7 TIPS TO PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED DURING HOME RENOVATIONS

You set your sights on your dream house renovations this year, but the problem is you do not know where and how to start. You are not alone because several homeowners go into the entire process clueless of what to expect. It is only at the end of the project and has suffered through renovation mishaps that you regret not planning for it. This article will help you prepare for the unexpected when you push through with your home remodeling.

Why Renovate Your Home

Homeowners always want to have their homes in tip-top shape. It is not surprising that many of them prefer to have home renovations for several reasons. If you are thinking of the whys of home improvements, you can continue reading to find out.

Increase Your Enjoyment or Comfort of Your House

Your comfort and enjoyment are your top priorities. However, you may have overlooked these factors because your ultimate desire is to increase your home’s future sales price. If it is your primary reason, you will end up living in a showroom and not a home. You can design your house improvements around your comfort and enjoyment.

Correct a Safety Issue

You cannot put off home renovation projects that involve roof leaks, electrical problems, or foundation cracks. Fixing them can prevent catastrophic loss and keep you and your family safe.

Boost Your Home’s Value

You can plan on renovating your home if you wish to sell it in a few years. You may decide to update the bathroom or kitchen, replace the front door, and open up the primary living space.

Enhance Your House’s Function

Your growing family may need a second bathroom or more living space to make life easier for everyone. You may prefer to have a patio or deck for outdoor entertaining. Renovating can help increase home functions; as long as your planned upgrades do not decrease usable space or hurt the home’s value.

Make the Home More Efficient

Your house may need added insulation, a heat pump, or new windows. Some improvements reduce energy costs. Efficient homes attract more buyers if you wish to sell yours because they know that these fixtures will lower their electricity costs once they live in your house.

Refurbish Your Home’s Style

An outdated home is less attractive to buyers. Some homeowners decide to update their home’s style on a whim, but you can opt for timeless styles that evoke sophistication.

Prepare the Home for Selling

If your primary goal is to sell your home, you must make the appropriate choices to make it more saleable. Your upgrades must add value and fix any functional or cosmetic issues. You may choose neutral colors to prepare your home for resale.

Preparing for the Unexpected in Home Renovations

Home renovations are expensive, messy, and time-consuming. You may face an unexpected setback that will increase the remodeling costs even higher. These problems can put a big dent in your budget and cause you headaches. As a homeowner, what will you do these problems creep up? Here are the top seven tips to help you.

Ask for Recommendations and Have Rules

Setting and sticking to your budget is vital, and you must tell your contractor that you do not have any wiggle room. You may talk to them about your expectations. It may be challenging to find a contractor, so you must ask for recommendations from friends, family, neighbors, and local real estate agents. You must ask about the contractor’s experience, costs, and timelines.

Create a Plan and Set a Buffer

Remodeling projects tend to go over budget because homeowners change their minds or do not know what to do when unexpected issues arise. You must have at least a 10% contingency fund in your budget for emergencies. Moreover, you must know what you want and relate it to your contractor for a closer estimate of costs before construction begins.

Be Prepared

A 20% – 30% buffer on top of the final bid can avoid any budgetary issues. Setting an unachievable low-budget project will only force your contractor to cut costs that may cause the quality to suffer.

Include Benchmarks

Homeowners must have clear timetables for each project step and add them into the contractor’s standard contract. You must ensure that your contractor follows them and penalize them if they fail to meet the schedules.

Be Patient and Disciplined

If you plan to have home renovations, you must ask for bids from three contractors and add them to get the total cost. Some contractors want to get you as a client, but a lack of discipline and patience can result in many issues. You must create a well-defined scope of work, pick a reputable contractor, choose the specifications or materials upfront, and you may reduce the cost by one-third. You will only add two bids to compute the total amount of money you must spend on your project.

Be Definite

Home renovations will cost more than the original contractor’s quote; thus, you must be specific about your requirements. The contract must include everything you want, including the materials. Buying an expensive tile may cause you thousands of dollars more. Moreover, you must be confident about your decisions to avoid adding minor projects along the way that can delay completion and increase costs.

