Category: Home Maintenance

Tricky and Easily Overlooked Areas of the Home That You Should Clean Today

September 25, 2023

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

Home Organization Tips for Back To School Season

September 11, 2023

Regardless of the amount of preparation dedicated in advance, heading back to school tends to come as a shock. For families with more than one kid, systems of organization that worked perfectly fine during the summer can unravel quickly once hectic mornings and packed after-school schedules dominate daylight hours. No one wants their home to feel chaotic, and nothing builds up that feeling like disorganized clutter. The best way to combat the seismic shift that accompanies heading back to school is to discover a new rhythm that works for the entire family. Consistency, ease of use, and setting appropriate expectations that the family can keep up in the long term – accomplishing each of these are the keys to developing an efficient home. To avoid that seemingly inevitable shift that turns your home into a disaster zone through the course of the school year, consider adding these organizational tips to your arsenal! Establish a Doable RoutineIn life, some people can find a fondness for spontaneity, taking life by the horns, and pursuing each odd opportunity. For kids, though, this sort of lifestyle will likely create a sense of uncertainty that affects many aspects of their lives. Trying to leave in

The Keys to Assembling a Great House Flipping Team

September 4, 2023

Some of the best must-see reality television today comes from house-flipping shows: seasoned real estate experts find appealing residential properties or fixer-uppers, then transform them into dream homes for a tidy profit. It’s no mystery why these shows are so popular either, as real estate window-shoppers, amateur handymen, and people with an entrepreneurial spirit are all drawn to the home renovation genre. With that said, the average Joe who might be interested in jumping into the house-flipping world should take pause due to the considerable learning curve involved. Anyone who hosts a show on HGTV is going to have vast experience and a top-notch team behind them that can make house flipping look far easier than it really is. To break into the house-flipping world successfully, a person would either need broad experience in real estate and home improvement or (much more realistically) a great team to lean on. If you’re looking into house flipping for supplemental income or a career shift, here’s some of the essential traits you’ll need on your team. What is House Flipping?Before jumping into the deep end, let’s review a few important definitions. Namely, what is house flipping anyway? “House flipping” is a term best

Spiders, Silverfish, and Termites: DIY Solutions for Ridding Your Home of Infestation

August 7, 2023

Many are quick to point out the bad wrap that insects tend to get. Bugs are a part of the diverse and fascinating ecology that lies just outside of our homes, after all, and their roles in pollination and sanitation cannot be overstated. Yes, some have found that the prevailing stigma associated with our many-legged friends to be a tad judgmental and unfair, given their thankless efforts. However, others will contend that while these truths are all well and good, bugs can stay outside of my house and far away from me, thank you very much. Homes can become infested by a wide range of the creepy and crawly-variety. For homeowners who would like to deal with their bug problems now rather than later and would rather not pay a hefty pest control bill, here are a few DIY solutions for dealing with bugs. How to Annihilate AntsAnts are one of the most common home invaders throughout the United States, and they come in many different varieties, from the common pavement ant to the dreaded carpenter ant. Ants aren’t commonly known to bite people like some other bugs (though they can). However, they are known to contaminate food and carry

The Dangers of Lead: How to Make Your Home’s Drinking Water Safe

July 31, 2023

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

Does a House Have to “Pass” Inspection to be Sold?

June 26, 2023

First-time homebuyers face a tall task when they enter into the real estate market. Balancing their budget and finding a neighborhood that fits their family’s needs is enough of a challenge. Learning how to negotiate a fair price and deciding whether their new home is worthy of what is likely the largest investment they’ll ever make can certainly be intimidating. Because of this, sellers and buyers alike may dread waiting for the results of the home inspection with the thought that the report could derail their deal. The truth is, a home inspection is not a pass/fail diagnosis of a property. A home doesn’t have to “pass” an inspection in order for a sale to take place, but rather, a home inspection is an essential overview of a home’s condition at the time of the inspection. No home is perfect, and buyers should always be prepared to discover the maintenance needs of their new homes. To get a better idea of what a home inspection report is and how it prepares buyers for homeownership, let’s discuss the essentials of home inspections. What is a Home Inspection?A home inspection is a non-invasive, visual examination of a home’s key features. Home inspectors

Are Appliances Checked During A Home Inspection?

