Phil's Regulare Monthly Newsletter

Started house hunting but getting bogged down by all the different types of homes on the market? Here’s a quick definition of some of the most common ones to help you in your search.

Single-Family Home. Your standard traditional “house,” often with a backyard and possibly a garage.

Duplex. A single building divided into two separate homes, each with its own entrance.

Townhouse. A multifloor house that shares walls with adjacent houses but has its own entrance.

Accessory Dwelling Unit. A secondary house or apartment attached to a larger “main house.”

Mansion. A huge, impressive house, often with high-end amenities and lots of private land.

Apartment. A private residence within a building or complex of other residences, often rented from a landlord or company.

Condo. As above, but a condo is owned rather than rented.

Cabin. A small, simple house, often in a remote location and typically built from natural materials like wood.

Tiny Home. A very small, cozy, minimalist dwelling that maximizes efficiency in a small space.

Co-Op. This is more of an ownership arrangement rather than a type of home in which residents own shares in a corporation that owns the building rather than owning it themselves.

Modular Home. A house built in sections in a factory and then transported to a site for final assembly.

Mobile Home. A portable house with wheels, such as a caravan or trailer.

Want to know more about the house types on this list? Call or email me today!

It’s true that many of us like to keep up to date with current affairs. It’s also true that we’ve become so used to the news headlines feeling so bleak and depressing that keeping up with current affairs can often fill us with dread. That’s probably why the news outlet Positive News (www.positive.news) has become so successful, with its focus on sharing just the good, happy stories from around the world. And in a world first, those positive stories are now set to be beamed to millions directly.

Positive News has recently signed a partnership that will see the latest good news headlines displayed on electronic information boards in thousands of public spaces across the United Kingdom. From high streets, malls, town squares and more, the general public will be able to see the stories, which, hopefully, will add a little uplift to their day.

Working on the principle of creating a happier, more positive society by eliminating the “bad news bias” present across news media, the pioneering news outlet covers positive developments across every corner of society, culture and nature. That includes successful wildlife conservation projects, breakthroughs in cancer research, community news, climate and sustainability wins and just about everything in between.

With almost half the UK population now avoiding the news due to its negativity, Positive News aims to empower people by reminding them that it’s not all bad out there. Perhaps this new development may help to reengage those of us who just want a better tomorrow.

In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, bring 1 cup water, sugar and ginger to a gentle simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove simple syrup from heat, cover and steep for about 30 minutes. Over a bowl, pour syrup through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing minced ginger against the sieve with back of a spoon to extract flavor. Discard ginger. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled. Evenly distribute peach slices among eight tall glasses. For each glass, lightly press peaches with the back of a wooden spoon to release juice. Pour 2 tablespoons of chilled syrup over peaches. Add ice cubes, then top with seltzer. Stir to distribute syrup, peach juice and seltzer evenly. Garnish with 2 mint leaves. Serve.

(Store remaining syrup in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.)

Summer is starting, and with it, the sunshine, blue skies, and warmth we crave all year. With the new season, your home will need a little bit of maintenance to help it into the summer months. Here are six tips to keep on top of as the summer starts.

Check and clean your air conditioning unit. Before the heat intensifies, check your air conditioning unit to make sure everything is in working order. Clean or replace the filter to improve air quality and efficiency.

Seal cracks and gaps. Check all around your home for any cracks or gaps that may have developed during the winter. Seal any gaps in walls to keep the cool air inside, prevent structural problems and stop unwanted pests entering. Also check for cracks in the driveway; you don’t want these to get any worse.

Treat and repair windows. Ensuring your windows and their mechanisms are in good working order is vital to having a well-ventilated home in summer. Furthermore, having good blinds, shades or curtains helps keep the sun’s powerful rays out during the hottest parts of the day, keeping your home cool and reducing your energy bills.

Service your outdoor equipment. Before using your outdoor equipment, such as sprinklers, hoses, lawn mowers and grills, service them to ensure they’re in good working order and ready for the summer.

Protect against pests. Summer is a prime time for pests such as mosquitoes, ants and termites. Take steps to protect your home by removing standing water, sealing cracks and gaps and using pest control products as needed.

Gutters and drains. Clean your gutters and drains to ensure maximum outdoor drainage. This can get forgotten about during the summer, but a sudden unexpected shower of rain can do just as much damage if your house isn’t ready for it.

Looking for more tips on how to prepare your home for summer? Call or email me today, and I’ll happily advise.

The weekend is the time we should be switching off from the stress the week has thrown at us, but how often has yours been sabotaged by thoughts about the next week or lingering doubts about what went on this week? According to author and ex-Google executive Mo Gawdat, his weekend habit helps to completely erase that stress and set him up for a good weekend. Here’s his technique.

No clocks or electronics before 2 pm on Saturday.

Saturday morning is free of both technology and the means to tell the time. Set an alarm for 2 pm, and before that point, just be alone with your thoughts or your loved ones, enjoying the real world and completely disengaging from stress. No internet, no phone, no TV, no news, nothing.

Take stock of your stress.

Mo spends that phoneless, screenless Saturday morning making a list of everything that has stressed him out that week, then makes a plan to directly address that stress. That may be deleting an app that’s been sucking his attention, asking a friend or colleague to reduce the negativity present in their interactions with him or striking off a pointless meeting from his upcoming schedule.

Write down every thought for 20 minutes.

Mo likes to set a timer for 20 minutes and in that 20 minutes, take a pen and paper and simply write down every single thought that comes into his head, whether positive or negative, and ban himself from having any thought twice. He claims that about halfway through, you’ll notice that suddenly your brain has nothing more to throw at you. That, according to Mo, is when your mind reaches genuine calm.