Are you planning to buy a house but aren’t sure where to start?

Buying your dream house is always a special and sentimental experience. However, it can quickly turn stressful when not planned carefully.

Thus, the first and most crucial step before investing financially in a property is to hire a professional realtor.

Experienced agents act as guides to help you find a perfect home within a preferred budget. Since they are familiar with the technicalities of the process, they ensure smooth and quick navigation for the clients.

However, finding a realtor that fits your preferences can seem highly daunting. Therefore, seek the help of online services, ratings, and recommendations to hire a desirable agent.

Get Referrals

Seeking referrals from a close network of family and friends is an old and proven method of hiring a realtor.

Since there is a wide range of options available at our disposal, it is natural to feel lost when shortlisting an agent. Thus, it is recommended to get authentic references of potential candidates that fit your budget and requirements.

Furthermore, inquire about their skills, behavior, and client service before interviewing the agents.

Do Background Research

When finding a realtor, it is mandatory to do a preliminary check of their work and credentials. Thus, make sure you explore their website and social media accounts to track past performance.

Also, ensure to look at online reviews to further verify your facts. While an authentic realtor has a mixed set of opinions posted on their website, one-sided reviews are a huge red flag.

A desirable realtor is a certified and licensed candidate with no record of disciplinary complaints. Therefore, do not forget to ask for license details and references before making a final decision.

Prioritize Local Market Experience

Knowledge of local market trends is an underestimated factor that must be considered when shortlisting a realtor for your home.

A realtor familiar with the nuances of the local real estate market can help you find your dream house in no time.

Since experienced professionals stay up to date with the newly listed homes and average sale prices, they can further help you get better deals and impressive discounts.

Focus on Communication and Compatibility

Buying a house is a complicated process that can be highly strenuous especially for first-time buyers.

Thus, it is advisable to opt for a compatible agent you can easily communicate your vision to.

Additionally, finding a realtor who can answer all your queries and ensure you don’t feel overwhelmed is an essential part of the home purchasing journey and shouldn’t be rushed.

Patricia Miller

distancebetweenplaces.com

It’s Christmas Eve Eve! Time for me to finish wrapping the last of the presents and celebrate! I’ve got a light menu planned during the day since we’re going out to eat on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We will be driving around looking at Christmas lights and popping in to see a few friends.

I’m feeling extra nostalgic because this is likely the last Christmas we will celebrate in this house. We’ve raised the family here but now we’re ready to move on. My daughter is off to college next year and my family will be looking for a fresh start.

This has been our home for twenty years so it’s bittersweet to be celebrating the season one last time in this space.

I want to say thank you to all of you who visit this blog and remain regular subscribers. You inspire me to keep writing and creating and I’m so grateful for all of you. Even though we’ve never met, you are all very special to me. I appreciate the comments and the encouraging words you share.

For those who celebrate, I wish you the merriest Christmas with your family and friends. I’ll be taking a few days off but I’ll be back next week with a roundup of lessons learned from 2021, it was an interesting year for sure!

Sending much love and feeling so much gratitude for all of you.

xoxo

Patricia Miller

distancebetweenplaces.com

If you’re still wondering what to give that special person, there’s still time to give someone the gift of an experiences!

Perhaps they’d prefer the gift of a memory instead of a thing. What are they passionate about? What have they mentioned they’d like to try? Below is a list of ideas for gifting a great memory to someone you care about this holiday season.

Tasting Experiences

Consider a culinary or market tour your person may enjoy. Airbnb Experiences and Trip Advisor are great sources for ideas in their area. Look for specialty food gatherings, wine tours, pub crawls, local market tours, and chef led tastings available in their area.

Online Courses

No doubt you’ve seen the ads for Masterclass with all the experts and celebs they’ve rounded up to teach classes. Skillshare and Creative Live are also great sources for anyone who wants to gain more knowledge in their hobby or profession.

Fender teaches guitar to beginners and Flowkey will help them learn piano. If there is a podcaster or mentor they are inspired by, consider one of their courses as a gift too. Airbnb now offers online culinary experiences and tours for anyone who wants to travel to or taste or learn from someone in a different part of the world.