Research, Plan and Minimize Changes

Home improvements require appropriate preparation. If you do not prepare for it, you will experience financial pain and heartache. It is better to spend time on research and planning. Common issues include no-show subcontractors, price fluctuation for materials, city code surprises, and omissions. You must know your preferred materials and reduce the changes you want midstream because they will be your source of budget busters.

Final Thoughts

Whatever your reason for home renovation, you must prepare for the unexpected occurrences that may wreak havoc on your project and budget. However, with the tips highlighted in this article, you can better prepare for any issue or problem.

About the Author

Charlie Svensson is one prolific and engaging freelance writer providing an assignment writing service service for Essaymama. He is fast becoming a favorite because of his skills in blogging and content writing. Charlie writes about education, marketing, motivation blogging, social media, SEO, and self-growth. He can adapt his skills in writing a case study efficiently to reach diverse audiences.

TIPS ON HOW TO BUILD YOUR DREAM HOUSE

Tips on How to Build Your Dream House

Building a dream home is the feat of a lifetime. After all, you are meant to start off with a mere cornerstone and end with the place where you will likely spend the rest of your life. This might sound like a daunting concept, and indeed the very process can be grueling and challenging on a deeply personal level, but the end result is definitely worth it. That being said, this hardship can be ameliorated at least a little bit with these tips on how to build your dream house.

Choose The Right Place

Melbourne is one of the most coveted urban areas in Australia and everybody would like, ideally, to build their ultimate home within the city limits of Melbourne or Sydney or Brisbane. However, you should keep your expectations realistic and choose the best lot for the most opportune price.

Even if it’s a bit far off from downtown, it will still be a short car ride away. Your priority is the quality of the ground and the quality of the neighborhood. It’s always smart to go for the calmer environment that leaves enough “breathing space” for cultivating lush greenery.

Prioritize Spending On Professionals

Expensive materials are all fine and dandy but the structural integrity of your household mostly depends on the quality of hands that build them. Thankfully, Melbourne boasts a lot of experience contractors in nearly every field of construction, so finding the responsible and reliable professionals should not be that hard.

Your greatest tool in this regard is the internet browser – it gives you convenient access to rich information as well as customer reviews and discussion forums you can sift through to find the exact building contractors you need.

Security Is Everything

When the lot turns into a construction site, security is everything. Most workers will be insured, but you should be adamant about them wearing all the necessary protection – like helmets, worker gloves and fire-resistant uniforms – as well as to utilize the benefits of crane hire from Melbourne. These cutting-edge cranes are mobile and modular in a way that makes the building process both safer and quicker.

In addition, you should definitely be in contact with the manager of each of the hired contracted building companies and insist that each piece of electrical equipment used is checked and maintained throughout the process. It protects both workers on your plot and the aforementioned structural integrity of your house.

Be There Every Day But Don’t Intervene Too Much

However, you should be fully aware of that fine line between meddling with business you do not fully comprehend and managing the construction of your dream home. For starters, it would be smart if either you or some other family member could afford to visit the construction site at least once a day for an hour or two. This will keep some of the slower workers on their toes and it will convince them how much you care about the construction.

However, you should avoid any sort of excessive meddling. You can offer your helping hand but don’t insist on it. Remember – you are not the professional constructor, and even if you are, the fact that you have contracted workers to do this job for you should be respected. If you trust your own judgment when you’re hiring professionals from around Melbourne, you should get what you bargained for.

Size Matters

Of course, as the layout of your home is drawn, you should make sure it accommodates the number of household residents it will hold, or potentially might hold, but don’t be overindulgent! Two extra rooms that basically have no function is square space wasted, and you should keep in mind the fact that you’ll have to pay considerably higher bills and mortgage payments.

In addition, going with the functional size of the household equates to green thinking – as you will be going out of your way to reduce your energy/carbon footprint. Of course, going for ENERGY STAR mode as you look at water and electricity saving technologies and appliances also pays off in the long run.

Finally, as you get into the process of building your first home, you have to be prepared for numerous goofs. Such endeavor goes through a lot of trial and error, and despairing over every single setback can make matters exponentially worse in the long run. Just stay flexible throughout the process and approach ever problem, predictable or not, with a sense of resolve. The vision of your dream house you are trying to reach should be enough of a motivator.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

HOW TO REMOVE CLUTTER FROM YOUR YARD

HOW TO REMOVE CLUTTER FROM YOUR YARD

Many home owners notice that their yard never looks as they imagined it would. That’s because it’s not neat and there’s always clutter in the yard that makes it look less than what it could be, even if your plants are all doing rather well.

