I don’t do windows.  Many of us don’t have the luxury to say that we don’t do windows.  Spring has sprung and it’s time to do some Spring-cleaning!  One of the easiest cleaning projects you can do is to clean your windows.  The impact that this simple task has on the light in your house can be amazing depending on how dirty your windows are.

1. Vinegar and Water: A vinegar and water solution will clean your windows and it’s something that you probably already have in your home.
2. Rubbing Alcohol: If you add rubbing alcohol to the vinegar it will help the solution dry faster and have fewer streaks on your window.
3. Use Newspaper: If you use newspaper to wipe the windows dry instead of paper towel you will not only be recycling and helping save the planet, but newspapers don’t leave lint on the windows like paper towels often do.  They also make the windows shine.
4. Don’t use anything abrasive on windows: Windows will scratch easily so don’t use any cleaner that is gritty or a scrubby sponge.  Don’t even pick at sticky spots with your nail as it may scratch the window.
5. Go different directions on either side: While washing your windows it’s a good idea to wipe side to side on the inside and up and down on the outside.  Then if you see a streak you will know whether it’s on the inside or the outside of the glass.
6. Remove any sticky residue first: Use a commercial product like Goo Gone to break down the glue from a sticker or any sticky residue before you clean the windows.
7. Use a squeegee for a lot of windows: If you have a lot of windows to do it’s best to use a bucket of soapy water and a squeegee.  Soap up the windows and clean them off using the squeegee, wiping the rubber off between wipes.
8. Use a toothbrush to get into the corners: If you find that the corners of the window are dirty, especially on the outside, use a soft bristle toothbrush to get into the corners.
9. Don’t forget to clean the windowsill: While you are cleaning your windows don’t forget to do the whole job.  If the windowsills are cruddy then it kind of takes away from the clean glass.  Wipe them down with a soft cloth and a dust cleaner.
10. Wash your windows in the shade: This is probably the most important tip; do not clean your windows if the sun is shining on them.  They will dry too quickly and cause a lot of streaks.

Working from home can be a great thing. However, a home office is often times carved out of space that may not have been intended for that purpose originally. Often times, the individual who is now running their business from home, has not had to work in an office environment previously.

Here are some tips for getting your home office setup and organized.

1. Mailing supplies. Keep them all together, stamps, envelopes, address labels, packing tape, whatever you may need or use for sending out mail or packages. This might be in a drawer or on a shelf. Whichever it is, keep all those items in that one place.
2. Note taking. Always have notepads and post it notes sitting on your desk. The notepads might be in a wire rack or in an organizer tray, but a keep a supply of them handy and within reach for when you are on the phone or working at the computer.
3. Calendar. Use the calendar on your computer or your smart phone for tracking your appointments and due dates. Learn how to set reminders that will pop up a day or an hour ahead of time, whichever is appropriate. Don’t limit your calendar to the digital format. Keep a traditional desk or wall calendar in sight, as well. It will be much handier to glance at when you just need to know what day of the week the 22^nd falls on.
4. File drawers. Have some method to your madness, but make sure it is a method that makes sense to you, not necessarily to anyone else. Whatever files you need to access the most, should be positioned as close to you as possible. Arrange files within your drawers by groupings. If you have files for each of your projects, group them together. If you have files for each of the bills you pay, group them together, alphabetizing within each group. Using a different colored folder for each file group can make them easy to distinguish.
5. Bills due. As bills come in to pay, take note of their due date and file them accordingly in an unpaid bills file, with the most urgent to the front. Write the due date on the outside of the envelope or in large lettering on the invoice. That way, you don’t have to shuffle through all your bills looking to see which ones are due. The most urgent will always be in the front.
6. Current projects. Don’t leave information for your current projects stacked loosely on your desk. Even it there is only one piece of paper, start a file folder for each project immediately. It will save you lots of time in looking through your ’stacks’ and those pieces of paper are less likely to get misplaced.
7. Printer/Scanner. Printers can take up a lot of desk space. Take some time in deciding where this piece of equipment should be located in your office. Are you printing continually and need it within hands reach? If not, can it be set on its own stand or on a file cabinet so that it doesn’t take up desktop space? If you are purchasing a printer, consider one that can be accessed wirelessly, to avoid issues with connection distances from your computer.
8. Desktop. Spend a few dollars on desktop organizers to provide specific spots for items to be placed on your desk and to maximize the space. Think carefully about what actually needs to be on your desktop. If you don’t use it on a daily basis, then perhaps it can be kept in a drawer instead.
9. Information. We’re always receiving information in many different forms. It may be leads for potential clients; it may be tips for running our business; it may notices of workshops you want to attend. As with the current projects, create folders for these items. At the very minimum, have a miscellaneous folder, but one for each type of information would be better.
10. Computer. In addition to organizing your physical space, these days, you need to keep your electronic data organized too. Create folders within your Documents folder for various information, so that it is easy to find the files you need, when you need them. When you name folders for client or project information, always begin the file name with the last name of the client, so that they will sort themselves automatically. Have a folder for any digital forms you use. Put as much thought into your electronic file system, as you did your physical files.

