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Affordable Ways to Improve Your Home’s Value

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Your home is an investment into not only your own comfort and lifestyle but also future monetary gain. Improving your home’s value should be a consideration in every aspect of the decisions you make regarding home maintenance and additions. Here are a few affordable ways to improve your home’s value affordably:

Maintain Your Chimney

Chimneys are a strong attraction for many homebuyers, but they can also be a serious liability if problems are allowed to go unchecked. A chimney that is not maintained properly puts it at risk of having a chimney fire, which can be a serious risk for your entire home.

In fact, you may even have already had a chimney fire and not realized it. If you have seen signs like very dense smoke or loud popping noises coming from your chimney, it may have had a chimney fire. Proper maintenance prevents chimney fires and other issues with your chimney so it will remain a great investment into your home to attract future home buyers as well as keeping you warm.

A professional chimney maintenance company like Brickworks Property Restoration can keep your chimney in good condition and prevent problems before they start.

Xeriscape Your Landscape

Xeriscaping is becoming an increasingly popular landscaping technique. Not only will xeriscaping save you money on irrigation, but it will make having strong curb appeal more likely and attract home buyers who would also like to spend less on irrigation while maintaining a beautiful property.

Xeriscaping involves planting drought-resistant plants, often native plants, that require little or no supplemental watering. Once your yard is thoroughly Xeriscaped, you’ll save money continuously while having a beautiful landscape and your landscape will serve as an attraction to future home buyers.

Invest With Future Buyers in Mind

When making decisions about what to invest in, think about what is likely to sell in the future. A porch, deck, or second bathroom is more likely to see a return on your investment than a pool or koi pond. A metal roof may be a better decision than painting your house a color that you love.

This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t make the improvements you want on your home, it just means that it is a good idea to keep what a future home buyer might prefer in mind when making investment decisions.

Improve Your Home’s Value Affordably

By maintaining some essential elements of your home, landscaping intelligently, and keeping future homebuyers in mind when you make investments, you can go a long way to improve your home’s value without many extra expenses. You can enjoy living in your home more now, and if you decide to sell you will see a greater return on your investments.

Is Silver A Good Investment In 2021?

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Investing in precious metals is one way to diversify your investment portfolio. However, with so many precious metals available in the market, knowing which one to invest in may be difficult. Most people focus on gold investments, while others see the potentials of silver investments. 

If you think that investing in silver in 2021 is a good idea, then you’re on the right track. If you want to invest in it for a long-term financial goal, silver should be one of your precious metals investments. 

Is Investing in Silver Risky?

While there are many reasons why investing in silver is a good choice, it also comes with some risks. Like every investment, the risk is there. But the good thing about investing in silver is that you can hold it even if the market is down. That way, you can benefit from its growth potential. 

Moreover, silver also increases its value during bull markets while holding its value when the market is low. Thus, you can say that silver may not be as risky as other investments.

Reasons Silver Is A Good Investment

Historically, silver and gold are regarded as safe investments against losses and inflation when the economy is in crisis. The following are some of the reasons why many investors see silver as a good option for precious metals investment: 

  1. Silver Is Real Money

When it says ‘money,’ it means that you can use it not as a registered currency but as a form of buying goods. Wherever you are in the world, you can use silver as an alternative to a currency’s value. Of course, these are in the form of physical silver.

But unlike paper money, silver doesn’t depreciate in value because you can’t create it out of thin air. Just like gold, you can use physical silver as a store of value because of the following reasons: 

  • Unlike bonds or stocks, you don’t need someone to make you a promise or contract. It’s you who own it, and you can dispose of it however you like. You can put a price on it. 
  • As mentioned, you can use it as money. Different nations recognize the value of silver, and using physical silver in exchange for goods, products, or services is possible. So in times of crisis where fiat currency’s value may have depreciated, you still have ‘money’ to dispose of. 

For instance, if you bought 1 kg of physical silver in 2019 for USD$590, it’s worth USD$885 now. On the other hand, if you didn’t buy silver in 2019, your USD$590 may only be worth USD$490 or less due to inflation. Imagine how much you may have gained if you have been investing more of your money into silver.

  1. Continuous Demand In Solar Panels

Demand for solar panels increases each year because of its many benefits, such as reducing electricity bills. And because of this, demand for silver also increases. This means the prices of silver may increase for the next decade. If this is so, then now may be the best time to start investing or buying silver. 

