House sidings play a crucial part in the longevity and aesthetics of your humble abode. The main work of these is to provide protection strong enough to survive nature’s worst bombardments and still look amazing while doing so. 

This, however, is not easy and calls for some quality wall cladding that stands up to the task. Here are some options that we believe are worth considering.

Vinyl Siding

This wall cladding is made with PVC mixed with other materials. Not only does it last a long time with high resistance to fire damage but it also comes at a very affordable price range; different designs and color patterns are available to suit your preference. 

These sidings can be installed onto newly constructed houses or can be put over all sorts of existing sidings. Another advantage of using vinyl sidings is that their color is practically a part of their materials. Hence, scratches and dings are not very visible. 

It takes little time and effort to do maintenance on vinyl sidings since all they need is a routine cleanup with brushes and hoses. House sidings are very popular in the US especially in places with warm and humid weather. Atlanta Siding companies are the most popular among all other siding companies in the United States, owing to Atlanta’s climatic condition and great installation facilities.

In contrast, there are some cons to Vinyl sidings. UV light exposure may cause harm and mold/rotting sheathings may be an issue if not installed with waterproof seals. In addition to that, the installation is not fool-proof, so even though you could do it yourself, it is always recommended to hire a contractor; better safe than sorry, after all.

Wooden Siding

This is perhaps the most obvious and oldest form of cladding available in the renovation market. Wood gives your building a non-toxic, classical look and can be highly customizable (stained or painted depending on what you prefer). Who wouldn’t be impressed with exterior walls like that?

Having said that, the exquisite look comes at the cost of safety as wood is a highly combustible material susceptible to fire damage. It is neither reliable in the long term nor maintenance-free as refurbishment is a must from time to time.

Fiber Cement Siding

If persistence is what you require, then this is perhaps the best option for you. Cement mixed with wood pulps gives the material the strength of cement but does not lose its versatility when it comes to aesthetics. 

Fiber cement can withstand almost anything, whether it be harsh weather or a fire. If you’re a resident of a place with lots of pests like Atlanta then you have nothing to worry about since fiber cement is fully pest-resistant. Truly an intelligent choice if you take residence in a rough climate.

Purchasing this may be difficult as it is quite expensive but, to make it worse, you’ll need to hire a professional unlike the options previously mentioned as those have a small learning curve and can be done on your own. It is not energy-efficient and does absorb some extent of moisture.

Brick Siding

Another artistic and timeless external design for your residence comes with brick sidings. These are highly durable and can sustain damage of any sort; takes little to no maintenance work and yet can last for a hundred years on average! Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, ranks third in eco-friendliness in the US for “green” building standards, and brick sidings are just that.

Regrettably, this offers little to no artistic composition. On top of the already expensive price tag, brick sidings require a waterproof seal to prevent any form of damage caused by water. The lack of color and vibrancy can make the place seem dull and uninviting. But hey, at least it’s eco-friendly right?

Metal Siding

Just as the name suggests, this wall cladding is done with metal and, just like metal, it’s very strong and unfazed in most circumstances. Steel and aluminum are just to name a few types of metals that can be used.

Impervious to pests, fire, and also fairly simple to install, metal sidings seem to have no downsides.

That being said, even metal isn’t immune to all our problems. Metal offers very little insulation and a big issue for people would be the fact that metal is not noise-proof at all, so sound from the outside would be extremely inconvenient. Although aluminum siding is widely recognized there, We recommend one of the other options if you’re living in a very busy city like Atlanta because of all the noise, even more so if you consider yourself noise sensitive.

Stucco Siding

This substance is a mixture of lime, sand, cement, and water. It does not come with many hassles but is still pretty durable. The material is pleasing to the eye, and it also holds up nicely over time. Flame damage and pest issues can all be avoided with this pick.

The process to apply stucco may drain you off a lot of your energy and is also time-consuming. The misconception of the material being low-maintenance is incorrect and does require commitment. Furthermore, structural damage may come around in the form of cracks.

