Home & Garden

Yes, this is where we’re at now – even cleaning a roof has its own environmental pitfalls. This might not mean much if, like most people, you’ve never even considered cleaning your roof. However, once you’ve learned a little about why roof cleaning is important, and how eco-friendly roof cleaning is even better, it might become something you do as part of your regular property maintenance regime.

Why clean a roof in the first place?

Well, first of all – it looks good. A sparkling roof means greater curb appeal for your property… not that this alone is reason enough to start cleaning your roof (unless you’re selling the place, that is). Secondly, and getting into the important stuff, cleaning a roof removes mold and algae that can start to eat away at your timber, if allowed the opportunity.

Plus, if this occurs, the scent of damp wood alone actually attracts pests. Remember that myth from school about hair lice only being attracted to clean hair? Well, now you know that woodlice can actually be deterred by the scent of a freshly cleaned roof.

And finally, getting on to the eco-friendly, in addition to the home-friendly benefits of regularly cleaning your roof, a dirty roof is actually less energy efficient than a clean one. A filthy roof, covered in debris, isn’t actually reflecting energy from the sun away from its surface as effectively.

Instead, your property is absorbing more heat, so in the summer months you may find it harder to regulate temperature inside the property – and your loft space could become more prone to holding moisture. And conversely, during winter, you may find that having the heating on leads to an awkward distribution of warmth on different levels of the home.

The eco-friendly cleaning option

More than this though, the method of cleaning itself plays a big part in the impact you have on your local environment. The quickest method of cleaning a roof is a power wash, and chemical spray, which covers every inch of the roof’s surface. However, even if you leave your kids and pets inside while this takes place, the chemical run off ends up in your garden, all over your windows, and any local fauna unlucky enough to be nearby.

Products like detergents and bleach solutions can prove to be particularly damaging for plants, and the tiny beasties that live nearby, which are often food for birds and squirrels (if they aren’t killed by the chemicals first!). So, even though you’ll have a wonderfully clean roof, a simple consumer decision on the products used to clean the roof could help you to not only protect your roof – but keep your garden in top nick too.

So, when you’re looking for specialist roof cleaners, or roofing companies that offer a full range of services, like Findley roofing contractors in Darlington, ask them about what they’d use to clean a roof. There are plenty of excellent, environmentally-friendly products available, so there’s no reason a reputable company should be saving a few pennies by continuing to use harmful, chemical cleaners.

Finally, if you decide to clean your roof yourself, shop around for most environmentally friendly cleaners available, and give both your home and your garden some TLC in the process.

 

 

In Summer your air conditioning system works it’s hardest to keep you cool inside. If your system isn’t running at its best you may find your electricity bills increase and the system doesn’t work properly. Here are ways to lower electricity bills, save energy, increase comfort and maximize effectiveness when your air conditioning system needs the most help to keep you cool in the heat of Summer.

1. Call an Air Conditioning Expert

Every air conditioning system should be serviced annually which includes –

• Cleaning the RA Filter
• Inspect and clean condenser coils if required.
• Check zone system operation
• Check operation of heating/cooling
• Check indoor and outdoor fan operation
• Test air on/off reading to confirm correct refrigerant levels
• Check Duct and unit conditions
• Inspect electrical connections for unsafe hot joints
• Quote for any additional repairs

Servicing your air conditioning system in Spring is our recommendation for air conditioning clients in Mandurah and surrounding areas. Services should normally cost between $130 – $180 depending on the system type and access. Make sure that your air conditioning Mandurah expert can handle it all.

2. Check your filters

The most important thing to do with your refrigerated air conditioning system is to check your filters every 1 – 3 months. This is ultra important during the heat of summer when dust and pollutants are airborne. If the filter becomes dirty it could become clogged which means your system will have to work harder to supply the same amount of cool air. We have seen at times air conditioning filters so clogged that the performance of the system is running at only 10% of it’s capacity.