Organizing your home office may take some time planning and getting things set up, but it will pay off in the time you save on a daily basis by allowing you to work more efficiently.

If you haven’t been able to find an opportunity for volunteer service, then you haven’t looked very hard. They are all around us. Some of these are overlooked because they are so commonplace, and others are ideas that never occurred to us. We’ve listed some well-known and some not so well-known volunteer opportunities that are available, both at home and abroad.

1. Animal Shelter. Your local animal shelter or humane society is staffed mainly by volunteers. In addition to the daily office volunteers there other types of volunteering that is done in conjunction with these facilities as well. Parents and their children are often allowed to come at certain times to walk the dogs or play with the kittens. Volunteers are also needed to serve as foster homes for animals when the shelter is full.
2. Shut-in Visitation. Whether it is in a nursing home or their own home, there are many lonely people who would love to have someone stop to visit when they no longer are physically able to get out. These aren’t always elderly people. Parents of seriously disabled or seriously ill children fit into this category at times. Check with your city or county agencies about how to get involved.
3. Nursery staff. Churches, mother’s groups, AA groups and other regular meetings have nursery staffing needs. If you love to care for children, this is a great volunteer opportunity. In most cases, all that is necessary is to go through a background screening check when you apply.
4. Teaching English. Volunteers serve as short-term English teachers abroad and working with immigrants in the United States. The training is not extensive but the opportunities, especially in China, are wide open.
5. Athletic Coaching. Kid’s athletic programs are always in need of coaches. Volunteer to be an assistant the first year, and maybe you’ll be ready to take on a head coach position the next year.
6. Scout leaders. The Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are still in full operation, and they need leaders. Scouting has been a great way for volunteers to invest in the next generation as long as it has been around. That is still true today.
7. United Nations. If you’re a professional and would like to some international travel, the United Nations has a volunteer program for you. After becoming registered and approved for the UN volunteer program, you will be contacted about opportunities available.
8. ArtCorp. This non-profit organization connects artists with opportunities to work for social change and life improvements by using their artistic talents. They assist with the costs involved to varying degrees when artists work through their programs.
9. Business Mentors. These volunteer opportunities for experienced business owners can often be provided over the phone or the internet. Mentoring agencies connect new entrepreneurs with experienced mentors in their field, to give them guidance towards a successful future.
10. Pet Therapy. Many nursing homes and hospitals are encouraging the use of pet therapy with their residents. This is a way that you and your pet can volunteer together and bring a smile to someone’s face.

There’s a pretty wide range of activities listed here: animals, sports, business, art, teaching, travel… If you’ve done it, you can probably do it as a volunteer too.

Assuming you have already rented a truck with a square box. If you rented a truck with a shelf area in the front then it shouldn’t be a big deal to stuff it full with misc. items. The idea is to make a flat even area to work with so fill it up. We recommend you begin with your sofas and loveseats. Place them standing up tall in the corners with the feet to the side walls and the back of the sofas touching the front wall this will give you another area to fill but it will be worth it. Please read on.

