New Flooring

Believe it or not, having new flooring can be very impactful. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean going all out on something super-pricey. But it might mean pulling up that old carpet and finding a deal on something new. A clean, fresh-feeling flooring can be the start of a new office space.

How About A New Paint Job?

On one front, yes this goes hand-and-hand with getting your floors redone because if you’re going to do one, why not go all out? But really, new wall paint is a lot more than just a pretty new look. In fact, it’s been scientifically proven that different wall colors will alter your mood, which as you may suspect can be a huge contributing factor in your productivity levels. For example, colors like off-white, simple red, light brown and light green are known to be calming without distracting. As far as colors are concerned, it’s something of a case-by-case scenario, so you’ll want to shop around before finding what’s right for you.

Invest In Artwork That Speaks To You

While it might sound a little silly at first, there’s certainly something to be said about decorating your workspace the way you want to. When it comes down to it, being surrounded by things that allow you to express yourself tends to make you more comfortable, therefore able to focus. And they don’t need to be expensive art pieces either, just things you feel represent and maybe even motivate you. Though we do recommend getting some professional framing to really bring the message together.

Look Into Getting A Snack Counter

Employees enjoy a quick snack in the breakroom. It makes them feel appreciated (plus, they see it as a perk) and at a very low cost. It also encourages a few minutes of chatting between employees in a break room, which is a great way to encourage team building. Best of all, the right snacks will energize them and can boost productivity.

Games, Anyone?

No, we’re not talking about turning your office space into an arcade. But getting one or two games in the office can really show your employees that you trust them and care about them. It says “you work hard, so you should enjoy yourself”. Not to mention that they’ll be more inclined to want to spend time in the office. Here are some relatively low-cost ideas:

• Pool Table
• Air Hockey Table
• Ping Pong Table
• Pinball Machine

Even having a small selection of board games can really boost employee morale!

Upgrade Your Desks

With so many options today, choosing a desk is no longer as simple as picking something to throw your papers on. For instance, the standing desk has become something of a phenomenon in today’s modern workspace. I mean, let’s face it – most of us live overly sedentary lifestyles and a standing desk works to combat that while increasing productivity.

Oh, and don’t worry – most of these adjust so you can sit and stand.

Everyone Loves Comfortable Chairs

Bottom line – when your employees are more comfortable, they can get more done. So why not invest in their productivity? A set of new office chairs can make a big difference in supporting their backs and your goals.

Refreshments Are A Big One

As with snacks, having a place like a water cooler or Keurig are nice little spots for employees to take 5 and get to know each other. Besides, the caffeine from a cup of coffee or tea will be a direct contributing factor in productivity alone. Plus, your employees will appreciate the sentiment.

The post 8 Ways To Transform Your Office Space appeared first on Koshka.

Here are a few things to consider before getting your child a starter piano.

How Serious Are You About Piano?

The idea of having your child learn any instrument always comes with some level of risk.
Start by considering:

• How important is it that your child picks up an instrument?
• What if your child is hesitant to play?
• Will you be getting your child lessons?

Simply put, you’ll want to consider whether you’re simply exploring options for your child, or if you want them to commit to piano for at least a given number of times. Because pianos vary in price and do require some level of maintenance, you’ll want to consider your initial level of commitment before purchasing something you may later regret.

At worst case, there are excellent piano renting options to look into, at least at first!

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What Sound/Aesthetic Are You Looking For?

Pianos are more than instruments – they’re furniture too! This means the design of the piano you choose can really make or break the design of the room it’s in. After all, would you prefer an eye soar or an instrument that brings your room together?

Then there’s the sound to consider. Would you want an acoustic sounding piano or a digital piano? There are pros and cons to each. For acoustic, you have a real sound that doesn’t require electricity, but also has to be maintained. On the flipside with digital, you can get an array of sounds without the need for any tune-ups, but ironically can’t quite replicate the sound of real strings.

Digital pianos often take up a lot less space, which brings us to our next point.

Where Are You Putting Your Piano?

Everyone’s different here. Some people like having a grand piano in an open space of their living room, while others like to build smaller rooms around the piano. Of course, there’s no right or wrong answer here – it’ll all come down to the layout of your home and your social intentions with your new piano.

