Home + Family

Home improvement projects operate as the backbone of modern U.S. homeownership. The renovation industry is a massive one in the United States, bringing in a staggering $400 billion every year across the country. Homeowners know—to varying degrees—that improvement projects are essential to great price appreciation over the years as well as the peace of mind and comfort that comes from a well-tailored home that meets all of their needs and specifications. The truth is that while the average U.S. homeowner will only remain in their property for around 13 years, the real estate that they own is likely their most valuable property asset. Homes and the land that they are built on appreciating at a rapid pace over a decade or more of typical homeownership, and whether you plan a long future in...

Insurance is a safety net that provides financial protection for a host of unforeseen events. Homeowners insurance provides coverage for damage to your house, and auto insurance protects your vehicle from accident damage. These policies seek to provide protection and peace of mind for the policyholder. Life insurance, however, is unique in that it provides payment for the policyholder's beneficiaries. If something happens to the policyholder, a death benefit will be paid to their family members and loved ones. The death benefit can be used to cover debts, final expenses, and other financial obligations. Whole life insurance is also known as permanent coverage because the policy is valid as long as the policyholder makes premium payments. Whole life policies are also considered an invest...

For most high school students, the summer is a much-needed break from the school year before they transition over to the next grade. For seniors, summer is a brief period between leaving high school and shifting into their college career. As such, the time they spend during these summer months is going to vary wildly from how they spent their time in the past. If you're a high school graduate looking for the best way to spend your summer break, here are four great ways to spend the summer before university. 1. Consider taking a trip to a dream destination during your break. Traveling is a great way to take a much-needed mental break and reward yourself for all the hard work and achievements you've accomplished throughout your high school career. One great way to break away from everyth...

With the world reopening and many people itching to get out of their homes to wander the country or other countries, travel is becoming more common again. That being said, people may forget everything they need throughout their travels if they're especially out of practice. Do you want to make sure that you don't forget anything on your next trip? If so, here's the ultimate travel packing list to help you double-check your luggage and carry-on before you go. Determine which essentials you need to bring based on duration and location. When packing, it's important to consider which items you need to bring based on how long you will be staying in your location of choice and where you will be located. For example, let's imagine you take a Key to the South trip for a couple of weeks during ...

Canada and the United States have a lot of shared history. The landmasses that make up these countries were colonized at the same time. British and French settlers formed colonies in the 1600s. After the American War of Independence, a border was established between the United States and their neighbors to the north. Since then, Canada's maintained close relationships with the United States and Great Britain, whose colonies united to form Canada. Despite historical similarities, there are some distinctions between Canada and the United States. People visiting or moving to Canada may be surprised at some of the ways Canada differs from its southern neighbor and founding nation. Let's explore some Canadian resources you might not know about. 1. Canada values art. Canada has a rich art...

Updating an old home is an entirely rewarding experience for the homeowner who loves DIY work and the constant thrill of a project. Yet working to revamp an old house can turn into a money pit and a stressful, never-ending worksite that is more trouble than it’s worth. Making the right renovations (both in the Do It Yourself space and those that will require years of experience) without breaking the bank or turning your home into a constant place of hazards is a delicate balancing act. Still, it’s one that you can master with a bit of practice. With these starting points and workflows in mind, making the most of updates to an old home can become second nature and provide an excellent job that will get you back to loving your space again. Start with external systems. One of the worst...

Many people are contemplating the real estate market, flip loans, and private lenders who offer competitive interest rates these days. There seems to be no end to the news stories about the upended real estate market resulting from coronavirus uncertainty. The present appears to be screaming out to entrepreneurs and real estate investors about their next potential business venture in the housing market. Rehab-ing your finances may come in the form of a flip loan this year as interest rates remain low and the real estate marketplace continues to boom. The truth is that house flippers are primarily investors with a flair for the Do It Yourself antics of homeownership, and some of the most successful out there make a killing in the process with the help of great interest rates on flip loan...

The internet is stocked to the brim with DIY projects, tips, and tricks. Unfortunately, they're not always the best in quality! The sea of home renovation projects can be dangerous waters to navigate. Aside from possibly finishing up a renovation and then feeling unsatisfied with the results, many things can go wrong along the way. To keep you and your house happy and healthy for a long time, stay away from DIY-ing intensive projects like plumbing, electrical wiring, or making large-scale structural changes, such as roof repairs. However, there are plenty of resources ready to help you through those DIY projects you’d rather do yourself. Check out Renovators Blog. Given that the internet is such a vast space for ideas, information, and misinformation to come together, it makes sense t...

Home maintenance involves investing in upgrades or repairs, ensuring your home's systems work correctly. Home maintenance can also involve modifying or replacing structural components in your home, such as the roof or siding. Your home's age, size, and location affect its maintenance needs. The average annual maintenance costs for homeowners reached $3,192 in 2020, although homeowners with older homes may spend more on routine maintenance than those with newer homes. Investing in regular maintenance is crucial. Let's look at some of the ways household maintenance protects your entire family. Routine maintenance protects your family's health. When it's time to repair your commercial air conditioning system or residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, you m...

Adolescents have it rough, as well know all too well. Even if you're not a parent to an adolescent, you're probably dreading the day that puberty hits your kids and turns them into hormonally charged impulsive young people. From New York City to Hong Kong—no one gets a break when going through the teen years. If you're a parent to a teen, and that young person has a dental procedure coming up, you might be nervous about the aftermath. Dental implants or other major dental treatment plans can be hard to recover from, and young adults are notoriously nervous about their looks and moody about pretty much everything. You love your teen, and you want to support them, but how can you do so? The good news is that there are some concrete actions that you can take to make a trip to the dentis...