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Month: June 2019

  • Best Smartphones in 2019: Best Phones Money Can Buy

    Best Smartphones in 2019: Best Phones Money Can Buy

    When it’s time to upgrade, you want nothing but the best. If money is truly no object and you want to own the very best cellphone, you’ve got an overflowing number of options in 2019. From Samsung phones with killer displays to Google’s unbelievably cameras, there are ample options. If you’re looking for something from Apple, the newest iPhone X models are also stellar options.

    Today we’re breaking down some of the top smartphones on the market and what each offers. For today’s list, we’re not worried about price: we’re only concerned with raw performance. Here are the best of the best, the cream of the crop, the best smartphones that money can buy.

    Android or iOS?

    While the conversation about the best phone rages on, so does the conversation about the best phone OS. Of course, both iOS and Android have their distinctive pros and cons. However, we’re not going to tell you which side to pick, so we’ve included top phones from both sides of the ongoing smartphone wars.

    iPhone XS

    The newest iteration of Apple’s revolutionary iPhone X line is a worthy successor to the phone lineage that started the smartphone craze. No physical face buttons, no fingerprint reader and no bezels, aside from that controversial screen notch, make this a sleek, black mirror. The Face ID unlocking tech is stellar, working in a variety of lighting and weather conditions. This tech is truly years ahead of other phone maker’s facial recognition. This is all powered by the unparalleled A12 Bionic chip running the phone.

    The iPhone XS also sports a number of incredible cameras, each taking stellar pictures in both standard mode and portrait mode. What’s more, those pictures pop incredibly on the XS’s massive OLED screen, its deep blacks and vibrant colors making for a truly impressive handset. That being said, this is quite the pricey phone: starting out at $1,000 for the normal size one, and jumping even higher for the larger iPhone XS Plus, this one will set you back. However, that’s the price you pay for the best iPhone ever made.

    Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

    If you didn’t expect the Samsung Galaxy line’s newest iteration to show up, you might not be a smartphone enthusiast. The S10 Plus carries forward a number of innovations seen on prior iterations of the Galaxy line, including a long battery life, a huge screen and a top-of-the-line processor. While the Infinity-O design isn’t the most popular design decision Samsung has ever made, but it’s easy enough to overlook.

    Using the MicroUSB input, you can expand the phone’s storage to an impressive 1.5 TB. That’s a lot of music and photos! Likewise, the phone’s astonishing Live Focus photo style looks incredible for pictures taken with the interior selfie cams. Now, if only those selfie cams didn’t cut an ugly hole in the middle of the screen…

    Google Pixel 3 XL

    The closest thing to an iPhone you’ll see on the Android platform, Google’s Pixel phone line has the keys to the Android kingdom. As Google makes Android, their in-house smartphone line gets all of the latest goodies and updates for the OS. Essentially, this is the Apple “walled garden” design ethos, but executed on an Android device.

    The Pixel 3 XL impresses in pretty much every way. The screen is huge and gorgeous. Camera performance is unparalleled and blows us away every time. The processor running under the hood gives Apple a run for their money, and that’s really saying something. If you’re interested in being on the cutting edge of Android updates and love Google’s design philosophy, then you’ll love the Pixel 3 XL.


  • Lemon Juice Cleanse: Is it Real? Does it Work?

    Lemon Juice Cleanse: Is it Real? Does it Work?

    Everyone’s heard of juice cleanses. Proponents of these juice cleanse (or “master cleanse”) diets proclaim that they help you to burn fat quickly, and that they somehow “cleanse” your system of residual “toxins”. The question we have is: are these the real deal? Do they actually work to help you lose weight, and do they really have these cleansing properties? Let’s look at the science behind these cleanse diets.

    Lemon Juice Cleanse

    The Diet

    First, let’s look at the diet in question and ask a few questions about it. Firstly, what is the diet? In short, the lemon juice cleanse is just that: a juice fast wherein the practitioner eats no solid food for ten days and ingests only a sweetened lemon juice concoction. This is pretty much par the course for any fast-based diet.

    There are also some variations on this diet that have you ingest saltwater and some laxative teas. These inclusions are ostensibly for the “cleanse” portion of the juice cleanse, though their efficacy is… debated, to put it nicely.

