10 Tips for Weather-Proofing Your Home

 

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Weather-proofing your home is more than a precaution; it's a necessity, especially in places with diverse climates like Holland, Michigan. Known for its beautiful tulip gardens that bloom every spring, Holland experiences a wide range of weather throughout the year, from snowy winters to warm, sunny summers. This variety means that homes in Holland must be prepared to withstand whatever Mother Nature decides to throw their way. Here are some essential tips for weather-proofing your home to ensure it remains cozy, safe, and efficient, regardless of the season.

1. Start with the Roof

Your roof's integrity is paramount when it comes to weather-proofing your home. Beyond regular inspections and replacing worn shingles, consider the benefits of installing ice and water shields in areas prone to ice dams. These shields can prevent water from seeping under shingles and causing damage to the roof structure and interior of your home. Additionally, ensure your attic is properly ventilated. This will not only extend the life of your roof but also prevent ice dams by maintaining a more consistent roof temperature.

2. Seal Windows and Doors

Sealing leaks is just the first step; upgrading to double or triple-pane windows filled with inert gas can dramatically improve insulation, reducing the burden on your heating and cooling systems. A professional window company in Holland MI, such as All Weather Seal, can offer energy-efficient solutions and professional installation to ensure airtight seals. Similarly, for doors, upgrading to models with better insulation values and installing storm doors can provide an additional layer of protection against the elements.

3. Clean and Repair Gutters

While cleaning gutters is essential, so is ensuring they're properly aligned. Gutters that slope incorrectly do not efficiently channel water away from your home, potentially leading to foundation issues. Additionally, consider installing downspout extensions to direct water further away from your home's foundation. This simple addition can significantly reduce the risk of water damage to your basement and foundation, especially during Holland's heavy spring thaws and downpours.

4. Insulate Your Home

Insulation goes beyond just adding more material in the attic. Consider having a professional energy audit to identify heat loss areas, which could include hidden spots like electrical outlets, light fixtures, and where walls meet the ceiling. Expanding foam or blown-in insulation can fill these gaps, significantly improving your home’s thermal envelope. Additionally, insulating your garage door and ensuring any ductwork in unheated spaces is properly insulated can prevent cold spots and ensure more uniform temperatures throughout your home.

5. Protect Your Pipes

To further safeguard against frozen pipes, consider installing pipe insulation sleeves, which are easy to apply and cost-effective. For pipes located in particularly vulnerable areas, electrical heating tape can offer additional protection by providing direct warmth. On extremely cold nights, keeping your home a few degrees warmer than usual can make a significant difference in preventing freeze-ups. It's also wise to know where your home's main water shut-off valve is located so you can quickly respond in the event of a pipe bursting.

6. Strengthen Your Home's Exterior

The exterior of your home is its first line of defense against harsh weather. Regular inspections can catch minor issues before they escalate into major problems. If you find cracks or damage, addressing these immediately can prevent water from seeping into your home, which can lead to mold growth and structural issues. In areas where severe weather is a common occurrence, investing in high-quality siding materials can make a significant difference. Fiber-cement siding, for example, is renowned for its durability and resistance to wind, fire, and water, and it can withstand the rigors of extreme weather. Additionally, ensuring that your home’s trim and foundation are in good condition can prevent air leaks and water intrusion, keeping your home insulated and dry.

7. Landscape Wisely

Thoughtful landscaping is not only about aesthetics but also plays a crucial role in protecting your home from weather damage. Strategic planting of trees and shrubs can serve as natural windbreaks, reducing the impact of heavy winds on your home. They can also provide shade during the hotter months, contributing to keeping your home cooler. However, it's important to plant them at a safe distance from your home to avoid root damage to the foundation and to prevent any risk of branches falling on your house during storms. Choosing native plants that are adapted to your local climate can also reduce the need for water and maintenance, making your landscaping both beautiful and resilient.

8. Install Storm Shutters

Storm shutters are an invaluable addition to homes in areas prone to hurricanes or heavy storms. They offer protection for your windows against flying debris and can significantly reduce the risk of damage during severe weather events. Whether you opt for permanent shutters that blend with your home's exterior or temporary solutions that can be deployed when a storm is on the horizon, the added layer of protection can give you peace of mind knowing your home is better shielded against the elements.

