Lilac City Momma

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Should You Accept Cash From Tenants?

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Although every day is different in the life of a landlord, some situations occur more often. One question that some landlords will inevitably face is whether or not they should accept cash from tenants as payment or deposit on their rental property. Online software can help you with free tenant screening to ensure that a tenant applying to rent your apartment has a good credit history; however, just because someone has good credit doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll be able to reliably pay their rent in cash. Here are some things to keep in mind when considering cash versus check or credit card. 

The benefits and weaknesses of cash

While it’s less common, some people in the world don’t have bank accounts. If they do have a checking account, they’d be able to either write you a check or you could set up auto deposits with their banking account’s routing info. Still, just because someone doesn’t have money in a bank account doesn’t mean that they can’t pay their rent each week. For example, having your rent paid in cash means that you get immediate access to your monthly rent. You don’t need to be concerned about whether or not a check will bounce or a credit card charge will be reversed, either, which can also provide peace of mind. 

Accepting cash as a form of payment for rent does have some drawbacks. For example, nobody is likely to send a lot of money through the mail, and it’s more tedious to find time to meet a tenant in person and then deposit their rent in the bank. Checks can be deposited electronically, which makes it much easier to handle rent payments if you’re a busy landlord. While property managers who have only one or two rentals may be willing to make these concessions to rent their apartment, larger operations will likely need to avoid cash-only tenants if they’re pressed for time. 

Online payment is on the rise

While writing a check to pay rent is still the norm for many tenants and landlords, more and more landlords are accepting payment online, too. With platforms like PayPal and Venmo gaining more users every day, it makes sense that landlords would want an option that’s convenient and quick as they try to appeal to tenants. This doesn’t help individuals who want to pay in cash, of course; however, if they don’t have a checkbook but do have a bank account, online payment can be a great solution. 

Money orders are an option, too

If a tenant only has access to cash, they can find a more secure way to get their money by using a money order. Anyone can go to the bank and exchange their dollars for a money order, which is similar in function to a check. This enables your tenant to mail the rent payment each month without having to schedule a day and time to meet with you in person each month. For both the convenience that they offer and the fact that they enable you to appeal to and work with a variety of tenants, it’s worth considering accepting money orders if you’re interested in helping tenants who only have cash. 

Ultimately, you decide how you run your business. Some landlords want to accept cash payments for rent and others want to choose a less time-consuming option. Pick the one that fits your style and keep the above points in mind, and you won’t go wrong in your property management journey.

First Home Inspection? Here’s What You Should Be Looking for in Your Property

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The prospect of house hunting and owning your first home (or selling your first home) can be exhilarating. However, this overwhelming excitement can cause you to overlook important parts of the buying process, such as conducting a home inspection. Even if a house looks move-in ready, you’re still going to want to conduct a thorough home inspection to make sure that no inherent issues exist with the structure or appliances. After all, the more problems there are with the house, the more it’s going to cost you to take care of these later on. Whether you’re hiring someone for your inspection or doing a quick sweep through yourself, here are some of the key areas you should be examining during the process.

Foundation and water drainage issues

While foundation issues can occur on their own, they often go hand in hand with water drainage issues. This is because water that is allowed to flow back towards the house can deteriorate the materials your house is made of. When this happens, you can end up dealing with serious mold and mildew issues, insect problems, and other conditions that may make it dangerous to live in the house without making some serious repairs first. Take a close look at the gutters and drain pipes around the house to make sure that they’re functioning properly. If there’s anything wrong with these areas, do what you must to eliminate any moisture or damage before buying or selling.

Old or faulty electrical and plumbing systems

Older electrical systems contain wiring methods that may be dangerous. When circuit breakers are tripped on these types of systems, you may end up with fires and electric shocks as a result. Even if you’re not looking at or selling a house that is older, there’s always the potential that the house was not wired properly or that the wiring has somehow worn down throughout the years. Similarly, plumbing systems that have been in use or out of commission for a significant amount of time can have issues. A home inspection will review the overall water pressure and whether or not there are any issues in the piping that takes waste out of your home. Along with the foundation, these are two important areas that must be checked during a home inspection.

