5 HARMFUL HOMEOWNER HABITS TO BREAK

Being a homeowner is one of the biggest milestones in your life. You feel excited and proud to take care of your new house and truly turn it into a home for you and your family. 

To keep your house in the best shape possible, here are five bad homeowner habits to avoid.

1. Damaging doors. Slamming your doors can have a huge impact in the long run as it can slowly pull your doors out of alignment and potentially create gaps and cracks near your exterior doors, letting air seep in and boosting your utility bill.
 

2. Harmful humidity. Showers lasting over 10 to 12 minutes at high water temperatures can increase chances of mildew and mold growing in your bathroom. Over time, this can also cause the paint on your ceiling to bubble and peel from condensation.
 

3. Abusing appliances. Clean the lint tray in your dryer after every use, run the oven cleaning cycle at least once a month, and try to wipe down your stovetop and microwave down regularly to avoid grease and residue build up.
 

4. Soiling surfaces. After eating a meal, applying makeup, or working and playing outdoors, try to wash your hands before touching walls, cabinets, and doors. Plus, make it a house rule to remove shoes at the door to avoid tracking dirt onto carpets and rugs.
 

5. Punishing pipes. Although not the best of topics, a clog in your pipes or main drain can be a huge pain and costly to fix. Regularly clean hair out of your sink and shower drains and avoid flushing cleansing wipes, paper towels, or feminine products down the toilet.

TOP TIPS FOR STAGING YOUR HOME

A recent survey from the National Association of Realtors® revealed that 77 percent of buyers’ agents said staging a home makes it easier for potential buyers to visual it as their own. That’s why staging is not to be overlooked! 

Here are some top tips.
 

1. Dress up your yard. First impressions count, and the first one your home gives comes from the exterior. Mow the lawn, clean up shrubbery, rake any leaves, clean the walkway and driveway, plant in-season flowers, and pull up any unsightly weeds.
    
2. Reduce personal items. Make it easier for buyers to imagine themselves making your house their home by removing personal photos and knick-knacks from shelves, walls, and counters. Instead replace them with clean, simple décor, such as abstract paintings, nature images, vases, plants, and more.
    
3. Organize your storage areas. Storage is a huge selling point. Tidy up and clear out the accessible closets and cupboards in the home and make sure to point them out during an open house or showing.
    
4. Appeal to the senses. Consider ways you can appeal to potential homebuyers’ other senses. During a viewing or open house, bake some fresh cookies or burn delicious smelling candles and play light, relaxing music in the background.
    
5. Consider turning to an expert. With their knowledge of current trends and great eye for design, professionally certified stagers can transform a home in a variety of ways and have a keen sense of what homebuyers want and expect in a home. Investing in hiring a pro may pay off in dividends.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PRICING YOUR HOME

One of the most daunting parts of selling your home is deciding what to price it at. You don’t want to price too high and get little to no traction but you don’t want to price too low and undervalue your home. There are so many things to take into consideration, so we’ve outlined the top XXX things you should do before you list.

Enlist the help of a local expert. Local agents have years of experience in the market you are selling in, plus have a lot of industry expertise to bring to the table. They will factor in the unique offerings of your home and neighborhood and your wants and needs for the sale of the home to help you properly price.

Research homes for sale in your neighborhood. It’s always a good idea to do a little recon on homes for sale in your area. View current and past listings online to find homes that have similar features and were built around the same year as yours to get an idea of prices. Open house in your neighborhood? Take time to pop by in person and get a feel for what their home has to offer at what price.

Remove the emotion. Whether it's your first or fourth home, it is the setting of so many amazing memories and holds a special place in your heart. Unfortunately, emotional attachment to your home can cloud your judgment when pricing it. Try to place your personal feelings about your home on the back burner and focus on tangible features of your home that add great value.

5 WAYS TO CREATE EXTRA SPACE IN YOUR HOME

Is your home feeling a little cramped? If so, there are many relatively inexpensive ways to free up more space. Here are some ideas:
 

Convert traditional into nontraditional space. We’re all familiar with converting a spare bedroom into a homeoffice or kids’ playroom. You can also create space by finding other uses for pantries and walk-in closets.
 

Explore smart storage solutions.
There are many products on the market that revolutionize how you store things. For example, there are closet organizers available that double storage capacity. Check out the options at your local home improvement store.
 

Get rid of unneeded furnishings. 

Is there a chair no one ever uses? Is there a side table that takes up a lot of space, with nothing but a few knick-knacks on it? Consider selling these items to free up some space.
 

Think high. 

Install storage shelves, hangers or baskets high up in the kitchen and laundry room. Use that storage for items you only access infrequently.
 

Consider storage rental. 

