Category: Homeowner Tips

As the summer temperatures soar we often watch our lawn and gardens turn from beautiful vibrant and alive to dried out, brown and dead. The scorching summer sun and heat make it difficult for lawns and gardens to thrive and often, no matter what we try, we have to give up and wait it out for cooler temperatures. But, there is hope! You do not have to give up on your yard, you can have a beautiful lawn and garden to enjoy all year round.

Fertilize:

We all know about fertilizer but how often should we do it? Fertilizer can breathe life into a dying lawn or garden and only needs to be done a few times each year. Today points out why it is important to fertilize and makes some recommendations for fertilizing your lawns, ” I only fertilize my lawn a couple of times a year, once in the spring and then again in midsummer with a food specially blended for lawns. You’ll find these blends higher in nitrogen than other elements (the first number in a series of numbers on the fertilizer bag). Nitrogen is what stimulates vigorous growth and deep green color. I feed only a couple of times a year because I discovered that fertilizing more often meant too much growth — I was working myself to death trying to keep it mowed and watered. So, by reducing the amount of fertilizer, I’ve saved myself time and energy. Also, by allowing my grass to grow longer, just by an inch or so more in summer, I’ve reduced my watering a bit more. The taller blades of grass cut down on water evaporation from the soil. Fertilizing can be confusing because there are so many different blends out there to choose from. For instance, there are some that actually have pre-emergent herbicide mixed with the fertilizer to keep weed seeds from germinating. Turf growers have told me that if you are going to use pre-emergents, it’s better not to use the blends because they’re not as effective as applying pre-emergents separately from the fertilizer.”

Mow:

Don’t worry about mowing as often as you do during the winter when things are thriving. But, do not be neglectful of your yard either. Grass needs to be mowed and maintained to grow properly and stay healthy.

Garden By Climate:

Do not go by traditional gardening calendars, go by your climate. If your spring is more like everyone else’s summer, adjust your schedule. If it says to plant certain plants in the summer because of favorable conditions but you live in a climate with extreme heat, it is probably not wise to plant. When you adjust to your climate’s natural calendar, your lawn and garden will be much healthier.

Water:

Be consistent with your watering and adjust for extreme heat. Most lawns and gardens need one inch of water per watering so be sure to keep up a consistent watering schedule. Do not drown your lawn and garden though, increase frequency of watering not how much water you use at each watering.]]>

The temperatures are warm, the sun is shining, the days are longer, kids are home for school and home projects are calling your name. Nobody wants to take on a home project when it is freezing cold and possibly even raining or snowing during the winter. When the summer months arrive, it is an ideal time to take on some home improvement projects you may have been putting off. With the extra time that often becomes available during the summer, there a quite a few easy home projects that can be done quickly and relatively inexpensively.

1. Paint

The hard winter weather can really take a toll on exterior paint. Take a walk around your house to see if any touchups are needed to keep your home looking its best. And not only do the extra summer hours make it easy to get exterior painting projects accomplished but they will dry very quickly thanks to the added sun and heat. And, being trapped inside during the long cold winter can mean extra wear and tear on your interior walls. Take a walk around the inside of your home and make any necessary touchups. If, during the winter months, you became bored of your paint color or decided you are ready for a change, the summer is a great time to give your interior walls a facelift and try out a new paint color that will brighten up your interior home decor.

2. Outdoor Entertaining Space

During the summer it is always fun to have friends and family over to grill or take a dip in the pool. Create a space you can enjoy entertaining your guests in and that they will enjoy visiting. You can create a sitting area in your yard or extend your patio with some pavers. It will look nice and is a fairly inexpensive update for your yard. Also, you can purchase, build or pay someone to build a fire pit. With your fire pit, you will create the perfect space for guests to sit and relax, spend time listening to the fire crackle, make s’mores and enjoy a nice warm summer evening. Not only will you be able to enjoy your new outdoor entertaining space but it will add value to your home.

