You don’t need to be a plumber to spot the early signs. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to check your sinks and toilets for leaks, and potentially save yourself thousands in repairs.
Painting is one of the simplest and most rewarding home projects you can tackle yourself. With just a few supplies and the right shade, you can completely transform a space, whether you’re brightening it with soft neutrals like white, gray, or tan, or making a bold statement with rich, vibrant hues.
Fats, oils, and grease can cause a litany of problems for your city, your environment, and even your pocket book if they aren’t disposed of in the right way.
By Lauren from Allied Van Lines Moving to a new city or state is an exciting adventure, but it can also be stressful. Even after the initial chaos of the move subsides, unpacking and settling in can take a while. Here are some key unpacking strategies to help you feel comfortable and at home in your new place as soon as possible. 1. Pack an Essentials Box for Easy Access One of the most important tips for both packing and unpacking is to create a designated “essentials box.” Before you move, compile a list of items you’ll need right away, including: Clothes for a week Medications and toiletries First-aid kit Chargers for electronics Snacks and drinks Having this box readily available in your car will make the first few days in your new home much smoother. 2. Prioritize Utility Connections and Major Appliances Ensure a smooth transition by scheduling utility connections (electricity, water, internet) well in advance. Ideally, have them turned on before you even arrive. This allows you to focus on unpacking essentials upon arrival. Next, prioritize unpacking and setting up major appliances like the stove, refrigerator, and coffee maker. If you work remotely, prioritize setting up internet access
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all who celebrate! The holiday season is a great opportunity to take some time off from work and enjoy friends and family. While these breaks can certainly have its joyful moments, there’s something about meeting up with friends and family that can lead to an air of chaos. If you’re expecting guests who have a tendency of getting caught in hairy situations, it just might be smart to take a few safety precautions along the way. To ensure a very merry Christmas break, here are a few home safety tips homeowners should keep in mind while weathering the holidays. Monitor Ice and SnowIf you’re expecting a degree of icy or snowy weather throughout the holidays, it may be wise to make some extra efforts to keep your driveway and sidewalks cleared. You may have family members in town who aren’t used to dealing with frosty conditions. Take precautions that no one gets hurt from slipping on unattended patches of ice. With that said, those that may have the impulse of piling on the sidewalk salt or other ice melt solutions should wait and rethink their options. While effective at melting ice, rock salt can
When putting your home on the market, you obviously want to get as much out of the sale as you can. And ideally, you’d like the process to run quickly. Throughout the years, agents, interior designers, and other real estate professionals have searched for the best strategies to make residential transactions move as smoothly as possible, and what they’ve discovered is the fine art of home staging. Home staging is the act of redecorating, cleaning, and designing a home so that buyers can more easily imagine themselves living there. Real estate agents are professionals at accentuating the strengths of a home while bringing any flaws into perspective, and home staging is there to reinforce these efforts through what potential buyers actually see and experience during a tour. According to a National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Research Group’s 2023 Study, 81% of buyers’ agents said that home staging made it easier to visualize the property as their future home. Despite this, many home sellers skip this step in order to save on costs. Since the largest investment most people will make is their home, home staging is well worth the cost and time commitment. 3 Options for Home-StagingHome sellers can go
Managing to keep an entire home clean is no easy task. Between doing the laundry, vacuuming the rugs, cleaning the dishes, and taking out the trash, there are plenty of hours in the day already dedicated to housekeeping. Naturally, things fall through the cracks, and certain items in the home are naturally overlooked. The problem is that certain items that might have been easily cleaned in the past can prove a much more difficult task if neglected for too long. If you are interested in being proactive about keeping your home clean, consider taking another look at these often-ignored home items. Spend Some Extra Time in the KitchenDo people spend a lot of time cleaning their kitchen? Of course they do. Do people still overlook a few areas in their kitchen due to inconvenience or lack of awareness? Absolutely! Kitchens can become one of the grimiest, dirtiest areas in a house if homeowners aren’t consistent about their cleaning habits due to the many kinds of messes and spills that are bound to happen while cooking. It’s when only the surface areas are taken care of that problems begin to pile up. Starting with the dishwasher, some may think that this
