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The appropriate home renovations are a great way to increase the value of your property, increase sales, and provide a good ROI. Renovation does not contribute the same value to all homes hence it is best to consider high-impact low-cost renovations. The 10 tips that follow are realistic, market savvy and will attract a wide pool of homebuyers without putting your budget overboard.

1. Upgrade the Front Door and Curb Appeal

The first thing that buyers can see is the front door, and a modern, secure atmosphere can be offered with the help of the replacement of the front door. Select a strong door that is energy efficient and of a neutral and stylish color and match it with new paint, clean walkways and trim landscaping. A well-kept doorway can be taken as a sign of care and immediately increases the values of perceived quality.

2. Modernize the Kitchen Thoughtfully

Kitchen is a priority among the buyers and full renovations are very expensive. Rather, work on low-cost upgrades: repaint cabinets, change hardware, add lighting, and update sink or faucet. There is an energy efficient sink and appliances that are deep and modern, and do not cost a fortune.

3. Refresh Bathrooms with Small Changes

Bathrooms are also important to buyers, and full remodels are costly like the kitchen. Replacement old fixtures, installation of a new vanity, lighting renovation and re-grouting or re-sealing of tiles. A mirror with no frame and one-lever faucet will help to make a bathroom look smooth and modern.

4. Improve Energy Efficiency

Efficiency is becoming significant to buyers. Install insulation, seal windows and doors, install LED lighting and a programmable thermostat. In the case of opportunity, introduce energy saving windows and new HVAC unit that can offset higher price and make the home less costly in terms of utility bills- making it more appealing.

5. Enhance Lighting Throughout the House

Proper lighting expands the area and gives a friendly feeling. Eliminate severe overhead lighting with the application of layered lighting- overhead, task and accent. Install warm-white LEDs, dimmers, and spend a little on some statement lighting in the entry and dining rooms.

6. Update Flooring Where It Matters

Strong selling points are hard-surface floors in the high-traffic areas which are entranceways, kitchens, and living rooms. When possible, use engineered wood, laminate or plank flooring that is made of vinyl instead of old worn carpet. Deep-cleaning or patching existing floors and repairing damaged tiles costs less when the budget is smaller.

7. Add a Smart Home Touch

Some intelligent-home additions will transform a home into a contemporary and safe place. Add a smart thermostat, video doorbell and smart locks or smart lighting. These enhancements attract tech-savvy customers and create the sense of value without a significant construction project.

8. Increase Storage and Organization

Closet organizers, pull-out shelves and built-in storage products allow customers to visualize the house as theirs. A neat and clean house is larger and more practical. A significant difference in perceived value can be achieved through even minor upgrades to storage.

9. Paint and Declutter Strategically

10. Boost Outdoor Living and Low‑Maintenance Landscaping

The yard is in good condition and there is an extension of a patio or deck, which adds space. It should be proposed by use of low-maintenance plants, cleanswalks and a designated outdoor seating space to imply lifestyle worth. The clean gutters, a new roof, and a clean driveway also increases the curb appeal and value in the long-run. With these 10 practical upgrades, you would be able to make your house more appealing, competitive, and valuable in the current market.

It’s fair to say that your roof is one of the most important parts of your home from both a structural as well as an aesthetic standpoint. To the former point, your roof is one of the most vital aspects of your home’s overall structural integrity. You thus need to make sure that your roof is in great condition, lest you begin to see your home start to crumble all around you. To the latter point, that crumbling isn’t just dangerous to your health and finances, but also to the manner in which you and your home are perceived. Your roof is a big chance to score a first impression – so make it a good one with great Canadian roofers.

It’s fair to say that your roof is one of the most important parts of your home from both a structural as well as an aesthetic standpoint. To the former point, your roof is one of the most vital aspects of your home’s overall structural integrity. You thus need to make sure that your roof is in great condition, lest you begin to see your home start to crumble all around you. To the latter point, that crumbling isn’t just dangerous to your health and finances, but also to the manner in which you and your home are perceived. Your roof is a big chance to score a first impression – so make it a good one with great Canadian roofers.