If you have furnishings and other items that you don’t want to get rid of, consider renting a storage unit. There may be economical options in your area. With a little creative thinking, you’ll be amazed by how much space you cancreate within your existing rooms.

PREPARE YOUR PIPES FOR A WINTER COLD SNAP

Winter has a certain amount of charm that comes with it — from sledding and outdoor ice skating to snowmen and brightly lit trees. But when icy weather hits, and your pipes are ill-prepared, it can mean a long (and costly) spring.
 

Here’s what happens: When temperatures drop, trapped water in pipes can freeze. Since water expands when it freezes, it can cause the pipes to rupture. When the pipes thaw, that’s when homeowners might come home to a flooded basement.
 

Instead of waiting before it’s too late, now is the time to insulate your pipes before the cold weather returns. Do it in the comfort of warm weather at your leisure so you’re not rushed when the cold weather arrives.
 

Insulate pipes
This action step performs double duty, keeping hot water pipes warm and protecting cold water pipes from freezing, which can lead to immediate energy returns. Homeowners with existing insulation should check it before the cold weather comes to town. If either the insulation or its tape looks cracked or crumbles to the touch, it should be replaced. If the pipes have either wire or tape heaters, homeowners should contact the pipe heater’s manufacturer before attempting to insulate pipes.
 

Old Man Winter
As a homeowner, you most likely will not be needing your hose or sprinklers this winter season. To that end, drain and store your lawn and gardening supplies before the first freeze. Even well-insulated homes reach freezing temperatures if left unheated.
 

Anti-leak technologies
Like any other industry, new technology is being developed to prevent water damage. One product, the FloLogic System, acts like a circuit breaker for the home plumbing system. The FloLogic system monitors a home’s entire water flow from a single position on the water main. When the flow through the system’s sensor exceeds a preset limit, the system shuts off the water and sounds an alarm at the keypad. If connected to a security system, FloLogic will notify the monitoring service. Shutting off the water prevents flooding, saving you from potentially costly repairs. Many insurers will also offer discounts to homeowners who use the FloLogic System.
 

If, however, a pipe is already frozen, homeowners should turn off the water, slowly thaw the pipe, then call a plumber to make necessary repairs.
 

For more information about the FloLogic System, and protecting your home from water damage, visit www.flologic.com.

MAKING YOUR SMALL BATHROOM LOOK BIGGER

Is your tiny bathroom feeling tight? Maximize your space with these simple tricks:

• Clarify. Instead of a heavy, opaque shower curtain, choose a clear shower curtain or glass shower door. This will show off the full depth of the room.
• Brighten. Choose solid, light colors for towels, rugs and other linens to brighten up the space.
• Clean. Remove or hide away clutter, clearing off the sink and tucking away toiletries into a cabinet or basket.
• Glow. Let the light in by switching out dull fixtures and placing mirrors to strategically reflect the light.

MAKING YOUR HOME PET-FRIENDLY

A home isn’t just a home for humans. It’s a home for your pets as well. Consider these tips to make your home more comfortable for your furry little friends.

• Storage space: Store all your pet’s possessions, such as toys, food and leashes, in one place for easy access. Having this space will also help you keep the rest of the home free from pet clutter.

• Dog doors: Install a dog door at the bottom of your back door to give your dog the freedom to roam around and go to the bathroom. If you are uncertain about how to install a dog door, contact a contractor.

• Flooring: To clean up after your pet, consider buying a vacuum with attachments to pick up fur and a carpet cleaner to deep clean pet messes.

• Feeding station: Add a feeding station to sequester kibble and pet water. The feeding station will also help keep your pet’s food clean and dry.

• Disguising the litter box: Hide your cat’s litter box by transforming a small side table or cabinet into a space for their litter box. Your cat, and your guests, will be thankful.

• Safety gates: A safety gate will keep your pets safe and away from anything dangerous. It will also give you peace of mind regarding your pet’s safety by setting boundaries for where they may or may not go when you are away.

• Match your pet’s fur: Any pet owner knows their pet’s fur will get everywhere. Consider the color of your pet’s fur when purchasing furnishings. High-contrast colors will accentuate fur before you have time to vacuum it away.

THIS EASY TIRE TREAD TEST ONLY COSTS A PENNY

Tires may not be the first thing you notice when you look at a car, but they may be the most important safety and performance element of any vehicle. 

When you think about it, they are the only part of your car that connects you to the road.

While brakes stop your wheels, it’s your tires that stop the car — and that’s why maintaining them is absolutely critical. 

Luckily, one of the most important tire checks won’t cost you more than a penny!

Once a month, or before heading on a long road trip, check your tires for wear and damage using “the penny test.” Just grab a penny and select a point on your tire where tread appears the lowest. Then, holding Lincoln’s body between your thumb and your forefinger, place Lincoln’s head into one of the grooves. If any part of Abe Lincoln’s head is covered by the tread, you’re driving with the legal and safe amount of tread.