June 19, 2023

New homeowners and seasoned real estate experts know the value that comes with a home inspection. A home inspection is one of the most important steps in the home-buying process for families that want to ensure a safe and well-maintained house. However, for people that haven’t bought a home before, some of the specifics that go along with a home inspection may seem cloudy. Homebuyers should always feel free to ask their inspector questions about the scale and scope of their home’s inspection to best learn what is and isn’t checked. For those who have just begun their home search, or for those who are curious about the overall guidelines that most home inspectors adhere to, resources like the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors’ (InterNACHI) Standards of Practice can provide more specific detail about what a home inspector does. Home appliances are a major factor in the safety and functionality of a home, of course, so home-buyers are frequently concerned with how much insight they can expect in this area from their home inspection report. To answer the question simply, inspectors do look at most built-in home appliances. However, to learn what does and doesn’t reside within industry requirements,

The Ultimate Guide to Lawn Care Part 2: Dealing with Common Lawn Problems

June 12, 2023

By Kym Preslar, Content Manager of SodLawn Weeds are probably the most common problem that homeowners face when it comes to lawns. Weeds not only make your lawn look unsightly, but they also compete with your grass for nutrients and water, eventually leading to weak and sparse growth. The good news is that there are several ways to control them. You can manually pull them out by hand or use mechanical tools like a weed puller or hoe. Another effective method is using herbicides, but make sure to choose a product that is labeled for your specific weed problem and follow the instructions carefully to prevent damage to your lawn. Pests like ants, grubs, and moles can wreak havoc on your lawn and cause extensive damage if left untreated. You can identify the presence of pests by noticing disturbed soil, tunnels, or patches of yellow or brown grass. To control pests, a multi-pronged approach is recommended. You can use natural repellents like garlic or pepper spray, set traps or baits, or apply insecticides. However, it’s important to note that some insecticides can harm beneficial insects, like bees, so use them sparingly and with caution. Lawn diseases can be caused by

The Ultimate Guide to Lawn Care Part 1: Tips for a Healthy and Beautiful Yard

June 6, 2023

By Kym Preslar, Content Manager of SodLawn There’s just something about a well-manicured lawn that gives a property that special touch. A beautiful lawn not only adds curb appeal, but it can also increase the value of your property. Achieving a healthy and beautiful lawn, however, is not as simple as mowing the grass every other week. It takes effort and the right know-how to get that perfectly lush and green yard you’ve always wanted. In this ultimate guide to lawn care, we’ll give you tips and tricks that will help you achieve a lawn that will make your neighbors green with envy! Whether you’re a new or seasoned homeowner, this guide covers everything you need to know to achieve a healthy and beautiful lawn. Understanding Your LawnYour lawn is the centerpiece of your home’s outdoor space, and it deserves the utmost attention and care to look its best. Understanding your lawn is the first step to achieving a lush, green oasis right in your backyard. Different Types of GrassesDid you know that there are more than 10,000 varieties of grasses? Choosing the right grass for your lawn is an essential step in maintaining a healthy lawn. The most common

Home Maintenance Items to Prioritize After Your Inspection

May 22, 2023

Home inspectors and other real estate professionals know the truth that every new homebuyer will have to swallow: no home is perfect. Each house has a unique array of attractions and eye-catching features sure to draw in families. At the same time, there isn’t a home that doesn’t have its share of warts or bruises as well. Your local home inspector is the key to identifying building and property maintenance issues while keeping the weight of each concern in perspective. To review the differences between which features should be addressed as soon as possible and which can be put off until later on, here are your home maintenance priorities post-inspection. How Is the Condition of the Roof? One of the top priorities of every new homeowner should be to understand the condition of their roof. Roofing is considered one of the main cornerstones of home systems for a few reasons. The roof is the home’s primary defense against weather and the elements. Without solid integrity, leaks are just the start of a slew of problems including the potential for mold and energy inefficiency. All roofs have a natural lifespan until shingles begin deteriorating beyond the point of serving their use.