We’ve seen people make their homes in all sorts of unique and strange places. From trendy tiny homes to flat-out bizarre spite houses, homeowners seem to have tons of freedom to personalize their spaces into something that is totally unique to them. Owning a home comes with plenty of work, but this ability to remodel, redesign, and remake is one of the things that makes homeownership such a sought-after goal. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why renting can be frustrating. Too many apartments lack character, and many tenants find themselves living in drab, cookie-cutter flats of uninspired architecture. Finding ways to tailor these spaces into something that feels a little more “homey” without making any permanent changes can be tough. The good news is, creative renters have found ways to have fun with decor, even while keeping to their lease agreements. To make your rental yours, here are some transformative, renter-friendly interior design tips. Hang Some Temporary WallpaperThe first step to truly transform the overall look and feel of a room is to figure out what to do with the walls. Landlords tend to prefer keeping their walls in shades that are inoffensive to avoid turning away
When in the market for a new home, there are endless considerations home buyers must think through. Dividing the “must-haves” from the “nice-to-haves” can be difficult, but parents are wise to keep the health of their families a top priority. Buyers can easily feel overwhelmed by the number of dangers and health hazards that demand their attention in purchasing a new home, but one health hazard that both the EPA and the CDC have highlighted as a concern in households is lead contamination. Many families and communities are exposed to the harmful effects of lead through their homes’ drinking water, but they may not be aware of this issue until after experiencing health problems. Lead contaminants within drinking water cannot be seen or tasted, so even in regions that aren’t commonly affected by lead, homeowners should be aware of every precaution at their disposal. What are the Effects of Lead Contamination?Lead has been a major part of industry and various technological advancements in history, but widespread understanding of the harmful effects of lead poisoning didn’t truly occur until the late 1970s. In a paper produced in coordination with the Center for Biological Diversity, Dr. Herbert Needleman describes some of the
Homeowners put so much thought into their home’s interior design, whether they go for French curls and filigree or Mid-Century modern. If you’re a serial redesigner yourself, you feel frustrated when a space just isn’t quite coming together like you’d hoped. Maybe it’s something about the color of the walls, or the lack of natural light, or maybe you can’t quite put your finger on it. Rather than grabbing a paint roller for yet another new coat, maybe it’s time to look at your home from a completely new angle. Many have heard of feng shui in association with interior design as a concept, but most are unaware of the positive effect that it can have on their home. Let’s take a look at the origin of this term and how its concepts can be used to finally make a home come together. What is Feng Shui?Feng shui is an ancient term with roots in Taoism which can loosely be translated as “wind and water.” As this translation might suggest, feng shui teaches that people are directly impacted by their environment, and this environment should be intentionally designed to not disrupt life’s “flow.” There may be some debate as to
You don’t need to be a plumber to spot the early signs. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to check your sinks and toilets for leaks, and potentially save yourself thousands in repairs.
Painting is one of the simplest and most rewarding home projects you can tackle yourself. With just a few supplies and the right shade, you can completely transform a space, whether you’re brightening it with soft neutrals like white, gray, or tan, or making a bold statement with rich, vibrant hues.
Fats, oils, and grease can cause a litany of problems for your city, your environment, and even your pocket book if they aren’t disposed of in the right way.
By Lauren from Allied Van Lines Moving to a new city or state is an exciting adventure, but it can also be stressful. Even after the initial chaos of the move subsides, unpacking and settling in can take a while. Here are some key unpacking strategies to help you feel comfortable and at home in your new place as soon as possible. 1. Pack an Essentials Box for Easy Access One of the most important tips for both packing and unpacking is to create a designated “essentials box.” Before you move, compile a list of items you’ll need right away, including: Clothes for a week Medications and toiletries First-aid kit Chargers for electronics Snacks and drinks Having this box readily available in your car will make the first few days in your new home much smoother. 2. Prioritize Utility Connections and Major Appliances Ensure a smooth transition by scheduling utility connections (electricity, water, internet) well in advance. Ideally, have them turned on before you even arrive. This allows you to focus on unpacking essentials upon arrival. Next, prioritize unpacking and setting up major appliances like the stove, refrigerator, and coffee maker. If you work remotely, prioritize setting up internet access
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all who celebrate! The holiday season is a great opportunity to take some time off from work and enjoy friends and family. While these breaks can certainly have its joyful moments, there’s something about meeting up with friends and family that can lead to an air of chaos. If you’re expecting guests who have a tendency of getting caught in hairy situations, it just might be smart to take a few safety precautions along the way. To ensure a very merry Christmas break, here are a few home safety tips homeowners should keep in mind while weathering the holidays. Monitor Ice and SnowIf you’re expecting a degree of icy or snowy weather throughout the holidays, it may be wise to make some extra efforts to keep your driveway and sidewalks cleared. You may have family members in town who aren’t used to dealing with frosty conditions. Take precautions that no one gets hurt from slipping on unattended patches of ice. With that said, those that may have the impulse of piling on the sidewalk salt or other ice melt solutions should wait and rethink their options. While effective at melting ice, rock salt can
