The Happy Homeowner

The Right Way to Select Hardwood Flooring for Your Home

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Jen

I’m back from my girls’ trip to Colorado and knee-deep in my big move so I’ll be featuring some guest posts this week. This one is especially timely as I’ll be doing some reno in the new apartment!

Hardwood flooring is nothing new. It has been a popular option for a long time now. When compared to carpeting, it is much more easier to keep germ free. And it’s also better for people who have allergies since it doesn’t collect dust like carpets do. A lot of people go for hardwood flooring because of its classic, timeless look, but that doesn’t mean that you should ignore the importance of buying the right one for your home.

Getting a good, durable hardwood floor isn’t cheap, which is why you should do your homework well enough before you invest your money in it.

Here are some tips that you can use to choose a flooring for your home that will give you comfort for a long time:

#1: Have a Budget Limit

Regardless of whether you plan to shop online or offline, avoid making the mistake of doing it without having a proper budget in mind. Find out how much time it would take for you to install it on your own and then compare it with the price of installation.

You can save money by carrying out the installation yourself if you have the necessary tools such as a manual/pneumatic flooring nailer and flooring cleat nails that are used to secure the hardwood flooring to the subfloor. Whatever you do though, don’t start without setting a budget.

#2: Treat Each Part of Your House Differently

When choosing hardwood flooring, you need to keep the important factors in mind. Each part of your house is different, which means you have to get appropriate flooring for different parts. Take the hallway as an example; it’s an area of your house that has the most activity, which is why you need to get more durable floors for it when compared to other rooms.

The bathroom is another example which requires moisture-resistant hardwood flooring. The point that we’re trying to make here is that your house is made of different parts, and each of these needs to be treated differently when it comes to flooring.

#3: Shop for it the Smart Way

Before you head out to shop for the flooring, be smart and get some creative ideas flowing. Start by going through different flooring brochures along with home magazines such as the Architectural Digest. By looking at “live situation” sample pictures in these publications you will get clarity on what would work best for your home.

Also, go through the warranty before you pull out your credit card. Make sure the salesman also goes over it along with you. It’s better if it has shorter wording, and if possible get it reviewed by a lawyer since the investment you’re making isn’t small.

#4: Don’t Rush Into It

Your decision should be taken when you’re calm and collected, not when you’re stressed and hurried. Besides the fact that this is a significant investment for you, it’s also something that you will have to live for a long time to come. To be on the safe side, see to it that you go for a style that you know will be in vogue for years.

Remember, choosing the right hardwood flooring goes hand in hand with taking good care of it.

So You Want to Invest in a Startup?

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Jen

If you’ve ever thought about finding a way to invest in a private company in a high risk/high reward manner, investing in a startup company could be a great choice. When you invest in a new, private company, you’re not only giving yourself the potential for a fantastic return, but you’re also investing in other peoples’ futures. For those of us daring enough to take the plunge, adding startup investments can be a great way to balance your portfolio.

But before you dive head first into this somewhat volatile investment world, be sure to consider the following tips and tricks for giving yourself the best odds of a great return on your investment:

Do Your Homework

Not only should you have a keen awareness of the market the startup is operating in, but you should also have as much understanding about the business, its owners, and the competitive landscape as possible. Gather information from public records, speak to other people, even interview the management if you’re able to set a meeting.

As you gather your information, keep a keen awareness for the scalability of the company–do you see this product or idea or service being something that can effectively make money while serving the intended demographic?

Diversify!

First, remember that the investments you make in startups should be viewed as long-term investments. Second, adhere to the golden rule of investing and diversify your options. In doing so, you’ll minimize your overall risk and increase your chances of reaping great rewards–especially if one of the companies you choose to invest in ends up going public. If you need some professional advice about which types of private businesses to choose for investing in, take a look at the CSS Partners website.

Dig into the Financials

As an investor in a startup, you want to have the full picture of the company’s financial situation. One of the most important parts of this information gathering is to understand the burn rate of the company–what are they doing with their money? What potential benefits are they buying with that cash? Do the choices made by the management team make sense to you?