Fortunately, you can get a floor plan so you can be absolutely sure how well (or not well) your new piano will fit. After all, you’d hate to shell out a bunch of money for a piano that doesn’t quite fit… right?

What’s Your Style?

Options are no longer limited with pianos. You can get an assortment of styles and colors to best fit your desired space.

Do you have something in mind?

There are a number of great pianos for sale to choose from at an array of price ranges.

Now Let’s Talk Price

You probably knew this was coming.

I suppose this goes hand-and-hand with how serious you are about piano, mainly because many pianos are considered to be an investment. So if reselling is an option, take that into consideration.

Otherwise, there are great deals around on starter pianos with opportunities to upgrade later on.

The post How to Choose the Best Starter Piano appeared first on Koshka.

The Rocky Mountain National Park, located in Northern Colorado, is the third most visited national park in the United States and a popular destination for its breathtaking views. Many visitors note that scenery is the reason they visited the park. You can take a scenic drive on several trail rides including Trail Ridge. This drive takes you to the alpine tundra and reaches heights of over 12,000 feet. Bear Lake Road is another popular drive that includes high mountain lakes, rivers, and glacial moraines.

It has over 300 miles of diverse hiking trails that wind through the amazing evergreen forest or easy hikes around mountain lakes, this park offers options for hikers of every skill level. There are five different hiking regions within the park that offer something for everyone. The west and the north sides are known for its big meadows and wildlife views. The Alpine area covers the alpine tundra. Check out the Bear Lake area for its spectacular views and access to lakes. Finally, Longs Peak and Wild Basin are great backcountry hikes with amazing waterfalls. Whether it is a day trip or a multi-day backpacking excursion there is something for everyone.

If adventure is what you seek, the park offers white water river rafting down the Colorado River, horseback riding, fishing adventures, four wheeling, hunting, and many more outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy. The array of family-friendly activities including Jr. Ranger programs will have your kids begging to come back year after year.

When many people talk about where to go for top-notch skiing, Colorado is generally at the top of the list. Known for its snow-covered Rocky Mountains there are several ski destinations that are highly regarded as some of the best. Consider these as a destination if skiing is what you are after, Vail, Telluride, and Breckenridge are a few of the top spots.

Vail is the largest ski area in the state and home to the third-largest ski mountain in North America. The skiing is some of the best with a variety of terrains for all types of skiers and snowboarders. The town itself is modeled after Bavaria in Germany and offers world-class dining and shopping. If skiing is not your thing there are several attractions including snowmobile tours, sleigh rides, ice skating, and more to enjoy.

Located in Western Colorado, Telluride is known for its epic terrain and top tier skiing. The layout of the mountain makes it easy to get around compared to other resort towns. The driving distance from Denver keeps the crowds down. Rich in wild west history this location gives off a more down to earth vibe. It is also home to famous festivals such as the Telluride Film Festival and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

Breckenridge is the most popular resort in Colorado and was voted one of the best ski towns in the US. This town offers skiing but it also offers year-round alpine activities to make this a top stop any time of year. The town offers many different options and attracts outdoor junkies for its extensive hiking trails, fly-fishing, and white water rafting. If dining and shopping are your things, you won’t be disappointed in Breckenridge. The culinary scene in Breckenridge has exploded in recent years with dining that brings things to the next level. The Main Street area offers over 200 shops including chic boutiques with trendy fashion, jewelry, antiques, housewares and more.

While the skiing is superb in Colorado, there are many other spots that are just as worthy of a visit. Located in southwest Colorado is the Mesa Verde National Park. This park provides a spectacular look at ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings and protects over 600 dwellings including Cliff Palace. These pueblos that were built in 1200 AD along the cliffs provide an impressive look into the history of Paleo-Indians.

Denver is the largest metropolitan area in Colorado and also known as the Mile High City. The amazing weather and over 300 days of sunshine each year will not disappoint. While it is not located in the mountains, it offers breathtaking views of over 200 peaks including many over 13,000 feet high. The downtown area in Denver is one of the most walkable areas in the US. It is home to three major sports stadiums, a plethora of art and history museums, an aquarium, a water park, and a river with white water rafting available. There is also a mint that produces billions of coins each year. All within walking distance of each other.

