Consumer pressure attracts customers to Gumtree

Intensifying pressures on the household budget coming from the mounting cost of living and stagnant wages growth are helping to drive turnover in the second-hand economy, now valued at $43.5 billion.

Fuelling this buy, swap and sell binge is also the proliferation of e-commerce sites, traditional players such as eBay and Amazon, as well as new platforms springing up on social media, with more than 100 million used goods changing hands over the past 12 months.

Data collected by leading online trading site Gumtree, which was acquired by eBay’s classified group in May 2005, reveals that every Australian household is sitting on just more than $5400 worth of unwanted items spread over, on average, 25 unwanted or unused items under their own roof.

The spread of smartphones, the popularity of online shopping and online connectivity is helping fuel the buying and selling spree, but the steady rise in the cost of living for the average Australian household in an era of stagnant wages is also nudging shoppers into the second-hand economy.

In its latest report on the sector, Gumtree says Australians are recognising that buying second-hand items for the home can potentially free up money for use in other areas, including extra cash to combat increasing living costs, to service debt, to pay rent, to go towards a deposit for a house or to go on a holiday.

This is helping to normalise the idea of buying second-hand goods, rather than always reaching for the brand new item. Gumtree reports that 86 per cent of Australians say they prefer buying second-hand over brand new, with the main reasons being that they can save cash and reduce waste by recycling useful items.

“I think Australians are very good at being resourceful and are looking for the best value, and I think that we are seeing that there is a little bit of uncertainty going forward economically and thinking about how you can be more resourceful and that $5400 worth of items that you could potentially sell that are in your household sitting there collecting dust,’’ said Gumtree Australia local manager Martin Herbst. “Why not collect some dollars?’’

It’s something the highly resourceful Kerrigan family, in the hit Australian movie The Castle, knew very well. But while their second-hand bible, The Trading Post, stopped publishing its highly popular weekly newspaper in 2009 to move exclusively online, consumers are now flooded with online trading platforms.

“The second-hand economy is something that has been around for a long time and what has driven a lot of that is technology, that essentially enables accessibility, and then it’s a virtuous cycle that enables easy buying and selling between neighbours, and among communities,’’ said Mr Herbst.

“When you are getting cash in your pocket and you have the experience of actually being quite positive, you are going to tell more people about it and so that’s what we have been seeing over the past few years.’’

The average buyer estimates they’ve saved about $2000 by buying second hand, representing a saving of about $26.6 billion across Australia in the past 12 months.

According to the Gumtree report the most popular items sold online are housewares and furniture (24 per cent), clothing, shoes and accessories (20 per cent), electronic goods (18 per cent) and games and toys (16 per cent).

It’s Generation Y — those aged in their late-20s — who are most engaged in buying and selling online, with 69 per cent of Gen Y reporting they sold something online in the past year. More than three-quarters of new parents bought second-hand when having a baby.

Resource :http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/consumer-pressure-attracts-customers-to-gumtree/news-story/e8469ed7799f4b345d978af61c764481

Buying a Home? The Real Cost of Homeownership

We talk a lot about the advantages of home ownership. You get to have your own space in the world. As opposed to paying a landlord, your mortgage payment is an investment in yourself because you’re gaining equity in the home with each mortgage payment.

That being said, what’s the real cost of owning your own home? Sure, there’s the mortgage and the down payment, but there’s a lot more involved. Let’s go over some of the math involved to see if you’re really ready to buy your own place.
Housing Costs

One big factor to consider when it comes to whether you should get a mortgage is the cost compared to renting. Cost of living definitely varies depending on where you live, but in most places, you will find it makes more sense to buy.

According to the latest data from Zillow, the average cost of a two-bedroom home across all major areas in the United States was $157,400. Although costs vary depending on what state you’re in, that equates to a mortgage payment of about $774.31 if we assume a 4.25% interest rate.

You can check out our amortization calculator to plug in your own numbers based on your situation.

By comparison, the average monthly rental cost for a two-bedroom home is $1,575. By renting you just about double your housing cost.

As a percentage of income, Americans spend about 15.9% of their income on monthly mortgage payments as compared to 29.1% of income spent on rent. Rent also tends to go up every year. On the other hand, even if you have a mortgage with an adjustable rate, the mortgage payment will only change after an initial fixed period of between five and 10 years.

Couple this with minimum down payments that are anywhere from 1%*– 3.5% and buying a home can be a very good deal. However, there’s more than just the mortgage. Let’s talk about some of the other stuff.
Costs Beyond the Mortgage

After the mortgage and down payment, there are other costs associated with becoming a homeowner. We’ll go over what these costs are as well as the factors that might help offset some of them.
Property Taxes

One thing to keep in mind when purchasing your home is that you will have to pay property taxes. Tax rates and any exemptions you qualify for vary across the country, so it’s a good idea to take local taxes into consideration when selecting a location for your home.

It’s especially important to be aware of property taxes now. The key reason for this is that property values are rising in most areas of the country at the moment. This can be a double-edged sword.

On one hand, you’re gaining equity faster, meaning you can convert more of it into cash for renovations, investments or even a new car you need. You’ll also get more out of the property in a sale.

On the flip side of the coin, when your property value rises, your taxes tend to go up along with it. If you have an increase in any kind of valuable assets, the government is going to want its cut.

When you’re shopping for a home, be aware of your effective property tax rate after any exemptions you would get. It can definitely make a difference in the cost of housing in the area.

While you will get taxed on the value of your property, there are also a number of tax deductions you can take that are associated with both your mortgage and the property itself.
Homeowners Insurance

Another key consideration is the cost of homeowners insurance. This helps protect your possessions in your home as well as paying for any damage to the home caused by a number of different events.

All of the major mortgage investors – including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the FHA and VA – will require that you have homeowners insurance in order to protect their investment in your loan. This is a cost you have to consider.

Your premiums may also be different depending on where you live. One thing homeowners insurance doesn’t cover is flooding caused by a natural event. If you live in a flood zone or in states that may be regularly impacted by hurricanes, you may be required to buy additional flood coverage. If you live near a forest area, you might need additional hazard insurance to deal with the impact of potential wildfires.

With all of this said, you can think of homeowners insurance as an analog for renters insurance. It’s not really an additional cost compared to rental. It’s just a different one.
Homeowners Association Fees

Depending on where you live, you may end up as part of a homeowners association. Sometimes you have the option of whether to join. Often, you don’t.

Living in a homeowners association can have its advantages. Snow removal and yard maintenance are two things that are commonly taken care of by associations. They may also do things like host neighborhood events.

If you do look at a house that’s part of an association, be sure to get a full breakdown of what the association fees cover. Once you buy the house, the fees aren’t optional and the association can often put a lien on your house for unpaid dues. Make sure the services provided are worth it to you.
Appliances and Furniture

Another thing you’ll want to take into account are any appliances and furniture you need. You’ll definitely want an oven with a stove, a refrigerator-freezer and a microwave, at minimum. Having a dishwasher isn’t necessary, but it’s nice.

