How To Increase Your Home Value In 8 Easy Steps

September 5, 2017 by Leave a Comment

If you have plans of selling your home in the future, you really need to take care of the many details in your abode. You may need a little bit of makeover to boost its value.

The good news is, you don’t need to spend big bucks to sell your home at an expensive price. Small, but valuable improvements can make it worth more.

Check out the list on how you can improve your home’s value:

  1. Install new windows.

Windows are one part of the home that buyers often check when purchasing a property. The future home owners don’t want a home that has damaged windows, where nearly 30 percent of energy escapes based on research. Well maintain windows are one reason why they will be interested to purchase your home. Windows add a statement to a home.

  1. Upgrade your popcorn ceilings.

Do you still have popcorn ceilings? Removing them is one sure way to add value to your precious property. This kind of ceiling is obsolete and having them in your home may turn the buyers away. Replace them with modern ceilings because a contemporary style of home is more pricey.

  1. Add a new bathroom.

Does your home only have one bathroom? It’s time to add another one in a space that is unused for a long time. Consider the convenience when deciding to add another bathroom. Your home buyers will surely love to have a bathroom upstairs and downstairs, especially when they have guests.

  1. Take out the carpets and expose the hardwood floors.

Hardwood floors are more elegant and pricey to look at than floors with carpets over them. Of course, your buyers will be checking the quality of the floors. If you need to update it, replacing them just cost around $200.

  1. Remodel your kitchen cabinets.

The kitchen is one of the most important parts of the home. Upgrade the look of your cooking haven by remodeling the kitchen cabinets. You don’t need to spend plenty of cash to come up with a contemporary kitchen. Upgrade the paint and replace the drawer pulls for a new look.

  1. Install a steel entry door.

Increase your home safety and value by installing a steel entry door. It’s a one-time investment that wouldn’t cost you too much, but offers a big return. Replacing your old wooden door with a steel one is a good idea for added security. You only have to spend about $200 for it.

  1. Repaint your home’s interior and exterior.

The easiest way to improve the look and reselling price of your home is by repainting it. A new paint inside and outside doesn’t only give your home a fresh look, but it also gives it a fresh scent. You can now get eco-friendly paints that you can buy for $30 to $90 per gallon that are effective in absorbing and enhancing the air quality of your residence. Paint your home with neutral colors so it will be easy to resell.

  1. Maintain your home systems.

One of the reasons your buyers will purchase your home is after they’ve checked your HVAC system. Buyers would want to see that it has a yearly furnace inspection and certification. A record of your HVAC’s tune-up’s is a good thing to show to your possible buyers.

Marinell Miller has been giving home ideas, tips, advice and guides for homemakers and future buyers in the past 10 years. Aside from writing, she spends time in her own shop that sells various home accessories. Marinell is also a social media expert, resident life coach speaker at rehabcenters.com and a mother of two.

Filed Under: home Tagged With: , , ,

The Best Areas In Your Home To Put A Smoke Alarm For The Best Safety

August 8, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Smoke alarms are an important part of monitoring the safety of your home. As many as two-thirds of all fire related deaths occur in homes without smoke detectors, or with smoke detectors that are not functioning due to improper maintenance. In order to reduce death and injury, you need to have enough smoke detectors throughout your house, and to make sure that they are installed properly.

Types Of Smoke Alarms

There are three primary types of smoke alarm: Ionization, photoelectric and combination.

  • Ionization Alarms – Ionization alarms contain small amount of radioactive material that creates an electric current within the alarm. When smoke enters the detector, it disrupts the current, causing the alarm to sound. These smoke detectors are best at detecting fast-burning fires.
  • Photoelectric Alarms – Detect smoke by using a light source. The light becomes scattered by smoke particles, activating the alarm. Photoelectric alarms are better for detecting slow-burning fires with low flames.
  • Combination Alarms – As the name suggests, combination alarms combine both technologies in order to detect both category of fire. Fire protection units recommend using combination alarms, or to install both types of alarms throughout your home.

