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job

Time management in the home office: work efficiently at home too

Time management in the home office: work efficiently at home too

Productive in the home office: Organization is everything

When the company says that from now on they should work more or even exclusively in the home office, many employees are happy. Home office – this promises flexible working hours, more freedom and a lot of time savings, since there is no need to go to an external workplace. In practice, however, it is not automatically easy for everyone to adjust to the new circumstances. The fixed structures in everyday office life are missing in the home office: With the freedom and flexibility gained comes an additional responsibility – namely that of organizing oneself and coping with the work that needs to be done despite the home environment and the distractions associated with it. It is advisable to draw up a plan before starting work, which includes fixed office hours, among other things. These can be based, for example, on previous working hours or on the individual biorhythm. It is important that you stick to these times even without control and specifications from the boss in order to work as efficiently as possible.

Students, who are now also increasingly sitting in front of the computer due to online lectures, should pay attention to a correct workplace design and good daily planning. Because this is the only way that studying 2.0 can be successful in today’s world.

Integrate break times and promote concentration

Of course, you can’t be productive if you don’t take breaks in between. This applies in the home office as well as on site in the company, but also when learning and studying. Experts recommend building break times into your schedule so you don’t accidentally forget it’s time for a little break. Of course it is possible to flexibly adjust the break times to the work. If you’re on the phone, you don’t have to interrupt it to have a coffee – but basically you should stick to the set times if possible. It is advisable to use the break for some exercise and not to sit at your desk. In this way you relieve your eyes (this is especially true when working with a computer) as well as your back, neck and shoulders. In most cases, breaks of 15 minutes each in the morning and afternoon and a lunch break of at least 30 minutes have proven to be relaxing and regenerative. When exactly you take breaks in your everyday work or study life is of course ultimately up to you: Here you can benefit from the flexibility of working from home.

Enter important appointments and deadlines and don’t forget anything

Even everyday work in the home office can quickly become stressful. Even if you don’t leave your own four walls, there are appointments and deadlines that must never be forgotten. So that you do not lose track, it is advisable to enter all important times, dates and appointments in a calendar. This is easily possible via Microsoft Outlook, for example. In this context, you can also create a reminder that alerts you with an alarm tone that a deadline is approaching or a video conference is due. It is also advisable to draw up a timetable for the coming week in order to allocate a corresponding time window to each task that arises. Don’t forget to factor in sufficient time buffers: This can absorb any delays and significantly reduce potential stress. If you finish the task earlier, there is more time for a longer break or for an earlier end of the day.

Avoid distractions: Put your smartphone away!

Distractions are literally lurking around every corner in the home office. One moment the courier rings, the next the children are in the door: if you want to be productive in your home office, you sometimes need a “thick skin”. In most cases, the smartphone is probably the biggest distraction. We react automatically to every notification from WhatsApp, Instagram or Facebook because we don’t want to miss anything. It is therefore strongly advisable to mute these notifications during working hours in the home office. This way you avoid having your concentration interrupted every time. During the breaks you have ample opportunity to read and reply to the messages. If there are children in your household, it cannot always be avoided that the children are also present during office hours. Experts recommend explaining to children that mom or dad will be at home but not available when you are at work. A colorful sign with the fixed working hours on the door of the home office also makes it clear to the little ones how important it is for the respective parent to be quiet and not to be disturbed while working.

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Home Garden

Sustainable building – this is how your building project becomes sustainable

Sustainable building – this is how your building project becomes sustainable

More quality of life through sustainable house construction

You can often read about topics such as climate change and environmental protection in the media. Sustainability is also becoming more and more important in house building, where up to now the focus has been purely on energy efficiency.

Sustainable building should help to reduce energy consumption, save costs and create a healthy environment for residents. With this design, the required energy can be covered regeneratively. For example, hot water is generated in a bio-solar house via a solar thermal system or a photovoltaic system. With a photovoltaic system, household electricity or heat can be produced.

The special feature of bio-solar houses is the so-called house-in-house principle, which is considered a prime example of modern solar architecture. The greenhouse principle enables light to be converted into heat and thus heating energy can be saved. At the same time, sustainable building can solve a problem that often occurs in low-energy and passive houses. This avoids the acute risk of mold and condensation due to the natural solar heat.

