Roof Upgrade Tips to Increase Your Home's Value in Ohio

 Are you a homeowner in Ohio looking to increase the value of your home? As one of our biggest investments, our homes deserve to be maintained and upgraded to improve their aesthetics and boost their overall value. And one crucial aspect that often gets overlooked is the roof. While it may not be as glamorous as a kitchen renovation or backyard landscaping, upgrading your roof can significantly impact your home's value, especially in a state like Ohio, where changing weather conditions can take a toll on roofs.

If you want to learn some effective tips for upgrading your roof and increasing your home's value in Ohio, keep reading. We'll explore all the important details and considerations you need to know before starting this project.

Understand the Market Trends in Ohio

Before jumping straight into your roof upgrade project, it's important to understand the market trends in Ohio. As a homeowner, you want to make sure that your investment not only adds value to your home but also aligns with the current housing market demands. 

Researching real estate trends and consulting with local real estate agents can give you a better idea of what buyers are looking for in Ohio's housing market. This will help you make more informed decisions when selecting the type of roof upgrade that would be most desirable to potential buyers.

Consider Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is a major factor driving home buyers' decisions in today's world. With rising energy costs and environmental concerns, many homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. 

Upgrading your roof with energy-efficient materials can be a big plus for potential buyers, as it will not only help them save money on utility bills but also contribute to a greener living environment. In Ohio's unpredictable weather conditions, an energy-efficient roof can also provide better insulation and temperature control, making it an attractive feature for buyers.

Choose Durable Materials

In addition to energy efficiency, durability is another crucial factor to consider when upgrading your roof. Ohio experiences a range of extreme weather conditions, from heavy rain and windstorms to snow and ice. 

Therefore, it's important to choose materials that can withstand these weather elements and offer long-lasting protection for your home. Asphalt shingles, metal roofing, and clay tiles are some durable options to consider for your roof upgrade project.

Don't Forget Curb Appeal

While durability, energy efficiency, and market trends are all important considerations, don't forget about the visual impact of your roof upgrade. A well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing roof can significantly increase your home's curb appeal, potentially attracting more buyers and increasing its overall value. 

Consider factors such as color, style, and texture when selecting roofing materials to ensure they complement your home's architecture and enhance its overall appearance.

Hire a Professional Contractor

Last but not least, it's crucial to hire a professional contractor for your roof upgrade project in Ohio. Working with experienced and reputable roofing experts can save you time, money, and potential headaches. 

They can also provide valuable insights and recommendations based on their expertise and knowledge of the local market. Before hiring a contractor, make sure to do your research, read reviews, and ask for references to ensure you're working with a reliable and trustworthy professional.

Prioritize Regular Maintenance

While upgrading your roof can significantly increase the value of your home, it's important to remember that proper maintenance is equally crucial. Regular inspections and maintenance by a professional can help identify and address any potential issues before they escalate into bigger problems. This will not only save you money in the long run but also ensure that your roof remains in good condition for years to come.

Signs that a Roof Upgrade is Due

Recognizing when a roof upgrade is due is crucial to maintaining your home's value and avoiding costly damage. Below are some telltale signs that hint towards your roof needing an upgrade:

Age of Your Roof

The lifespan of a roof varies depending on its material. For instance, asphalt shingles typically last about 20 years, while metal or tile roofs can last over 50 years. If your roof is nearing the end of its expected lifespan, it's time to consider an upgrade.

Visible Damage

Missing, curled, or buckling shingles indicate that your roof needs attention. When roof damage is visible, it's best to address the situation promptly before it leads to more serious issues such as leaks or structural damage.

Frequent Leaks

Frequent leaks are a strong sign that your roof might be failing. Persistent leaks can lead to mold growth and structural damage. If you're dealing with repeated leaks, it's time for a roof assessment.

Moss and Algae Growth

Moss and algae can cause significant damage to your roof over time. While they might seem harmless, they hold moisture against the roof surface, which can lead to deterioration and damage.

