3 Ways To Prepare Your Home For Winter During The Summer

DIY / Home Improvement

Now that summer is here, the last thing you want to be thinking about is when the weather’s going to start getting cold again. But to ensure that you’re prepared for whatever this winter season is going to throw at you, now is the time to start getting your home ready for that inevitable change in the weather.

To help you in doing this, here are three ways to prepare your home for winter during the summer months. 

Seal Up Your Home

Properly sealing your home will be beneficial in all months of the year, not just the winter. But if you haven’t checked your home to see if it’s properly sealed recently, now’s a great time to do so.

According to Marilyn Lewis, a contributor to MoneyTalksNews.com, you should try to fill any hole, leak, or crack that you see or feel around your home. When you notice an area where air is leaking through, use something like caulk, weather stripping, or other sealing material. Not only will this help to ensure that your home stays warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, but it will help your heater to not work as hard in order to maintain a comfortable temperature all winter long. 

Get Your Plumbing Ready

If you live in a particularly cold area, your plumbing should always be on your mind in the winter months. When plumbing and pipes get too cold, they can easily break or burst, causing huge issues for you.

To avoid this, Sarah Welch and Alicia Rockmore, contributors to HGTV, advise prep your plumbing by draining all your exterior pipes at the end of summer. As for your interior plumbing, wrap heat tape on any areas that are exposed to the coldest temperatures or that have given you problems in the past. And for additional protection, make sure everyone in your home knows where your water shutoff valve is and how to use it so that, in the event that you do have a pipe burst in the winter, you can quickly and easily turn your water off and minimize the damage. 

Maintain The Exterior

How well you maintain the exterior of your home during the summer can have a big impact on how easy it is to keep up this maintenance in the winter.

Before summer ends, HouseLogic recommends that you take measures like trimming back your tree branches, inspecting your roof, and cleaning out your gutters and downspouts. Taking care of these things now will help you see if there are any bigger issues at play that need to be addressed before the temperatures start to drop. 

To help your home and family stay safe and warm this winter, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you learn how to start your winter home maintenance projects now.

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4 Things That Should Be On Your Spring Cleaning List

DIY / Home Improvement

Springtime is known as that time of the year to clear out clutter and get your home as clean as possible. However, if you’re not dying to clean your home, don’t worry, you’re not alone. 

Unless you’re someone who is a self-proclaimed neat freak, chances are that cleaning isn’t your favorite thing.  The trick is creating a list and checking off each item one by one.  To help you prioritize, here are some of the most important things that you should have on your spring cleaning checklist. 

Clean Your Air Filters  

One of the most important things that you need to ensure is clean in your house is the air that you breathe. Apart from making sure that you take typical precautions like not smoking indoors and opening your windows from time to time, it’s also  important that you take care of your HVAC system.

It’s critical that you change your air filters from time to time. Failing to clean and replace your filters can lead to excess dirt and debris accumulating that can negatively impact the quality of the air that you and your loved ones breath. 

Clean Your Gutters

That’s right; it’s time to clean out your gutters!   Failing to clean out your gutters could lead to big problems later on.  Here’s why.

Over the course of the year, debris has been accumulating in your gutters that need to get cleaned out. The purpose of your gutter is to clear out water and debris from your roof. If there is a blockage, your roof could leak, leading to seriously expensive bills. 

Do yourself a favor and make sure this critical to-do is on your spring cleaning list. 

Clean Your Carpets

Carpets are great for keeping your house warm and providing a soft cushion for your feet. They can be especially nice if you have young children who often fall. However, along with the added convenience and comfort that carpets add, also comes a lot of build-up and dirt. 

Between dander, crumbs, dirt, and anything else that your shoes bring inside, it’s not long before your carpets are bacterial breeding grounds.

It’s important that you thoroughly steam and clean your carpets at least once a year.  

Dust Hard To Reach Places

Sure, you probably dust your countertops and other visibly dusty places throughout your house at least once a month, but what about those hard to reach places where you pretend dust doesn’t exist? (yes, we’re talking about under the couch)

Sure, it may be a pain to pull out furniture and get behind places you’d rather not venture, but it’s important to clear it out at least once a year. You never know what kind of dust could be lurking that you’re breathing through the air. 