1. Roofing Repairs

When you contact the best roofing teams across Canada, they will respond to any and all roofing issues you may have in a quick and timely manner. They know that every moment they wait is one more moment that you’re left with a roof that’s unsightly and potentially structurally unsound. Upon arriving, they will give your home a quick once over, determining what’s wrong with your roof, and then setting about repairing the roof problems – no fuss, no muss, and all in the name of fast and effective roof repair services.

Among the most common services offered by Canada’s best roofing teams are the following:

• Repairing crumbling chimneys
• Clearing out stopped up chimneys
• Repairing water damage to your roof
• Repairing cracked tiles
• Replacing missing tiles
• Clearing out storm gutters
• Repairing warped storm gutters

2. Roofing Maintenance

Of course, the best way to deal with all of those issues is to avoid them in the first place. That’s why you should ideally have your roof looked at least once every year or two. In the same way that we need to pay a visit to the doctor every year for a checkup to stay healthy, so too is it important to get quality roofing maintenance for your home every now and again.

3. Roofing Upgrades

Let’s say that you aren’t looking to repair or maintain your roof, but rather add to its overall charm or effectiveness. If that’s the case, quality roofers across Canada have you covered as well. They will be able to install some of the best and most cutting-edge roofing upgrades on the market today. For example, you can outfit your home with stunning new composite tiling, or look into solar panelling options to help lower your energy bill in an environmentally friendly way.

4. Certified Teams

All of the above techniques and practices take a great deal of skill to pull off successfully. What’s more, as stated, your roof’s integrity is of the utmost importance. It is thus likewise critical that Canadian roofing teams get certified. This means training, testing, and in the end

being fully compliant with Canadian regulations and law in this regard. You always want to check to see if the roofer you are considering hiring has met these standards.

Raise the roof a better way by working with the best roofing teams across Canada.

Residential tap water may contain a variety of different bacteria and viruses. There is even a risk of lead exposure with older public sewage systems. To address these issues, homeowners may choose to use various solutions for water purification, such as the following water treatment systems.

1. Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis systems are typically installed as whole-house filtration systems. They are a point-of-entry option, which means that they filter the water coming in from the main line before it reaches the sinks and showers.

With reverse osmosis, the water is sent through a membrane with a porous surface. The pores are very small, allowing water to pass while collecting contaminants. The purified water gets collected and the contaminants are flushed away.

These systems are expensive. However, they are one of the most effective residential water treatment systems.

2. Activated Carbon Filters

Activated carbon filters may be used in point-of-entry filtration systems. However, they are also commonly used in a variety of faucet filters and water filter pitchers.

Activated carbon is a type of carbon that has been carefully processed to increase the number of pores on the surface. The porous surface helps to trap particles that attempt to pass through the filter.

These filters are often used for removing organic compounds, chlorine, and odours from water. It is also commonly used with other filtration systems as a pre-filter, helping to remove sediment and debris before the water passes to another filtration method. However, it cannot remove minerals or salts. For more insights, Global Hydration is a good resource to find additional information.

3. Ultraviolet Disinfection

Ultraviolet disinfection is a form of water purification. Instead of filtering the water through filters, it is exposed to ultraviolet lights. The lights purify the water by killing waterborne bacteria.

While the use of ultraviolet disinfection is effective at killing bacteria, it is not efficient. It also does not remove fluoride or minerals.

Installing an ultraviolet water treatment system is costly but does not produce any wasted water. It is also sometimes combined with an activated carbon filter to help remove impurities.

4. Water Distillation

Distillation is also a type of purification, as the water is purified of any impurities. With distillation, the water gets boiled, creating a steam. The steam is then cooled and collected as liquid.

Residential distillation systems are often installed near the point-of-use. Instead of distilling all water entering the home, the system only distils water for a single source, such as a kitchen sink.

5. Water Filter Pitchers

Water filter pitchers provide a cost-effective way to purify tap water. The pitcher includes a lower compartment to store the clean water and an upper compartment for holding the untreated water. The untreated water slowly passes through a filter in the centre of the pitcher, until it is all filtered.

These pitchers are best suited for small families or individuals who want clean drinking water. The filters typically need replacing every three months and often use activated carbon filters.

