environmental sustainability, you will benefit the nation's initiatives to acquire more energy independence, create more local jobs, and protect the environment.

According to Enver, a solar company in San Diego, solar energy provides an affordable, reliable, and clean energy solution for homeowners. Since your electric costs usually take up a large chunk of your monthly utility expenses, installing solar panel equipment will generate free power for at least 25 years if you are able to produce 100% of the energy your household needs. However, even if you can not rely on solar energy production all the time, you will still drastically reduce how much you pay for utilities. 

2. Upgrading your home with proper insulation will improve indoor temperature control.

While it is best to insulate your home during the construction phase, it is not too late to take care of it afterward. Since both heating and cooling will account for about half of your home's consumption of energy, it only makes sense to ensure that the energy that you are paying for is not leaking out through doors, windows, or the roof. While you may not be able to completely prevent hot air from escaping in the colder seasons and from entering your home during the warmer seasons, you can make a difference in slowing the rate of energy loss by insulating the walls and the attics with foam, fiberglass or cellulose. You can also reduce energy loss from older windows and doors. Simply upgrade weather stripping and sealant around both windows and doors. 

3. Upgrading your HVAC system will reduce the cost of heating and cooling your home.

On average, it costs about a grand a year to heat and cool your home. By using an HVAC system that has been ENERGY STAR-rated and installed according to Quality Installation (QI) guidelines will improve the heating and cooling efficiency of your home.

4. Heat water more efficiently by using a tankless hot water system.

When you have a shower or bath, you are getting hot water from a tank. In order to receive hot water without the need to heat, store and reheat water in this tank, you could use a tankless water heater. An electric coil heats the water that you need when you need it. This eliminates the waste of energy that arises from using an energy-inefficient tank.

5. Prefer Energy Star appliances.

An appliance that has the ENERGY STAR symbol is one that has been approved by the government program that was initiated to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. This means that the appliance conforms to the energy-efficiency criteria set by the EPA. Not only do these appliances work far more efficiently than regular appliances, but they can also help you reduce your energy and water bill.  

So, what is the downside to greening your home? Initially, it may cost more to transition from the standard model for energy consumption, but, in the long run, everything will work more efficiently and be more cost-effective. 

Additionally, many manufacturers and service companies are listening to consumers who can not afford the initial cost to go green. As a consequence, they are working to develop less expensive equipment and installation fees as well as arranging financing to make it easier to make the switch.

While the motivation for going green will vary from one person to the next, the move to make this positive switch will provide significant environmental, economic, and personal benefits. In essence, it is a win-win situation for everyone- for you and your family, for the country, and even for the world. While the government can suggest ways to go green, ultimately it is your decision that will contribute to a more sustainable environment. 

How To Renovate Your Working Space On A Budget!

This post is provided by Richard Smith.

It can be hard to think of ways to renovate your working space if you are working on a particular budget. Obviously you do not have unlimited money when it comes to making your working space look nice, but it can really make the difference between dreading going to work and relishing the chance to sit and be a productive member of your team in a space you feel comfortable in. Do not worry! Not every little renovation you could enact on your working space costs an arm and a leg, here are a few tips on things to do to spruce up your workplace for cheap!

Hang pictures of family in your working space, or if not your family, then you and your friends out having a good time! The effects of this are three-fold: reason number one is that it makes your working space look vibrant and a bit more interesting, reason number two is that it can be a great way to spark a conversation with a co-worker! And reason number three is it will motivate you to get on with your work and do well. Imagine it: ‘I really can not be bothered to write my essay, oops sorry mum! I will get back to work right away!’

Another tip is to think minimalist, you may think it looks good to have a lot on your desk and walls but it really does not! Clear your space until it is spotless and then think about what decorations you would benefit from. Maybe you could hang up your degree to remind you of all the writing you got through when you buy college papers and just about hit the deadline day! Maybe you could put up a poster of your favorite movie to inspire you to think creatively, and to put yourself in the shoes of a hardworking action hero.

So there you have it, just a few tips that can make your working space an aesthetically pleasing place to be. And you will find that as soon as you restructure your working environment, you will find it easier to be productive, hard-working and a bit more laid back in your working life. Enjoy!

How to save money on electricity in your home!

This post is provided by Jesse Hughes.

Electricity can be an expensive commodity, as you will realize when you receive your regular electricity bill. High bills are never welcome, especially if you are have to manage on a tight household budget. It can be a difficult task to juggle paying for essentials like electricity with affording extras like birthday parties for your kids. 

The good news is that there are things you can do to reduce the amount of electricity you use in your home. Doing so means that the amount you pay out on electricity bills also reduces. 

Make sure that your electricity supply is working as it should. 

It is a good idea to have an electrical inspection carried out in your home, to ensure that the electricity supply is performing as it should. Reduced performance can mean that you use more electricity than is necessary. The professionals can also spot problems with the electrics in your home which could be dangerous, and deal with the issue for you. 

Insulate and drought proof your property.

If you are heating your home in the winter, or cooling it in the summer, you do not want to waste electricity and money by enabling the hot or cold air to escape from your home. This is what can happen if you do not use insulation in your home. You should also fit weather proofing strips around the doors and windows in your property. 

Switch off when not in use. 

This may sound obvious, but you should always switch off any electricity that you are not using. It does not matter if you are just going into the kitchen for twenty minutes, switch off the light in the lounge when you go. Over time saving just a few minutes worth of electricity several times can save you a significant amount of money. 

Do not leave appliances on stand by.

Switching off means that you should switch off completely. Unless an appliance needs to be kept switched on at all times, you should switch off and remove the plug when it is not in use. Appliances left on standby can account for around 4% of overall average household electricity usage, so making sure that this does not happen can save you money. 

Change your energy supplier. 

If you feel that you are not getting the best deal when it comes to the electricity supply for your home, you can think about changing supplier. You just need to do some research about which other suppliers are available in your area, if any. Remember that you should never be attracted by promises that do not last. You want to get your electricity from a provider that gives you a good service at a reasonable price, in the long term. 

It only takes a few changes to be made in order to save money on electricity in your home. Make these changes straight away, and there is a good chance you will notice the difference over the coming months.