Drinking water is one of the most valuable resources. In Germany, the average daily consumption per person is about 120 liters, not counting garden irrigation. Flushing the toilet alone devours more than a third of daily water consumption, the rest is used primarily for bathing and showering. The use of rainwater can significantly reduce water consumption in the household and thus contribute to cost reductions in the long term.

In sustainable construction, care is taken to ensure that there are additional lines to the toilets. In addition, household appliances such as the washing machine or dishwasher can use rainwater, further minimizing the need for fresh water. Anyone who deals with the topic of sustainable building will find that, from a technical point of view, wastewater treatment with the help of a constructed wetland is also possible.

Can sustainable building protect against health risks?

Bio-solar houses are mostly made of wood. The building material is considered sustainable, natural and durable. In addition, wooden parts are recyclable and can later be used for other purposes.

In bio-solar houses, wood is used in the form of solid structural timber, such as for the wooden support frame, and in the form of recycled cellulose for thermal insulation. In addition, wood fiber is also used as a material for summer heat protection and as the basis of the outer house. Despite the high proportion of glass, it is particularly cool in a bio-solar house in summer.

Various factors are responsible for the pleasant house temperature. On the one hand, the shading in the roof area of ​​the conservatory prevents the sun’s rays, which penetrate the inner conservatory glazing, from creating a greenhouse effect in the house. To ensure the necessary sun and heat protection, the inner conservatory door is kept closed during the day. The house is aired in the evening and night hours and thus prepared for the next day.

Sustainability in house construction should not only protect the earth’s resources, but also enable the residents of the house to have a better quality of life. Since ecological materials that contain no pollutants are used as far as possible in construction, health hazards can be ruled out. This is an important aspect in view of the fact that people will work from home more often in the future.

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Organization

Arm yourself against these time killers

Arm yourself against these time killers

Time killer little things and odds and ends

The problem with both of them: they are inconspicuous and are not classified as dangerous because they are quick to do and the results are quick: the e-mail is skimmed over briefly in order to then process it “properly” later, the small detour to get the Doing a colleague a favor is easy to do. The fact that maybe half an hour wasted is not noticed.

If you want to show such time killers the red card and really work effectively, then take care of your important tasks first. Because the so-called little things easily add up to hours in the course of the day. These time killers are so dangerous because it is difficult for you to assess how much time it is really costing you. Therefore, make sure that you delegate or outsource such activities.

Crisis management and firefighting operations

If you rush through the day hectically, from fire brigade deployment to fire brigade deployment and fighting trouble spots, you will not get what you really want. You’re wasting your time by not being effective.

You lack the concentration to focus on the essentials. Supposedly urgent matters rob you of your precious time that you lack elsewhere. What’s more, because you jump so quickly from problem to problem and everything has to be done quickly, you make mistakes that you have to iron out later.

Not being able to say no as a special time killer

This is one of the biggest time wasters in everyday work. Those with helper syndrome believe they are needed and irreplaceable, which is not the case. He is all too willing to take care of the concerns of others and is no longer able to attend to his own responsibilities. This leads to massive stress.

Therefore, have the courage to refuse a request. If you don’t do this, your own priorities will fall behind and you will no longer get to the things that are important to you. This means you lose valuable time. Saying no at the right moment offers you three major advantages:

  • You gain time for yourself and manage your workload better
  • You boost your self-confidence because you prevent others from taking advantage of you
  • You increase your scope of action and have more time for the unforeseen

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Travel

In Denmark at any time of the year – this is something to consider when choosing a holiday home

In Denmark at any time of the year – this is something to consider when choosing a holiday home

Traveling to Denmark is only fun in the summer months!? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that! The assumption that vacationers can only spend a nice time in the north in the summer months is de facto wrong. Especially those who decide to stay in a holiday home in Denmark have many opportunities to find a “seasonal” holiday home. What is important in spring, summer, autumn and winter is revealed in this article, which refers to a climate table that gives the values ​​for the city of Copenhagen.

Spring in Denmark

The calendar spring begins on March 20th and ends in summer on June 21st. During this time, the weather in Denmark is varied: while the average temperature in March is still 1.5 degrees Celsius, it rises to 3.2 degrees Celsius in April and jumps to 11.6 degrees Celsius in May. In June, the climate table already shows 15 degrees Celsius. The temperature range extends from zero to 6.6 degrees Celsius in March and increases to 10.5 to 19.4 degrees in June.

