Budget-Friendly DIY Greenhouse Ideas: Extend Your Growing Season

Looking to build a DIY greenhouse without breaking the bank? It's more doable than it seems at first glance. Plenty of folks are looking to introduce some extra, tasty greenery in their backyards, but most of them don't know how to do it properly. To help you get started, we've come up with some essential ideas that you should consider. 

Consider the size

Before you start looking at frames and materials, you have to decide on the size of your DIY greenhouse. There are numerous factors to consider before you make a decision. How many plants do you want in the greenhouse? What types would you prefer? Do you have enough extra space in your backyard for something on the larger side? 

There are also practical elements that might influence your decision. A larger greenhouse helps stabilize internal temperatures and allows for more breathing room. You can even set up seating inside if there's enough space. Plus, it can let you grow quite a few plants that take up a lot of room. On the other hand, you'd also have to dedicate extra time to maintaining a large number of plants. A bigger greenhouse would take up more of your backyard as well.

Credit: Outlook - Releaf

Use a skylight for ventilation

Every greenhouse needs to have adequate ventilation to help mitigate temperature and humidity changes. However, a complex system of fans might be a little too pricey for a DIY greenhouse. Not only would it use tons of electricity, but it would also cost quite a bit to install properly. In most cases, you won't need fans unless you're running a pretty big greenhouse. 

A great budget-friendly way to introduce some ventilation is to install a skylight. It's a pretty straightforward element that can help make summers much more tolerable for your plants. A good rule of thumb is to place skylights on the eastern side of the greenhouse. 

What's great about skylights is that adding upgrades and practical features isn't expensive either. You can set up an automatic system that will make it easier to open them. Instead of having to open your skylight by hand, you can connect it to a hydraulic system. Better yet, you can link the hydraulic system with a thermometer, allowing the skylight to open itself whenever the temperature reaches a certain threshold. Not only would this save you a lot of time and effort, but it wouldn't cost too much to implement either. 

Introduce proper heating 

Summer isn't the most problematic season for DIY greenhouses. When setting up your greenhouse, you have to make sure that the heating system and insulation are good enough to keep your plants alive when temperatures drop in winter. There are numerous different options when it comes to heating, so you won't lack for options. 

Gas and electricity home heating systems are the most popular options for most greenhouses, as they're pretty easy to install. While the costs of installation might be low, the bills will still be on the higher side of things. Whichever way you look at it, heating your greenhouse is expensive.

A great way to reduce costs in the long run is to introduce solar heating. Panels tend to be expensive, but they provide you with quite a bit of energy, and they're a one-time investment. As time goes by, you can recuperate the cost of installing them and provide your greenhouse with free and eco-friendly heating. 

Use adequate insulation

All the heating in the world won't matter much if your greenhouse doesn't have proper insulation. It's just going to leak out and increase your bills dramatically. Because of this, it's important that you get the greenhouse insulation done properly.

Some of the most popular materials for greenhouse insulation include polystyrene and bubble wrap. While they may be on the cheaper side, they're not even close to the most effective options available. If you want to avoid losing too much heat, it's recommended that you go for polycarbonate. A polycarbonate sheet can transmit 90% of incoming light while also providing effective insulation. Plus, it's a durable material that can withstand pressure and temperature changes with ease. Plus, it's relatively easy to install, so you shouldn't have trouble implementing it in your greenhouse.

Create a stable foundation

Changes in weather don't just affect greenhouse elements above the ground. When pressure and temperature shift, it can affect the foundation of your greenhouse as well as the ground that surrounds it. During summer, heat can cause the ground to sag, while winter can cause groundwater to rise and leak into the greenhouse. 

Creating a stable foundation will prevent these issues and keep your greenhouse consistent throughout the seasons. Aluminum is one of the more hassle-free and affordable options for greenhouse foundation. It provides all the protection you need to keep the ground stable, and it can be transported pretty easily. If you ever decide to move, you can take every part of your greenhouse with you, including the foundation. 

