Home inspections

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How to Scope Out the Best Contractor

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Whether you are looking to build a house from the ground up, or add an addition on to your house, it is best to look for a reputable contractor to help you with the job. People find contractors in all sorts of different ways, whether it is a family member, word-of-mouth, found via an advertisement or online. When it comes to contractors, it is extremely important that you seek out one that is reliable, has great reviews and will provide you with the best value for your dollar. If you are looking for a contractor and are not sure where to start, here are some tips on how to find one that you will meet all your expectations (and more!):

  • Be proactive. It is important to know that contractors will always have a job or project to work on, so it is on you to find them and reach out to them to see if you can fit within their schedule. First, check out reviews of the contractors near you to see what other people have experienced while working with them. If they do not have many reviews, or have mostly negative ones, it is best to steer clear.
  • Pay attention to the value of their cost. Once you find a contractor that you would like to work with for your project, it is time to look at their overall cost, and the value that you will get from it. How much are they charging? More importantly, what is the long-term cost? For example, if their project will require maintenance yearly, you will have to factor in additional costs for the future.
  • Be clear on your expectations. After you have finalized the cost of your project with the contractor, you must set up a meeting with them so that your expectations are crystal clear as to what you are looking for. On the other hand, you must ensure that you understand the contractor’s expectations, terms and conditions as well. Align on how long the project will take and if that works within your time frame that you are shooting for. By the time you are done meeting, you should feel comfortable with next step and how the project timeline will look from start to finish.
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Planting Flower Beds 101

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Now that you have finished up your spring cleaning, you may be looking for a new, fun project to take on to work on the aesthetic of your home. Regardless of if you have ever gardened before, planting some flower beds is a great project to take up some of your time, get outside and enjoy the fresh air, and watch beautiful flowers grow right before your eyes! If you are not experienced with planting flower beds, we are here to help with some steps that you need to consider as you work through the process:

  1. First, come up with a game plan as to where you want to plant the flower beds. As you are thinking about the location of where to plant them, think about what areas get enough sunlight each day, whether the area will easily collect water, and if it is common for weeds to grow in or around that area. You want to make sure that you are choosing a healthy spot for your flower beds to develop.
  2. Next, you should begin seeding. When you purchase seeds for the flower bed, make sure to do your research and ensure that they will easily grow in your environment.
  3. It is important once you begin seeding that you are prepared with edges for your flower bed, so that all flowers grow within the same area and it looks clean-cut. Look for natural looking edges that will be sturdy and last longer – it is a key investment!
  4. As you are planting, do not forget about purchasing some filler plants to help provide structure to the area year-round. As you are looking into these plants, consider how tall and big they will grow, as you do not want them to overpower the flowers.
  5. Lastly, don’t forget about the mulch, which is a must to ensure that there is enough moisture around the flowers and that you are preventing weeds from growing around them. When you are mulching, be sure to not put too much mulch down so your flowers have enough room to breathe and grow!
Homes Life

Tips on Weeding and How to Get Started

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Spring is in session and it is time to clean up your landscape after the long, treacherous winter that it endured! When it comes to cleaning up the landscape of your home, in your front and backyard, you will need to take a look at your lawn and plants to find those nasty weeds that will pop up as the weather becomes warmer. It is important to catch these weeds early on, as many can carry diseases that can spread to other plants that are nearby them. And, from an aesthetic standpoint, it is always good to be on top of your weeds for the general look of your home’s exterior!

Weeds can be found in several different places outside of your home, including the borders of the soil, on patios as well as on paths up to your doors. Weeds can also be found sporadically throughout your yard, seen as plants such as dandelions. You can choose to weed in a variety of different ways, depending on how early on you have caught the weeds and how severe they are. These different ways include fertilizing and watering, weeding by hand as well as using herbicides, if necessary.

When you are fertilizing and watering your lawn and plants, you need to ensure that you are not doing it too little or too much. If you water frequently, it can help to get rid of weeds while keeping your plants and lawn fresh, green and healthy. If you choose to weed by hand, first and foremost, ensure that you have gloves! You can spot out weeds and pull them out by hand but be sure that you are pulling them up by their roots so that they do not regrow. As a last resort, you can use herbicides, but do your research to make sure that you are using herbicides that are safe for the type of lawn that you are growing. And, use it carefully so you do not kill other plants!  

