Tag Archives: Home

Putting Home Energy Savings on to Your System

September 01, 2023   Matt

Putting Home Energy Savings on to Your System

Using home energy everyday is easy. But, receiving high electric bills at the end of the month may be a little hard for you. Since most homeowners like you, want to know how to get those electric bill in a manageable and acceptable digits, there are several systems designed to particularly answer this. Systems that are guaranteed to make your electric bills low.

Here are those:

Insulating – The best way to keep your body warm is by wearing not only just thick clothing, but also clothes that will trap the body heat inside. The same principle goes with keeping your house warn during winter. Keeping good and tight batt insulation around wall enclosures is the best thing to do this. But it is not always the easiest. Any gaps at any point around the wall enclosure will definitely degrade the quality of the insulation installed. Gaps mentioned here are electrical boxes, pipes, and wires; places where batt insulation can be tricky to install even for professionals. As an alternative, you may want to use materials such as cellulose insulation for maximum area coverage. The cellulose insulation eliminates gap and voids, making your walls 100% insulated.

But this is not all.

After insulating your home, you might think you have done enough. It is true that insulating your home well will keep cold air from entering your home and degrading the performance of your heating system. But, your house is not 100% assured that it would e 100% insulated. The next thing is one important thing you should understand…

Airsealing – Leaks around the house are accounted for as much as 40% of your heating and cooling consumption. This means that no matter how good your insulation is, if your house have leaks, you still cannot assure total savings.

Airsealing your home is the next important thing you should remember and do in order to maximize the use of your heating system. Leaks from the front doors must be sealed by weather stripping. Doors leading to garage and attic, and doors to individual rooms should also be sealed. Sealants must be applied on windows, joints and sills. Walls with leaks can degrade the quality of air as well as the performance of your heating system. Leaks from floors will make your heating system work harder as well. All of these should be sealed in order to make your home leak-free that would equate to savings.

Extra savings – Now that you have ensured that your home is well insulated and air-sealed, it is time for you to solve minor problems that add big cost on your home energy.

Cleaning your air filter will give you 2 good effects:

1. Clean air filter reduces the heating system’s demand to work extra.
2. Clean air filter will provide clean recycled air around the house.

Making sure that the ducts are leak free will give you as much as 30% on energy savings from your heating system.

Turn on your appliances only if you will use them. Never leave them on while you were away. Lights should be turned off if not used. Lower down your thermostat if you are away or sleeping.

Set your washing machine to cold. Washing machine consumes as much as 90% more power on heating the water than using tap water.

Using small electric burner when cooking will give you better savings than using large burner. It will also keep your heating system less stressful in maintaining the temperature of the house.

Lower down the thermostat of your refrigerator.

Using your fireplace to warm the house up is much cheaper than using the heating system.

Maintaining – Keeping your home well maintained will give you a lot of savings. Invest on energy saving devices that will keep your home warn at the same time, enables your heating system to work as efficient as possible. Regular check on the leaks of the duct and periodical cleaning of the air filter will certainly make your heating system work efficiently.

With all these, you may now have electric bill that is both manageable and acceptable.

Try all these and see the difference they can do to your monthly electric bill.

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You Should Listen To The Advice Of Your Real Estate Agent When Selling Your Home (2)

August 22, 2023   Matt

You Should Listen To The Advice Of Your Real Estate Agent When Selling Your Home

There are so many things that you need to keep in mind when you are trying to sell your home. From the price to the decor, everything about your home matters. While it may seem like a lot it can be simple if you follow a few rules.

If your front or back yard has too many trees, you may want to think about chopping them down before putting your home on the market. Many people are not interested in purchasing a home that has too many trees around it, while other people may simply be allergic to the trees.

In your home, upgrade your old kitchen and bathrooms. Bathrooms and kitchens are often the major selling points of a home. Generally, a bathroom that has been modernized can provide over a 100% return, where a kitchen that has been modernized can provide a 90% return on your home.

When it comes to selling or a buying a home, no question is stupid to ask a real estate agent. By not asking questions, you could end up losing out on your dream home or selling your home under conditions you do not agree with. Remember, a real estate agent is paid to please you!

Adding a shop to your home or property will really drive up it’s value. Whether you section off a portion of the garage and add workbenches, outlets and shelving, or build a second outbuilding that is designed especially for housing tools and equipment, you will appeal to a wider selection of buyers who like to do work on their own machines, or their own home repairs and need a space to do the work.

Find an agent that knows how to market and how to advertise your house in the most productive way. A good real estate agent can make a huge difference in the price you get, and how long the home is sitting on the market. Get referrals from friends and neighbors, and make sure you ask for references.

When selling real estate, you should always hire a professional cleaning service to come in and do a detailed cleaning. When buyers walk in, they will be impressed at how things look and are more likely to not be as concerned about how the mechanical systems function, since they can see that the home is spotless and well maintained.

When you have made the decision to sell your house, you need to emotionally detach yourself. Many people become attached to their homes. This is the place where they raised their children and memories were made. If you can not separate your emotions, you will have a hard time selling your house for a reasonable price.

