I’m all the time reading on ARA for great tips and ideas.  When I read the article below I thought it might be useful to others out there.  I really like the information about the drapes, we installed these in our bedroom at the beginning of summer to help keep the afternoon heat out and they really worked and helped cut down our cooling expenses.  This year I am purchasing 6 more for the office.  I found only one problem with them, they make the room really dark so it makes me want to take a nap way to often.  Hope you enjoy the following article.

(ARA) – Just as many of us have taken on extra work to make ends meet in this economy, everything we buy now must serve a dual purpose as well. It makes sense to spend your hard-earned dollars on items that not only do the job intended for them, but that also save you money in a variety of ways.

Not sure how to make money-maximizing, dual-purpose purchases? Here are a few tips:

* Make decor decisions that not only upgrade your enjoyment of your home, but that improve its energy efficiency as well. For example, thermal drapes in decorator colors will add punch to your decor and will also help retain heat. An energy-efficient electric stove can create a warm ambiance and help save on energy bills as well. You’ll find desirable options at www.seventhavenue.com.

* Drop your gym membership, which likely costs you $50 a month, in favor of creating a home gym.

* Skip the spa for aromatherapy, hair removal and manicures or pedicures. You can do all those things at home – with a spa-like experience – by obtaining the right devices. An electrolysis pen does home hair removal quickly and easily – and without the cost and inconvenience of going to the spa.  A pair of Pedi Couture Sandals, available at www.seventhavenue.com, will sooth and relax your feet while gently separating the toes to make a self-pedicure simple.

When you find your dream home, make sure that you get a thorough home
inspection from the Atlanta home inspector, David Lelak of IHI Home Inspections,
he serves Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming, Woodstock, Atlanta and all of
North Georgia. Call us today at 404-788-2581 for a thorough home
inspection.  We won’t let you buy the money pit.

We are proud to announce that we are now IASQ™ Certified Inspectors for the
Healthier Environment Living Program – Green Technology that helps with
Eliminating Harmful Germs, Bacteria and Viruses from your home and business!
Visit Healthier Programs corporate
site for more exciting information. Need HELP for your home immediately,
call us at 404-788-2581 today!

Need an easy way to hook up phone, cable and internet, here you go: FREE
Home Utility/Communication Connection Services where one call does it all,
Satellite, Internet, Cable TV, Home Security, and Phone.  Call 1-866-594-4871
and provide them with access code 1008126.  Call our Free Home Concierge
Services to save time, save money and simplify life!

You can also schedule
your own Georgia home inspection today online.

We create Peace of Mind ONE Home Inspection at a time!

Visit us here:

Our Website: http://www.ihihomeinspections.com

Facebook http://companies.to/atlantahomeinspector/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/bonnielelak

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/gahomeinspector

We love new friends and followers!

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Atlanta Home
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Canton Home
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Cumming Home
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Marietta Home
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Roswell Home
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Woodstock Home
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North Georgia Home
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Radon Gas Testing

Radon Inspections

Pool & Spa Inspections

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Atlanta home
inspector shares “Your own sanctuary” I loved the article below that I found
on ARA and with fall here it gives some great tips. I especially love the idea
about a fire pit to gather around!  My kids love hanging out by a fire and I
love smelling the leaves burn.

(ARA) – Your backyard is your sanctuary. But you want to make it even better
– perhaps with a patio where your family can congregate, enjoy outdoor
barbeques and entertain guests.

Here are some design tips to help turn your backyard into the oasis of your
dreams:

* Install a patio.
You yearn for a lovely patio area for picnic lunches
or to relax and read a book as you enjoy the sun. The cost of using natural
stone, however, is a negative, and so is the lack of creative colors and design
allowed by precast pavers. Another option is to use stamped concrete for your
patio base, which has unlimited patterns and colors and can be used in all
climates.