3. Exterior Maintenance

It is easy to neglect the exterior of your home when it is freezing cold outside. But, once it warms up it time to make your yard look nice again and maintain the exterior of your home. During the fall and winter, gutters can collect quite a bit of debris. Now is the time to clean gutters out so that water can flow freely away from your house, which will help prevent potential damage. Next, get rid of any weeds or overgrowth and plant some fresh flowers to give your yard the lively and vibrant summer look it needs. Lastly, walk around and see if any fresh caulk is needed. It will help keep bugs out and keep your home more energy efficient. Start your summer projects now and enjoy your home all summer long!]]>

We have all been there, something breaks and needs repair or we want to do some home renovation and we wonder – should I try to do this myself or hire someone to do it? To DIY or not to DIY? When it comes to home repair and renovation, there are certainly many things can be done by someone who is fairly competent with tools and home projects. But, there are also many things that should not be attempted. When a do it yourself project or repair goes awry, you may end up creating an even more expensive problem than you began with. So, you have to sit down and really take a good look at your experience, ability and time to determine whether or not you are capable of DIY, or should bring in the professionals to get the job done. First, when considering whether or not to DIY a home repair or renovation, you need to determine whether or not you have time. The most handy person in the world may be very capable of handling a repair or renovation, but, do they actually have the time to do it? If you do not have the time to do it, do not even try to start the project on your own or you will end up with a frustrating, never ending nightmare trying to get the job accomplished. Next, you need to determine if you have the skills needed for the job. If you need to do some basic repairs in your home and have some home repair knowledge, the appropriate tools and feel capable of handling the job or following directions to complete the task, then you are probably quite capable and it is a great opportunity to save some money. But, if you do not have the skills needed for the job or it is outside of your comfort level, it is best to hire a professional. There are many things, such as plumbing or electrical repairs, that need someone experienced to handle the job not only to ensure it gets done correctly, but to ensure it is done safely. When these repairs are done wrong, you will be left with the same problem and possibly, even worse problems. Do not let the abundance of DIY television shows or online tutorials fool you though, not every project is simple and can be done in one day. Many tasks need special tools and require an immense amount of knowledge. It may be very popular to try to DIY everything these days but it is important to know yourself and your abilities. Lastly, it is important to consider the costs. Will you really be saving that much money by doing it yourself instead of hiring a professional? If the savings are minimal, it may be worth the extra money to know it is being done correctly and saving you the time, energy and stress of trying to do it yourself. When you evaluate all of these things, some smaller home repairs or renovations may be very manageable for you. But if something is not within your wheelhouse, it is probably best to hire a professional to get the job done.]]>

The kitchen pantry is one place in the house that can quickly become disorganized. You go to look for a box of cereal only to realize you cannot find one, or the one you do find only has three pieces of cereal left in it. Or, you get halfway through a baking recipe only to realize you do not actually have any sugar in the house. A kitchen pantry is great for storing food in one location and keeping things out of sight, but, when it becomes cluttered and disorganized, it becomes a fast source of frustration. But, if you invest a little time and effort into your pantry, you can have an organized oasis for your food that will be a helpful kitchen space instead of a headache. The best place to start when preparing to organize any space is to clean the area out. Take everything out of your pantry, yes….everything. Once you have removed everything you will be able to wipe down shelves and start with a completely blank slate. And, when you clean everything out, you can get rid of anything that you no longer plan on eating or that has expired. Say goodbye to that box of crackers that expired one year ago. You will not put anything back into your pantry that you do not plan to use or eat in the foreseeable future. Next, determine what types of things you keep in the pantry and how you would like to organize. If you tend to keep a lot of canned goods, you may want to purchase a canned good organizer to keep things the way that you like them and ensure everything is organized and visible. Once you have organized things by category outside of your pantry, you will know what types of organizational items you need and now you can head to the store to purchase any necessary items. A spice rack or airtight containers are always handy for almost any pantry. If you store a lot of grains such as pasta or rice or keep a lot of dry cereal, airtight containers will help keep everything fresh and deter any bugs from trying to make your pantry a home. Clear containers are great because you will be able to see exactly what is inside at all times and will be able to anticipate when a refill may soon be needed. The next important thing to do is to organize like items. There is no sense in having different kinds of kids snacks on different shelves. If you know your kids are going to reach for a granola bar, but you have a few different types, keep them in a basket at an easy-to-reach level for your kids. Have four different kinds of pasta and two different kinds of rice? Put each one in their own airtight clear containers on one shelf near each other so you always know where to find a grain for a meal. Similarly, keep all of your baking goods in one area so that you do not miss an ingredient when you are baking your next cake. Additionally, one way to save time during the week and make your life immensely more organized is to have a few bins dedicated to meals. Each bin can be filled with any pantry ingredients you may need for a designated meal for the week. Do you always have baked ziti on Tuesday nights? Keep your pasta and sauce in one basket along with the croutons for that nights salad. It will help encourage you to meal plan which will save time and money and also help encourage you to use your pantry items rather than letting them go bad. If you have a small pantry, you can add additional storage by using some over the door pantry storage options. When you organize your pantry with your family’s needs in mind, and always use the oldest things in your pantry first to prevent things from going bad, you will have a clean, organized pantry that is not only pleasing to the eyes but functional for your family.]]>