A washer and dryer is a must if you want to avoid trudging to the laundromat.

New homes may or may not include appliances. If you’re purchasing an existing home, you can take a look at possibly buying from these goods from the seller if they don’t want to move certain appliances.

The nice thing is that appliances tend to last a while and you can even move them between houses if you want. Incidentally, moving is one of those tax-deductible, so long as your relocation is work-related (moving for a new employer or being transferred by your current one).

With furniture, if you’ve ever lived in your own place, odds are you already have some of your own pieces and design aesthetic you can bring to your new space. You can supplement that with a couple of new items if you want.
Repair and Maintenance

When you do you have your own house, you definitely have to deal with your own maintenance and repair. Some of this is basic stuff that you do regularly, like replacing furnace filters, cleaning the gutters and mowing the lawn. On the other hand, you only have big expenses like replacing the furnace and getting new siding every decade or so.

The only thing to be aware of is that everything doesn’t fail at once. Once a year, it helps to redo the floors. Two years down the line, it might be time to get new windows. You should always be putting something aside for maintenance.
Taking Care of Outside Maintenance

There’s lawn care, as well as driveway and sidewalk maintenance issues, to think about. You’ll need a lawn mower or a lawn service. If you’re not into landscaping and planting, there are companies you can hire that do that as well.

If you’re living in a snowy climate, you need to clear the driveway and sidewalk to make sure everyone stays safe. You can shovel and salt. You can also hire someone to do that.

If you don’t want to put a lot of effort into your lawn, it helps to budget to bring someone in to do it for you.

In some areas, you may be susceptible to certain pests. It’s important to be prepared for bug mitigation if you live in an area where there are commonly termites, cockroaches or other creepy crawlers.
Utilities and Services

Depending on what’s included in your monthly rent, it may be the first time you pay for utilities like electricity, water and gas when you get your house. It’s important to take these things into consideration in your monthly budget.

You should also look at internet and cable services. What service you can get is sometimes tied to where you live. Garbage pickup is sometimes included in your city taxes and sometimes it isn’t.
The Bottom Line

Even when taking into consideration all of the factors mentioned above, if you can afford it, in the majority of cases, it makes more sense to buy your home. You can spend so much more money on rent and it goes up every year. Buying a home also gives you the ability to make it yours.

Are you looking to buy a home soon? You can get a safe, secure, online preapproval through Rocket Mortgage® by Quicken Loans®. If you’d rather get started over the phone, one of our Home Loan Experts will be happy to speak with you at (888) 980-6716. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments.

For example, the payment on a $200,000 30-year fixed-rate loan at 4.625% (5.012% APR) with an LTV of 97% is $1,028.28, which includes a mortgage insurance payment of $61.67. Taxes and homeowners insurance are not included. Rates shown valid as of 09/21/2017. Restrictions may apply.

Resource :https://www.quickenloans.com/blog/buying-home-real-cost-homeownership

There’s a gaping hole and I could see my furniture sliding in'; Sinkhole swallows Nova Scotia family's 'dream home'

FALMOUTH, N.S. — The ground fell out from under Heather Strickey’s feet this weekend when her family’s “dream home” in a well-kept Nova Scotia neighbourhood started being swallowed by a sinkhole.

Municipal authorities in Falmouth, about 70 kilometres from Halifax, said the family of four will not be able to retrieve their remaining possessions before the two-storey house is demolished, taking 10 years of memories with it.

Strickey, who works at a local private school, and her 16-year-old daughter were inside the house early Sunday morning when they awoke to the sounds of what they believed to be an intruder. Here is her account of the incident, as told to reporter Adina Bresge of The Canadian Press.

Note: This transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity.

---

The sounds were like someone pulling something along the floor, or maybe taking things off the walls.

(Before) I called 911, I paused for a few moments or minutes to see if I could possibly be wrong. But it was too loud.

I was speaking very quietly, because if it was an intruder, I didn’t want to alert them that we were here. My daughter, Julia, came into the room and said, “Mom, I think there’s someone downstairs.”

The power goes off very quickly, followed by the crashing and some breaking of glass. Julia and I grab the best weapons we can come up with and go into the (bathroom) closet and shut the door.

I had a nail file, which I was going to use to pluck eyes if I had to. Julia actually did a little more thinking and grabbed a very heavy magnifying mirror, so I think she was going to wield that.

We basically went shoulder-to-shoulder and we waited. I looked down at my phone and it’s about 17 minutes in. (The emergency dispatcher) tells me it should be about five more minutes. These are the longest minutes of your life.

As soon as I heard footsteps, I was going to shove Julia into the attic and try to hold off until the RCMP got there.

(The dispatcher) says there’s an officer on scene, and almost immediately, she says, “Not an invasion.”

Our house wasn’t being broken into. It was being broken down into a hole.

The idea that humans could be trying to hurt us was so much more scary than something that happened by nature, or whatever this is. It’s still relief that I don’t have to worry about someone jumping at me with a knife or a gun.

What I didn’t realize is that (three or four metres) from where we’re going down the staircase, there’s no floor anymore. There’s a gaping hole and I could see my furniture sliding in.

It’s definitely a Hollywood experience. You have the Titanic going over on its side.

(The dispatcher) tells us, “You need to get out of your house now, and grab some stuff.”

My beloved 16-year-old loves basketball, so she grabbed her basketball speakers and her McDonald’s uniform, thinking that perhaps she could still work her shift at 8 a.m.

I didn’t grab passports, or money, or my wedding rings — nothing.

I was going to work out, so no word of a lie, I grabbed my workout bag.

The rest of our family was (away) in the city because they were greeting the new students coming to our school.

(My husband) had a hard time trying to understand what had happened. Julia and I had lived it, so we got it, but he had to see it.

It looks like someone pressed down with a very mighty hand into the middle of your house and pushed it into the ground.

If you look closer, you can see there’s a giant hole. You can see my rose garden holding on saying, “No, we don’t want to go!”

(The firefighters) went in an grabbed our passports, our jewellery. He’s literally coming out with things like photo albums and pictures from the wall that were irreplaceable. I wasn’t thinking that way, but he was.

At no point did I think we’ll never get in the house again.

(Municipal officials) want the structure — they would call it a structure, we refer to it as our home — torn down, so that the possibility of someone being harmed by it coming down (on its own) disappears.

They’re being respectful, but we don’t want anything to happen until we hear from the insurance. Our ideal scenario is that we’d be able to salvage some things from the house.

The security officer said that the traffic (near the property) is similar to what he sees when the exhibition is in town. People are getting out of their cars and taking pictures.

I understand people’s interest, but I don’t think they get that it’s a complete tragedy for our family. I can’t complain, we’re all safe, but we’ve literally lost pretty well everything.

My (13-year-old) is super-duper sad. Basically, every memory that she has is based on our lives in that home.

