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Maintenance Minutes: How To Locate Your Valve Shutoffs

January 16, 2023

Each home is made up of a few key systems that every homeowner should be aware of. When needing to make a repair or renovations, knowledge of these systems will certainly come in handy. In the case of emergencies, it is even more important to familiarize yourself with these key systems before you need to act quickly. Water leaks have the potential to result in thousands of dollars in damage, and gas leaks can be even more dangerous. If you don’t know already, here are some quick tips for how to locate valve shutoffs for both your water line and your gas line. Locating Your Water Line Water lines run throughout houses, and their locations can vary considerably from house to house. One great way to set yourself in the right direction is to locate your water meter outside of your home. Near your front lawn or by the curb of your home, you should first locate the meter “box,” which can usually be identified by a dark-colored metal or plastic covering. Following that in a direct line to your house, you should find a circular water meter, likely also in your lawn. Your water shutoff valve should be located

How To Reclaim Your Junk Room

January 9, 2023

Every homeowner has a problem room. Whether it is their garage, their attic space, or their basement, the increasing pace of life has demanded we develop a go-to area for things that don’t have a designated space at the moment. We’ll get to it later, for now, let’s just store it in the closet, or the spare bedroom. This phenomenon has come to be known as the dreaded “junk room.” Quickly, a junk room’s original intent has been stretched beyond recognition and you’ve got a mess on your hands. The anxiety that you get from thinking about that task is natural, and probably a little too familiar. Don’t worry though! Rather than focusing on the difficulty of the task, imagine how satisfying it will be to reclaim the space. Now is the time to commit yourself to reorganizing your disaster space. Lay Out Your Plan Depending on the size of the job on your hands, the planning stage becomes increasingly important. See past the mess and envision the potential of the space in front of you. Do you want to revert the space into something similar to its original intention, or do you want to reinvent it? You don’t need

Home Maintenance Tasks You Should Add To Your 2023 Resolutions

January 2, 2023

Every new year, people rack their brains about what their New Year’s Resolution should be. Should I make it a goal to lose weight this year? Should I spend more time with my family? Maybe read more? Get more organized? Personal resolutions are great, and this time period is a great opportunity to make moves toward self improvement. However, it seems that too many people are missing an opportunity to make a resolution related to almost definitely their most valuable fiscal investment: their home. This year, resolve to take better care of your home by practicing good home maintenance! Your home works hard to take good care of you, return the favor by starting with these simple steps. Know Your Home An easy way to start off with home maintenance is to make sure you set aside between 1% and 4% of your home’s value for home maintenance. Some call this the “Home Maintenance Rule of Thumb,” this is meant to be an easy-to-follow budgeting strategy to make sure home maintenance tasks aren’t neglected. These smaller maintenance tasks will save you money in the long run, as you avoid the more costly breakdowns that can occur without regular maintenance. With

The Latest Interior Design Trends For 2023

December 26, 2022

The world of interior design is a constant ebb and flow. Some styles can break through the revolving wheel of trends, but most have to wait their turn for their time in the sun. Which styles are predicted to make a resurgence in 2023, and which ones seem to be on their way out? Brush off your toolbelt DIYers, 2023 just might be your year. Life In Sepia-Tone For years, home decor has been widely monotone and modern. This hyper-intellectual, minimalist design is on track to take a backseat this year – and it’s about time. Finally, color is starting to creep its way back into interior design. Potentially influenced by work-from-home lifestyle changes, homeowners seemingly are being drawn towards warmer colors, and reintegrating comforting, personality-driven tones back into the home. Design experts are expecting warm reds and oranges to dominate the space, and for gold to be a primary embellishment tone. Of note, beige and other brown shades may be the go-to neutral to replace the ever-present grays of past years. With these warm tones, homeowners are looking to make their homes cozier, departing from the more sterile, style popular prior to 2020. While color is moving back into

Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Roof (and Your Home)

December 19, 2022

Due to rising concerns surrounding roof integrity during this time of the year, we thought it would be best to review some basic roof maintenance tasks that every homeowner should incorporate into their home maintenance routines. For much of North America, winter brings serious additional stress onto roofs as snow builds. This next year, resolve to provide proper roof care by following these essential tips. Protect Your Shingles The shingles are the attribute that most people first think of when picturing their roofs. Healthy, well-maintained shingles can go a long way to transform the overall attractiveness of a home, but many homeowners do not realize the perils their shingles face. Each season presents its own hazards that can lead to shingle damage. From Summer heat that can cause crackling, curling, and tearing, to degradation from moisture in Winter snows or during thunderstorms, shingles go through the ringer throughout the year. Protecting shingles is about more than just appearances, though, as they put in major work protecting homes from the elements. If a roof’s shingles have suffered through considerable wear-and-tear, homes are much more susceptible to leaks and other forms of water damage. Watch For Water Damage Homeowners should regularly monitor