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4 Things Every Family Home Should Have

DIY / Home Improvement

While not everyone may agree on what makes a home a home, there are some things that most people can agree on. There are some important factors that you should take into consideration when choosing a home for your family. Here are some of the most important ones that you should consider, including when making your final decision on where your family should live. 

A Dishwasher 

If you have children already, then you know how many dishes a family can go through on a daily basis. Once upon a time, you might have enjoyed washing your dishes by hand as a single person. 

However, once you have multiple children to look after, washing the dishes is the last thing that you want to spend your time doing. A dishwasher comes in handy for throwing everything in at the end of the meal and not worrying about it until later. 

Multiple Bathrooms  

If you’ve ever seen a movie with siblings in it, then you know the frustrations of fighting over who gets to use the bathroom first. Avoid this classic family conflict by making sure that your home has multiple bathrooms for everyone. While it may not seem as big of a deal when your children are younger, the older that they get, the more that they will require their own bathroom space for bathing and primping. 

If it’s in your budget, you should even consider everyone having their own bathroom, if possible. Your mornings before school will be much calmer and less about conflict and stress. 

Backyard 

Children need to get out in the fresh air and expend their energy. It’s essential that you have a backyard space for your children to run around and enjoy their childhood in. Even though it’s considerably laborious to take care of a backyard, it’s critical if you want to make sure that your children Have fun. 

 In the summer months, it’s especially helpful to make sure that you have a backyard for them to run around in the sprinkler or even just play in the dirt. Even though you can always go to a nearby park, a backyard allows you to be able to enjoy being at home while still giving your children the freedom of the outdoors. 

Plenty Of Bedrooms 

 When choosing a home for your family, it’s important not only to think about the present but also the future. You need to make sure that you have enough room for any children that might enter your life in the future. 

Be realistic when buying a home. It’s an enormous task to pack everything up and move to a new place. It’s ideal to be able to stay where you are rather than having to go through the entire home hunting process all over again.

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Getting Ready To Sell Your Home? Follow These Important Tips

DIY / Home Improvement

When you decide to sell your home, you will have many details to take care of along the way. But well before you ever sign on the dotted line and wrap up the closing process, there are many things you should do to make sure you not only sell your property as fast as possible, but get the price you want as well. From working with an excellent real estate agent to taking advantage of the latest technology, these and other tips will go far in making the sale of your home fast, convenient, and profitable.

Hire a Great Real Estate Agent

While you could try to sell your home yourself, you will come out far better in the long run if you place your home’s sale in the hands of an experienced and knowledgeable real estate agent. However, don’t choose the first agent you find listed online or in the newspaper. Instead, ask family and friends for suggestions, do some research on possible candidates, and then interview each agent until you find one you like. By sitting down and talking with an agent, you will be able to find out about their track record of success with properties similar to yours, learn more about their knowledge of the local real estate market, and much more.

Beware of Red Flags

When selling your home, always be aware of any red flags that arise along the way. This is especially important when choosing your real estate agent, since making the wrong choice can result in your property being on the market for an extended period of time and you ultimately getting far less than your original asking price. For example, if you hire an agent and then always have trouble getting in touch with them, you may want to look elsewhere. Also, if they cannot or will not answer your questions in a straightforward manner, have moved around from one agency to another over the years, or simply give off negative vibes when you are around them, do yourself a favor and find another agent.

Staging Your Home

If you want to make sure your home looks like a modern 21st-century property that prospective buyers will be eager to own, place a large emphasis on home staging. By working with an experienced real estate agent, they can put you in touch with professional home stagers who can evaluate various aspects of your home and help turn it into a showplace. For example, a stager may recommend you buy certain items or possibly rent some furniture to spruce up your place a bit. In many instances, they may be able to simply take what you already own and rearrange it to make it look more trendy. Since home stagers are well-known for having an in-depth knowledge of the real estate market and what it takes to sell a home, do not discount their advice. By embracing the challenge of staging, your home is virtually assured of selling quicker and at a higher price.

