PDX Renovations

Author: joseph

  • Death and Taxes! Call PDX Renovations LLC Today

    Death and Taxes

    Death and Taxes! Death touches all at one time or another and the older we get, the more it seems to touch our lives.

    Loved ones growing older and passing on is just a part of life and it’s usually unexpected. What’s even more unexpected is how completely unprepared we all are for the event.

    Even though we are taught at a young age all about life and death and everything in between, we still forget (or put off) making those important decisions.

    How often do you think about it? When to make a will, when to talk to loved ones about your wishes. Well, the sooner the better.

    Statistics show that most Americans don’t have a will. Most people think only “Rich people” need wills. Well, the majority of Americans don’t fit into the “Rich” Category, but you still need to be prepared, especially if you own a home, have children, or investments.

    Who wants to talk about death? No one. No one sits around one day and decides it’s time to get things in order. Mostly, we think of death when someone close to us passes and it’s a constant reminder that it can happen anytime.

    The best way to be prepared (although no one is truly prepared, are they) is to get things on paper. You don’t have to have a fancy attorney or estate planner even, but it’s always a good idea to get your ideas and plans on paper and tell a loved one. It’s an uncomfortable subject, but one that it’s for sure in life.

    Death and Taxes! Don’t let your loved ones have to deal with your unfinished business. Let them know where your bank statements are, your important papers, directives for your health care if you have one.

    Credit cards, taxes, etc. Get your death file together and it will help you breathe a little better for the future knowing that everyone will be taken care of. It’s not pleasant and it’s easy to put off until tomorrow, but it’s a very important responsibility that we all have.

    There are plenty of online resources for you and online forms, guides, etc to get your will started and your plans for a smoother departure from this earth will make the transition easier for your loved ones.

    They are already going to lose you someday, don’t let them lose their homes or anything else as well. Make it easier on them by telling them what you want before it’s too late.

    “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” Ben Franklin

  • Taming the Backyard Jungle! PDX Renovations LLC

    Taming the Backyard Jungle! PDX Renovations LLC

    Taming the Backyard Jungle

    Taming the Backyard Jungle!

    It’s nearly May, kids are almost done with school and it’s time to get your summer on But your backyard looks like a jungle. What do you do? Where do you start?

    You didn’t get a head start on the madness until it was too late and now everything is abundantly growing.

    What you’d rather be doing is relaxing in the hammock drinking a cold beverage, but before that can happen, the weeds need to be gone and the lawn needs to be lush and green.

    We suggest taking it one step at a time. If you stand back and look at the entire disaster, it will overwhelm you and make you fear the yard. Don’t fear and don’t fret.

    There are outrageously expensive companies that will come tame the jungle for you or you can take it on yourself. We suggest the latter.

    A great way is to make a list, or even a sketch of the backyard and then look at it in sections. You can even rope off a portion of the overgrowth and tackle that for an hour or two each day or just pick one small area and say “This weekend, You’re doing down!” And just stick to that one part.

    It will keep you from being overwhelmed with the jungle outback and will give you a small project to work on in your spare time, rather than a huge headache.

    Weed-shield is also very effective. Once you’ve worked hard and gotten rid of every last weed, think ahead and if you never want to do this again, put down a barrier and then cover with bark or gravel or even decorative rock. (If you do this, seek out gravel yards instead of paying a fortune for bags at a hardware or garden store)

    If you know anything about the Pacific Northwest, you know that Moss can also be a problem. Especially in those areas where the sun just doesn’t shine.

    There are a variety of very good moss fighters out there as well as other weed killers like Noxal and Casoron to take on areas where you don’t want anything growing ever again… so take a look around, do some measuring and get to Lowes or Home depot for your yard needs sooner than later so you can enjoy the sunshine in your newly manicured yard.

  • Housing crisis What’s Next? PDX Renovations Can Help!

    Housing crisis

    Not again? Experts are now saying that Supply is the Next projected “Housing Crisis” in America.  The Housing market has gone completely in the opposite direction as the last crisis in which millions of Americans found themselves upside down in homes and mortgages.

    Truly that was more of a “Bad financing” crisis than what’s happening today.

    First-time homebuyers are being crowded out because the number of “Starter” homes on the market has declined 43.6% in the past four years.

    It’s simple. The homeowners who want to take the next step into something bigger or better just can’t afford to get to the next level. The number of “trade up” homes on the market is also down about 40% in the same time period.

    “Meanwhile, mortgage lenders (despite record low rates) are still reluctant to extend credit to less than superb borrowers.” Myles, Udland, Business Insider

    What does this mean to you, or the first-time homeowner? Down payments are difficult to save and people just aren’t committed to staying in one area.

    When the economy is bad, people feel the instability and that means not wanting to commit to a mortgage a lot of the time.

    Why buy a house and move when your job could be eliminated or a lay-off could occur any day. There are plenty of reasons to fear an unstable economy and being a homeowner can be scary.

    Is Portland feeling the pinch of this new crisis? Or Vancouver for that matter? Ask your friends and family who may be looking for a home in the area? There are just not enough houses at the right price points to go around.