Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: home maintenance

  • How to Refresh Your Home for a Quick Sell

    Are you planning to sell your home but unsure what repairs or updates to make before you list? While it’s wise to tend to fixes and upgrades prior to putting your home on the market, you need to think carefully about what to makeover if you want to attract buyers and get the most money from your sale.

    Experts agree that checking comparative properties and considering your return on investment is an excellent initial step in deciding how to refresh your home for a quick sell. Since every home seller has different circumstances, we’ve compiled a list of general guidelines to help you figure out what you might want to renovate.

    Here are some of the fastest and most affordable ways to update your home for a quick sell in the new year.

    Freshen Up Paint

    Real estate agents frequently advise clients to paint their homes before they sell. Scratches, scuffs, chips, and peeling areas accumulate over the years, and while the homeowner may not notice them, buyers typically do. Additionally, many homes’ paint colors are faded, outdated, and unattractive to modern buyers. You don’t have to have a huge renovation budget to invest in a new coat of interior or exterior paint. If money is tight, find a good and affordable one-coat paint and then choose a neutral color to create a blank canvas for buyers. Freshly painted properties often sell quicker and command top dollar.

    Declutter

    Cluttered homes tend to look disorganized and unkept, and they can prevent a buyer from seeing a property’s full potential. Decluttering, therefore, is one of the most effective refreshes you can make before you sell and it’s one of the cheapest. To declutter your home and turn it into a space that buyers can envision as their own, go from room to room, eliminating anything unnecessary. Store, give, or throw away knickknacks, furniture, and other personal belongings that you don’t use or that don’t add to the picture you want to paint for a future buyer. Think about model homes you’ve been in or staged rooms you’ve seen in magazines. This is the image you need to present to buyers if you want to sell your home fast. Don’t forget to declutter drawers, cupboards, and closets and organize what’s left.

    Maximize Curb Appeal

    Maximize your home’s curb appeal if you want to sell quickly. You can get a realistic look at how your property’s exterior appears to potential buyers by walking the route leading from the street to your front door. Stand from a distance and inspect your house numbers, mailbox, garage door, gutters, walkway or entry steps, porch or deck, and front door. Pay close attention to landscaping, exterior lighting, railings, and fixtures like door knobs and doorbells. Does anything need to be fixed or refreshed? How can you make your home stand out from the crowd, either in cleanliness or design?

    Update Window Treatments

    New window treatments make a massive difference in how a home presents to potential buyers. Old, antiquated, and torn or broken blinds, curtains, and shades can make an otherwise acceptable property look outdated and even like a fixer-upper. For a small investment, you can update your window treatments to modern versions that help brighten a room and delight buyers. When choosing new window coverings, consider options that allow privacy while letting natural light in. Also, take note of the new smart designs with high-tech and hands-off controls for ease and efficiency.

    Remodel Your Kitchen

    Remodeling a kitchen returns 98.5% of a homeowner’s investment and promotes a quick sell. Even if you don’t want to or can’t do an extensive kitchen makeover, consider a minor refresh with a new backsplash, coat of cabinet paint, hardware set, major appliance, or statement light fixture. New kitchen tile can make the difference between a dated space and a modern room that’s ready for a new buyer.

    Focus on Fixtures

    Great lighting makes a massive impact and produces a ‘wow’ factor that can convince buyers your home is what they’re looking for. Today’s lighting trends include textured and subtle pendant lights, hidden lights, and mixed-metal fixtures. When refreshing the lighting in your home, remember to ensure all bulbs match. Additionally, for a fast sell, focus on refreshing door knobs, electrical outlets, cabinet hardware, and faucets. Replace any that are dented, scratched, not working, or past their prime in appearance in any way.

    Ready to start prepping your home for a quick sale this year? Let Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate® help.

  • Budget-Friendly New Year’s Renovations to Boost Your Home’s Value

    Whether you’ve moved into a new home and want to make it your own in the new year or are readying your property for sale, you can make some budget-friendly renovations to boost value instantly.

    Turning a recently purchased property into a dream home or getting more money from the one you’re leaving starts with making wise decisions about makeovers and upgrades.

    The key to choosing what to remodel first, or at all, is often a personal preference but can lie largely on what future buyers want. It should also depend, however, on careful consideration of the return you’ll get on your remodeling investment. And, since renovations always come with a cost, a detailed look at the money you have available is important when deciding what home improvement job to tackle.