It truly was our dream home. There wasn’t anything I wanted to change about this house. I loved it just the way it was.

We are blessed. We’ve had at least 30 people offer us a place to live.

I may as well work today and get things some things done. I can’t get the keys to my Volkswagen because they’re at a bottom of a sink hole. So I have a car, but I can’t drive it.

I don’t have a house to clean. I don’t have laundry to do. So, let’s press on.

Our (family’s) mantra is, “It was things, not people.” We’ll have things again.

Resource : http://www.torontosun.com/2017/09/04/theres-a-gaping-hole-and-i-could-see-my-furniture-sliding-in-sinkhole-swallows-nova-scotia-familys-dream-home

Pain of Nairobi residents living in apartments that have no lifts

Three years ago, the county government revealed an elaborate plan to find out if the city's high-rise buildings adhered to the Building Code. Key among the goals was to establish whether buildings adhered to the requirement that those with more than four floors should have lifts.

The county's planning chief Tom Odongo had promised to give developers timelines to adhere to the building code by demolishing extra floors or installing lifts. Janet Were, who lives in a building that has eight floors in Pipeline Estate, has never heard of such a requirement. "I have lived on the top floor of the apartment.

The landlord has never mentioned anything to do with elevators. We find our way up the stairs even with heavy luggage," said Janet. Ascending to her house is like climbing a mountain. She plunges into her sofa to catch her breath for at least 15 minutes before stretching for the remote control to switch on the television.


The story is the same for many other residents. To entice tenants to the upper floors, landlords charge less than the rates for houses on the lower floors. Challenges galore This is how Janet and thousand many other tenants ended up living on the top floors despite the challenges of getting into their houses. Philip Karani, a caretaker and agent of one of the houses, says it is hard to convince people to live on the top floors.


"The landlords had to get creative to get tenants for top floors of their buildings. The rent charged is usually lower," reiterates Karani. Going up the stairs is hectic. Most tenants find it hard to carry heavy luggage to their houses. Many are forced to pay handymen to do the job. Hanging washed clothes is another problem as the space is limited and in case some clothes fall off the line, one has a hectic time going all the way to the ground to pick them up.


"My clothes fell down the line a week ago. I cannot explain the trouble I underwent going downstairs and washing them again considering I am a bachelor," said Dennis Kiptoo, a tenant.



Emma Miloyo, president of the Architectural Association of Kenya, supported the building code, adding that it is a requirement that must be adhered to by all buildings. "Only about 20 per cent to 30 per cent of houses in the city are compliant with the law. Some of the houses with poor lighting and no lifts lack legal approval.


 A report was issued and those buildings will be reviewed for proper rehabilitation," said Miloyo. Gad Opiyo, the chairman of the Architecture Association of Kenya, said there is no shortage of laws to regulate building and construction. Mr Opiyo cites the building act. Despite the existence, he says, enforcement has taken a little too long. Opiyo said all buildings are approved after it is established that they meet all the requirements of the code.

Resource :https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001246815/pain-of-nairobi-residents-living-in-apartments-that-have-no-lifts

Christie antiques show returns this weekend

The Christie Antique and Vintage Show is back this weekend, with a treasure trove of furniture, jewelry, clothing, art, memorabilia and more. 

The spring show, on Saturday, May 27 at Christie Lake Conservation Area (100 Hwy. 5 W., Dundas), will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. 

Parking is free, but visitors are asked to leave their pets at home. There will be free shuttle buses from the parking lots to the gates, and food court and picnic areas on site plus a beer and wine tent.

The show also offers free pick-up service from booth to vehicle, and Carter Lease and Rentals will be onsite with rental vans available if you need to transport large items off site.

For advance tickets, go to 

Resource :http://www.thespec.com/living-story/7332653-christie-antiques-show-returns-this-weekend/

‘Entourage’ Star Jeremy Piven’s Malibu Beach House Is for Rent and for Sale (EXCLUSIVE)

SELLER: Jeremy Piven
LOCATION: Malibu, CA
PRICE: $10,495,000
SIZE: 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms

YOUR MAMA’S NOTES: With rumors rampant he’s in the process of acquiring a home high in the Hollywood Hills — a bit more on that in a minute — Jeremy Piven hoisted his longtime residence in Malibu up for sale at $10.495 million. The “Entourage” star, who more recently portrayed the titular character on the now cancelled British-American period TV series “Mr Selfridge,” purchased the beachfront house in July 2004 for $3.5 million. Since 2014 the property has been available several times as a short-term luxury lease with asking prices between $35,000 and $50,000 per month and it’s currently listed as a furnished summer rental at $40,000 per month.

A gated and trellis-shaded courtyard entry laden with potted plants leads to the front door of the vine-encrusted residence that’s decorated — or at least furnished if not exactly decorated — with a hodgepodge of carved Balinese-style furniture and a remarkable number of Buddhist figurines. A slender entrance hall leads to a spacious open-plan living/dining area with two sets of glass sliders that open to a slender, oceanfront deck with free-standing spa tub. Open to the dining area over a long peninsula countertop with raised snack bar, the kitchen won’t win any style awards with its practical if pedestrian white, raised panel cabinets and mud-colored granite countertops but it does offer a costly array of premium quality appliances. There are two guest bedrooms on the main floor, per listing details, plus a mirror-walled yoga studio/fitness room.

A media lounge with state-of-the-art projection equipment on the uppermost floor is joined by a guest bedroom and bathroom plus a master suite with roomy bedroom, ocean-view bathroom, walk-in closet and private deck with sweeping views up and down the coastline. A sprawling entertainment room on the lowest level, where listing photos show a full drum set and extensive lounge seating, includes a walk-in wet bar, a dry sauna and a beach-side deck that runs the full width of the house with built-in bench seating and steps down to the beach that, according to listings, remains desirably dry even at higher tides.

So the celebrity real estate rumor mill goes via the property gossips at The Real Deal, Mister Piven, set to star with Eva Longoria and Jamie Foxx in the comedy “All Star Weekend,” plans to purchase a new home in the Mount Olympus neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills. The 2,851-square-foot, two-story residence, need of a spiffing up and described in marketing materials as a “French style house,” has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a double-height atrium entry, swimming pool and extensive decks with panoramic mountain views over Laurel Canyon.

Since June 2011 Mister Piven has maintained a 3,012-square-foot duplex penthouse with almost 1,000-square-feet of private terraces in a snazzy boutique building in Manhattan’s TriBeCa neighborhood that he bought in June 2011 for $4,582,125 from former professional baseball player Mike Piazza.

listing photos: Pinnacle Estate Properties

Resource : http://variety.com/2017/dirt/real-estalker/eremy-piven-malibu-beach-house-1202443275/

Philly tops list of 10 most affordable retail locations

 Retailers who want a prime location but also one that’s affordable should check out Philadelphia, Chicago and Seattle.

