Archives for August 2018

10 Killer Ideas for Your Basement

August 31, 2018 by

Your basement is usually a dark place with low ceilings that rarely sees the light of day. You’re probably tired of storing your things in a room that has the potential to be so much more.

So what to do with your basement? Here are ten ideas that can help you transform your space into something entirely new and useful.

  1. Craft Room or Workshop

If you’re a crafter, woodworker, or artist of any kind, you know more than anyone else that you need a space to spread out and get creative. Transform your basement into a silent haven where you can focus on your art and listen to your muse.

  1. Lounge Room or Bar

Dispense drinks from a bar and keep the music and games going without ever having to leave the house. If you’re a fan of playing host for your friends and family, having a basement bar or lounge is the perfect entertaining option for you.

  1. Guest Room or Suite

Often called the “Mother-in-Law” suite, a basement guest room may sound a little medieval, but you may need the extra space. If you have unused options in your basement, such as hookups for a kitchenette or bathroom, the options just expand from there.

  1. Family Room or Den

As anyone with a large family knows, sometimes you just need space apart from each other. Create a new comfy room to let each other spread out and enjoy the peace and quiet for a moment.

  1. Home Theater or Game Room

If you’re a movie buff, you need a space to enjoy doing what you love. Install a home theater in your unused basement space. Or maybe you just don’t want to grow up. What about an arcade? A pool table? Create a space where you can wind down.

  1. Office Space

Perhaps you just work from home a lot, and you need a quiet space to be productive. A business office space may be just what you need.

  1. Library

If you love books, you’re probably running low on space to store your books. You probably keep buying new books, even though you know you have no place to put them. Remember that empty space beneath your house? Turn it into a library!

  1. Meditative Space or Relaxation Room

Are you into meditation? Mindfulness is a great practice that can be used to reduce the stress and anxiety of day-to-day life. Use calming tones, soothing lights, and create a space just for you and your peace of mind.

  1. Play Space for Kids

Kids need their own space to let loose once in a while, and it’s not always warm and sunny outside. Create a play space for them in your wide open basement.

  1. Home Gym

You have officially run out of excuses not to work out if you have a gym just downstairs. Keep yourself motivated and accountable: install a home gym!

Basement rooms often get discarded because they seem like so much work, but not only can they be a valuable use of space, having an extra space in your basement that everyone can use also adds value to your home.

So, organize the stuff hiding down there, find a public storage near you for the seasonal items and donate the rest. Don’t let the potential of all that valuable living space sit and collect dust.

Filed Under: Home & Decor

Value-Added Resellers Need To Pivot With The Cloud

August 22, 2018 by

Technology resellers purchase software and hardware and sell it to customers and businesses. Value-Added Resellers take technology, add something to it, like applications or a suite of programs, and then re-sell it. With the rise of cloud computing technology, SaaS (software-as-a-service), and other virtual support systems, there is less value-added hardware around to be resold. There has been a dramatic shift to the cloud over the past several years due to its lower maintenance costs, flexibility, and efficiency for businesses and consumers, alike. Many resellers are pivoting toward services and consultancy and away from hardware.

Though the average consumer can still buy a laptop with applications added to it from the store, data centers are quickly becoming extinct due to the shift to virtual cloud servers, as they require no physical infrastructure on-site. Technology resellers had an important place in the IT industry providing and upgrading these data centers, supplying labour assets and on-going maintenance servicing. Data centers are still found all over the world and need to be maintained. Those working in the data centre space should learn about IOR services to ease importing hassles and meet customs compliance every time. With increasing frequency, businesses outsource their server and storage needs to a third-party cloud service provider. There are many reasons to switch to the cloud and move away from the hassles of hardware.