    Easing in and Out

    It’s not recommended that you just jump headlong into a liquid fast. Doing so would be very taxing on your system. Instead, start by cutting out processed foods, alcohol, caffeine, meat and dairy. (If you’re really down for long-term weight loss, stop here!) The next day, cut out solid foods and move to smoothies and broths. The day after, drink only orange juice and the lemon concoction.

    The Master Cleanse’s creators then recommend you stay on the diet for between 10 and 40 days, though there is no research to back up this time table. Reverse the way you eased into the cleanse when you’re finished, introducing other items back into your diet.

    Weight Loss

    For those wondering, yes, going without solid food for ten days is doable, and it’s not necessarily bad for you. However, it’s also not exactly good for you: regularly taking in vitamins and minerals and other nutrients is better than fasting. However, fasting is technically better for you than eating a bunch of junk food for ten days. That said, ideally, you should just be eating stuff that is good for you.

    In short, this diet is technically a good way to lose weight in the short term. This goes for any fasting: you’ll likely see pretty quick results, as your body goes into survival mode and starts burning your fat. Here’s the catch: without proper nutrition and exercise, when you start eating normal food again, you’re going to gain that weight back just as fast.

    Removing “Toxins”

    One of the biggest selling points of any “cleanse” diet is their claim to be able to remove “toxins” from your body. Here’s the thing: if there are toxins in your body, you’ve got problems that some lemon juice isn’t going to fix, you need to be in a hospital. Your body isn’t just loaded full of toxic gunk, even if you’re normally eating junk food. Your liver is really good at neutralizing toxins, and does so every day.

    In fact, the only diets that can purport to have any effect on toxins are those that bolster the liver’s ability to neutralize them. These diets tend to incorporate things like seaweed and cruciferous vegetables, and are largely backed by scientific research. “Cleanse” diets, on the other hand, have no such properties. They’re more accurately referred to as “juice fasts,” as they have no proven ability to cleanse the body of anything aside from a higher calorie intake.

    Should You do the Master Cleanse?

    No, probably not. It’s not very good for you, and you’ll probably just feel dizzy and gross for the duration. You might lose a few pounds from not eating anything, but then you’re going to gain that back when you get off of this crazy diet. Instead of this diet, consider just eating healthier foods and exercising! It’s a tried and true health routine.


  • What is the AARP? Facts and Benefits

    What is the AARP? Facts and Benefits

    You’ve certainly heard of the AARP, though you might not be sure what exactly the organization is. The name stands for American Association of Retired Persons, and they’re primarily known for their lobbying activities for older Americans. The organization is a non-profit, and it sports more than 38 million members. It’s a rather sizable lobbying force, and it offers a multitude of benefits to its considerable number of members.

    Originally founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus, the modern AARP is derived from an earlier non-profit, the National Retired Teachers Association, or NRTA. Today, the NRTA still exists within the AARP, though it’s no longer the primary face of the organization. Today we’re looking at what exactly the AARP does, what it offers members, and whether joining is a good idea for you.

    Historical Overview

    The non-profit started as the NRTA in 1947, and was created by Ethel Percy Andrus. Andrus created the NRTA to promote her philosophy regarding productive aging, to destigmatize the experience of growing older. In 1958, in order to spread this philosophy further, Andrus opened the organization to all Americans over 50, thus creating the AARP.

    There has been some controversy over this version of events, however. In 1978, a 60 Minutes report claimed that the AARP was originally created by Leonard Davis, the founder of insurance agency Colonial Penn Group, and was primarily meant to advertise the insurance group to older Americans. Following the publication of this report, the AARP stopped offering Colonial Penn insurance plans, and switched to Prudential Financial. Whether this was spurred by the report or not is unclear.

    Non-Profit Status

    The AARP was the subject of another controversy in the 1990’s. During this period, Senate hearings spearheaded by Senate Republican Alan K. Simpson investigated the organization’s non-profit, tax-exempt status. While the organization retained its tax-exempt status following the hearings, Simpson stated he was still “troubled” by the committee’s findings and the AARP’s practices.

    According to the investigation, the committee did not find sufficient evidence that the AARP couldn’t be classified as a non-profit. Assertions that the organization existed primarily to sell insurance to members were found to be unproven, though the seeds of doubt were sown by these investigations. Simpson later described the AARP as “the greatest abuse of American generosity I witnessed in my time in the U.S. Senate”.