There are ways to fix this problem and return your yard to its true glory. This doesn’t require that much work or that much investment, if you discount the work that you’ll need to put in. However, making sure your garden is clean will be a long-term job.

THROWING THINGS OUT

The first step may seem like a rather simple one, but it’s the one that will take the most work and the most planning. You should start by throwing out everything in your yard that isn’t actually used. It’s possible to hire professional junk removal from Sydney if there are a lot of items that you need to throw away at once.

It’s important to be strict with this and to throw away just everything that isn’t supposed to be there, regardless of how old it is and whether it could be useable at some point.

SHED

There are many tools that you’ll need to maintain your yard and most of them are used seasonally, which means that storing them until they are needed becomes a problem of its own. That’s why some yards have a pile of tools laying in a corner somewhere until they are actually used.

It’s best to avoid this by setting up a small shed. That’s both better looking and it will keep the tools useable for a longer period of time, simply by hiding them from the elements. The sheds could be pre-made and installed in a yard within hours.

PRUNING

A lot of the times, the yard isn’t crowded and ill designed at all – it’s just not maintained as it should be. Plants grow faster in the summer and they could quickly overtake your yard if they aren’t pruned and maintained on a regular basis.

It’s best not to wait for the plants to grow, but to have a schedule for pruning and mowing the lawn that you’ll stick to regardless of how grown the plants are at any moment. The same goes for watering, which should be done on the schedule based on what plants you are planting.

GARBAGE

The yard needs to have at least a few garbage bins and recycling cans. You’ll end up using them more often than you think and it’s best to always have one nearby. However, these cans don’t look that nice, especially if you’re going for a clean look for your yard.

There are ways to hide them, that will still keep the recycling accessible and easy to organize, but won’t damage the overall look and feel of the yard. The cans could be painted green and hidden behind bushes or within wooden and decorative containers, for instance.

Yards can easily get crowded and cluttered if they are not maintained properly and with care. This can make even the most beautiful of yards look bad and it can easily be avoided with a little bit of work and a little bit of planning.

The work starts with throwing away all the things that are laying in your yard and that shouldn’t be there. It’s also important to have a storage area for the yard alone, since you’ll need a lot of tools and you need a place to store them away. The yard should also have plenty of recycling bins but they could be hidden not to spoil the overall look.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A GAS PIPE LEAK IN YOUR HOUSE

Natural gas is commonly used in households for kitchen and heating purposes however, one of the major threats is a gas pipe leakage in the house which can be extremely dangerous and even fatal in some cases. In most countries, gas is used as the essential energy resource for water boilers and kitchen needs.

Natural gas is also relatively cleaner, cheaper, and produces abundant heat for different purposes. People use gas stoves, boilers, heaters, and much more appliances that use natural gas. Natural gas is safe to use but you have to be careful to avoid any unfortunate incident.

Some of the commonly used gas appliances at home are:

Fireplaces
Furnaces
Grills
Water Heaters
Backup Generators
Gas ovens
Laundry Dryers
Outdoor Lights
Pool Heaters
Space Heaters

These appliances are commonly used by people in everyday life and are not a big threat but you must ensure that you are using these appliances correctly to avoid any leaks.

Dangers and Causes of a Gas Leak

If not detected on time, a gas leak can be fatal and cause huge losses. A gas leak can even burn down your entire house if not controlled on time. Following are the potential risks associated with a gas leak:

Adverse health effects
Accidental fire
Explosion
Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning
Death

Natural gas must be treated carefully as it can be dangerous which is why it is suggested to keep children out of reach. Natural gas is extremely inflammable and even the slightest spark can cause a huge fire. Some of the common causes of gas leaks are:

Faulty appliances, like boilers or ovens
Loosely fitted gas pipes
Poor Appliance Maintenance
Appliance Malfunctions
Damaged gas pipes
An unattended stove that’s been left turned on
Damaged gas cylinder
Fitting and Connection Issues

Ways to Reduce the Risk of a Gas Pipe Leak in Your House

1. Installing a Carbon Monoxide Detector

Due to incorrectly fitted appliances or other reasons, there can be a gas leak at any point in your house. One way to reduce the risk of leakage is by installing a carbon monoxide detector at your home.