Since silver has the highest thermal and electrical conductivity of all metals, silver is now an indispensable element for solar panel manufacturers. Not only is the US into solar panels, but also other countries like China, India, and some European countries. 

  1. Silver Is Versatile

Not only is silver used in solar panels, but its versatility also makes it useful for many industries. Some of these industries include mobile phones, household goods, electricity, and medical industries. This is so because of its resistance to oxidation and corrosion, making it the best electrical and thermal conductor of all metals. 

Most importantly, silver’s versatility allows it to be drawn into wires, flattened into printable sheets, alloyed with other metals, converted into salt, shaved into flakes, or ground into paste or powder. 

As such, here are the top uses of silver:

  • Shiny Art: Because silver can be shiny, reflective, and malleable, many use it for silverware and silver jewelry. One may use copper as base metals when making silver jewelry, like sterling silver: 7.5% copper and 92.5% silver to harden it. Thus, making it more affordable than gold. 
  • Precious Metals: Silver has also been used in silver coins, medallions, and pure bullion bars. This is due to its corrosion resistance, making it suitable for minting and designing local currencies.
  • Soldering And Brazing: Also, silver’s ductility and tensile strength benefit soldering and brazing two metal pieces. Soldering and brazing are used in plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning vents’ production of tight joints. Moreover, many uses silver as an excellent replacement for lead-based bonds because of its non-toxicity and antibacterial properties. 
  1. Many Ways To Invest In Silver

It’s quite easy to invest in silver. You have many choices on how to invest in silver aside from holding or buying physical silver. Some of these include the following:

  • Buy Silver Streaming Companies: If you have more funds, you can use, you may want to buy silver streaming companies. This means buying stocks from companies financing silver mining companies. However, you must ensure that you purchase from the reputable ones. 
  • Invest In Silver Mining Stocks: Similar to silver streaming stocks, which you buy stocks from, this next choice, however, is by directly purchasing stocks from the mining companies. 
  • Buying Silver Mutual Funds: If you don’t like to risk buying individual silver mining stocks, you may diversify your portfolio with silver mutual funds. This means you invest in companies producing silver mining companies. 

Conclusion

While gold and other precious metals are also suitable investments, you shouldn’t forget to consider silver. As mentioned, the earlier you invest, the more you can gain if you’re investing for the long-term. Instead of hoarding your assets in the bank or one investment vehicle, it may be best to diversify them. Invest in precious metals like silver, and you’ll indeed protect the value of your assets while growing them.

With so many ways to invest in silver, you can do it via online platforms if you prefer to buy silver in stocks or mutual funds. Just find a reputable platform and all transactions will be done online to be easier for you.

How To Find A Reliable Service Provider For Currency Exchange

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When I started my life as a digital nomad, I did not realize I would be staying in one place for so long! Nevertheless, I got a good amount of traveling in before the world shut down, all the while building an international business.

If that sounds more grand than a freelance career should, that may just mean you’re not thinking globally. The concept of a digital nomad is not just someone who works remotely from wherever in the world they want to. Rather, it is someone whose business opportunities are not limited by location. You can be a digital nomad simply sitting at home, doing jobs in different states, countries, and continents.

One of the challenges I quickly discovered was how expensive it was to get paid. Getting paid locally is naturally very easy and affordable. However, when you are getting paid in other currencies, you have to pay transfer fees while settling for an exchange rate that is always weighted in the bank’s favor.

Fortunately, because so many people around the world are now getting paid in foreign currencies, savvy entrepreneurs have founded money transfer companies that serve people just like them.

To help you find the currency transfer company that best suits you, let’s take a look at exactly why currency transfer is so expensive and what you should seek in a money transfer company.

Why is foreign exchange expensive through banks?

It is well-established that banks are dinosaurs in the financial sector. They have been around for centuries, and have little incentive to change the way they operate. They are so enmeshed with their country’s economy that it is in everyone’s interests that they succeed.

It’s no surprise then that their foreign exchange offerings tend to be no different than they were twenty years ago when currency exchange was far less common. Banks charge relatively high fees on currency transfers, often charging you multiple times. They may charge the sender and the recipient, a fixed fee and a percentage of the sum, and hidden fees in an unfavorable exchange rate.