That’s according to JLL’s inaugural City Retail report, which reveals the 10 most affordable and desirable prime urban retail corridors in the United States based on average asking rent per square foot. The districts have growing populations of working millennials, rising foodie scenes, and trendy mixes of up-and-coming retailers and well-known brands. These factors combine to create affordability and stability—the ideal scenario for retailers and investors that want to expand, according to JLL.

"In retail, store location is everything – pick the wrong corner and your brilliant concept can fail," said Naveen Jaggi, president of retail brokerage and capital markets, JLL. "We know that sometimes retailers want that prime main-and-main location, but just don't have the budget. So, we looked at core U.S. cities to find more affordable areas for retail expansion.”

According to JLL, prime rents in the following 10 prime urban retail corridors are the most affordable on a per-square-foot basis:
Market East, Philadelphia: Once home to vacant lots and failed fortress malls, Market East now attracts large-format retailers looking to tap into the swelling millennial and empty-nester population. Market East's average asking prime retail rent is $50 p.s.f., with annual rent growth of 25%.

Wicker Park, Chicago: This edgy, off-the-beaten path foodie destination is seeing an uptick in residential development, piquing international investor and retailer interest. Wicker Park's average asking prime retail rent is $55 p.s.f., with annual rent growth of 4.5%.

Pike Street, Seattle: Filled with a stable collection of apparel and restaurants, Pike Street serves Seattle's CBD and is expanding east toward Capitol Hill with new restaurants. Pike Street's average asking prime retail rent is $65 p.s.f., with annual rent growth of 18.2%.

Fulton Market, Chicago: Once a hub for industrial and meat distribution, Fulton Market in the West Loop submarket is known for its killer restaurant scene, but is now garnering attention from apparel retailers and investors as it becomes a growth market for corporate headquarters. Average asking prime retail rent is $75 p.s.f., with annual rent growth of 8.9%.

The Marina, San Francisco: This corridor has seen a spike of athleisure and boutique fitness studios, adding to its long-standing assortment of neighborhood retail and restaurants. The average asking prime retail rent is $85 p.s.f., with annual rent growth of 7.7%.

University Avenue, Silicon Valley: Palo Alto's tech boom is creating a retail sea change with more non-chain boutiques and home goods stores moving in to University Avenue. The average asking prime retail rent is $90 p.s.f., with annual rent growth of 7.9%.

Hayes Valley, San Francisco: Opportunities for investment and new storefronts in Hayes Valley is shrinking as housing values increase and entertainment venues play host to tourists. The average prime asking retail rent is $90 p.s.f., with annual rent growth of 4.7%.

Design District, Miami: Textile and furniture factories once lined the Design District, which is now a curated assortment of luxury retailers, art galleries and restaurants. Phase II of development will add 60 new tenants to the market. The average prime asking retail rent is $95 p.s.f., with annual rent growth of 2.2%.

Metro Center, Washington, DC: Well positioned between the White House and Chinatown, Metro Center is where people go to shop at well-known brands and discount retailers. The average asking prime retail rent is $100 p.s.f., with annual rent growth remaining flat.

Fillmore, San Francisco: It's been eight years since the transformation of the Fillmore corridor started, and today luxury lite retailers are dominating the retail scene. The average asking prime retail rent is $115 p.s.f., with annual rent growth of 13.6%. Prime Urban Retail Corridors are the New High Streets

"We expect the value of real estate in these select corridors to rise over the long-term, and retailers to remain vigilant in their expansions. But, as competition rises and consumer buying habits shift, retailers will search for opportunities to get more bang for their buck," concluded James Cook, director of retail research, JLL, which is the largest third party retail property manager in the United States with more than 1,000 centers, totaling 125 million square feet under management, lease and sale.

 Resource :http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/philly-tops-list-10-most-affordable-retail-locations

Staged to sell: New business rents furniture and accessories to home builders, homeowners and realtors

WEST FARGO—Home builders, real estate agents and homeowners have a new tool at their disposal in the quest for higher home sale prices.

The Private Collection, a business that rents furniture and decor to be used for home staging, opened here last fall. Clients have the option of renting furniture piece-by-piece or asking its owners, Trever Hill and Susan Hozak-Cardinal, to professionally stage the home for them.

Home staging is the art of furnishing and decorating a house to sell quickly and for more money. The National Association of Realtors reports that for every $100 invested in staging, the potential return is $400.

There are many reasons selling an empty house can be a challenge. For one, Hill said buyers often misjudge empty rooms as being too big or small.

"They'll walk in and think 'Wow, it's kind of a small dining room,' but it's really not," he said. "If you get furniture in there, you realize it's a really spacious room."

The Private Collection carries furniture that will work in almost any size and layout, he said.

Hill and Hozak-Cardinal hand picked each item from high end and local vendors such as Room & Board, New Pacific Direct, McNeal & Friends, Scheels Home & Hardware and HomeGoods. Styles range from modern and contemporary to traditional and farmhouse.

A 'Gateway' to a new business

Hill has been interested in decorating and design for as long as he can remember. He got his start decorating the homes of friends and family while he was still in high school in his hometown of Spearfish, S.D.

In 2009, he established his own interior design firm, Home Suite Couture, here in Fargo. At the time, he was also working full time as the internet manager for Gateway Chevrolet Cadillac Hyundai Nissan in Fargo. In 2014, he left Gateway to become the specialty shop manager for Scheels Home and Hardware.

Within months of accepting that role, Hill was named a Top 5 Decorator/Designer by Design & Living Magazine. After that, Hill said "everything just exploded."

He renamed his company Trever Hill Design and began working on his own full time. Hill said realtors often asked him if there was anywhere they could rent furniture for a home on the market.

When he realized there were few options, he turned Hozak-Cardinal, the wife of a former Gateway co-worker. The two got to know each other well when Hill worked on their home back in 2014. She agreed there was a real opportunity for them to fill a market niche.




They started buying furniture last May and staged their first home last fall.

Hozak-Cardinal, who also works as the director of marketing for Friendly Smiles in Fargo, mainly takes care of the business operations, but she also has a hand in staging homes. She recently staged a home built by Titan Homes featured in this spring's Parade of Homes. That's where they held a ribbon cutting with the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber last month.

"That was good for us," Hozak-Cardinal said. "A lot of people hadn't heard about us. That really helped get the word out."

BUSINESS PROFILE

What: The Private Collection

Contact: (701) 715-3077 or info@privatecollectionfargo.com.

Online: www.privatecollectionfargo.com

Resource : http://www.inforum.com/business/4271223-staged-sell-new-business-rents-furniture-and-accessories-home-builders-homeowners

Welcome to Everyday Life of a Muslim in Times of Lynch Mob

A couple of months back we were looking to change our rented apartment. As our kid grew, we felt our need for space grow and so we started doing the weekend exercise of searching for a bigger house. We all know it is difficult for a Muslim to get a house and we had a matter-of-fact approach to this problem. We told our broker upfront that we were Muslims and to kindly refrain from hiding our identity. We asked him to ensure the landlord was absolutely okay with renting out to Muslims and only then shall we step into the premises to have a look at the house.