    Benefits for Members

    The majority of members of the AARP sign up in order to take advantage of the multitude of benefits the non-profit offers. Chief among these benefits is the free tax preparation service, which is a popular service used by over 2 million members every year. Retired persons often have incredibly complex tax returns due to their numerous assets and income sources, so it’s no surprise they would want help preparing their taxes.

    Another major benefits that members receive is the discount on insurance, including home, auto, life and health insurance discounts through a partnered agency. There are also discounts and benefits on travel packages, particularly cruises, that are offered to members. The AARP magazine distributed to members is the most-circulated publication in the US, as well, and is a major draw to joining.

    Membership

    Membership with the AARP is $16 per year at its base amount, though this number could be lower if you sign up for multiple years at once. In all, it’s not a lot for the number of discounts and benefits you get. The only requirement for members is that you’re over 50 years old.

    Really, the only thing holding anyone back from signing on as a member would be lingering concerns over their practices as a non-profit, which includes lobbying. Some people cite residual concerns from the 90’s era Senate hearings as a reason to not be a member. It’s up to you whether these concerns are enough to stop from signing up and enjoying the benefits.


  • Where You Should Buy Glasses: The Best Deals

    Where You Should Buy Glasses: The Best Deals

    When it comes time to buy glasses, it won’t surprise you to hear that your prescription is going to be expensive. That goes double if you’re buying from your eye doctor’s office, as they have a pretty sizable markup on spectacles. Where should you go to buy your glasses, then? Certainly there’s somewhere you can go to find a better deal on glasses than your doctor’s office, right? Let’s look at some places you can go to save a couple of bucks on your next pair of glasses.

    Best Deals on Glasses

    Getting Your Prescription

    Once your eye doctor gives you a checkup on your eyes, they’ll write you a prescription for glasses. When they do so, ask them for a copy of it. They’ll likely encourage you to buy your glasses from their office, though you’re under no obligation to do so. It’s unlikely your eye doctor will have any issue giving you a copy of your prescription, but if they do, don’t stress!

    Legally, any licensed eye doctor has to give you a copy of your prescription. If your doctor isn’t cooperating in giving you your prescription after you’ve paid for the appointment, you should remind them that it is their legal obligation to do so. If they continue to insist you buy your glasses from them before they hand over such a prescription, it’s time to contact your local medical authority and find a new eye doctor.

    Online or In Store?

    First, consider whether you’d like to buy your glasses online or from a store. Make sure you’ve got your prescription from your eye doctor and consider which option you like better. When you shop online, you get to avoid the long lines and traffic associated with shopping out and about. On the other hand, you’ve also got to wait for shipping, and you can’t try frames on to see how they look on you.

    Shopping in-store allows you to see the glasses on your face before you sign up for the frames. Likewise, you can leave with the glasses you buy in-hand and won’t have to wait for shipping, which is nice. On the flip side, it’s often a bit pricier to go through any in-person retailers, as you can often find tremendous deals on glasses online.

    Costco Wholesalers

    If you have a Costco card and you need a new pair of glasses, you’re in luck. Costco is noted as one of the least expensive places to pick up glasses in-store in the country. All you need to do is bring them your prescriptions! Unlike LensCrafters, who have an average glasses cost of $369, Costco offers an average cost of $184 for their glasses. That’s considerable savings when you look at the glasses: they’re identical.

    Keep in mind that Costco, while inexpensive, isn’t the best deal out there on glasses. There are even better discounts you can find on glasses if you go through certain online retailers.

    Online Discounts

    There are a number of online sites you can go through to save a ton on glasses. Examples include ZenniOptical.com, EyeBuyDirect.com and 39DollarGlasses.com. These websites allow you to get a pretty sizable discount on your glasses through their bare-bones distribution. For examples, Zenni Optical grinds their lenses in China, uses low-cost materials for frames and includes shipping in the costs.

    Often, these sites keep the costs low by offering no ongoing service on the eyeglasses they sell. Once you buy the glasses, they’re yours, and any damage they incur is up to you to fix. However, when you can just buy another pair for under $50, this is a reasonable trade-off for some people.


  • Best States to Live in for Seniors: Where Should You Retire?

    Best States to Live in for Seniors: Where Should You Retire?