Don’t Be Afraid to Upgrade Your Home

While it may cost you some money to do so, making various upgrades to your home will pay off handsomely once you find a buyer. Whether you need to put on a new roof, modernize your kitchen or bathroom, or maybe purchase some new appliances and possibly include them with the home when you sell, these and other upgrades will make prospective buyers even more tempted to pay you your asking price. If you decide to pursue upgrading your home, make sure you do so well enough in advance of when you are wanting to move, just in case they take longer than you originally anticipated.

Add Some Flowers and Trees

Like people, your home will not get a second chance to make a first impression on buyers. Therefore, plan on grabbing a shovel and getting some dirt under your fingernails by doing some landscaping throughout your yard. As for what to do, create some new flower beds here and there, making sure you add a variety of brightly-colored flowers and bushes. Along with this, take some time to trim any nearby trees so that limbs don’t look as if they are ready to fall on your house. In addition, keep your lawn mowed regularly while your home is on the market, since this will keep everything looking neat and orderly.

Curb Appeal is Crucial

While landscaping is a crucial part of giving your home the curb appeal it will need to sell quickly and at your asking price, there are other aspects of curb appeal you should also consider. One of the most important is getting rid of any excess clutter around your home. After all, you don’t want buyers to think you have been running a junkyard in your spare time. Therefore, if you have broken-down patio furniture or an old car you’ve been trying to restore for years, get rid of these as fast as you can. Once you do, buyers will be able to drive by your home and automatically envision themselves living there. When this happens, a deal is likely not far away.

Virtual Tours

When you are selecting a real estate agent to handle the sale of your home, always make sure they are up-to-date on the latest technology used to sell properties in today’s modern real estate market. This should include being able to use video technology to create a virtual tour of your home, which can then be posted on the realtor’s social media pages and their agency’s website as well. Though most buyers will still want to tour your home in person, it is not out of the question that a buyer will view the virtual tour and decide to buy your home. As more and more people have become comfortable purchasing homes online over the past decade, this can be a very effective marketing tool when selling your home.

Give Your Home a Good Cleaning

Whether you do this yourself or hire a professional service to do this for you, always make sure you give your home a thorough cleaning job before putting it on the market and showing it to any prospective buyers. From the attic and kitchen to the bedrooms and basement, a top-to-bottom cleaning job will have your home looking spotless. After the cleaning is completed, also make sure you give your home a smell test to ensure a potential buyer does not walk in and smell even the slightest of foul odors, which is especially important if you have pets in your household.

Hide Your Valuables

Unfortunately, some criminals use the pretense of buying a home to take advantage of unsuspecting sellers by walking through a home looking for valuables they can steal. Therefore, if you have valuable jewelry, artwork, or other items worth a significant amount of money, you may want to lock these up in a safe or store them somewhere other than in your home. Though most people who express interest in your home will be trustworthy, it’s best to stay a bit cautious.

Though it may sound like a lot of work, following each of these tips will likely result in a quicker-than-anticipated sale at a higher-than-anticipated price. If this sounds good to you, then roll up your sleeves, put your family and friends to work inside and outside your house, hire the best real estate agent in your area, and start planning on how you will enjoy life once your home is sold.

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Things to Do to Get Yourself Settled into Your New Apartment

DIY / Home Improvement Freedom Channel Shopping

Moving into a new place is a wonderful thing. It opens up new possibilities, and chances for you to meet interesting people, and find a level of comfort that really agrees with you.

When you move into a new place, there are certain things that you need to do however, to ensure that you are settled in properly. To make sure that your move and introduction into your new place is smooth, here are some things that you need to focus on, and take care of in advance.

Shop for New Furniture

Even if you have some furniture from your last apartment, odds are you will need to get at least a few things for your new place. These might be large items like a flat screen TV, dressers, or a washing machine, or they might be smaller items like dish racks, a folding table or floor fans.

The best way to purchase any of the items you need is online of course and when you are shopping online, you should go to 7 Coupons to get discount coupons at the most popular online shopping websites. You can use their Tatacliq Coupons to save more than 50% on the price of items you need for your apartment on websites like Amazon and Best buy. There are hundreds of deals on nearly any products you want to buy. Save money and also find out what is available through 7 Coupons.