When selling a home, it is important to make the space feel as open and clean as possible. Take extra pieces of furniture and personal belongings that you don’t need on a daily basis to storage and re-arrange what is left to make the home feel open.

Do not allow yourself to get too discouraged if your home does not sell right away. Sometimes it is as simple as going back to the drawing board and making a few minor adjustments. After taking the correct steps, you can have your house sold before you know it.

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Transform Your Home With These Quick And Simple Tips!

August 07, 2023   Matt

Transform Your Home With These Quick And Simple Tips!

Home improvement might appear very complicated and involved, but if you know what you are doing, it can be a very renewing experience. If you don’t know what you are doing, you can really hurt yourself or make your home unsafe. Don’t worry, the tips listed below can help you avoid this.

Try to add a room to your house. You may already have three bedrooms and a den, but the den cannot be considered a bedroom since it doesn’t have a closet. Add a closet to make it four bedrooms. That’s a relatively easy and cheap way to add value to your house.

Xeriscaping is an landscaping option that homeowners in extremely dry climates should take advantage of. Xeriscaping replaces more typical lawns and shrubs with rock beds and plants from arid climates. These alternates require far less irrigation than traditional landscaping, and the exotic plants available for xeriscaping can be more beautiful and striking than common landscape standbys.

Building a dog house in ones backyard can provide a fun home improvement project for one to do with their family. It will also provide a place for the family dog to go when it is outside and wants to get some shade, get a drink or take a nap.

When moving into a home you should get an alarm system installed. There are people who may have been in your home when it belonged to the previous owner and who know how to easily get in and out of your home. An alarm system will protect your home from intruders.

If you don’t know where to start updating your home, give the kitchen a shot. If you update the kitchen, especially if it is outdated, old, and dark in design, you will find that the value of the home is greatly increased in this room alone. Starting with the kitchen is always a great start.

Stay aware of your budget for home improvement projects. Especially after the holidays, money is tight. If you plan and budget, you can find the best prices on the materials and labor needed for your projects. In addition, you can save time by being more prepared by having materials that you’ve purchased over time ready to go when you start your project.

One of the smallest improvements to your home with the biggest impact is a deep cleaning of the house. Spending the time to clean every section of your house will improve the overall smell, look, and environment of your home. A thorough cleaning is often overlooked as a cost effective method of home improvement.

Using a paste-form of wood filler to fill a hole in wood, that you need to screw into again, will not yield satisfactory results. The screw will cause the wood filler to disintegrate and never hold secure. Instead, break off pieces of wooden toothpicks and fill the hole with as many as it will hold. Put a drop of white or wood glue on top of the toothpicks, that you can break off so that they are flush with the surrounding wood, and allow to dry. When completely dry, replace the screw into your new real wood-filled hole and that will give the screw something to “bite” into, versus the plaster-like dust, created by typical wood fillers.

So as you can see, home improvement is not as complicated as it may appear. It is involved in terms of research and asking questions, but it is worth it in the end. With the above tips in mind, you should be smarter when it comes to improving things around your home.

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Landscaping Pictures for Your Home

July 07, 2023   Matt

Landscaping Pictures for Your Home

A picture says a thousand words and it is up to you to find out what it means. When you need ideas on how to improve your garden or backyard, you should look at landscaping pictures and then incorporate this into your project.

You can look for landscaping pictures from a variety of sources. These can be found in books and in interior design magazines. Some release a new copy monthly so there is always something new for you to anticipate.

Another source of information is through the web. Some contractors post their accomplishments while some websites give amateurs ideas.

If you go around the neighborhood and like what your neighbors have done, why not take a picture or ask them how this was done.

When you are looking at the images, pay attention to the details because in most cases, there is nothing written there on how they did it. You can probably print the images and then show this to someone knowledgeable who will be able to tell you what was done and at the same time advise you if this can work in your home.

Once you have an idea of what you want to do, draw this on paper and then try and work it out. First, you will have to buy the plants and the other accessories from the store. When they are brought home, it is time to put these all together.

If somewhere along the way you decide to change your mind, go ahead and do it. After all, plans change all the time and what you have on paper is simply a guide.

One thing you must not forget about landscaping is that there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to beautifying your home. You will also realize later on that not everything you see in the pictures can be applicable because of various constraints like the weather and the plants you want may not be available from the store. When this happens, just think outside the box so you are able to overcome this obstacle.

If you suddenly run out of ideas, maybe it is time to hire someone who does this for a living. This will surely save you time and money so your dream garden will not be put on hold.

In order to keep costs down, this has to be done in phases. This will give you time to buy the right materials during the lean season. For instance, wood is much cheaper to purchase during the winter. Plants, shrubs and trees are often sold at a lower price during the latter part of the current season.

You may also check online for some of these items because it is possible to get them here than the nearest home improvement store.

There is nothing wrong with copying every single detail from the landscaping picture. However, you should remember that your neighbors and even you will be much happier when you know that the idea for your backyard or front yard also had some ideas from that brain of yours.

So use your imagination and see what happens. The only thing to do now after everything is finished is regular maintenance so all your hard work will continue to show in the coming months.