    When the time comes to retire, you want to make sure you’re living somewhere that is ideal for your lifestyle and is the best for your finances. There are a few historically popular places to retire to: Florida, Nevada, Arizona. But are these really the best places to live when you’re over 65? Today we’re looking at some of the best states to retire to, and which are less than ideal.

    Best States to Live in for Seniors

    South Dakota

    Oddly, South Dakota tops the list as best state for seniors to live in, for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the state has a very low cost of living, due in large part to its incredibly low population density. The region is largely populated by smaller communities, marked by its flat expanses of land and generally quiet living in the region.

    The tax burden on retirees is rather low, which makes this a great pick for people looking to live in a quiet and inexpensive state. The weather is also quite consistent: while it may snow a bit more than some other states, the risk of things like tornadoes, earthquakes and hurricanes is negligible at best. In all, one of the most plain and “boring” states in the US is actually the best overall for retirees!

    Utah

    Another high-scoring state in terms of retiree living, Utah has many of the same features that South Dakota does. It’s got a low population density, a low crime rate, and few tax burdens for seniors. The high concentration of Mormons is actually partly to thank for the low crime rates: the religiously pious don’t tend to break into houses or hold up banks.

    Utah’s also got very stable and predictable weather, and is unlikely to be hit by extreme weather phenomena. While it’s not quite as quiet and distant as South Dakota, it can feel like the middle of nowhere if you live far from major cities. This, coupled with the relatively low amounts of traffic, makes Utah a prime choice for retirees to move to.

    Florida

    Florida often scores high on lists of best states to retire to. There’s a number of great reasons for this, though they’re a bit more counterbalanced than states like South Dakota or Utah. Florida has no state income tax, something that makes it a great state for retirees with lots of post-retirement income. It’s also got many retirement communities dedicated to providing a place for seniors who move to the region.

    One of Florida’s biggest drawbacks is also one of it’s best features to some people: the weather. It’s a sub-tropical regions (unless you’re in the Keys, then it’s just tropical!) and it experiences warm weather year-round. Other drawbacks to the Sunshine State include the crime rate, relatively high cost of living and high population density leading to heavy traffic in most regions.

    Arizona and Nevada

    Despite its reputation, Arizona scores lower on the list of retiree states than you might expect. Many polls and lists put it around 30th best state for seniors. This is due to a number of factors, but they often sound similar to the reasons that Florida isn’t as attractive as some other states. The same goes for Nevada, which often falls somewhere in the 41st to 43rd place in the list of best states for retirees.

    These states earned these low spots through their incredibly hot and arid weather, their heavy population density, and their crime rates. It’s worth noting that few retirees actually move after retiring: typically people retire in the very state they worked in, or closest to their family. However, if you’re looking to retire far from home, make sure you pick a state that’s ideal for seniors to live in.


  • Best Ways to Stop a Runny Nose: Our Tips

    Best Ways to Stop a Runny Nose: Our Tips

    There’s little as frustrating as battling with a runny nose. No matter what you try, it seems like you just keep blowing your nose with no end in sight. How can you take steps to expel this gunk from your sinuses, and what can you do to prevent this in the future? Here are our top tips for getting out ahead of a runny nose and feeling like your normal self.

    Stopping a Runny Nose

    Stop Sniffling

    This one should go without saying, but we’ll start here anyway. You need to stop sniffling! The more you sniffle, the worse off you’re making your symptoms. The mucus buildup in your nose needs to get out of your body, as your sinuses are too full of the stuff already. Get a tissue and expel as much of the runny, gross green stuff as you can stand. If that’s not working, it’s time to move on to some smaller steps.

    Drink Lots of Fluids

    Drink a ton of water, tea, or similar drinks. If you’re dehydrated, it’ll be more difficult for your body to loosen the sinus congestion that’s causing a lot of your stuffiness and runny nose. When you’re properly hydrated, your membranes can be lubricated more thoroughly. This, in turn, results in your congestion loosening in pressure and making your mucus thinner and easier to get out of your nose.

    As you can imagine, this means you should avoid drinking things that are going to dehydrate you further. This means you should stay away from alcohol and sodas when you’re rocking a cold. We know, you already weren’t dying to pound a rum and Coke when you were nursing a cold, but still, it’s worth noting.