Local Excursions or Tours

I’ve had great success over the years with Get Your Guide. I’ve booked multiple tours and excursions in foreign countries and also right here at home in the Wine Country and San Francisco Bay Area. Day trips by boat, bike, or van allow one to explore different areas even in their own backyard. Each experience has multiple written reviews and a gift card will allow them to book whatever experience they like near or far.

Memberships to Museums, Parks, & Gardens

Are there local museums, galleries, parks, academies, or botanical gardens they love to visit? A membership will allow them access anytime they want. Are they off on a road trip next year? Consider the America the Beautiful pass with access to all National Parks.

Local Classes

Who are the makers in their neighborhood? Creatives can learn from local artisans, and foodies can learn from local chefs or take cooking classes at Sur La Table. Do they want to learn to dive or paint or become a beekeeper? Getting them started on a new hobby is very thoughtful and they’ll think of you each time they show up for their new class. 🙂

Daycations

Perhaps there is somewhere close by where they could relax for a day? Most busy moms would appreciate that, but also anyone with a busy schedule who could use a day off . Check out Resort Pass for local hotels and resorts offering use of their amenities for a day!

all images courtesy of Canva pro membership

Patricia Miller

distancebetweenplaces.com

Gone are the days of standard prints on the wall, nowadays you can completely personalize what you hang on your wall at home.

Whether you’re having precious photos printed on canvas, or ordering your favorite fine art reproduction, there’s plenty to choose from.

To be honest, that doesn’t always make decorating your home easy. How do you ensure that your wall decoration still fits well with the rest of the interior, and that the whole looks tasteful and also original? Here we give you 4 great tips for decorating the wall with canvas.

Don’t be afraid to mix

When it comes to wall decoration, there are few rules. So don’t stop yourself from experimenting and mixing different media. For example, combine a photo printed on canvas with that large clock, smaller photo frames, a cool wall lamp and a shelf with a plant. Other ideas for wall decoration include musical instruments, found objects, beautiful pieces of cloth or fabric, dream catchers, crockery and mirrors.

To make it a whole, make sure that the colors and style of all decoration objects match. For example, a modern, sleek clock should have a more minimalistic image, while a classic wall lamp fits beautifully with a lush ivy hanging plant and a beautiful photo of a special family moment. Also consider the color of the wall itself when choosing the pieces, and the rest of the interior in the room.

Go for the right print in the right space

The living room is probably the first room where you think of hanging canvas prints. But don’t forget the rest of the house either! Where a stylish photo collage or a large statement piece works well above the sofa, the hall, for example, is a nice space to hang a medium-sized family portrait. This way, everyone who enters immediately knows which household they are in, and this is also the last image that visitors see when they leave the house.

The kitchen? Of course, images of food items do well there. Keep in mind that shooting food is a specialty, so make sure that if you take your own photos, they are also of print-worthy quality. It can be fun to combine the images with a chalkboard for the groceries and pans on the wall.

In the toilet you can play with prints again. Will it be some inspiring sayings, or just that one slightly embarrassing, but super funny photo from an amusement park? The study, on the other hand, does better with a calm image, a favorite piece of art for example, or a more artistic portrait in black and white. In the bedroom you can take advantage of the more intimate atmosphere with photos from the wedding, or a special photo shoot you did with your partner.

With or without frame

The great thing about most canvas prints is that they can be hung without a frame. If you want to protect the print a little more, or simply give it a different style, consider putting a frame around it. The print gets a more chic look with a frame, and you immediately have the chance to play with color and style. A classic frame for a classic photo, a clean frame for a clean image. Or you mix it right!

Involve the whole household

Do not make the selection of canvas prints for the wall a lonely task but give everyone in the house a voice. Children will especially enjoy being able to pick out their own picture for the wall.

Beautiful canvas ideas for the baby and children’s room are of course photos of the whole family, images of moments that the child is proud of (such as that one successful birthday party or the presentation of the swimming diploma) and of course prints of the favorite heroes the little one. Or how about officially framed versions of the most beautiful works of art the child has created?