Humid climates like that of Atlanta’s will be another problem as stucco can absorb moisture, leading to molds and dark spots on your walls. It is also recommended that you hire a professional to apply it for you as it may cause structural damage if done improperly.

In Conclusion

The main thing to consider before making plans to make renovations would be to figure out what issues you will be encountering in your region with each type of cladding and proceed with the best option. We sincerely hope that our suggestions were useful and that you can sit and relax in your yard with an attractive, well-decorated house behind you.

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Basements can be a catch-22 of storage. You have all this unused, wide-open space, but you have to be careful what you keep there because of the climate. It’s like having another room in your home—but you can’t use it for just anything.

The typical basement is cool and dark. You can add artificial lighting, but the area stays damp and musty without enough windows for natural light. It’s empty space that ends up wasted unless you clean up the area and dry it out.

However, if you know the tricks to basement organization, you can store almost anything in this versatile space. When you use these 5 tips as you plan how to utilize your basement area, you can make the most out of this extra square footage.

1. Think Vertically

The best way to make use of your basement (and any room) is to maximize your wall space.

Aesthetics aside, basements are naturally prone to flooding. When the water in the ground around your home saturates, it heads straight for your basement. The more you can add high shelves and storage on your walls, the safer your belongings will be.

For instance, install a bike parking rack across the ceiling or high up on the wall if you have bicycles and gear you want to keep dry. Keep a short ladder nearby so you can easily access anything out of reach.

And as a pro tip, if you have a basement, you should also have a sump pump. It’s one of those devices that you hope you don’t need to use, but when you do, it can be a lifesaver.

2. Don’t Keep Everything

Before reorganizing your basement, do a quick “spring cleaning” purge. You might find that all the things you thought you had to have in the past don’t matter quite as much anymore.

When was the last time you used each item you planned to store in the room? Is it valuable enough to keep, even if you don’t use it? Or could you donate or sell it to someone who would appreciate it more? If you ever need it in the future, would it be cost-effective to borrow one later instead of keeping it now?

Less clutter means easier organization. By getting rid of the miscellaneous “junk” items you don’t really have a purpose for, you can label your bins and shelves and keep everything under control.

3. Better Safe Than Sorry with Your Valuables

Here’s a rule of thumb to keep in mind with basement storage etiquette. Just because you can fit something in there doesn’t mean you should.

This is particularly true for items that can be ruined if they get damp. No matter how climate-controlled you keep your basement, it gets cool and humid. If it’s not entirely waterproof, it’s the perfect home for mold and mildew growth.

For that reason, you should never store anything valuable that can be damaged with moisture. This includes bed linens and mattresses or pillows, paper memorabilia or collectible items, and anything made out of wood or cardboard.

4. Use Zoning Techniques

Now that you have a better idea of what you want to store in your basement, it’s time to decide where each item goes. Vertical space is an amazing marvel of organization—as long as you use it well.

Split your basement into zones to make the most of your shelves and brackets.

Here’s an example of how that would work, although your zones can be whatever works for you:

• Top of the rear wall: holiday decor
• Bottom of the rear wall: seasonal clothing in vacuum-sealed bags
• Left wall: hardware and tools
• Top of the right wall: bike rack and gear
• Bottom of the right wall: canoe and gear
• Front wall: frequently accessed items

Knowing the zones you’ve created helps you grab what you need fast and put it back where it belongs.

5. Don’t Skimp on the Storage Bins

Cardboard boxes are cheap and easy to use, but they also degrade and attract pests. If there’s one thing you want to invest in for basement organization, it’s high-quality, moisture-proof storage bins.

Vacuum-sealed bags do double duty as water-resistant and room-saving storage. Plastic totes should be advertised as water-resistant and tightly sealed. Avoid stackable storage drawers unless what you’re putting in them can’t be damaged by water.

Conclusion

With these 5 tips in mind, you can start the fun of getting your basement in tip-top shape! Also, do not forget about shelf storage. You’ll love the results, and you might just want to organize the rest of your house when you’re done.