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How to Keep Up Home Maintenance

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Does life ever get so busy for you that you find it difficult, or just flat out impossible, to keep up with the maintenance of your home? Everyone has been in this position and knows exactly what it feels like when the clutter piles up and you feel as if you are drowning in it! Even though “life” happens for everyone, it is important for your overall mental health to keep your home is clean as possible, so you feel less stressed when you return home from work each day! But, how exactly do you keep up home maintenance with such a busy schedule? Here are some tips on some of the big things relating to home maintenance that you should keep an eye on before it builds up out of control:

  • Dusting. To keep up with the dust buildup, try to incorporate 10-15 minutes of dusting several different rooms every few days, rather than once every few months. The more you dust, the easier it will be for you physically. Not to mention, it will immensely help anyone who suffers from allergies in your home!
  • Keep an eye on the exterior. Watch the exterior of your home for any painting, trimming or window touch-ups that need to be made. It is important to watch so that if you notice anything that needs a little bit of fixing, it can be done on a much smaller (and less expensive!) scale. Do not wait until all your windows need full replacements, or your entire home needs fresh painting!
  • Maintain your heater and air conditioner. When it comes to your heater and air conditioner, it is important that you maintain them and ensure that they are clean and working properly on a regular basis. If you do not keep up, it may cause pollution in the home or an unexpected breakdown which is not only inconvenient but also extremely expensive!
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Why You Can’t Delay Home Maintenance

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Home maintenance is something that everyone can feel overwhelmed by. Whether money is tight, your schedule is packed, or life in general just gets in the way, home maintenance can be difficult to keep up with, which can ultimately lead to you drowning in damages and future debt. Did you know that by delaying home maintenance you are costing yourself more time and money in the long run? Here are some examples of why you must keep up as best you can with maintaining your home before it breaks the bank.

  • Caulking in kitchens and bathrooms. Make sure that you are regularly inspecting the caulking in your kitchen and bathrooms to ensure that there is no seeping or leaks in any of the crevices. When water forms within the crevices of sinks and tubs, you can expect mold to appear, which will ultimately cause you to have to replace the entire appliance. If you catch seeping early on, you can work on re-caulking which is an easy repair that can be done with very few tools!
  • Plumbing. If any of your faucets or pipes are leaking, be sure to stay on top of it and call a plumber as soon as possible. If you wait too long or ignore the issue, you may end up with fully burst pipes, which is a much bigger and more expensive problem.
  • Bug inspections. If you suspect that you have bugs or termites within your home, get an exterminator over as soon as possible. If an exterminator is not called immediately, termites may end up damaging parts of your home, which can cause you to be responsible for thousands of dollars’ worth of damage. If you catch this issue early, you can fix infestations with something as simple as spot treatments.
  • Roof and gutters. Regularly make a point to check your roof for any openings or leaks, and your gutters for any clogging. Once your gutters are fully clogged and/or your roof is not as strong, you could face the possibility of your roof collapsing or seeping underneath your shingles.

Overall, make it a new year’s resolution for yourself and your family members to keep an eye on any potential small damages that could over time turn into bigger ones!

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4 Changes to Make to Your Home Now if You Plan to Sell in 1 Year

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It’s a new year, and with a new year comes resolutions and goals that everyone tries to internally set for themselves! Perhaps you are looking to hit the gym more often, or maybe you are looking to save up for that vehicle that you have always dreamed of. Or, maybe, you and your family are looking to finally make that big move to your dream home! While these types of goals are great to set, it is important to note all of the steps that it takes in order to achieve them. For example, there are many ways you must get prepared to sell your home. If you are planning on putting your home on the market in a year, here are some great ways to get your home ready for action:

  • Home inspections. Once your home is on the market, you can expect to have several home inspections to ensure that everything is in tip-top shape. These inspections will include checking the walls both interior and exterior for any cracks or damages, as well as checking your air conditioner and heat to ensure it is working correctly. Inspections can also include electrical and plumbing, as well as roofing. All of these key items must be in workable condition in order for your home to sell at a good value.
  • Begin remodeling. Remodels can be very pricey but try your best to make some smart investments if you are planning to remodel in a slow and steady pace. Some smart investments can include in a new refrigerator, a new toilet or even new counter-tops. Make your home modern and as up-to-date as you financially can!
  • Curb appeal. First impressions are everything, and when potential buyers pull up to your home they need to immediately fall in love. This has a lot to do with your front lawn, landscaping and ultimately, the curb appeal. Trim your shrubs, mow your lawn and do your best to create a clean-cut landscape.
  • Stay in touch with your agent. If you have a specific real estate agent you are planning to work with, stay in touch with them along the way so they can offer helpful advice on how your home will best sell.