But your partner will also have their own ideas about what she or he would like to see on canvas on the wall. And who knows, very nice ideas, which you would not have come up with so quickly! So discuss the options together and make sure everyone agrees with the final choice. This way everyone in the house enjoys looking at the pieces on the wall.

Patricia Miller

distancebetweenplaces.com

Imagine this situation: you have just moved into your new rented home after giving your landlord your tenancy deposit. You’re confident that your money is safe with them because they promised to register it with a government-authorised protection scheme.

Fast forward to more than a month later and you have asked your landlord for an update on your deposit, but you have  not received any reply. Take heart though; according to UK laws, landlords are required to protect tenant deposits within 30 days of them receiving the money. Once they have done so, they are to send tenants details about the protection scheme where they registered the deposit. This is called prescribed information, and if this is not provided to you 30 days after you paid the deposit, you may be eligible to file for a dispute or tenancy deposit claim.

Tenancy deposit protection schemes are intended to keep your money safe throughout the course of your tenancy. If you break any of the tenancy terms or damage part of the property, your landlord can use the money to offset repair costs. But if you have diligently followed all tenancy terms and paid your rent on time, your landlord is obligated to return the deposit to you after your tenancy ends.

Tenancy disputes

Millions of tenants in the UK claim that their profit is not protected. The estimated worth of unprotected deposits is around £515 million, or nearly 50% of tenants. Many renters often think that if their landlord is well-known or has been in business for years, or their letting agency is popular and big, they are automatically guaranteed deposit protection. Most of the time, the reality is the opposite: their deposits were not or have not been protected.

So, even if it is specified in the agreement that your deposit will be protected, don’t rely too much on it. There are rogue landlords who often resort to illegal behaviour, such as denying their tenants deposit protection.

When you can make tenancy deposit claims

There are three instances when you are eligible to file for tenancy deposit claims

When your landlord does not register your deposit in any of the government-authorised protection schemes: mydeposits, Deposit Protection Service, and Tenancy Deposit Scheme. When your landlord protects your deposit and then removes it without re-registering it even while you are still renting and living in the property. When your landlord puts your deposit into the tenancy deposit protection scheme late – after more than the 30 days that was given to them.

If your landlord is found to have breached the tenancy deposit laws, they will be ordered to return the original deposit to you and will be asked to pay between one to three times the deposit value for every breach.

How a tenancy claim works

Before filing a tenancy claim, you first need to verify if your deposit has been protected or not. Here’s what you need to do:

To check if you have a basis for making a claim, you can ask your landlord or letting agent for confirmation. If they did not provide you with the prescribed information, you should ask them for it  because they are required to do so by law. If your landlord or letting agent does not respond or provide you with accurate information, check the websites of the deposit scheme providers. You will have to enter the following details:Your surnameStart date of your tenancyYour postcode

These details are typically contained in your tenancy agreement.

If you are in a joint tenancy, you may have to enter the details of your joint tenants if the information is not available under your name.

If you just renewed your tenancy, you should enter a different start date.

If you cannot find the details you need, talk to a representative of the deposit protection scheme provider. Their contact number is usually displayed on their website.

Once you have verified that your landlord has not protected your deposit, you need to get in touch with a team of solicitors experienced in tenancy deposits. After verifying your proof of a right to claim, the team might have to go over your tenancy agreement to determine if your landlord provided you with the right clauses and documentation.

This step will provide further confirmation if you have a valid claim.

Your deposit protection compensation claim team might also verify with you if you are still willing to push through with legal action.

Provide your solicitors with all the information needed for your claim to move forward. This includes evidence such as photos, videos, and documentation of landlord-tenant communication (via email, text, written letters, or personal meetings).

The team will then prepare a letter of claim for you, which is sent to your landlord. Your landlord is given 14 days to respond to your letter. If they do not, your team of solicitors will prepare to take them to court.

No win, no fee

Choose the team of solicitors from Tenancy Deposit Claims if you want a no-win-no-fee guarantee from solicitors who are authorised and registered with The Solicitors Regulation Authority. Tenancy Deposit Claims’ solicitors are well-versed and experienced in tenancy deposits, so your chances of getting a successful claim are higher.