    If you’re a homeowner who needs to be budget-conscious when taking on renovations, look to the following for inexpensive projects to start the new year.

    Add Exterior Lighting

    Landscape or exterior lighting might seem like a costly renovation, but there are many low-voltage lighting systems that homeowners can install themselves to forgo electron costs. Consider the abundance of DIY solar and smart lighting kits on the market. Or the easy-to-install and affordable deck lights or exterior wall sconces. Outdoor lighting adds a level of safety to a home and enhances its architectural features when thoughtfully planned, boosting value.

    Paint Inside and Out

    A fresh coat of paint is one of the best ways to quickly spike your home’s value. Paint instantly transforms and updates a property’s interior and exterior. Considering the average cost of a gallon of one-coat paint is roughly $38, you can see a tremendous visual gain for a relatively small investment. Neutral paint colors are on trend year after year as they provide a blank canvas for homeowners to create the look they envision within nearly any design style.

    Replace Your Entry Door

    Adding a new steel or fiberglass door bolsters home security and adds to a property’s resale value. It can provide homeowners with greater privacy, makes an excellent first impression, and is likely to recoup 85% of its cost upon the sale of a home.

    Upgrade the Garage Door

    Replacing a garage door is a fantastic way to improve a home’s curb appeal. For roughly $4,302 (the average price of a new garage door), you can increase your home’s resale value by $4,418 with this budget-friendly renovation. A garage door replacement is one of the few home improvement projects that typically lets you get your money back and then some when it’s time to sell.

    Add Siding or a Stone Veneer

    Depending on its use, stone veneer can impart a classic or modern vibe. Whatever your design style, you’ll probably find that improving your home’s exterior with a stone veneer – even on just part of it – can make the difference between boring and beautiful. Likewise, new siding can instantly boost a home’s visual appeal, and appraisers often look at the structural benefit of siding when determining a home’s value.

    Install Smart Home Technology

    Installing smart home technology quickly modernizes a home for little cost. It’s a great way to get more enjoyment from a property and make it more efficient and safe. The best smart home devices to boost value include connected lights, sprinkler systems, water leak detectors, appliances, window treatments, and security cameras.

    Make Small Fixes

    Sometimes, the littlest things make the biggest impact. Don’t overlook the value of new doorknobs, electrical outlets and covers, faucets, screens, and cabinet hardware on your home. For a minor cost, you can significantly upgrade your property’s exterior and interior and boost its worth.

    Add Low-Cost Landscaping

    Low-cost landscaping, such as colorful shrubs and trees and water-wise plants and gardens, are easy on the average homeowner’s budget while adding anywhere from 5% to 12% to a home’s value (depending on property location). Nearly every landscaping expert advises planting trees, which can add up to $9,000 in value. Drought-friendly and sustainable yards are cheap to design and save homeowners money in the long run by reducing energy costs.

    Lay New Floors

    Homes with old rugs and torn linoleum quickly get a value upgrade with a flooring replacement. Laminate floors that look like hardwood are popular among homeowners because they’re budget-friendly and beautiful. Cork, carpet, and ceramic tiles are great options to instantly bring style and appeal to an outdated property.

    Are you looking to buy and renovate a new home in the near year or update yours and sell it? Let Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate® help you when you’re ready.

  • How to Clean Your Home’s Surfaces

    Are you searching for tips on how to clean your home in the most effective and sustainable way? You are not alone. Over the last few years, people started looking for better ways to clean, sanitize, or disinfect their homes and quickly realized that not every product is suitable for every surface. In fact, some can be downright harmful. Below, we reveal some of our favorite tips for choosing the best products to clean your home’s surfaces. 

    Glass Windows

    Well-crafted glass windows and furniture can make your house or apartment sparkle. However, it can be tricky to figure out how to clean your home’s glass surfaces properly, which products to use, and how often to use them. For example, the experts at My Domaine recommend window washing every six months to allow for much-needed natural light to stream into your spaces. The pros at the Magazine are fans of using commercial cleaners on them or “a DIY mixture of one cup water, one cup rubbing alcohol, and one tablespoon vinegar,” which is often a less expensive way to break through residue for a streak-free result. Use a lint-free cloth (like microfiber cloths) so that you don’t have to worry about leaving fuzz behind. Save some of the DIY solution for weekly use on your glass tabletops to keep them fingerprint-free.