Besides pitchers, there are similar products designed to connect to a sink faucet. These products filter the water as it passes through the faucet and can be turned on or off as needed.

If you make these they will not last long. I have made two batches of these over the past two days. The first batch I really just made to see if my recipe would work or not. They were eaten up by the end of the day. The second batch of these was made early this morning because they were so delicious that I just wanted another taste. Yes, I ate one for breakfast and I’m sure they will be gone by the end of the day too.

If you have never had a blondie before it is very similar to a brownie. Only blondies are flavored with brown sugar and not cocoa. There are many recipes for blondies. Many of them don’t call for the sugar to be cooked. To me these recipes are more like a cake. They lack the fudgy texture that I think a blondie should have.

Blueberry Blondies

• 2 sticks of butter (1 cup), more for greasing pan
• 2 cups brown sugar, packed
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• zest of 1 lemon
• 2 cups fresh blueberries

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a heavy bottom pot over a medium flame add the butter and brown sugar. Stir constantly until the sugar is melted and the mixture just starts to boil. Then remove it from the heat. Let cool for about 5-10 minutes.

In a mixing bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and lemon zest. Whisk together. Then add the eggs and vanilla extract into the slightly cooled sugar mixture. Stir until combined. Then add the remaining dry ingredients and stir until well mixed. The batter will be very thick. Then pour into a buttered 11×13 metal baking dish. Scatter the blueberries over the top.

Then bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. The center of the pan will still be slightly undercooked. It will firm up as the blondies cool. Then cut into squares and serve.

I think I might just be the biggest fan of Le Creuset cookware. I think I own about ten different pieces and my collection keeps growing. Not only does it cook perfectly, but I just love the colors. I have a whole rainbow of colored pots, but I still get excited about new colors. So I’m really excited about this giveaway!!! Because one lucky Bo’s Bowl reader will get a chance to add to their collection or start their own with a beautiful Le Creuset French Oven in Fennel. Fennel is on of Le Creuset’s new colors and it might just be my favorite. Well green is my favorite color.

Due to the cost of shipping this prize, this giveaway is only open to US residents in the 48 contiguous states.

The Prize:
3 1/2 qt. Le Creuset Fennel Wide Oval French Oven Value:$255.00

Mandatory for entry:
You must do one or both of these!

“Like” Bo’s Bowl on Facebook, just click the “Like” button on the right side of the page.
or
Follow Bo’s Bowl with Google Friend Connect

Then leave a comment on this post telling how you entered. If you do both leave two comments and you will receive two entries.

For additional entries:
You can blog about this giveaway, or share it on Facebook, or on twitter. Just be sure to leave a comment for each way you share it.

Please be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.

This giveaway ends Friday April 8th at 11:59pm CST.

The winner will be chosen by Random.org.
The winner will be announced on Facebook on April 9th.

Good Luck Everyone!

This week for The Homesick Texan Cookbook Spotlight and Cook Off…We were allowed to cook any recipe from the book we wanted…It was pretty hard to choose…Since there are so many I want to try…but I decided on Carne Guisada…which translates as “stewed meat”. I’d never heard of it before and it just seemed like the kind hearty dish a cowboy would eat.

According to Lisa Fain (author), “Carne Guisada can be a meal in itself, served in a bowl with tortilla chips. It’s also wonderful nestled between refried beans and rice. I like to wrap it up in flour tortillas for tacos, and the leftovers are a hearty topping on a pile of scrambled eggs.”

I chose the in a bowl with tortilla chips…I’m always looking for a reason to eat tortilla chips.

So about 5 hours from when I started cooking the Carne Guisada was ready…yes it simmered for 4 hours…the meat was so incredibly tender…slightly spicy…but not really chili…more like a bowl of meaty gravy.

Definitely a recipe I will make again.