Patricia Miller

distancebetweenplaces.com

I finished decorating my staircase today, I was in the mood to deck the halls. We’ve had a few weeks of sunshine and my yard was so happy so I was inspired to use what I’ve got! I chose non traditional yard clippings to layer over my faux lighted pine garland that I reuse every year.

A few years ago I layered big bunches of eucalyptus, but this year I mixed boxwood clippings from the huge hedge in my front yard with blooms from my Mexican orange flower plant. These stems will stay fresh over a week in small floral tubes.

The blooming florals are unconventional and give it a slight wedding-ish vibe but I love them mixed with boxwood clippings and matte green ornaments.

Both staircases and mantels offer up so much opportunity to get creative with trimmings. I gathered some other ideas I found on the internet for your staircase too. Notice how you can mix in a group of different objects and create a statement staircase!

Bright Ornaments + Pinecones + Eucalyptus + Berry Sprigs

better homes & gardens

Faux Magnolia + Berry Springs + Metal Bells

rambling renovators

Shiny Ornament Garland + Striped Ribbon + Paper Tags

liz marie blog

Classic Red Berries + Burlap Ribbon

midwest living

Eucalyptus + Dried Flowers + Colorful Ornaments

first sense interiors

Mixed Garland + Stockings + Ribbons

better homes & gardens

rtificial Sprays + Dried Citrus

melanie lissak

Multicolored Ribbons + Burgundy Leaves

Ribbons + Berries + Pinecones

at home in arkansas

Twigs + Pinecones + Oversized Bells

pottery barn

Juniper + Earth Tone Ornaments

southern living

Magnolia + Twigs + Ribbon

hgtv

Olive Leaves + Ribbons

the identite collective

Simple Swags: Ribbons + Mini Bells

i spy diy

White Paper Stars + Star Cutouts

layered lounge

Patricia Miller

distancebetweenplaces.com

The availability of required resources is a key aspect of ensuring projects are completed. Most businesses nowadays have gone ahead and employed procurement experts who work with different team members such as the project manager to ensure resources are available. The role of the project manager is quite large and includes working from every angle with every team member to make certain the building materials have arrived on time and are of good quality.

Tendering and project management mainly focus on completing short-term goals such as a construction project. In this article, we are going to look at some of the steps that are included for the entire process to be a success.

Planning for Tendering and Project Management

Every development project starts with a plan. What are your plans to accomplish the objectives for tendering and project management? Who are the investors or stakeholders? How much time is needed to complete the project? What is the scope of the project? How large is the budget, and what is the quality level of the materials used? These are examples of questions that you might come across when developing the budget. Answering these questions ensures that there is an appropriate workflow in the tendering and project management process and that issues are aired out and can be resolved in the early stages of construction.

Begin the Tendering and Project Management Process

Here, the main stage of construction begins. Everything will be determined by the goods and services received. You can start by listing all the potential vendors you are likely to receive resources from. Come up with a list of vendors that you feel will really help with the project. At this stage, you can feel free to communicate with more companies and builders and hear what their proposals are.

After doing all this, it is time to sit down and make a list of builders and other companies that you want to involve in your project. Reputable architecture companies such as Humphreysandsons will help you with numerous construction services such as making plans, drawing the plans, seeking approvals, and even supervising the project.

Control as Part of Tendering and Project Management

Most vendors will promise you a lot of support in your project, but you need to be aware that not all will fully agree on the same terms. As a project manager, one has to go through and ensure that every vendor and builder has agreed with you about their intentions. Active oversight improves how work is carried out. The more vendors are aware that there is someone watching, the more performance improves at every level.

Wrap Up the Project

This stage of tendering and project management involves the project manager going through every detail included in the project and making sure that everyone has done their part respectively. In case of any unaddressed issue, the project manager will try and resolve it by forwarding it to the right person.

At the end of every project, the team ensures that the client is happy with what they receive and also that the team itself has learned from the mistakes made for future growth and improvement.

Conclusion

A successful project comes with its own ups and downs, which should be expected. The above article provides everything you need to know about tendering and project management. Read it to learn more.

Patricia Miller

distancebetweenplaces.com

I wanted to create something different for a holiday tree this year. I was inspired by this wall hanging christmas tree and thought to build a taller version for myself for less money and I did!