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Home Improvement Inspiration That Won’t Strip Your Sanity (2)

June 28, 2023   Matt

Home Improvement Inspiration That Won’t Strip Your Sanity

Whether you are inexperienced or you have years of experience, making home repairs will improve your way of life. Your home is part of who you are. The following information is designed to help you get an idea of what you can do improve your home, thus improve your life.

If you live in a hot climate, replace your original glass windows with low-E glass, which can make it easier and more affordable to cool your house in the boiling summertime. Although the installation can be a bit pricey if you pay someone to do it, you will recoup your costs in energy savings by the end of the summer.

If space is at a premium in your home, consider remodeling the attic or basement. These areas offer a cost-effective way to gain extra square footage without resorting to constructing an addition. If the area already has a floor, roof, and walls your project will move along quickly and you’ll be enjoying your new space in no time.

Start with the bathroom when you are looking for fast home improvement projects. Fixing up your bathroom can quickly add value to your property. You will have to spend less for a higher return on property value with the right bathroom fixtures. It is one of the key features people consider when buying property.

Think you need to re-tile your bathroom? Try cleaning the tile and re-grouting first. Using this method can save you time and money over a complete re-tile project. It’s also easier to achieve by yourself. A toothbrush is a wonderful tool to use when cleaning grout. A quality steam mop can make a huge difference as well.

Do you need to fix a hole in your wall made by a nail or screw. Create a divot in the wall with the rounded end of a screwdriver by pressing it into the screw hole. Next, use spackle or drywall compound to fill the divot. This will give you a nice smooth wall surface.

You can add a room to your home without adding to its square footage. Use existing space to create that additional room by building a wall, which will turn one area into two. Closing off a partial wall or filling in an archway will allow you to realize that extra room.

When renovating a kitchen, be sure to perform a good deep clean before applying any paint. The walls are probably covered with at least a thin layer of grease. This grease will make it difficult for the new paint to stick. It is also possible that your kitchen walls don’t need paint at all and are just dirty with grease!

Here is a home improvement tip! Update your decor and save money at the same time by changing your window treatments to energy-efficient varieties. Thermal drapes are made from heavy fabrics that act as insulation to minimize drafts, and blackout curtains block sunlight, keeping your home cooler in the summer months. Many window treatments perform double-duty, combining blackout effects with thermal fabrics.

In conclusion, fixing up your home will make you feel good about yourself. No one wants to be living in a home that is in desperate need of repairs. Hopefully, the above information can get your home back into a condition that will make you love to be living in it.

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Can Your Home Insurance Stand Up To The Weather?

June 27, 2023   Matt

Can Your Home Insurance Stand Up To The Weather?

In 2004, the insurance industry estimated that about 45% of their settled claims were for damages caused by weather. This past January, that percentage climbed as high as 60%, with a possible £300 million worth of damages being claimed by homeowners for weather related incidents.

Is your home covered against damage from high winds? Will your insurance company pay out to repair damage caused when your plumbing freezes? How much will you have to pay out of pocket for repairs if heavy snow takes out your rain gutters or damages your roof?

If you’re not sure of the answers to those questions, it might prove enlightening to pull out your home insurance policy and have a read. According to an industry spokesman, too many homeowners find out what their buildings insurance does and doesn’t cover after they have incurred a loss and submitted a claim. That’s the case for many homeowners who suffered damage to their homes during the high winds of the past January who found, to their shock, that they’d be bearing the brunt of the repair bills from their own pockets.

In fact, the most recent figures suggest that over one third of homeowners have no home insurance at all, and many more are paying out for policies that don’t adequately cover the damages that they might face from adverse weather.

Home insurance policies vary widely on precisely what weather damage they cover, and how much you’re expected to pay out before the insurance company will pay its share. That’s why it’s important to sit down with your policy or your broker – or both – to discuss precisely how much coverage you have for weather-related damages, and if there are limits and exclusions to that cover. Some of the most common exclusions and limits include:

Damage from floods

If you live in an area with a high possibility of flooding, you may need to purchase separate cover to deal with damage from flooding. It’s vital that you not neglect this, say insurance spokesmen. The cost of repairing damage after a flood can easily run to £30,000 or more. Compare that to the average weather related claim of about £500.

Water damage from burst pipes

Watch for limits on the amount of damages you can claim if your pipes freeze and burst. A burst pipe in your loft can quickly damage walls and ceilings, and result in unhealthy growth of mold and mildew if not cleaned properly. The cost of all those repairs can easily and quickly mount above typical limits on damages.

Contents cover

If you only have buildings insurance, you may find yourself out of luck when damage to your roof results in the destruction of your expensive draperies, carpets and furnishings. Even if you carry cover for your home contents, you may want to carry extra insurance if you own expensive items like Oriental rugs or fine artwork.

Outdoor and garden items

Many policies only cover items inside your home from weather damage, while other policies will even pay to replace plants damaged by storms in severe weather. If you’re an avid gardener, or have outdoor patio and yard equipment, consider a policy that includes garden cover.

Be sure to review your policy periodically to be certain that you’ve kept it up to date, especially when you make new purchases or add an extension to your home.

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