Everyone wants to know what their home’s value is. Whether you are preparing to sell your home, shopping around for homeowners insurance, or are just curious, home value is an ever fluctuating thing that can be a bit tricky to nail down. Of course, you can always hire a certified professional to estimate your home’s value but if you are just looking to get a general idea, hiring a professional is not completely necessary. You can estimate your home’s value by examining a few things and taking a few basic steps. One simple place to start is with comparables. Take a look at your neighborhood, check out homes that have recently sold near your home and see what they have sold for. It is important to not only look at nearby sales, but to look at nearby sales of similar homes to your home. Homes that have similar square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, yards, and upgrades. There may be a home that recently sold on your street that is the same size but that is completely remodeled and upgraded. If your home has the same square footage and bedrooms, but is 20 years old and has never been remodeled, your home likely has a lower value. Also, keep in mind that you need to compare recent sales because the market is continuously fluctuating and the same house could sell for a completely different price from one year to the next. Take into account your location, school district, distance to area attractions, crime rate and more. All of these factors will influence your home value. If you have made significant upgrades to your home like high end flooring or a pool in the yard, these things will also influence your home’s value. For this reason, simply comparing homes in the area by square footage is unreliable. Additionally, there are websites such as Zillow or Redfin that have home value calculators in which you can input your home’s information and they will give you a rough estimate. But, most real estate agents warn that these estimators are often inaccurate. Once you have formulated a general idea of how much your home is worth, if you still need a more specific number, you can hire a professional to come and assess your home’s value. Bigger Pockets points out why this is the most reliable method of determining value, especially if you are going to list your home for sale, “Appraisals are generally considered the most reliable home valuation tool. An appraisal is nothing more than one person’s opinion of a property’s value but that person has been formally trained and certified in rendering opinions on home values. The best appraisals are those performed by appraisers who do most or all of their business in the subject property’s neighborhood. We all know how a few blocks can make a huge difference in location, especially in large cities, and thus value. Apples to apples getting a property appraised will generally give you the most accurate value of the home.” With your home value determined, you can plan to sell your home, determine what kind of homeowners insurance you need or see how well your investment is paying off.]]>

In the long list of “to-do’s” that many of us face day in and day out, it can be easy to let maintaining our home fall behind. Our kitchen appliances works hard every day for us and our families, storing food, cooking food and cleaning our dishes. Kitchen appliances get used often, but how often are we really taking care of them? With some regular maintenance, we can keep our kitchen appliances running properly and extend the life of the appliances significantly. The refrigerator is an essential appliance for any household. It does not matter if it is constantly packed to the brim or spends most of its time somewhat bare, it needs regular maintenance. The first and most simple way to maintain your refrigerator is to immediately clean up any spills that occur inside of the refrigerator with warm, soapy water. Next, vacuum the bottom rear of your refrigerator where the condenser coils are to prevent debris accumulation from blocking air flow and diminishing energy efficiency. When your microwave starts to look a little grungy and you see little pieces of food all over the inside, it is probably time to clean your microwave. Clean out the inside of your microwave with warm, soapy water and get rid of any food pieces. If things still seem stuck on, it still appears dirty or has a bad odor, you can microwave one cup of water for about three minutes and let it sit in the microwave for a few minutes longer. This will help steam off anything that is particularly stuck on and should be able to be removed easily with a cloth. Most everyone relies on a dishwasher to clean their dishes these days. Dishwashers get used regularly and go through a lot to keep our dishes looking nice. Just because the dishwasher is in charge of washing things, does not mean it is constantly clean. First, check the seals to make sure you do not see any cracks. If they look ok, just wipe them down with some warm, soapy water. Next, check the drain for any debris or food particles and clean it out if any has built up. Additionally, you can pour some white vinegar in your empty dishwasher and run it. It will help remove any buildup inside your dishwasher and help remove any odors. For your oven, range or stovetop, it is important to follow manufacturer instructions as there is a large range of products with different methods of cleaning. Some may be self cleaning and others may not be. A basic rule of thumb to always follow is to clean up your oven, stovetop or range after each use and immediately remove any spills (as soon as it is safe to do so) to prevent hard-to-clean buildup. For almost all of the kitchen appliances, cleaning with warm soapy water will go a long way and when extra help is needed, basic household items such as vinegar and baking soda will help remove any tough spills.]]>