Any appliance that burns fuel can produce carbon monoxide which is extremely hazardous for health. The carbon monoxide detector is just like a smoke detector that can be installed at your house. You must place a carbon monoxide detector in every room where there is a gas/ fuel-burning appliance.

Before installing the detector, carefully read the instructions mentioned. Do not place the detector near the fireplace or any flame-producing area. Make sure the alarm is placed in an area that is audible in the entire house.

2. Inspecting the Vents on Your Appliances

The vents on your appliances can get clogged with dust and fumes and must be cleaned regularly. Uncleansed or blocked vents can accumulate gas inside which can cause an accident. To avoid any accumulation of gas in vents, you must inspect all your appliances regularly to make sure they are operating normally. You should check chimneys, flues, and vents of all appliances.

3. Check the Ventilation of the Rooms

Ventilation of the house is extremely important especially for the rooms where there are gas appliances. If you are using gas heaters in a room for heating purposes make sure the room is well ventilated.

Ventilation should be carried out for at least 30 minutes daily so that there is no threat of gas accumulation in the room.

4. Hire a Professional Team to Check for Leaks in Your Gas Pipes

Using natural gas is safe if the fittings are done correctly by professionals. However, to avoid any unfortunate incident you must get professionals to check the gas pipes at your house. If it has been a long since you got the pipes installed, you must get them thoroughly checked by a team of professionals so they can suggest to you what to do next.

In case of broken or damaged pipes, you may be asked to completely repair them. Make sure you get an inspection and a Gas Safety Certificate. Whatever is your case, getting the pipes checked regularly for leaks is essential to avoid any unfortunate incident. Avoid calling your local plumber in case of gas leaks and only go for licensed gas professionals.

5. Educate yourself With the Symptoms of a Gas Piping Leak

You must also be aware enough of the gas situation at home to avoid any trouble. Learn about the symptoms and what to do in an emergency situation to help protect yourself and your loved ones. Having a basic knowledge of gas maintenance is important to avoid any dangerous situation.

The problem with natural gas is that it is odorless and colorless hence you cannot detect it with the naked eye initially. However, there are a few symptoms that you can observe to detect a gas leakage. Some of the early symptoms of gas leakage at home are:

Nausea
Headache
Dizziness
Confusion
Exhaustion
Rapid breathing

Other symptoms include discoloration of plants due to carbon monoxide leakage and rotten egg smell. If there is a gas leakage or a threat of leakage:

Turn off the gas supply at the source, usually a gas meter
Do not light a match and avoid turning on any light, as electrical circuits can cause a spark
Open all of the doors and windows to ventilate the space
Immediately evacuate the building and inform others as well.
Call the emergency to resolve the matter and do not enter the building until the matter is resolved.

Beware of Gas Pipe Leaks During Home Remodeling

You must be careful before thinking of renovating your house or breaking any wall. You may block the gas pipelines or even damage them unknowingly which can cause a huge problem at your house. Before making any changes, first, consult a professional engineer who can guide you about the pipelines and how to save yourself from any unfortunate incident.

Moreover, always consult licensed professionals before construction so that your pipelines are fixed correctly. Also, avoid planting any trees or shrubs near the gas source.

Guest Contributor: Arslan Hassan

YOU MUST AVOID THESE 4 AMATEUR UPHOLSTERY MISTAKES

The easiest way to transform the interiors of your house is to upgrade the furniture. But isn’t that a tad too expensive?

What if I tell you that you can do exactly that but without carving a hole in your pocket?

Reupholstery is an effective way to revamp your house and get rid of your old and worn out furniture. You can find professional upholsterers who can help you redesign the interiors of your house or take on a DIY project. While professionals bring you years of expertise and the right tools, DIY is somewhat a challenge. Either way, you will be able to get an upgrade at a fraction of the price you would have spent on purchasing new furniture.