Discover More

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Do you own an investment real estate building and are considering selling it off and acquiring a new one? If you sell a rental property, you must settle substantial capital gains tax payments at the period of the transaction. 

The precise figure varies depending on your income level. However, you’ll get taxed approximately 15 to 20 percent of whatever capital gains you make.

Furthermore, depending on your location, your capital gains may be taxed as income, or you may incur state capital gains tax.

Conversely, suppose you execute a 1031 exchange (sometimes known as a like-kind swap) rather than a short sale. In that case, you can postpone taxes on capital gains by reinvesting the profits from the transaction of your investment building in a new real estate structure or a group of buildings worth a similar or higher value.

You would have to pay capital gains taxes when you sell your investment properties, but you can avoid paying them forever if you leave the assets to your heirs.

There’s no limitation to the amount of 1031 exchange real estate you can acquire, so long as you keep your properties long enough to avoid activating a ‘dealer status’ involving the Internal Revenue Service – usually two years. 

In theory, you can keep increasing the equity and value of your portfolio indefinitely by executing an endless series of delayed exchanges.

Note that you’ll have to consult a licensed intermediary to help you with each of your 1031 transactions. 

However, besides the benefit of not paying capital gains taxes immediately, there are some other significant advantages of purchasing 1031 exchange properties for sale in Florida, they include:

Opportunity to Make a Portfolio Investment

To complete a 1031 swap, the real estate you feature must be ‘like-kind’, meaning they must be investment property holdings of a similar nature, located in the US, and they can’t include your primary residential property. 

Following a tax regulation change that prohibited all similar swaps, the housing market is the only industry allowed to postpone capital gains tax with this kind of exchange.

A Delaware statutory trust 1031 swap allows you to diversify your holdings and generate higher yields over time. For example, you could trade a convenience store in a high-appreciation market for 1031 exchange properties for sale in a more inexpensive location with a less unstable market, leading to higher cash flow.

You can also swap properties depending on your preferred level of involvement, like switching a high-maintenance housing complex with high tenant turnover and requiring a hands-on strategy for a single-family investment building with a long-term tenancy agreement and minimal participation.

Possibility of Resetting Your Depreciation

You can deduct the depreciation of your property to account for aging,  wear and tear, and the building’s eventual structural obsolescence. 

The Internal Revenue Service permits 27.5 years for an investment property’s depreciable period, which means that you can subtract the building’s cost divided by 27.5 out of your taxable income value every year for the initial 27.5 years that you hold the investment real estate.

However, assessors usually don’t have details on enhancements made to buildings until property owners execute a sale and professionals evaluate the real estate.

This factor indicates that even though you significantly improve your property, you might only receive a depreciation cost depending on the first value when you purchased the property.

On the other hand, 1031 exchange properties for sale allow you to adjust the depreciable value of your investment building to a higher figure, giving you a more significant tax advantage every year. Your finance manager can go over the details of how this procedure works with you.

Upgrade to a Higher-Value Property

A 1031 exchange allows you to trade up for a building or multiple ones that better suit your investment targets and provide higher returns while avoiding taxation on the new asset. This factor implies that it’s easier to invest in higher-value properties.

It Allows for Property Consolidation

Having too many assets at once can be expensive and time-consuming, particularly if the profits aren’t looking so good. 

Suppose your investment objectives alter, or you’re having issues overseeing and maintaining multiple properties at once. 

In that case, you can boost your efficiency and profits by utilizing the 1031 swap to exchange high-maintenance buildings for something that requires less time and effort to manage.

Furthermore, suppose you wish to take an even more significant step back. In that case, you can consider hiring a professional manager to assist you or searching for a ‘1031 exchange broker near me’ to find an expert to help you swap your properties.

Facilitates Expansion Into New Markets

1031 exchanges enable you to leverage the most significant advantage of investing in real estate – risk diversification. 

Since 1031 swaps can be executed anywhere in the US with no state-based restrictions, you can use an exchange to get into a marketplace with high projected growth, earning you substantial future returns. 