Conclusion

If you want to keep your greenhouse active and extend the growing season, you need to get busy with your design. A budget-friendly greenhouse requires some proper research and planning. Knowing which plants to add, how to size the greenhouse, and where to put it is crucial if you want to maintain your plants on a budget.

Guest Contributor: Gabriel Hill 

Planer vs. Belt Sander: Which is the Best Sander?

Do you have difficulty choosing between belt sander and planer during a woodworking project? Differences abound in the functions of these two that you might know about.

The good news is we've prepared you detailed information as to the differences and benefits of these two tools in your woodworking projects.

It is worthy of mention that if you have a task removing either vanish or slices from the surface of the wood, choosing between a planer and a belt sander can prove challenging. You might have the same misconception as many other people, that both woodworking tools perform the same task. The fact is, knowing the exact strength and functionality of each will make a whole lot of difference to your project. 

It suffices to say that while a larger company can have both products in their tool kits and apply each as necessary, you might only get to have either of them in your workshop. If you are stuck at understanding which power tool is best for what wood project, then you're just at the right place. So, Let's get to business.

What is a Belt Sander?

It is, by far, one of the most useful tools in your tool kit. You might be wondering as to what is the belt sander used for? It executes the finishing tasks just quickly and correctly. It is designed to remove stains, paints, and deterioration on wood. While the planer can handle lumber and rough woods, a belt sander is best at handling plywood and related materials. Thus, applying a planer to plywood may inform damage to the material, as it is designed for rougher materials. It is noteworthy that though the latter is easy to use, it requires utmost carefulness in the application. The reason is they are incredibly aggressive, as they can cause damage to the property or injury to you if no handled carefully. 

Furthermore, a belt sander is amazingly fast and efficient. This woodcutting tool helps you tackle a larger project in very little time, as it removes much material in a single pass! Hence, you need to pay apt attention while using this tool. Also, it is no gainsaying that this tool comes in different shapes and sizes: there are small belt sander and more significant surface types. For a relatively large project, we recommend you opt for a large surface belt sander, as they cover a considerable pace at a single pass. 

It is important to stress that the power sander is the group of sanders you'll find on the market. For a particular sander, there is a unique functionality. Thus, a belt sander is best at starting a project, while you can finish it up with the instrumentality of a detail sander. For electric sander, it can be either corded or cordless; you'll have to choose one that suits your purpose. Chicago Tribune maintains that nothing beats a belt sander in making rapid rust, stain, and varnish remover. 

What is Planer?

Perhaps you are wondering about how to use a planer. It'll interest you to know that a wood planer is best at helping you achieve a level surface on a woodworking project. We recommend that you get a planer for home use, as it's suitable for making small and large adjustments with ease; especially, when the change relates to door, shelves, and cupboards, among others. In other words, if you need to reduce the width of entry to fit into its frame, you'll need the help of a planer for this. Thus, while a planer is designed to create a consistent level by removing wood, a belt sander is better for eliminating finishes: stains and paints, among others.

A critical advantage of the planer is: it is suitable for beginners, as it is easy to make level surface and uniform cuts with every pass. However, a belt sander is more complicated, as you are likely to find high and shallow spots on the wood after application. Put differently. You need to acquire experience in using it. In getting a planer, we recommend you get an electric planer. This kind of planer is of high versatility in a woodworking project. With this kind, you get the work done quickly and more perfectly.

Finally, it's worthy of mention that nothing beats a wood planer in trimming a door or leveling a surface in an incredibly fast and efficient way. Equally, the best woodworking tool you can always resort to in removing stains, layers of varnish, rust, and paint; is a belt sander. More so, if you are a good learner, you won't have difficulty mastering the belt sander, as it has a teaching skill that you don't get from other woodworking tools. 

Author's Bio: Chele is a researcher, sustainable gardening enthusiast, sport, and Gym Expert. She writes and publishes articles for different sites. She enjoys swimming and playing American football during her leisure time. Chele is married with two kids.

Heating Repair: -Home Heating is essential for safety and comfort.