And what does that mean for the stay in the holiday home? In any case, the holiday home must be well heated, ideally with a fireplace that provides romantic comfort and warmth. If you are traveling with children, you should make sure that the house has an indoor play area where the children can stay even in colder temperatures. If sport and wellness is important to you on holiday, you should look out for a holiday home with a sauna, fitness room and whirlpool.

The summer in Denmark

The calendar summer begins on June 21st and ends in autumn on September 22nd. This period is by far the warmest season in the north. In June, temperatures can range from 10.5 to 19.4 degrees Celsius. In July it is a few degrees Celsius more at 13.1 to 22.1. July and August are the warmest months with an average temperature of 17.4 to 17.6 degrees Celsius. September will be a little cooler with temperatures between 10 and 17.4 degrees Celsius and will already get us in the mood for autumn.

And what does that mean for the stay in the holiday home? Of course, the six hours of sunshine a day should ideally be spent on the beach, on the terrace or in the outdoor pool in order to be able to fully enjoy the power of the sun. That’s why it makes sense to pay attention to a pretty outdoor area, which is ideally no more than 500 meters from the beach and can therefore be reached on foot. Tip: If you are traveling with a dog, you should make sure that the facility is pet-friendly and the terrace is fenced. Then the four-legged friend can move freely here. The offspring would also be happy about a child-friendly exterior design with play equipment, which is certainly standard in family-friendly holiday homes in Denmark. There is also a barbecue option on the terrace or in the garden.

Autumn in Denmark

The calendar autumn begins on September 22nd and ends in winter on December 21st. In October, temperatures can range from 6.2 to 12.3 degrees Celsius. In November it is between 2.5 and 7.4 degrees Celsius on average and in December there are the first minus degrees with -0.3 degrees Celsius. The temperatures can still rise to 4.5 degrees Celsius.

And what does that mean for the stay in the holiday home? With 17 to 18 rainy days, autumn in Denmark can be quite wet and cold. It is all the more important that the holiday home is generously sized so that families and larger groups don’t get on each other’s nerves in the house during periods of bad weather. Anyone traveling as a group is well advised to use an activity house. Depending on the version, these include a billiard table and a kicker. There are also activity rooms that are technically equipped with game consoles – ideal for a youthful escape into the world of Playstation, X-Box and Co.

The winter in Denmark

The calendar winter begins on December 21st and ends on March 20th in spring. The coldest months clearly fall during this period, although this does not mean freezing cold, but rather temperatures between -1 and 3.9 degrees Celsius in January, temperatures between -1.1 and 4.1 degrees Celsius in February and temperatures between -0, 2 and 6.6 degrees Celsius in March. The reason for the comparatively mild winters are the maritime influences of the sea.

And what does that mean for the stay in the holiday home? A fireplace, a sauna and indoor wellness facilities such as a swimming pool and a whirlpool are the classic winter features of a holiday home that is suitable for winter holidays. Anyone who dares to go to Denmark in winter will find pure peace there and can enjoy the sometimes quite short days under a breathtaking world of colors in the sky. After returning to the holiday home, a cup of tea in front of the fireplace is a must.

Conclusion: Denmark is the declared year-round destination

Denmark is worth a visit in all seasons. Climate extremes are not to be expected there, instead the accommodations, the holiday homes in Denmark, are designed to ensure peace and well-being for the guests. And some people even fall in love with the country so much that there is the option of not only renting the holiday home, but even buying it directly.

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job

Earn money as a student

Earn money as a student

Student life is a time that is sometimes relatively expensive. Clothes, books, fees, you might move into your own apartment and you might want to go to the disco. Students belong to the poorest part of the population, but still want to participate in life during this special time, which is why money is needed. Not all students are financed by their parents, most of them have to take care of the financing themselves. However, there are various ways to save money or earn a little on the side.

Study costs: How much money does a student need?

First of all, however, it is important to clarify how much money is actually needed. To do this, you should draw up a financing plan before you start your studies, in which both the fixed costs such as rent and tuition fees are entered, as well as running costs and reserves for unforeseen expenses. Incidentally, two thirds of the rental costs can be saved if you don’t live alone, but move into a shared flat or a dormitory. The semester fees are also due in any case, these usually amount to around 130 to 400 euros.