Replacing the filters is one of the easiest and most effective methods of ensuring your refrigerated air conditioning system is running efficiently. It is also critical for ensuring the long term health of your air con system.

3. Keep your A/C in the shade

Refrigerated air conditioning systems have an outdoor unit. These systems can be installed in the sun and will still operate however with proper shading can run more efficiently. Usually we install these systems under eaves or on the south side of the home for our residential clients. Air in a shaded space is cooler in Summer than the surrounding air which will allow your air conditioning unit to have an easier time cooling the air.

4. Don’t let your thermostat take the heat

This is a simple tip but one that most people don’t think about when operating their air conditioning system. Don’t place lamps, TV sets, or other heat-producing appliances near your thermostat. The thermostat is located either on the wall controller, remote or inside the return air filter. The thermostat senses the heat causing the air conditioning system to run harder and longer than necessary. If you have a ducted refrigerated air conditioning system we recommend not allowing any outside heat to be sucked in through the return air grille.

5. Do touch that dial to save some money

Remember that each degree you dial below 23 increases your energy consumption by about 8-10 percent. If your bi-monthly electric bill to run your air conditioning system is about $300, you’ll save $25 per bill with EACH degree you can stand above 23. While it is tempting to run your air conditioning system at 18 degrees during a hot 40 degree day, this is going to make the compressor scream and in-turn give you scary operation costs.

6. Consider a programmed response

Most of our air conditioning systems have timers and programs which will allow the client to set the unit to come on at specific times at a specific temperature. Ideally if you have a decent solar power system installed (which we also specialise in) and you work 9-5 we recommend setting the air con system to come on at around 2:30pm to get your house cool before you get home. This way the first hour of running the system which is often the most ink-efficient will be offset by your free solar power electricity.

7. Is it time to replace your old air con system?

You may find your old air conditioner is not working like it used to. Consider replacing your air conditioning system with a new R32 inverter energy-efficient model. Pricing on new systems are highly competitive and because they use less energy, you save in the long run, too.

When replacing your A/C, make sure you get a correctly sized unit. If you install an air conditioning system that has too much capacity, it will cycle on and off — reducing the efficiency of the system. In-turn, if you install a system that is too small it will be running at maximum operation capacity more often.

8. Make sure the home is closed up

You want your cold air to stay inside and hot air to stay out of the house (or room) you are cooling. Some basic steps can prevent air loss when you need cool air the most include simply making sure all the doors and windows are closed, Seal air leaks with caulking and weather-stripping.

9. Look out for debris

With refrigerated air conditioning systems, keep plants, shrubs, and other landscaping about 1 meter away from your outdoor unit to ensure adequate airflow. If the outdoor unit has no room to circulate air properly it will work harder to cool the gases and liquid which will cost you more to run your air con system.

10. Feel the breeze from your fans

If your home has ceiling fans, switch your ceiling fan to run counter-clockwise in the summer. This way they will push the cool air down by pulling the hot air up. You can run a ceiling fan half the day for about $3 a month which is a fraction of the cost of air conditioning if you don’t have solar panels to offset the running costs.

11. Install window film to save energy

A great home improvement idea is to install home window tint to the insides of your windows. This is particularly important on the North and West facing windows as they tend to cop the heat of the day. Not only can it help keep your house cooler in the summer, but also warmer in the winter.

If you are interested in getting air conditioning installed in Mandurah and surrounding areas contact iBreeze for a competitive quote and obligation free honest advice!

 

Things have been extravagantly easy with the introduction of online shopping platforms. One can buy absolutely anything from trusted shopping platforms, plants, and seeds are no exception. There are way too many platforms online that will help you buy flowering plants.

Also, let’s not ignore the fact that physical nurseries have pretty limited stock. So, if you want something unusual, you might get home disappointed. Well, this is not the case with digital platforms, everything, including low-selling and high-selling plants, are available all the time.

But before you go crazy online and fill your cart with almost anything, read this. Here are some of the tips that you must consider if you are just starting out as a gardener. This will help you get through with everything with the utmost smoothness. So, to get the best gardening experience, make sure you keep all these points in your mind while you buy plants online.