The broker was a young man and was effaced by our bluntness, he smiled apologetically. While this did narrow down our options, but also saved us a lot of time and energy. After about two months of actively seeking a new place, we finally liked, let me rephrase, loved an apartment. It was open, airy, suitably located, in budget and did not compromise on the quality of lifestyle that we wanted for ourselves. The landlord was an affable sweet man and we instantly knew we had finally found a new home.


As we settled in, we got the various daily needs streamlined. The vegetable vendor, the florist, the milkman and the local meat shop — all home delivered. Our building guards always call on the intercom to check before allowing entry to a visitor. Once in a while, when my meat seller delivers the orders, be it fish, chicken our mutton, we get a call saying ‘mutton aaya hai’. And we freak out every time this happens.


At first, we scolded the delivery boy to say it’s just a ‘food’ item. But he would forget and on every delivery, we heard on the intercom, ‘mutton aaya hai’. The words just sounded ominous. Looking at our exasperation, the delivery boy finally asked, but why do you ask me not to say ‘mutton’? I replied, “Kya pata tumhara mutton kab beef ban jaaye?”




Any meat cooked in a Muslim house today is after all considered beef. My Muslim maid tells me of the many times she has been asked by other maids if we cook beef at home. We don’t. But we still live in paranoia. Just look at news around you, there is no time for clarifications, mere suspicion is enough to humiliate, or worse, to kill a Muslim.

If ever there is confusion over the kind of meat being delivered at our place, however unwittingly, we will be just another number to be held against the community. For there is no fringe lynch mob, it’s all around us.

I remember, when finalizing this house, we had walked around the neighbourhood checking the clubhouse, swimming pool and other sports facilities available. We were a happy twosome, already making plans for our new home. We decided to ring the bell of one of the houses in our building and ask about the pros and cons of the apartment. The door was opened by a cheerful couple with big warm smiles, the kinds one instantly likes. We told them we were planning to shift and they seemed happy to talk to us. After a few pleasantries, they invited us for tea. As we settled down in their sofa set, tea arrived.

As an afterthought, they asked us, ‘oh, and what is your name?’ We realized that in the excitement of meeting new people, none of us had bothered to introduce ourselves. So we offered our names. Suddenly, as we picked up the tea cups in our hands, we were aware of a hesitant and momentary silence. As the noiseless exchange of glances happened, I remembered hearing a story of people who destroy the tea cups used by Muslims. Suddenly, I felt very sad for the fine china cup in my hand. What a waste of such a beauty! It’s only fault being its fate to be in my hands.

I also realized that these were no longer the times when you can enter any house without double checking if your religion is welcome or not. But knowing and experiencing are not the same things. While we were aware of landlords not giving houses to Muslim tenants, we were not prepared for the hesitancy from educated and equally privileged neighbours. Yes, accepting bigotry in its all-pervasive nature is a slow process. But being a Muslim today means living unfazed by these everyday instances. We slowly learn to smile at visitors, who refused to even drink a glass of water at our homes.

On the other hand, we have the few landlords who do give us nice houses on rent. We slowly learn to get used to losing friends and being at the ends of unfounded hate. At the same time, we don’t lose hope as we make new friends who stand up against injustices regardless of religion or political leanings. We are also used to hearing about lynching and vigilante ‘justice’, which just happens to be directed at one community. And if many ‘right’ commentators are to be believed, it’s not a communal occurrence but only a serendipity. This makes us worried, very worried.

Most of us, the Muslims of India, are aware that we are seen as a homogeneous group — an ummah that is undivided in practices and beliefs. We have grown up hearing comments like ‘oh you don’t look like a Muslim’ or ‘aapke yahaan toh honge chaaku-churri chalaane waley’. We are aggressively stereotyped and fused in class, region or aspirational distinctions. And the knowledge of this is inherent to being a Muslim today. It’s not a mundane newspaper article. It’s a reality we live with.

That is why perhaps the news of a Muslim being lynched is so close to home for us and is a distant fringe for our neighbours. For me, it’s another day survived, another day lived, knowing very well I could be the next victim. The stunning brutality and regularity of it all has probably distanced my neighbour and colleagues from the reality that India has become today.

It’s convenient to ‘fringicize’ it in the heads. This is partly to exonerate oneself from the onus of the majority Hindu middle and upper class from speaking against such violence. How many social media timelines I see talking of every issue in the world, but this? There is a total silence on this in all 'mann ki baats'. Probably, a picture of a blood soaked man with folded hands pleading for a fair chance in the face of camera phones doesn’t touch hearts anymore. It’s a sign of how developed we are, see even the so-called fringe has a smartphone! Probably, we must not be affected by the gory details but look for positives and buy into the various theories that make us feel good about such ‘stray’ incidences. Let’s continue to unsee, unhear, and unfeel the fear next door in the life of your Muslim neighbour or colleague.

(Nazia Erum is a TEDx speaker and author of forthcoming book, 'Mothering a Muslim' by Juggernaut Books. Her views are personal and not that of News18.com. She can be reached on twitter at @nazia_e)

Resource :http://www.news18.com/news/india/welcome-to-everyday-life-of-a-muslim-in-times-of-lynch-mob-1408879.html

RVing: An Alternate Form of Living

You’re gonna live in a van down by the river!”  is what many of my friends and professors exclaim when I tell them about my intentions to begin living in a recreational vehicle (RV) this summer. The exclamation references a skit that was done by Saturday Night Live several years ago about a motivational speaker who lives in a “van down by the river” trying to convince two teenagers not to do drugs using references to the speaker’s miserable life in a “van down by the river.” However, my choice to live in an RV is certainly not like living in a camper van.

The first thing to realize about RVs is that there are many different types. Ranging from the simple camper van or pop-up trailer that only has a bed and maybe air conditioning to fully self-contained units that have all the creature comforts of a small home or apartment, such as travel trailers, Class C, and Class A RVs. My RV is a 1983 Fleetwood Pace-Arrow. It falls under the category of being a Class A RV, which is essentially shaped like a charter bus. However, rather than having rows of seating, it has the contents of a typical one bedroom apartment. I have a living area with a couch and can place a TV linked to a satellite dish on the roof. I have a fully functional kitchen with an oven, stove, microwave, and refrigerator along with a dinette to eat at. My RV even has a bathroom area that has a toilet and shower larger than most of the dorms. Then I have a separate room for my sleeping quarters and plenty of storage for all my possessions. There is not much else a single person in their 20’s needs out of their living situation.

