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A house is not only your refuge from the world, it’s also an investment. The recent ups and downs in the housing market notwithstanding, in general your home is going to increase in value. This is especially true if you find ways to improve on the property while you’re there.

Unfortunately, some homes need a lot of improvement just to maintain livability, to say nothing of trying to increase the value. The infamous “money pit” can be a bit of a nightmare in which to live, and you can come away from the experience wishing you’d have just continued with apartment living.

Don’t be fooled by that new-house smell, either; many new homes that are less than 10 years old can still require a great deal of improvement.
Here are some ways you can tell whether the home you’re considering might wind up being a money pit:

1. The foundation has problems. The most significant problems that will arise with a house come from instability in the foundation. While you can always call in a structural engineer to do an analysis, that’s probably not an expense you want to incur for every home you’re interested in. Instead, look at the yard. Are there trees nearby the home? If they’re large trees or if they’re trees that will eventually grow to be large, they can cause the foundation to crack and break.
2. There is cracking in the walls and around the windows. Cracks in the drywall can also indicate problems with the home’s structure. In particular, you’re looking for cracks around the corners as well as around windows. These cracks are tell-tale signs of foundation problems.
3. You can feel air around the windows. Speaking of windows, you’ll want to see just how airtight they seem to be. Feel around the edges of the windows to see if there’s a draft, or whether any air seems to be entering the home. Don’t be fooled by window treatments, either. Some window treatments can reduce the amount of air flowing into a home via the windows, of course, and so you’ll want to take some time to raise the blinds and pull back the curtains.
4. There is water damage. More than just about anything else inside the house, water will cause major damage. It damages walls, floors, carpeting, and everything else. On top of that, water damage can be among the most costly types of problems to repair. Look for water damage in bathrooms and in the kitchen. Check the floors, and check the walls around the fixtures, as well. Watch for leaky fixtures, because that will give you a good idea as to exactly how much home maintenance has been a priority for the previous owners.
5. The home has cosmetic problems. To be sure, minor cosmetic problems can be easy and inexpensive to fix. However, if you find that you’re entering every room saying “this room would be perfect if I only changed X” then you’ll want to give it a second thought. Interior design and remodeling projects can add up quickly.
6. Some easy maintenance items have been left undone. For example, check the faucets. If the “Hot” faucet spits out cold water and vice versa, that’s a sign there could be more potential problems that have been unattended.
7. The basement gives away telltale signs of neglect or of poor construction. The basement is probably the most important room in the home that you can inspect. You’re looking here to see that all of the wiring and plumbing passing through the home seem to have been done professionally. You’ll look for signs that there have been modifications or repairs to the heating and cooling system. Even inspecting the furnace filter can be a good idea, because it might give you some feel for how much time that expensive fixture has left.

Ultimately, none of these things individually should keep you from buying the home of your dreams. What you do need to realize, however, is that the amount of money you expect to put into improvements and repairs is probably woefully short. Double it –at a minimum – and you’ll probably be in the ballpark.

Finally, keep in mind that seller repairs aren’t always the best way to go. If there are problems with the home that you’d like to fix, consider lowering your offer. You’re in a much better position to make sure that the repairs or improvements are done right, and in a way that you want them to be done.

Nick Simpson is Social Media Coordinator at Blindsgalore, a leading provider of wood blinds and faux wood blinds. In addition to their wood blinds collection, Blindsgalore carries a number of additional lines, including elegant roman shades.

Traditionally, businesses concentrating on selling a product or service. The money was made at the point of the initial sale. All the focus was on making the product or service stand out based on quality, convenience, easy of use, cost, or a host of other characteristics.

Eventually savvy entrepreneurs learned about the up sell or add on.

For the past few years I’ve noticed a different model. Rather than the business hinging on the initial sale, it thrived on the repeat customers buying consumable supplies.

The first time I encountered this — without ever recognizing it — was with my sister’s Easy-Bake Oven. I don’t know how much the oven cost, but I’m positive the cost of those dozens and dozens of itty bitty bags of flour and sugar had an enormous profit margin — and brought in many, many times the cost of the oven itself.

The first time I really paid attention to the model was with printer ink. Personal computer printers – that once carried a hefty price tag — were being given away…free! I couldn’t believe it and wondered what the catch was. The catch, as it turned out, was that the money wasn’t in the printer, it was in the ink cartridges. And once you had a printer, you were almost guaranteed to buy ink to make it useful.