Denver is home to over 200 parks and over 20,000 acres of parkland including the Red Rock Amphitheatre. It is an open-air amphitheater located 15 miles outside of Denver and is sure to impress on your visit to the Mile High City. It is an iconic highly sought after venue with picturesque views and amazing acoustics provided by the rock formations. It is a notable landmark in Colorado and often is a filming location for music videos and films.

Colorado is often referred to as an outdoor lovers paradise and it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to adventures offered with its skiing, winter activities, hiking, fishing, white water rafting, mountain climbing, and more. However, when planning your vacation there it is also home to many metropolitan areas and cultural experiences that shouldn’t be missed. Make sure your travel itinerary has something for everyone on it.

The post Vacation Spots In Colorado You Don’t Want To Miss appeared first on Koshka.

When it comes to protecting your investment, homeowners insurance should be a number one on your to-do list. For most mortgage companies it is a requirement to have an adequate policy covering the home. Having the right homeowners’ insurance can mean all the difference when it comes to fixing or possibly even replacing your home in the case of a fire or other disasters. Damage to your home or its contents can cause great emotional and financial stress. Protecting it should be a top priority.

A standard policy covers the structure of the home as well as the contents of the home from damage as a result of fire, storms, flood, theft, and even Earthquakes. Dwelling protection covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your dwelling if it is damaged or destroyed. Personal property protection covers the contents of your home from furniture, jewelry, clothes, and other items found inside the home.

The type of reimbursement you get depends on different factors, replacement costs, or actual cash value. As the name states, replacement cost is the amount of money needed to replace the property with a comparable or new product. Actual cash value is another option but not generally recommended. It will consider the depreciation of the item and or the value of the property and not the cost to actually replace the item.

The type of reimbursement you get depends on different factors, replacement costs, or actual cash value. As the name states, replacement cost is the amount of money needed to replace the property with a comparable or new product. Actual cash value is another option but not generally recommended. It will consider the depreciation of the item and or the value of the property and not the cost to actually replace the item.

The type of reimbursement you get depends on different factors, replacement costs, or actual cash value. As the name states, replacement cost is the amount of money needed to replace the property with a comparable or new product. Actual cash value is another option but not generally recommended. It will consider the depreciation of the item and or the value of the property and not the cost to actually replace the item.

The type of reimbursement you get depends on different factors, replacement costs, or actual cash value. As the name states, replacement cost is the amount of money needed to replace the property with a comparable or new product. Actual cash value is another option but not generally recommended. It will consider the depreciation of the item and or the value of the property and not the cost to actually replace the item.

Liability coverage is a type of coverage offered by policies that shouldn’t be overlooked. It protects you if someone is injured on your property or you are found at fault for their property damage. It also covers you in incidents away from the home not related to automobile crashes. It can also cover any legal expenses related to claims filed against you.

During the spring/summer months it is recommended to check your house for any drainage issues and fix those problems. Clean out gutters of all dirt and debris. Inspect shrubs and trees for any plants that may be dead or causing issues to the structure of the house or power lines. Have your roof inspected to make sure it is free of leaks and damage. Roof replacement is often a necessary task in older homes to prevent leaks. Be sure to have your HVAC units serviced and repaired to save on heating and cooling costs. Before using your fireplace each year, get your chimney cleaned by a professional chimney sweep.

Guess what, it is recommended every month to use a degreaser to clean it off to remove grime and grease that builds up. As a safety precaution, you should check your fire extinguishers to make sure they are in working order.

Now that you have your monthly checklist complete, quarterly you should be testing your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are in working order. Replace their batteries to make sure they remain in working order. This simple task can save lives. Get your whole family involved and give your house a deep clean by moving furniture and vacuuming and mopping under and behind it. Vacuum your refrigerator coils to improve your refrigerator’s performance. Inspect and clean all dryer and exhaust vents and remove excess lint. The lint that builds up in these vents can also be a fire hazard.

During the spring/summer months it is recommended to check your house for any drainage issues and fix those problems. Clean out gutters of all dirt and debris. Inspect shrubs and trees for any plants that may be dead or causing issues to the structure of the house or power lines. Have your roof inspected to make sure it is free of leaks and damage. Roof replacement is often a necessary task in older homes to prevent leaks. Be sure to have your HVAC units serviced and repaired to save on heating and cooling costs. Before using your fireplace each year, get your chimney cleaned by a professional chimney sweep.