    Hot Drinks, Especially

    We mentioned tea earlier, but that one bears repeating. Your stuffy nose will probably feel a lot better if you drink a big, hot cup of tea. The steam from the heat, the hydration from the beverage and the aroma from the tea are all great for helping soothe your symptoms. Heat and steam are known to help decongest your blocked sinuses and help to open your nose up more.

    Keep a tissue on hand: when you feel that congestion breaking up, it’s like your nose is about to start seriously running. Stop and blow your nose as hard as you can stand when you feel this wonderful breakdown of sinus pressure.

    Hot Shower

    If these steps aren’t cutting it, turn on a hot shower. The steam and hot water will likely have a decongestant effect, much like hot tea, and can help you get the congestion out of your nose. The best thing about doing this in a hot shower is that you can blow your nose as much as you need to and it’ll simply get washed down the drain. No having to burn through tissues, and you’ll feel much better after a long, hot shower.

    If none of this is working, it’s time to bust out the big guns.

    Neti Pot

    A Neti Pot is a type of nasal lavage, or nasal irrigation, in the form of a small pot with a spout. You use the spout to flush water into one nostril and out the other, with the express intent of cleaning out your sinuses. It’s a weird, but extremely relieving, sensation.

    While this might sound gross on the surface, it’s one of the most direct ways to literally flush all of that gunk out of your sinuses. It’s strangely relieving to directly combat the problem in a way that leaves your sinuses clear and your nose free of running and sniffling.


  • Making Extra Money: Working a Side Hustle

    Making Extra Money: Working a Side Hustle

    Whether it’s a part-time job, a gig you pick up or just selling some of your old stuff, getting a side hustle can be a great way to make some extra money. When you’re living paycheck to paycheck, it can feel difficult to get ahead and get a break. If you’re looking for a way to break loose, consider some of these ways to get some extra cash in your pocket and help make your savings account swell. Let’s get our side hustle on.

    Side Hustle

    Gig Jobs

    One of the more straightforward side hustles out there is simply snapping up a gig job. These are often tied to some kind of app service, like Uber or GrubHub. Typically, these include work that you can turn on and turn off at will so you can squeeze in money-making between your normal day job. Jobs like this are ideal for people with less consistent schedules for their main job, such as people who work retail or work at restaurants and have no set schedules.

    It’s often best if you pick a gig job that is in your wheelhouse of skills. If you’re not a great driver, maybe you shouldn’t get into driving for Uber. If you don’t like dogs, maybe don’t go in for a dog-walking app job. In either case, you’re best served if you’re getting into a gig that makes best use of your skills.

    Selling Old Stuff

    Getting rid of your old stuff is a great way to make some quick cash in a pinch. Maybe you’ve got some old video games, or there’s a closet full of clothes you can part with. Often you’re able to make a quick buck by parting with this stuff.

    This goes double for people who are into pricier hobbies. For instance, if you really love painting models, maybe you’ve got some older models you’re not using anymore that you could part with on eBay. Car enthusiasts can often sell spare parts or even older car projects in order to make some cash on the fly.

    Getting a Roommate

    Maybe you don’t have stuff to sell, but you do have a spare room and don’t mind another person being around. You could rent out that room by getting a roommate and get a consistent stream of monthly income. If it’s someone you already know, this can also be a great way to be more social, as you’ll likely spend more time around another person.

    In either case, whether it’s someone you know or a stranger, you’ll want to draft up a roommate agreement that includes when they pay you, how much, and how disputes will be handled. Have them sign this before they move in to head off any potential issues that could show up down the road. The last thing you need is to feel like a prisoner in your own place because you’ve got a nightmare roommate and no recourse to make them pay up or get out of your house.

    Part-Time Job

    The most direct form of a side-hustle is just getting a night job. If you’ve got a consistent schedule for your day job that you can plan around, it’s easy enough to get a part-time job to work with you. Restaurants and bars especially can always use help during nights and weekends, and won’t mind you only working those hours.

    This is a great way to not only keep money flowing in, but also helps you to network even more. Maybe through working as a bartender you’ll meet someone who can get you an interview at their company. This might, in turn, net you a higher-paying job that will let you forego side hustles and more comfortably make ends meet!