    Stainless Steel

    Many modern kitchens are filled with sleek stainless steel appliances. And while you may love the look, there is no question that these surfaces reveal fingerprints and spills more quickly than other finishes. Start by knowing the basics – you don’t want to apply flammable cleaning products to a gas stove or oven. You’ll also want to ensure that your new appliances don’t offer you specific warnings against using certain products before you begin cleaning. 

    Generally, you should avoid using oil-based formulas, glass cleaners, or alcohol-based cleaning products on your stainless steel appliances. Instead, Leanne Stapf—the Chief Operating Officer at The Cleaning Authority, suggests to Martha Stewart Living that people try “using products like baking soda that can revive dull stainless steel.” All you need to do is apply a small amount of baking soda to a damp, soft cloth and then buff it out and rinse. 

    Synthetic Stone Countertops

    While pretty solid-surface countertops are made to resemble stone, these attractive synthetic alternatives have different cleaning requirements. To keep these seamless counters looking their best, use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe them down daily. For stained areas, gentle dish soap or ammonia-based products (like glass or all-purpose cleaners) can be used. Are you stumped on how to clean tougher stains from your solid-surface counters? For more difficult stains on shiny synthetic stone countertops, the experts at The Spruce suggest using “a liquid, mildly abrasive cleaner, while stains on non-shiny (matte) finishes are easily cleaned with a baking soda and water paste.”  

    Granite Counters

    If you are wondering how to clean your home’s granite countertops, experts agree that a gentle cleaner, like a Castile soap or dish soap, is your best bet. Jennifer Parnell, the co-founder of Humble Suds, tells Martha Stewart Living that the advantage of a gentle cleaner over more abrasive ones is that it “will prevent the erosion of the granite countertop’s sealant and won’t cause any physical damage to the stone.” She also advises the Magazine that before using all-purpose products on granite surfaces, “ensure they do not contain citric acid, bleach, or ammonia.” Dry the surface with a soft microfiber towel to remove any remaining residue or water, as both can stain granite countertops if left to sit for too long. 

    Marble Surfaces

    Marble tabletops and counters are beautiful to look at but surprisingly delicate and challenging to maintain. Scratches, chips, and stains can happen easily, although sealers should offer protection for a couple of years. According to Martha Stewart Living, the best way to clean your home’s marble surfaces is by dusting the surfaces regularly with a soft cloth and “[washing] the marble periodically with a cloth dampened with warm water, and, if necessary, a bit of mild dishwashing liquid.” Then, wipe down the surface again with another damp cloth. Never use abrasive cleansers on marble. Spills should be blotted and rinsed immediately to avoid staining. The Magazine also recommends “[applying] marble polish (available in hardware stores) on a regular basis to maintain the stone’s luster.” 

    Bathroom Tile

    While it makes sense that people might want to use bleach on all-white bathrooms, it may not be the best option if you want to preserve the longevity (and shine) of your bathroom tile. And bleach should never be used on colored tile surfaces. Instead, Better Homes & Gardens is a fan of using DIY cleaners, even on stubborn soap scum. The Magazine recommends “[mixing] 1/2-cup white distilled vinegar with a gallon of warm water.” This solution works well when scrubbing wall tile and counters (except those made of granite or marble) and mopping floors. 

    Shower Doors

    Shower doors can be challenging. You are often doing battle with hard-water build-up, mold, and soap scum. The experts agree that you should try to clean shower doors whenever you clean the bathroom – about once a week. While many heavy-duty products are on the market for this type of job, a variation on a DIY favorite can be effective. My Domaine recommends that you fill a clean spray bottle filled with a solution that is “2 parts white vinegar and 1 part dish soap.” Shake up the solution, spray it on the shower door, and let it sit for 30 minutes. Wipe the shower door down with a microfiber cloth, sponge, or eco-friendly Swedish dish cloth.  

    Wood Furniture

    When deciding how to best clean your home’s wood furniture, you’ll want to focus on cleaning products that enhance the piece’s natural shine while also protecting it against future sun damage. The Spruce loves Weiman’s Furniture Wipes because the wipes “not only clean dust and dirt off your wood surfaces, but they also polish them.” These wipes only use plant-based ingredients, so using them is safe for your kids and pets. As a bonus, the Magazine reveals that “[the] wipes also use a micro-filling technology to remove scratches and protect the surface from future scratches.”  