Everyone knows that when those temperatures start rising, so do the energy bills. Cooling a home during the summer months can be very expensive but it beats the alternative….sweating it out. Rising temperatures do not have to mean choosing between paying an arm and leg and living in a hot box. There are many great solutions to keeping the house cool while still keeping energy bills down. • Tip #1: Start Outside o No, we do not mean that you have to spend your day sunbathing. That will not solve any heat problems. Plant leafy trees that are preferably large in scale or will grow to be. Leafy trees will help diffuse light and keep that hot sun from directly heating up your home. • Tip #2: Set The Thermostat o You do not have to have your thermostat set to 85 degrees when you are home to generate some savings. If you have a programmable thermostat, program it for a warmer temperature setting when you are away from home. Your air conditioner will have to work less hard to cool your home and the good news is you will not even be there to feel the difference. If you do not mind it, you can also set the thermostat for one or two degrees warmer at night where you are unlikely to notice the difference. Also, if you tend to like keeping your home fairly cool, consider raising the temperature by two degrees. Even changing your general thermostat setting from 76 to 78 degrees will yield a savings when it comes to energy bills. • Tip #3: Use Your Fans o Make sure your fans are set to spin in the correct direction to push cool air through the room. And, if your ceiling fan is not getting it done, consider adding a floor fan to keep rooms cooler and you more comfortable. • Tip #4: Reduce Your Stove & Oven Use o Your stove and oven will heat up a room quickly. If you can avoid it, try to use other methods of preparing food when temperatures are particularly warm. Break out the crock pot, prepare a lovely summer salad or utilize a grill to reduce the heat int he home and keep cool. • Tip #5: Turn Off Electronics o When you are not using electronics such as your computer or television system, turn them off. Not only does keeping them on use energy even when you are not using them, but it also puts off heat in the room. Turning them off will help keep a room cooler and energy bills down.]]>

Often, when people think of home decor and design, they imagine the types of cabinets and flooring they might install, or the faucets and light fixtures, or even the style of furniture they might choose.  Certainly, you will spend a lot of time inside your home and should enjoy the decor and design of the interior.   But, just because you spend time designing the interior does not mean you should forget the importance of curb appeal.  When you or your guests pull up to your home, you want your home and its exterior to be beautiful and inviting.  Whether your home’s exterior needs a lot of work or a little, there are some simple ways to improve curb appeal and make your home stand out on the street. The first way to improve your home’s curb appeal is to simply clean up the yard.  Do not let weeds grow in or the lawn get overgrown.  When overgrowth occurs, it looks like you have stopped taking care of your home.  Next, if your home’s exterior needs a fresh coat of paint, now is the time to do so.  Choose a color that fits in with the neighborhood and the style of home you have but that you love.  If you are looking to add a pop of color or something a little more unique, consider painting our front door.  What is more fun or shows more personality than a bright and inviting red door, or a lovely and sunny yellow front door.  Choose a color that coordinates with your house but that adds that special pop of color you are looking for.  Additionally, house numbers may seem like a boring but necessary adornment on any home.  Yes, they are important because they help people find your home but that does not mean they have to be the standard house numbers you see on everyone’s home.  Add some new house numbers to show a flair of personality.  There are many fonts and styles available to match any type of architectural design.  Do you have a modern home but traditional house numbers?  Change them out for some large, bold and sleek house numbers that  will add visual interest to your home’s exterior. Next, it is time to dress up your porch a little.  Have you had the same tired, faded old chair sitting on your porch for as long as you can remember?  Add some new furniture to your porch to show your design sense before anyone even steps foot in your home.  And speaking of decorating your porch, add some fresh flowers in a pot or an interesting plant near the front door to add a little life and vibrancy to your entry.  And, if you have a path leading to your house, clean it up and make any necessary repairs and then consider adding some lighting to the path.  The lighting will add ambiance and safety for anyone who is visiting your home. When you follow these tips, you will be sure to boost the curb appeal of your home and make any guest excited to come inside.]]>