There are a number of Youtube videos that can help you but it is not as easy as it seems. While they can assist you gear up for the job, the techniques and suggestions shared are sometimes inconsistent which leads to mistakes. Don’t worry! We will help you.

Here are some common amateur upholstery mistakes that you must avoid.

USE THE RIGHT TOOLS

The first step to upholstery is getting the right tools for the job. The most common rookie mistake is using the wrong tools. While purchasing the necessary tools may seem an expense but it will be worth it. In other words, you need a staple remover to reupholster otherwise you will end up doing the job in double the time. So, prioritize – time is more important for you or a little money.

To put things into perspective, just like any other DIY project, why do you want to use a sword when you have a gun?

COMPROMISING THE QUALITY

Restoring the interiors of the house is always exciting. We all want our house to look presentable. While reupholstery is an effective alternative to purchasing expensive furniture, there are several things you need to take when taking up this job. One of which is ensuring that you do not compromise the quality.

Chiefly, the purpose of upholstering is to make your room and furniture look the best wherever it is placed. Most people fall into the trap of budgeting and end up compromising the quality of the fabric. In the end, you should understand that the whole purpose of upholstery is to renew your old furniture. And you do not want to do that with poor quality fabric.

While being economical is something that we will not hold against you as in most circumstances it works best, it is not the best option in this case. In other words, when you are restoring your old furniture, you do not want low quality fabrics which will not hold their ground in a few years. Then what is even the point of upholstering? Low quality fabrics lose color and get worn out easily. That means for a little more money, you can purchase premium fabric which will make you design your dream furniture without any hassles.

DO NOT FALL FOR TRENDS

In an attempt to remain updated with the latest trends in the world of furniture and interior design, do not go overboard with unwanted items. Simple is the new beautiful. Sober is the way forward, so do not overburden yourself with over the top items. Instead, reupholster your furniture and suit it with the style that suits you.

Most people get overwhelmed with the trending designs and try to replicate it in their homes. That does not always work well. Rather it is best to go with what you like and what resonates with your personality. This will help you create a timeless decor that you always wanted.

LIVING ON FALSE HOPE

There is one thing worse than losing good furniture is keeping it even after it has worned out a little too much. There is no point trying to prolong the life of already dying furniture. You are just wasting your time and effort on something that just won’t work. If not today, it will die tomorrow. You must realise that they have finally reached the end of their useful life.

Also, avoid purchasing furniture from garage sales or thrift stores. There is a reason why they were being sold at those places in the first place. Which is precisely why you must avoid the upholstery mistake of trying to make them look presentable. But if you do want to purchase it from such places, begin by thoroughly inspecting the used piece before you invest too much in revitalizing it.

Do not just skim through the surface of the furniture but take a hard look at its underside. If you see something wobbling and dangling, the best thing to do is to avoid putting down any money for the purchase. Instead, in that case it is better to invest and purchase new furniture.

CONCLUSION

If you enjoy upholstery and want to practise restoring your old furniture, you must avoid the aforementioned mistakes. We do not want you to make such costly mistakes. Precisely why we drafted this guide. In case, if your DIY project seems too much, you can always have professionals help you with it. Rest assured, your house will look as elegant as you wanted it to be. Isn’t that all what you want?

So, do not settle for factory grade material when you can make your own and that too at a fraction of the cost.

Share with us your experience in the comment section below.

ANNUAL DRAIN CLEANING

Like everything else in your life, you need to maintain your plumbing drains. It’s recommended that you are constantly checking drains for clogs, back ups, broken pipes, anything that could lead to a back up in your pipes. We recommend if you have plumbing work done such as rodding your clean out, have it rodded yearly around the same time each year to prevent back ups from occurring. It’s always best to prevent a back-up than having a back-up and it turns into an emergency.

Although we suggest calling us back out again to take care of your potential stressful situation, there are a few different ways you can maintain your plumbing at home by yourself.