While cleaning regularly and maintaining the upkeep of your home can help protect your investment you can also protect the value by creating curb appeal that is inviting and easy to take care of. Repainting the exterior of your home is a task that can make the appearance of your home pop and help sustain or increase the value. Over time this can be necessary from the exposure to the elements. Interior painting can give your home a fresh new look for a relatively low investment.

The post How To Protect Your Most Valuable Asset – Your Home appeared first on Koshka.

Below we provide 4 big trends we’re seeing in-store and 4 on the marketing side. Put these together and watch your foot traffic take off like a rocket!

Experience-Based Shopping

In some ways, this trend isn’t new or exclusive to 2021, but it’s so important that retail is always trying to redefine “experience-based shopping” that it becomes something of a new topic every year.

Here’s the thing, your competitors (other retailers) sell products just like you do. They may be of a different quality, pricepoint, whatever… the point is that consumers know they have options. Hell, they can order something on Amazon with 2 clicks and have it delivered to their home in a matter of days or hours.

While consumers can purchase whatever they like, they can’t purchase experiences and that’s what puts them in demand. You don’t get an experience with Amazon and maybe not with your competitors. So retailers are gathering data and using them to transform their brick-and-mortar stores into experience centers for more customer engagement and sales.

More Flexible Payment Methods

It’s 2021, which means there are a bunch of ways to pay people. Is there anything worse than getting a customer, but not accepting their preferred payment type? You’re putting yourself at risk of losing sales! So retailers are focusing on accepting all forms of currency to maximize sales. Beyond the traditional cash/credit/debit, retailers are experimenting with:

• Prepaid Cards
• Gift Cards
• Mobile Pay
• Scan-And-Go
• App-Based Commerce

Lower Pricing = Being More Competitive

With all things considered, money talks. While it may be difficult to match prices from larger retailers, the small and medium-size guys are finding ways! Even if it means lowering profit margins, retailers are prioritizing customer experience with the intention that more sales will make up for the decrease in profit margins and regain a foothold in their respective markets.

Going Community + Environmentally Friendly

This is another thing any local retailer can provide that the big guys can’t. Community. Doing some work with community relations adds a sense of inclusion that resembles that of a neighbor. Present your retail brand as if it was a person in the community.

Also, going green with solar power and reusable bags are great ways to save money and give people environmentally-friendly ways to shop.

Using Snapchat for Product Highlights

Snapchat is seen as the future for social media marketing because more than half of users are under 34 years old. Targeting young shoppers with engaging posts and ads are great ways to bring in foot traffic, which later utilizes the experience-based marketing that we talked about earlier. See how these things come together?

Managing Killer Newsletters

Loyalty programs are great for not only getting repeat customers but for increasing average order value. Ask for customer email addresses at checkout in exchange for special promotions, then use affordable email marketing software to get started!

Utilizing Google My Business For Reviews

Do you know what people do when they want to buy a product? They check for reviews. Product reviews, experience reviews, comparison shopping, you name it’s there, but we find the most important source to be Google Reviews. Why? Because they’re the reviews that show up when you search for a brand. As a result, retailers are offering incentives to gain positive reviews to get more store traffic.

Getting Exposure With Instagram Stories

Similar to Snapchat. Instagram is a great way to reach younger demographics. Only Instagram has a larger number and a wider range of users. And you know which format tends to get the most reach? Stories. So they’re using stories to market their products and shopping experience and putting an allocated ad spend behind it with geotargeting.

The post 2021 8 Retail Marketing Trends To Watch For appeared first on Koshka.

The Benefits

Improves Weight Management

Regular cardiovascular exercise burns calories, leading to long-term weight loss. The more you do, the more weight you can potentially lose. With a well-structured diet, you can either be at a net loss (for weight loss), or you can cancel out extra caloric intake (weight maintenance). It’s totally up to you, but nevertheless, it helps combat weight loss at its core.

Strengthens Muscles

As your muscles get used to the increased work, they adapt and increase in overall strength. Over a period of time, regular activities (like walking, or climbing stairs) will seem easier and eventually effortless.

Lowers Blood Pressure

Having a physical outlet can reduce stress and reduce blood pressure.

Clears Skin

Cardio gets the blood pumping, which results in an increase in circulation. Better blood circulation can lead to clearer skin.