9. Check Your Home's Ventilation

Adequate ventilation is key to maintaining a healthy indoor environment, particularly in controlling moisture levels. High humidity can lead to mold and mildew, which can compromise the structural integrity of your home and affect your health. Ensure that areas like your attic, basement, and crawl spaces have proper ventilation. Installing exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathrooms can also help in reducing moisture. This step is particularly important in maintaining your home’s warmth in winter and its coolness in summer, contributing to overall energy efficiency.

10. Create an Emergency Kit

Despite all the precautions, it’s always best to be prepared for any emergency. A well-stocked emergency kit is essential for weathering storms safely. Include basic supplies such as water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, and blankets. Also, consider adding items like a manual can opener, a radio, and spare chargers for electronics. Regularly reviewing and replenishing your emergency kit ensures you’re always prepared for unexpected weather events, providing both safety and comfort during difficult times.

Conclusion

Weather-proofing your home not only protects your property but also enhances your comfort and peace of mind throughout the year. By taking these steps, you can ensure that your home is ready to face whatever weather comes its way, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of each season without worry.

10 Things to Consider When Remodeling Your Home

 

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A home remodeling project is an opportunity to infuse your living space with more personality, functionality, and comfort. Yet, it's not without its share of challenges. From financial considerations to design decisions, remodeling requires meticulous planning and foresight. Whether you're dreaming of a minimalist kitchen, a spa-like bathroom, or a more energy-efficient living space, the process of transforming your home involves navigating through a range of important decisions. This guide aims to shed light on essential aspects to consider, ensuring your home remodeling journey is as smooth and fulfilling as possible.

1. Define Your Vision

The first step to any successful remodel is clarifying your vision. What are you aiming to achieve? Are you looking to create more room, enhance natural lighting, or perhaps modernize outdated features? Begin with the end in mind by gathering inspiration. This could be from home design websites, magazines, or even a neighbor’s recently renovated space. It’s essential to be as detailed and specific as possible during this phase to avoid ambiguity when communicating your ideas to contractors and designers.

2. Recognize Potential Health Hazards

In older homes, hidden health hazards, such as asbestos, can pose significant risks during remodeling. Asbestos, once a popular construction material, can be found in insulation, flooring, and even popcorn ceilings of homes built before the 1980s. Disturbing these materials without proper precautions can release harmful fibers into the air. Before you dive into demolition, consider consulting with experts to test for and safely remove hazardous materials. Law firms like Simmons Hanly Conroy the specialize in addressing legal side of these concerns, offering guidance and services to ensure to individuals who have been impacted by asbestos exposure. You can look up the keyword Simmons Law Firm online to find out more about the services they offer.

3. Budget Wisely

An accurate, well-planned budget sees to it that your project stays on course and within financial boundaries. Start by listing all anticipated expenses, including materials, labor, permits, and an additional 10-20% for unforeseen costs. It's important to be realistic and prepare for the unexpected. Comparison shopping for materials and getting multiple quotes from contractors can also help keep costs down. Keep in mind that the cheapest option isn’t always the best. Investing in quality where it counts will pay off in the long run, both in terms of durability and overall satisfaction.

4. Choose the Right Contractor

Your contractor will play a pivotal role in bringing your vision to life, making the selection process critical. Seek out a professional with a solid reputation, the necessary credentials, and a portfolio of completed projects that align with your aesthetic and quality expectations. Transparent communication, reliability, and trustworthiness are key qualities to look for. Recommendations from friends or online reviews can be invaluable in this search. Once you've narrowed down your choices, conduct interviews to discuss your project in detail and gauge whether they're the right fit for your remodeling adventure.

5. Obtain Necessary Permits

Navigating the maze of permits can be daunting, but it’s a crucial step in the remodeling process. Permits make certain that your project complies with local building codes and safety regulations. Skipping this step can lead to penalties and headaches down the line, especially when it comes time to sell your home. Your contractor can often handle the permit process, but staying informed and involved is wise. This makes sure that all work is legal, up to code, and inspected by the appropriate authorities.

6. Plan for Living Arrangements

Major renovations can disrupt your daily life significantly. Depending on the scale of your project, you might need to consider alternative living arrangements. Dust, noise, and the absence of essential utilities can make staying in your home inconvenient or even impossible. Planning ahead for these disruptions will help minimize stress. Whether it’s budgeting for a short-term rental or arranging to stay with family or friends, think through your options early on. This foresight will allow you to focus on the excitement of the transformation rather than the temporary inconveniences.

