Tag: new homeowner

How to Paint a Home’s Exterior (And When To Hire a Professional)

March 13, 2023

There are so many reasons why people paint their homes. Maybe a room has gotten a bit stale and could use a new color, or nicks and scratches have been compounding the need for some serious TLC. A fresh coat of paint is a great way to solve these aesthetic issues, but paint has many other benefits for a home’s exterior! Good quality paint will help protect homes from the elements, insects, weather, and even wood rot. While a home should never be judged solely on its exterior, a tidy, attractive first impression is crucial for every home sale. Before getting too excited though, there are a few things every homeowner should know when considering a home exterior makeover. Pick the Perfect DayIf you are set on painting your home’s exterior yourself, it’s important to understand what you’re in for. Painting a home is a big job that should start a long before you pick up a brush or roller. Unlike interior jobs, a successful day of painting a home’s exterior is heavily dependent on the weather. Direct sunlight will cause paint to dry more quickly, and certain types of paint will thicken in colder temperatures. In addition, things like

Property Inspections Are Reaching New Heights With Drones

March 6, 2023

When students try to predict their future careers, they face a tall task. More likely than not, their future career probably doesn’t even exist yet! Technology is advancing at a breakneck pace, and as a result, workers are finding themselves in exciting new fields and industry standards are transforming every year. These new technologies give many professions brand new tools which allow them to accomplish things scarcely imagined in the past. In the property inspection industry, a tool that’s finding its way into many inspectors’ tool belts and may be revolutionizing the field is the drone. What Are Drones?Drones are a short-hand name used when referring to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (or UAVs). This general term refers to an incredibly wide range of devices that have been used in various recreational activities, to capture footage for films, and even to perform reconnaissance in warfare. Though they started out as mostly a novelty when made available to the public, drones have quickly become a tool to aid various commercial enterprises. In the field of property inspections, drones are more lightweight than some of their industrial counterparts. Property inspectors are restricted to units weighing under 55 pounds, but most are under three pounds

How To Show Your Home You Care

February 13, 2023

Our homes are always there for us. They keep us warm and dry on rainy nights. They offer a calming retreat after a hard day’s work. Life is busy. Oftentimes, homeowners get caught up with their regular routines, and many helpful home maintenance tasks understandably get forgotten. People do what they need to and rarely much more. Considering everything that our homes do for us, we should take every opportunity to give back! Going above and beyond with home care can extend the lives of crucial systems, and mitigate potential breakdowns. To add to your regular routine, add these home maintenance tasks to show your home you care. Test Your Sump Pump While not every home has a sump pump, these drainage systems are vital to avoid flooding. Located in basements, sump pumps consist of a small basin and a hole which detects water levels. When working properly, these pumps expel water from homes when these levels are too high and redirect floodwaters safely away. Homeowners can test their sump pumps easily by filling a bucket with water and dumping it into the drain. If things aren’t working properly, discovering the issue during one of these controlled tests is certainly

How Zoning Laws Affect Your Home

January 30, 2023

The prospect of becoming a new homeowner is undoubtedly an exciting one. Sure, there are plenty of stressful aspects to consider, but the possibilities floating in homebuyers’ minds can be nearly endless. However, there are some limiting factors that every homeowner should be aware of before starting any ambitious projects on their new properties. Some might be under the impression that they are free to do what they like on their own property, but local governments have long-held zoning laws meant to protect their citizens. To navigate the world of zoning laws with confidence, let’s break down what they are, and how they might change your next home improvement project. What Are Zoning Laws? Zoning laws have a long history stretching back to the early 20th-century as governments outlined the distinction between what property owners could do on their land and what local governments could do to limit those actions. In short, they are rules that dictate what sorts of buildings exist and where they are built. Over time, common standards were developed with the public in mind. For example, zoning laws restrict where industrial buildings can be established. Residential zones are largely protected from being near large production facilities

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

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

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

How to Avoid Unwelcome Household Pests Before They Move In

November 7, 2022

After a long day’s work, your home is where well-deserved rest and recovery takes place. The last thing anyone wants is to share their personal space with an unwanted guest, but the more comfortable your home gets, the more attractive it becomes to pests. According to the US census, approximately 28.8 million households reported seeing either roaches or rodents in their homes in 2019. Even after diligent cleaning and regular house maintenance, pests know how to find a way inside. However, if you follow these few tips, you can ensure that your home remains pest-free. Keep CleanFinding a trail of ants or a mouse in your house doesn’t mean you’re a slob. Bugs and rodents will eat most anything, and usually pests that find their way into a home will break their way into sources of food or water. Still, there are a few cleaning habits and tips you can employ to avoid attracting any unwanted guests. First, don’t leave out any food when it is avoidable. This includes securing bags and boxes, cleaning up spills and crumbs as quickly as possible, and changing pet food regularly. Building these simple healthy habits is the first step to combating pests. It

How to Clean Your Dryer Vent in 3 Easy Steps

July 18, 2022

A hidden fire hazard that’s often overlooked is the threat posed by clogged dryer vents. In fact, clogged dryer vents are the cause of 17,000 house fires each year. However, these fires are completely preventable by clearing your dryer’s ventilation systems on a regular basis as doing so not only helps to prevent fires but improves the efficiency of your dryer as well. Luckily, the process of cleaning your dryer vent is an easy one that does not require the assistance of a professional. Supply Checklist Before we begin, you’ll want to make sure that you have all necessary supplies on hand. All you’ll need is a vacuum cleaner, preferably one with a hose extension piece, and a cleaning brush. For starters, you’ll want to move your dryer away from the wall to locate the dryer vent. This is usually located near the bottom of the machine either in the back or side of the appliance. From there you’ll want to identify the short exhaust pipe to the machine. Finally, you’ll want to ensure that you unplug the appliance for safety purposes. Now that everything is in position, you’re ready to clean the dryer vent. Cleaning Your Machine You can

How to Storm-Proof Your Home from Inclement Weather

May 16, 2022

A bad storm can bring about so many repairs. From broken windows to downed powerlines and trees. All together, these things can quickly add up to be very costly. The best method of defense is to prepare for disaster before it occurs. Prior to storm-proofing your home, you’ll want to consider the types of inclement weather common to the area where you reside (i.e., blizzards in the Midwest versus hurricanes and floods in southern states). Based on that information, it’s easier to prepare for and prevent future issues that are most likely to occur. Warm Weather Problems In warmer climates, it’s more common to have issues resulting from high-wind storms and possible flooding (depending on how far south you live). To help weatherproof your home in these situations, it’s best to start by ensuring the solidity of your roof. Loose shingles are a frequent issue in areas where high windstorms are common. Making sure that you have a roof with a solid foundation is key. This can be accomplished in one of two ways. The best practice is to use a double layer of shingles that are no more than six inches apart, as this will prevent holes from forming