This wall Christmas tree is made with lattice strips and pine garland from Lowe’s and decorated with lights and ornaments just like any holiday tree, but this version is flat on the wall so it’s perfect for small spaces!

The “trunk” which supports the design is painted the same as the wall color so it recedes into the background.

To recreate one for yourself the supplies are: two 8’ lengths of 3/4” pine lattice; 9 feet of pine holiday garland; 1¼” wood screws; battery operated lights; large picture hanging strips; paint (same color as wall); holiday sprays and ornaments of choice; miter saw; level, paintbrush; pencil; wire cutters; floral wire.

First, cut the two 8’ strips of ¾” lattice into the lengths shown: 6’ “trunk” with 5 “branches” in the following sizes: 30”, 24”, 18”, 12”, 6”.

With a level and pencil, mark the 6’ “trunk”on the wall. Apply the picture hanging strips to the back of the tree “trunk” and (following the instructions) press the back of adhesive hanging strips to wall. Remove it from the wall and paint it the same color as the wall so it blends with the background.

Mark a 12” separation between the “branches” on the “trunk” and drill pilot holes through the center.

Cut the 9’ pine garland with wire cutters into the lengths of the “branches”.

Using floral wire, attach the trimmed piece of pine garland to the individual “branches” and insert any berry or leaf sprays.

One the paint on the “trunk” is dry, reattach it to the wall with the Command large picture hanging strips. Using a drill or screwdriver, attach the garland embellished branches to the “trunk” with wood screws.

Add battery lights, hang ornaments, and add any other decor!

You could also use the same tree to display your holiday cards too!

See today’s Instagram Reels for the full step by step video.  🙂

Patricia Miller

distancebetweenplaces.com

The results of influencer marketing are phenomenal, and many of you even agree with that. The way digital marketing works has evolved in the last few years as the internet has reached almost every corner of the globe. With more and more creators emerging on the digital platform, influencer marketing has reached new heights, and with that, it has become a hot topic of the industry.

Yet, many businesses still lack the right and maximum benefit of influencer marketing. So, below are the recommended tips to grow your business with influencer marketing.

A quick definition of influencer marketing: Influencer marketing is promoting your content/products with influencers across blogging websites and social platforms.

Find Niche-Specific Influencers: Biggest breakthrough you can make with influencers is finding the right and best-match influencers that serve content related to your business.

FACT: Nearly 82% of people follow the recommendations of micro-influencers.

Build a Walkthrough or Detailed Product Review: With a detailed walkthrough of your product, you can tell people about its compositions alongside its pros and cons. The better they explain your product, the better the audience can understand.

Populate Content: Once influencers share the video/blog on their platform, a new audience will reach your doorstep (website/physical store). It’s equally important to promote the content on your social platforms to get enhanced results.

Boost Your Organic Reach: With the right influencer marketing, you can boost your organic presence and add elevation to the sales count. Furthermore, integrating influencer marketing into your marketing strategy will also help in increased decision-making.

Now, newbie markets will find different ways influencers can work. Below are the top ideas to work with the influencers.

Technical Subject Experts: Many influencers have technical expertise, which can be advantageous to companies looking for a technical audience. Numerous technical experts are available that can help you create detailed content on your products and reach new audiences.

Connect with Influencer Bloggers: Undoubtedly, Vloggers are in trend, but bloggers still have a solid user base that makes them an excellent option to connect and populate your business content to new audiences.

Podcast Endorsements: Podcasts are the new way of running successful influencer marketing. According to the study, every third American listens to a podcast, making it another popular marketing tool. Advertisers can consider podcast endorsements to expand their reach.

Social Media Ads: Whatever influencer content you choose for your business promotion, you can leverage social media to enhance its reach and grab a new user base.

Find Influencer on All Social Platforms: Today, numerous social media platforms give birth to numerous influencers. Tiktok, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and many more are some of the best examples. You can find influencers from all and turn their audience into customers.

In short, the options are many, but it entirely depends upon how you take advantage of influencer marketing to boost your sales or organic reach.

So, these are the smart yet trending practices that can provide assured results to your business.

Patricia Miller

distancebetweenplaces.com