7. Prioritize Structural Upgrades

In the quest for a beautiful home, it’s easy to focus on cosmetic changes. However, the essence of a truly successful remodel lies beneath the surface. Prioritizing structural upgrades can significantly enhance your home's safety, functionality, and efficiency. This includes modernizing outdated electrical systems, reinforcing foundations, or updating plumbing. These improvements make sure your home meets current safety standards and can also lead to savings on utility bills. Investing in insulation and window upgrades can improve energy efficiency, making your home more comfortable and eco-friendly. Although these changes might not be as visually dramatic, they contribute to the long-term value and durability of your home.

8. Don’t Overlook the Exterior

First impressions matter, and the exterior of your home sets the tone for what’s inside. Updating the exterior can dramatically improve curb appeal and increase your home’s value. Consider projects like painting the siding, replacing an outdated roof, or landscaping to enhance your home's aesthetic appeal and functionality. Even simple updates, such as new outdoor lighting or a refreshed front door, can make a significant impact. Your home’s exterior is the first thing people see, so investing in its appearance can pay off in both pride of ownership and resale value.

9. Consider Future Needs

Remodeling offers a prime opportunity to adapt your home to future life stages. Whether anticipating the needs of a growing family or preparing for retirement, incorporating adaptable design elements can make your home more versatile and comfortable for years to come. Features like first-floor master bedrooms, walk-in showers, and wider doorways can make a significant difference in accessibility. Thinking ahead about your needs and lifestyle changes can guide your remodeling choices, ensuring your home remains a perfect fit through different phases of life.

10. Focus on Energy Efficiency

Incorporating energy-efficient solutions can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and utility bills. From installing LED lighting and high-efficiency appliances to adding solar panels or a smart home thermostat, there are myriad ways to enhance your home's energy efficiency. These updates contribute to a healthier planet and add value to your home, making it more appealing to future buyers who prioritize sustainability.

Conclusion

In a home remodeling project, each decision, from structural upgrades to the finishing touches, contributes to the transformation of your home into a place that meets your current needs and anticipates future ones. While remodeling can be a complex and sometimes challenging process, the result—a home that beautifully reflects your personal style and meets your functional needs—is a testament to the value of meticulous planning, informed decision-making, and a collaborative spirit.

How To Personalize Your Home

 They say home is where the heart is. As a result, you should find a way to showcase as much of your heart and the things you love in your home as possible. After all, this will help turn your home into your safe haven, a place where you can retreat after a busy or stressful day.

Photo by Jimmy Dean on Unsplash

With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to personalize your home! 

DIY your decorations. DIY is more than just a method for tackling home improvement or maintenance tasks, it can also be a great way to add an extra personal touch to your home. For example, if you had a diy cnc router, you could use this to turn a regular old piece of wood into a coveted work of art, which you can proudly display in any room of your home. You could also use this to create bespoke furniture, such as a coffee table or desk. 

Make use of all the spaces available to you. Another way in which you can make sure your home caters to your every need is by ensuring you make the most of every space you have available to you. For example, if you are a bookworm,  instead of using your attic as a glorified (and rather dusty) storage unit, you could convert your attic into a reading room. This way you have the perfect cozy space to retreat to when you fancy entering another world for a few hours. Alternatively, if you work from home, you could turn this space into a stunning WFH station. 

Paint your walls a bright, bold color. Many home interior guides encourage homeowners to use neutral shades when painting their walls. This is because it allows your furniture to take center stage by acting as a blank canvas. However, as color impacts our emotions and behaviors, featuring your favorite colors in your home (no matter how bright or bold) can truly transform your home and how you feel when spending time there. 

Reupholster your furniture. Learning how to reupholster furniture such as sofas and chairs is another great way to add a more personal touch to your home, without having to buy new furniture outright. It can also be a great way to breathe life into older furniture items, making them look good as new. Try to keep an eye out for bright, bold, or eye-catching fabrics you can use to achieve this goal.

Create a photo wall. Personalized crafts are a great way to spruce up your home. As a result, creating a photo wall is always a great idea. This way you can look back on some of your favorite memories, from vacations to wedding ceremonies every single day. This will not only brighten up any room in the home but can also contribute significantly to your happiness as “photos remind us of people, pets, places, and activities that we love as well as remembering the past. This has been shown to reduce our stress and enhance our mood and overall wellbeing”. There are many ways in which you can create a dynamic photo wall. For example, you could use a variety of different print mediums, from framed photographs to canvases. Alternatively, you could choose a theme for your photo wall, such as black and white images. 