However, if all of Lincoln’s head is visible, it’s a sign that it is time to get new tires. “Traction and tread are inextricably linked. The grooves in your tire are critical in helping to channel water away to allow the tire to grip the road,” says Sarah Robinson, Michelin safety expert. “Making sure you’re driving on tires with proper tread can be the difference between avoiding an accident, and becoming part of it.”

If it’s time to get new tires, consider these two factors first and foremost:

1. Safety: Most tires perform well in everyday situations, but difficult conditions will reveal their differences. Choose tires that can perform well in the worst types of weather or roads you encounter. For example, if you live in a region with regular heavy snowfall and cold winters, consider winter tires for part of the year. The difference can be huge.

2. Value: It’s important to remember that not all tires are created equal. Tires may seem like an additional expense on top of general car maintenance, but investing in quality tires known for long-lasting performance–such as the Michelin Defender with its 80,000 mile warranty–will save you money over time as your tires won’t need to be replaced as quickly.

For more information, visit www.MichelinMan.com

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REV UP YOUR RETIREMENT: GET THE BEST PRICE FOR YOUR HOME

Even if your retirement seems far away, it’s never too early to think about retirement funds. For many people, retirement means selling their current home.

Data from a recent survey show that more than half of the baby boomer generation plan to sell their current homes as part of their retirement. 

If selling your home is on your retirement agenda, a little thought now about how to get the best price can make a big difference when it’s time to put it on the market.

Here are some small steps that can pay off in a big way:

•    Control the clutter. Start now by going through some of that old memorabilia, and choose what’s really important to keep and move. When you’re ready to show your house to prospective buyers, think “less clutter.”

“Buyers shouldn’t be distracted from imagining themselves living in your space,” says Patsy O’Neill, a sales associate with Sotheby’s in Montclair, New Jersey.

•    Keep remodeling sensible. Just because certain home designs are trendy now, doesn’t mean they’ll stay that way. Also, keep in mind that many prospective buyers of older homes would prefer to do the remodeling themselves, to suit their own needs and tastes.

•    Consider first impressions. Don’t underestimate “curb appeal.” Roof replacement spruces up your home, and potential buyers will appreciate it from down the street, before they even walk through the door. Roof remodeling consistently ranks highly in Remodeling magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value report.

According to O’Neill, a worn roof is “a huge turn-off” to potential buyers and “makes people predisposed to find even more things they don’t like.”

Another upside: roof renovations can be very affordable. For example, the Value Collection Lifetime Designer Shingles from GAF (www.gaf.com), North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, provide an instant upgrade to your home without the cost and hassle of a major indoor renovation.

Address major safety issues, such as electrical capacity and boiler condition, before putting your home on the market, and you’ll be that much more appealing to interested buyers.

MORE SPACE MEOW! LEARN TO KEEP YOUR CAT HAPPY IN A SMALL HOME

As more and more people move to urban areas or look to minimize and simplify their lives, small-space living is on the rise. This trend toward scaling back is great news for cat lovers. But sharing your small home with a cat isn’t without its challenges. 

Read on to ensure you and your feline friend live in harmony when space is at a premium.

Give your cat a “territory.”

By nature, cats are territorial, just like their wild counterparts. A domestic cats don’t need acres of grassland to roam, but they should have a special place in your small home. Let your cat pick his or her favorite spot — perhaps a windowsill, a high perch or a dark hiding spot — and set up a comfy bed or blanket. Intrusions, from either humans or other pets, should be kept to a minimum in this area.

Forget about “off-limits.”

In a small space, your cat will need a lot of freedom to explore. Expect furniture, tables or even kitchen countertops to be a part of his or her territory. Store food, breakables and anything else you don’t want your cat to get into behind closed cabinet doors so your cat can roam free.

Choose a cat litter made for tight quarters.

The litter box can be the trickiest part of sharing a small home with a cat. You need a litter that delivers powerful odor control and makes it easy to keep the box clean. World’s Best Cat Litter harnesses the concentrated power of corn for long-lasting performance and keeps odor under control even in the tightest spaces. As a bonus for apartment dwellers who dread trash trips, this all-natural litter alternative is also flushable* and septic-safe.

Cats can be perfect pets for people living in small spaces. All it takes is a little planning and compromise to keep everyone purring and content!

    

*The State of California encourages the disposal of cat feces in trash and discourages flushing feces in toilets or disposing of them in drains. Other States in the U.S. and some provinces in Canada may have similar policies and/or regulations pertaining to the disposal of animal waste. Check with your local municipal or provincial governments for more information.