Enhances Neurologic Activity

One of the lesser-known (and most beneficial) areas is the brain! Cardio improves memory and overall cognitive abilities and helps decline that comes naturally with age.

Boosts Your Immune System

Researchers are finding a link between regular exercise and health (the not sick kind). Many believe there are many variables in play, but mostly that the circulation helps the entire body, including your white blood cell count.

Strengthens Lungs

Similar to your heart and other muscles, your lungs are being trained with cardiovascular exercise. This helps them work more efficiently, essentially enabling them to do more with less oxygen.

Regulates Blood Sugar

Better circulation and heart health is a great way to control blood sugar and manage cholesterol and blood fats.

Improves Sleep Routines

Your body falls into cycles, or “routines”. Exercising gives you more energy throughout the day, which eventually tires you out more at night. Once this becomes a regular activity, your body will be able to make more with its energy and get more out of its sleeping time.

Enhances Your Mood

Ever hear of runners high? It’s real and while the average person might not take exercise to that extreme, many studies to suggest a link between cardio and heightened moods.

The Best Types of Cardio

The truth is, there is no “best” type of cardio. There are many great forms, but what suits you depends on your limitations and goals (also what you tend to enjoy more).

Running/Jogging/Treadmill

This is Best For: Cardiovascular Endurance + Weight Loss

Personally, we think this is the best way to reduce stress mainly because running can be a great outlet when you have pent up aggression. We love everything about running except that it can be hard on your knees over time.

Brisk/Power Walking

This is Best For: Joint-Conscious Exorcise Cardiovascular Endurance

With less intensity than a run/jog, a brisk power walk can be a strong substitute.

Stairmaster/Incline Treadmill

This is Best For: Cardiovascular Endurance + Lower Body Strength Training

Cycling

This is Best For: Joint-Conscious Cardiovascular Endurance + Weight Loss

Whether you’re inside or out, cycling is a great way to get a workout in and it’s better on your knees than running.

Swimming

This is Best For: Cardiovascular Endurance + Upper Body Strength Training

In our opinion, swimming is one of the best overall workouts because you’re using your entire body. It’s more of an upper-body workout, whether you’re doing a freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, etc.

Elliptical

This is Best For: Joint-Conscious Exorcise Cardiovascular Endurance (Indoors)

It’s like running and cycling combined. If you enjoy running but want less stress on your knees, the elliptical is for you. You can also add resistance to activate your glutes and hamstrings.

The post What Form of Cardio is Right For You appeared first on Koshka.

Medicare was legislated in 1966 and originally was part of the Social Security Administration. Today it falls under the aegis of the newly created Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. To qualify for Medicare, one has to be eligible to receive Social Security, and to qualify for Social Security, one has to have worked for a specified number of contiguous pay periods. (Yes, you have been paying into the Medicare system with every paycheck.)

It is a mistake to think, however, that over the age of 65 one receives free medical care in the U.S. Nope. Not a bit of it. The good news is that Medicare covers roughly half the healthcare expenses of those enrolled in the program. The not so good news is that what the program does not cover must be picked up by the patient and a third-party insurance provider. That’s why Medicare is divided into four parts, A-D. The biggest, Part A, covers hospital surgeries, stays, and related expenses such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. While technically, it is free, the catch is, that it covers about 80% of the services offered. The overage must be paid by the patient.

This fact leads to great confusion. What do parts B-D do and who issues policies for same?

Here is a brief rundown:

Medicare Part B:
This covers outpatient services and some inpatient services depending on the provider. It also covers outpatient hospital charges, office visits, and most prescription drugs that are administered by a medical practitioner (i.e. inoculations).

Medicare Part C:
Known as Managed Medicare, this health insurance provider coverage combines Parts A and B, and some Part D benefits, but with an annual out-of-pocket spend limit which standard A and B do not have. And (eyes crossed yet?) beneficiaries must enroll in Parts A and B prior to signing up for Part C.

Okay. Your 65th rolled around and just before or after you paid a visit to the appropriate government office and were thoroughly confused by what the nice civil servant (about 30 years too young to qualify for Medicare) told you. What are your options to help you decide what will and will not work for you? And incidentally, how are you going to pay for all this?