Paint the front door. Home makeovers should include both the interior and exterior of your property, especially if you want to make a real difference. As a result, you could add an extra personal touch to your home by repainting the front door and window frames. Again, do not feel as though you have to choose a plain, neutral color for your door (even if other homeowners on your street have gone down this route). A splash of color will help your home appear bright and inviting! However, you must ensure that you invest in quality, durable paint so that it does not fade quickly or require regular topping-up. 

Paint a Canvas. Hanging art in your home is not only an excellent way to brighten up a dull, blank wall, but it can also trigger creativity and decrease stress. You could take this to the next level by painting your own canvases instead of buying some. This will save you a great deal of money, and will also work to ensure that you have a unique piece of artwork to display in your home. Furthermore, this could be a fun activity that the whole family can partake in, and who knows,  maybe you have a budding Picasso in the family! 

Advice For Upgrading Your WFH Station In 2022

 The past two years have caused major changes in all parts of our lives, from day-to-day issues like mask wearing and social distancing, to larger changes such as not being able to go on holidays or see all your family. 

But, one of the biggest changes to our lives seems to be one which people seem quite happy to continue with and that is working from home. As more and more people have been working from home, many have discovered that they prefer to work from home rather than commute into an office.

For many workers who are working from home, their work from home set ups isn’t ideal. Due to the short notice behind from work from home, lot’s of workers have impromptu work stations set up in their home. 

So as we’re approaching 2022, lots of people see the perfect opportunity to upgrade their work from home set up, whether changing their home office décor for a nicer work environment or making practical changes to be more comfortable and productive. So, let’s find out some ways you can upgrade your work from home set up for 2022!

Have A Work Only Room If Possible

First things first, with so many impromptu work from home stations set up in living rooms and kitchens, we have to acknowledge that this isn’t ideal. Spending all day working in an area of your home then having to relax in that same room can have negative effects on your productivity and mental health.

So, if it’s possible, you should look at relocating your work from home station into a room dedicated just for work. While not everyone has this luxury, if you have a guest room or other room going unused you should use that exclusively for your working, allowing you to separate your personal time from working time easier and not face distractions at work.

Buy A Proper Desk & Office Chair

Again, as most of us started working from home we didn’t have much time to prepare which has lead many people to use their dining tables, sofas and beds as an impromptu office space. While this is okay for a few days or weeks of working, none of these spaces are designed for work and can lead you to develop issues with your posture and be more susceptible to RSIs.

So getting a proper desk and office chair should be a priority, your spine will thank you! With a proper ergonomic set up, you won’t be having back pain after spending a day at your PC and when you’re more comfortable at work, you are in turn more happy as you aren’t dealing with the physical impacts of a poor work station.

Get A Smart Speaker Assistant

Smart speakers have been all the rage for the past few years now for personal use at home, but did you also know that they make handy personal assistants for office work too? Smart speaker devices like Google Assistant or Amazon Echo Dot can be used as a great way to streamline your work days.

With a smart speaker you can set up your work calendar or schedule, allowing it to notify you of upcoming meetings or calls; control other devices allowing you to use them without leaving your desk; give you work alerts, notify you of emails and even assist in making calls. Of course with a smart speaker you also get all the usual functionality like being able to play music or the news whilst working.

If You Must Clean out Your House in The Winter, Read This

 

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Decluttering in winter sounds like the craziest idea anyone could have. However, it actually is the best time of the year after fall. For some reason, there’s a huge hype about spring cleaning. You don’t have to clean out your house in spring because it’s a traditional time to do so. Moreover, junk removal services like Jiffy Junk are often completely booked in spring. If you did your decluttering in spring, you’ll likely end up on a waiting list. Take advantage of the cold season and be already all set and done when spring comes around.

Perfect Time To Organize Seasonal Items

Now that summer is over all of your garden furniture is probably back in the garage or the basement. But those aren’t the only items in your home you’re only using on a seasonal basis. Take your wardrobe, for example. Not only do we usually not wear 80 % of the clothes we have. Almost half of our clothes are seasonal items. No one wears a thick jumper in summer. As you’re organizing your home bit by bit, it’s the perfect opportunity to arrange seasonal items. Anything you find of no further use for you might be just the right gift for someone else. You could sell or donate unwanted items. It’s the season of giving after all and you could make a couple of poorer people happy. 