However, I am still frequently asked the question of why I have chosen to live in an RV? It just makes sense where I am at in life right now. My roommate for the last three years will be moving to Orlando when our lease expires, and I do not particularly like the idea of breaking in a new one. Also, it will be possible for me to save a considerable amount of money living in an RV rather than getting another roommate of renting a studio apartment. Currently, I pay a little over $600 a month for my share of the rent and utilities; that is approximately $7200 per year I am throwing away on rent. The reason I refer to paying rent as throwing away money is that you gain absolutely no capital benefit by doing so. You are quite literally making someone else richer without gaining any long-term benefit. I purchased my RV for only $3200 as a mechanic’s special (but hey, I am a mechanic) and RV lot rental with utilities is only approximately $300 per month. Not to mention that my RV has already experienced its maximum depreciation, which means I should be able to get most of the money I put into it when I decide to sell, so long as I maintain its condition, of course.

Not to mention one other intrinsic benefit of the RV lifestyle, you can go wherever you want, whenever you want. All you are is a gas tank away from a short weekend adventure or a permanent relocation.

Resource :http://theavion.com/rving-an-alternate-form-of-living/

UMass student lists dorm room with a view on Airbnb; university officials say “Not so fast

AMHERST — For a short time, $85 might have gotten you a night in a dorm room in the Southwest Residential Area of the University of Massachusetts with the “best view” in town, according to the student attempting to rent it on Airbnb.

It might have been a good deal. That is, if you like to look out over dormitory towers and share a bathroom with college students. The host touted the room’s other amenities on the online room and home rental service, including friendly neighbors.

The student listed it as a “Luxury Room in Southwest” when she advertised her single bed for rent on the website.

University officials have contacted her since and the listing has been removed. Renting out a dorm room violates the residence hall contract, which all students sign to live on campus, said UMass spokesman Ed Blaguszewski.

“Assigned space is not transferable by the student,” states section five of the residence contract.




The university declined to comment further, other than to note that the student was contacted and the listing deleted. She never actually rented it out.

(The woman used only her first name in the Airbnb post and asked the Gazette with remove it from this article because she said she was being harassed and feared for her safety.)

“I used my room as a way to make money and meet other people,” she said in an email interview via the Airbnb website.

Her listing boasted proximity to the dining halls, access to the laundry room and utilities such as a microwave, refrigerator and television.

However, she said in the listing that partying would be off-limits, or else “you will be written up and asked to leave.”

Many other college campuses across the country have faced similar issues with students renting out their dorm rooms.

In January 2016, Jack Worth, an Emerson College student, rented his dorm room three times on Airbnb before he was caught, according to the Boston Globe.

After the Emerson College incident, Katie Theiler, a spokeswoman for Housing and Dining Services at the University of Colorado, told Daily Camera last year that the school was keeping an eye on online rental sites.

Last year, the Huffington Post found Airbnb listings for dorm rooms at several colleges, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, Temple University and the University of Chicago. To Blaguszewski’s knowledge, this is the first time a student at UMass Amherst has listed a dorm room for rent.

Nicole DeFeudis can be reached at nmdefeudis@umass.edu. 

Resource : http://www.gazettenet.com/UMass-student-uses-web-service-to-rent-out-dorm-room-9298375

When a house no longer feels like a home

Washington - Two days before Christmas, the man I thought I would marry ended our relationship. We sat facing one another – he on the long, low green couch he'd brought when he moved from Texas to Tennessee to be with me, I on the white and gray linen sofa I'd bought from a friend whose boutique was shutting down.

As he said the words that ended our relationship, I stared not at him but at a drawing on the foyer wall: a gift from my cousin, depicting me and my partner in front of my little orange house, our pets at our feet. When our talk was done, I stood up and took down the drawing. I set it in the back room, full of renovation detritus, and began to pack a bag.

"You shouldn't be the one to leave," he told me. "It's your house."

"That's true," I said. "But this isn't home anymore."


I fled to my parents house, unpacked my things in the guest room and stayed for a month. While I was there, I made wild, half-baked plans to escape to another city – shorthand for the new life I wanted to have, one I would have to rebuild for myself. I pictured myself hiking in Denver and drinking cold craft beer in view of tall mountains. I spent two weeks in San Francisco, getting lost in a place that was as simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar as I was to myself.

When I returned to my house after Valentine's Day, my former partner had found a new place to live. The living room looked strange and empty without his green couch, and the bedroom still smelled like his dog after Belle had slept next to him in my absence.

I didn't have a template for this, for making my home feel like it was mine again. There were many places I had left, but I always knew I would never return. My childhood home after my parents signed the closing paperwork. The houseboat I'd lived on for a week in Hong Kong. The home of friends with whom an ex-boyfriend had lived while we dated. The crumbling rental where I was assaulted by someone I'd known since high school. My first college dorm room.

It was cleaner to leave and never come back. To let certain restaurants and bars and music venues fall off my regular circuit if they reminded me too much of someone who had cut me loose.

There I was in the foyer of the house I owned, the home I had once shared with a man who often told me he couldn't wait to marry the s – out of me. If it had been in any condition to rent out, I might have simply packed another suitcase and fled.

But I couldn't leave. There was work to be done.

And everywhere I looked, there was some reminder that my former partner had been here. He had been renovating the house and had gotten only as far as the demolition phase. The master bath was purged of its fixtures, the tile torn up.

I hadn't taken a shower at home in a year, though he kept promising the new marble tile would go in soon, that the plumbing would be reconfigured for a walk-in shower to replace the old cast iron tub.

The kitchen was missing one of its counters and there were patchy holes in the drywall where a rustic back splash once hung. The back room was piled high with boxes, including a giant 1960s stove he had bought from a young couple.

When we met, I was coming off a hard few years of personal and professional disappointments, and was clawing my way out of depression. He promised me peace of mind. When he moved in, he built a beautiful deck and pergola off the back of the house, a gesture to show that he had something to offer and the ability to follow through – qualities he felt distinguished him from the other men I'd dated.

For our anniversary, he cut and stained new shelves and drawers for my closet. Everyone we knew commented on how happy I'd become, on the way I glowed and grinned now that this man was in my life.

The progress on the house stalled so slowly it was almost imperceptible, just as our relationship was falling apart. There was always some excuse for a project not to move forward – our single-income budget after he lost his job, travel plans, my grueling graduate program, his long hours doing work trade at a local farm. I didn't even notice the way the things I loved most about the house and myself were getting stripped away, from the ability to host dinner parties and take long baths to my own sense of confidence.

"Don't you have anything to say?" he asked me as he ended things.

"For once I don't have any words," I said, shaking my head.

Eventually, I started putting the house back together. Family friends stepped in to finish the renovation. A handy cousin happened to need a place to live, and moved in with his many hammers and saws. He put the doors and drawers back on to the kitchen cabinets, mowed the lawn and planted flowers.

As the kitchen counter tops went back in, and the rotten siding was repaired, I stopped researching apartments in Denver and San Francisco. I wore dark red lipstick and grew out my hair. I watched the cats play in the back yard and the buds unfurl on the trees. I became generous again, and open.