The need for Heating repair doesn't generally introduce itself through framework disappointment. All things being equal, little execution issues can show that your radiator is experiencing difficulty staying aware of your utilization.

A considerable lot of these issues can be tended to by our HVAC administration professionals. In any case, a decent dependable guideline is that once your Heating repair costs surpass a large portion of the expense of another unit, it's an ideal opportunity to supplant it.

Signs your Heater needs Repairs to include the following:

• A lack of hot air

• Your heater is 7-8 years or older

• Inadequate airflow

• A sudden increase in your energy bills

• Your heater turns on too frequently

• Your heater is making strange noises

• Automatic shutdowns

Things to Try Before Calling for Heating Repairs

A broken warming framework can be disappointing; however, what's similarly baffling is discovering that you could take care of the issue all alone—after you've effectively brought in a professional for heating repairs. 

Check the Air Filter

 This is a word of wisdom to take when your warming framework (a heater or even a warmth siphon) is simply not working right. However, it might not have closed down totally, temperatures are not what you might want, or the wind stream is restrained. Then again, you may see that the radiator closes off and turns on time after time (short cycling).

Check the Thermostat:-You may feign exacerbation at this idea since you've presumably checked the indoor regulator on more than one occasion as of now. Still, there could be something you are missing. So this should be noticed before calling for heating repairs.

• Has it been placed into a cooling mode?

• Do you see the words "fan just" on the presentation or on a switch?

• If the indoor regulator is off, does it require batteries?

Reset the Circuit Breaker

The electrical board might be made out of a few electrical switch switches, or you may have a more established wire box. First, you'll need to discover the wire or electrical control that prompts your heater. Hopefully, these are labelled; if not, you may need to test each one. You can flip the switch on an electrical switch box or substitute a blown wire for a more established electrical board.

Call the Heating Repair Company

Finally, you might want to call the Heating repair company. But first, try your other heating appliances. Suppose the broiler or the heated water storage aren't working. In that case, you may have missed an instalment, or the warming help may have committed an error.

Benefits of Heating system Maintenance

Energy Savings: -A heating system that is messy or dismissed needs to work more earnestly than is necessary to bring the temperature up in your home. Throughout the planned arrangement, a certified expert will play out various essential Heating repairs mechanism, including:

• Tightening loose connections

• Lubricating moving parts

• Cleaning or changing the air filter

• Testing airflow

• Visually inspecting ductwork

• Checking connections

Increased Comfort: -Malfunctioning framework segments, flawed ventilation work, or diminished wind stream can keep your warming framework from accomplishing the ideal set-point on your indoor regulator.

Enhanced Air Quality: -As adapted air moves all through your conduit organization, it conveys with it any free particulate that couldn't be caught because of a stopped-up air channel, filthy framework segments, or sat waiting in your pipes. Elemental impurities can include:

• Pet dander

• Mold

• Mildew

• Bacteria

• Dust

• Pollen

Extended Equipment Lifespan: When your heating system is spotless, greased up, and in decent shape, parts can move uninhibitedly, and the wind stream is unhampered. The less pressure put on your hardware, the more it will last, guaranteeing long periods of ideal execution.

Lower Cost of Repairs: -Most minor issues can be distinguished and corrected during routine support before becoming major, exorbitant fixes.

Reliability

Taking an opportunity to plan preventive upkeep toward the beginning of warming season guarantees your framework will work at top execution, giving dependable, productive warming administrations and staying away from an exorbitant, mid-season breakdown.

Conclusion: - 

The most ideal approach to guarantee the unwavering quality, proficiency, and ideal execution of your warming gear is with yearly preventive support—and the best ideal opportunity to plan this important help is in the fall before you turn your warming framework on. In case you're not persuaded that customary upkeep is wise speculation, reconsider: having your warming framework expertly cleaned, tuned, and examined has various huge advantages.     