To find out what you might need, take an inventory of what you have and what needs to be in your new place. Make sure to look at each room and consider if you need additional storage. A new TV and vacuum cleaner can be a good addition to a new place and also you might want to replace dishes and silverware. Once you have your list, you are now ready to shop.

Connect WiFi, Electricity, Etc.

You should move and reconnect your electricity, water, WiFi, and cable bills. Give each of these companies your new address and make ask if they provide services to that new location. If not, ask for the proper company to call. Do this in advance in case there is additional time required for any installations or connections.

Find Out Where Critical Services Are

You should locate at your new address where the critical services including fire and police. Make note of directions to each. You should also drive by the nearest hospitals and clinics in your new neighborhood. You do not want to try and find a route to them when you have an emergency.  Put maps to these key places in your phone for quick access.

Take a Tour of Your New Neighborhood

Before you move in, it is a great time to take a tour of your neighborhood. If you’re into arts and sciences and working in Alabama, searching for Birmingham apartments can be an option for you as you can visit botanical gardens and space centers nearby. Drive around or even walk and see where the cool restaurants, cafes, coffee houses and even movie theaters are. These are the places where you will frequent and maybe even make new friends.

Moving into a new apartment is always fun and exciting. Go through this list of key things you need to get done before you move and things will go really smoothly for you. Also, check rental market trends in Portland for added information about the prices of apartments in the area.

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Importance of a Building Inspection in Adelaide

DIY / Home Improvement

Anything new is deemed to be perfect in every possible manner. This is the most common perspective of humans. Whether you talk about a new car or a new piece of machinery or a brand-new electrical appliance or even a new home. You naturally think that anything new is error-free and suitable for you. Well, this may not be true all the time.

Take the example of a newly constructed home. You may think that since it was built from scratch and also customized as per your requirement, it does not require a home inspection. However, a timely home inspection or even an inspection of any other building can give you valuable information about a property’s construction and also avoid possible expenses in the long run due to repair work.

What Do You Mean by Home Inspection?

When you talk about a home inspection from keypropertyinspections.com.au, it basically involves a third-party evaluation of a home based upon its systems, appliances, and structure. The inspector will conduct a thorough evaluation of the property and also give you a detailed report of the same. The report will state the inspector’s findings clearly. You can go to the builder and also get any major problem fixed before you finally close the deal on the property. In other words, it can be said that a home inspection helps you get a safe and absolutely hazard-free property. It will ensure that you make a good investment and prevent you from incurring large expenses on various repair work in the days to come.

How Many Inspections Are Normally Required?

When it comes to a brand-new home that was recently constructed, it is normally recommended to go for 2 or 3 inspections on the entire property. The first of the inspections is generally known as the foundation inspection and it normally takes place right before the foundation is poured on the home. The sole purpose of this inspection is to ensure that the site has been graded and excavated properly. It also makes sure that the anchors and footing are nicely spaced out and are in place. The first inspection also checks to see whether the stage is all set for the home to be built on it or not.

The second inspection is known as the framing inspection and is carried out after all the frames of a house have been built with the roof in place and the windows installed. However, this inspection is carried out before the walls and sheetrock are put up. This inspection is to ensure that the posts, beams, studs, and various other structural components are in place properly. The wiring, window flashing, plumbing, and other elements are also checked during this second inspection.

The third and final inspection is normally the one you would generally have on any resale property. It ensures that a property is safe for occupancy and has been completed as per building standards and local code. If any defect is found during this inspection, it has to be rectified before the property sale deed is closed.

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Dreamed of Owning Desert Mountain Property?

DIY / Home Improvement

Mountains make up the backbone of the United States and are the backdrop for some of the most beautiful natural locations and national parks in the country. Have you ever considered living in a desert mountain property or a cabin near a ski resort? These types of property are not only great locations for vacation homes but for those wanting to get away from the city and live life in the great outdoors away from the hustle and bustle. Life is much simpler, and the views are magnificent!