    Upholstered Furniture

    Better Homes & Gardens advises that you take a multi-step approach to deep cleaning your upholstered furniture: vacuum, spot clean, and sanitize. Regular vacuuming is ideal for removing pet hair and crumbs, and it’s a great place to start when deep cleaning. Spot cleaning with soap and water can quickly take care of the occasional spill, and it works well when dealing with “heavily soiled” areas. The final step to sanitizing your upholstered furniture, according to Better Homes & Gardens, may be using products “like OxiClean Laundry and Home Sanitizer or Febreze Antimicrobial Fabric Spray.” But before you begin, the Magazine cautions, “as with any cleaning agent or fabric surface, it’s always best practice to test your sanitizing products for colorfastness on an inconspicuous spot before using it on the entire surface area.” 

    Household Electronics

    Our households feature a lot of electronics that need a delicate hand when cleaning and disinfecting. While you need to stop moisture from getting inside your electronic devices, you still want to remove grime, germs, and dust on your screens, remote controls, gaming systems, and computer peripherals. Editors at The Spruce hailed Weiman Electronic Cleaning Wipes as the best way to clean your favorite electronics. The Magazine explains: “Weiman Electronic Wipes are designed to remove dust, dirt, and fingerprints without leaving behind lint or streaks. The formula creates a protective film on your devices that prevents scratches and repels the static that attracts dust and dirt.”  

    For disinfecting your portable electronic devices, you may need to turn to Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. Just be sure to squeeze out any extra liquid from the wipe before using it on your phone or tablet. Then dry the surface with a microfiber cloth to get rid of any residue. 

    Hardwood Floors

    Knowing how to clean your home’s hardwood floors can be challenging because you want to deep clean them without warping them or leaving them scratched. Start by removing loose dirt using a cloth duster, vacuum with a hard floor attachment, or soft broom. Next, Mary Gagliardi, the Clorox in-house scientist and cleaning expert, tells Martha Stewart Living that mopping hardwood floors with a solution of “one-fourth cup of Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner … with a gallon of water” once a week will get rid of grime while making the floor shine. 

    An Ace Hardware helpful expert, Lou Manfredini, cautions against using vinegar on hardwood flooring. Why? Manfredini explains that “vinegar is an acid and long-term use will dull the floors.” If you are searching for a natural-based cleaning solution, he instead recommends to Martha Stewart Living that people should choose an option “like Bona No Scent Floor Cleaner Liquid,” which can be sprayed onto the floor directly, left to sit for two minutes, and then mopped up without a need for rinsing.

  • Eco Friendly Cleaning Products to Keep You Healthy

    Traditional, old-fashioned cleaning supplies are made with excessive packaging, non-essential ingredients like extra water and harmful ingredients. Sure, some of these really clean well but in the end the risks outweigh the benefits. You might end up with a sparkling and shiny countertop, but you could be adding to the nation’s overflowing landfills, poisoning the oceans and making your family sick. Now could be the time to refresh your cleaning routines in a good way. So what kind of eco-friendly cleaning products also keep you healthy?

    Reducing Waste

    One of the easiest ways to cut back on paper towel use is to swap them out for bar towels, a great idea shared by Martha Stewart. Those made from microfiber are highly recommended because they absorb a lot of liquid and are also great for degreasing surfaces, cleaning up bacteria and dusting. They are also good for cleaning windows, drying produce and cleaning off cars and bikes. Once the towel is dirty, simply toss it into the laundry hamper. They are also inexpensive, and you won’t have to shell out so much dough for paper towels.

    Another way to reduce waste is to buy some of the newer cleaning products that are sold in concentrate form. Hand soap is one example – you can purchase one soap dispenser and a set of soap pods. Drop one in, add water and presto – liquid soap. When it runs out, add a new pod and water; no need to buy a new dispenser each time.

    There are also companies that make multi-purpose cleaning concentrates in tablets and other forms that are made from biodegradable ingredients. Look for ones that are fragrance-free or made with plant-based scents or essential oils. If you really want to be eco-friendly, also buy from companies that donate a portion of their profits to environmental nonprofit groups.

    Say Adios to Harsh Chemicals

    When it comes to healthier cleaning practices, simplicity is the way to go. Many of these products are only made with plant-based ingredients and are packaged in refillable containers. Be sure to read those labels, and look for phrases like “sustainably sourced” and “certified non-toxic.”

