Fall is a great time to evaluate your home to make sure it’s ready for winter.  Depending on where you live, this may be a critical step to maintaining your comfort while keeping your energy bill in check.  Plus, you’ll want to address any problem areas before it gets too cold to either work on them comfortably or before it’s too late to make a real difference.  So if you’re game, here’s our list of 6 simple tips you can use today in order to better winterize your home. Install a Programmable Thermostat There are many different brands on the market you can buy for as little as ..read more

In addition to your home being your sanctuary, it can also be a great financial resource. If you’re thinking of making some renovations around your home, make sure to research which ones can give you the most bang for your buck. Here are four of the top renovations that add the most value to your home. Bathroom Remodeling Bathroom remodeling is a hotspot for all homeowners, as it’s often a high-priority item for potential home buyers, and provides a great deal of home value on any money spent on the project. According to Zillow, “bathroom remodels yield the biggest returns in terms of boosting ..read more

When it comes to maintaining our homes, one of the most untimely and stressful things to deal with is a faulty home appliance. These items are the workhorses of our homes and when they don’t function properly (or at all) needless to say the results can be quite challenging to deal with. And given their hefty cost, if you can postpone a purchase of a major appliance through proper maintenance that would be the way to go. So how do you get ahead of these unforeseen issues? Read on and we’ll reveal some helpful and easy ways you can be proactive when taking care of your major appliances. Wash, Ri ..read more

Curb Appeal Ideas on a Budget (Big or Small) The key to a successful home improvement project is striking a balance between the end result and the actual investment, in particular how it translates into the real estate market.  For example, every year the real estate industry releases its list of top home renovations, including those home renovations you may want to avoid. If money is no option, then splurging on that elaborate fountain in your circular driveway is a no-brainer.  But for most, there are certain projects that are not only expensive (like putting in an in-ground swimmi ..read more

As summer kicks into gear many of us will try to “beat the heat” at home.  Fortunately for you, there are plenty of ways to keep out heat in the summer months with minimal investment.  Check out these cooling tips you can put into practice: Window Treatments that Make a Difference Shades, curtains, blinds… whatever style of window treatment you have in your home, during peak sunlight hours you definitely want to keep them closed.  In situations with extreme amounts of sunlight hitting your home, you may want to look into purchasing blackout curtains or shades.  These shades ..read more

For anyone who uses their grill on a regular basis, it’s important to make sure it’s maintained properly so you can enjoy it whenever you like.  Fortunately for you, we have some great tips you can use right now to keep your grill in tip-top shape: Prep Your Grill Before Cleaning Before you get started there is some prep work to do.  First, make sure the grill is completely off (gas grills) or extinguished (charcoal or wood-burning grills) and cool to the touch.  Safety never takes a holiday after all.  Next, inspect all the elements and components that make up your grill ..read more

When the weather improves and we start spending more time outdoors, well it just so happens that’s just about the same time those pesky ants are ready to come inside!  During late spring and early summer, these pests begin building their mounds and start searching for food.  If you’re not careful they may start lining up their all-you-can-eat buffet line – which leads right into your house. There are many different types of ant species out in the wild (aka your backyard).  Some of the most common are: Carpenter Ants – these ants are especially concerning because they can damage ..read more

Do you have an old piece of furniture wasting away in your basement? Maybe it is a coffee table from an old apartment, or a nightstand no longer in use. The piece probably looks worn out, and you likely consider it useless. Maybe you considered donating it but concluded that nobody would want it. At least, not in its current condition. Fortunately, it is easy to revitalize old furniture for another era. In this blog, you will learn how to whitewash furniture — a simple process that revives old, wooden surfaces by highlighting their unique grains to achieving a timeless look. When you are finis ..read more

If you are not careful, a messy home can inspire a messy lifestyle. And when we say messy, we do not mean dust bunnies under the couch, or dirty dishes in the sink. Every aspect of your home — from its layout and design to its storage spaces and flow — has a critical impact on your daily routine. So, if you are looking to make healthy improvements to your behavior, you may want to consider organizing your home. Getting a home organized does not have to be complicated. While many folks spend small fortunes on customized closet systems, all it takes to get the job done right is a little time and ..read more

Do you have cracks in your asphalt driveway? In this blog, you will learn how to repair asphalt cracks using a simple patch material. Driveways are a quintessential part of the American home. They host and display our beloved automobiles, and they provide outdoor space for families to use — to play, to decorate for holidays, or to complete a DIY project. Regardless of size, shape and style, every driveway plays a number of important roles in its home. So, if you notice any cracks or holes in yours, make sure to repair them immediately. In the event that you need to repair a crack in your drive ..read more