Here are the five top sources I found to assist with making your all-important Medicare decisions:

YouTube Videos: there are a wealth of online videos flacked by persons who are way too young to have to know about these programs or have used them themselves. They range from snooze-inducing to highly informative. Just keep listening, and when you have found a series that you like, that also answers your questions, be sure to view it at least 3 times and take notes. The information can be very easy to misinterpret.

Social Security Office: Where you go to learn more varies by state. In mine, one reports to the Social Security Administration office nearest to their home. My well-intentioned, representative could only tell me what he knew, boilerplate, and could not field any of my questions. Happily, I was continuing to work and did not have to make a decision at that time. You might have more luck.

Government Agency Websites: As a writer myself, I personally found some of the site content contradictory and ambiguous. And there was no one to reach out to if I had a question. Give this one a pass unless a state of confusion is where you like to reside.

Friends/neighbors: If you are lucky, someone who has gone before you down this rabbit hole will remember their experience and share it with you. It might also cause even more confusion as no two citizens, it would appear, have the same health requirements. One great piece of advice: find a Debbie. My friend Debbie has assisted some of her older friends by calling the Social Security Administration on their behalf, enduring the extremely long wait period for a live response, and then running down her list of requests and questions. Bonus: many who cover the SSA phone lines are older workers themselves, and offer great advice from personal experience!

Online Benefits Organizations: On my long fact-finding journey I have located (via YouTube videos) organizations that are in fact, insurers or insurance brokers themselves. These organizations are dedicated to assisting Medicare enrollees to determine which options and providers are right for their individual needs. A bonus is that they additionally serve as Medicare advocates should a problem arise now or in the future. Some are fee-driven, others are subsidized by health insurance providers.

AND A BONUS:

Another place to find helpful, if not self-promotional information is from health insurance providers websites. Most offer useful questionnaires that can get you thinking about what your coverage requirements might be to make an educated decision regarding your supplemental Medicare coverage options.

While we’re at it, let’s not confuse Medicare with Medicaid. Medicaid is solely to assist those living at or below the poverty level to receive quality health care. It pays for doctor visits, surgeries and hospitalization, long-term and custodial care expenses, and more. It is funded by the federal government but administered at the state level. There are no out of pocket expenses for its enrollees or their family members. Providers are limited, but the program makes healthcare available to the disadvantaged.

The U.S. is a great country and wants to ensure the continued good health of its citizens over age 65. With a little research and an understanding of our current health needs, it should be fairly easy to determine the best insurance policy for now, knowing that within the year, updates or changes can be made. We hope this article has been informative and has provided the guidance you need. To your continued good health!

The post Top Five Medicare Information Sources appeared first on Koshka.

Historically, home ownership has been the most lucrative way to accrue a passive income or at least a sound investment. For decades, one could purchase a home, enjoy and maintain it, then sell it within a few years for a major profit. Due to the economic downturn of 2008, that well-travel route vanished over the last few years. Today many home sellers are finding that their home has a negative equity. That is it is worth less now than what they paid for it 15 years ago including any updates they may have made in the interim. Another hurdle to home ownership is money.

Take the example of Silicon Valley. Thirty-five years ago it did not exist. Slowly this region, that includes San Francisco and the surrounding area, attracted more high-tech and internet companies such as Microsoft and Google. Each business has their percentage of high-salaried workers, but these enterprises are kept humming by office staff who do not command six-figure salaries. Yet the need for programmers, software developers, and other professionals drove houses prices out of reach for the majority of workers.

This led to lengthy commutes for some office staffers, while others elected to live in RVs, constantly moving within the city limits to avoid being fined. San Francisco officials’ recent crackdown on where RVs could park overnight led to Google’s taking charge of the problem and offering a solution: provide affordable housing for their workers and encourage other tech and internet businesses to do the same.

While San Francisco enjoys a high standard of living, almost 30% of its citizens are working poor. That’s because even with a salary in excess of 6-figures, one cannot afford Bay-area housing costs. In fact, a recent study revealed that San Francisco has the third largest homeless population in the United States. Here’s the kicker: of these most are college-educated, skilled labor who are employed full-time. So while a lack of affordable housing is not exclusive to the West Coast, Google set about to find a solution. Here’s what this industry giant plans to do:

Build Housing Not Offices

Over the next decade, almost a billion dollars of Google-owned land, currently earmarked for office and commercial expansion, will be repurposed instead to provide residential housing. It is expected that this initiative will yield about 15,000 residences at all income levels. It is not clear, however, if this housing is exclusively for Google employees, or the general population. Next, another $250,000 million will be invested in developing some 5,000 affordable housing units. Again, for whose benefit has not been made apparent.