    If you aren’t sure where to start with switching over to eco-friendly, healthier cleaning, Better Homes & Gardens suggests checking with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s list of “signal words.” The EPA website has an “Environmental Working Group’s Label Decoder” that explains how to read labels and identify more harmful ingredients. Products that contain these can be avoided.

    As an example, the word “antibacterial” on a label means that the product has pesticides in it that kill viruses, molds and bacteria. While this could be effective for eliminating germs, it should be avoided in cleaning products. Enzymes are another watchword, because they are thought to cause respiratory problems and asthma in factory workers who make those products. Another one to look out for is fragrance, which can be produced from chemicals or natural sources. 

    Healthier Cleaning Product Ingredients

    The cleaning products industry does not heavily regulate its ingredients, so consumers have to be educated enough to understand what certain words actually mean. Words like “non-toxic,” “organic” and “natural” are actually used as marketing terms, and should not be given serious consideration when making healthy choices. So instead of simply buying something that is labeled as organic, look for the USDA Organic logo or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Certified Organic” logo.

    Green Seal and EcoLogo are two independent agencies that offer independent certifications for eco-friendly cleaning products. They have manufacturers send in data to show product effectiveness, and the agencies ensure that the goods meet the current green standards. Look for these certifications on commercial cleaners, but you can also find them on some household cleaners.

    What About Allergies?

    Eco-friendly cleaning products can be better for your health and the environment, but some can produce allergic reactions. Many green products are made with essential oils that provide pleasing scents, but they are known to trigger allergic reactions in some people. If you want to try a cleaning product made with an essential oil, use it very sparingly at first just in case – and never pour it right onto the skin. People with allergies can stick to fragrance-free cleaners to avoid any problems.

    Speaking of allergic reactions, another way to prevent them is to buy a HEPA vacuum cleaner. Better Homes & Gardens explains that effective HEPA filters can remove about 100% of airborne allergens, as well as the normal debris, dust and dirt. You can find upright, handheld and cordless vacuums with HEPA filters, and rest assured that using them will help you and your family breathe easier.

  • Refreshing brick facades inside and outside

    There are lots of reasons to get excited about brick facades, whether they’re on the interior or exterior of your home. Weather resistant, fire retardant and durable, most insurance companies offer discounts to brick home owners.

    But your brick may need a little TLC for a variety of reasons: age, improper mortaring, or no longer in sync with your home’s design or decor if you have an addition or a new garage door. Here are a few suggestions that will help you decide how you can go about refreshing brick faces inside and outside.

    Painted brick house ideas – exterior

    Not all bricks and bricklayers are created equal. Depending on your home’s age, their natural color may not be particularly pleasing to you or even work well with the rest of your home’s exterior. If your house includes more than one building material (siding, stucco or wood for some areas, brick for others), there may be a lot going on in terms of both color and texture.

    Painting exterior brick poses some additional challenges besides the equipment needed to reach the roof. It’s probably best to outsource this work to an expert, who can make any necessary repairs to your bricks and mortar before you begin.

    While bricks can easily last 100 years or more, the mortar that holds them together rarely does. Loose or crumbling mortar can be fixed by repointing, digging out the mortar and replacing it with either more mortar or lime-based putty. It’s a time consuming, messy chore, but it’s essential to ensure water doesn’t get in or threaten the house’s structural integrity. If your brick home is historic, color matching the existing mortar may be an issue. Hiring a mason means you may also be able to find an exact match for crumbling or wind-damaged brick from salvage yards. Another good reason to hire an expert for this part of your exterior reno: mortar can only “set” when it’s between 40 and 90°F. Doing it yourself may cause more problems than it solves.

    If you’ve decided to paint your brick exterior, make sure you don’t live in a high moisture area. Bricks are naturally porous and absorb ground moisture that can’t escape when painted over. If that’s your situation, consider whitewashing the bricks instead. By diluting latex paint with 50 percent water you’ll avoid trapping moisture that can’t escape.

    There are also new brick staining products available that can deal with their unevenly porous nature. Silicate mineral stains bond with brick and penetrate their pores while still letting the brick breathe.