Guest Contributor: Emma Smith

Add a Tropical Flair to Your Backyard With These 6 Tips

Your backyard should be an oasis that makes you feel entirely at home and like you’re on vacation. While that might not sound entirely possible, you can create the oasis of your dreams, whether you live somewhere with a tropical climate or you simply want to capture that vibe. 

If you’re inspired but aren’t sure where to start, here are just a few ways you can bring a bit of the tropics into your home. 

1. Put Plants Everywhere

This tip probably comes as no surprise to you, but it truly is one of the best ways to bring a tropical feel into any space. One of the best parts of decorating with plants is that they’re natural. They can improve air quality, mood and the environment. You can fill your garden with tropical plants like elephant’s ear, bird of paradise, ficus and philodendrons — these are all easy to grow and keep alive.

2. Use Water

The sound of dripping or running water can be relaxing and tropical — making you feel like a rain forest is right around the corner. If you want that zen vibe right in your own backyard, try adding a water feature like a fountain, small lagoon or miniature waterfall. These features sound great, look pretty and can bring a sense of movement into your space.

3. Utilize Natural Materials

Tropical vibes aren’t all about the accessories, though. In fact, much of that island feeling can come from the materials you use in furniture and accessories. Recycled wood, bamboo, wicker, burlap and other items can bring a natural feel to your backyard, especially when juxtaposed with a setting of greenery and plant life.

4. Add Pops of Color

Tropical inspiration isn’t always just about plants and serenity. In fact, the aesthetics are most often lively and bright. Adding some vibrant pops of color can truly make a difference. Whether you seek hibiscus-colored throw pillows or find an ocean-toned outdoor rug, the idea is to bring color to your backyard.

5. Hang Around

While you can take any direction you want with furniture, hammocking is definitely a tropical-feeling way to lounge. Some people have portable hammocks, but you can also find permanent ones that are a bit sturdier. It’s all about your comfort and preference.

6. Light the Way

You can’t forget about the lighting. While hanging lights aren’t always tropical in nature, they can make any space feel a bit cozier and more comfortable. Plus, lanterns, string lights and tiki torches can bring a bit of an island vibe if that’s what you’re looking for. Lighting can be a form of decor and not just a functional fixture. 

Tropical Dreams

Everyone’s style is a little different, and you can create a tropical paradise in your backyard however fits you best. Whether you hang a hammock or use a water feature, your little corner of the tropics will be unique to your home and will be the perfect spot to chill out.

Guest Contributor: Rose Morrison

Emergency Plumbing Service for Your Plumbing Solutions

It’s 3 AM in the morning, and you suddenly wake up and acknowledge that water is running out from your bathroom flush. After the inspection, you realize that your bathroom flush is malfunctioning, and the house is all set to become a mini swimming pool. First and foremost, you should think about how you can control the water flow. Secondly, you need to seek assistance from the emergency plumber service in your vicinity. 

The emergency or 24/7 plumber services will ensure that your bathroom flush problem is fixed, and you can have a peaceful sleep without any noise. Such plumber services can fix other types of issues like water leakage, clogged drainage pipes, leaking taps, and many more. 

Most readers might be unaware of the emergency plumber services; hence, we are mentioning the advantages of using such services below:

Round The Clock Availability

The biggest advantage of hiring 24/7 plumber services is that there are no time boundaries. None of us like to wait for the plumber, especially when the house will become a swimming pool. Thus, the emergency plumber service is ready to deliver the right solutions round the clock and throughout the week. 

As you know that your plumber is always ready to knock on your door anytime, you do not have to worry much about your plumbing issues. For example, if any drainage pipe has burst, you undoubtedly need someone to fix this plumbing problem in less than 30 minutes. Because these situations cannot be delayed the plumbers will be available at urgent hours as well.

You do not need to have a panic attack and wait until the morning to call the local plumber. Sometimes, the heavy plumbing issues require immediate assistance, and the only saviour is the emergency plumber service. 

You Save Your Hard-Earned Money

One thing you should understand that 24/7 emergency plumber services are costly than regular plumbing services. But, here, you are still saving money despite working with an emergency plumber. These people work at odd hours and will try their best to reach the location ASAP hence the charges shoot up.

