Category: News and Information

Making Your Bathroom Safer For The Elderly

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

It is easy to understand all of the dangerous things that can happen in a bathroom. Water and electricity do not mix, and the possibility of slipping getting in and out of the tub is always present. These things are even more difficult for elderly individuals. The typical bathroom set-up does not give elderly people the easiest route to get clean and beautified each day, but there are some things that can be done to make this room safer and easier for elderly people to use. If you’re looking to buy a home that is handicaped friendly, you should consult with ORC

The shower and bath situation is definitely the biggest concern. If you have the ability to install a walk-in shower with a shower seat, than that would be your best option. These showers have a door that can open, or they could simply walk into it without having to raise their legs up to get over the tub. For ideas on the most suitable type of bath or shower ideas for your bathroom you should do a Google search.

A shower seat can be added to practically any shower without too much difficulty. This gives the elderly person a place to sit, and it makes it easier for someone to bathe the individual if needed. The seats can be anchored several different ways, so research the best way to fit your situation.

A hand rail can also be added into your existing shower and tub. Some of these can simply be suctioned onto the wall of the shower. There are other types that can be screwed into the existing tub surround to increase the safety of the apparatus. These rails make it easier for the person to get in and out of the tub. They are especially useful when someone is attempting to get up from a bath. You simply need to remember to put it at the right location to maximize the efficiency of the rail.

You can also install some ramps to help make things easier. The ramps will require a little more room, but they can be very helpful to increase a person’s independence. The ramps are great for a variety of different reasons, but you need to make sure that you have enough room before going this route. If you are going to do a complete overhaul of the bathroom, a ramp would definitely be a good investment.

You can also get some higher toilet bowls. These higher bowls make it easier for the elderly person to get on and off of the toilet. It may seem like an oddity, but sometimes getting up and down on a toilet can be a real safety hazard. You could also put a rail near the toilet to help the person be safer.

It is also possible to automate much of the room. You could install automatic sinks that work with motion, and you could do the same with the toilet. You basically need to make things as simple as possible for the elderly individual. The automated features can really help anyone that has trouble turning knobs and handles.

The elderly person in your life needs to be given the best possible care. More than likely, that person helped you become who you are today. Talk to your local hardware improvement store to help you get some more ideas about keeping your loved ones safe in the bathroom. Remember to allow them to be as independent as possible. Take the time to think things through before you begin your project to ensure that your loved one is as safe as possible in the bathroom.

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8 Awesome Ways To Pep Up Your Sunroom

Posted on by John Conde

The main purpose of the sunroom is not just to bring outdoors into your house, but also to allow the natural sunlight to enter and gleam the entire room. So it is imperative to furnish or deck up your sunroom just as you would do to your outdoor patio.

Here are some awesome ways to deck up the sunroom for making it highly inviting and attractive:

1.    Select furniture pieces that are able to resist the constant rays and heat of the sun. Here, you may consider your outdoor patio furniture pieces, as the materials used to make these pieces are sustainable to all the weather conditions. Furniture pieces made from aluminum, wicker, or wrought iron are a few excellent choices when it comes to sunroom furniture.

2.    Add some cozy pillows and cushions to your sunroom furniture for a more comfortable and cozy experience.

3.    Arrange your seating area in such a way that you can easily interact with the visitors or guests in your sunroom. Position a couch against your wall with a table placed in front of the sofa. Place a couple of chairs around the sides of the table for an organized and purposeful look.

4.    Talking about the floor, it is always a superb idea to have a nice and cozy area rug to provide uber coziness when walking in your sunroom. You may opt for an outdoor rug to get a hang of the outdoors in your sunroom. However, make sure to clean your rug on a regular basis.

5.    Paint up your walls with a light shade for keeping the feel of your sunroom cheerful and vibrant

6.    Add some window sheers of white color to render some privacy when needed as well as to allow the sunlight to enter as well as filter the sunroom.