When putting your home on the market, you obviously want to get as much out of the sale as you can. And ideally, you’d like the process to run quickly. Throughout the years, agents, interior designers, and other real estate professionals have searched for the best strategies to make residential transactions move as smoothly as possible, and what they’ve discovered is the fine art of home staging. Home staging is the act of redecorating, cleaning, and designing a home so that buyers can more easily imagine themselves living there. Real estate agents are professionals at accentuating the strengths of a home while bringing any flaws into perspective, and home staging is there to reinforce these efforts through what potential buyers actually see and experience during a tour. According to a National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Research Group’s 2023 Study, 81% of buyers’ agents said that home staging made it easier to visualize the property as their future home. Despite this, many home sellers skip this step in order to save on costs. Since the largest investment most people will make is their home, home staging is well worth the cost and time commitment. 3 Options for Home-StagingHome sellers can go
Managing to keep an entire home clean is no easy task. Between doing the laundry, vacuuming the rugs, cleaning the dishes, and taking out the trash, there are plenty of hours in the day already dedicated to housekeeping. Naturally, things fall through the cracks, and certain items in the home are naturally overlooked. The problem is that certain items that might have been easily cleaned in the past can prove a much more difficult task if neglected for too long. If you are interested in being proactive about keeping your home clean, consider taking another look at these often-ignored home items. Spend Some Extra Time in the KitchenDo people spend a lot of time cleaning their kitchen? Of course they do. Do people still overlook a few areas in their kitchen due to inconvenience or lack of awareness? Absolutely! Kitchens can become one of the grimiest, dirtiest areas in a house if homeowners aren’t consistent about their cleaning habits due to the many kinds of messes and spills that are bound to happen while cooking. It’s when only the surface areas are taken care of that problems begin to pile up. Starting with the dishwasher, some may think that this
We’ve seen people make their homes in all sorts of unique and strange places. From trendy tiny homes to flat-out bizarre spite houses, homeowners seem to have tons of freedom to personalize their spaces into something that is totally unique to them. Owning a home comes with plenty of work, but this ability to remodel, redesign, and remake is one of the things that makes homeownership such a sought-after goal. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why renting can be frustrating. Too many apartments lack character, and many tenants find themselves living in drab, cookie-cutter flats of uninspired architecture. Finding ways to tailor these spaces into something that feels a little more “homey” without making any permanent changes can be tough. The good news is, creative renters have found ways to have fun with decor, even while keeping to their lease agreements. To make your rental yours, here are some transformative, renter-friendly interior design tips. Hang Some Temporary WallpaperThe first step to truly transform the overall look and feel of a room is to figure out what to do with the walls. Landlords tend to prefer keeping their walls in shades that are inoffensive to avoid turning away
When in the market for a new home, there are endless considerations home buyers must think through. Dividing the “must-haves” from the “nice-to-haves” can be difficult, but parents are wise to keep the health of their families a top priority. Buyers can easily feel overwhelmed by the number of dangers and health hazards that demand their attention in purchasing a new home, but one health hazard that both the EPA and the CDC have highlighted as a concern in households is lead contamination. Many families and communities are exposed to the harmful effects of lead through their homes’ drinking water, but they may not be aware of this issue until after experiencing health problems. Lead contaminants within drinking water cannot be seen or tasted, so even in regions that aren’t commonly affected by lead, homeowners should be aware of every precaution at their disposal. What are the Effects of Lead Contamination?Lead has been a major part of industry and various technological advancements in history, but widespread understanding of the harmful effects of lead poisoning didn’t truly occur until the late 1970s. In a paper produced in coordination with the Center for Biological Diversity, Dr. Herbert Needleman describes some of the
Homeowners put so much thought into their home’s interior design, whether they go for French curls and filigree or Mid-Century modern. If you’re a serial redesigner yourself, you feel frustrated when a space just isn’t quite coming together like you’d hoped. Maybe it’s something about the color of the walls, or the lack of natural light, or maybe you can’t quite put your finger on it. Rather than grabbing a paint roller for yet another new coat, maybe it’s time to look at your home from a completely new angle. Many have heard of feng shui in association with interior design as a concept, but most are unaware of the positive effect that it can have on their home. Let’s take a look at the origin of this term and how its concepts can be used to finally make a home come together. What is Feng Shui?Feng shui is an ancient term with roots in Taoism which can loosely be translated as “wind and water.” As this translation might suggest, feng shui teaches that people are directly impacted by their environment, and this environment should be intentionally designed to not disrupt life’s “flow.” There may be some debate as to
