It may seem morbid, but none of us can determine what is going to happen in the future. Whether your possessions are great or small, knowing they will go to the right person when you pass away is important. Unfortunately, those close to us have no say in what happens to our homes and possessions if you haven’t written a will, the law will decide who gets what resulting in your loved ones missing out. I’m sure all of us want everything we have worked for throughout our lives to go to those who matter to us; this is why it’s important to ensure we write a will as soon as we have anything to pass down. Continue reading Writing Your Will To Prepare For The Future →

The process of negotiating a sale price on a property can be a delicate balance between what you want and how much you are prepared to let it go and for how much.

If you have made an offer in good faith – and are a buyer who is chain free, with a mortgage lined up and the offer is reasonable, it can be frustrating to be turned down by a vendor and be faced with a counteroffer to consider. Continue reading How To Handle A Counteroffer On A Property →

If you are shopping for homes in New Jersey, you are moving into a state rich with history. This small region sits on the cusp of New York City and is a popular choice for commuters. The state offers geographic diversity that includes Victorian architecture, entertainment piers on the ocean, casinos and even mountain views. For history buffs, moving to New Jersey is a dream come true. Continue reading New Jersey: Rich With History And Still Growing →

Since the real estate collapse in the mid 2000s, more people than ever are renting rather than purchasing their own home. Renting has become popular in many different forms, from apartments, to multi-plexes, to houses of all sizes. Whether a person rents or own their own home has no bearing on their income status, credit score, or any other financial details of their lives. Many people simply choose to rent until the real estate market stabilizes. As more people rent, more people encounter the various types of landlords in their lives. Some landlords are extremely helpful and accommodating to renters, while others are extremely demanding and unforgiving of tenants.

For your enjoyment, we have collected a list of the top five stereotypical landlords that you may find during your renting experience.

The Do-It-Myself
This landlord hates to spend extra money on labor or other repair services. This landlord is often a tightwad, and may give you trouble in other financial aspects of renting, such as by trying to raise the rent as much as possible each year or expecting you to pay for certain repairs to the home. This landlord will show up to a maintenance request himself and try to fix the problem on his own. If the landlord is capable of repairing the issue on his own this is not normally a problem, but if the landlord is under qualified to make the repair- then watch out.

The Meany
The Meany landlord is meaner than the Grinch at Christmas. She will take no excuses for late rents or responsibility for broken items in the home. The Meany automatically assumes that anything that goes wrong in the house is your fault. She may try to get you to pay for any repairs, and will be unforgiving when it comes to getting your deposit back at the end of your lease. The Meany is a landlord you want to avoid at all costs.

The Nice Guy
Not all landlords are bad. Some are quite nice and friendly. The Nice Guy landlord will work with you for late payments and will try to accomplish any repairs as quickly as possible. The Nice Guy may also try to befriend you, which can be a little awkward. He may even go so far as to send you a card on your birthday or even buy you a Christmas present.

The Pop-in
This landlord does not understand the concept of privacy. She may pop in at any moment- night or day. Sometimes seen prowling the property at night, the Pop-in landlord can quickly become a thing of nightmares. This landlord falsely assumes that because she owns the property, she has free reign over when she visits.

The Scatterbrain
Having a Scatterbrain landlord is a lot like renting property from a turkey. Scatterbrain landlord never seems to remember anything. You must ask him multiple times for any request and it could be days before he remembers to call you back. The more properties a landlord manages by himself, the more likely he is to become a Scatterbrain landlord.

Although there are many types of landlords, you probably will run across one of these stereotypical landlords at some point in your life, but you can minimalize the risk by reading apartment reviews before renting. Rather than getting angry, the best response is to laugh and move on to a new location if you really cannot learn to live with the personality of your current landlord.

Many students are now opting to do their physiotherapy electives in developing countries, largely due to the unique nature of the working conditions that prevail in these states. Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania are some of the favorite countries for such an elective.

How different are the electives while compared to those in developed countries?

Every single aspect is different, with a few similarities.

Of course you will have time to enjoy a different climate. For instance, a student who arrives from Europe is accustomed to four seasons in a year. If such a student was to do a physiotherapy elective in an East African country, chances are that he or she will enjoy the warm temperate climate, for the close proximity of the country to the equator knocks off the concept of seasons. While you are not at work you can enjoy a cool breeze blowing across the shore as you have a good time basking on the beach.