Cost of living as a student

The costs that a student needs in addition to living amount to an average of 794 euros. If you live in a big city, you often have to pay even more money. In addition to the rent and the semester fees, there are of course insurance contributions and above all the everyday expenses add up quickly. This includes, for example, groceries, for which an average of between 150 and 170 euros is due each month. You also have to plan around 20 to 60 euros for learning material, you usually need a laptop, books and other writing materials. However, the specialist literature can later be sold again used, so that these editions are only temporary. There are additional costs for internet and mobile phones, as well as for new clothes. Studying costs between 570 and 1,175 euros per month, depending on how you live. Of course, this money has to come from somewhere.

Save money as a student

Instead of juggling several part-time jobs, you can save a lot of money with simple tricks. This is a great way to sell books you no longer need. Above all, used specialist literature can be sold excellently and brings in quite a bit of money. If you bought the books new, a large part of the money can be recovered. You can also buy the books used and sell them later to save even more money. This principle also works with new clothes, branded clothes are still perfect second-hand and can also be sold again via online platforms. Used furniture is also very cheap compared to buying new. However, you should not smash the extra money on the head, but either save it or even invest it sensibly.

How can I earn extra money as a student?

Before looking for a part-time job, you should always try to apply for BAföG. This government grant is available to some students, giving you half the money as a gift and half as an interest-free loan that you pay back later. This way you can fully concentrate on your studies and still receive financial support. However, there are various criteria that decide whether you get BAföG at all and the application is also relatively complicated. If this was rejected, then a part-time job or short-term full-time employment must be resorted to.

Student jobs classic

Classic jobs for students are, for example, waiting tables, making calls or promoting. But there is also a constant need for temporary workers in supermarkets or at gas stations, and you can also work as a driver. The selection is relatively large and as a student you often have a good chance of being accepted for such jobs. Of course, you can also work as a working student in your department, but you should always pay attention to the income limits. Incidentally, you can also work full-time for a short time during the semester break if the applicable limits are observed. In this way, a lot of money can be made in the lecture-free time. So if you save money, for example by selling old textbooks and go to work a little on the side, then you can make ends meet as a student.

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Home Garden

This is how a room is made cozy

This is how a room is made cozy

Whatever the reason for wanting to make your home cozier, you first have to know how to do it. Some people do it on the side and buy something here and something there. But many also want to plan and implement their ideas – how a room can be really cozy is shown here.

Blankets and pillows

The classics when it comes to feeling snuggly are of course blankets and pillows. They are soft and well suited to sit (or lay) on an armchair, a couch or even on the floor and just let your soul dangle. They also keep you warm, which is great, especially in colder temperatures.

If you want to have a stylish room despite lots of pillows and blankets, you should definitely match the color. Because the more different colors (or shapes) are put together, the more restless the room appears. This is often not a good idea, especially in living rooms, but it can be an option for children’s rooms. The best thing to do before you buy is to see what types of pillows and blankets are available, for example here: Attractive cuddly blankets from Zollner 24.

Right choice of furniture

Of course, most people know that cuddly blankets and the like make a room feel warmer and cozier. Furniture is also part of the cuddle factor. Because if you like it cuddly, you are not well served with many free and smooth surfaces.

Glass tables or walls appear rather open and cold. Instead, you should rely on wood, because it makes a room look more natural. The more you can see the natural fibers, the better. In addition, instead of chairs, you should choose armchairs or even beanbags that invite you to linger.

The perfect room layout

Furniture should not only be selected for comfort, it must also be arranged correctly. The more space there is between pieces of furniture, the larger the room appears – this can of course be personal taste, but does not contribute to the cuddly feeling. Especially for couples or families it is not good if everyone sits too far apart.

Therefore, all seating should be put together. It is best to combine the living area with a carpet. Again, there are great, cozy variants that are worth looking at – and that need to be coordinated with the rest of the facility.

temperature, light and more

Furniture, room layout and cozy blankets are the basics for a cozy time at home. But there are other details to pay attention to. That includes the light. An overhead light dimmer is ideal for initiating sleep mode in the evening. Alternatively, you can opt for a ceiling spotlight with a dimmer. Fairy lights can also create a cuddly feeling, especially if they come in warm colors.

Warm colors suitable for light, furniture and accessories:

  • Brown
  • Red
  • orange
  • reddish violet
  • dark yellow

Other snuggling factors include temperature and smells. Living, children’s or guest rooms that are comfortably furnished should always be well heated. In summer, they should be protected from overheating, otherwise there will be no relaxation. Pleasant smells can be created with the help of candles or incense sticks.

