Make Your House Presentable With Cost-Effective Home Staging

The main objective behind the home staging process is to actually make your house presentable to the buyers, so that it eventually gets sold as quickly as possible. Many people think that staging a house would cost them an arm and a leg, and thus prefer to keep away from it. However, the fact of the matter is that even by keeping your expenses down, you can impressively beautify your home, as home staging does not require major reconstruction. Listed below are some of the ways in which you can successfully stage your house without spending a fortune.

Generally, a house is divided into different parts namely the living room, bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom. Now let us see how each of these parts can be managed up so that the buyers fall in love with your house at the very first sight.

* Living room – To make sure that the buyers see themselves settle in your house with their family, remove the family portraits or similar items, which can give the living room a personal touch. Besides, also remove the items, which you think are making the room appear crowded. It is also a great idea to repaint the room using neutral colors. It would give new and fresh look to your house. Give your furniture a slightly different arrangement. If you have old furniture, then you can make use of new slip-covers. However, it is still does not look presentable, then you can consider renting some new furniture pieces.

* Bedrooms – Again you can repaint the rooms using soft neutral colors for a brighter look. To make the rooms look more spacious and open, limit the furniture. Too many chairs, couches and dressers would make them look crammed. Besides, to make your closets look bigger, you can store most of your clothes somewhere else. Also, personal articles should be removed as the buyers then may not be able to see it as their own new home. It is also a great idea to purchase new bed sheets, pillows and comforters to create a clean and bright look.

* Kitchen – Well, this part of the house is expected to be the messiest of all. Therefore, cleaning it calls for more attention. Especially, if the cabinets and counter-tops have turned slightly unattractive with age, then you would be required to perform a thorough cleaning. Besides, it is also advisable to repaint your kitchen using colors, which can make it look more spacious. Besides, get the defective fixtures and leaky faucets replaced.

* Bathroom – Put as much effort and time in cleaning the bathroom, as you did while cleaning the kitchen. If you can afford, then get old bathroom fittings replaced with the new ones. Also, purchase new towels and place them on towel racks. To enhance your bathroom’s appearance, you can even put an attractive vase of fresh flowers at a suitable place.

Completing the home staging process is a walk in the park for those who have some artistic or creative flair. Even if you are not one of those, the process can still be quite easy if you take into account all the suggestions stated above.

Adoptions Present Special Issues Under US Immigration Law

In my practice, I have had a number of people come to me to ask about how they can help a relative come to the United States. When the relative is a spouse, child, parent, brother or sister, there may be ways to help them. The rules for these types of relatives vary on whether the petitioner is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. But, when the relative is a cousin, niece or nephew, often people are disappointed to learn that U.S. immigration law does not provide an opportunity for that relative to come to the United States.

That is when some people start to think creatively. “What if I adopted my niece?” That is a question I hear a lot. On the surface, it would seem to solve the problem. If you adopt a relative, then they become your child, and then, logic would have it, you could file a visa petition. Right?

Well, the answer is not always that simple. In fact, quite the contrary, visa petitions involving adopted children present special issues. The rules that apply to adopted children depend on whether the child was an orphan when adopted. The term “orphan,” however, has a special definition under U.S. immigration law.

Orphans

An “orphan” is a child whose parents:

• died or disappeared

• abandoned or deserted the child, or

• are separated or lost from the child.

If the adoptive parents do not see the child before the foreign adoption, the adoptive parents must be willing to re-adopt the child in the United States.

If there is only one surviving parent, the child may still be considered an orphan if the surviving parent in unable to provide care to the child, and irrevocably gives up his or her rights to the child so that the child can be adopted and leave the home country.

To qualify for immigration to the United States as an immediate relative, the orphan must be adopted by a U.S. citizen and spouse or an unmarried U.S. citizen who is at least 25 years old. The adoption can take place in the foreign country, or the orphan come to the United States to be adopted. The adopted parents must have seen the orphan personally before the adoption proceedings. Finally, the Attorney General must be satisfied that the adoptive parents can give proper care to the adopted orphan. The adoption must take place before the orphan reaches the age of 16.

The prospective parent or parents must show that the child will have a proper home environment when he or she comes to the United States. This is done through a home study and a fingerprint check. The adoptive parents must also show that they comply with any adoption requirements of the state in which they live.

Non-Orphans

An adopted child, who is not an “orphan” may still qualify as a “child” for the purpose of U.S. immigration law if the adoption must take place before the child’s 16th birthday. Also, the adopted child must be in the legal custody of the adopted parents, and living with them, for two years. For all intents and purposes, this means that the adopted parents must live overseas with the child for two years before the child can come to the United States. This makes it almost impossible for a permanent resident to adopt a foreign-born relative in order to bring that relative to the United States. That is because a trip abroad for over six months is considered by U.S. law to be an abandonment of permanent residency.