    Painting alternatives: Stucco and the German smear

    While it may be even more work than painting your home, if you really hate the bricks you’ve inherited, you can stucco over them. Before you consider this alternative, though, test the area to see how porous your bricks are. Spray the wall with water. If it’s quickly absorbed, the stucco should bond easily with the brick. If it doesn’t, or if your bricks have already been painted, wash the surface with soap and water and test again. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to apply a specially designed bonding agent to ensure the stucco will stick.

    In terms of both color and texture, stucco is available in a wide variety of colors that are mixed into the finish coat. You can also dramatically change the texture of a stucco exterior by choosing a finish coat that incorporates rocks, pebbles, or glass chips.

    The German smear is another alternative to painting exterior brick. By applying wet mortar unevenly to brickwork, you’ll instantly give your home a centuries-old (although faux) exterior. It mimics the look of stone and creates a rough, rustic texture. The best news about the German smear is that it’s inexpensive and doesn’t take a lot of skill. While traditional northern German cottages treated this way were red brick with white mortar, experiment with different mortar colors to find the one that will work best with your shade of brick.

    Interior brickwork

    You can use all the same techniques on interior brickwork with a lot fewer mortar and water absorption issues than exterior brick. While some homes have gorgeous exposed brick walls, for the most part, interior brickwork is confined to areas around the fireplace. Depending on whether your fireplace is functional or not, you may want to paint it white if you want it to pop and match your room’s trim. If you don’t want to feature a non-functional brick fireplace though, consider painting it the same color as your walls to make it recede. If your fireplace has already been painted and you want to show it off, think about touching it up with the same color but reframe it with a new mantel in a different color and a more modern design.

  • How to Prepare Your Home for Winter

    Thoroughly checking your home indoors and out, from pipes and eaves to heaters and trees, is a must-do when preparing for winter.

    Your house is an investment and a place to be comfortable and safe. To get the most out of where you live through all seasons, make sure to plan.

    Fall is the perfect time to start thinking about winterization. While the weather is relatively pleasant and stable, tend to maintenance tasks and consider how you can avoid emergencies and damage by being proactive.

    To get ready for cold weather, take a look at these ways to winterize your home.

    Give your HVAC system a checkup

    Heating and air conditioning systems don’t last forever. They’re good for about 15 years, but some have a shorter lifespan of about 10. If your system is going on 10 years (or older), fall is an important time for a yearly checkup.

    At the very least, you should change the filters monthly. However, it is recommended to get a comprehensive inspection annually from a licensed HVAC contractor. This professional should check the entire system to ensure you’ll have heat and avoid hazards like fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

    Seal your walkways, driveways and patios

    All cracks in masonry surfaces, like concrete walkways, driveways and patios, should be sealed to avoid expanding. Find a reputable mason who will take time to strategically insert control joints where needed so further cracking doesn’t occur.

    After control joints are placed, the mason will seal any cracks so that water doesn’t get in and freeze. Don’t overlook this necessary step in the winterization process. If you check it off the list, your masonry will last a long time.

  • Top 10 Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Home in Working Order: A Checklist

    Your home is likely one of your biggest investments. Taking care of it properly is essential. The chores and tasks necessary to maintain a home throughout the year can seem daunting, but they’re easier if broken down into seasonal duties.

    Even if you don’t have the time or physical ability to tackle these must-dos yourself, refer to our home maintenance checklist below when you hire handymen.

    Spring

    At the start of spring, many homeowners are eager to do a little cleaning. This season is the perfect time to empty closets, wax floors, give carpets a deep shampoo and more.

     

     

     

     

    Here are some good spring cleaning actions you can take to care for your home:

    1. Give the grounds an overhaul. Start cleaning by
    • raking up leaves
    • turning outside faucets on if you’ve turned them off for winter
    • inspecting trees for illness or dead branches
    • re-seeding your lawn
    • planting perennials
    1. Tend to your home’s exterior by
    • looking for and filling cracks in concrete
    • fixing broken rain gutters
    • giving your home a power wash
    • touching up paint
    • cleaning windows
    • repairing patios and decks
    • treating pool water
    1. Look after the inside of your home by
    • inspecting HVAC systems
    • draining your boiler
    • giving plumbing a once-over
    • checking your chimney
    • replacing batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

  • A Few Helpful Gutter Cleaning Tips for Your Home

    Autumn is one of the most seasons. The crisp air and changing leaves make even a walk through the neighborhood feel like an event. Those leaves, however, have to go somewhere and many of them end up in the gutter. We have a few helpful gutter cleaning tips to keep you safe and prevent property damage.