Remember that it will be very difficult for a company to be able to precisely project what will happen in the coming years but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t press to see a plan for what they anticipate. Drill into the financials and projections–can you see a future in this company and financial strategy?

Check the Paperwork

A full review of the company’s documents should also take place prior to making your investment decision. View the articles of incorporation. Are there bylaws you can view? Term sheets? Read everything you can gain access to and read it again. Check all the fine print, especially how the potential payouts will be structured–what are you really getting in return for the money you’re investing?

Follow Your Gut

At the end of the day, follow your intuition. If something doesn’t seem right, don’t be afraid to walk away. And, as always, don’t invest money you can’t afford to lose!

Have you ever invested in a startup?

The Waiting is the Hardest Part…

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Jen

While I’ve been making huge improvements in almost every area of my life, I feel that lately I’m doing a large amount of waiting:

Waiting for the mortgage commitment for the buyers of my condo. The big day should be Thursday–so close!

Waiting to move into my new place. August first, where are you?

Waiting for clear indication of what will happen with my relationship situation (way too much to share here–let’s just say there is real progress in this department but I hope following my heart isn’t going to hurt me further).

Waiting to go on my annual girls’ trip with my best friends. Two days away–Colorado, here we come!

And, finally….waiting to go on the trip of my dreams… This one is a whopper and will be written about as soon as that mortgage commitment is in place. Around the world, here I come!

The Art of Patience

With all of these things up in the air, the amount of anxiety I’m battling has been pretty intense. Fortunately, I seem to be navigating all of these changes and challenges with dignity and grace because inherently, I’m a positive, patient person. The key to maintaining my composure has been to remind myself that I can’t control any of these external factors–I can only control how I respond to them and what I do as a result of those various responses.

And so I wait. Patiently. Even if it is inconvenient, painful, and cause for a serious lack of sleep–and writer’s block….ugh. I can’t shake the feeling that a huge turning point for my life is right around the corner, so I continue to move forward with what I can and sit back and try to enjoy the ride for the things that will take more time to sort out.

The Art of Positive Thinking

As I wait and plan and process, I’m also realizing that I can use this time to further hone my ability to recognize the learning opportunities each new challenge presents. Rather than focus on what has been lost or what is not there, I’m choosing to focus on what is being gained and all of the amazing things that are yet to come as a result of my growth and ability to make it to the other side of a difficult time.

If you’re going through a hard time of your own, I highly recommend seeking out the positive. In an effort to not only kick-start this focus but to maintain it, I’ve been writing daily in a gratitude journal, as well as continuing with my 40 day mission of Random Acts of Kindness, which I write about on my new blog, Change Your Life in 40 Days.

I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I’ve already built upon my strong, resilient core in ways I never thought possible–all because of my willingness to fight to maintain a sunny disposition no matter what comes my way. Far more than making lemonade with these lemons, I’m teaching others to make their own lemonade.

Giving Myself some Breathing Room

I’ll need to write about this some more, but my finances are a bit of a mess–on purpose. I’m not going into debt or touching a penny of savings, but I have been allowing myself to spend a bit more for conveniences and work a bit less as I concentrate on my well-being instead of my typical break-neck work pace.

I know that I can’t do it all, and I need to stay as balanced as possible to ensure I’m moving forward in a healthy, positive way. Yes, it’s quite unnerving to track my uptick in spending and I do want to freak out a bit about work I’ve been passing up. But I know that I can jump into high gear as soon as the timing makes sense–I can get back to where I was before and beyond.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, life dictates a need to slow down, regroup, and take care of yourself.

If I were to resist this necessary phase of recovery, I would be doing myself a huge disservice because I’d be plowing forward instead of fully processing what’s happening. I made that mistake once and it cost me dearly, so I’m doing everything I can to ensure I’ll never make it again. At the end of the day, it’s more like Viva la Balance and to hell with all the noise–at least temporarily.

What’s going on in your life?

The Luxuries of a Big Bed

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Jen

Please enjoy this guest post from Carpetright… We look at the art of enjoying a big bed, how super-sizing your bed could be a dream come true and why doubles don’t cut the mustard compared to a king-size bed – … Continue reading →