  • Ways to Make Your Back Porch Fun This Summer

    Ways to Make Your Back Porch Fun This Summer

    When Summer rolls in, it’s time to have some people over to the back yard to enjoy the nice weather. Between pool parties, cook outs and just taking it easy and having a few drinks, you want your back porch to be a really popping place. Thankfully, we’ve got tons of tips on how to do just that. Let’s look at how you can make your back porch the best summer fun destination in town.

    Making Your Back Porch Fun

    Concrete Patio

    If you’re in need of a new porch to make your backyard parties that much better, consider getting a concrete patio paved in. These are great for a number of reasons. For one, they don’t require the same maintenance and upkeep as wooden porches. For another thing, they’re much more durable and will add a lot to the value of your home.

    On the flip side, the process of installing a concrete patio can be expensive, as well as time-consuming. That said, the end result is a great patio that will make your backyard more attractive and an even better destination for your friends to come visit.

    Patio Covering

    Consider getting your porch or patio covered and screened-in. While this might seem like an expensive ordeal, it’s a great option if you live somewhere with plentiful bugs and intense sunlight. A covered patio is more comfortable to spend the afternoon reclining in, and allows your guests to avoid the bugs and the hot sun.

    You can also install a large outdoor ceiling fan on a patio enclosure if you run power to it and make it sturdy enough. This makes your patio even more welcoming and comfortable. We recommend leaving an un-covered portion of your back patio, however, so you can grill out without having to be in the grass or far from your guests.

    Outdoor Furniture

    Finding the right outdoor furniture is important, but it gets much easier if you’ve got a patio covering. Often, you’ve got to compromise comfort for durability, when the furniture is going to be exposed to the elements. However, if your patio is covered, you can opt for more comfortable, if somewhat less durable, outdoor furniture.

    A nice swing, a cushioned bench, a glass-top table: these all make great, tasteful choices for your outdoor furniture. Another nice touch is a large outdoor rug to make the concrete floor of your patio feel more welcoming, especially to those in bare feet!

    Picking a Theme

    When you’re picking out colors and furniture, make sure you’ve got a theme you’re going with. If most of your outdoor patio has exposed wood grain and looks rustic, maybe a soft, modern-looking center table isn’t the best idea? Pick out a thematic through-line you’d like your patio to have, much the same way you do when decorating the rooms inside your home.

    Consider your outdoor patio essentially an extension of the rooms of your home. Just because it’s outside doesn’t mean it can’t look as great and put-together as the rest of your home! While considering this, you can also hang some wall art on the exterior wall facing your patio in order to make it feel more like a simple extension of your home, not an exterior afterthought.

    Conversations First

    Make sure you arrange your outdoor furniture in a way that is most conductive to hosting guests. And what do you do with guests? You have conversations! Set up your seating around a centerpiece, like a fire pit or nice center table, and make sure that everyone has a good view of everyone else. This helps the space convey its purpose: hosting your friends and enjoying the outdoors while still enjoying the comforts of your home.


  • Finding the Best Realtor: Our Top Tips

    Finding the Best Realtor: Our Top Tips

    Finding the best realtor can be quite the challenge. When you’re selling your home or trying to buy property, you want the best of the best in your corner. Of course, every realtor claims they’re the best there is at what they do. However, all but one of them is lying about that, by process of elimination. So, how do you narrow down the field and find the best realtor in your area? By following our top tips, of course.

    Finding a Great Realtor

    Do Your Research

    The first thing you’re going to want to do is research the field. See what people are saying about the realtors in your area, and who comes highly recommended. A great place to start in this field would be to talk to your family or coworkers. Who did they go with for their realtor, and how was the experience? Look up any name they give you and see what others are saying about that realtor. This will give you a good idea of what kind of job that person does.

    While you’re doing your research, keep an eye out for any complaints against the realtor. You can usually look their name up at the city and see if they have their license, and if any complaints have been formally lodged against them. If they have such a complaint, then you can confidently dismiss the idea of working with them. The same goes if you can’t find evidence that they are properly licensed.

    Buying or Selling?

    If you’re buying a place, and you’re a first-time buyer, you’re going to need a lot of guidance. As such, you’ll want a buying agent who is calm, patient, and able to explain the process to you. This is someone who will guide you through tours of homes and help you understand what your budget means in relation to the home, and what maintenance the place might need.