Anyone who has received a foreign payment through their bank knows just how much was skimmed off the value they expected to receive. And since banks are not offering good modern solutions, it is best to look elsewhere for foreign exchange products.

What do currency transfer providers offer?

Modern currency exchange companies offer low, transparent fees along with quick and seamless transfers. One of the biggest in the world, WorldFirst, based on this review, only charges a tiny percentage off the interbank exchange rate. Without any other fees, you still get a better exchange rate than you would from the bank.

Money transfer providers also offer a whole range of products for people who want to be a little more savvy with their earnings. When dealing with foreign currency, you have the opportunity to use exchange rates to increase your income. Transfer providers may offer hedging and futures options that help you do just that.

Find the best currency transfer provider in the US

While WorldFirst is one of the foremost transfer providers in the world, it is available everywhere but the US. The same is true of a number of other of the big currency exchange providers. US banking is particularly behind many other countries, and because different states have different regulations, even those companies that serve the US may not serve every state.

So, how do you go about finding the best currency transfer provider in the US?

There are a number of good options available in the US, such as Currencies Direct and MoneyCorp. Your first priority when comparing these companies should be cost. Look for the fees they charge – are they fixed or a percentage of the sum? Do they promise no hidden fees in the exchange rate? Your income will be seriously impacted by these charges.

Next you should take a look at how practical they are for your purposes. Find out how long a transfer takes. The last thing you want is cash flow issues when you need to pay the bills.

Furthermore, check what their minimum transfer is. As a freelancer, my rates can fluctuate wildly, especially when crisis hits (as it has multiple times over the past year). A company that requires a minimum $1,000 transfer may be perfect for me on a regular month, but when times are particularly tough, I still need to be able to transfer the few hundred dollars I have earned.

Only once you have seen to the basics should you start looking at added features like hedging and futures. Ultimately, you can make good money through savvy currency exchange, but that should never come at the expense of your daily needs.

Is it worth it to be a digital nomad?

This might seem like a lot of work just to get paid. Is it really worth it to find work around the world rather than sticking to the US?

The simple answer is: yes. Aside from the benefits of working remotely, you expand your options tremendously. There is always business available somewhere, even in the worst of times.

With money transfer companies it is not all that difficult in any case. Once you have found the right one for you and are used to the functionality and features, you will get into a rhythm quickly, with your full earnings in your bank account when you need it.

First-Time Landlord: Know Your Rights to Protect Yourself from Bad Tenants

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Knowing your rights is one of the things which can never be too overemphasized. It not only protects you but also guides you in your conduct with people, tenants and co property owners generally. The knowledge of your rights in the real estate world saves you money, stress and even time in the long run as you are able to avoid unnecessary troubles.

Here are some tips you really need to know to protect yourself and your real estate business.

Understand the local laws

Make sure you understand the landlord laws in your area as there are going to be certain things that you must do when you become a landlord, so you aren’t breaching a tenant’s rights. Know what is expected from you and your tenant and strive to meet up with that.

Write everything down

In the beginning, it may seem like you do need all the formalities of a paper, but I can assure you that you will need it. Get as much paperwork as needed and ensure that you and your tenant sign the tenancy agreement. List out every little terms and condition you have both agreed on and go over them again. Are pets allowed? Do you take care of all damages? Can they use all facilities? These are some of the questions you should answer.

Buy a good insurance cover

When you have tenants, your building can now be regarded as a business. Treat it as such. Get good insurance that will help you cover liability when required. You can never be too sure what will come later. With good protection, you secure your business.

Do your research

As much as you can, ensure you research your tenant. Request for a reference and do a tenant reference check. Do not ignore the red flags, as you might have to deal with it later. Check for the credit ard scores, bankruptcy and other necessities.

Communicate clearly with your tenant

Do not leave anything unsaid to your tenants and treat issues immediately. To avoid future arguments and bad blood, reach out to talk things out and clear the air before it escalates. A good lawyer or a letting agent can serve as a liaison to further manage things between yourself and your tenant.

Becoming someone’s landlord for the first time might seem daunting; however, with the right research and proper practices in place, you will soon find yourself getting into the swing of things easily. Take the time to communicate with your tenants and letting agents for maximum success.

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