Once you have decided to sell your home, there are a few steps to take to ensure your home is ready to be sold.  It may seem simple to post a “For Sale” sign out front, or even put your real estate listing online, but if your home is not prepared, it will not be in ideal condition to attract buyers and get top dollar.  Take proper steps to ensure your home is ready to be seen by potential buyers so that you can make a quick sale and get the most for your house. First thing is first, before you can truly prepare your home for sale, you have to organize and de-clutter.  As much as you might love that wall to wall display of antique plates you have collected, you have to prepare yourself that it may not be everyone’s taste.  And, as you live in a house, it is easy for clutter to accumulate or rooms to start to feel overcrowded.  Clear out anything that is non-essential for decor and home staging and keep things un-cluttered so that potential buyers can really see the home they are considering purchasing. Next, it is time to take that newly un-cluttered and organized home and make it neutral.  If you have a bold choice of paint that may not be everyone’s style, consider repainting to a more neutral and universally appealing paint color.  Remove personal photos so that when someone walks into your home to think about making a purchase, they do not constantly see your face everywhere they look and feel like they are intruding. With a neutral space, potential buyers will begin to make themselves feel at home and start picturing putting their own possessions inside the home. Now is the time to make any necessary repairs.  Anything that is obvious to the eye or that you know needs to be repaired should be repaired.  It may be tempting to ignore some things that need to be repaired but a home inspector will find any problems and recommend that they be repaired anyway and if it looks like you are trying to hide something it could scare off an interested buyer. Once you have made all of the necessary repairs and created a neutral space, it is important to thoroughly clean your home.  This does not mean just dusting, it means deep cleaning.  If deep cleaning is not your forte, consider hiring professional cleaners who can come in and get your home “open house” ready.  Additionally, it is important to address the outside of your home and landscaping as well. Curb appeal cannot be underestimated.  When someone pulls up to your home, you want the exterior of your home to make them excited to come inside and see more.  This means any weeds should be pulled, overgrown grass should be mowed, new flowers should be planted and any plants or shrubs should be trimmed.  Consider repainting your front door and putting a new welcome mat out to make the exterior of your home that much more inviting. Lastly, one important way to prepare your home for sale is to purchase a home warranty if you do not already have one.  A home warranty will show to buyers that your home is a good purchase and will be protected if anything should happen.  It will entice a potential buyer to put in an offer and feel comfortable purchasing your home.  When you have done these things to prepare you home for sale, you can rest assured your home is ready to attract buyers and get the best offer possible.    ]]>

Everyone has a toilet and, in general day to day life, most people probably do not give its existence much thought.  Beyond everyday use and cleaning, the toilet is not exactly the most thrilling feature in a home.  But, when a toilet breaks, you will certainly take notice.  Usually, a toilet can simply be repaired but if it cannot be repaired and must be replaced, it can be costly to replace.  If you are handy or just curious about how a toilet is replaced, follow the steps below to replace a toilet in your home.   Step 1:  Measure – Measure the area where your new toilet will be installed to ensure that you have enough room so that you can purchase the right toilet for the space. Step 2:  Prepare the Area – Set up the area around the toilet with newspaper and towels.  A toilet can be surprisingly heavy and when you go to lift it, move it and set it down, the last thing you want to have happen is for it to slip and you drop it and damage the surrounding flooring. Step 3:  Turn Off the Water & Drain the Toilet – Be sure to turn off the water supply valve to the toilet.  Once you have done this, flush and drain the remaining water in the bowl of the toilet.  Soak up any remaining water with a sponge. Step 4:  Disconnect the Tank – If the tank is bolted to the wall, you need to disconnect the tank from the wall before trying to remove it. Step 5:  Disconnect the Toilet – Next, unscrew the nuts (usually under caps) that connect the base of the toilet to the ground.  Also, unscrew the nuts that connect the toilet to the water supply line. Step 6:  Loosen the Toilet – Using a utility knife, go around the entire base of the toilet and score the area between the toilet and the ground.    Now, you will be able to carefully lift the toilet up and place it on the towels you have set aside for this purpose. Step 7:  Prepare to Install the New Toilet – Plug the drain hole with a rag to prevent gases from leaking into the room and to also prevent any tools from falling in.  Scrape the old putty away from the area around the drain hole.  Once you have a clean, level surface, place a new wax ring on the base of your new toilet. Step 8:  Place New Toilet – Home Depot explains how to precisely place your new toilet to prevent damage, “Now you’re ready to place the toilet bowl onto the flange, aligning the bolt holes in the base of the bowl with the bolts in the flange. If it helps, you can hold the bowl by the inside rim instead of the outer edges to get a better grip and more control as you lower it.  Then, you’ll press down to set the seal.  Be really careful not to move or tilt the toilet after setting wax seal on the flange – because you could break the seal which might result in future leaks.” Step 9:  Replace the Tank – Once you have secured the toilet to the ground with bolts, you can replace the tank on the toilet and attach it to the bowl by securing the nuts and washers. Step 10:  Reconnect the Water Supply Line – Connect the water supply line to the water tank.  Test out the flushing mechanism to ensure that it works properly.  If needed, install the toilet seat now as well.  If all appears to be working correctly, congratulations, you have correctly replaced your old toilet with a new one!]]>