    A selling agent will help you understand what you need to do to make your home as attractive as possible to sell. This needs to be a person with a great eye for what sells quickly, and who can help to present your home in the best possible light.

    Discuss Important Issues

    During your research phase, you’ll want to make sure you figure out how much of a rate realtors in your area normally charge. What cut of the property sale, if any, will they be getting? Do they work for a firm that takes a cut, or are they working as contractors under their own employ? Figuring out how this person gets paid is an important first step, as you want to make sure you’re on the same page.

    While having this discussion, make sure you also get a feel for this realtor’s style. Are they like you, do they share your buying or selling values? If there’s a personality incompatibility, the buying or selling process is going to be miserable, so you’re better off finding a realtor you’re a better match with.

    Trusting the Agent

    You need to make sure that this realtor is a person you can trust. You’re trusting them to facilitate a major purchase or sale for you, and you need to trust them to be an advocate for you. If you can’t trust them with important information, like your marital status and what your long-term plans for the property are, then this isn’t someone you need to be working with.

    Make sure you’re getting an experienced agent. When you’re discussing things with this agent up-front, you don’t want to be their trial case. Unless this person has experience selling your type of property, you don’t want them overseeing things.


  • Playa del Carmen: Caribbean Vacation Destination

    Playa del Carmen: Caribbean Vacation Destination

    When you think “beautiful Caribbean getaway,” you’re probably normally thinking about some island out in the middle of the ocean, right? There’s nothing wrong with that: Caribbean islands are some of the most beautiful places on Earth. However, there’s another stunning Caribbean destination you might be interested in. Playa del Carmen, a resort city on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, is a place you should be considering for your next vacation.

    Playa del Carmen

    The City

    Located in the municipality of Solidaridad, in the state of Quintana Roo, Playa del Carmen is one of Mexico’s most popular tourist areas. This is due in large part to its location on the gorgeous Caribbean coast, which offers stellar beachfront views and breathtaking natural sights. Another factor in the city’s popularity is its location along the Riviera Maya, a tourism route that cuts down along the Caribbean coast of Mexico.

    This has, in turn, led to the city’s explosive population growth. As of 2019, it is one of the fastest-growing cities in Mexico in terms of population. Cruise ships in and around the Caribbean often use Playa del Carmen as a stop, docking at the nearby Calica docks near the quarry.

    Weather

    One of the biggest draws to Playa del Carmen, and the Riviera Maya in general, is the weather. The region is tropical, sporting sunny and warm weather year-round. It shares this in common with nearby Cancun, another extremely popular tourist destination. In relation to the surrounding towns, Playa del Carmen tends to get hotter weather on average than the other cities in the Riviera Maya, due to its position as southernmost town on that route.

    The region is somewhat insulated against hurricanes thanks to its location along the Southern region of Mexico. However, hurricanes like Wilma in 2005 have been known to hit the city and cause substantial damage. Thankfully, the region is usually at a lower risk for this kind of damage than areas like the Caribbean islands.

    Attractions

    As you might expect, the region’s gorgeous beaches and ample natural beauty make it a no-brainer for tourism. If you’re interested in visiting the area, there’s a lot to look forward to. The numerous five-star resort hotels are only the tip of the iceberg. There’s plentiful nightlife, including clubs and bars, as well as numerous restaurants to sample the local cuisine.

    There are also countless entertainment venues for everything from concerts to burlesque shows. Whatever kind of entertainment you’d like to find in a Caribbean paradise town, you’re likely to find in Playa del Carmen. The Playacar complex is home to most of the resort hotels, and also is home to the world-renowned golf course. The campus is also home to residential developments like condos and apartments for those who want to call the resort town home.

    Visiting the City

    If you’re interested in visiting the region, there are a few ways you can do so. The first, and most straightforward, would be to simply book a vacation package. These can usually include airfare and your hotel stay, and often include a few fun activities in and around the city, too.

    Another option for those who just want to stop in briefly would be to visit the region as a stop on a Caribbean cruise. This will allow you to visit the port city for a day before striking back out to check out the other ample attractions in the region. Some cruises tour the Riviera Maya, stopping in at ports like Cancun. Others head out into the Caribbean Sea, visiting islands like Grand Turk, the Dominican and Puerto Rico. No matter which path you take, there’s no wrong way to enjoy the gorgeous region.