Africans are known for their hospitality. They treat visitors with untold kindness. They welcome people into their homes and help them to settle in elective areas with relative ease. You are likely to experience this hospitality as you undertake the physiotherapy elective. As you go about the elective, you are constantly in touch with the natives. Even when you are not at work, you shall in one way or another associate with them. It is a good opportunity to learn their culture. You will be at home, though you may be miles from your real home.

How about work and work conditions?

This is probably the greatest challenge. You have to be mentally and psychologically prepared, for the tasks ahead are nowhere near what you may be used to at home. The workload is immense, for the patients who require physiotherapy are rather many. These are largely attributed to burns involving joint areas with the subsequent development of contractures. The other patients who you will be working on are the immobilized patients in the wards and those who have some debilitating illnesses such as strokes and cerebral palsy. As such, you must be ready to work. This eventually translates to acquisition of immense practical skills which will come in handy when need arises.

The equipment which will be at your disposal is nowhere close to the ones you are used to back at home. To successfully use them requires some creativity and imagination. Your skills will be thoroughly tested and your patience put to test. Those who persist have their skills fine tuned and can work anywhere in the world.

Some cases you encounter are rare cases that you would not have seen if you stuck in your country.  Leprosy is a rare disease nowadays. There have been numerous campaigns to eradicate polio in various countries in Africa, but even then, you might come across a few cases. You might encounter these rare illnesses as you go about your chores.

Specialization in physiotherapy is not a common thing in Africa. During your elective term you are likely to be doing general physiotherapy, and where you are stationed is highly dependent on where the patients are. You might be positioned in a physiotherapy clinic where you will be working on those patients who can manage to get there. More often than not, you will be dealing with inpatients suffering from strokes. The beauty about it is that you will see the fruits of your labor. After a couple of sessions, most of the patients will improve, which will give you a sense of satisfaction.

Is it worth?

Generally speaking, those who have undertaken a physiotherapy elective in African countries say that they had a good experience and that it is worth every cent. I have no reason whatsoever to dispute these assertions.

You might have heard people refer to ‘modular homes’ as potential homes of the future. Many believe that they could solve Britain’s housing shortage crisis. What is a modular home? It is not built from scratch at the location where the structure will stand, but instead constructed inside a factory. The completed sections of the home are wrapped, loaded onto a lorry and then transported to their final location where they are put together by a team of builders. It is not the same as a mobile home and is a permanent structure, it is simply made off-site.

How do they differ from a traditional house?

The main difference is the speed at which modular homes can be constructed. They can be manufactured much faster than a traditionally-built property. A modular home can be ready in just weeks and not months. They are not affected by traditional building site issues and delays, like the weather for example.

Here are some facts about modular homes that might surprise you:

• Just like a traditionally-built home, a modular will appreciate in value and not depreciate over time.
• A modular home can be customised in a way that a traditional brick-built property can’t be.
• The companies that produce these homes have engineering departments that use computer aided design.
• The homes come in a wide variety of different sizes and styles, meaning there’s one to suit every taste and budget.
• They can also be used for commercial purposes, not just residential housing.
• They are considered ‘real’ property and are permanent structures.
• For those concerned with their environmental impact, modular homes are considered ‘green’.
• The homes can be constructed specifically for accessible living and future considerations.

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Are they more expensive?

Generally, modular property tends to be cheaper than an on-site construction. As they are built quickly and without delay, labour costs are reduced. Inspections are also performed in-factory during each stage of construction so are all completed by the time the structure is ready to be shipped to its final permanent location. It might be a while before we see large scale use of modular housing, so until then, find your new on-site build with Estate Agents Bath, like https://www.pritchards-bath.co.uk/

They can come in almost any design you want, although it’s important to note that the more complex your design, the more it will end up costing. You would also need to account for the costs of plumbing, duct and electrical work to be completed before living in the property.

What are the benefits?

They are often a more affordable option than site-built constructions. The speed at which they can be completed also saves on labour and material costs. The homes are energy-efficient and green, meaning you save money on energy bills in the long-term. When family needs change, a modular home can be expanded, just like building an extension onto a traditional property.