1. Watch What You Flush

Realistically, nothing is supposed to go down your toilet drain other than toilet paper and your own waste. You should never flush things down your drain that aren’t meant to be put down there. Over time, flushing things down your drain is going to cause build up and eventually lead to a clogged sewer line which is a stressful situation. Things like feminine hygiene products, Q-tips, plastic, wrappers, “flushable” wipes, baby wipes, food/grease, can all cause a back up and eventually they will cause one, whether it’s sooner or later, it’s not going to be good. Avoid having to call a plumber to rod your toilet by refraining from dumping things in the toilet and instead putting a trash can in the bathroom for all garbage you might have.

2. You Can Check With Food Coloring

If you’re worried your toilet is leaking, you can try to test it out with food coloring. Take red or blue food coloring and put it in the tank of the toilet. If it leaks into the bowl after about an hour, you know you have a leak. If after an hour it didn’t leak into the toilet you’re all set. The food color leaking suggests you replace the tank ball to prevent it from leaking. Changing out this tank ball can also save you money by lowering your water bill. A leaking toilet is definitely going to rack up your water bill, and you don’t always hear it running.

3. Clean Your Shower heads

All plumbing fixtures can be clogged with mineral deposits, your shower head included. These mineral deposits can cause your shower head to be so clogged it doesn’t work, or it won’t be as effective as it should be. To clean your shower heads, you should unscrew them and soak them in vinegar for 24 hours. Make sure the whole shower head is soaked in the vinegar to get the deposit off. Once the time is up you should be good to go to screw it back on, however, if the mineral buildup is too thick or the shower head isn’t in the best condition and it’s effectiveness isn’t as good as it used to be, you should consider getting a new shower head.

4. Mesh Covers

There are so many different types of covers out there to purchase that can protect your drains from getting clogged. You can find these almost anywhere in stores such as Target, Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Menard’s, even online on Amazon. These mesh drain covers protect your drains from hair and soap, the number one thing that leaks to a clogged drain. Using these mesh drain covers allows the things that are too big to get stuck in the mesh which then after every use you can throw away and save your pipes from a blockage and needed to be snaked.

5. Make it a Habit to Inspect Your Plumbing

Like it was mentioned before, your pipes need maintenance. Although they’re not high maintenance usually, you should always be on the look out for any potential problems and address and fix the problem correctly before it escalates. Repairing plumbing before it turns into an emergency is going to cost you less money in the long run and you’ll be glad you fixed it sooner rather than later. If you notice any type of rust or corroded pipes, you should immediately call a plumber to discuss what options you have.

Don’t forget, we’re always here for you! Give us a call if you need any plumbing work done. 708-845-7922.

YOUR COMPLETE FALL HOME PREP AND MAINTENANCE PLAN

Autumn is a time of renewal and gives us a chance to start anew. Since we’ve had the opportunity to take care of our homes and ourselves both inside and out, it’s time to prepare for the fall season and do some home maintenance. This time of the year represents Harvest, which is a time to acknowledge growth and expansion as a natural part of our well-being. Just as our lives go through various cycles like growth and rebirth that we see in nature, we can do the same for our homes and ourselves. Read on for a list of fall maintenance tips that will help you get excited about the upcoming season.

INDOOR FALL MAINTENANCE TASKS

Consider these tips to help you prepare the inside of your home for the fall season:

Indoor maintenance. Now is the time to inspect things like your plumbing, electrical wiring, and panels. Ensure that all plumbing is properly insulated and that all outdoor faucets are covered and prepped for cooler weather. Look in the attic to confirm that the roof underlayment is intact and that you have adequate insulation to keep your home warm.

Heat. If you have a fireplace, fall is a perfect time to clean or sweep the chimney and have the fireplace inspected. Check your gas stove to ensure it’s working correctly, and ask for an HVAC system inspection to confirm that your heat is working correctly. It’s also an excellent time to change your air filter. If you have oil heating for your home, now is a good time to fill your tank up.

Home appliances. Do a quick inspection of all major appliances to ensure they work. If anything is broken, get them repaired or replaced, particularly your refrigerator, oven, washing machine, and dryer.

Declutter. Refresh your entire home by doing some thorough decluttering and organizing. Get rid of old electronics like unused cell phones, computers, and small appliances. It’s also a good time to dispose of expired medications. Shred all of your old bills and go through your home office to get rid of outdated paperwork. Fall is also a perfect time to declutter unworn clothing, shoes, bedding, towels, and summer items like hats and swimsuits.