Older models of smoke alarms are actually heat detectors. They are not as effective at rapidly detecting fires as the more modern alarm types.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

With modern alarms you also have the option of getting a combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector. You should also have a carbon monoxide alarm on each floor of your home if you have any fuel-burning appliances. Purchasing a unit that is able to detect both can reduce the amount of total units you need to install throughout your home.

Alarm Placement

For optimal protection, you will need multiple smoke alarms. Most homes don’t have nearly as many smoke alarms installed as is recommended.

Smoke alarms should be installed:

  • On every floor of the home, including the basement
  • Inside each bedroom
  • Outside of each bedroom – one in the hall outside multiple bedrooms is alright

Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions on the unit that you purchase to determine whether the detector should be installed on the wall or on the ceiling. The most common units require ceiling installation with a few feet of space between the detector and the wall.

The instructions will also inform you how much square footage the alarm covers. If you purchase less powerful detectors you will need to install more of them throughout you home.

Connecting your fire alarms with an interconnected alarm system can also be important, especially for large homes. In an interconnected system, if the alarm sounds in the basement, the alarms by the second floor bedrooms will also sound, providing you with an early alert.

Alarm Maintenance

Smoke alarms may be powered differently and therefore require different maintenance. Testing on a weekly, or at least a monthly basis, can help to ensure that your alarms are functioning and will detect smoke in the case of a fire.

Alarms powered by 9-volt batteries are common due to their low cost. The downside to these alarms is that the batteries need to be replaced frequently. Weekly testing is recommended for optimal safety with these alarms, or to change the battery twice per year in combination with monthly testing.

You can also purchase alarms that take a 120-volt battery or a 10-year lithium battery. While these are more pricey, they are more reliable. Some townships require a minimum 120-volt battery.

If you are living in an older home, you will likely need to install more alarms, and may need to replace any existing ones. Check the existing models to see if they are heat detectors, rather than smoke detectors. If they are heat detectors – you should replace them with smoke detectors or install additional smoke detectors for optimal safety.

Conclusion

In order to protect yourself and loved ones from fire and carbon monoxide injury, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors need to be installed throughout your home. Do your research when selecting alarm units and be sure to purchase different types of detectors, or opt for a combination alarm. You should also make sure that the units you purchase have been tested by a recognized laboratory to ensure efficacy.

Install your alarms per the manufacturer’s instructions and make sure that you have enough throughout your home. With proper maintenance and battery monitoring, you will be as safe as possible in your home!

Joanna Sommer

Joanna is the Senior Editor for InformedMag and is passionate about security and tech. She has been working in the home safety and security field for 5 years. Joanna loves to travel and enjoys going to hot yoga and Barre classes. She is dedicated to creating articles that both educate and help people make an informed purchasing decision.

Filed Under: safety Tagged With: ,

Top tips for saving water at home and reducing your bills

July 26, 2017 by 1 Comment

You may not think so, but the water we drink is actually a limited resource. This is why it’s important to conserve water as much as possible. An added consideration, when you waste water, is that you end up spending more on water bills. Household expenditure is often high, so anything you can do to reduce it is a good idea.

Hopefully, you can see the benefits of saving water in your home. But, how do you do it? We have put together ten tips on how to stop wasting water at home.

    1. Only use your dishwasher when you have a full load

Using a dishwasher can actually use less water than washing dishes by hand. But, you should wait until you have a full load to start the dishwasher as it uses the same amount of water whether it’s full or not.

    1. Do not pre wash dishes before you put them in the dishwasher

If you are using a dishwasher it’s not necessary to pre-wash dishes. All you need to do is scrape off food remnants. If you do pre-wash all you are doing is wasting water.

    1. Plan your clothes washing so you have a full load

Just as using a dishwasher with a reduced load wastes water, so does using your washing machine when it’s not full. Make sure that you plan your clothes washing so that the machine is full when you use it.

    1. Use cold water to wash clothes

It’s not necessary to use hot water to wash your clothes. They will be just as clean if you use cold water. Using cold water helps to preserve water, and also helps you save on your energy bills.

    1. Make sure leaks are fixed straight away

One of the most obvious ways of wasting water in the home is a water leak. It could be something as simple as a dripping tap, but you could be wasting gallons of water each day, if you ignore the problem. If you have a water leak in your home, and you cannot deal with it yourself, you should call experts such as Plumbing Detectives, for help.