For example, if you are having a major leakage issue, this problem can cost you a bit. As the floor will be covered with water for a longer period, it can leave some stains and moulds in the corners. The longer your plumber takes to reach your doorstep, the higher cost you must pay for resolving the issue. 

Waiting until morning is bad, some plumbing issues might worsen, and your local plumber cannot even help you out. If you are running a home-based business, seeking assistance from the emergency plumber service. So, without thinking much, the next time you are experiencing some plumbing issues, look no further than a 24/7 emergency plumber. 

Flexible Schedule 

Even if the emergency plumber service doesn’t require immediate assistance or you’re away from your house, the emergency plumbing service will be ready to visit your home at your scheduled time. If the plumber is your good friend, he can visit your house and resolve the issue. At last, the plumbing issues will be fixed at nominal rates, and you don’t even have to disturb your daily routine. 

Always Get Prompt Response

As already mentioned above, some plumbing issues require immediate assistance; getting a prompt response is also mandatory. For example, if there are water leakage issues at midnight, you expect an immediate response, especially during non-working hours. If the turnaround time is less than a minute, resolving the issue won’t require one or two hours. 

Having access to the emergency plumber service assures all the benefits mentioned above without any fail. As soon as you tell the plumbing issue, the rest will be handled by the emergency plumber. You can always contact us for more information.

Guest Contributor: Nivi Watson

Garage Door Repairs You Should Never Consider Doing Yourself

Every garage door needs maintenance work to keep it functioning perfectly for years.

At some point, it’s going to need some repairs, too. After all, a garage door does have plenty of moving parts, and it’s only a matter of time before one or a few of them cause issues that affect the entire door’s operation.

Some garage door fixes are simple enough for any homeowner with a penchant for DIY work to do. 

Lubricating its moving parts is one thing you can do without much effort. 

Tightening hinges, bolts, and nuts to fix noises that your garage door may be making is another. 

You can even replace the weather seal to prevent critters from sneaking in under the door.

However, repairing a broken garage door spring is an entirely different story. Whatever you do, don’t even think about addressing the problem the DIY way.

Let’s look at broken springs and garage door other problems that you shouldn’t even consider tackling on your own.

Repairing Broken Springs

A typical garage door is heavy. Most garage doors weigh a little over a hundred pounds, while some could weigh up to 400 pounds.

Whenever you open or close your garage door, its torsion spring bears the brunt of that weight.

On top of the weight it’s designed to carry, garage door springs are also wound tight. That means a garage door spring stores a lot of energy. 

Over time, your garage door spring will suffer from wear and tear, sometimes to the point of breaking. 

When it does break, all the energy and tension it has in store will be released and cause accidents that could lead to injuries to fingers, hands, and even heads.

Because of the danger of handling anything that has to do with your garage door’s springs, the only thing to do to address the problem is to call a garage door repair professional who has the training, experience, and tools necessary to perform the task safely.

Replacing Bent or Corroded Tracks

Tracks guide the door every time you open or close it. To make the process run more smoothly, you can add more lubrication as needed.

That should be the extent of your DIY work when it comes to garage door tracks. When you see that the tracks are bent or corroded, get thoughts of repairing them yourself out of your head.

Tracks help hold the door in place. One wrong move while trying to repair their bent or corroded parts or putting them back on track can send the entire door crashing down and hurt you, your children, and your pets, if you have any.

Tinkering With Your Garage Door’s Installation

Let’s say that professionals have already installed your garage door, but you’re not happy with their work. You feel like there’s something off about it. It could be the way it closes or the sound that it makes while in operation that makes you think there’s something wrong with the installation.

If you feel that way and you want your concern addressed immediately, the sensible thing to do would be to call the pros who installed it for a do-over, if necessary.

However, if you’re the type who takes pride in your DIY skills, there’s a possibility that you’ll want to redo the garage door installation yourself. You might also think of it as an opportunity to save money since you won't have to pay anyone else for the service.