Décor. Dust off your spring and summer décor and put it in storage. Now is the time to bring out the autumn and winter décor to celebrate this exciting time of year. Anything that doesn’t work or no longer brings you joy can be donated, sold, or recycled if possible.

Reorganize. This is a perfect time of year to reorganize and declutter the kitchen and pantry, your bathroom cabinets, and the shed or garage. Separate items into things you want to sell, give away or throw in the trash. Clean out your pantry and throw out expired food. Organize dry goods and place them in clear canisters, then label them so you can find them easily.

Recycle. Look for any items in your home that can go to recycling. You can also do some upcycling and repurpose items like old seasonal décor, discarded clothing, shoes, and even furniture. Get creative and come up with new ways to reuse these items in a whole new way. A simple coat of paint on an old chest or table can give it a brand-new look, for example. Clothing can be sewn into bags or pillows for a fun piece of fall décor.

OUTDOOR YARD AND PATIO FALL MAINTENANCE TASKS

Fall is also a great time to do a bit of outdoor maintenance. Here are a few things you can add to your list to prepare for the season ahead.

Outdoor maintenance. Clean your gutters and remove dead leaves, twigs, and debris. Check all the pipes going into and out of your homes, such as the waterline, gas line, and anything connected to your HVAC system. Look for signs of leaks, rust, or damage so you can get these items repaired now before winter arrives. Test your outdoor equipment like leaf blowers and lawnmowers to ensure that everything is working properly.

Insulate pipes. While you should insulate your plumbing indoors, it’s also time to insulate and protect those outdoor exposed pipes too.

Check for leaks in windows and doors. Do a “draft test” to confirm that there are no leaks in your doors and windows. Add new weatherstripping to keep all windows and doors properly sealed.

Inspect your roof. Look for possible signs of leaks in your roof and keep an eye out for missing shingles. Get all roof repairs done now before winter snow arrives to protect your home and property.

Take care of your garden. Rake leaves in your yard and put them in bags, cover any garden plants that need to be kept warm, and fertilize your plants so they will thrive through the season. Trim dead tree limbs and make sure that all of your plants are properly trimmed, and cover them with burlap (if required). You can also decrease the amount of outdoor watering you need to do during this time of year.

Do a yard and garden sweep. Some areas of the country aren’t impacted by autumn weather until later in the year. If this applies to you, just do a quick cleanup of the yard or garden and determine what you need to put away now and what you can put away later. Check on items that still work, like your outdoor lighting, and confirm if anything needs repair. It’s also a great time to declutter old outdoor items and either donate them or throw them away.

Upcycle garden items. This is also a wonderful time to see if anything outdoors can be recycled or upcycled and turned into something new. Take old wooden palettes and turn them into planters or furniture. Paint your outdoor planters in new fall colors or use some of your outdoor décor to make a cute birdhouse.

Create a schedule for outdoor tasks. Work on creating a schedule for a few outdoor activities you’ll need to tackle later when it gets closer to winter. Some items include checking the roof and gutters to prevent ice dams and a checklist to ensure you have everything you need, like snow boots, snow shovels, and deicers.

Make another maintenance list. Your home isn’t the only thing that needs a little bit of fall maintenance. Make a quick list of other items to check on, like your car, shed or garage, and driveway and walkway. Repair any cracks you see now before winter arrives to prevent them from growing and getting worse.

CELEBRATE THE BEGINNING OF AUTUMN

Since Autumn is a time to start anew, it’s also a perfect time to celebrate. Keep these tips in mind to help you celebrate the upcoming season.

Declutter your life. This is a wonderful time to declutter, clean, and toss out anything that brings you unhappy memories. Only keep the things in your home that bring you joy and happiness. Remember that is not about getting your act together.

Do some fall rituals. Fall is a perfect season to practice self-care with a few simple rituals like yoga or meditation. Play some soothing music, enjoy a long bubble bath, or read a good book to help your mind and body reset.

Light some candles. In addition to some fall rituals, it’s a perfect time to light some scented candles. Aromatherapy can uplift your mood and give your home a beautiful fall-like ambiance. An essential oil diffuser is another great way to fill your home with the fragrances of autumn.