    1. Use rain water in the garden

How many of you get out the garden hose when there is no rain about? It’s better to think ahead, when the rain falls, and preserve rainwater. You can these use it for watering the bushes and shrubs in your garden, during dry spells.

    1. Use mulch to reduce evaporation

Another tip for preserving water in the garden is to use mulch. This helps to stop water evaporating which means that plants get the full benefit of a rain shower, or of your watering.

    1. Save water to use on your plants

If you have water left when you finish cooking, you can use it to water your house plants. They do not care what it tastes like, and it’s a lot better to do this than simply pour the water down the drain.

    1. Take a shower instead of a bath

Every time you take a bath, you use 35 gallons of water, on average. Take a shower instead and you can save as much as 22 gallons of water; if you use a low flow shower head.

    1. Turn off the tap when you do not need water

You may be thinking that you would not have tap switched on unless you needed water. But, how many of you leave the tap on while you are brushing your teeth or shaving. Even switching a tap off for a few seconds can save a significant amount of water in the long term. This reduces the amount you pay in water bills.

Take a look at the tips we have provided, put them into action, and start saving water, and money, today.

Filed Under: home Tagged With: , ,

Great DIY Home Decorating Ideas and Tips

July 21, 2017 by 1 Comment

Do it yourself, or DIY is a goal oriented hobby initiated and done by an individual or groups. The fundamental prerequisite is that the person needs to learn quite fast and understand how to apply the skills to the important project, and then he does not need to hire other individuals to assist him. In the last few years, DIY home improvement and decoration has made an impact on TV and the hearts of interested professionals and homemakers. The idea of cultivating your home looks by the use of essential talent appeals to many individuals. If you want to begin the journey in do it yourself home improvement, you need to take several things into consideration for you to increase your rate of success in the projects.

Forming a plan

Planning is a vital aspect in home decoration so that you accomplish it successfully and more efficiently. It makes sure that you do not end up spending what you cannot afford or spending too much money on what you could otherwise avoid. Before writing the plan, you need to visualize how you would like your home to look. Settle on a particular colour style and theme that you would like to adopt and from there, you can start planning for the things needed to decorate your home. You need to generate a list of items you require and determine the ones that you can make by yourself from what you have and the things you need to purchase. Come up with a realistic budget for all expenses so that you avoid overspending.

Adopt a theme

Having a theme for your home will not make decoration easy but choosing a practical theme will help you save money and time. For example, you can get the right theme from Amantii fireplaces that will save you money because you will access great tropical decorative accessories for your home. You will get accessories like seashells, driftwood, starfish, corals, and leaves. You can also use what you have collected to create tropical wall hangings.

Related: 15 Best electric fireplace 2018 – Reviews & Comparison Chart 

Choose a color scheme

You need to do an in-depth research of the color scheme because you will notice that most decorating themes rely on particular color schemes that will help you get the desired results. These colors are standard to a specific theme. An example is the Asian decorating themes and styles dominated by dark blue, black, and red colors. The other example is the tropical decorating themes that rely on aqua, green, and red colors. Your theme of choice will follow the same basic pattern of a fixed palate of colors for the whole DIY project.

Choosing the use of each room

What will you do with the room that you are decorating? Just because the original purpose of the room you are redecorating do not mentally trap you to that room, it will be a waste of time. For example, it is pointless to decorate the dining area with accessories and dining table when most of your family’s meals are taken from the kitchen.

Skill

Acquiring DIY home decorating skills is self-placed and depends on your enthusiasm for the tasks at hand. In most cases, passion will translate to the willingness to learn and finish the tasks. If you are new to the DIY home improvement field, it is advisable to get stuck to small and doable projects that will make you enjoy. Possessing an interest is the most important aspect when improving your home by yourself. You need to ensure that the rooms of the house you are decorating do not make you desperate after several days.

Knowledge

You cannot assume particular things like cabinet designs and electrical systems. It is crucial to read about all you can before starting out. Limit yourself to the things that you can do. It is possible to make a table but replacing the large chandelier in your sitting room is not possible when doing it by yourself. You need to learn, have fun, and then proceed to the next task. This formula will help you become successful when implementing tips from Amantii fireplaces regarding home improvement.