However, consider that some places mandate you to settle state capital gains levies while others don’t.

Offers a Means of Business Relocation

Another reason to acquire 1031 exchange properties for sale is that it enables the partakers of the swap to take their business or lives to new destinations.

A business or investor can utilize a 1031 swap to relocate their asset to a different site for many reasons, including retirement to another region, job relocation, lower local taxation, a more profitable market, and local business rewards.

Bottom Line

Acquiring 1031 exchange properties has many advantages. The most prominent one is that you can delay capital gains tax payments and reinvest the profits from the sale of your NNN 1031 exchange properties for a new real estate structure or a group of buildings with similar or greater value.

You can also reset your depreciation, reduce your property portfolio to free up time for other activities, and expand into new markets by partaking in a like-kind property swap. However, ensure that you understand all the details involved in the procedure before you embark on it.

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If you’re a newly qualified real estate agent, you might be searching for the perfect place to make your mark. It’s not always easy getting started in the real estate industry and not every brokerage will offer you the high-quality mentorship that will make all the difference to your career. There are more and more brokerages popping up all the time, but that doesn’t necessarily make your decision an easier one.

Whether you feel like you’re spoilt for choice or are struggling to find the opportunities that suit your needs, this blog could have the answer you’re looking for. While you will still have to put in a whole lot of hard work, Compass can make the transition from trainee to full-fledged real estate agent a much smoother process.

So, is Compass good for new agents?

Compass is a great place for agents to get started. An online brokerage with an incredible affinity for technology, it’s one of the best ways to deliver the best service possible to clients in this modern-day and age. To really understand how Compass can help new agents and get a better idea of whether it’s right for you, take a look at some of the benefits listed below:

Integrated Training

Even if you are a newly qualified agent, a little bit of extra training and support goes a long way when it comes to launching a successful career. Compass is committed to mentoring each and every one of its agents to help them to reach their full potential. Unlike other agencies, Compass will help you to grow your own strengths and allow your unique personality to shine through. They won’t force you to fit a mold that doesn’t work for you.

If you have a particular direction you’d like to take with your career, reach out to Compass and find out whether this is something they can accommodate. They have a huge number of experienced agents who are bound to have the expertise you’re looking for.

Cutting-edge Technology

One of Compass’s biggest selling points is its intuitive platform that agents gain access to. Thanks to expertly developed software and tools, real estate agent will be able to efficiently monitor price changes on the property market and communicate with buyers. The software has a very smooth, user-friendly interface that makes organization a breeze. With an integrated app, Compass’s proprietary real estate software allows you to do your job when on the go, allowing you to blend online services with expert in-person support.

Commission

Compass rewards its agents for making sales through commission. This means that if you’re good at your job and manage to close lots of deals, you’ll be rewarded financially for your efforts. It gives agents a great incentive to work harder and improve their skills. So if you know you like to rise to challenges, then Compass could be the place for you. Bear in mind that commission rates will depend on what you negotiate as part of your contract. New agents might receive a lower rate but this can go up as you gain experience.

Widespread

Compass offices are spread across many parts of the USA, which means that there’s a good chance of one being close to you. If there isn’t, you’ll certainly have many locations to choose from if you’re thinking about moving out of state. This could also be a bonus for agents who love to travel, as you may have the opportunity to move from one Compass location to the other in the future. It makes moving an easier process if you know you already have a job lined up on the other end.

Getting in Touch

Compass can be a great place for new agents, but is it right for you? Well, the best way to find out is to get in touch. Luckily, it’s really easy to contact Compass via their website. Not only are they committed to helping their clients find their place in the world, but their agents too. While it’s true that competition is fierce, if they feel like you’re right for the role, they’ll do everything in their power to make sure you find your home within their team. 

Sometimes finding your place can take a bit of trial and error, but the more brokerages you reach out to the better chance you have. If you’re hesitant to apply, speak to an existing agent or advisor to get some insight into what working at Compass is really like.

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