We all want to have a good credit score, but how long does it take to improve your credit score? If you’re in the market for buying a new car or house, this is an important question. Your credit score… Continue Reading → via Tumblr How long does it take to improve your credit score for getting a better mortgage rate
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One of the biggest trends in non-traditional ways to generate income currently is the rental property game. Many jumped on this bandwagon in droves, and it does not show any signs of slowing down. Whether you are already a landlord… Continue Reading → via Tumblr How to Get Your Rental Property to Earn Top Dollar The Spanish property market has, for the last couple of years, started to pick up after it took a nosedive following a serious economic slowdown in the country. It’s expected that the market will remain vibrant and for this reason,… Continue Reading → via Tumblr All you Need to Know Before Getting a Mortgage for a Spanish Property When at home, you can enjoy the convenience of watching television, making coffee, microwaving popcorn, and brightening up rooms. Home electrical systems have become a lot more sophisticated as new technologies come to the forefront. In 2020 there were about… Continue Reading → via Tumblr How a Home Electrical System Works Renovating your home can be hugely satisfying, especially if you have lived in the same property for a while and you are eager to make a change. Of course, renovations can also be profitable if you are looking to add… Continue Reading → via Tumblr Modern Renovation Trends to Try Yourself ![]() At first glance, using sustainable materials might seem more costly than the traditional concrete, steel, and timber we’ve been using for decades. Sometimes the greener options may be more expensive but investing in them can save you money long term. Not to mention the good it does the environment too. What are sustainable materials?![]() Sustainable materials are basically substances created from renewable resources that don’t harm the environment (or limit the damage as much as possible). There are a huge number of sustainable materials to choose from, and each has its own pros and cons. These three, for example, are “green” materials for building and renovation:
Using sustainable materials in construction and renovation is really a no-brainer. You look after the environment while working towards a more efficient and cost-effective production process. Some people find the idea of sustainable materials hard to grasp and assume that going green is expensive and complicated. It’ll come as a pleasant surprise then that becoming more environmentally friendly can save you money. The financial perks of using sustainable materials![]() Sometimes the money-saving side of sustainable building materials is a no-brainer — when they are cheaper than traditional options and can save you money in the long run. As a tradesperson, you’re going to be looking at both scenarios. To get you started, we’ve put together a guide to a few of the cheapest options. Taking the sustainable route is easier than you think and more rewarding too. Here’s a quick rundown on a few sustainable building materials that you should be using and how they save you money: 1. Straw bales — cheaper and smarter Straw bales sound like something you’d see in a farmyard, but these days, you can also find them in urban areas where they’re in use as building material or insulation. The bales are usually made of rice, rye, oats, or wheat straw — leftovers from agriculture that have no nutritional value. Manufacturing straw bales is easier and quicker than acquiring timber from trees. Using straw also saves money when it comes to transport, as they are far lighter than materials like concrete and steel. 2. Recycled plastic Using cement made of recycled plastic is much cheaper than older options. Plastic is one of the biggest pollutants, so repurposing it is a great way to protect the environment. 3. Mass timber/engineered timber — faster and more efficient ![]() Cross-laminated timber (CLT) and Glue-laminated timber (glulam) are two sustainable materials that are starting to replace normal wool, steel, and concrete — to the great relief of the environment. This timber consists of many smaller pieces of wood glued together and produces far less waste than steel and concrete. Using mass timber can save you a lot of money and time: glulam can save up to 25% of building costs. 4. Reclaimed wood ![]() Using reclaimed wood in construction and renovation is an excellent way of saving money while helping the environment. Landfills end up with an overflow of discarded wood, while on the other end of the production line, millions of trees get chopped down every day. You can take or buy reclaimed wood from salvage yards and other companies that waste their extra wood. Using wood that would otherwise get thrown out is an obvious way to save money. 5. Bamboo ![]() Bamboo has become a popular material over the past few years, for everything from chopping boards to furniture. It’s also used as a material for building sustainable houses, scaffolding, and even constructing roads. It’s an affordable choice, as well as being durable and easy to work with. Bamboo grows extremely fast, so there is more than enough to go round. Using sustainable materials saves overall costsThere are many, many more examples of specific materials that save money in building and renovating. But going green in general is cheaper. Many industries are moving towards more environmentally friendly methods and clients and the tradespeople they employ can enjoy the money-saving benefits. Using sustainable materials often leads to saving cash in the long run by spending less on energy and water. ![]() These days, there are even financial incentives that make green methods a real win. Some governments are already offering tax credits and rebates to companies