    Let someone know what you’re doing

    Of all the gutter cleaning tips, letting a friend, family or neighbor know what you’re doing is the most important. It is helpful to have someone check up on you. Also, make sure to have your cellphone somewhere near you in the unlikely event of an accident to easily call for help.

    Use a safe and sturdy ladder

    Using a sturdy ladder will keep you safe. Before stepping onto the first rung, check to see that the hinges are completely open and that the ladder is in good shape. A four-legged ladder is easy to transport and use for a single story home, while a two-legged extension ladder is the best choice for homes with multiple floors. A ladder can get heavy, so if you have a heart condition or other health issues, know your limits and ask for help moving it around your home.

     

     

    Use a sand shovel

    Don’t try to use metal gardening tools, as they’ll only scrape and potentially damage gutters. Instead, pick up a small plastic scoop or a kids’ sand shovel.The trick isn’t to try to remove all of the leaves and other debris at once, but remove a little bit at a time. This will lighten the load of each sco and save your back.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Don’t Let Chores Pile Up: Maintain your house in half the time

    Preventive cleaning was once as popular as the hula hoop and Audrey Hepburn, proving a clean house is the most timeless accessory to a happy home.

     

    A house that needs cleaning is an unwelcomed distraction from living life to its fullest. Piles of dirty laundry or chaos in the living room can dull the day’s accomplishments. Clean homes make it easier to find lost items and allow the mind to relax. Below is a list of preventive tasks that can be accomplished daily or weekly to make sure your home always shines.

     

    Preparation

    Keep microfiber cloths, your favorite cleaners and whatever else you need in buckets or decorative baskets in high traffic areas. With these kits readily available, 10 minutes of spot cleaning can make a difference. Select optimal times for you and family members to dedicate to cleaning. It can be once a day, week or month. To make chores a bit more fun, create a playlist or use this time as an opportunity to completely disconnect.

     

    Kitchen

    The kitchen is the heart of the home and one of the most used spaces. Keeping it clean is not impossible when care is given to maintenance. To pass the white glove test, take care of spills and messes as you cook. Rinse pots and pans after use if they cannot be washed right away. Line the stove and oven with tinfoil for quick cleanups. Dust cookbooks and countertop appliances every day just as you do the counters. Additionally, line cabinets with paper to toss out weekly or monthly.

     

    Bedroom

    Your bedroom is a haven for sleep and relaxation. Always make the bed upon waking or shortly afterward. Doing so makes the room look pulled together and starts the day with a sense of accomplishment. Place a hamper where needed and do laundry at least once a week. If cleaning the ceiling fan has gotten away from you, place an old towel directly beneath the fan to keep away dust bunnies. Keep framed art clean by misting a paper towel and wiping the glass rather than directly spraying it to prevent seepage around the edges. Use a lint roller to dust lampshades.

     

    Living room

    Clutter clogs the flow of any room, but it is quite noticeable in the living room. If you have yet to toss out items that do not bring you joy, make it a priority to chuck or donate non-essentials and have a place for everything. Place baskets strategically throughout the room for toys, remotes and whatever else tends to collect. Vacuuming and dusting the living room at least once a week puts an emphasis on picking up stray items. Get into the habit of neatening up at the end of the evening as part of a winding down routine to banish clutter.

     

    Bathroom

    Keeping the bathroom clean requires organization. Having dedicated spots for makeup and grooming tools reduces clutter. Wet wipes under the sink will clean toothpaste and soap splatters on faucets, mirrors and countertops. It is best to leave bar soap in the shower rather than placing it on the sink to avoid messes. Keep a shower cleaner in a caddy nearby for a quick spray of the tile and liner when done bathing. Wipe down the sink after every use. Deep clean the tub and toilet at least once a month to prevent smells and stains.

    Stay on schedule when cleaning your home to always be ready for company and much more. Inspired by the September 1957 issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

  • How to Organize Your Linen Closet

    If you’ve ever tried to organize the linen closet, you know it can be quite the task! Finding a place for towels, bedding, and occasional odds and ends can easily create chaos. That’s not to mention the challenge of keeping everyday essentials accessible as well. Never fear, because we have the storage-savvy secrets you need to organize your linen closet.

    Here’s how to organize your linen closet: