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A home is the biggest single purchase most people will make. Matt Blashaw, a licensed contractor and host of the DIY network show, Money Hunters, offers six tips for planning and performing routine maintenance that can save dollars as well as future headaches:

Save on tools ” Unless its a tool you will use often, check local yard sales for good used tools at good prices. If its a tool you may use only once for a specific project, consider renting it.

Save leftovers ” With most home-improvement projects, there are leftover screws, bolts, and other pieces of hardware left over. Storing them in plastic organizers (as opposed to dumping them in a drawer) can save you from having to buy a bag of a certain size screw when you need only one or two.

Save on paint ” If you are flexible with color, you can save big dollars by buying oops paint colors from the home store. That is, colors that werent what the customer wanted and therefore refused to accept. Also, consider that one gallon of more expensive paint may be cheaper than buying two gallons of a cheaper brand that will likely require two coats.

Check toilets regularly – Water leaking from your toilet tank will raise your utility bills and cause premature wear of the toilets internal workings. One a year, add some red food coloring to the water in the tank. Come back in about an hour and see if the water in the bowl is pink. If it is, you have a leak.

Protect plumbing ” Accumulated fats, oils and hair are the most common causes of clogged pipes. Buy a hair strainer for the shower drain. Do not dispose of fats down the kitchen sink ” and if a pipe is plugged, skip the Drano, which can damage the pipes. Try using a drain snake yourself before you call a plumber.

Change air filters – Change the air filter in your central heat and air unit often, especially during peak usage months. Thirty days is the absolute longest you should leave an air filter in place.

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If youve considered buying a house with a helipad, here are four things you should know.

Helipad vs. Heliport

If you plan to keep a helicopter on your property, youre required to get FAA approval as a heliport, which often includes other facilities, like a hangar and fueling station.

Benefits

The main benefit of having a helipad in the backyard is convenience. Helicopters offer quicker travel time than a car and can come in handy in case of an emergency.

Buying vs. Building

It can be difficult to get local approval to fly a helicopter in a residential neighborhood, which is why its easier to buy a home that already has a helipad than to build one.

Environmental Concerns

Its important to keep in mind that private aviation can have a major impact on your carbon footprint.

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Asking a financial expert if theyre working in your best interest when giving you advice on your retirement account seems like a simple enough question. That question is now getting a little more complicated.

Known as the fiduciary rule and set by the Labor Department to take effect in April 2017 ” but then delayed by the Trump administration until at least June 2017 and some parts until January 2018 ” the rule simply requires people in the financial services industry to put consumers best interests ahead of their own.

Without this rule, financial advisers could steer clients to mutual funds with excessive fees or have other conflicts of interest such as higher bonuses or prizes. The Obama administration put the loss at $17 billion a year from retirement accounts for such conflicts.

The fiduciary rule would prohibit advisers from concealing any potential conflict of interest, and required that all fees and commissions must be clearly disclosed in dollar form to clients. It also expanded the definition of a financial adviser not just to someone giving ongoing advice, but to any professional making a recommendation or solicitation.

President Donald Trump has delayed the rule, which is now under review. Some groups have said they may sue the administration if the rule is weakened or killed.

The fiduciary rule is necessary, supporters say, because most financial advisers arent held to a legal standard requiring them to put a clients interests first ” much like a doctor or lawyer must do.

Instead, financial advisers can legally act in their interests first and can earn bigger commissions for more expensive products that they sell. They can earn more by giving bad advice, and its legal.

To avoid this problem, consumers can look for fee-only advisers who charge a one-time fee for financial advice. They dont earn a commission for steering customers into one investment product over another.

Before the rule was scheduled to be implemented, some investment firms had changed their prices on funds to appeal to consumers. Some high-fee products were removed and some companies eliminated commission-based sales practices entirely. Some also created new products that are less expensive for consumers.

If you work with a financial adviser, ask them if theyre a fiduciary and if theyre obligated to act in your interests above their own. If not, you may want to switch advisers.

Hope you found these tips helpful! Contact me for more insights and info.

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These four plants will promote a sense of harmony and relaxation in your bathroom.

Orchids

Native to the tropics, a steamy bathroom can be the perfect spot to grow this breathtaking plant, as long as it gets enough natural light.

Spider Plant

Spider plants are renowned for being low maintenance, but the biggest draw is likely their well-documented air-purifying abilities.

Bromeliads

From bright pinks and yellows to deep purple, youll be hard-pressed to find a more stunning specimen.

Philodendron

With its dark and glossy leaves, a philodendron will instantly give your bathroom the feel of a tropical rainforest.

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Though it may be a luxury thats often overlooked, an outdoor bathing area adds heaps of appeal to any home. If youre looking to add one to your house, heres all the inspiration youll need to design a dream-worthy outdoor shower.

Tropical Sanctuary
For complete immersion in nature, you can create a tropical garden theme with lush plantings that offer the utmost privacy and relaxation. Try using plants that feel exotic, like hibiscus and bird of paradise, and youll have your own little refuge that feels like a Caribbean resort.

Rustic Appeal
If your home lends itself to more of a farmhouse aesthetic, then you can try designing the shower area with a stone wall for a rural feel. Exposed copper piping furthers the rustic ambiance and makes for an idyllic place to wash all your stress away.

In the Open
Rather than enclosing the shower, another option is to keep it open. This simple solution makes it easy to take a quick rinse after getting out of the pool or spending a day at the beach. All it takes is a luxurious showerhead along the backside of the house and you have everything youll need.

Zen Garden
When you need to get away and relax the mind, an enclosed pebble garden with a stone path leading to your outdoor shower is just the place to escape to. You can even include a seating area for quiet reflection or, even better, an outdoor bathtub.

Modern
For a distinctly modern look, try using materials like cedar cladding and concrete along with a sleek showerhead. Add a pergola with plants up above and youll have the perfect place to take your morning shower throughout the summer months.

Published with permission from RISMedia.