What Google is proposing to do is nothing new; as economic growth moved westward in the 19th century, industrialists in mining and coal operations in particular created entire towns with housing for their workers and their families. The workers lived rent-free but were paid in scrip that could be used only at Company-run stores thereby ensuring their corporate loyalty: they simply had nowhere else to go. Google’s present day attempts to alleviate the housing shortage in their region is honorable, as well as duplicatable.

Duplication is Google’s point. They are alleviating some of the housing crunch in the region and hopefully setting the precedent as well as providing an incentive for other industry giants to follow. This way, not only will housing be available to all, but also meaningful employment. Google has created a blueprint that can be followed elsewhere in the nation to remediate the nationwide housing shortage as well as to create and sustain relevant employment opportunities.

Across the board this concept is a win-win. When families find meaningful work and affordable housing, the demand for schools, household goods, shopping, dining, hospitals and medical practices, and entertainment venues, is created. The need for https://www.6pm.com/clothing, http://big5sportinggoods.com/, groceries, vitamin and nutrition shops, computers, TVs, cellphones, services such as dry cleaning and landscaping, fitness and gyms, swimming pools, movie theaters, cars, trucks and auto parts, gas stations, construction materials, etc. etc. increases also. In short, the economy improves overall. If Google’s concept works, then over the next couple decades the U.S. could experience an unprecedented yet sustainable economic boom. And it all started by recognizing a need to treat people right…

The post The Future of Affordable Housing appeared first on Koshka.

This is our complete guide to finding the perfect piano for you, regardless of your level of experience. Before looking into the granular details, we have to start with the bare essentials. These are the main things you’ll have to consider.

Acoustic or Digital?

Before making any other decision, consider how involved you want to be with piano and whether you want a digital or acoustic. Digital pianos are less of an investment and have improved over the years, not to mention they’re cheaper and easier to move. All other decisions will depend on this first call!

The Size of Your Piano

As we’ve already said, your piano is more than an instrument – its a piece of furniture and a new edition to your home. You can consider the customization of the piano once you’ve picked one of the correct size – nothing too big that dominates the room, and nothing too small that makes it feel like you’re settling.

When thinking about the right size piano you want, always consider who’s going to be playing it. An experienced player might look for different things than a kid who’s just learning.

What Kind of Style Are You Looking For?

The size is one thing, but the style is a totally different story. The truth is, there’s a variety of pianos to choose from.

If you’re doing with acoustic, these are your choices:

• Grand Pianos: the grand piano is what most people imagine when they hear the word “piano”. They’re large, heavy, and are often the centerpiece of a room.
• Baby Grand Pianos: just smaller-scaled versions of grand pianos.
• Upright Pianos: these are smaller, lighter, and more affordable versions of grand pianos.
• Hybrids (Upright Grands): In-between grand and upright pianos.

If you’re going with digital, these are your choices:

• Upright Digital Piano: upright pianos that are digital
• Synthesizers: these are portable keyboards that offer an array of different sounds from the keys
• Digital Stage Pianos: digital pianos that reflect the feel and sound of acoustic pianos.
• MIDI Controller Keyboard: technical keyboards that have an assortment of additional knobs and buttons.

Figure Out Which Brand You Want

Not all pianos are created equal. What’s your budget?

Like when you’re buying anything else, some brands and models are more expensive than others. It’s not to say than some of the lower-end piano brands aren’t worth buying, it’s more that you want to make sure you’re getting the most for an allotted budget so there’s no buyer’s remorse.

Find An Expert

It’s important to find someone who has your best interest in mind. This is where a trusted piano dealer comes into play.

It’s nice to have someone that not only knows a lot about piano but may also be able to offer another perspective on the playing and purchasing process. Visiting a nice piano showroom with a helpful professional can make the piano-buying experience totally different!

There you have it, everything you need to know before buying a new piano! Take your time, chose one that’s right for you, and enjoy!

The post How to Choose The Right Piano For You appeared first on Koshka.