Last but not least, it should of course be mentioned that the budget plays a big role when it comes to furnishing. If you don’t want to shy away from any expense, you can treat yourself to additional luxury that makes cuddling even better. Smart homes regulate the temperature of the room or write down things that belong on the to-do list on command. The music selection can also be done via smartphone, so that you don’t even have to get up to create a mood.

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Organization

Show Christmas stress the red card

Show Christmas stress the red card

Use the following tips to easily get rid of the Christmas stress.

Tip #1: Don’t take on too much

That is the main reason for any time pressure. Because you want to create more than you can actually achieve. Instead, think about what you can cross out of the things you feel you need to do before the festival. Put your focus on the things that are important to you.

For example, if all the shopping annoys you, why not let a delivery service do the job? Not only do you save yourself frustration and lugging around, but you can devote yourself to the activities that you enjoy. Just ask your local supermarket if they offer a delivery service. And even if it’s a bit more expensive – the time saved is guaranteed to make up for it.

You automatically have more peace for yourself and can be there more for your partner or the children. If that’s not an option…

Christmas Stress Tip No. 2: Avoid bargain hunting

In this way you can go into the pre-Christmas period much more relaxed and calm. For example, save yourself the time for tedious price comparisons or forgo visiting the store that is further away, just to shop a little cheaper than usual. It is often overlooked that the additional expenditure of time and money for the journey there quickly eats up the price advantage.

What speaks against allowing yourself a little more rest and shopping in the supermarket around the corner instead? A waiver of such nerve-wracking campaigns will bring you a few plus points, at least in the run-up to Christmas. And it is your very personal contribution to coming to your senses and enjoying the celebration with your loved ones.

Tip #3: The early bird catches the worm

The same applies to Christmas: Everything you do on time can no longer cause stress and time pressure. Therefore, take care of the presents early on. This also applies to orders on the Internet. While there are specific deadlines by which you are guaranteed to get what you order, you may be familiar with Murphy’s Law, which says that anything that can go wrong, eventually will go wrong. And you shouldn’t let that happen.

Instead, rejoice in whatever you’ve accomplished that no longer gives you a headache. You can also use a list of your loved ones’ gift wishes that you compile over the course of the year. This prevents unwelcome bad purchases and disappointed eyes when unwrapping the gifts.

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Travel

Denmark’s most beautiful travel destinations: holidays on the west or east coast?

Denmark’s most beautiful travel destinations: holidays on the west or east coast?

Denmark’s west coast – beaches, holiday homes and excursion destinations

The Danish west coast scores with endless beaches and lively air. While the open North Sea invites you to action-packed bathing activities and sailors and hang-gliders enjoy the typical North Sea weather on the west coast, long sandy beaches such as those on the island of Rømø or Henne Strand invite you to take long walks on the beach. Around Ringkøbing Fjord on Hvide Sande you can experience the best of both worlds – the region is ideal for surfers and beach lovers also get their money’s worth on the island, because no matter where you spend your holiday on Hvide Sande, the Beach is never far away. The numerous and particularly cozy holiday homes around Ringkøbing Fjord are often surrounded by picturesque dunes, so that you can completely immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscape of the Danish west coast during your holiday. The North Sea band of Blåvand also has a long white sandy beach and long chains of dunes. Worth seeing here is the famous Fyr lighthouse, from which you have a breathtaking view of the landscape. For a little more adventure fun, there are a variety of museums, animal parks and amusement parks along the west coast of Denmark. Go to Museum Bork Vikingehavn and bring the Viking Age to life or visit the large Blåvand Zoo with the whole family – the west coast of Denmark has everything you need on holiday.

Beaches and places worth seeing on the Danish Baltic Sea

The east coast of Denmark also has great holiday regions and islands to offer. Anyone who prefers mild temperatures to waves and breezy winds will love the Danish Baltic Sea. The beaches on the east coast are considered child-friendly and run quite flat into the slightly warmer water than on the west coast – a paradise for a relaxing holiday with the whole family. The island of Bornholm, the “Pearl of the Baltic Sea”, is not only ideal for swimming and sunbathing, but also for cycling. A special highlight of the island: Dueodde Beach, which stretches several kilometers from the southern tip of Bornholm. The varied nature of Bornholm not only has fantastic beaches to offer, but also many hiking trails through the impressive granite coasts. For those who are looking for more than the typical sandy beach holiday, Aarhus, Denmark’s second largest city, can be visited. Discover the Den Gamle By open-air museum or the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, which has a colorful panoramic walkway on the roof. On Zealand, Denmark’s largest Baltic Sea island, you will also find many excursion destinations and offers for families such as the Knuthenborg Safari Park or if you are passionate about cycling, take a holiday on the island of Funen, the bicycle island.