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Create a Stress-Free Zone

Especially during the winter season, people are more likely to be stressed out. On the one hand, there’s all the planning for the holidays. On the other hand, the darker season of the year can bring about low moods. As a matter of fact, clutter can contribute to depression and other stress-related mood swings.

The more you have, the likelier you may experience symptoms of stress. It even affects your sleep to have lots of clutter accumulated. Researchers found that if you lots of clutter piles, your brain can’t switch off during the night. Piles of clutter give you a sensation of an unfinished To-Do-List.

You can actively keep stress at bay as soon you take care of all the clutter in your home. Do a thorough junk removal to make you feel more relaxed in winter.

Everyone Can Help

Given the fact that life happens mainly indoors in winter, the whole family can help with the decluttering process. Surely, your children will run outside into the garden and play in the snow, but they are unlikely to spend the entire day outside. Neither is there a lot of BBQs or pool parties happening. 

Everyone automatically has more time. The more you are to tackle junk removal from your entire home, the sooner you’re done. It’s best if every family member tackles his own area. You won’t end up with someone crying because you did away with your child’s sentimental value. Turn the process into a contest. Whoever is done first with his area gets to decide what’s for dinner or ice cream. 

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How to Best Clean Out Your House in The Winter

Now all of that being said, you’ll only need a plan to start with junk removal. You don’t build a house without a blueprint. Each project requires organization.

1. Set yourself a goal

If you started junk removal of your home but had no time frame, you may never finish it. Therefore start with setting yourself a goal until when you’d prefer to be done with it. As a rule of thumb, it’s always best to plan as long ahead as possible. The more you have to go through, the more time you will require. It might not be a good idea to decide to clean out your home a week before Christmas. Considering all the holiday preparations you’d end up adding more stress to your plate. 

2. Do one room after another

You can’t do junk removal in all rooms at once. Tackle one room after another and split those rooms up into four parts. It provides you with manageable chunks and won’t overwhelm you. Take care of smaller rooms or those where you know you don’t have much to go through first. Leave larger rooms with lots of stuff for a day when you’ve got more time. Don’t do those in a week you know you’ll be very busy. 

3. Take out the garbage first

The easiest approach to junk removal from each room is to take out the obvious garbage first. Take a bin bag and stuff it with any garbage you find on the spot. Sweet wrappers, empty bags of chips, old papers, and notes can go without being looked at. Once the superficial garbage is out of the way, you’ve got more space to organize each area. If this is a much bigger job than you anticipated, you can look towards a company that offers skip bin hire sydney, or skip bin hire near you, so you have some assistance with excess waste! 

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4. Take three boxes

Next, you best take three boxes when you tackle each area of a room. One box is for things to keep, one for selling or donating, and the latter for junk to toss. Don’t forget to also sort seasonal items in this method. You may want to keep winter clothes and seasonal decorations. But chances are, you’ve already not used some of those items last year. If you haven’t used it last year you’re unlikely to use it again. Only keep clothes and decorations you truly love. Throw anything else out. Also, throw out anything you’ve got doubles of. No one needs several baking tins with the same mold. Don’t forget to also check rags and furniture.

And Finally, Arrange The Junk Removal

At best you’d arrange a garage sale with items you could sell, but winter is probably not the best season for garage sales. You could try to sell unwanted items online though. Since the winter weather can make 

it’s hard to bring donations to a charity, you might want to rely on a junk removal service. You’ll need to schedule a collection for your unwanted items anyway. Most junk removal services have partnered with charities. They will bring any items from a collection that are still in good shape directly to a charity. Two birds, one stone, and the most convenient way to perform a junk removal. 

Mom Life on the Run

When I was pregnant with my first child, I envisioned having a real life doll baby. I had this fun little notion about how perfect everything would be. You couldn't have burst my bubble if you tried. Some lessons, like babies being messy, are lessons that you have to live and learn. 

With my second baby, I was back at it with the ideas again. I had notions of matching outfits and coordinated activities and perfectly decorated bedrooms. HA! I sure am a funny lady. This post has been sponsored by Oxiclean. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Motherhood has had lots of interesting moments. From the sweet ones that make you tear up a little, to the ridiculous ones (hello, who wrote on the side of the house with permanent markers?!) to the ones that are just downright messy, like ice cream on a hot day. One thing I know for sure is that mess happens when you are a mom and there is only one thing you can do, jump in and clean it up. That's why I like to keep a OxiClean on the Go Stain Remover Pen on my person. These come in so handy for life with kids! If we are out to dinner, no dribble destroys the day. We can go anywhere and face anything with a oxiclean stain remover pen!