After a sluggish first quarter, construction and building starts in 2019 began to pick up. That’s to be expected since most of the country was under a deep freeze until April. According to Dodge Data & Analytics, urban development in the non-building (public works and utilities) and non-residential construction sectors led the climb in building starts which surged 16% at the end of the first quarter, 2019. Here are some of the current major projects.

Utilities

In terms of billions of dollars in construction costs, this sector peaked in 2015. However if viewed by the number of projects, it is a healthy category. In March ground was broken on the $4.4 B natural gas export terminal in Louisiana. This region was especially hard hit by hurricanes over the past decade and was not an economically stable region to begin with. Construction will not likely bring employment opportunities to the surrounding counties since the project requires highly skilled labor and staffing. However, the region should prosper via tax relief and secondary services to support plant workers, etc. once the project is completed.

Highway and Bridge

In recent years the state of our aging highways and bridges has made headlines nationwide. The top five states with the highest project allocation costs this year are: North Carolina, Pennsylvania, California, and Florida. In case anyone was wondering, the infamous border wall (don’t you dare ask ‘what wall?’) falls under this category and received $312M towards its construction.
Non-Residential Projects:

The long-awaited Toyota-Mazda alliance will cost $1.6B and bring welcome jobs and support services opportunities to the Huntsville, AL region. Additional growth is expected through housing starts, lodging, entertainment, dining, gas stations, and other venues. Also slated for Huntsville: a $200M rocket engine manufacturing plant to be completed in 2020.

Possibly the Big Apple’s greatest revenue source is tourism. Currently the theatre district and Times Square are benefitting from a $1.1B cash influx for its redevelopment. Key to the project is the repurposing of a theatre building from Gotham’s Golden Age. The neoclassical Times Square Theatre, which stood vacant for over three decades is receiving a much-needed facelift, and total revitalization

Built in 1920, the historic structure is being converted into a 52,000 upscale retail space. Every possible historic detail that can be salvaged will be re-introduced into the space, although perhaps not in its original position nor function. These include its limestone facade, plaster ceiling dome, and a cast iron gate.

This renovation is the last in a series of Time Square theaters to be saved from demolition and repurposed by the New 42nd Street Coalition, which began the project back in 1990 and has restored six area treasures for future generations to enjoy.

Across the country, sports fans are rejoicing. Key Arena, in Seattle, is undergoing a $850M refresh that includes a new interior, and entrance. Once completed, It will be known as the New Arena at Seattle Center and will host Storm and Redhawks games as well as other sporting events and live concerts for up to 19,200 persons.

Other headline-worthy projects include Facebook’s comparatively small data center project for $750M in Virginia, and CloudHQ’s data center, also in Virginia, at $300M.

Mixed Use

Possibly influenced by restoration, renovation, and repurposing projects in major cities, a number of non-residential site builds actually are multi-use. What we mean is that while hotel starts declined, office/hotel. office/entertainment, and office/housing complexes flourished. Two of the largest construction projects are in Atlanta and include Norfolk Southern’s new headquarters, a $700M project with $470M allocated for mixed-use development.

Residential Building

This metric has essentially flatlined with privately-owned housing units, and multi-family housing units posting slight declines in the number of building starts. With so many options available to homeowners, such as expansion to existing premises, it does not necessarily signal a decline in consumer interest in home ownership, Rather, realtors tell us, homeowners are improving their homes and yards with pools, outdoor kitchens, patios, decks, walkways, water features and more. So while housing starts may be down, building permits, notable for expansion, are up.

In conclusion, urban areas have always been condensed and densely populated. Therefore when commercial and residential buildings are constructed, these population-centric locales attract new businesses to support them. For every new office building there is a need for dry cleaners, parking lots, flower shops, restaurants and caterers, office supplies, HVAC mechanics, emergency plumbers, retailers including grocers, housing, etc. etc. With these construction starts, that same dynamic is evolving in regions that are less populated.

Non-residential projects in economically hard-hit regions can mean improved living conditions regardless if the local citizens work at the new plant/warehouse/office/hotel/data center or not. They can find or create jobs for themselves in support of the new enterprise. That is the long term benefit to every region when a major project is underway. Most who live in parts of the country without a major employer or with many job opportunities will gladly trade temporary construction noise and congestion for an improved quality of life. Who wouldn’t?

The post Going Up! Urban Construction Starts and the Economy appeared first on Koshka.