The highlight of most family holidays is playing on the beach with your kids. Whilst it is possible to do that here in the UK, you can never guarantee the weather. When hot weather does happen, thousands flock to our beaches, leaving little space to relax and play games. That’s why the very best beach holidays are those taken abroad. Here are some of the best and cheapest beach games for you to try this summer:

Musical Towels

Similar to musical chairs but with towels. This is an hilarious game best played in super soft sand where theatrical dives and plonking your backside onto a towel as fast as you can will cause no discomfort. This is a high energy game that will involve lots of giggling – perfect for cooling off in the water afterwards before heading back to your private accommodation to relax. For Kas Villa Rental in Turkey, visit http://kas4villarentals.com/

Cricket

What could be more civilised than a round of cricket played on the sand? While the bowler aims to knock the wickets down with the ball (a soft ball is preferable on the beach) the batter will attempt to hit the ball as far as possible to have time to makes runs between the post and back. Fielders must attempt to catch the ball or stump out the batter. The kids will love it and grown-ups too!

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Skimmers and Ploppers

Who can resist the simple pleasure of trying to skim pebbles across the sea? No equipment is required other than that which nature supplies. You can opt for the basic skim attempt whilst most kids will end up with a plop instead. To make the game a little sillier, when player one throws their stone out to sea, other players try to aim their stone at it so that they land with a single plop and not a double plop. It sounds silly, but it’s a hoot! The player whose stone best synchronises with the lead stone gains a point and becomes the new leader.

Treasure hunt

Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt? Send your kids off with a list of items to find and the promise of an ice-cream as a prize. Include simple things like a certain shaped sea shell, some sea weed, a perfectly round pebble, a multi-coloured shell, some driftwood or a feather.

Sand Darts

You don’t need a board, just hand-drawn rings in the sand will suffice. You can use small pebbles or shells for darts. Draw some shapes or numbers in the sand and set the number of points awarded for each one. It’s a lot of fun for both adults and kids, and you can make their targets a little easier to reach. Not only will the kids be having fun but it’s a great opportunity for a little mental arithmetic and some healthy familial competition.

Sand Pictionary

For a game that can be played from the comfort of your sun lounger, this drawing game is ideal. All you need is a finger or stick and some slightly damp sand. Write down some different objects, screw up the pieces of paper and pop them into a bucket. Player one picks a piece and must draw in the sand what is named on their paper. Set a time limit of about one minute and have everyone guess what it is. You can play it as individuals or in teams.

When it comes to the world of carpet cleaning, you might have some statements that aren’t actually based on fact. Myths and mistruths are easily spread, so before you decide that you’ve been put off carpet cleaning by what you’ve heard, let’s look at some of these myths and reveal the truth about professional carpet cleaning:

A carpet will shrink when wet cleaned

A carpet that is left wet for a long time will indeed shrink. However, when a carpet is being professionally cleaned, only a small amount of moisture is applied with proper cleaning tools for the job. The drying period is also quick, so you can rest easy that no shrinkage will happen to your carpet.

All carpet cleaners use the same technique

This isn’t the case. Many different methods are employed by different professionals. The truth is you generally get what you pay for and a cheaper quote might mean a less effective method that only cleans the top layer of your carpet, so it looks better but isn’t any more hygienic.

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Carpets take an age to dry

The best carpet cleaning machinery will use a high-quality suction and vacuum system to remove moisture from carpets. This means you’re your carpets will never become excessively wet and are able to dry naturally in a short space of time.

Carpets dirty more quickly after a professional clean

A professionally cleaned carpet is no more likely to get dirty than any other carpet. This mistruth comes from those who use the incorrect cleaning products or don’t rinse out the products from the carpet fibres properly. These problems will attract more dirt, so always make sure you hire a reputable company to complete your carpet clean, such as Cheltenham Carpet Cleaning Company http://gnccontractservices.com/

Carpet cleaning means you don’t have to vacuum

Whilst it is true that a proper carpet clean offers a deep clean that vacuuming can’t, you should still vacuum regularly to pick up things like crumbs, dust and pet hairs. A thorough vacuum is recommended before your cleaner arrives as this makes it easier for the cleaner to do a better clean.

You don’t need to clean your carpet unless there are stains

Regardless of whether you have visible stains or not, a professional carpet clean will keep you home fresher, smelling better and more hygienic. It reaches deeper than simple vacuuming alone and can remove hidden dirt that has been trampled into the fibres. It will also rid your carpet of possible allergens such as pet hair, dust and pollen. You can’t see these problems, but they are there nonetheless and almost impossible to remove by vacuuming alone.