“Homeowners are interested in concrete patios because they blend the
connection between house and patio — indoors and outdoors,” says Jim Peterson
of ConcreteNetwork.com, which offers a wide variety of patio designs, provides
many useful concrete tips and comparisons and lists local contractors for your
area. “Decorative concrete can create the look of authentic stone, slate or
cobblestone, is more economical to install and adds value to the home.”

* Gather around the fire.
Bring your family together with a fire pit.
Whether you’re building a fire for cooking dinner, roasting marshmallows or to
keep warm on a chilly evening, it will become a gathering place for your family
and – if invited – friends and neighbors. Depending on your creativity and
building skills, you can make your fire pit an elaborate congregational area
with permanent benches and a decorative wood rack, or a simpler ring for cozy
family cookouts.

* Set up seats for relaxation.
Don’t forget the tables, chairs and
decorative planters to encourage people to relax in your backyard and enjoy your
sanctuary. You will need to decide if you want permanent, built-in tables and
chairs or benches on your patio or along strolling paths through your backyard
landscape, or if you want furniture you can rearrange and store during inclement
weather.

* Keep the hunger pains at bay.
Perhaps you are looking for more than
just relaxation; you want to fill your tummy as well. Outdoor barbeques are
becoming increasingly popular, complete with drink coolers and sinks. For an
outdoor countertop, look for a material that can withstand weather, yet still
have a warm, natural look that will work with the other materials you’re using
on your porch. Concrete countertops can be mixed with stains, pigments,
aggregates and epoxy coatings to give them the look, texture and feel of more
expensive quarried stones like marble, granite and limestone. Visit
www.ConcreteNetwork.com to learn more about how this material can work in your
backyard.

* Soothe the senses
Water features are popping up in backyards across the
country. Families enjoy them by relaxing near the sound of trickling water and
watching birds and other wildlife looking for a drink. Some homeowners install
small fountains surrounded by landscaping to provide the water ambiance, while
others take the route of building a full water garden.

Self-contained water features are easy to install in less than a day, while
kit ponds might take a weekend to set up. But the larger water features give you
more opportunities to be creative – for example installing a bridge, water
wheel, water falls or tiny streams.

Once you have your backyard sanctuary complete, you’ll have plenty of
opportunities to enjoy your investment while relaxing. For additional tips in
learning how to install a functional and appealing patio in your backyard, visit
www.concretepatio.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

When you find your dream home, make sure that you get a thorough home
inspection from the Atlanta home inspector, David Lelak of IHI Home Inspections,
he serves Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming, Woodstock, Atlanta and all of
North Georgia. Call us today at 404-788-2581 for a thorough home
inspection.  We won’t let you buy the money pit.

We are proud to announce that we are now IASQ™ Certified Inspectors for the
Healthier Environment Living Program – Green Technology that helps with
Eliminating Harmful Germs, Bacteria and Viruses from your home and business!
Visit Healthier Programs corporate
site for more exciting information. Need HELP for your home immediately,
call us at 404-788-2581 today!

Need an easy way to hook up phone, cable and internet, here you go: FREE
Home Utility/Communication Connection Services where one call does it all,
Satellite, Internet, Cable TV, Home Security, and Phone.  Call 1-866-594-4871
and provide them with access code 1008126.  Call our Free Home Concierge
Services to save time, save money and simplify life!

You can also schedule
your own Georgia home inspection today online.

We create Peace of Mind ONE Home Inspection at a time!

Visit us here:

Our Website: http://www.ihihomeinspections.com

Facebook http://companies.to/atlantahomeinspector/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/bonnielelak

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/gahomeinspector

We love new friends and followers!

Services Provided:

Alpharetta Home
Inspections

Atlanta Home
Inspections

Canton Home
Inspections

Cumming Home
Inspections

Marietta Home
Inspections

Roswell Home
Inspections

Woodstock Home
Inspections

North Georgia Home
Inspections

Radon Gas Testing

Radon Inspections

Pool & Spa Inspections

Tweet This Post