Without any further ado, let’s dig right into the article.

Consider Your Space

When you buy flowering plants online, the first thing that must be kept in mind is the gardening space. If you buy anything that does not fit your gardening space or seems like it does not belong there, it will be a total waste of money and effort both. Also, overloading your garden will not be pleasing to the eyes as well. So, if you have small gardening space, try being a minimalist. Buy plants that look beautiful and complement your space.

Try And Test First

If you are new to online shopping, relying on something you haven’t physically analyzed can leave you doubtful. So, the best way to ensure the quality of any product is by buying small portions of the product. Altogether, you can continue to buy plants online if the end quality of the products you receive are acceptable. Practicing such things will help you save money in case the product does not stand on the quality standards.

Read The Details Carefully

Details of the product play a very vital role when you buy flowering plants online. All sellers are required to put valid information and descriptions of the product over the website. This is practiced for the benefit of the buyer; reading these descriptions will help you make a sensible decision. Generally, the description contains information about the size of the plant and other important information.

Read The Seller’s Terms

The pictures on the website are generally for reference purposes. They mostly show you how your plant will look when flowers bloom or when they grow completely. So, there are good chances that your plant might come in a very basic form. The seller’s terms of sale will help you understand the structure of your parcel. It states whether you will receive just roots or seeds. Also, this will prevent all further confusion and hassles as well. So, make sure you are going through the seller’s information before you buy any flowering plants.

Consumer’s Feedback

None of us would like to make online purchases if the website does not have a good reputation. Any website’s reputation is assessed by the consumer feedback it receives. So, before clicking the ‘Buy Now’ option, make sure you are checking customer reviews. You need not go through all the reviews, just a couple of them will help too. Once that’s done, and you feel satisfied with the reviews, you can proceed further with your purchase.

Summing it up, these are some basic points that you must keep in mind, also it helps you while deciding to buy plants online.

 

When it comes to the kitchen, it can be overwhelming and exciting at the same time to plan for a much needed renovation. The thrill of looking at kitchen design inspirations and putting together ideas for your future kitchen can be amazing, but if you are quite lost on the execution part of the renovation, it is a great idea to consult with a kitchen designer to make your dream kitchen into a reality. But what is a kitchen designer and why is it a good idea to hire one?

What a Kitchen Designer Does

Kitchen improvement is a big project, especially considering how significant it is to the home. Entrusting your kitchen to an expert not only ensures that your cooking area will be designed to your specifications, it also ensures that ease of use, functionality, and style will be combined in a cohesive manner by a design expert. This means that the end product will not only look well-made and striking, but will also complement your needs as you move around in your newly renovated kitchen.

Why Hire a Kitchen Designer?

Kitchen designers are trained to translate client ideas and specifications into reality, whilst keeping in mind logistics and style. If you are struggling to decide on how you want your kitchen to turn out, not only would they be able to provide you with helpful suggestions to level up your cooking area, but they will also be able to work with your existing kitchen to improve it without sacrificing key aspects of the cooking space that you have grown to love. Not only that, but things that may miss your attention, like safety features such as ventilation, electrical wiring and plumbing lines, will also be included in a kitchen designer’s consideration of your cooking space.

Aside from this, a professional kitchen designer should also be able to present to you some of their existing designs as they have been brought to life. From their portfolio of renovated kitchens, you should be able to deduce that not only do they have experience in kitchen improvement, but that their execution is better, as they will come with an entire team of experts that will be skilled in their respective positions, therefore bringing together a carefully constructed and well-made cooking space as a result that can only come from a group of skilled individuals coming together to work on your vision.

And because you’ll have a team of talented people working on your kitchen, not only will the job be done in a reasonable timeframe, but you won’t have to worry about having to fix unforeseen issues as they will have the expertise to both address concerns as well as prevent problems from occurring during your renovations.