Roof and chimney strength and quality

Because the roof is out of sight, it’s often also out of mind. However, the roof is what keeps out unwanted moisture and other elements of nature that may also be trying to get in. Roofs that have been ignored will show signs of rotting and moisture underneath the shingles. This can then affect the space directly underneath the roof. If you have a chimney, it will also need to be inspected. Despite being sturdy, chimneys can still break down and wear away over time. Your entire roof should be watertight so that nothing comes in and the only thing that goes out is the smoke from your fireplace.

Along with these main sections that need to be checked during an inspection, you will also want to examine your HVAC system, any internal fan systems, and potentially dangerous building materials. If you need a home inspection but aren’t able to conduct it yourself, reach out to a professional company such as Above All Leveling to take care of the inspection process and some of the more difficult repairs.

To read more on topics like this, check out the life hacks category.

How to Use Design Principles to Decorate Your Home

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If you’ve ever watched a television show on which individuals flip homes or remodel spaces, you may be jealous of the results. After all, you most likely own your home, as well, but it might not seem as put together as one that is professionally designed by an interior decorator. One of the reasons that home remodels look so great on television is because of a few principles of design that go a long way in transforming a space for good-looking to great. Here’s how you can use the same design principles that professional decorators use to decorate your home.

Balance the space, especially if it’s small

Balance is one of the best principles to follow when you’re decorating your home. Put in layman’s terms, balance means that things are evenly distributed throughout your home and each room in it. You don’t want too many items in one space, otherwise, the room will feel small and cramped. At the same time, however, having too few items will make it feel like your home isn’t ever lived in and is empty. In addition to considering quantity, it’s also a good idea to have items at different heights throughout the room. If all of your bookcases and other furniture make it so that there’s a lot of space above the five foot line in your home, it may make people feel uncomfortably tall. Balance is the difference between looking like a cluttered packrat or someone without enough money to decorate and somebody with taste and style.

Create emphasis with accent pieces

If you’re on a budget, emphasis is a great way to take advantage of a design principle without breaking the bank. Emphasis ensures that there are focal points in every space of your home, directing guest’s focus so that they look where you want them to. Emphasis also helps underline the function in each room, such as drawing everyone’s eye towards the television in the room you watch sports on or accenting an impressive dishware hutch in your dining room. Emphasis allows you to show off your best pieces, which also means that you can focus your budget on these items instead of needing to purchase expensive pieces of furniture and decor throughout your home. Think about emphasizing something in every part of your home, including in hallways. Even an inexpensive, yet personal piece of artwork from Simple Canvas Prints can go a long way in creating dynamic design in your home.

Unity ties a room together

An additional design principle to consider when decorating is unity. This principle, which is also known as harmony, refers to how each aspect of your room works together to form a cohesive statement. Without unity, things in your home will feel mismatched and slapdash, rather than carefully thought out. Selecting similar shapes, textures, materials, and color palettes are all ways to create unity in a room. At the same time, however, you must remember to balance the space, too, or it may feel too one-note. You can use contrast to disrupt unity and create excitement and emphasis in each space once you’ve established a pattern of materials and colors. This allows you to pick a theme for each room without overwhelming yourself or your guests with too much of one thing in a manner that appears obsessive.

Each design principle seems simple, and they are on their own. However, when you begin to combine different design principles together, you can create an elegant, cohesive space that impresses others without having to break the bank. Keep concepts like balance, emphasis, unity, and contrast in mind as you approach each room in your home, and you’ll be able to create a stunning transformation with little thought and careful planning.

To read more on topics like this, check out the life hacks category.

5 Reasons to Buy a Log Cabin in North Carolina

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The United States offers a wide variety of amazingly beautiful places where you can choose to live. You can choose a cottage by the ocean, a big farmhouse surrounded by open fields, or a log cabin in the mountains. Each option comes with unique benefits that connect to the heart of the people who choose to live there.

While everyone has their preferences, there are definite advantages in choosing to buy a log cabin in the heights of a mountainous state like North Carolina. Here are five reasons to buy a log cabin in North Carolina.

The weather is fantastic all of the time

While North Carolina still experiences all four seasons and will get snow in the winter, the weather is otherwise moderate year-round. The summers are not overly hot, and the winters are not cold.