Some other examples are:

• vacuum bags
• snow cone flavorings
• razor blades
• pen cartridges
• bullets
• soda flavoring
• coffee brew packs
• weed whacker string
• windshield wipers
• craft machine software
• cleaning product replacement heads
• cell phone service contracts

If you’re an entrepreneur, consider how this model might work for you. Is there something you can sell that will bring long-term repeat business with a consumable component?

Sometimes being successful in business is achieved by stepping back from from our concentrated work to see the bigger picture. From that viewpoint we can often see more possibilities than we ever imagined.

Recently I was perusing my Facebook feed to see what friends were up to. I noticed a college girl posting a stream of pictures from her study abroad in the UK. The smiling, waving kids — who seemed to be doing a lot more sightseeing than actual “studying” brought back a flood of memories.

When I was 19 my dad — a math professor at BYU — took a sabbatical leave to do research at a university in Leeds, England. Being the youngest, I went along for the ride with my parents.

We stayed in a bed and breakfast in London for a couple of weeks. We visited Big Ben, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckinham Castle (and the crown jewels), Tower Bridge, and more places I can’t possibly recall. I became accustomed to low ceilings, shared bathrooms, toilet paper that was more akin to waxed paper, and not understanding plain English.

When our tour of London was complete, we let a flat on Grove Lane. (I hope you appreciate my best attempt to remember British jargon.) During the days, while Dad worked, my mom and I scoured the country side. We loved having cress sandwiches in tea rooms and I will never forget the day the woman behind the counter who — steadfastly and without explanation — flat out refused to sell me a kidney pie, in plain site in the glass display case. That turned out to be a good move as I later found out it meant actual kidney, when I had assumed kidney bean.

I became accustomed to small cars, driving on the left, tiny refrigerators, odd room configurations (a toilet room with no sink, a tub and sink on the exact opposite side of the flat from the toilet), walking a lot, rain, cold rain, castles, cathedrals, things far older than anything in America, Levi’s “paint on jeans,” and not understanding plain English.

During our months there, we attended a wonderful LDS congregation, I performed quite a bit, we assisted with missionaries, did some genealogy, did more sightseeing, bought kilts and yarn in Scotland, and purchased my “trousseau” find china (Royal Doulton, Diana) and had it shipped back to the states.

I am not much of a traveler. Sincerely, I prefer home to just about anywhere. And without question I had bouts of homesickness, even though I was with my parents.

But there is something about actually living someplace else that brings understanding that can be gained in no other way.

I can’t hear anything about England without it bringing up warm memories. It feels a small part of me. And I’m sure that’s what my young friends are learning as they travel.

If you are looking for a great opportunity to understand other cultures, think about taking a semester to study abroad. There are universities UK, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Russia, or just about anywhere you’d like to go that offer study opportunities. BYU (my alma mater) offers 150 programs in 56 different countries. One is sure to fit your cultural desires. But, of course, I highly recommend the United Kingdom.

In Utah, most people have two enormous utility bills. In the winter, it’s the gas bill for heat and, in the summer, it’s the electric bill for the central air conditioning.

I am not sure which bill is worse, but I can tell you that I’d much rather be cold (within reason) than hot. If you are cold, you can throw on a sweater or blanket. If you are hot, there is only so far you can strip down. Then, you are still just really hot.

The few times we’ve endured days with nonworking air conditioners, I quickly learned I can’t even function when I’m really hot. I just fall asleep on the couch like a limp rag.

So, no matter the cost, you can count on me to cranking up the air conditioner when there is only a hint of summer in the air.

That said, no one wants to be stupid or throw money down the drain (or out the vents). While we all want to be comfortable, we can find ways to lower our bills. Our local electric company has a slogan: If you conserve, you can save.

Here are a few easy ways to conserve:

• Have your HVAC inspected once a year by a certified technician.
• Clean your air filters monthly.
• Program your thermostat to let your home heat up a bit when you are away at work or on vacation.
• Add caulk and weather-stripping to keep cooled are inside.
• Insulate!
• Use fans in every room possible. They don’t actually cool the air, but moving air feels cooler.
• Close curtains or blinds to block sunlight.
• Use energy efficient light-bulbs and appliances.
• Compare electricity prices month-to-month and year-to-year. Determine what usage habits many be affecting your bill.