Carne Guisada

adapted from The Homesick Texan Cookbook

• 4 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 tbs bacon grease
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 1/2 bell pepper, stem and seeds removed, diced
• 2 jalapeno chiles, stems and seeds removed, diced
• 2 serrano chiles, stems and seeds removed, diced
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 14.5-oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 tbs ground cumin
• 1 tbs chili powder
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 bottle of dark Mexican beer (I used Negra Modelo)
• 2 cups water
• salt and black pepper

Season the beef with salt and pepper. In a large dutch oven, brown the beef on medium-high heat in 1 tablespoon bacon grease. You may need to do this in several batches. Remove the beef from the pan with a slotted spoon. Add the final tablespoon of bacon grease. Reduce the heat to medium-low heat and cook the onion, bell pepper, jalapenos, serrano chiles for about 10 minutes or until the onions start to brown. Then add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Add the browned beef back to the pot, along with the tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, oregano, cilantro, bay leaf, beer, and the water. Turn the heat up to high and bring to a boil. Then turn the heat down to low and let simmer uncovered for 2 to 4 hours, depending on how tender you want the meat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

*This post is part of The Homesick Texan Cookbook Spotlight and Cook Off sponsored by Hyperion and hosted at girlichef.

Lately I have become a connoisseur of fine Sloppy Joes.
Fine Sloppy Joes? Yes…There is such a thing.
Well I mean Sloppy Joes that don’t begin with a can of Manwich…
More gourmet! Ok…I just called something gourmet that I ate off of a plastic plate with a side of potato chips, but you know what I mean.

Trust me these are really good…Especially if you are craving some Asian flavors.
Actually this is my new favorite Sloppy Joe recipe.

So what makes this an Asian Sloppy Joe? Sambal Oelek and Hoisin Sauce…I love Hoisin…I think I might could even eat cardboard if it had a generous smear of Hoisin on it…but as I have said before, not all Hoisin Sauce is created equal. A couple brands have a funky taste to me…My favorites are Lee Kum Kee and Kikkoman…both of these are available at regular American supermarkets.

um…I think I took too many pictures…like you didn’t know what chopped up celery looked like.

Asian Sloppy Joes

adapted from Ming Tsai

• 2 medium red onions, finely chopped
• 2 celery stalks, cut into 1/4 inch dice
• 1 tbs sambal oelek
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb ground pork
• 1 cup chopped roma tomatoes, canned or fresh
• 1 & 1/2 cups hoisin sauce
• 2 tbs vegetable oil
• salt & pepper
• 8 hamburger buns, toasted
• shredded iceberg lettuce, for serving

In a large deep skillet heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, celery, and sambal oelek and saute until soft. Add the beef and pork, brown the meat, breaking up any clumps with a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper. Add the tomatoes and hoisin sauce. Bring the mixture to a slow simmer and cook for about 30 minutes until it has thickened. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.

Serve in hamburger buns with shredded lettuce.

Makes 8 sandwiches.

So how many of you are on Pinterest? I mean isn’t it the most madly addictive thing ever?..And NOT a waste of time…I mean you learn valuable stuff…like how to make laundry detergent…how to fold a fitted sheet…or 1,000 uses for Mason jars…or 1,000 different things to make with crescent rolls…So no it’s not a waste of time. Mostly all I’m interested in is the food and most of my pins are food related…

And here is one of those crescent roll recipes…I’ve seen these all over Pinterest…and they just seemed way too easy not to try! I mean all you do is roll up some pepperoni and a piece of string cheese in a crescent roll…It would even be a great recipe to let your kids make…and what kid doesn’t like pizza?..OK even better question…What adult doesn’t like pizza?

After you roll them up, give them a dusting of garlic powder and Italian seasoning…not just for flavor, but it makes them look pretty.

Then bake them up…and serve them with some pizza sauce to complete your pizza experience…Perfect for a snack…appetizer…or light dinner, just add a salad.

Pepperoni Pizza Crescent Roll-Ups

• 1 can refrigerated crescent rolls
• 32 slices pepperoni
• 4 pieces mozzarella string cheese, cut in half
• garlic powder, for sprinkling
• Italian seasoning, for sprinkling

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Unroll the crescent rolls into triangles. Top each crescent roll with with 4 pieces of pepperoni, then a piece of string cheese; roll up (tuck the corners to keep all the cheese from oozing out) and place on a baking sheet. Dust tops with garlic powder and Italian seasoning; bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve with your favorite pizza sauce for dipping.