Conclusion: Denmark’s west coast or rather Baltic Sea islands?

One thing is clear, no matter whether you spend your holiday in a cozy holiday home on Denmark’s west coast or on an island in the Baltic Sea – both regions are great destinations for your next holiday in Denmark. The west coast of the Danish North Sea impresses with miles of sandy beaches, a fresh breeze and a wide range of leisure activities. Be it a visit to the zoo, a walk on the mudflats or water sports such as surfing, on the west coast of Denmark you can also integrate other activities into your holiday in addition to classic sunbathing. In contrast, Denmark’s east coast on the Baltic Sea is a little quieter, the beaches are flatter and the natural landscape is characterized by breathtaking chalk and granite cliffs. Whatever your taste, be it the lively beaches of the West Coast North Sea islands or the shallower waters of the Baltic Sea, the choice is yours. The fact is that you are guaranteed to find the right holiday region in Denmark!

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job

Construction financing despite a negative SCHUFA entry – is something like this even possible?

Construction financing despite a negative SCHUFA entry – is something like this even possible?

Most people understandably assume that a borrower usually has to have the highest possible credit rating in order to receive mortgage lending from the bank. If you have debts, current loans or even problems with the SCHUFA, you will most likely be denied such a building loan. However, this is a misconception, because although a negative SCHUFA entry and the associated poor creditworthiness can lead to problems, not all banks automatically reject the loan application. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that not all entries in the protection association for general credit protection (SCHUFA for short) are up-to-date or actually correct. On the other hand, the bank often only rejects the mortgage application directly if the potential borrower has committed serious violations or other misconduct in the past.

Construction financing with a negative SCHUFA entry? How exactly does it all work?

Before we go into more detail on the question of how construction financing is possible despite a negative SCHUFA entry, it should be said in advance that the protection association for general credit protection is a so-called private credit agency whose main purpose is to inform its contractual partners about the creditworthiness (also called creditworthiness) of third parties. According to SCHUFA, the data has so far been collected from around 80 percent of all German citizens, which is then made available to banks and various other companies, among others. Each consumer is assigned a so-called score value, which is between 1 and 100. And the lower this value, the higher the probability of default of the person concerned.

For a negative SCHUFA entry to come about, it is often enough if you do not pay the bill, ignore reminders for too long, miss installment payments or other problems arise when repaying a loan. Incidentally, this SCHUFA entry remains even after all open invoices have been paid – for a total of three years. Unfortunately, there are always incorrect entries, mix-ups or forgotten deletions of outdated data. It is therefore advisable to check your own SCHUFA entry for any errors before you apply for construction financing at the bank. Incidentally, this inspection is possible once a year free of charge. And if incorrect or outdated entries are discovered during the check, you can request a correction to improve your score and restore your creditworthiness.

What options are there to obtain construction financing despite negative SCHUFA?

If there are complications when checking creditworthiness (e.g. due to a negative SCHUFA score), the borrower will be informed by the bank and can then comment on it. But even if it is actually a legitimate entry, the borrower still has the opportunity to receive mortgage lending. To do this, he can either propose a guarantor who is considered by the bank to be sufficiently solvent to financially cushion any complications in the repayment of the real estate loan – or name a second borrower who has no negative SCHUFA entries and, ideally, also over has a certain amount of equity (e.g. the spouse).

Furthermore, construction financing can be approved despite a negative SCHUFA entry if the borrower can prove a high level of equity (e.g. in the case of an upcoming inheritance) and also a secure income (permanent permanent position). In addition, the borrower could also take out a loan from a foreign bank, since the SCHUFA score does not play such a crucial role in many other countries. However, as a rule, not only are the interest rates significantly higher than at a German bank, the constantly fluctuating exchange rate of foreign currencies and other economic problems can also lead to unforeseen complications. Therefore, you should think carefully about whether such a high building loan from a foreign bank is actually a good idea.