The mild climate and the energy efficiency of log cabins ensure the utility costs stay low. You won’t experience the extreme storms you may experience living near the ocean or in the central plains.

The Great Smoky Mountains are majestic

The Great Smoky Mountains run through North Carolina and offer some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. These mountains are lush with vegetation and animals that add to the overall beauty and appeal of the region. While you can build a log cabin anywhere, they naturally fit into the beauty of the mountains.

Home maintenance is easier with a log cabin

Log cabins are ideal because they’re low maintenance. Log cabins do not need insulation, painting, or finishing. While they are not without maintenance entirely, they require significantly less than other types of houses.

They last longer than other forms of homes, and they are more energy-efficient. Signs of damage are easier to identify early and repair than different types of structures and materials as well.

Additionally, log cabin manufacturers usually follow green building standards, ensuring the practice of sustainable harvesting practices. For those who love the region, it’s essential to know that you are not damaging the area with a large carbon footprint.

Perfect place for outdoor activities

From your cabin, you can go bicycling, fishing, hiking, backpacking, picnicking, and wildlife watching. You can cook over a fire and check out the scenery including waterfalls, rivers, peaks, and endless skies. Living in a log cabin also helps you feel more connected to your natural surroundings by offering a constant reminder of what the land is providing you.

 

Choosing a log cabin can make your dreams come true faster than ever

 

The process of building a log cabin is far more streamlined than more traditional houses and housing materials. The cabin can be built in different weather conditions, so the process will not be slowed down like it would with a conventional frame house. From start to finish, a log cabin can be framed in two weeks. While the interior will take longer to finish, the frame will go up significantly faster than other housing options.

There is something beautiful about living in a log cabin that connects you to not only the land but a simpler way of life. Looking for log homes for sale in NC can allow you to slow down, breathe, and appreciate the natural world around you that you can’t do in densely populated areas. There is a quietness in the mountains that you won’t find anywhere else.

Living in a log cabin doesn’t mean you have to go off the grid. You can still enjoy all the amenities of modern life but do it in a more tranquil atmosphere.

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Leisure Holidays: 3 Finance Tips

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Traveling can be costly, especially if you want to see as much as possible while you are on vacation. But how do you keep the cost down, without compromising on fun and special memories? Here are three tips to stay on track with budget while you’re on vacation.

Plan & Book in Advance

You might think you’ve got a long time to wait until your vacation, but if you start getting organized now, you will reap the rewards later. If you know exactly where you want to go and what you want to do – perfect! You can start writing an itinerary now and booking tickets in advance. According to gocompare.com, it’s been proven that the early bird really does catch the worm when booking ahead. Apparently, the cheapest time to book a vacation is 11 months in advance, but this may not be possible for everyone if you have kids or other responsibilities. In terms of travel, last-minute deals are a lot harder to come across nowadays.

Budget for Everything

Before you’ve even booked the vacation, it’s helpful to save as much as you can to pay for it. Save a portion of your wages every month and place in an account, so you can’t touch it. Once you know where you want to go, it’s time to write a budget that allows for the necessities and fun activities too. Impulse purchases can happen more frequently on vacation, so figure out your budget for the whole trip and create a vacation budget planner. You can then plan what you are doing each day, and split the cost of activities, food, and accommodation.

According to Natalia Lusinski, who was interviewed by Business Insider, it’s quite simple to create a budget for travel. As a digital nomad, Natalia works remotely and has been traveling the world for more than 2 years. So when it comes to making a living and working abroad, she knows how to travel and budget for it too. She claims it’s better to pay in cash so you can track your spending better and research goes a long way. Look up travel options and destination tips in advance. It’s also worth visiting tourist hotspots in the off-peak season.

Take a Staycation

Staycations are fast becoming the new trend for people who want to explore more of the country they live in. A lot of people have turned to staying closer to home for many reasons, such as cost, fear of flying, and responsibilities like pets and children.

With the idea of home comforts, more and more people are finding ways to finance a leisure vehicle so that they can travel and explore their own country. You can take an amazing break and unwind in the comfort of motorhome or caravan.

We’ve all had the dream of packing up and driving off to explore wherever you want. In the long run, it may be well worth the investment, as you will save money on eating out all the time, traveling to the destination and accommodation, which can be a chunk of your budget while you’re on vacation.