Keeping cool in the summer doesn’t have to break the bank. Be wise in your usage and educate yourself on ways to save and conserve and you can enjoy the summer weather.

When we were kids we went camping every year. It was a highlight of the summer that we looked forward to with great anticipation. After all these years, I still see the two years we camped in Kamas, Utah, as some of the best vacations every.

Our folks found a campground right on the river. We learned to fish there (even catching enough fresh trout to feed the family a couple of times), we explored, we made forts and houses under enormous pine trees, we cooked on a Coleman stove, we fell in the river, we roasted marshmallows, and we sang every folk tune known to man while Mom played the autoharp.

My sister and brother and I each made up a “secret” call to tell each other where we were. Mine was my best impression of a wolf howling at the moon.

As we got older — and, more to the point, as our parents got older — we “graduated” from tents, sleeping bags, and blow up pads, to tents, sleeping bags, and cots. Then we moved up to travel trailers. Then motorhomes. Finally, it was condo “camping” in the mountain or on the beach.

As much as I have a soft spot in my heart for tent camping — and as much as I love it, in theory — in practice, I find it to be just a  heck of a lot of work. It makes for the kind of vacation that requires a vacation afterward to recover from. Tent camping — for parents — is pretty much like doing all the stuff you usually do, only harder. Cooking over a fire or stove with lousy utensils and a tiny stock of food from a cooler. Doing dishes in a basin after heating water on the fire. Showering in…oh, yea, not showering. Ack.

As Sam and I look into the future, we’re thinking about jumping to the trailer mode. Having a trailer is advantageous for a number of reasons:

• Comfortable, protected sleeping quarters
• Cooking facilities that don’t require setup/take down
• Toilet that you don’t have to walk across the campground in your skivvies to use — and that is actually sanitary
• Access to a private shower
• Ability to drive you car or truck away from the trailer to do sightseeing, hiking, or other activities without having to pull up camp

If you are also thinking of moving up to a travel trailer, consider all the ramifications.

Make sure you have adequate  insurance (called caravan insurance in the UK) that will cover damage. A dear friend of mine had a boat come unhinged and go careening off through a fence company lot. Another had a camper literally blow right off the truck and go rolling off into the desert.

Before investing, make sure the unit you can afford will really comfortably fit your family and whether you will actually use it enough to warrant the expense. Trailer camping can be  a great way to make memories, but if you only use it a handful of times, you’re better off renting a trailer or staying in a hotel.

With summer coming, what vacation plans do you have?

Mom: Boys, your sister is bringing a friend over after their date to watch a movie tonight. So please be polite and no teasing. OK?

Samson (11): Like not saying things like “boyfriend” or “marriage”?

Mom: Yes.

Caleb (8): Or what about whistling the “in love” song from Sims?

Over the past couple of months I’ve dropped ten pounds using a “slow carb” diet. But, once again, I’m kind of stuck. So I started looking into supplements — vitamins and minerals — that might often be deficient in those who have trouble losing weight. The vast numbers of potions and pills is overwhelming.

I ended up with a bottle of calcium with vitamin D, but it got me thinking. Certainly the best possible way to get vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and all those other needed microscopic things is through real food.

Fortunately, we like most vegetables and fruits. Generally speaking, getting a good variety of these will provide most of the nutrients a healthy person needs. Sometimes, however, we have a specific health need that our typical diet isn’t addressing. If I can solve a problem with a real food or a product made from real food, I have more confidence that it will be properly absorbed.

If you have any health problems associated with inflammation, consider wellness drink called Nopalea. I can help cleanse the body of toxins, reduce inflammation, and promote optimal health — and all from rare antioxidants sourced from the fruit of the Nopal cactus.

Since Samson was released from the hospital (the second time!), we have made a concerted effort to eat better. We’ve always eaten very healthy foods, but now even the kids seem determined to do whatever is within their power to stay out of the hospital and healthy. So we’re on the lookout for ways to accomplish that. If you find other products that have helped you, let us know!

There’s an old adage from my parent’s generation that too often seems to be forgotten in our disposable society.

Use it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or do without.

Believe me, my parents lived this verse! When I cleaned out my dad’s house to sell last fall (he moved in with us after a severe auto accident), I was reminded just how well!