I took long, hot baths. Where my ex's green sofa once sat, I put a fig tree in a white ceramic pot. In the back room that had once been a cluttered tomb of renovation materials, my cousin moved in his dressers and bed. We go for long hikes and drink cold beer together. The house has become a home again, and I've recovered my sense of self.

Resource :http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/home-garden/home/when-a-house-no-longer-feels-like-a-home-8700398

Furniture nonprofit debuts new warehouse

Clad in a sequined hat, Anna Richelle ran her fingers across the plastic covering of a room full of mattresses Thursday afternoon. The 70-year-old said she felt quite at home as she adjusted the drawers of a bureau and then wrapped the cord of a lamp around its base.

Richelle has been a regular at the Houston Furniture Bank since 2014. She began as a shopper but quickly became a volunteer, dusting and sweeping for the old facility on Hussion Street before a fire destroyed it in 2015.

"My husband had a stroke, and Oscar (the manager of HFB's thrift store operation) gave me a scooter for him to ride," Richelle said. "I told him I didn't think he'd ride it, but my husband got on it. After that day, there was never another scooter. We just got lucky. The place is a miracle."

The nonprofit dedicated to "Making Empty Houses Homes" debuted its new warehouse at 8220 Mosley with a ribbon cutting Thursday. The 75,000-square-foot space is more than triple the size of the old facility and aims to serve up to 500 families a month within the next two years under a more aggressive business model.

Mayor Sylvester Turner, who spoke to an audience of HFB volunteers, partnering agencies and customers, identified with the Houston Furniture Bank's theme of charity. During his time at Harvard Law School, he needed a mattress and all he could afford was one from Goodwill, he said.

"I came to say thank you to the Houston Furniture Bank for stepping up when the City of Houston needed organizations to do so," he said.

'Like a phoenix'

The nonprofit began in 1992 as a pilot project aiming to help 140 families under the Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County. When Executive Director Oli Mohammed realized its potential, he proposed creating a furniture bank to serve the community. In 2003, the furniture bank became an independent agency, and it opened its first outlet in 2008.

Through partnerships with over 85 agencies, it serves between 100 and 150 families a month - an effort that was stalled by the devastating fire at the Hussion warehouse. At the time, Mohammed, promised the nonprofit would rise from the ashes "like a phoenix."

"I knew that there were poor people in America, but when I saw the condition that people were living in, it was unacceptable," said Mohammed, who arrived in Houston from Bangladesh in 1987. "That challenge, that unfilled need. It's very understandably prevalent. If you want to see it, you see it. And it's a condition that doesn't need to exist. That's the point. That's what keeps me going, the thought that 'This is not something that needs to happen.' "

About 600,000 mattresses going to landfills and 300,000 children sleeping on floors would seem to fit in his home country, Mohammed said. In America, it doesn't make sense.

The furniture bank's Designing Interiors - Volunteers At your Service, or DIVAS program, is the creative arm of the nonprofit that transforms local families' homes with donated items.

Challenging stigmas

DIVAS member Connie Hizem said they interview the family like an interior designer would, finding out their needs and furnishing the home accordingly.

"The first house I went to, when we were finishing the apartment, it was interesting because they had this little boy - he was 5 - and there were no books in the house," Hizem said with regret. "Last Friday, we went in with a woman and she had a newborn baby, she was 8 weeks old and premature, and I brought books for the baby."

Founded in 2003 by two Houstonians looking to help the community, the DIVAS soon joined forces with the Houston Furniture Bank.

Member Connie Page said she'll never forget the home she furnished for a veteran who moved to Houston to help her mother afflicted with Alzheimers.

"My husband passed away a couple of years ago. We would always donate furniture and clothing and do what the DIVAS are actually doing now," Page said. "I used to always say to my husband before he died, that that's what we should do - help other people - and I'm so happy to be doing it now, even though he can't see it."

Hizem said the stigma surrounding poor people is something that is immediately challenged by the work. After helping a client in need, she goes home and hugs her children.

"You can't imagine that feeling. We're ridiculously lucky," she said.

Resource :http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Furniture-nonprofit-debuts-new-warehouse-11056571.php

Voices Café builds community through music

    Now into its fifth year and after some 40 shows, Voices Café remains as strong, if not stronger than ever — as both a respected monthly music series supporting local and nationally touring musicians, and as a community-based gathering raising funds for worthwhile nonprofit organizations.

“Voices Café’s intention from the start was to support musicians, raise funds for social justice, and to create a community gathering space for music that’s powerful, provocative, fun, and uplifting. That’s what we started talking about when we were conceiving Voices Café,” said David Vita. “Little did we know that it would actually turn out that way.”

And turn out that way, it has. This season alone, the series has presented remarkable singer-songwriting talent, like Abbie Gardner and Molly Venter, two members of the celebrated folk trio Red Molly, in separate shows with their own bands. And Susan Werner comes in next month. This weekend, gracing the stage and returning — by popular demand, no doubt — are country hit-makers Don Henry and Craig Bickhardt performing at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 8.

The series also has an important fundraising component. “Voices Café is part of the Social Justice Program at The Unitarian Church in Westport,” explained Vita. “The ticket sales first go to pay the musicians, and supporting artists is part of our mission. Then the money goes back into the community.”

Vita related a perfect example of the latter. “I was recently speaking with Claudia Connor, the president and CEO of IICONN in Bridgeport, the International Institute of Connecticut, which has been settling refugees here for 99 years. I asked her, ‘If $1,500 dropped from the sky tomorrow, what would IICONN do with it?’ She said that they would buy a trailer to move furniture. IICONN sets up on average an apartment a week for an arriving refugee family. They have donated furniture to pick up and store, and furniture in storage that needs to be delivered to the apartments. They were always looking for volunteers with a truck or a van, but if they had a trailer to hitch to a car they could do it themselves. I said, ‘Done!’ And we raised the money to purchase the trailer, between Voices Café and our Sunday Share the Plate Offering. That’s what Voices Café is all about.”

Pretty amazing stuff. As is the music itself, like this weekend’s headliners. Don Henry is as polished a performer, as he is hilarious. Plus, he’s an award-winning songwriter. His song, “Where've You Been,” won a Grammy and Song of the Year honors by the Academy of Country Music Song, Country Music Association, and Nashville Songwriters Association International, all four accolades in the same year.

Craig Bickhardt’s songs found their way onto platinum and Grammy-winning recordings by legends such as Johnny Cash, Martina McBride, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Jonathan Edwards, David Wilcox, Kathy Mattea and Alison Krauss. He’s got nearly 1,000 songs in a catalog that includes four No. 1 country hits, “Turn It Loose” and “I Know Where I’m Going” recorded by The Judds, “In Between Dances” by Pam Tillis, and “It Must Be Love” recorded by Ty Herndon.

As to the superb talent that Voices Café attracts to the stage, Vita explained: “We have people on our committee who are so knowledgeable about the music and visit other venues and hear new sounds that there are so many more musicians that we’d love to have at Voices that we just can’t squeeze in. And Tim Wilson does our booking, and he has a great ear for talent.”