What are the potential consequences of building financing with a negative SCHUFA entry?

If the bank actually enables the borrower to obtain construction financing despite a negative SCHUFA entry, the future homeowner must expect significantly higher construction interest. Interest surcharges of three percent and more are not uncommon, as the bank protects itself from possible losses and potential defaults in this way. On the other hand, the house or condominium must be a so-called valuable property. If, for example, the single or multi-family house is dilapidated or the condominium you want is in a bad location, the bank can refuse construction financing without further ado. Likewise, a certain equity of at least 20 or ideally 30 percent of the total purchase price should be available so that the borrower can minimize his own financial risk. And since, in the worst case, there is a risk of personal bankruptcy if something goes wrong with the financing or the repayment of the loan, you should think very carefully about whether such a risk is actually worthwhile.

Categories
Home Garden

The beach chair – practical furniture for the garden

The beach chair – practical furniture for the garden

It’s a cult item on the North and Baltic Seas – the beach chair. A total of around 70,000 specimens adorn the German sea coasts between Sylt and Usedom. The trendy piece of furniture reliably protects beach visitors and vacationers from rain, wind and sand. It also ensures that sensitive skin is protected from strong UV radiation.

All these properties make the beach chair a perfect piece of garden furniture that also reliably does its job away from the coast.

The beach chair – a typical German phenomenon

Why the beach chair only appears on German coasts has not yet been clarified. Beach chairs are observed much less frequently on the beaches of Denmark, England, Poland and the Netherlands, although the climatic conditions differ little from those here.

In English and French there is not even a word for the beach chair. You help yourself with the German expression. Nevertheless, the furniture finds its followers all over the world. Traditional models such as the Hanse beach chair, among others, find buyers around the world. This is also due to the fact that the beach chair has developed into trendy garden furniture with a pronounced aha effect.

Brief history of a cult piece of furniture

The first beach chair is attributed to Wilhelm Bartelmann (1845-1930), the Rostock court basket maker. In the spring of 1882, a society lady suffering from rheumatism visited Bartelmann’s workshop to order a seat that would protect her from the fresh breeze during her stay on the Warnemünde beach. The result was a single-seater topped with a plain awning.

The master quickly developed a two-seater, which he provided with a few extras such as a side table and footrests. This version is considered the original model of the beach chair. However, it was the inventor’s wife Elisabeth Bartelmann’s business idea that brought economic success. She realized that a seasonal commodity the size and weight of a beach chair was hard to sell. That’s why she quickly opened the first beach chair rental at the Warnemünde lighthouse, which was to be followed by many more along the entire East and North Sea coast by the turn of the century.

Construction and functioning of a beach chair

The typical beach chair made in Germany is a compact construction with a width of approx. 1.2 meters and a height of 1.6 meters. It consists of three elements:

  • Desire: The lower part and structural basis of the beach chair is made of either wood or plastic.
  • side panels: The two side parts are screwed to the trestle and are equipped with a carrying handle.
  • Hood: It combines the back part and the roof. It is hung on the trestle and is movable.

These days, beach chairs come with a variety of extras for convenience.

Beach chair in the garden – vacation on the doorstep

In the meantime, the beach chair enjoys a large fan base. It has managed to conquer gardens, balconies and terraces as seating furniture. Inland, the beach chair extends the outdoor season both at the beginning of spring and in late autumn.

It always offers a comfortable place to read and relax, rest or dream. However, the beach chair is also exposed to weather conditions in the garden.

Location wanted

Usually a place is to be found for the beach chair where it can stand from the beginning of March to the end of October. The piece of furniture weighs up to 100 kg and moving it around is difficult.

At the sea, the beach chair is usually directly on the sand. This is not recommended in the garden. Here the water does not run off as quickly as on the coast. The result is mold and rot. Weeds grow quickly and spoil the appearance. In addition, the four-legged friends from the neighborhood like to use the sand for their needs.

That’s why we recommend investing in a pedestal. This can be a simple brick construction. Good experiences have been made with a covering of wooden floorboards. Wood is a natural material that suits the ambience in the garden. In addition, it dries quickly, so that no waterlogging can form.

care tips

The material determines the maintenance effort. Wooden components should be treated with a natural hardwood oil once a year. Plastic parts are more weatherproof and are simply washed off with a little soapy water. Most of the seat cushions are washable. In winter, storage in a shed is recommended.