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Finding & Hiring Home Contractors: Tips for Women

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Women Hiring Home Contractors

Owning a home as a single woman is rewarding in many ways, but it can also be stressful—particularly when it comes to finding and hiring home contractors. This post is specifically targeted to single women homeowners who find themselves in need of the help of a contractor to do home repairs, but the information can help anyone. Here are a few preliminary tips:

  • Educate yourself thoroughly on the home issue you’re dealing with. Watch YouTube videos, read home improvement articles and consult with experts at your local home improvement store. Check out the various materials that will likely be used for your project (as well as their costs). You should be able to understand the issue when conversing with prospective contractors.
  • If possible, have a male friend or family member call the contractor to set up the appointment. As unfortunate as this may sound, working with a contractor can sometimes be similar to hiring a new mechanic. Some will try to take advantage of a woman who they don’t think is knowledgeable about home repairs.

  • Be serious, firm and clear when communicating with the contractor you want to hire. Look at this as a business relationship—and you’re the boss.
  • Check sites like CostHelper.com to get a general idea of how much you will spend for the type of repair or home improvement you’re hiring for. This way at least you have a range, and will know if the quote you’re receiving is just ridiculous.
  • Don’t wait until the last minute to look for contractors. You want to have plenty of time to hire someone who will be reliable. When you’re pressed for time or desperate, they can sense that. Whenever possible, allow at least two to three weeks to find someone that’s just right for the job.

How to Find a Contractor

One of the most challenging steps of hiring a contractor is finding a good one. Sometimes scrolling through the phone book and calling people just doesn’t work—you get a lot of voicemail pickups (no call backs) or price quotes that might not fit your budget. So sometimes you have to find the right contractor using other sources. Here are a few suggestions for how to find a contractor:

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How to Clean and Deodorize a Musty Carpet

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Flickr/anneh632

Whether you have pets or not, musty odors can find their way into your carpets or area rugs. The removal of these odors requires a little effort, but is well worth it compared to the cost of replacing your carpets. Here are a few ways that you can eliminate these odors before spending hundreds on a brand new carpet at your local home improvement store.

Vinegar Mist

Removing a stubborn, musty odor that has set into your carpet fibers can be a challenge, but it’s not an impossible feat. You can accomplish the removal of odors with a common household ingredient. Purchase an extra large spray bottle that has a “mist” setting. Add 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water. Spray your entire carpet with this solution liberally and refill it necessary.

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Staying Cool this Summer without an Air Conditioner

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Many people find it difficult to imagine staying inside in the summer heat without an air conditioner running on full blast. However, there are ways to keep you and your home at a tolerable temperature without the use of an air conditioner for much of the summer (in certain regions). Even if you do choose to use central air or a window AC unit, these tips will help you save some money on your monthly electric bill.

Keep the Blinds Closed

First, if you have large windows in your home and have gotten into the habit of opening your blinds and curtains in the morning, DON’T. Opening the blinds and curtains allows the sun to penetrate and heat up your home. You definitely don’t want to do that with or without an AC running. Keep all blinds drawn shut at the hottest times of the day. Doing this will help lower the temperature inside. Also, consider purchasing room darkening shades or heavy opaque blinds to help block out even more of the sun’s rays. If you want sun rays to enter the home, only open the blinds on small windows.

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Easy Organizing Tips for Your Home

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Organizing your home is essential, not just because you keep it clutter free but also because you can find the things you need easily and you feel better mentally when your surroundings are in order. You may even find ways to repurpose items that you have around your house that have just been collecting dust. Here are a few organizing tips for your home that you can implement this weekend.

For Your Kitchen

The more organized your kitchen, the more inspired you’ll be to create new recipes and pack school lunches like a pro. Start by sorting out your pantry to ensure that nothing has expired or has become unusable. Keep all similar food items in the pantry together — for instance, store all of your baking items in one area and all seasonings for food in another. All canned foods should be placed on separate shelf with the labels facing out. This will make it easier for you to locate exactly what you need for recipes. To declutter your counter space, get a few empty vases to store the large cooking utensils that you frequently use. Keep two or three appliances on the counter and put the rest away in storage until you need them.

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Spring Cleaning Made Easy: 3 Must-Have Items

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Rotating Spin Twist Hurricane Spinning
I am also open to cleaning products that will make my spring cleaning much easier.  I found some cool new products that were affordable and will help me keep my home smelling good and clean.  For the first time, I am looking for eco-friendly products and cleaning products that would not require a lot of effort to complete the job.

Rotating Spin Twist Hurricane Spinning and Shout Mop

With each passing year, it seems more difficult to clean my floors on my hands and knees.  I am thankful that there are floor cleaning systems like this Rotating Spin Twist Mop that I can use, that don’t require me to clean like I’m living in the 1800s!  Instead of manually cleaning the mop with your hands, you just put it in the tub and press the pedal to spin away the dirty water and start again. This spinning mop will cut your spring cleaning time in half.

Slipper Genie Microfiber Cleaning Slippers

I really like the idea of this micro fiber cleaning slipper.  When I just want to tidy up my bathroom floor in a hurry, I’ll put a few Lysol wipes on the floor and use my own slippers to clean the floor instead of bending over. It works like a charm. These Slipper Genie Cleaning Slippers pretty much have the same idea in mind. They’re also useful for corners that your broom or mop are unable to reach. They are machine washable and come in a variety of attractive colors.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner, Lavender

This lavender all-purpose cleaner is great for cleaning your entire house.  The scent of lavender has always been known to be a soothing scent — it fills your rooms and gives you a sense of peace during and after cleaning.  This product is eco-friendly and sold in a concentrated form.  Just add about a 1/4 cup to a gallon of warm water or a few capfuls to a water bottle. Amazon offers a better price if you purchase a set of two bottles — that should last you all season. If you want your spring cleaning made easy this year, check out these three great products. They’re sure to make your cleaning experience quicker and more pleasant.

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Tips for Mingling at a Holiday Party

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We all find it easy to talk to people we already know, but what about the ones you don’t. Here are a few tips for mingling at a holiday party that will help you have a pleasant conversation with a stranger.

First, enter the home with a smile, wipe your feet (shows courtesy) and openly state season greetings to all that can hear you. You should graciously bring the host a gift, showing appreciation for the invitation. When you are introduced, by the host, let’s say to the person’s brother, for the first time, say his name in every other sentence said. This helps you to remember his name.

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