Investing wisely

Just because you are operating on a budget does not mean that you purchase every cheap thing you come across. In most cases, spending will assist you in the long run. For example, if you want to paint your walls, it makes a lot of sense to procure high-quality paint that will last for long rather than go for cheap paint that has a low quality.

Be on the look for discounts

Discounted sales provide an opportunity of holding home accessories at low prices. Therefore, you need to be keen to watch out for such events while planning on a DIY decoration exercise. You can also check online stores because there are excellent deals that will help you find good quality and excellent products at a reasonable price.

The shopping list

Of all the items that appear on this list, paint is very crucial. Paint will form the foundation of all rooms, and if you rush this job, all other things that come afterwards will not work well. Buying the cheapest paint possible or available will prove to be a great mistake. You might save some money on the tin, but you will be hurting yourself as you will realise that you need more than three coats for the color to look presentable. It is never cost effective to purchase cheap paint because it never covers or finishes well compared to expensive paints. It is, therefore crucial to make a few allowances in your budget for preparatory materials, cleaning, and disposable overalls.

Conclusion

When doing home decoration, you might just have to organize. As a homeowner, you will have the delight of the additional space in the room for accessories like shelves and cabinets. You can use chest drawers to help in arranging and storing reading materials left scattered everywhere on the ground. Key holders and decorative coat racks help adorn and bring order to the rooms of your home. Even though you are working on a particular budget, your options of redecorating your home are unlimited.

Filed Under: home Tagged With: , ,

How To Save Money On Your Move To Your New House

July 10, 2017 by Leave a Comment

If you have finally found a new home to move to, you might be so excited that you forgot how daunting and expensive the process of moving can be. However, it really does not have to be that way if you take a few minutes to review the following suggestions. This way, it doesn’t have to be as stressful as it could be.

Getting The Right Kind Of Help

One of the very first things you are going to want to do is to work on finding the best moving companies in your area. When you hire a moving company to assist you with your move, you will not have to worry about loading a moving truck on your own, or even having to worry about driving that big thing. After all, unless you have a lot of experience driving those types of trucks, you might be in for a shock in regards to how different it is to turn them, back them up, or simply judge how close you are to going over the lines on the road so you will stay in the correct lane.

Now, even though you will have to pay for their services, you might find that hiring professional movers is a great way to save money. In the end, you will not have to take as long to move everything. Whether it is because they will come with a few people to carry all of your boxes and furniture, or because they can take everything in one load, you save time. Remember, time is money. The sooner you have everything in the new house, the sooner you can unpack and get back to work.

Checking Their Reputation

Of course, you will want to look for the most reputable moving company in your area. This way, you will not have to worry so much about any of your belongings coming up lost, damaged, or completely ruined. A good way to check the reputation of a moving company is to ask others about their experiences with them. If you do not personally know of anyone that has used them in the past, you can always turn to the internet. You might be able to find some reviews that were posted online about the moving company you are thinking of using.

Another thing you might want to do is to check with the Better Business Bureau. You can check with them to see if the moving company has any major complaints that should cause you to be alarmed. Just remember, since anyone can complain to the Better Business Bureau, or BBB, you will want to thoroughly read through any complaint that you find. It might have been a small issue or misunderstanding and you will be able to see how well the company resolved it.

Give The Kids A Job

If you have children, instead of paying a babysitter to watch them while you pack and move, you could always put them to work. Depending on their ages and physical abilities, they might be able to help pack up their own rooms and even carry some boxes out to the moving truck or to your personal vehicle if you are taking some things in that. This way, the kids are involved and you might not have to hire a friend or outside family member to help you.

There are a lot of ways to save money when you are moving. Just make sure that you are never putting quality of service over the cost of the help. When you take your time to plan your move, you should end up with a great moving company to help you and some friends and family to assist you as well.

Filed Under: home, saving/money Tagged With: ,

How to Build a Stunning Indoor Water Fountain

July 8, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Creating a personal fountain in your house is not a hard task as you might be thinking. However, it might not be as affordable because the materials involved are expensive. The main components you require are the place that you need to attach the fountain, tubing or pipe, a pump, and a basin that will serve as a pool to hold the water. The pipe and pump need to be hidden either encased in masonry units or within a figurine using a narrow opening in the grout or mortar.