You may use a chest of drawers, couple of night stands or a big screen TV, to place between them just don’t let it stick out further than the sofas. You want to build a flat surface again. It’s called building a tier.

You can use all of your stuffy items in between to finish filling it up. For example, bags of clothes, light boxes, duffle bags, rolled up rugs, etc. Once that is pretty full you will need to use your largest mattress and box springs to lock the load and make it a flat tier again. Now you need base or tall items such as bookcases, armoires, etc. Here is where you need to make sure whatever tier you are working on will need to be pretty close to the same size. You really can’t stack a lot on top of tall bookcases so they get their own tier.

Now you are working on building your next tier. You can use a dresser or chest of drawers for base. Now you can stack boxes on them. You can use items such as office chairs or kitchen chairs to top off that tier. Nightstands are typically the same depth and can be used for base in the same tier. You may also stand dressers up on end but be sure to lay a blanket or cardboard under it to protect it.

You will be working your way to the end of the truck but somewhere along the load you will need to start tapering the tier down if you are not filling it to maximum capacity. You will want to load any appliances last such as washing machines, water coolers, refrigerators, etc.

Whether buying new or resale homes, choices abound in today’s home buying market. Buying a newly constructed home may be top of mind as many factors come into play. One reason buyers go the new home route is that they are given plenty of choices and options in the level of customization of their home. These options may range from being able to choose color schemes, upgrades like trim moldings, kitchens finishing’s, selection of flooring options throughout the home, home automation and more.

Among other factors that home buyers should think about when purchasing a new home vs. a resale home are:

Buyers input:

New home buyers have plenty of choices in features and amenities. New home buyers can have their builder add their personal touches that satisfy their personality, personal tastes and needs. Being able to choose home’s fixtures, carpet type and colors, wall covering designs, countertop finishing’s among other things, gives greater flexibility and control for a home buyer who is looking to build their home, their way.

No home repair cost:

This is a significant factor when buying new. Home repairs on a new home are kept at a minimum. And even if repairs are needed, today’s builders include warranties for certain period of time. Most builders cover home repairs for the first year you live in the new place. In addition, many builders offer complete warranties covering both inside and outside the house. Resale homes in other hand, can offer warranties, but often are limited in the items it covers. Many times these warranties need to be purchased separately by the buyer. In the case of new homes, the extended warranties provided by new home builders can give the buyer peace of mind when it comes to potential home repairs and maintenance.

Home automation:

Home automation also makes buying a new home that much more appealing. In the case of a resale home, implementing today’s new technologies may be cumbersome and not necessarily cost effective. Since more and more builders are integrating new technologies on new home designs, the costs savings can be dramatic. Technologies such as wireless internet access, intercom systems, and surround sound are just some of the aspects of new home technologies that can be expected in the today’s new home designs.

Home construction considerations:

Materials found in older homes can be hazardous to your health. From lead-based paint to asbestos insulation, the materials found in resale houses can be costly replace, many times impossible to replace. New homes are subject to more stringent building codes and safety requirements than what older homes have. In addition, materials used in new construction, asbestos and lead have been eliminated. This in turn benefits the new homebuyers and their families from hazardous materials or unsafe environments. Then there is less risk of fire in today’s new home construction. Wiring systems have improved as well. In addition, most of today’s new homes have hard-wired smoke detectors with battery-powered backup.

Energy efficiency:

As home buyer become more conscious of the environment, having a home that is energy efficient, has become an important factor when buying new. The appliances available today are far more energy efficient than they were 10 years ago. Energy efficient solutions found in today new homes can help greatly reduce overall energy cost. This in turn helps to save in utility bills. Improved heating and cooling systems and better insulation techniques in new constructions offer greater efficiency than older homes. This can in turn offset the cost of a new home.

New home buyers after having considered all the hidden costs of resale homes, may actually save money by buying new. The level of customization, home automation, energy efficiency and construction durability as well as safety, are among the many benefits that buying a new home would bring.