While these are small, they have so much power within. I have used them for so many stains. From ice cream to ketchup. I even used them to take dirty foot prints out of new shoes. Like I said, as a mom, I know messes will happen. And now I can roll with whatever happens while saving time and money.  You can pick up a 3 pack from retailers like Meijer, Walmart or Amazon starting at $7.

Keeping Home Smelling Fresh

 If you have a garbage disposal at home, you know that while they are convenient to have, they can also be STINKY! There is nothing quite like walking past and smelling that odor. It can stop you in your tracks and send you scrambling to find a solution. If you are anything like me, you have tried it all. A sprinkle of baking soda, a lemon peel, and more. But, that smell seems to come back like a bad penny. What can you do about it? Take out the disposal and deal with food scraps? 

Thankfully we are not there yet! Arm & Hammer has solutions for smelly garbage disposals! This post has been sponosored, but all opinions are my own. My go to is the Arm & Hammer Garbage Disposal Cleaner.  These little pods are so easy to use and they make such a difference in the way my home smells! I no longer stress over if y guests are going to get a whiff of the sink and know things will smell as fresh as they would without the disposal.

Garbage disposal cleaning sounds treacherous doesn't it? Well, trust me, these little pods do all the work! All you need to do is open the package and pop one in. Like magic your disposal will be as fresh as can be with the cleaning power of citrus and baking soda. 

These are perfect for busy people who want a fresh and inviting home, free of lingering odors. Get a pack from retailers  like Amazon or Lowe's for about $9 a pack.

How to Keep Your Home in Top Condition

Your home is your castle, your sanctuary, and because of that, you should do everything you can to make sure it is in the best condition possible. This ranges from ensuring it is secure (click here to learn more), to keeping up with maintenance. Few things make a home more uncomfortable to live in than nagging faults, not to mention that leaving these faults unchecked can cost you in the future when it’s time to sell. Much like servicing a car, it is important to complete frequent maintenance tasks on your home. However, the difficulty with that is knowing what to look for. Read on for a guide on what to do to keep your home in good order. 

Change out HVAC filters monthly

Your HVAC filters, used in your home’s heating, ventilation, or cooling system, collect impurities in the air to improve the air quality in your home. Due to this, these can get really dirty pretty quickly, especially if you are a bigger family with pets.

If you’re living on your own, then you can get away with replacing these every few months, but it’s always worth inspecting them frequently just to be sure. It’s also a good rule of thumb to get cheaper filters instead of more expensive ones, as this will save you money, considering you’re going to be replacing them frequently regardless of quality.

Look after your home’s financial health

Keeping track of your home’s finances is just as important as looking after it physically. This is because staying on top of these finances can help you pay off your mortgage quicker, giving you better peace of mind. Taking stock of your monthly repayments, and budgeting around them can be really beneficial as this can help you avoid costly debts piling up, which would be a slippery slope and could force you to foreclose your home if these debts get too unmanageable.

Test smoke alarms and carbon dioxide detectors

These alarms and detectors are vital for your safety, so it’s important to test them at least quarterly to ensure that they’re working properly. Testing fire alarms should be simple, as most have a test button. If the alarm sounds, then you’re good, but if not you may have to change the batteries. If it still doesn’t work with new batteries, clean the battery terminal, as corrosion may be interfering with the connection. If it’s still not working, then you’ll need to replace the whole unit. It’s also worth replacing a fire alarm every 10 years, regardless of whether it’s working or not.

Vacuum your refrigerator coils

This task should be done at least twice a year, and is a good way to make sure one of your most important home appliances is working correctly. The coils can gather dust and other yucky substances over time, making them perform less efficiently, resulting in higher energy consumption to keep your produce chilled. Cleaning coils can

Deep clean your home

Allocating a couple of days a year to give your home a really good clean can really help it stay clean and in top condition. This type of clean is really intense, as you focus on appliances, windows, and dusting everywhere, basically focusing on areas of your house that you skip when you clean regularly. By doing this and not letting grime build up over the years you will maintain your home in top condition.