And the crowds seem to appreciate the efforts. “Our audience base is solid and continues to grow,” said Vita. “At practically every performance, someone will come up to me and say that it’s the first time that they’ve been to Voices Café, how could they have not heard about us before, and that they’ll be back! And then they do come back. First-timers become regulars, strangers meet new people, and then it has a large family gathering kind of feeling.”

Voices Café is located at The Unitarian Church in Westport, 10 Lyons Plains Road, Westport. Seating is cabaret style. Call 203-227-7205, ext. 14 or visit www.voicescafe.org. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

Concert update: The Zombies show at the Ridgefield Playhouse, which was postponed last month due to a band member’s illness, has been rescheduled for Monday, May 8.

Mike Horyczun’s Sound Surfing column appears every Saturday in The Hour. Mike can be reached at news2mh@gmail.com

Resource :http://www.thehour.com/news/article/Voices-Caf-builds-community-through-music-11055972.php

New Waterford couple purchased former Gardiner Mines church to live in, but now rent it out

Corrina Kelly and her husband, Mike Kelly, of New Waterford, stand in front of the former St. James Catholic Church in Gardiner Mines which they have purchased. Corrina said after living away from Cape Breton for 20 years they moved home to retire and plans were to move into the church and make it their home. However, she said, they made extensive renovations inside and it now houses the Premier Cheer Allstars group in the upstairs with plans still to be determined for the lower floor.

©Sharon Montgomery-Dupe/Cape Breton Post

GARDINER MINES, N.S. — When a former New Waterford couple purchased a church in Gardiner Mines, plans were to put a ‘Home Sweet Home’ mat out front, but that’s on hold for the time being.
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“We were going to live in it,” said Corrina Kelly. “I even had our furniture sent there at first. We were going to make it our home.”

Corrina and her husband, Mike Kelly, former members of the Canadian Armed Forces, had postings throughout Canada and the United States over the years.

“We had been living away for more than 20 years,” Corrina said.

One of her visits home she noticed the St. James Church in Gardiner Mines was up for sale. In 2013 she said they purchased the church and moved home to retire.

“The building has so much potential, there wouldn’t be any need to see it destroyed. “

With pews still in place, plans were to move in and renovate as they went along.

However she said they ended up moving in to her old family home in New Waterford to live with her mother. She said they have invested a lot of money into the former church and still have a lot more to do.

A sign on the church dates the building back to 1949, but other documents it may go back as far as 1947.

“The government needs to open some funding up for people willing to save structures like this.”

She said there wasn’t any insulation in the building at all, it was costing $100 a day for oil plus servicing a furnace that wasn’t working at peak efficiency.

To address that issue, they put a $100,000 geothermal heating system into the building.

 “It still cost a lot for power but not nearly what the oil was.”

She said the building needs a new roof and they also hope to put solar panels in as well. They repainted the yellow and brown walls to a neutral white and grey. Plans include making the former confessional into an office.

“Right now we are going one step at a time.”

In the meantime the church has a new kind of kingdom in it’s midst; they have rented out the upstairs of the former church — which now bears a pink front door and a sign ‘The Palace’ — to the Premier Cheer Allstars, a local cheerleading group. The parking lot spaces have even been outlined in pink.

Corrina said they allowed the group to add these touches, “to help make them feel at home.”


Stacey Madden, co-ordinator of the Premier Cheer Allstars, said one of her cheer mothers knew the new owners and knew the space was empty.

“I was in contact with her almost a year before I decided to take it over.”

Madden watched the renovation process, where the church was gutted. The cheer group — which includes about 100 girls from ages three to 30 — moved into the building in June.

Madden said the main floor is beautiful and bright and now houses the group’s spring floor and tumbling equipment.

“The inside is beautiful, it was all redone,” she said, adding they are very happy there.

“ You can still feel it is a church with the windows and one of our back doors still has a cross on it.”

She said pink is one of their group’s colours, which also includes black, silver and white.

“I wanted it to stand out on the outside as well and make it was pretty as I could.”

She said through social media everyone voted on the name of the building.

“We are called Premier so we thought Premier and Palace goes well together.”

The fairytale aspect was a natural part to add on to a group with more than 100 girls.

“It’s not that the girls think they are little princesses — we like to think the girls are treated like little princesses.”

Premier Cheer AllStars is a non-profit organization dedicated to cheerleading. Madden said cheer training is a combination of gymnastics, stunting and dancing, but skills are not only developed in these areas but also other areas including self-esteem and self-confidence.

She said they compete in tournaments locally, regionally and nationally.

And there’s another business still brewing in the former church — Kelly Kids Thrift Shop.

Corrina Kelly said they opened a thrift shop in the basement to get rid of the belongings they no longer wanted.

“When you’re military and moving a lot sometimes there’s boxes you don’t even get a chance to open for years. We always totally unpacked except for this time.”

She said her children, ages 12, 15 and 16, have been looking after it.

“My kids are entrepreneurs, it’s all designed around them.”

She said the basement is partially renovated and once the basement is partially cleared out she plans have it become a fun zone type of place, perhaps to rent out for birthday parties.

Corrina said a lot of people are always stopping by to see the church.

 “I get approached all the time by people telling me family got married there or were baptized there or are buried in the graveyard, something that ties them to the church.

“They are quite proud of that church. They are appreciative it wasn’t torn down.”

Resource  :http://www.capebretonpost.com/news/local/2017/3/27/new-waterford-couple-purchased-former-gardiner-mines-church-to-l.html

Easily Available Furniture On Rent In Delhi

You need to be careful when you’re taking furniture on rent in Delhi as there are many companies claiming to offer the best.

You need to consider the options that are available for you. So you need to determine your needs and accordingly select from the best available options.

Before you select a company and sign the contract, you need to go through the fine print and ask question if in doubt. It is important for you to understand your responsibilities in case the furniture you hire is damaged. Also, go through the clauses that the company has if you have to move to some other apartment.

Before you select a particular rental company, you need to find out for how long it has been in the industry. It is important to do so, because gaining adequate experience in the industry will help the company to understand and meet your needs and requirements. They will have the knowledge of the ins and outs of the furniture business.

Renting furniture will include upfront fees and monthly payments. After you pay your upfront fees, there is the monthly payment that you’ll have to pay every month throughout your contract. Therefore, you need to ensure that you get the best deal from the best company.

Remember, renting certain types of furniture will cost you more than some others. The amount you pay for furniture on rent in Delhi will depend on the type you rent. To make sure that you select the right rental company, you can compare the prices as well. Also, before you sign on the dotted line, ask if the company is offering any discounts.

Whether you’re looking for furniture on rent in Gurgaon or Delhi, the above discussed points will help you select the right rental company. You can look for a renowned company that is known for providing beautiful furniture on rent that are in good condition.

Resource  :https://furniturerentalnews.wordpress.com/2017/03/28/easily-available-furniture-on-rent-in-delhi/