Category Archives: Homeowners

Home Sellers, Homeowners

Five Reasons You Should Sell Now

UPDATED Leave a comment

With the global pandemic causing many home sellers to put their listing on hold or to take it off the market completely, right now is actually a great time to put your house up for sale. Although, COVID-19. caused weariness, it has actually not affected the market in a negative way like many thought was possible. Here are five reasons to pull the trigger and sell your home now.

Demand is High

The market has more demand than ever right now with not less people selling and more people looking to buy. With the pandemic, many people have resisted listing their home, making it more of a challenge for those looking for their dream place. Plus as more millennials join the market looking to buy for a growing family or a young professional purchasing their first home, there is a growing demand that is just going to continue into the upcoming months.

Continue reading →
Homeowners

Six Ways to Keep Your Smart Home Secure

UPDATED Leave a comment

There’s no question that smart homes are a trend that’s here to stay. One research group estimates that 28 percent of U.S. households will be smart homes by 2021. Although smart homes can surely make everyday activities a little more convenient, they can also put homeowners and property owners at risk if they aren’t secured properly. These devices are typically connected over a WiFi network, so it is important to make sure that your network is as secure as possible. Here are a few easy steps you can take to make sure your smart home devices give you maximum security.

Change Your Passwords

It might seem obvious that “pass12345” is not a great password, but it is important to take stock of your online accounts and ensure your login credentials are secure. Generic passwords, while easier to remember, are generally less secure. Typically, more secure passwords contain special characters and numbers and are also unique and different for every account.

Continue reading →
Homeowners

Cleaning and Repairing Your Home Gutters

UPDATED Leave a comment

One of the biggest responsibilities of a homeowner is to look out for their property’s well-being. They should ensure that every corner of their property is well taken care of, including the landscape’s smaller details. This also includes looking out for what needs to be cleaned out, performing maintenance or checking if a repair is needed- like on your gutters!

It may seem to be the least meticulously attended part of the house, but it plays a vital role that prevents your home from experiencing interior and exterior damage. If you have given less attention to your home gutters in the past, this article may inspire you to change that.

We will cover the importance of your home gutters, including when is the right time to change the entire gutter system, or if a regular cleaning will do the trick.

Understanding the Role of a Home Gutter Better

When you ask any home maintenance experts, they will say that every part of your house structure is essential. All of them are crucial in their own way.

Your gutters play an important role in keeping your home from damages. If you are concerned with proper ventilation and roofing conditions, you should look into your gutters. 

Continue reading →
DIY, Homeowners

Creating A Movie Night Right at Home

UPDATED Leave a comment

Are you missing going to the movie theater? During a time when most of us are trying to stay home, you may be missing out on your favorite past times! You may not be able to go grab snacks and sit down in the theaters, but you can make your favorite snacks and binge classic films right in the comfort of your own home. Here’s some ways to make a backyard cinema you can enjoy with the whole family.

Large Backdrop

The first step to creating a great movie night is having the right place to watch your makeshift “big screen”. If you have a shed in your yard that may be the best backdrop since most do not have windows on the side walls. No shed? No worries! You can always use the backside of your own home. Just make sure there are no windows that could ruin the image of the movie due to lights turning on and off in the home or from the reflection.

Continue reading →
Homeowners

Creating Your At Home Gym

UPDATED Leave a comment

With COVID-19 shutting down workout facilities around the country, you may be looking for ways to work on your health and fitness inside the safety of your own home. Check out these five tips below to create the perfect gym for you that will make sure you won’t slow down on your goals- open gym or not!

Decide on the Essentials

The first part of creating the perfect at home gym is finding the right equipment. Most of us won’t have the equipment just lying around since you are used to it being provided by your gym, but you only need a few things to make the most of your workout. A floor mat, resistance bands, dumbbells and a jump rope are a great place to start. The floor mat can be used for several different workouts, core strengthening, yoga and more, depending on what you like. Resistance bands or dumbbells can be used for lower and upper body weightlifting. A jump rope is a challenging but fun way to get cardio in.

Of course, if you are just starting our fitness journey and are wanting to start a little easier, don’t be afraid to just use your body weight! This is still an effective way to get yourself moving and stay active without the need for different equipment.

Continue reading →
Homeowners

Five Summer Home Improvement Projects

UPDATED Leave a comment

The summer months are the time to relax and take in the sunshine! But it can also be a great time to get some much needed home improvement projects done around the house that aren’t possible to do in bad weather. Check out these five tasks that will make your home the hit of the summer and don’t cost you a large chunk of cash.