7.    Place a number of potted plants for keeping the outdoor feel alive in your sunroom.

8.    You may place a small-sized bistro table and a couple of chairs to enjoy a nice cup of coffee in the evening.

Just imagine how it would be drinking your favorite coffee in your wonderful furnished sunroom. It never gets better than this. However, when deciding to refurnish your sunroom, it is advisable to take into consideration the amount of natural sunlight that you wish should exude the room.

These are eight amazing and awesome ways to pep up your sunroom. Consider these suggestions to furnish your sunroom this spring.

If you’re looking to buy a house with a sunroom, contact the professionals at https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/

 

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More Jobs in Florida as Construction Heats Up for Multifamily Homes

Posted on by John Conde

News that U.S. housing starts in March hit their five-year high on the back of a sharp gain in construction of multifamily homes augur well for job creation which in turn provides an added stimulus for the residential market, Sarasota Bay Real Estate said.  For every 1,000 multifamily homes, the full-service real estate brokerage noted that industry estimates put at 1,100 the jobs that are added.

U.S. Commerce Dept. figures released this April showed that construction of multifamily residences including apartment buildings jumped 31% to 417,000 units, the highest level reached since January 2006. Overall, national housing starts this March increased by 7% to 1.04 million units from the revised 958,000 revised annual rate in February.

Builders Are Upbeat

The recent gain in multifamily housing starts jibes with the forecast of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) that construction of condos and apartments this year will show a 31% gain for the whole of 2013. This reading took into account the sustained improvement in the NAHB’s Multifamily Production Index (MPI). The most recent survey data gathered from multifamily homebuilders put the MPI at 52, indicating that a majority of these developers are upbeat about market conditions. Notably, an MPI above 50, which indicates more builders are looking forward to an improving market environment, has been observed for three straight quarters last year.

In Southwest Florida, Lennar Homes are one of the active multifamily home builders. Its projects in this area include three in Bradenton: River Strand, Verandas, and Terrace. Lennar is also building in Venice at its Stoneybrook community and in North Port at its Cypress Falls neighborhood.

Available Florida Homes for Sale Close to 10-Year Lows

Developments like Lennar’s should help boost the rapidly shrinking home inventory in the region, Sarasota Bay Real Estate said. For March, it noted that available residential properties in Sarasota are close to the lowest level in ten years. Figures from the Sarasota Realtors Association (SAR) showed that home inventory during the month dropped by 18% from March 2012.

The inventory for Sarasota condos for sale this March was estimated at a 4.7-month supply and at 3.8 months for single-family homes. In the year-earlier period, the inventory levels were at 6.7 months and 4.8 months for condos and single-family residences, respectively. These compare with the 41.7 months supply for condos and 24 months inventory for single-family homes in November 2008, during which the real estate market suffered one of its worst beatings.

Just a little over 200 villas and townhouses are featured in the current MLS of Sarasota homes for sale, as it emphasized that with the relatively few pickings, prospective buyers need to avail of the services of an experienced broker. Some of the most attractive purchase opportunities can be found in the golf community of The Meadows Country Club where there is a rich mix of condos, villas, townhouses, and single-family homes, all totaling 3,400 residences. Multifamily-designed dwellings here are priced starting around the mid-$100s.

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Modern Chic – A Guide To Getting A Cool Modern Look In Your Home

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Whether you live in a huge house or a tiny flat, there are plenty of ways to inject a cool modern look into your home. Whether you’re starting from scratch or just looking to update the existing tired decor, turning your living space from drab to fab is easier than you might think- regardless of your space or budget.

Colour Scheme
If you are looking to completely overhaul a room, updating the colour scheme is a perfect place to start. Most rooms, especially those on the small side will benefit from bright neutral decor which will really open up the space and give a light and airy feel. Don’t confuse neutral with bland- cream or ivory walls and flooring will go with just about any accent colour, and also means that you can easily update your soft furnishings in the future without having to worry about redecorating. White walls are also a good choice, although be aware that they can look quite stark when the room isn’t properly accessorised.

Your accent colour will provide a beautiful contrast with the neutral colour scheme, and add some depth and personality to the room. This is the colour of your accessories and soft furnishings, and could also be incorporated by adding a feature wall to the room in this colour. Whether you go for deep blues, purples and reds or contrast with chocolate brown or black is entirely up to you.

Chairs and Sofas
Your chairs and sofas are without doubt some of the most important pieces of furniture you will buy for your home; not only have they got to be comfortable and practical they also need to look good, and potentially last through a number of decor changes over the years. Again, neutral colours can be easily accessorised with any other colour in your room; cream, brown and black always stay classic and can be updated and modernised over a number of years with throws and cushions. Investing in a neutral sofa that will last is a great idea, you are then able to have fun with colour with occasional chairs. Choosing an occasional chair in a bright accent colour that matches the rest of your colour scheme will give the room a vibrant and modern twist.

Soft Furnishings and accessories
Your soft furnishings and accessories are where you can really have fun and let your personality shine through. They will add splashes of colour to your room, and you can play around with all kinds of patterns, prints and textures. A gorgeous thick rug in the centre of the room, cushions in different colours and textures and thick curtains hung up at the windows will give your home a cosy and expensive vibe. Don’t neglect the wall space, whether you’re a lover of enormous lavish mirrors or cute canvas prints it’s these finishing touches that will completely change how a room looks- even without redecorating or buying new furniture. So if you’re looking to update on a budget this is the way to go.

With just a few changes you can completely modernise your home, and update it with a brand new look. Best of all once you have your permanent pieces, accessories and furnishings can be switched up whenever you feel like it so your home always looks modern and fresh.

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How Air Leakage Testing Could Help You Save On Energy Bills

Posted on by John Conde

Last year, just before one of the coldest and longest winters that we have seen for a long time, energy providers all over the country decided to raise their prices leaving a lot of us facing increased costs just to heat our homes. This in turn has prompted a lot of homeowners to look for new ways of reducing these costs in an attempt to keep energy consumption down and money in the bank up.

There are many ways of doing this including insulating your home and living more sustainably but something that you maybe haven’t yet thought about is air leakage testing. Here’s how it could save you a lot of money in the long run.

What Is Air Leakage Testing –

Ever since 2006 in England and 2010 in Scotland, building regulations have stipulated that every new dwelling built should have to pass an air leakage test. This is in line with the government’s attempt to reduce CO2 emissions across the whole country by 60% by the year 2050 and also applies to any substantial extensions made to existing dwellings.

When any building is built there are natural gaps left between the fabric of the structure. These are only small but are there so that we don’t suffocate in our own homes when the doors and windows are closed. Air leakage testing is carried out to ensure that these gaps are not too big or too small. Too big and they could allow valuable heat energy to escape and if they’re too small there won’t be enough airflow through the building.

Obviously, all new buildings will have passed this test but if your home was built before the regulation came in then you may benefit from having it done.

How Is It Tested? –

There are a few ways to carry out air leakage testing all of which are non-invasive and easy to do. Some companies will use a thermal imaging camera to spot where the heat is being lost and others will carry smoke pens around the building to find the different areas where there is a draft. Once the areas of leakage have been discovered steps can be made to decrease this and make the building more energy-efficient.

Benefits To Carrying Out An Air Leakage Test –

An airtight dwelling has plenty of benefits not least the fact that your home will be in accordance to legal requirements. An airtight home will save you money on your energy bills every month which is sure to add up to a lot over time and you will have the added bonus of knowing that you have reduced your CO2 emissions which is great for the environment.

Your home will also be more comfortable after your air leakage test as there won’t be any more annoying drafts that can make rooms so cold during the winter months. Lastly, reducing the amount of air leakage will also decrease the noise you hear from things such as traffic and planes outside as well the noise that travels through party walls.

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