Still, unless you’ve had the same kind of training and experience that garage door professionals possess, removing the whole thing and reinstalling it on your own is a terrible idea.

It may seem simple to you, but garage door installation is a highly complex process. There are plenty of parts involved, and it’s easy to make mistakes that could render the entire door inoperable. With garage door installation mistakes, you’ll end up paying more for a professional to undo the mess.

Garage door installation also requires special tools and equipment that you probably don’t have. If you insist on doing it yourself, you may have to spend more money buying them from your local home improvement store. 

Most importantly, your lack of experience and expertise makes a DIY garage door installation risky for you and other members of your family. 

Keep in mind that garage doors are heavy and that alone puts you at risk of an injury. Aside from the physical strain involved in its installation, a garage door has parts like the spring that could hurt you if you handle it incorrectly.

Simple fixes are fine, but for more complicated repairs or replacements, leave the job to skilled, experienced, and adequately equipped garage door repair professionals. It’s the safest route to take when your garage door starts acting up.

Guest Contributor: Irene Trentham

How to Take Proper Care of Your Pool This Summer

Pools are fun ways to beat the summer heat and can be a highlight of your next outdoor party. However, they require regular maintenance. Here are five tips for keeping your pool operating properly. 

1. Regularly Skim and Scrub Your Pool 

Skim the pool to clear off any leaves or debris from the water’s surface every day. Consider investing in a robot vacuum cleaner to make this process easier. After you have skimmed the surface, you will need to scrub the sides of the pool to prevent algae from building up. 

Use an old sock to get rid of stubborn stains. Fill it with chlorine and set it on top for a couple of hours. 

Pool cleaning supplies can be expensive. Many people only think about the initial installation costs when budgeting for their backyard retreat. Here are some household products you can use to clean your pool and save money:

• Baking soda

• Bleach

• Muriatic acid

• Borax

• Dish soap

2. Clean Your Filter 

Your pool filter helps to purify the water and remove any dirt or leaves. You must take off its cap, remove the basket and clear debris. Try to do this at least once a week. 

You also want to clean out the pipes used in your filter system. To do this, set your filter to backwash. You’ll then need to remove and clear the leaf basket. Turn on the pump when you’re done and let it run until it ejects clear water. 

Consider setting a timer for turning your filter on and off to keep your mechanics from cracking. 

3. Keep Your Chemical Levels Consistent 

You want to make sure your pool water has the correct chemical balance. Check these levels at least once a week. 

Here are some chemicals to use:

• Cyanuric acid: This chemical protects chlorine from sun exposure and determines the level of free chlorine needed. 

• Free chlorine: It sanitizes your water, keeping it safe and germ-free.

• Acidity/alkalinity: This is also referred to as the pH level.

• Total alkalinity:  Total alkalinity helps to keep the pH in balance. 

• Calcium hardness: Having the right levels can help prevent plaster damage. 

Pick up a testing kit from your local store to examine your pool water. Fill it with a sample and add the provided solution. After a minute, the water will change color, which will help you determine your current chemical levels. 

4. Shock Your Pool

Shocking is when you raise your pool’s chlorine levels for a short period. Dilute three to four times the amount of normal chlorine with water. Then, slowly pour it into your pool’s return line, letting it filter. The process helps fight off any bacteria. 

You can also use potassium monopersulfate, which is oxygen-based, to shock your pool. This chemical helps eliminate odors and increases chlorine levels. It also allows you to get back in the water right after it dissipates.

5.  Keep an Eye on Your Water Level 

Your pool’s water level will fluctuate over time. Keep it about halfway from the opening of the skimmer. If it’s too low, use a hose to refill, and if it’s too high, rent a submersible pump to drain out excess water. 

Consult a professional if your pool is made of firm vinyl or fiberglass material.  Also, continue to check your chemical levels.

Maintaining Your Pool

A pool is ideal for hot weather and family fun. You just need to keep up with regular maintenance so you can spend less time dealing with problems and more time enjoying the water.