Where Can I Find Good Kitchen Designers?

Good kitchen designers may feel like a rarity, but they are definitely around if you take the time to sift through your options. Look through home improvement magazines, ask for recommendations from friends and others in your community, do a simple search online and you’ll find a myriad of kitchen design companies available in your area. As with all major home improvement projects, it really pays to take your time and do your research. Give yourself time to look through their websites, where there should be examples of their best work thus far. Think about the vibe that you want for your cooking area, and whether or not the design company you are looking at has previous work that aligns with the aesthetic that you wish to achieve.

Aside from this, look at their reviews. Do they have happy clients at the end of their projects? Have their designs been recognised by professional bodies and been awarded for excellent execution? These things may seem trivial, but the mark of a good designing company can arguably be that their designs have been recognised by other designers to be high standard and timeless. And great designing companies not only create beautiful kitchens, but they prioritise the client’s vision and work with them towards a cooking space that will fully satisfy the client’s requirements and specifications.

Don’t be afraid to set up appointments to consult with a number of kitchen designers. It is understandable to want to hire someone that not only knows their stuff, but also understands your personal perspective and shows a dedication to translating your ideas into beautiful design. Consulting with possible kitchen designers of Perth not only gives you an idea of which companies are best in terms of design execution, but you will also be able to gauge whether the designer will be a good match and great to work with towards the renovation of a highly personal part of your home. Bring examples of kitchens that you feel really emulates the look that you are going for, to aid you in this process, and help the designer to fully understand what you want to see in your kitchen. Being upfront about what you wish to see also helps the designer to give you a possible timeframe for the project, as well as its possible costs, which you can then compare to your budget.

And when you finally decide upon the kitchen design company that you feel best suits you and your needs, you need to be open to collaborating with your kitchen designer so that they can address the nitty gritty details- what needs to be changed, what needs to stay the same, how your family uses the kitchen, even what types of hardware need to be changed! Kitchen designers need to be thorough in order to provide you with a kitchen end result that you will be happy with, and because kitchen renovations are sometimes a costly endeavour, being fully transparent will not only help your designer narrow down your dream kitchen, you’ll also play a big role in its conception. Remember, the more involved you are in the selection process, the more likely you’ll be satisfied with the end result!

 

Rising home prices, more people than ever are renting their homes rather than buying. While many question the consequences of this trend, for property owners, that means there is a lot of opportunity to be had.

Preparing your home or property for renting has changed along with technology and other social evolutions. Gone are the days where you could rely on websites like Craigslist for reliable tenants. Conversely, there are now great software tools to help you calculate home loan repayments to keep you financially on track.

When you’re preparing a home, it’s important to keep these three things in mind to maximize your property’s investment.

A striking first impression isn’t only on the curb appeal

A prospective tenant should be swept off their feet the moment they step into the property, right? Wrong. You’ve got to start making an impression the moment you list it.

Software like TurboTenant allow landlords to post pictures and details of a rental property and post it across the web in all reputable platforms, minus the effort part. Since it saves time by letting you share your listings in multiple sites at once, it will be more effective if you spend time perfecting the images you use with your listing.

If you have a chance to make them professional, do it. Not only for the sake of image quality, but also to get the most inviting angles and lighting. Use blurry and shadowy images and you’ll notice you won’t fill your vacancy fast, or that might not even happen.

Small details aren’t invisible, nor are they inoffensive

While paint chips and dents on the floorboards aren’t always a reason for concern, they shouldn’t be overlooked, especially before a showing. If you’re renting to students who generally look for convenience rather than appearance, cosmetic damage wouldn’t be that much of an issue. But still, the high chances of initial cosmetic damage growing into exorbitantly priced problems should make you triple-check for even the smallest of leaks. Keep in mind that unrepaired damage might warrant a deduction from a tenant’s original rent price.

Even after a tenant is settled in, shrugging off “insignificant” problems may result in inconveniences and complaints later, so addressing them right away would be ideal. Major repairs might be costly, but keep delaying them and your bills will only get heavier.