Spring is in the air and for many people, so are wedding bells as the most popular time for weddings in the UK begins – between April and September is when most people choose to get married as it is more likely that the weather will be good on the big day (although this is Britain, so you can’t guarantee it!). You may have a plenty of weddings to attend this summer, or you may be starting to plan your own nuptials. If the latter is you, you may be feeling excited but also a bit overwhelmed by all of the organisation that it takes to plan a wedding. Unless you are a celebrity with an enormous bank balance, you will notice that maybe you can’t necessarily have the lavish wedding that many famous people have splashed across the pages of celebrity magazines – but the important thing is that the wedding is your own and that you and your partner enjoy it.

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People often find that when planning a wedding they can get a bit lost under all of the pressure – especially if you have a particularly demanding circle of friends and family – and can easily end up with a wedding that isn’t what they really would have wanted or reflective of their personal style and likes and dislikes. So, before you start to hurriedly ring around all the venues, florists and bridal shops that you can think of, stop and take a minute to decide what you really want.

There are plenty of things that you can do to make your wedding day personal to you – and it certainly doesn’t have to break the bank – if you and your partner are big superhero fans for example, then why not have a fancy-dress superhero wedding? It doesn’t have to be fancy dress – if you want something more understated, but with a nod to the things that you love the table names are the perfect way to express what you love, and you can have great fun and save money creating your own home-made centrepieces. If you are both die hard punk rock lovers, then why not get married in full punk dress, complete with mohawks, and the perfect shoes – DR Martens Gloucester store https://www.cottersshoes.co.uk/product-category/brand/dr-martens/ can supply you with these, and you can customise them for the big day yourself.

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Whatever you choose to do on your wedding day, make sure that it is what you want and not the result of pressure from those around you.

Nothing transforms a room quite like the addition of a water fountain can. These age old and yet unique decorations can create and atmosphere off peace and serenity while remaining on the cutting edge of style and elegance. Wall fountains create a sense of ambiance and inject a strong sense of character into a room. Whether it is a small wall fountain for a limited space, or an epic full wall cascade for a large room, water walls are a beautiful and relaxing way to revamp your home’s look.

Custom & Unique
There are literally hundreds of styles of wall fountains to pick from, but if nothing tickles your fancy you can have a custom design produced. These one of a kind creations take the individuality of a water fountain one step further so that it is an utterly distinctive piece of you and your family in tangible form. Water walls are not simply static sculptures frozen in place, but engagingly dynamic pieces of art that flow with a room.

If a custom fountain is your choice there are dozens of different materials and frames available to build with. Skilled artisans can fabricate any design imaginable, and give you something completely unique, durable, and gorgeous. From common metals such as copper or stainless steel to less typical materials like bamboo or treated woods, there are literally thousands of possibilities for the construction of your custom fountain.

Integration
It is essential that the fountain you choose or have created fit into the new environment you intend for it. Space in smaller rooms is at a premium, and your fountain should be tailored to fit seamlessly into that limited space. For larger rooms your fountain should parallel the expanded area to blend in with the flow of the furniture and shape of the room. With so many sizes and styles available choosing the perfect fountain should not be difficult at all.

Cleaner Air with Wall Fountains
A wall fountain gives you the soothing and serene sound of moving water with the added benefit of beauty and individuality. These unique works of art also serve a function in that they keep the air quality of whatever space they occupy fresh and clean. Particulates in the air will adhere to the molecules in the moving water and be deposited in the basin where the water collects. In this way water walls act as natural filters and can even improve your overall health.

Wall fountains are more than dynamic pieces of art; they are dramatic statements for whatever space they fill. Our relationship with water in all forms runs deep in our psyches which is a likely reason mankind seems so fascinated with manipulating and controlling this essential element. Fountains and water features are difficult to resist in the best of times, but when the stress of modern life begins to take its toll nothing can sooth and relax like the musical sound of moving water.

Fountains are truly multidimensional sculptures. Not only do they incorporate elements such as water and sound, but now they include light and even music. These highly dynamic pieces of art appeal on so many levels they are nearly impossible to overlook. Sight, sound, and touch all come together in a completely distinctive combination of function and decorative delight.