According to individuals that provide indoor fountain ideas, you require an electric connection that will make the fountain to stay operational. It is recommended to have the electrical switch located inside the house so that you can turn the fountain on and off without going outside the house. The switch will control water flow. The fountain will have a three-way valve or gate that will give you permission to make adjustments to water flow. If you would like to have water keep coming into the fountain to maintain the levels after evaporation, you will require a float valve hooked on the water supply.

The most crucial part of constructing a stunning indoor water fountain is building the holding pool. Concrete block or concrete are the common materials for this purpose. You can easily cover them with plaster, stone, or decorative tile above the tile level. The inside needs a lining of a flexible liner to prevent leakage of water from the pool. When you want to build your fountain, it is vital to note that it is time-consuming and challenging when doing it by yourself, and it is therefore important to seek help from professionals that understand the project type.

Plumbers will be in the right position to help you connect the hoses and pump after constructing the pool and electricians will make secure connections for the house. The cost incurred in hiring such professionals is expensive, but if you have friends in these professions, the cost you will incur will be a bit friendly.

You can decide to buy an already built indoor fountain that you come across at garden centers, home improvement centres, or you can look online for vendors that have indoor fountain ideas. The guidelines will direct you on what to do when building the fountain are adding the pipe, basin, and plumbing. Pipe routeing is quite tricky but easy if you can include the pipe on the wall when fixing.

In case you do not have neighbours on the side of the wall that you would like to construct the water fountain, it is advisable to drill holes in the wall so that they can accommodate the pipes. If this option is not viable, you will have to come up with a method of concealing the pipes so that they are not seen, making the fountain look like it is part of the original indoor house setting. The water in your fountain will seem to emerge from a hidden spot and spring through the fountain head and then fall into the spring.

How do you preserve your indoor water fountain?

Indoor water fountains are a sight to behold. However, they are a nuisance to maintain especially for the high-end models. You can look for professional companies with qualified service providers to assist you with maintenance and upkeep. However, when you consider the frequency and cost that you will incur, you might decide to do it by yourself keep it in top shape by yourself. It will be difficult, but if you manage to carry out the cleaning procedure regularly, you will find the method natural and manageable.

Depending on the exposure and size of your fountain, you might have to consider checking it weekly or monthly so that it runs smoothly. The functions you will be doing includes checking on the pump frequently to make sure that it is fully submerged in water and does not have debris in its systems. The pump is the heartbeat of the fountain, and its functionality will differentiate it from a sculpture or a well. It, therefore, needs to be kept in the right functional condition. With this information, it needs to be under water at all times for it not to crack when dry.

You should also keep the filter clean for water to pass through. All you need to do is determine the refilling schedule of the reservoir and clean it at least once per week by wiping the sponge to brush out hard to reach areas. While cleaning the pump, you may need to clean the basin and replace the water so that you do not throw your initial efforts to waste. When refilling, you need to use distilled water so that you prevent contamination and overgrowth of algae. Since it is too expensive to use this water, the other option would be using boiled water, or you mix algaecides with tap water so that you achieve desired results.

If you have to use copper or steel to make your indoor fountain, you will have to use special cleaners plus a copper coat finish that will preserve the lustre of your material. You need to avoid chemical cleaners because they hurt the appearance of the material.

Conclusion

You can put your indoor fountain at many different places in your home. They can complement any furniture found in the homestead. The designs come in three basic models; wall, floor, and table mounted fountains. All of these have reservoirs for containing water, a pump, and a fountain head. In all fountains, the three features will remain the same. These fountains are vital because they ease your day after many activities. As a homeowner, you can come home from a nerve-wracking day for the sound of the fountain to calm you down. Sometimes you may become distresses with the thought of water running in the living room, but you need to remember that they are safe and create a consoling feeling to all individuals in the room.