who work with sustainable materials. This includes the materials we mentioned, as well as other green options like solar panels. A lot of the time you can source sustainable materials like bamboo and reclaimed wood locally, which cuts down hugely on transport costs. Plus, this benefits the local economy rather than giant businesses that contribute to carbon emissions. One of the best things about sustainable materials is the fact that they aren’t finite resources. When there is a limited amount of something available — coal and oil for energy production, for example — the cost rises. Many sustainable materials, like straw bales and recycled plastic products, will be relatively easy to keep going indefinitely, which means they’ll be much cheaper in the long run. The takeawayUsing sustainable materials is something we should all do in every sphere of our lives, whether we’re sipping on a cool drink, buying a new mattress, or building a house. These days there are more sustainable options for everything, from reusable straws to plant-based memory foam, and reclaimed wood. Big firms are the biggest offenders in climate change. But every time a tradesperson or customer opts for environmentally friendly alternatives, everyone feels the benefit. In time, big firms will feel the pressure and make the switch too. Saving the planet and saving money. What’s not to like? The post How using sustainable materials can help you cut back on costs appeared first on Rated People Blog. How using sustainable materials can help you cut back on costs published first on https://fanseeaus.tumblr.com/ via Tumblr How using sustainable materials can help you cut back on costs ![]() Rated People recently set out to ask tradespeople from across the nation some very important questions about biscuits, brews, and all things break-time related. You turned up for the occasion, the results came in quick, and it was instantly clear just how many hot drink and biscuit lovers there are on this platform! Here are the questions we asked, and this is what you had to say: Do homeowners usually offer you a cup of tea?![]() Ahh, the humble brew. Our nation’s most famously popular hot drink. In fact, us brits love tea so much that results have revealed that we make our way through a whopping 100 million cups every single day. That’s around 36 billion per year! Not only are we a nation that is completely and utterly tea-obsessed, we also value being offered one on the job. After all, there’s nothing quite like taking time out of a long working day to sit down, relax, and enjoy a warming drink – especially when you didn’t have to make it yourself. When we asked you if you were offered tea on the job, fortunately, a massive 84% answered yes. Although that sadly means 16% of you missed out on a warm brew. Has this changed since the pandemic?![]() Another important question. We wanted to know if the pandemic affected how often tradespeople were offered tea by homeowners. Thankfully, 62% of you said no – although this still means 38% of tradespeople were not offered a brew due to COVID concerns. With restrictions in place, and homeowners rightly being cautious about spreading the virus, it’s understandable that things changed, but it’s still uplifting to know tradespeople were still keeping those tea-consuming figures high! Do homeowners usually offer you a biscuit?![]() The biscuit: ultimate, unrivalled partner to the cup of tea. A match made it break-time heaven. Not only is the biscuit a humble champion of snacks, but it is also the best sweet treat for dunking in a brew and replenishing energy levels at any time of the day. Along with asking you the all-important tea-related questions, we were also eager to find out if homeowners were offering a biscuit too. We discovered that unfortunately only 41% of homeowners were offering biscuits alongside hot drinks. A tragedy to say the least. This means that, shockingly, 59% of tradespeople were not offered a biscuit at all. What’s your favourite biscuit to have with tea?![]() Now onto the final, and my personal favourite, question of the survey. Drum roll please. And the winner is… the chocolate digestive! A round of applause for the winning biscuit that secured 44% of the vote. Time and time again the chocolate digestive is a firm favourite, and this survey certainly hasn’t threatened its crown. A wonderfully balanced ratio of chocolate and biscuit, the chocolate digestive comes out on top in terms of taste, texture, and dunking capabilities. The other biscuits in the running for the title were: Plain digestive – 25% Shortbread – 17% Custard cream – 12% Other – 2% (1% chocolate chip cookie, 1% bourbon) At least for now, it’s safe to say the chocolate digestive is the godfather of biscuits. The post Biscuits and brews: the results are in! appeared first on Rated People Blog. Biscuits and brews: the results are in! published first on https://fanseeaus.tumblr.com/ via Tumblr Biscuits and brews: the results are in! ![]() Thinking of renovating your place or giving it a new look? Window design is an important finishing element of any home. Whether you are choosing wooden Victorian windows or a minimalist modern look, there are a variety of window designs to consider when deciding which style would be the perfect accent to your home. Thinking of starting a new renovation project? Find design ideas in the Rated People Inspiration centre! We’ve prepared a list of 7 top trending window design ideas below: 1. Slider windows![]() Are you looking for windows that will let natural light pour in? Slider windows open horizontally or vertically to create space in a room and allow fresh air to flow through. Slider windows are durable, cost-effective and low maintenance. They are the perfect addition to compact spaces. 