When you're in the process of buying or building a home, you're constantly researching trends and technology that will set your home apart. Fast forward a few years and you probably don't have your finger on the pulse of home advancements like before. It's good you've settled in to your home, but a lot can change in just a handful of years. If you're finally thinking about finishing the basement, updating the kitchen or investing in landscaping, there's probably a lot of new processes and Continue Reading ...
Does Your Door Lock Protect?
Does Your Door Lock Protect Against This Break-in Method? From self-driving cars to Snapchat, digital technology continues to transform almost every aspect of our lives. While these big-ticket smart items make the headlines, many homeowners are more interested in how smart technology can be used to increase their level of home security. Today, advanced image sensors, indoor video cameras and DIY security hubs allow the average homeowner to install security systems that are directly linked Continue Reading ...
Turn Your Empty Attic Into New Living Space
Turn Your Empty Attic Into New Living Space With 3 Smart Moves When your family outgrows your home's available space, moving to bigger digs isn't always the best option. Maybe you really love your current home. Perhaps you can't find a bigger home in your price range in the area of your choice. Whatever your reason for staying in place, expanding the home you already have can be a cost-effective option when your family needs more room. Converting an unused attic into usable living area is Continue Reading ...
Top Energy-Efficient Housing Features Every New Homebuyer Should Know
Most Americans want an energy-efficient home, and they're willing to make the necessary changes to help improve efficiency, whether it's changing their habits or buying more energy-efficient appliances. But reducing energy bills and making your home more efficient doesn't just begin with remembering to switch off lights in empty rooms or paying top-dollar for newer appliances. "Energy efficiency has to start when a home is being built," says Kevin Clayton, CEO of manufactured home builder Continue Reading ...
Helping First-Time Home Buyers Get From ‘I Can’t’ To ‘I Can’
Finally! The economy is improving, interest rates are low and many consumers now find themselves in a great position financially to become a first-time homeowner. There's a small problem though for some locations around the country - the booming real estate market is resulting in rising home prices and increased competition for the most desirable properties. The S&P/Case-Shiller national home-price index recently estimated that 2016 prices are within four percent of the peak in 2006. In Continue Reading ...
Urban Forests Making Cities Healthier
40 Years Of Urban Forests Making Cities Healthier, Safer, Happier Apple computers, the rock band U2, "Rocky" and two national football teams - of all the things that turn 40 in 2016, none have transformed the American landscape as definitively and beautifully as the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA program. Since its inception with partners from the National Association of State Foresters and the United States Forest Service in 1976, the program has supported and recognized tree Continue Reading ...
Safety and Maintenance Checks
Quick Summertime Safety and Maintenance Checks With summertime being here, there’s regular maintenance we should be doing on our homes to keep it’s value up. Many of these maintenance checks involve safety around the home and yard. You can do the following checks; it should take you a short period of time to ensure a summer of fun and safety. No one likes unexpected repair bills that could have been avoided with regular maintenance. inspect your kids playground for loose Continue Reading ...
Creepy Crawlspaces
Creepy crawlspaces are under most of our homes. I love the show Dirty Jobs, so I started a business doing one. Home inspecting is dirty work sometimes. Don’t always assume it’s safe to go into your crawlspace without protective clothing. I recommend a full covering coverall. This covers your head, neck and feet. I also suggest wearing gloves to protect your hands and a protective mask. In these pictures, I came across animal droppings that had been there a while. Also, bugs – cover your Continue Reading ...
Spring Maintenance
Keep up with spring maintenance by taking a few simple steps. Check for the following: Check for damage to your roof. Check the fascia and trim for damage (this is the board behind your gutter). Have an HVAC professional inspect and maintain your system as recommend by your unit’s manufacturer. Check your water heater for leaks and rust. Check your fire extinguishers. Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter. Repair all cracked, broken and uneven driveway and Continue Reading ...
7 Simple Steps For Summer Lawn Prep
If you're a part of the nearly 90 percent of Americans who believe it's important to have a well-maintained yard, you and your backyard will appreciate these seven simple steps for tending to your natural turf lawn with minimal effort. According to Grass Seed USA, a coalition of American grass seed farmers and academics, investing a little repair time in early spring and a small amount of maintenance time in summer will pay off with a lush lawn ready for all your summer Continue Reading ...