They don’t live there yet, but it should feel like they do

Isn’t coming home to a clean, aired out and softly scented house one of the best feelings? Your prospects think so, too.

There’s a list of things you must check hours before your potential tenants step inside. Is there any clutter in sight? Get rid of it. How’s the temperature inside the house? Is it comfortable? A great tip is to open the windows to air out the property and let as much natural light in as possible. However, if it’s too cold outside, adjusting the thermostat to a pleasant temperature is ideal, but still keeping the blinds/curtains open for brightness.

Have a professional cleaner thoroughly clean the house a day or several hours before a showing. Avoid strong fragrances: a classic, fresh scent is all you need to give potential tenants a homely sensation that’s hard to ignore.

The key is to prep your rental property as you’d like your own home to be, yet avoiding too many personal touches. Showing a habitable, comfortable, and neutrally eye-catching property is what should be at the top of your mind. How your tenants wish to customize it later, it’s up to them.

 

A backyard plays a significant role in every home because it increases the curb appeal of your property. It gives you and your family the extra space where you can hang out and enjoy each other’s company during your spare time. Not all homes are lucky to have a backyard where you can do the things that you love, like gardening and landscaping.

If you happen to have a small backyard, you do not have to worry. There are many inspiring ideas that you can apply to make it look more spacious. Here are some tips to get you started.

Consider adding a small room

Adding several items to your garden can help create a bigger illusion of the entire space. If your budget permits, you can consider adding some chairs, tables and garden benches where you and your guests can hang out. Adding additional structures like wooden arbors or colorful shaded umbrellas can make your yard look more substantial than its actual size. Also adding a wooden pergola seems to be a great idea for adding a modern touch to your outdoor space.

Design a vertical garden

If you have limited space, it can be quite challenging to arrange your plants in a manner that will make your area look more prominent. You can consider using your backyard walls and turn it into a vertical garden. Check out vertical plant boxes that come in different colors and sizes. You can transfer your plants and herbs to make your yard look more spacious and well organized. The good thing about having a vertical garden is that it can transform even the smallest deck or outdoor space into something extraordinary for the entire family.

Plant a variety of colored flowers

If you happen to have a dull looking outdoor space, why not try transforming its overall look? You can plant colorful plants and flowers to give your garden a more welcoming atmosphere. Choose flowers with bold colors and place them in the most visible area of your garden to help create a stronger visual impact. According to several landscape experts, planting roses, carnations and bougainvilleas can make your yard look more prominent. Place them in individual pots so it will be easier for you to rearrange them according to your taste.

Think about creating a focal point

If you have limited space, creating a focal point is worth considering. It would be nice to create a simple structure that will draw attention. A breakfast nook, a few benches, a water fountain or an outdoor fireplace, will do wonders for your small garden.

Lastly, if you have a small space, make sure that it is free from any junk or clutter. Find time to get rid of old and unused vehicles by keeping in touch with companies that offer Cash For Junk Cars in Miami. They can tow away your old vehicle in exchange for some extra money. You can use whatever earnings you have to upgrade your outdoor space or buy something for yourself.

Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/garden-house-green-yard-grass-1680802/

 

Styling over your properties is becoming increasingly common day by day. Selling properties is not an easy nut to crack. People need to be very proactive when selling their houses. A little makeover to their properties can increase the prices many folds making it easier to impress the buyers. All the property agents will suggest you to style your properties in order to improve their appearance and converting it in a saleable condition. Even the state agents provide real estate property styling services for their customers.

Should we DIY or hire a property stylist?
The question that arises here is that will you need to hire a property stylist for your house make over or can you ace it on your own? Well, it depends. If there are little minor changes and your house is not that old, then you can go for the DIY strategy and make the necessary alterations. However, more often than not, it is advisable to hire a property stylist for your house make over. This is because they are experienced individuals and have the ability to guide you through the correct procedure. Not only will they limit your overall costs but try and give your house a fresh and updated look.