Pet-Proofing Your Home for the Holidays

December 12, 2022

The holiday season marks a unique time of the year. Storefronts light up with Christmas cheer and nostalgic music fills the air as we all rush off to find that perfect gift. Unfortunately, pet owners can often get left behind in the festivities. Furry friends work to tear homes apart while simultaneously endangering themselves in the new stimulating surroundings. Too often, pet owners choose to opt out of holiday decorations rather than deal with rambunctious cats or dogs. This season, here are a few options to consider reentering the holiday with pet-safe decorations. Secure The Right Tree Central to any Christmas-celebrating home is the Christmas Tree. There are fabulous variations on the tradition, and oftentimes families have their own preferred rituals involving how and when to decorate their tree. Adding a cat or dog into the picture can throw a considerable wrench into the process, however, as habits need to be adjusted in the best interest of protecting decorations, and keeping pets safe. Although there is some debate on which type of tree presents the fewest hazards, artificial trees ultimately introduce fewer toxins into the household. Still, artificial trees can drop plastic pieces that are harmful if ingested. For the

Correctly Choosing a Live Christmas Tree

December 5, 2022

Despite artificial trees being a common option for most people, live trees are still very popular. Around 30 million live trees are sold each year at tree farms. They’re a nice touch for those that want a more authentic holiday feel. If you’ve been thinking about picking out a live tree for your celebration, here’s what you need to know to find the right one. Pick Out a Spot at HomeBefore you head to the lot to chop down your tree, be certain you can actually get it in your home first. While movies like Christmas Vacation and Elf make fun of picking out a comically large Tannenbaum, in reality they can be a headache. You may end up having to drastically trim it down and be left with a pile of twigs as opposed to a pristine pine. Pick out where you want to place your new tree, and measure the area on the floor and the distance between the floor and ceiling. You’ll also want to be sure you have an adequate stand for the tree to keep it from tipping over. (To prevent your tree from going up in a blaze of glory, keep it away from

6 Great Gifts For First-Time Homeowners

November 28, 2022

Now that Thanksgiving is firmly in the rearview mirror, season’s greetings! Happy holidays! Merry Christmas! It’s the season of giving, and for your family or friends that have gifted themselves their first homes, now is the perfect time to get them something to help them in their home-owning journey. Becoming a rookie homeowner can be difficult, so congratulate your loved ones with one of these essential housewarming gifts (that they will absolutely thank you for). Tool “Starter” KitJust because someone is a first-time homeowner, does not necessarily mean they aren’t “handy.” However, until someone is forced to buy a tool set for regular repairs and maintenance, they usually won’t. Rather than continuing to rely on a friend or family member to borrow tools as the need arises, any new homeowner in your life will greatly appreciate a basic tool starter kit or drill set of their own. In comparison to living in an apartment, home ownership naturally leads to much more personal responsibility to make repairs. While other gifts might be more flashy, nothing will be more appreciated in the long run than a simple tool set. Yard GearWhile we are on the subject of basic tools and maintenance, a

4 Ways To Keep Warm This Winter (Without Touching the Thermostat)

November 21, 2022

Days are getting shorter, and accompanying that plummeting winter breeze is our annual heating bill homecoming. Homeowners are always looking for ways to cut down on expenses, so for this holiday season, save a bit of goodwill for yourself! Here are four ways to keep warm for the holidays – without touching the thermostat. 1. Daylight SavingsAutumn and winter can mark a significant shift in your energy usage. There might be less sunlight to go around, but that doesn’t mean what’s left has to go to waste. Open your curtains and let as much sun into your home as possible to take advantage of this natural heat source. South-facing windows, in particular, have the greatest potential to benefit from winter sun beams, so do your best to capture this free advantage during daylight hours. Remember, while opening your curtains and blinds will help to capture heat during the day, it will do the opposite once the sun sets. Closing your curtains at night will be the best way to retain that daytime heat and reduce dropping temperatures from nighttime chills. 2. Plugging LeaksIcy breezes are relentless. Anyone who has opened an outer door on a particularly crisp morning knows how

4 Things That Can Go Wrong With Your Chimney

November 14, 2022

As the weather gets colder, there are some things to consider before starting that first fire. Chimneys are a too-often neglected home amenity, and there are a few hazards homeowners should be aware of. For a warm and safe holiday season, here are a few things about your chimney that you might want to check in on. ObstructionsThe National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that chimneys be inspected every year, and for good reason! Apart from just ensuring that your chimney is performing as intended, a neglected chimney can result in dangerous house fires or toxic smoke inhalation. A chief factor that can cause these issues is an obstruction within the chimney flue. Any number of obstructions can become dangerous hazards to homeowners. Twigs and leaves can gather, acting as additional kindling, and animals can commonly get stuck inside a chimney flue while searching for warmth or shelter. Depending on your local wildlife, some of the most common animals found in chimneys in North America include raccoons, bats, cats, squirrels, and birds (whose nests also act as additional fire-starters). CreosoteThe interior of a chimney can reach heats of above 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of this, keeping your chimney clear of