Why Consider Desert Mountain Property

Desert Mountain property is available throughout the United States and is actually some of the lower cost land and property available. Whereas vacation spots such as close to National Parks and Ski Resorts can be expensive, desert mountain property has a lower entry point and building costs are typically lower. Some desert mountain regions still have good access to nearby cities and other conveniences, but far enough away that you can live a tranquil lifestyle with 360 degrees views of the beautiful countryside.

Some people choice to purchase desert mountain land and then gain planning permits, if required, to build the property of their dreams on the land. Whereas others may want to move straight in so buy land with a property or properties already in situation. Some pockets of land require no planning permits and permissions because they’re far enough from anyone else for them to care, so if you plan to build a large ranch this can be ideal.

Think About a Mountain Ranch

For those wanting a bit more greenery and life in the Woods rather than in the desert type mountains, there are properties available in the more Northerly states which are much greener and come with a Forest area and possibly rivers, streams or lake access. If you’re a big fan of the hit TV series Alaskan Bush People then this could be the life for you! On your own land usually building permits and hunting permits aren’t required, and you have within reason, rights to lumber and minerals. You may already have the materials there that are needed to build your dream home.

Consider a Home in a Ski Resort

Look forward to your ski holiday every year? Some of the not as well known ski resorts can be a very good option for keen skiers because not only are the slopes emptier but also the properties are less expensive. While you’re using your Chalet you have access to the slopes and the rest of the year you could rent it out to other holiday makers or maybe even live there permanently. Ski resorts have a lot to offer because there are often other conveniences and facilities in the vicinity due to the tourist trade and have good road access.

Whether you’re considering a desert mountain property, a mountain ranch or a ski resort chalet, the US mountain ranges can hold out opportunities for beautiful homes.

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What are the Best Types of Traditional Saunas for Your Home?

DIY / Home Improvement

Many people use the Sauna at their gym and enjoy them so much as a way to relax at the end of a work out or a swim. When they find out that they can buy a Sauna for their own home, they can’t wait to go ahead and purchase one. The issue then is deciding which Sauna to choose. So what are the best types of traditional saunas?

What are the Best Types of Traditional Saunas?

Traditional Saunas are a concealed wooden build many from high quality hard wood and have a heater to heat water which fills the Sauna with steam. There are many options on top of this and its beneficial to understand the extras and the options so you can decide on the best Sauna for you and your family.

Infrared Saunas

Infrared Saunas use infrared technology to heat the Sauna, a heat which develops more evenly and can reach the whole of your body. In a steam Sauna the top half of the Sauna is usually a lot hotter as are the seat and walls, but parts of your body don’t get as warm. With infrared the heat is more evenly distributed and can be controlled a lot more so that you have a more even Sauna and feel that all parts of your body have benefitted. You are usually able to stay in an Infrared Sauna for longer as well, because instead of getting hotter and hotter until it is unbearable, an infrared Sauna maintains a constant heat.

Ceramic Heaters

Ceramic infrared heaters are more effective and energy efficient that traditional steel heaters particularly at lower temperatures. They also enhance infrared penetration and cool more effectively to create more steam thereby enhancing the detoxifying process for the body.

The technology built into infrared ceramic heaters produces the type of heat that is produced by our Sun, but don’t have the harmful Ultraviolet rays or Electromagnetic field radiation emitted by the Sun.

Health Benefits of a Traditional Sauna

We all believe that Saunas are good for us, but what are the actual health benefits of a Sauna? First of all calorie burning is higher than usual when sat in a Sauna because your body is working hard to cool off, resulting in shedding of fat and therefore temporary weight loss can be expected in the form of water, sweated from the body. As soon as you hydrate again though the weight returns.

Saunas help with blood circulation which helps with the healing of conditions such as sun burn, cuts and other skin maladies, and also cleanse the skin through profuse sweating. Heat opens up the pores in the skin and washes out any dirt and natural oils in the skin to cleanse skin throughout the body. They promote relaxation and therefore ease muscle pains and tension and promote a feeling of well being. Heart rate also increases with the heat of a Sauna which is equivalent to a brisk walk and therefore good for respiratory health.