Efficient timing

The best part about hiring a property stylist is that they perform their jobs within the allotted timeframe. If you wish to do the styling on your own, it might be difficult. We laymen are amateurs; having no idea as to how to go about things. Since we have several other responsibilities and jobs that we have to fulfill, it is not easy to handle both tasks simultaneously. Hence, it is advisable to hire a property stylist so that they can perform the job within the allotted time.

Immediate response

Since many people are looking forward to selling out their properties on urgent basis, they wish to make over their properties on urgent basis. Property prices tend to fluctuate on constant basis; hence it is necessary that people make their decisions in the right manner so as to get the maximum possible return. A property stylist can, through their experience and expertise, style your house in order to gain maximum returns out of it.

Better option than an interior designer

Having a property stylist is a much better option than opting to hire an interior designer. An interior designer is much more expensive as they tend to redo the entire house. In contrast, a property designer will try and make over the entire house in the shortest budget possible. Furthermore, a property stylist also try and use the existing items in the best way possible to light up the house. A property stylist will redo the house effectively making it an ideal place for the buyers.

Conclusion

As a final evaluation, it can be concluded that hiring a property stylist is a much convenient option than all the other ones. This is the best possible way in making over the house as it can give it a fresh new look.

 

If you’re out there to buy homeowners insurance, it is very important that you understand what you are getting yourself into. When you buy homeowner’s insurance, you are not only protecting your asset, you are actually investing as well – just in case you decide to sell your home in the long run.

Some people are buying homeowner’s insurance online because it is easier for them to compare the quotes of one insurance company to the other. Some commune with the agents. However they decide to buy homeowner’s insurance, one thing is for sure.

What to look for?

They should know and understand all the benefits and services that they are promised with if ever they choose to go for that policy.

Before you buy homeowners insurance, you must check their policy. The homeowners will be protected through every peril with the help of this insurance. There are deductibles when you file for the insurance claims.

If this is noted that it does not exist then that is the exception. It helps to talk to insurance agents so that all the questions in your head will be answered. Talk to them before you buy homeowners insurance. If there’s something stated on the policy that needs to be explained further to you, ask the insurance agent to do so.

Don’t be afraid to sound dumb. When you buy homeowners insurance, you should be at your smartest and most logical state because this is one of the biggest decisions you would ever have to do in your life.

Before you buy homeowner insurance, you also have to check the property protection and the liability protection that is stated under the claims of your insurance policy. This is one of the first things you should do before deciding which insurance to get.

Things to note

If you look at the home insurance declarations page, you will notice that the property protection states the different benefits you can get depending on your dwelling location and your assets.

These are factors that pretty much determine your total cost of insurance and must be determined by the insurance company before you actually go out there and buy homeowners insurance.

Are you searching for good homeowner insurance quote but not quite confident what a Homeowners Insurance Policy could cover as the coverage also extends to forced placed insurance? If you answered yes to that question then this report is an absolute must-read as it goes into information what these policies do and don’t cover. Get educated and do smarter shopping when wanting to buy homeowners Insurance coverage. It is really worth the time and effort in the short term and long term while you are in the market of purchasing insurance.

Areas you should not miss

For all you 1st time new home purchasers out there, it’s very critical to understand that getting a good homeowners insurance coverage is not simply a great strategy. This is because the lender states you must have one to secure the home loans but there are also a number of personal safety benefits, which you may uncover by yourself further down the line.

A homeowner’s insurance must cover your house, the structures, and the fixtures in your property. It’s better to buy homeowner’s insurance because you can be more relieved if you have something that you don’t need to be compared to needing something and not having it.

With the homeowner’s insurance, you don’t have to shell out as much if ever a natural disaster happens. You should definitely buy homeowner’s insurance but do this once you have decided to get the plan that is best for you after going through the companies that are offering the best rate.