2. Casement windows![]() Searching for a window to suit a modern home? Casement windows add natural ventilation to a room whilst also being aesthetically pleasing. There is plenty of variety to choose from because casement windows are customisable to suit your home with the addition of incorporating double-pane fibreglass framed for UV protection. 3. Picture windows![]() Let stunning views of the outside into your home with windows that visually frame the outdoors. Adding a single pane of glass creates an unobstructed view of a picturesque forest or city skyline, should you have such a thing outside your window. Find a professional and trusted window specialist by posting your job on Rated People. 4. Bay windows![]() Make a small room feel larger with bay windows that enhance the view and create space in your home. With the right planning and installation, a bay window can add a lot of value to your property. 5. Skylights![]() Adding a skylight into the ceiling of your home will not only bring the outdoors in, but it will also ensure privacy in rooms such as your bathroom or bedroom. You won’t need to compromise on storage space and can still achieve natural light. 6. Window walls![]() With the help of floor-to-ceiling windows, your home will automatically become an extension of the outdoors. Achieve a dramatic impact by amplifying the views of your landscape and maximising the light in your home. 7. Stained-glass windows![]() Add depth and character to your home with intricate and colourful stained-glass windows. You can easily create a feature window in your home without giving up on privacy and style. If you are starting a home improvement project or want efficient window installation, find vetted and trustworthy tradespeople on Rated People. The post Window design ideas and inspiration appeared first on Rated People Blog. Window design ideas and inspiration published first on https://fanseeaus.tumblr.com/ via Tumblr Window design ideas and inspiration ![]() A back garden swimming pool is many people’s dream home feature, but how can you make sure that you’re running your pool as efficiently as possible while also keeping it clean and in tip top shape? In this article Discountsaltpool.com explain why although pools have a reputation of using a lot of energy, it doesn’t actually have to be that way. There are lots of options out there that can help you save money on your energy bill, and improve your pool owning experience by making maintaining your pool easier and creating an overall cleaner pool. Variable speed pumps![]() Variable speed pumps are one of the best ways you can increase the energy efficiency of your pool. They use up to 90% less energy than a single speed pump, and they’re also whisper quiet. They can save you up to 80% of energy costs in running the pump and they outlast traditional motors too. If you’re looking for a more thorough solution to saving money on your energy bill, you can try utilising your variable speed pump’s full potential by reducing your system resistance. Reducing the resistance will let your VS pumps run at even lower speeds, which helps save you money on your electrical expenses even further. A single-speed pump can use as much energy as an air conditioner. Variable speed pumps not only cut that cost, but drastically decrease your electricity bill and are the future of speed pumps. Heat pumps![]() Heat pumps are another great option. They work by pulling heat out of ambient air and transferring it into your pool water. Heat pumps are very eco-friendly, as all you need is 10° C air temperature and you can heat it to your preferred comfort level. Heat pumps only cost a little bit of money per day to run, which means you can save up to 80% over propane gas, 50% to 70% over natural gas and a whopping 600% against electrical heaters found on the market. A heat pump is 4 times more energy efficient than a gas heater, and can essentially cut your pool heating costs in half. Utilise a cyclonic pre-filter![]() A “cyclonic pre-filter” may not be something you’re familiar with but it’s one of the most useful additions you can add to your pool to make it more energy efficient. A cyclonic pre-filter is a two-stage filtration system with no moving parts to wear out and no electrical components. It spins dust and dirt out of your pool using cyclone water flow in order to make your pool water sparklingly clear. With a cyclonic filter, you can save 100s of gallons of water that is usually lost from filter cleanings. Most pre-filters are easy to install and are compatible with all brands and types of pumps and filters. The pre-filter also makes it so that you don’t have to clean your main pool filter as often – and who doesn’t hate cleaning their pool filters. Pool covers![]() This one is self explanatory but they’re an essential addition to this list because of how much energy they can save and they are the most budget friendly option. One thing to remember – it won’t help much in terms of saving energy if it’s not properly fitted and covering your pool. This helps reduce heating costs, filtration/pump run time and chemical costs, all of which will help you lower your energy bill. It’s worth noting that unlike the rest of the additions in this list, a pool cover can be a bit more troublesome. This is because you not only have to make sure that the cover is fitted correctly and properly secured every time, but you also will have to unroll the cover every day in order to prevent algae from blooming. When it comes to making your pool more energy efficient and saving you money, there are many options out there for you to choose from. It’s just up to you, your budget and your pool needs to decide which is right for you! The post 4 ways to make your pool more energy efficient appeared first on Rated People Blog. 4 ways to make your pool more energy efficient published first on https://fanseeaus.tumblr.com/ via Tumblr 4 ways to make your pool more energy efficient ![]() As you know, being a tradesperson requires you to be out and about meeting and working with people every day. After all of that, where’s