It’s more cost-effective to adopt cloud computing: there is no hardware to buy and maintain, and there is no need to hire employees to maintain it, either. Cloud services are scalable depending on the needs of the business that month, week, or day. Customer service and assistance is included in the service package if something goes wrong. The cloud provides flexibility for employees to work from home, in-transit, or from a remote location, even internationally. The cloud also provides every day conveniences like social media and streaming entertainment. It is widely considered to be more secure, despite hacking and data breach concerns. There are privacy laws and other regulations in place that cloud service providers and users need to abide by. A more antiquated system based on hardware and physical storage drives leaves businesses and individuals open to identity theft through non-digital, analogue means.

Technology resellers still have a place, as we’re far from abandoning hardware, altogether. But some shifting needs to occur to rebalance the ratio of offerings and use. As consumers and businesses switch to cloud services, so too should those in the reselling industry in equal, anticipatory amounts. Small businesses and corporations will no longer need to hire a company to install and maintain hardware; however, a technology consultant is now useful. A consultant can help businesses navigate the world of the cloud by finding the best SaaS applications to suit their needs and demands. Having an expert advise on service offerings, agreements, and contracts, and make sure cloud providers aren’t taking advantage of customers, or not delivering on what they promised, is valuable. A Value-Added Reseller would come in, install servers or other hardware, and leave. Whereas an ongoing consultant gets to know the company well, has an ongoing relationship to ensure continued efficiency, and ensures that changing needs are being met according to new offerings and innovations.

Filed Under: Money Talk

Why You Need To Get In On The Condo Boom

August 10, 2018 by

All across the world, condos are becoming one of the hottest commodities imaginable. Modern and aesthetically-pleasing architectures, coupled with high-tech amenities and cutting-edge décor has, no doubt, created a boom of sorts, particularly when it comes to all things high-rise and residential. Now is the time, then, to reap the benefits of this real estate dream come true.

Whether you choose to buy a pre-existing unit, or opt for the pre-construction route, you’re going to benefit from this decision in some way. The financial specificities and how your investment will grow is dependent on the region in which you’re located. Toronto, Ontario, for example, is one of the most popular areas. In recent years, the city has surpassed all expectations, filling its skyline with many developments in less than a decade.

However, no matter where you’re located – be it Toronto or Vancouver – the first thing to do if you’re hoping to partake of the rampant popularity of condominiums is to learn about pre construction condos and how they differ from other models, both financially and pragmatically. This is where a team of agents who are knowledgeable about the nuances of real estate developments – like the expert team at CondoHere – will come in handy.

First and foremost, a pre-construction condo is the best way to take advantage of this formidable increase in the value of condos. Not only do they afford you certain financial freedoms (compared to older, more established buildings), they can be more profitable in the long run, insofar as they are built to outlast their predecessors. With developing buildings, you don’t get what you pay for – you get, instead, so much more.

Given that larger homes are unlikely to fall in value any time soon – particularly in the Greater Toronto Area – one shouldn’t hold out for that possibility. At the same time, this is no reason to pass on alternative opportunities. While pre-construction condos are yet-to-be-built, their benefits can certainly be felt in the immediate future. Their initial fees are substantially lower than that of, say, a mortgage for a house in just about any area in southern Ontario. While they aren’t always as large when it comes to square footage, this is compensated for by way of affordability – because they’re incomplete, you are not required to put forward a sizable down payment prior to moving in.

One of the most lauded benefits of these housing ventures – second only to how easily financed they are – is the fact that each and every aspect of your new home will be brand new. That is to say, completely unused amenities are at your disposal. A great deal of enjoyment and comfort will be derived from this fact, whether or not you hope to live in your unit, or simply plan on leasing it out to tenants.

There are plenty of reasons to get involved with the current condo boom. With these shockingly beneficial pre-construction realities in mind, it might be time to get started on setting a projected move-in date, before those new developments in the neighbourhood of your dreams are filled to the brim with satisfied residents and investors alike. Luckily, with the right team of real estate agents on your side, you’ll be able to quickly and easily find the perfect condo.

Filed Under: Home & Decor