Filed Under: lifestyle items Tagged With: ,

Mean Green 101 For All Your Cleaning Needs

May 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Ok, so we all have favorite for specific tasks.  I do too. But, sometimes, change is good. Why not change it up with a new (and proven) brand which can be used it more places then you thought? Less expensive then many brands, as well, and you won’t believe how well it works. I was so surprised I called my husband in to look.

Take a look at the Mean Green De-greaser.  This is the jumping off point into the Mean Green family of cleaning products.  This line includes items for cleaning bathroom, kitchen, garage, recreational outdoor areas, laundry room, and patio.  In the kitchen, it can clean everything from the cooking hood, to the cabinets, and floors, and beyond.  The bathroom is another big cleaning zone, from tiles to mirrors to grout, the shower and toilet- everything in here can be cleaned with Mean Green. As anyone who follows me on Twitter or Facebook knows, I have a “sore spot” with the bathroom- my son and husband are disgusting. Truly. I cannot tell you how many times a week I clean the bathroom- sometimes how many times a DAY I clean the same “certain areas”. Yes, I make them do it too, but it sure hasn’t stopped them from their gross behaviors.  Honestly, I don’t even know how urine GETS in some of these spots…..men, man. But I really, really loved the job the Mean Green products did on my bathroom. It smells better, gets the gross out of even the tile grout- I’m just really, really happy with it.

The patio could get a good clean down every so often, especially at the beginning of the season (like now, for Memorial Day gatherings!)  to reinvigorate that tired deck or concrete.  Grease on recreational fun is a big issue too when either on ATV’s, RV’s, or boats, Mean Green is a welcome addition to the supplies bag.  In the laundry room, pre treater and laundry detergent are available, which will make your laundering experience just a bit easier and clothes last a bit longer as well.  No matter your need, Mean Green is there for you. Mean Green Super Strength cleaner and degreaser is a powerful, multi-purpose cleaner and degreaser that gets grease out and eliminates grime from most surfaces. From fabric to concrete, Mean Green has been a trusted brand for more than 20 years.The Extra Strength is our go to cleaner for just about any mess where speed is needed as is strength.  To punch out food stains on carpet, dog mess on kitchen floor, more dog mess on kitchen floor, and finally a bit more dog mess on the kitchen floor.  But at least its not the carpet…..usually.

Check them out when you can, I really think you will like it.

Filed Under: home, review Tagged With: , ,

3 Simple Tips for Cleaning Your Home After Water Damage

April 10, 2017 by 1 Comment

Water damage in your home or basement can wreak havoc on your property and your wallet. Not only can water damage ruin your most prized possessions, but it can also leave behind mold, mildew and structural damage. Luckily, if you act quickly, you may be able to minimize the damage to your possessions. Depending on how recently the water damage occurred, you may be able to save some furniture or carpeting. To get you started, here are some tips for cleaning your home after water damage:

1. Never ignore sitting water. If you detect flood water in any part of your home, it needs to be addressed immediately. Whether you are dealing with a damp basement or an inch of standing water, this can quickly develop into a mold problem. Not only can mold grow in walls, carpets, and furniture, but it can also cause poor indoor air quality. This can lead to respiratory problems such as asthma or other severe illnesses.  The best way to avoid these issues is to prevent the growth of mold by protecting your home from water damage.

2. Assess the damage. In the event that water does find its way into your home, the first thing you will need to do is assess the damage. When possible, try to dry the affected area and clean it with products that are designed to destroy mildew. Use fans in wet areas to help them dry faster and more efficiently. Likewise, a heater can help dry wet areas by removing moisture from the air. Depending on the size of the wet area, you may be able to use a hair dryer instead of a fan or heater.

3. Enlist the help of a professional. When left untreated, water-damaged areas can quickly become a breeding ground for dangerous mold. Even if you think you managed to dry up all the water, it is still a good idea to have the area examined by a professional.  Companies like DKI Services are specially trained to handle a wide-range of water damage related issues. This includes everything from mold remediation to hoarder cleaning services.  These professionals are highly-trained and can help ensure that the water damage does not further impact your home or air quality.

Dealing with water damage can be stressful, but it does not have to be. Follow these simple tips for cleaning your home after water damage and you will be well on your way to a clean and mold-free house.

Filed Under: home Tagged With: , ,