Guest Contributor: Rose Morrison

How To Effectively Communicate To Your Landlord

There’s a saying that goes, “communication is the glue that holds people together,” and nothing proves this more than a landlord-tenant relationship. A good landlord-tenant relationship starts with constantly striving to keep a professional and open communication with each other.

Most of the time, landlord-tenant relationships last a minimum of six months that can extend up to years, and to some, even decades. The relationship you have with your landlord can make or break your renting experience, so keeping it positive and healthy can go a long way in helping you live in the best conditions possible. 

So how can you effectively communicate to your landlord? Here are a few tips that, when followed, will surely save you from the headaches of acrimonious and complex disputes about lease policies, move-outs, security deposits, and dozens of other issues.

Provide accurate information and be honest.

The foundation of any lasting relationship is trust—and that goes with landlord-tenant ties, too. Lying is a ground for an application denial or a lease termination and, at the very least, starts your relationship off on the wrong foot. 

Do not lie and overstate your income and disclose any credit problems that may surface someday. Being honest about why your finances have suffered and expressing your desire to improve the situation will go a long way.

As much as we do not want to, financial struggles are an inevitable part of life. Chances are, in your tenancy, you will experience difficult situations which will cause you problems such as being late on your rent, and not informing your landlord as soon as possible is not the best solution. 

Very few landlords will want to evict a tenant who they believe wants to pay but has a short-term problem. Your best option is to contact your landlord and work out an agreement to get on track. If you are honest and upfront, they will most likely want to work with you to find a workable solution for everyone.

Be the bigger person.

Although, understandably, you would be upset if your water heater burst, plumbing issues, or have toxic molds that have been sitting in your apartment for a while—however, screaming at your landlord isn't going to get the issue addressed any quicker.

Keep in mind that your landlord is there to help you fix property complaints, and rudeness or blaming is not going to resolve anything. Being polite, staying calm, keeping the profanities in check, and being rational throughout any troublesome situations will help your landlord better understand what is going on, what needs to be done, and most likely keep your relationship harmonious.

Honor your contract.

Start by reading your lease thoroughly—understanding your lease contract is the first step to being a good renter; this is also the document to help you if there's any disagreement about the property or anything related to your tenancy. 

Besides the obvious, you need to realize that your lease is a binding, legal agreement between you and your landlord. Failing to understand your lease may cause you predicaments if you fail to abide by the terms—the very ones you agreed to when you signed on the dotted line. 

Your lease agreement can be both a weapon and a shield. It should show all the information and duties expected from both you and your landlord, which will, in return, protect you from any pitfalls that might come during your tenancy in your rented space. Be sure to keep a personal copy of the lease for future reference. 

Get it in writing.

Handshakes have been traditionally done to seal a deal, which works fine until they don't. Although oral agreements are enforceable, it is a matter of he-said-she-said that opens up the chances for miscommunication and leaves an even bigger opening for problems. 

Things go wrong, and conditions change, and when this happens, understand that tenants tend to be at a disadvantage when it's their word against the landlord. It's critical to keep a record of essential communications with your landlord; failing to do so could jeopardize your ability to assert your rights as a tenant if the need arises. 

Promises do not always get things done, but written agreements sure do. So, it is a good practice to put things in writing so that when a disagreement turns up, there will be a document that you can refer to to get the relationship back on track. 

The main takeaway here is remembering that your relationship with your landlord is heavily dependent on communication, just like any other relationship. Being a tenant has its challenges that even having excellent communication skills will not guarantee that everything will go smoothly. But if you do take the time to establish open, honest communication with your landlord, you will likely have a breeze and far fewer hiccups with your tenancy.

About The Author: Kat is a Molecular Biology Scientist turned Growth Marketing Scientist. During her free time, she loves to write articles that will bring delight, empower women, and spark the business mind. She loves to bake but unfortunately, baking doesn't love her back. She has many things in her arsenal and writing is one of her passion projects.

Renting To Save Money — But What About Home Repairs?