Because foreign adoptions present tricky issues, it is best that a person consult with a knowledgeable immigration lawyer before going through the process.

Inorganic Industrial Degreasing Solvents Present Safety Issues

Industrial degreasing solvents are used as a cleaning agent in professional parts washing and machinery washing. These chemicals might be sprayed, brushed, or wiped directly onto the surface of the contaminated part to remove grease, dirt, or dust. While these degreasers effectively remove contaminants from machinery and extend the useful life of these parts, some of these liquids contain unsafe compounds. When businesses do not properly research the chemicals that they utilize, they run the risk of harming employees and the environment by exposing them to toxic chemicals. This article will take a look at some of the most dangerous substances contained in the industrial degreasing solvents. Business owners should familiarize themselves with the compounds in this article so that they will be able to identify unsafe chemicals and keep them from harming employees and the surrounding environment.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have made a point to focus on the presence of VOCs in cleaning products. In reality, VOCs are safe when consumed in small doses but when individuals are exposed to a high level of VOCs they could experience health issues. Symptoms of high VOC exposure include nausea, headaches, kidney damage, liver damage, and a shutdown of the central nervous system. It is important for companies to evaluate the VOC levels in industrial degreasing solvents before making a purchase.

Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)

Degreasers that contain HAPs are problematic because when these substances are used, they emit harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Individuals who work in environments where HAPs are present could inhale these pollutants and become sick. Depending on how long an individual is exposed to HAPs, he or she can develop dizziness, upset stomach, breathing issues, infertility, or nerve damage. Luckily companies can prevent the introduction of HAPs into the workspace by obtaining a list of HAPs from the EPA and using this list when evaluating the degreasers that are available on the market. Being thorough during a search will allow the company to save money by avoiding costly lawsuits and insurance price hikes.

Isopropyl Alcohol

Found in some degreasers, isopropyl alcohol is another toxin that can harm humans. The chemical leads to dry skin and drowsiness while irritating the eyes, nose, and throat. Another major risk associated with using isopropyl alcohol is that it is a very flammable substance, so its presence in a working environment can produce an unsafe workplace for employees.

Acetone

Acetone is another ingredient that is found in some industrial degreasing solvents that is also an extreme fire hazard. Employees who come in frequent contact with acetone have reported skin dryness, headaches, and even eyes, nose, and throat irritation.

Freon

Freon is not a common ingredient in industrial degreasing solvents but is still present in some solutions. While this chemical contains a low level of toxicity and low fire hazard level, it can still cause employees to experience dry skin and light headedness.

These are just some of the substantial number of harmful chemicals that can be found in industrial degreasing solvents. Businesses should protect their employees by doing their homework before purchasing degreasers, with the best choice usually being to buy organic.

Hotel Bed Presentations – Advice on How to Achieve the Best

One of the wonderful things about staying in a nice hotel room is the quality of the linen and the bed making. Hotel visitors simply don’t apply the finer points of bed making at home, and so appreciate the skill of the professional that creates a cosy feel that shouts comfort.

Bed presentation is like any sort of presentation, as much as it’s about the practical considerations, the way the bed looks also has a significant part to play and can really add to the allure and comfort of a freshly turned hotel room.

Five Star Hotel:

There are a number of elements required when creating the professional feel of great five star hotel beds and cleanliness is always the first one. Clean laundered sheets are pivotal in the making of such a top quality bed.

The bottom sheet needs to be placed on the bed and pulled tight to the corners of the bed. This creates the base of the perfect bed and should be followed up with the top sheet. This can be added from the footboard and made to billow evenly over the bed edges. At the head of the bed lift the end of the sheet placing the hem along the headboard. Then pull the sheet at the bottom of the bed until it is flat and even on the bed.

This can then be done with the blanket, though in this case leave the blanket about two hands away from the headboard and fold the top sheet over it. This has the dual benefit of protecting the sleepers face and also preventing body oils getting on the blanket.

Hospital Corners:

These give the bed that professional look and are easier to achieve than you might think. To create hospital corners place the sheet and blanket underneath the foot of the mattress. When this is finished you will see that the left over fabric at the sides has made a U-turn back along the length of the bed. Place this between your fingers and pull it towards the headboard and then place the hanging corners of the sheet and blanket under the mattress. This should mean the left over fabric will fall over the tucked area.

Finishing touches:

Nobody wants oils on their pillows and this can be avoided through placing the pillows on the bed and rocking the case on with both hands. Vertically shake them until they are covered by the case and then fold the excess fabric inside to create a smooth pocket. This ensures the pillow looks tidy.

The bedspread is also very important and you must keep the sides of it even. You will also find that you have surplus at the headboard – this should be folded back and left a little short of the top sheet. Place the pillows on the fold of the sheets and place the rest of the bedspread over the tops of them. This will limit the amount of dust on the pillows.

Finally, add some towels, cushions and mints to create the authentic hotel feel.