Power Wash

We always think about washing the inside of our home but what about the outside? The summer is a great time to either buy or rent a power washing machine to get your exterior cleaned and looking brand new. You can power wash the siding of the home to remove dirt and grime collected from outdoor elements over the seasons or you can wash the walkways including sidewalks and driveways.

Build Outdoor Features

If you have some downtime and it’s a beautiful day outside, it’s a great opportunity to build an outdoor feature! This could include an outdoor kitchen to entertain guests throughout the summer, a fire pit to roast marshmallows with the kids or maybe a garden to grow your own veggies. Each project ranges from difficulty and cost so make sure to determine timeline and budget before starting the project. Once you decide on those, have some fun designing what fits your style best!

Continue reading →
Homeowners, Real Estate

Does a New Roof Boost Your Home’s Value

UPDATED Leave a comment

Are you considering putting in a new roof? Sure, this isn’t a project that’s quite as popular and snazzy as remodeling your home’s interior. However, it does have some advantages, especially in improving your home’s resale value; not to mention the newer and nicer appearance, the improved warranties and lower bills. Still, there are a few different factors to keep in mind when thinking about a new roof over your household. With that in mind – we’ll take a look at some of the most pressing ones.

Your New Roof And Home Value

Naturally, one of the main remodeling ideas behind putting in a new roof is to protect your home beneath it. However, there are other practical advantages, such as having better insulation. Plus, if you’re going to use one of the newer roofing materials, your summers won’t be quite as unbearable; the heat will be reflected from your rooftops instead of being absorbed. In terms of comfort and lower utility costs for AC, this is a great relief. 

And the functional additions aside, even if you just put in newer asphalt shingles, there’s an aesthetic appeal to think about as well. Of course, there are plenty of options available to you, including natural wood; many homeowners prefer it due to its objective and natural appearance. 

Continue reading →
Family Home, Homeowners

Landscaping Trends to Increase Home Value

UPDATED 2 Comments

Your curb may be close to the drain, but don’t be confused: Putting money into curb appeal is in no way throwing money down the drain. Homes with better landscaping sell for a higher price — and few people would ignore the kind of value it can add to your home. Depending on where you are and how much landscaping you do, you could be talking about tens of thousands of dollars. Here are a few landscaping trends that increase the value of your home.

Sustainability

The low-maintenance, low-water and eco-friendly yard is not a myth. While a thick, green lawn is always appealing, you can always mix things up with xeriscaping elements or native plants to bring out the best in your yard. Sustainability has become a keyword in the landscaping industry. Clients want to see yards that add to the natural biodiversity of their neighborhoods. Another benefit? A yard that’s easy to keep up is a good selling point for potential buyers.

Continue reading →
Homeowners

Casual BackYard Dinner Menus to Make Cooking at Home More Fun

UPDATED Leave a comment

We may be stuck at home but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate spring with some outdoor fun!

Even if you’re not a cook, there are a ton of things that can be thrown together with minimal time and effort. There’s no better time to start eating more vegetables and fruits with so many in season to choose from and the time to experiment!

Start Out With Some Grilled Fruit Kabobs

Fresh fruits are packed with antioxidants and a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Grilling fruit intensifies the flavors and brings out the fruit’s natural sweetness. Some great options that hold up well on the grill are bananas, pineapples, peaches, and melons. Cut fruits into large pieces to avoid losing any small pieces through the grates on the grill. You’ll know it’s done when the middle of the fruit is hot and it has thick, dark grill marks.

Continue reading →
Family Home, Homeowners

Spring Cleaning Hacks

UPDATED Leave a comment

Spring motivates a lot of us to do some much needed deep cleaning. It’s a good idea to take a few days to really cleanse your space and revamp your style. Cleaning and decluttering is a great way to start off the new season and fill your time. Not only does it clear your house, it also clears your mind!

Clean Baseboards, Cabinets, Doors, Windowsills, and Walls

Sound like fun yet? These are not typically chores we do on a regular basis, but a lot of crud builds up here, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. 

Baseboards and window sills accumulate dust, dirt, hair and can become discolored. You’ll be amazed how much cleaner and brighter your space looks with freshly scrubbed baseboards and window sills. 

Don’t forget to do the ones in the kitchen, too. Sticky food residue easily accumulates here and can attract bugs when the warmer weather sets in. Wipe down your walls and doors to get off the dirt and grime, especially the parts closer to the floor where the foot traffic is coming and going. 

Continue reading →