High Energy Bills

If your energy bills are steadily increasing without a clear reason, your roof might be losing its efficiency. A well-insulated roof prevents heat and cool air from escaping, leading to lower energy costs.

Considering the Cost

Another crucial aspect to consider when upgrading your roof is the cost. This includes not only the initial cost of materials and installation but also the long-term costs related to maintenance, repairs, and potential energy savings. 

It's important to effectively budget for your roof upgrade project and consider it an investment in your home's future value. While a higher-quality, more efficient roof may have a higher upfront cost, it could result in significant savings over time in terms of reduced energy bills and fewer repair costs.

Navigating Building Codes and Regulations

When planning a roof upgrade, it's also necessary to understand local building codes and regulations in Ohio. There may be certain restrictions or guidelines you need to follow, such as rules about the type of materials you can use or the maximum height of the roof. 

Failing to adhere to these codes and regulations could result in fines or other penalties, and it could also affect the resale value of your home. Be sure to consult with your contractor or your local building authority to ensure your roof upgrade project is fully compliant with all necessary regulations.

Recap and Next Steps

Upgrading your roof can significantly enhance your home's value, improve its energy efficiency, and withstand Ohio's varying weather conditions. You can ensure a successful roof upgrade project by understanding market trends, selecting durable and energy-efficient materials, prioritizing curb appeal, hiring a professional contractor, and performing regular maintenance.

Furthermore, recognizing the signs that your roof needs an upgrade, planning for the cost, and understanding local building codes and regulations are also key to maximizing your investment. Now that you're equipped with these tips, it's time to start planning your roof upgrade project in Ohio.

In The Wrong Career? Here's What To Do About It

It’s very rare that a person will stay in the same career/position forever. Many people go through multiple job changes throughout their lives. As we get older, our tastes change. What we want from a job changes. We may need a different role to suit our lifestyle, or we may realize that the current role we are in just doesn’t suit our values and beliefs anymore.

If you feel like you’re now in the wrong career, don’t look at it as a failure. Look at it as a natural occurrence that happens to a huge majority of people! So, what are you supposed to do now that you realize you are in the wrong career? Read on to find out!

List All The Reasons You Are Dissatisfied With Your Current Position

Grab a pen and a piece of paper and list all of the reasons that you are dissatisfied with your current position. You’re going to do this in order to identify whether they can be realistically resolved over time. You can also use them to figure out what you don’t want in your next career, if it does transpire that you would like to change jobs. Be as detailed as possible!

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Consider The Positive Parts Of What You Do

Now it’s time to do something you might find a little hard if you’re experiencing problems - consider the positive aspects of the job. The problems you are encountering may be short term, and intense feelings of dissatisfaction may be distracting you from the positive aspects of your career. Think hard. What are the pluses? Do you enjoy the people you work with? Maybe your role allows you to use a particular skill that you have? Not only will you be able to weigh the pros against the cons, you’ll also have a good idea of the sort of things you want in a future role.

Save An Emergency Fund

If you do want to leave your job, you must understand the immediate financial risks of leaving. Saving an emergency fund before you leave, if you don’t have one already, is a good idea. More finances mean more freedom. Having more money saved in an emergency account allows you to leave when you are unhappy and find something you actually enjoy, without the pressure of needing another income right away and potentially ending up in another job that isn’t right for you. You should aim to save a minimum of 3-6 months living expenses. Depending on how long you think you may be job hunting for, you might want to save more.

Know Your Strengths And Weaknesses

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses means knowing where you need to improve for your new role. You might want to take a msw degree online and look into other learning opportunities that could make a you a more attractive candidate for future jobs.

Network

Network regularly, so you can identify relevant contacts in your chosen industry. You never know who you might meet and what opportunities might be presented to you!

5 Quick Tips for Reducing Cooking Times at Home

 Two women cooking noodles - Image Courtesy of Pexels

Reducing cooking times is more than convenient. It can also save you money in the kitchen. Over time, you have probably developed habits that increase your cooking times. So here are a few quick tips to help you overcome long times in the kitchen and save you some cash.

Use Modern Devices

Gadgets in the kitchen, such as electric mixers, are a godsend for saving time when preparing food. Yet there are also many timesaving and energy-efficient devices for cooking. Please don't snub your microwave. It uses almost no energy and is excellent for cooking frozen vegetables and reheating sauces. Also, air fryers (see this recipe for sweet potato fries made in an air fryer) are becoming popular because they cook as well as in an oven for a fraction of the cost.

Cut Chunks into Smaller Pieces

It can be a lengthy process to cook some cuts of meat. And slow cooking will help some things, like cheaper cuts of meat. Still, a recipe could tell you to cook a whole piece of meat or fish. But if you cut the food into smaller pieces, you can often make it faster. Cooking boneless chicken or meat will also cut down on the time it takes to cook. For example, you could quarter a chicken into pieces. If you do this, the cooking time will drop from 1 hr and 20 min to about 45 min.

Use Pan Lids

This is a simple step that often gets overlooked in the rush of making dinner. When there's a lid to keep heat in, your food will cook faster. Make it a point to cover pots and pans unless the recipe says to cook the food without a lid. This will cut down on the time it takes to cook the food. This is also a great way to help bring liquids to a boil, which is a step in many recipes such as cooking corn. And if you don't do this when you boil water for pasta, you'll be wasting money.

Defrost Food First

Adding frozen ingredients to some cookbook recipes makes them even easier to make. There's nothing wrong with this, either. But if you want to shorten the time it takes to cook, defrost the meat or vegetables before you add them to the dish. If you cook something frozen, it will take a lot longer. It can also be risky if you aren't careful. The outside of your meat can look cooked, but the middle can still be raw. This can cause severe food poisoning and illness.

Preheat Pans and Oven

Not preheating the oven and pans is another common mistake in the kitchen. Even though most recipes don't need it, it helps cut down on cooking time. When you put cold food into an oven or pan, the temperature drops in the area. Also, some foods won't caramelize as well, like meat chops. And you will mess up a steak completely. But most foods only need a few minutes to cook on the stove in a frying pan and not much more in the oven if cut into pieces.

Summary

Reducing cooking times in the kitchen gives you more to do the essential things. And it can save money. You can use cooking gadgets, cover pans with lids and always preheat.

How to Freeze Asparagus

Freezing vegetables is a great way to save money during the winter months. This easy tutorial will have you freezing asparagus now for enjoyment this winter. With this method your asparagus will be as fresh tasting as it was the day you purchased it. 

I am a major farmers market fan. In fact, it is the thing I get the most excited about! I want to get there early and I come prepared with bags and baskets to carry home my fresh finds. In fact, it is not at all uncommon to find me standing in line on a Tuesday afternoon, patiently awaiting the bell that signals the start of the market. I have a favorite farmer and he sells out FAST! LOL. I find it to be worth the wait.

You would likely find it worth the wait too. I got a steal on asparagus and mini peppers recently. I am talking $1 a pound for the freshest asparagus in town. I bought 10 pounds of it without hesitation.

Asparagus for days is my jam. But, these gorgeous stalks are meant for a cold, blustery day, when asparagus doesn't look this good at the store, but it packs a hefty price tag of up to $6 a pound where I live. To preserve asparagus this is what you need.

I do use a foodsaver, but you can get a vaccum sealer for about $30 on amazon and big rolls of the bags. They are well worth the investment if you are going to do a lot of freezing! I know every expert will tell you food goes bad fast; but honestly I have had veggies frozen for 2 years that are still super fresh when packaged properly with a food saver... but, I guess now you know my secret. I rarely defrost my deep freezer HA!

So here is what you need:

Supplies:

A bowl of ice water

1 pound of asparagus

6 cups of water

Paper Towels

Food saver or freezer bags

Directions:

Snap the ends of the asparagus and discard the woody ends.

Boil 4 cups of water.

Place 2 cups of water and the ice into a large bowl.

When the water has come to a boil, drop the asparagus into the boiling water.

Allow to cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the asparagus turns bright green.

Remove the asparagus from the boiling water and immediately place it in the ice water.

Remove after 30 seconds.

Place the asparagus on paper towels and allow to drain.

Pat the asparagus dry.

Place it in a food saver or freezer bag and remove as much air as possible.

Place in the freezer for up to a year.

If you are looking for more ways to save money; here are some reader's favorite posts. 

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Save Your Way To Family Fun

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Family time is precious and irreplaceable – you can’t put a price on it. Or can you? Priceless as the
memories may be, the cost of a family day out rises and rises each year. With travel, entry tickets,
overpriced food and drink and the unavoidable stop at the gift shop on the way out, take a few days
out in a year and you can find the cost slowly mounting. And for those families who are struggling to
meet savings goals or working through debt consolidation programs, every penny counts.
But there are ways to both cut the cost of your outing and find something fun for the family to
do together.

It’s All About Timing

Many theme parks and family attractions like zoos and the theatre practice ‘dynamic pricing’.
This means that the cost of entry will vary across a year and even a week, rising when there’s peak
demand and dropping right down when they need to fill seats. So do a little detective work
and use this to your advantage. Monitor the prices over a set period of time to see how they alter,
and make sure you’re signed up to the newsletter of the attraction, as many will email out discount
codes and special deals. It may mean waiting a little longer to get there, but you can make major
savings.

Round Up The Gang

A lot of attractions will also offer a discount for group bookings, so make sure you call up and speak
to them about what can be done. Who could you invite to go with you? Children will love for their
friends or neighbors to come along, and if you pool money, hiring a small minibus may be a more
cost-effective way to travel there as well. So time your trip with another family or two and see how
much you can save.

Claim Your Cashback

Using cashback sites and loyalty cards are a great idea if you know you’re planning to go somewhere.
Lots of them offer access to family attraction or ticketing sites. If you’ve saved up loyalty card points
all year, see what you can swap them in for, and use supermarket cards to purchase discounted
snacks and food for the road trip.

Keep The Snacks DIY

Overpriced food and drink at family attractions are one of the main budget-busters on a day out,
especially if you have several little ones. So save big by packing a cool bag with treats and drinks
before you go. Make the food prep a part of the excitement of the day out. Kids love a picnic, and
if you think outside the box and make some exciting picnic food rather than the standard sandwiches,
they’ll be super excited.

Days out are all about making memories – and you don’t have to spend a fortune to do that.
There are also lots of fun things to do at home from going on a bug safari to building a pillow fort,
having kids produce their own movie or play or even doing a campout in the backyard underneath
the stars. The only limit is your imagination.

The Benefits of Cooking Your Own Meals

 Cooking your meals is one of the best things you can do for your health. When you cook your food, you know exactly what is going into it – and that means you can avoid unhealthy additives and preservatives. Cooking your food is also a great way to save money. The following blog will discuss the many benefits of cooking your meals!

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

1) It Is A Great Way To Control Your Calorie Intake

When you cook your meals, you are in complete control of the ingredients and the portion sizes. This means that you can easily avoid consuming too many calories – something that is essential if you are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

Cooking your food also allows you to customize your meals according to your dietary needs and preferences. For example, if you follow a gluten-free diet, you can easily prepare gluten-free meals at home.

2) It Helps You Eat More Nutritious Meals

Cooking your own meals is a great way to ensure that you are eating nutritious, balanced meals. When you cook at home, you have complete control over the ingredients and can choose to include plenty of healthy vegetables and lean protein sources in your diet.

This is in contrast to eating out, where it can be challenging to find healthy options that fit within your calorie and dietary restrictions. In fact, recent studies have shown that people who cook their meals tend to eat healthier overall than those who do not.

Cooking your food also means avoiding unhealthy additives and preservatives, which are often found in processed foods. These additives can negatively affect your health, including causing weight gain and contributing to chronic diseases.

3) It Saves You Money

One of the best things about cooking your meals is that it can save you a lot of money. When you cook at home, you can buy ingredients in bulk and prepare large meals which will last for several days. This is in contrast to eating out, where you will likely spend a lot more money on individual meals.

In addition, cooking your food means avoiding buying expensive processed foods or take-out meals. By cooking your own food, you can easily save hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars each year.

4) It Is Fun And Rewarding

Cooking your meals can be a fun and rewarding experience. When you cook a meal from scratch, you know that you have put in the hard work and effort to create something delicious. This feeling of accomplishment cannot be matched by simply heating a frozen dinner or ordering a take-out meal.

Cooking your food also allows you to experiment with new recipes, like a garlic confit recipe, and culinary techniques. This can be a great way to expand your culinary knowledge and learn new skills.

In conclusion, cooking your meals is one of the best things you can do for your health, wallet, and taste buds! By taking control of your food preparation, you can ensure that you are eating nutritious, delicious, and affordable meals. So what are you waiting for? Start cooking!

Surprisingly Simple Ways To Stop Your Mountain Of Used Baby Stuff From Building

 

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It’s not until we become parents that we truly realize just how much stuff accumulates when there’s a baby in the house. After all, the theory is that newborns don’t need a great deal. Unfortunately, while there is truth to that statement, the stuff that they do need can be bulky, not to mention that it builds up surprisingly fast throughout their first year or so of life. Given that this period often passes in a blur, many unprepared parents then look up to find themselves quite literally buried by baby stuff or using entire rooms and attic spaces for the sole purpose of storing those used baby items.

Given that you’re only going to keep on accumulating more things into your child’s second year (and, let’s be honest, every year after that), this is by no means a sustainable way of doing things, and it highlights the need to think about the best ways to stop that mountain of baby stuff from ever building in the first place. This can save you a world of stress when you simply don’t need it, as well as ensuring that your home is always far clearer than it would be.

The question is, what exactly are the best hassle-free ways to fight that mountain, and how can you put them into practice for results that stop you from ever having to scale to its top?

Step 1: Develop a system early on

Too often, we make the mistake of not having any storage system in place for our old baby clothes, etc. until they’re already taking up space. Unfortunately, this can result in piles of unsorted clothes and old toys that range across so many ages that you don’t even know where to begin. Given that you’re already an overworked parent, it’s therefore not at all unusual to take one look at this build-up and close the door to deal with it another day. Then, before you know it, you have that much-dreaded mountain on your hands. 

This is precisely the escalation that you’re reading this article to avoid, and the best way to do that is to put at least some kind of storage system in place as early as possible. Ideally, adding this to your list of things to do after finding out you're pregnant means that you won’t even need to worry during those already busy newborn days. Even better, you can find ways to correlate this with your baby prep in general. For instance, you may find it useful to label some storage containers with ages newborn, 3-6 months, and so on. Then, you’ll be able to see exactly what you’ve got ready for baby, as well as keeping those boxes on hand for when your new youngster grows out of each age range. 

Step 2: Research your options for removal

Unless you’re planning on having more children (in which case, sustainable storage solutions are a must!), you’re best off getting rid of used baby items as soon as you’ve filled a storage container or moved into a new age range. Luckily, there are countless ways to do this, and most of them don’t require all that much effort on your part. For one thing, asking around any pregnant friends, or those that you know are making plans of this nature will most likely see you getting rid of the vast majority of stuff. Even if there’s no pregnancy on the horizon, don’t hesitate to ask around – most likely, your friends will know someone who could use the extra! If you have no luck here, then there are also plenty of additional routes to consider online, many of which could see you earning some semi-decent cash for cast-offs. Great platforms for selling high-quality second-hand baby items especially include – 

• eBay

• thredUP

• Toycycle

• Kidizen

• And more

Simply make sure that you set up a profile in the early days, and get into the habit of uploading items before you put them into storage so that they never have a chance to creep up on you. 

Step 3: Put everything away in pristine condition

Considering that you’re finished with them and ready for them to stop cluttering up your house, it’s often tempting to put items away without properly cleaning them. After all, you can do that another day! In reality, though, storing clothes that need a wash, or even a stroller that’s covered in the usual wear and tear of snacks, spit-ups, and so on, can both damage the quality of those items, and make it less likely that you’ll ever get around to getting rid. After all, cleaning one thing is bad enough – cleaning a whole attic full of stuff just isn’t something that you have time for!

Luckily, you can save yourself time by making sure that every single item you have in storage is cleaned and ready to go for the fast turnaround that you’re ultimately aiming to achieve here. The effort that you spend on putting that one load of used clothes straight in the washing machine, or deep cleaning a stroller that’s no longer a good fit, will most certainly save you work in the long run. Not to mention that, if you’re going down the sales route, this proactive cleaning focus can see you getting far more money, as well as guaranteeing good reviews that make it easier for you to get rid of similar items fast in the future. 

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Step 4: Operate on an in-out basis

Despite your best efforts, used baby items can still build surprisingly quickly considering how often you’ll need to update things like your baby’s wardrobe. In fact, with entire outfit overhauls necessary every three months or so for that first year, you could end up with a whole mountain of stuff in less than six months if you aren’t careful. 

To avoid this, it’s always worth approaching used baby items with an in-out mindset. In other words, every single time that you bring new wardrobe sizes, etc. into the house, make a distinct effort to get rid of the size that came before it, and to not buy anything more until you’ve achieved that goal! It may seem strict, but setting yourself this rule makes it impossible for these items to build, buying you time to get rid without panic, and making sure that you never have more to deal with than you can manage. 

Step 5: Take inventory once in a while

While most of us are used to taking inventory at work, few of us apply the same thinking to our home lives. Yet, when it comes to the potentially mammoth task of sorting used baby items, this simple process can become invaluable for helping you to keep your sanity and your space. 

After all, if you don’t know what you’ve got, then it’ll be impossible to effectively impose things like the in-out rule discussed above. Not to mention that, even if you think you know everything that you need to organize/reduce, it’s all too easy to forget even entire boxes of clothes that could then end up as the basis for a build-up if you aren’t careful. 

Luckily, taking even a basic inventory of things like age ranges every few months is all you need to offset this risk and is a process that couldn’t be simpler if you’ve got a decent storage system in place as mentioned. This way, you can always keep track of what needs to go first, what’s newest to your storage setup, and what’s happening with everything in between. 

Step 6: Don’t let yourself get sentimental

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So, you’re prepped, ready, and armed with all of the platforms/know-how to keep used baby stuff under control. Only, then you see the first babygro your newborn ever wore or that coat that they took to their first meeting with the family. Suddenly, you’re overwhelmed with emotions, and can’t shake the feeling that you need to keep every last scrap of it for the sake of memories.

In reality, though, there are very few things that warrant keeping simply for sentimental value. After all, even if you did keep every memorable outfit, you’d likely look at them once every twenty years and coo before putting them back to clutter your home again. With this in mind, our last and perhaps most crucial pointer is to stop yourself from being sentimental about items that, ultimately, have served their purpose. By all means, keep things like the odd handmade piece, or perhaps even that first sleeper that you can’t part with. But, be strict with yourself, and make sure that you’re limiting what you keep to these few special instances before you’ve got an avalanche on your hands.

It’s by no means easy to stop a mountain of baby stuff from building at some stage, but taking it one step at a time with these tips in mind should at least help you to keep your home that bit clearer, and more manageable, for your baby’s first year and beyond.