 

 

It can sometimes feel like calling a professional when it comes to home improvement is akin to giving up. It can feel like a waste to spend a certain amount to get the job done when you could have saved the cash by getting it done on your own. However, there are plenty of reasons why calling a handyman is a good idea, as a professional can guarantee success.

It is entirely understandable to want to do things on your own – at least at the beginning. That said, it is still vital to be aware of when it would be a good idea to call a quality handyman service instead of pulling your hair out trying to get the job done on your own. Here are a few red flags that warrant calling a handyman Colorado Springs!

When you cannot come up with a timeframe

Even if you might not necessarily be experienced in matters of home improvement, it does not mean that you cannot come up with a decent time frame when you consider all of your options. You could have a look at a few tutorials online and collect the materials and tools that you need to get a better idea of how long it might take.

One of the first red flags that come up when it comes to DIY projects is the inability to craft a reasonable timeframe. If you see yourself trying to get the job done for weeks and weeks with no end in sight, it might not be worth the time and effort. Consider calling a handyman to get the job done in an afternoon.

When you have little to no experience using power tools

There is no doubt that many home improvement projects require using tools that could be risky for those with little to no experience in the matter. While you can still push through with it, the risk of injury can be unreasonably high. It would be a shame to sustain an injury during the project, only to end up paying more for hospital bills instead of just paying a handyman in the beginning and saving yourself all the money and heartache.

When you have young children

One of the biggest reasons why calling a handyman would be a good idea is if you have young children at home. While you can indeed tell your kids to behave as you get the work done, they are more inclined to get in trouble when you are not watching them. Even worse is that you might not have the necessary experience to keep your home improvement project safe not just for yourself, but those around you as well. Having young children is plenty enough reason to leave the job to a professional.

While it can be tempting to save on all that cash and get the job done yourself, it is only recommended for those with plenty of experience in home improvement matters; otherwise, it is always a better idea to give a quality handyman service a call.

To read more on topics like this, check out the home & garden category.

Southern California truly has it all. From sunshine all year long to celebrity sightings, it is no wonder to see why Venice Beach real estate is so hot right now. Even if you do not live in this part of the state, you still may want to consider going on vacations here. The following cities are some of the best places to invest in a vacation home where you can truly have it all when it comes time to unwind.

• Santa Monica

When you look at Santa Monica condos for sales, you should expect to see some big numbers. However, the investment is well worth it. When you decide to take a trip to Southern California, you can head over to your home overlooking a gorgeous beach. From first-class restaurants to great surfing opportunities, you do not want to miss out on Santa Monica while the getting is good.

• Long Beach

Long Beach is a bit less expensive to buy in than the rest of Los Angeles, but you will still spend a pretty penny. Fortunately, you can recoup much of your investment when you rent out your vacation home as an Airbnb for most of the year. You can charge quite a bit because many people in the city are in need of long-term accommodation, especially those who work at the Port of Long Beach seasonally.

• San Diego

If you want to go even further south than Los Angeles, then San Diego may be right for you. Home prices in the city continue to increase, but that is great if you are an investor. You can buy now and wait until your purchase increases in value. Some of the best neighborhoods in San Diego to invest in include Golden Hill, University City and Hillcrest.

• Malibu

In Malibu, you can purchase vacation homes that are essentially first-class resorts. When you come down for a vacation, you may never feel like leaving your home. When you own property in Malibu, you can charge a lot of money for Airbnb users. Some can charge as high as $800 a night through the app. With great surfing and some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the world, you will soon see why Malibu attracts the best and brightest from around the globe.

• Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach is a perfect destination when you want long, scenic strolls along the beach. As you walk through the neighborhoods, you will come across everything from small local shops to beach cottages. It is the perfect way to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It is also a safe community if you plan on bringing your children on vacation with you.

You have many options to consider when choosing a vacation home. Do you want something that is close to all of the activities you enjoy doing on your break, or do you want something that has a lot of potential on Airbnb? Make sure you have an experienced Los Angeles real estate broker in your corner to guide you every step of the way.

To read more on topics like this, check out the home & garden category.