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Easy Ways to Spice Up a Dull Apartment

DIY / Home Improvement

Whenever anyone has a stressful day at work, one of the easiest ways to let the stress melt away would be to come home to a place that feels warm and inviting. However, for most people living in an apartment, it can often feel like coming home to a confined space. With all of the corners, it can feel like things are boxing you in, which will only end up aggravating the stress and anxiety.

Fortunately, you do not have to resign yourself to the stress of coming home to a dull apartment. It might feel like a hopeless case – especially with a busy schedule – but there are ways to make a difference without too much effort, such as making use of vintage furniture. Here are just a few ways you can spice up your apartment!

If your home is looking a little dark during the day, invest in mirrors

It is typical for apartments to feel dark – even during the day – due to the lack of natural light sources. While there might be windows, there is likely nothing that is helping to bounce natural light around. You can invest in a mirror or two to help alleviate the problem without too much effort. Depending on where you place the mirrors, it could end up brightening your apartment significantly.

Painting your dining chairs can be surprisingly effective

It might seem a bit odd to paint your dining chairs in vivid colors, especially if the rest of your apartment is painted a dull or boring shade. However, you would be surprised at how much of a difference a few colorful chairs can make. It can breathe some new life into your home, and make things feel less depressing when you come home from a hard day at work. If you are not satisfied with just the chairs, why stop there? Pace yourself and dedicate a bit of time during the weekend to painting either the ceiling or the walls!

Why not add a bit of mother nature to your apartment?

Another easy way to spice up a dull apartment would be to introduce nature to your home by purchasing houseplants. There are plenty of different plants available, allowing you to diversify and breathe life into your apartment. You do not have to invest in too many plants to make a difference; sometimes, even just a single plant by the window can make enough of a difference.

Utilizing fruits as home decor

Last but certainly not least, you can add a bit of flair to your dining area by utilizing fruits as decor. If you are worried about the fruits eventually rotting, you can purchase fake fruits instead! Anything that adds vivid colors to a depressingly designed apartment can be a big help.

Even if you might have a busy schedule, the tips above will ensure that you can get the job done without having to put in much effort. Why not give it a try?

Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/book-read-tee-literature-2020460/

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Spend the Money on Repairs! Don’t Let the Value of Your Property Sink

DIY / Home Improvement

Wouldn’t it be great if everything you owned retained its value? If you purchased something for thousand dollars, you’d be able to sell it for thousand dollars 10 years later, right? If you bought a home for a hundred thousand dollars, not only would it retain its value, but its price would go up because of land values over time, right? 

Unfortunately, this is not always the case. The value of your property can sink if you don’t go through all of the proper maintenance procedures.

Think of a few ways that you can make sure your property values stay up. You can regularly work on curb appeal. You can get your foundation inspected and maintained regularly. And, you can search for statistical positives when it comes to home improvement projects. Thinking about those three ideas, you should have a pretty good understanding of cost and benefit when it comes to investing.

Curb Appeal

Improving curb appeal has several benefits. First of all, you can be more proud of how your property looks from the outside. It can be a slippery slope when things start to appear as though they are in disrepair. Also, if you plan on selling your property soon, one of the most significant differences in initial interest will be the visual appeal from the outside. Doing a few things to improve curb appeal concepts makes a huge difference.

Foundation Work

A fast way to sink the value of your property is if some aspect of your home literally sinks. To avoid this, contact a foundation contractor every once in a while and find out what kind of shape your foundation is in. You may have to have them do some foundation repair to maintain the value of your property over time. 

It is a significant investment, but one that will pay off when it comes time to sell a particular property. You will have a clean bill of health when it comes to the state of your structural integrity.

Statistical Positives

Then there’s the matter of looking at statistical positives. If you want to maintain or even increase the value of your property, what kinds of renovations can you do? In other words, what remodeling projects improve the value of your home? You need to work on structural integrity first, but there is not necessarily more money in your home because of those projects. 

Instead, something like remodeling a kitchen or living room might be the way to go if you want to be able to sell your house for more money than you put into it. Every home is a little different, but there are known styles of projects that you know increase potential resale value.

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