In the recent National Rent Index, according to Salviati, Popov, and Warnock (2021), rents continue to rise annually and this occurs in nearly all of the nation’s largest cities. Sacramento, California experiences the highest rent growth with an impressive increase of 9.3%. Idaho, when on a state level, experiences the fastest growing rate of 4.9%. Relatively, based on the United States Census Bureau’s data that was analyzed by the Pew Research Center (2020), it was found that more and more U.S. households are renting an apartment at any point in 50 years, with at least 36.6 percent of households renting their home. It was also mentioned that the last time renting became this significantly high was in 1965 at a rate of 37%.

Why People Choose To Rent

Worth noting, the latter study’s respondents included even those who were traditionally less likely to sign a rental agreement aging from 45 to 65-year-olds while around 65% of renters are obliged to do so for matters of financial reasons. Thirty-two percent only rented out because of a personal preference. Especially now that the world is experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are preferring to rent an apartment for various reasons. In fact, according to Entrata (2021), people chose to rent as an effort to make spending and financial changes to their lifestyle because of the global pandemic. Taking into account the millions who are directly affected by it due to loss of employment, many grappled to pay for the basic necessities like food and shelter. Most of these individuals find the government financial support a lifeline that helps them get by but housing eats up the entire budget as it remains to be the most expensive need that needs to be fulfilled and that their spending habits need not only be controlled but trimmed to the bare minimum. 

Seventy-eight percent of renters have already made financial chops in several expenditure categories such as dining out (23%), deferred travel plans (22%), shopping (19%), and entertainment (18%) based on the latter study cited. Saving money is something people see a silver lining in when the financial circumstances are just hard to bear and as such, renters fret hidden and unforeseen costs that even the financially prepared stumble on as rent always entails a few other expenses: the application fee, security and pet deposits, move-in costs, additional furniture, insurance, utilities, and maintenance. Among all these, there is one question that has always stirred confusion on the side of the renter. Who is responsible for all the home repairs?

Rental Home Maintenance Issues

We know, constant and recurring maintenance issues are exhausting for both the tenant and the landlord. For tenants, it could be very frustrating having to write requests over water and never get any response. Landlords can simply ignore them and just turn a blind eye to the tenant's maintenance needs. This situation happens at a frequent rate especially when you failed to put this on your to-ask-the-landlord list upon seeing the place the first time and prior to moving in. 

You are not unfamiliar with the cliche that you should make reading a habit in signing agreements. Critically check the scope, inclusion, and coverage of the rental contract. Think it through so you will not find yourself sighing with frustration and a lot of “I thought..”. You might want to reread your rental contract and check if the answer is there but if not, you have to have the heart and courage to ask your landlord whose responsibility it is. Most of the time, landlords cover it but the reality to this is that it will usually take some time to the point that you already fell by the wayside.

What Tenants Must Know

Tenants should know the importance of keeping open communication with their landlords. Compliment on the things you like about the apartment from time to time and update them about the status of the place so that there can be no room for shock and surprise if one pipe already fell off due to their neglect after you told them about its shaking and unstable condition three weeks back. If maintenance should be done by your landlord based on your rental agreement, there should be no problem insisting. But if it is not, there is a huge possibility that he does not want to cover it although you can always consult him kindly and ask sincerely.

Landlords should take these matters seriously and in return respond to the needs of their tenants as this is ideally good for their business. They should consider the long-term results of foregoing repairs which can actually bring in more profit and more disciplined tenants. When tenants see that their landlord addresses their needs and spend money in maintaining and upkeeping their property even if it is rented, renters will highly appreciate it, take good care of it, remain a good payer. They will also speak of the apartment and landlord in good light. Nowadays, because households are embracing the idea of renting their homes, the rental market can get really competitive and small improvements and effort in maintenance can make all the difference.

About The Author: Regi Publico is a full-time writer based in Manila who is also an artist for fun. She takes pride in her tower collection of books and loves reading about anything under the sun. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge through every article that she writes.