For better or worse, finances dictate so many things should just be thrown out rather than repaired. My dad always used to get his dress shoes repaired and reheeled. Unless you go to a very nice (by my standards) men’s shoe store, your wallet will be fatter if you just check the old and get a shiny new pair.

Small appliances are similar. We used to have a local shop called The Mending Shed. When I was a kid, I often road there with my dad to drop off a toaster, a blender, a shaver, some small item that needed a new widget or gadget added.

Today, it’s difficult to find such shops — because the repair will cost more than the new item did.

Large appliances are an exception to this rule. However, I still see the disposal mindset creeping in. In my organizing workshops people often complain about dishwashers, washers, and driers that don’t work. Frequently, however, the machine just needs a minor adjustment, a tuneup, or even a new detergent that better fits the water conditions.

Rather than trash your pricey appliances, look for a reputable company that provides washing machine repair. Rather than paying thousands of dollars, you might end up with a washer that works like new for a fraction of the cost.

Remember, money isn’t the only thing you save when you really do “use it up, wear it out.” When you reduce the number of bulky items that end up in a landfill, you help keep trash and pollution lower.

Double benefit!

For ten years we lived in the stereotypical retirement mecca called Boca Raton, Florida. the only problem was, we weren’t retired. In fact, I wasn’t even 30 years old when we moved there, so we were rather out of the median age range.

At the time we joked about retirement communities called Leisureville, Century Village, and Carefree Cove. (Yes, really.) When we went out to eat, we jostled with folks out for the plethora of early bird specials.

Once I wrote a roadshow for the kids in my church’s youth group. One song sends a couple of shout outs to the senior population that all Boca residents are familiar with. 

Boca Boca

To tune of Oklahoma!

Boca…Boca
Quintessential city by the sea.
Lots of coral and teal
Oh, what a deal!
Isn’t there some place you’d rather be.

 Boca…Boca
Where Mercedes swerve around on Glades.
You can find your niche
If you are rich
Every home here has at least three maids.

 If you are a hundred and five
Come to Boca and we’ll let you drive.

Does the sign say…STOP!
Well speed up anyway
Because you’re not up north,
You are driving in Boca.
You’re in Boca…today!

But last week a woman only a few years older who I idolized as a child, posted on her Facebook wall that she had just gotten a senior discount at a local restaurant.

Not to be cliche, but where did the time go?

I’m only 47, so I’m not packing up to shuffle off to the mahjong table. With six kids spaced 16 years apart, we still have three non-adult children.But we are (only?) ten years off from having all our children grown. That’s nothing compared to my peers and high school buddies. Many of them are already empty nesters. And although I actually dread having all the kids gone, I know it will happen and I’m determined to be ready to have a life just as jam-packed as it is now.

Today I read about a retirement community in Palm Beach Gardens called Devonshire. It’s a sprawling estate on a PGA golf course. Add the convenience of local shopping, local entertainment, and gorgeous natural scenery, then throw in museums, theater, and music, and you have a perfect setting to get on the the next phrase in your life.

What do I mean by the “next phase”? Well let’s just say I don’t plan to relax. There are so many possibilities: charitable service, work on foundations, learning new skills.

My 82-year-old dad who came to live with us last year says, “You know what it means to be retired? It means being really tired of having nothing to do.”

No way, daddy. I plan to keep my to do list full to the brim until I pass out, exhausted, for the very last time.

My husband, Sam, lived in American Samoa from the time he was eight until he was 11. His parents were teaching at a private school. Seven years later he went back across the sea and served a two-year religious mission in both American Samoa and Wester Samoa.

Needless to say, we have a love for everything Polynesian and have what I call “the shrine” to Samoa in our family room.

Whenever I find an unique product or service, I like to share it with readers. Today I found just such a business that fits right in with our Samoan theme.

Bamboo & Tikis has all sorts of fabulous island themes products. From entire sets of bamboo furniture to bamboo rugs to bamboo matting. You could decorate an entire home in Polynesian goodness without any trouble at all.

Do you have a lush yard with a pool? How about finishing off some areas with natural rolled bamboo fences? Add a couple of tiki statues around the pool.

For the crowning glory, create a thatch umbrella to add shade and function, as well as a big kick of style.

Now gather your friends in your new tropical paradise. Throw some burgers on the barbecue and whip up a pineapple slush. You’re in for some island fun.