the time to think about digital marketing? It can be tricky to prioritise but a performing website can really help you to boost the amount of business you bring in. As pointed out by Ignite SEO Marketing, creating a website is only worthwhile if potential consumers can discover it. This is where search engine optimisation (SEO) comes in. There are more SEO strategies than we can count, but this article helps explain them. Choose and use relevant keywords ![]() If you use relevant keywords and terms on your trades website, it will rank well on Google search result pages and on other search engines. The relevant keywords must be those that customers type into the search engines a lot. People will not be able to find you or know what you are offering if your site does not include these terms. Begin by making a list of phrases related to your sector, such as “builders in London” from our previous example. It’s a good idea to indicate your company’s location, as most customers will be looking for local tradespeople. Keywords for particular services you offer, such as “air conditioning installation” or “conservatory roof repair,” should also be included. If you’re stuck for ideas, check your rivals’ sites that are doing well and see if they may give you some ideas. Google Ads Keyword Planner and other keyword research tools are also useful. After you’ve picked your keywords, make sure they’re visible on each of your web pages. This, however, must not be overdone. This is known as keyword stuffing, and it can lead to your website being penalised by search engines and could also drive your customers away. Make your metadata appealing ![]() The information that shows beneath a website listings in search engine results is referred to as metadata. There is a title that summarises the contents of the page, as well as a brief description that provides further information. Because titles have a direct influence on your results, make sure they always incorporate the most relevant keyword for that page. The description doesn’t influence your rankings on its own, but it does encourage people to click on your website. This is crucial for SEO since the more people that visit your site, the more chance you have of ranking high, so make your descriptions as appealing as possible. Maintain a simple website structure ![]() Customers want to be able to swiftly and easily locate all of the information they need on your website. You’re likely to lose their business if they can’t. This is why you must pay close attention to your navigation menu and ensure that all of your website’s information is well-organised. Ideally, a user should be able to access each page of your website with as few clicks as possible. This also aids Google in finding and scanning all of your pages, since your website’s structure is basically a map for its algorithm, and websites that cannot be found will not rank well. Sites with a lot of content might be tough to organise with a basic layout, therefore you’ll almost certainly require the help of a web developer. Google My Business Google My Business is critical in making sure that your website is accessible to potential consumers in your immediate area – a process known as local SEO. Keeping your Google My Business page up to date makes sure that your address is verified and that you show on Google Maps. If somebody searches for “contractors near me” and your firm meets the description, you may be placed at the top of search results under a map of the local region. As a result, when clients in the region look for a company, yours will be one of the first they notice. Guest posting ![]() This is an excellent technique to increase the number of backlinks to your website. You create a blog post for an industry journal or website, and inside that blog, you link to a related page on your site. This indicates to Google that you are engaged in your field and have a solid reputation. All of this contributes to the creation of signals that aid in the ranking of your sites. How do tradespeople benefit from SEO? Perhaps you feel like SEO is only for online stores and services, but this is far from the case. In an extremely competitive industry, SEO may be a strong and effective tool for tradespeople to attract new consumers. But how can you get an advantage? Here are a few examples: Rank higher than your competition: Chances are, if you’re considering advertising your business online, so are your rivals. By positioning your firm at the top of the results, SEO allows you to gain an edge over the main competitors in your sector. You’re significantly more likely to get clicked if you’re in the top 5 than your rivals halfway down the page. Increasing your consumer base increases your revenue: SEO is a tool that generates revenue for your company. The core of the optimisation process is raising your revenue, but it accomplishes a lot of other excellent things along the way. SEO does this by making your business visible, attracting new consumers, and making your brand more desirable to people who may require your services. More leads equals more customers: SEO aids in the generation of digital leads, most of which will convert into actual customers. Increased leads equal greater customers, and SEO helps to generate that continuous stream of potential consumers who would have never discovered your company otherwise. Build trust with potential consumers: Trust is important for any business, but it’s more important for a tradesman to be as trustworthy as possible for their prospective clients. A high SEO position makes your company appear more ‘genuine’ in the eyes of individuals looking for your services, and it may be the deciding factor that leads a potential consumer to contact you rather than your competitors. The post Local SEO for tradespeople, contractors, and home improvement companies appeared first on Rated People Blog. 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