Buy new décor. Decorating your home is a wonderful way to celebrate every season, including autumn. Add a faux autumn leaf garland to your fireplace mantel, hang some fall wreaths, or fill your home with fun Halloween décor. You can also upcycle and create new décor from some of the old stuff you have lying around. This is also a great way to have some fun arts and crafts time with the family.

Celebrate the harvest. Head out to a local farmer’s market and buy fresh produce to celebrate the autumn harvest. A fun hayride or a visit to a local pumpkin patch will get everyone excited about the changing season.

Make delicious fall treats. Get excited about autumn by trying out some new recipes. Make homemade apple cider, bake a pumpkin pie, or come up with your own delectable fall dinners and desserts.

Doing a few easy maintenance tasks for your home is an integral part of taking care of your property as the seasons change. It’s also essential to maintain all your material items and, of course, yourself, too. By decluttering, organizing, and even checking on your health, you can get ready to enjoy the fall season and embrace the growth of what this new season will bring.

Guest Contributor: Adriana Lopez, porch.com

10 PLUMBING TIPS FOR NEW HOME BUYERS

10 Plumbing Tips for New Home Buyers

Plumbing is essential to a home. Old or damaged pipes can turn a beautiful place into a flooded mess. That’s why it’s so important for new home buyers to make sure their property’s plumbing is in good condition. We wanted to share some tips that can help you fix minor issues and keep your plumbing system flowing.

Look for Corroded or Rusted Pipes – Inspect the pipes in your new home and look for signs of corrosion or rust. Properties with copper piping may have corrosion from exposure to water damage or bacteria. If you notice blue stains or rust, you need to replace the pipe.
Avoid Unqualified Handymen – A incorrectly installed plug can cause fires and a poorly installed pipe can flood a room causing thousands in damages. Use certified electricians, plumbers and builders with good reputations and it will save you money in the long run.
Unclog Drains with a Plunger – If a drain gets backed up, you may be able to clear it with a plunger. Place it over the drain opening and use just like you would in a toilet. If you experience chronic backing up or slow drain problems, it may be time to talk to a plumber.
Get Acquainted with Your Main Valve – Make sure you know where your new home’s gas and water valves are before you move in. This is important in case of an emergency. If you notice flooding or a gas leak, shut off the valve immediately and call a professional.
Have a Plumbing Kit Ready – Put together a home plumbing kit. This should include duct tape, a plunger, paper towels, and a screwdriver.
Never Ignore a Leak or Moisture – If you notice a leak or unexplained moisture in your home, do not ignore it. This is usually a sign that water is coming from a pipe or entering from outside. A plumber can inspect your property and find the cause so you can fix it before it causes extensive damage.
Avoid Dumping in Chemicals – Avoid using chemicals in your plumbing system. That includes chemical drain cleaners. These products can harm pipes, which will lead to bigger problems later. The first step should be to try a plunger or drain snake. A professional may be needed for tough clogs.
Keep Hex Keys on Hand – Also known as an Allen wrench, the hex key is an L-shaped tool that can be used to screw anything with a hexagonal socket. These are commonly used by plumbers. Keep a set on hand so you can handle smaller jobs.
Use a Bucket of Water to Flush – If your toilet won’t flush, you may be able to temporarily deal with it using a bucket of water. Fill the bucket halfway and then dump into the toilet bowl to remove waste in place of a flush. This isn’t a long-term fix but can make life easier until a plumber can get there.
Check Out Strange Plumbing Sounds – If you notice strange sounds in your plumbing system, have it checked out. Unusual gurgling or sloshing could be a sign of a backup. You may also hear a banging sound called a water hammer. This occurs when pipes hit the wall after pressure changes. Have these problems investigated before they cause a leak.
Update the Water Heater – If your new home has an old water heater, now is the time to replace it. The life span for the average water heater is about 10 years or less. Anything older should be replaced to ensure efficiency and to avoid a sudden breakdown later.

Being proactive and addressing problems as soon as you notice them can save you a lot of headaches and money later. A good home needs a solid plumbing system to stay clean and comfortable for those who live there.

Guest Contributor: Robert Lawler