“Winter is and it’s time to keep your family comfortable this cold weather season, with this home maintenance checklist.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Category Archives: Home Maintenance
Open House Tips that Will Result in a Successful Sale
‘If you’re having an Open House, there are a number of steps you should take as the home owner to make sure your house looks it’s best. Buyers recognize when a Seller has gone the extra mile to make their home look good, and it shows as a sense of pride, and will also usually result in higher offers!”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
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Open House Timeline: Countdown to a Successful Sale
An inviting open house can put your home on buyers’ short lists. Read
Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.
Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
What To Do When Your Pipes Freeze
“Frozen Water Pipes, no one wants them, but if it happens to you, what should you do? And then how do you best prevent them in the Future? Here’s a great article that covers it all!”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
How To Winterize Your Deck
“Most of us enjoy our outdoor living spaces in nice weather, but are you taking care of it in the winter months? Here are several steps that can be taken to help it survive the winter weather and look great when you get ready to use it again in the Spring.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
The bracing winds of January are blowing in and with them the fresh promise of a new year. But depending on where you live, those same winds can also bring harsh temperatures, snow and ice. While the inside of your home may be protected from the winter elements, the exterior of your home is very much exposed. If your home features a wooden deck, it will need special attention this season. Here are some tips on how to winterize your deck and keep it looking its best year-round.
Clean Your Deck Thoroughly
To prepare your deck for winter, give it a good cleaning with a pressure washer. Doing so will not only remove ingrained dirt and grime, but this also helps you uncover any areas of decay. If you spot portions of wood that remain wet after other parts of the deck have dried, poke them with a screwdriver to test for rot. If the wood does not splinter and feels spongy, it may be compromised. Now is also a good time to look for any damage to your deck caused by insects.
Additionally, consider applying a water-repellant finish to your deck once cleaning is complete. Doing so will help protect against damage caused by damp winter elements, such as ice, snow, sleet and rain.
Repair Loose Boards
Once you give your deck a good once-over, repair any loose boards or damaged wood. According to the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA), you should check for loose nails and screws, secure any that need tightening and replace any that may have fallen out. Also, your deck should appear even without any sagging and should not sway or move when tested.
Cover Your Deck
One way to prevent the majority of winter elements from settling on your deck and damaging it is to use a deck cover. You have many options when covering a deck. You could hire a contractor to build a permanent roof over your deck. Alternately, for a temporary fix, you can cover the exposed woodwork, using plastic tarps found at your local home improvement or hardware store.
Related: Protect Your Home Against Snow
Store And Protect Outdoor Furniture
If your deck is fully outfitted with outdoor furniture, now is the time to protect it. Clean your deck furniture, just as you would your deck itself, using a pressure washer to remove stubborn dirt and grime. Once cleaning is complete, bring any furniture cushions and fabric coverings indoors. NADRA also recommends taking the time to store all deck-related chemicals (including cleaning solutions) away during the winter months.
Remove Ice
When inclement weather deposits accumulations of snow or ice on your deck, they can become quite heavy and place an extra burden on the structure itself. If you are able to remove the snow, shovel it in a pattern that’s parallel to deck boards. Also, use a plastic rather than a metal shovel to avoid scratching the wood.
To remove ice, use a melting compound. Several different formulas are available. Choose the one specifically designed for the type of wood or composite material out of which your deck is constructed. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety precautions when using these compounds.
Originally published by American Home Shield
Simple Pleasures: A Relaxed Weekend at Home
“When you’ve had a busy week, sometimes you just want to relax around the house. Use some of these following tips to help create the best possible spaces around your home.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
The AHS Top 10: Best Money-Saving Apps for Budgeting
Who doesn’t like to save money? Check out these Apps and see which ones might work for you!
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Whether you’re saving money for the upcoming holiday season or following up on that long-ago resolution to pay off all of your debts, these money-saving apps can help you stay on track.
Related: How to Get Your Finances in Order
1. PocketGuard (Android, iOS)
Want to know how to stay in the clear and out of the red zone on your accounts? PocketGuard can take care of that. The app securely accesses your accounts while simultaneously factoring in your spending habits to let you know how much you can afford to spend each day.
2. Wally (Android, iOS)
For added convenience and flexibility when it comes to expense tracking, Wally lets you manually enter your spending or take photos of your receipts. To save you a step, it can even identify your location. And all along the way, the app will adapt to your spending habits and help you achieve your savings goals.
3. Personal Capital (Android, iOS)
If you want to focus more on planning for the future and your investments, Personal Capital is the money-tracking app for you. In fact, thanks to its dedicated advisors, you’ll know if you’re paying too much in fees in addition to being able to get help with your asset allocations.
4. Spendee (Android, iOS)
Spendee not only lets you see a breakdown of your spending over time; it goes even further to show what specific items and categories you’re spending your money on. The best part? You can simply snap photos of your bills and receipts for easy organization.
5. Mint (Android, iOS)
Want to see your entire financial picture in one place? Mint can handle that. It not only tracks your expenses across all your different credit, checking, savings and investment accounts; you can even add in assets, such as cars or houses, to get a better sense of your net worth.
6. Mvelopes (Android, iOS)
Sure, you may have heard that the envelope system is the only way to truly ensure success when it comes to budgeting. But why bother with the physical paper when you can utilize the same system on your phone? The best part is that, when you charge something on a credit card, Mvelopes automatically moves that amount of money out of your “spending” envelope and puts it into an envelope set aside for paying your credit card bill. Genius, huh?
7. Digit (Android, iOS)
Using the Digit app is possibly the easiest, no-brainer way to save a few extra bucks without even trying. In fact, when it comes to putting money in your savings account, Digit handles it all. Every few days, the app uses its spending tracker and moves a small amount of money — whatever you can safely afford — over to a savings account. And, don’t worry, you’re never going to go into overdraft mode. The creators of the app guarantee it.
8. GoodBudget (Android, iOS)
GoodBudget is similar to Mvelopes; however, it’s designed to be synced across all of your devices and the web so you can share the progress with your family members. This app is great if money management is a team effort in your household.
9. Albert (iOS)
Want a personal financial advisor without paying for a personal financial advisor? Albert’s your man (or app, rather). Teaming up with various financial institutions to get accurate advice, Albert can help you make a plan and stick to it. What’s more, you can save and withdraw money straight from the app free of charge.
10. You Need a Budget (Android, iOS)
When it comes to apps that help you save money, You Need a Budget (YNAB) goes over and beyond. More than just an app that observes and analyzes your spending habits, YNAB actually tries to improve those habits — resulting in an entire lifestyle change.
Want to see more of our tech favorites? Check out our top ten security apps, our top ten home renovation apps and our top ten voice-controlled devices.
Originally Published by American Home Shield
6 Halloween Must-Do’s to Keep Little Trick-or-Treaters Safe
“Halloween is only a few weeks away so it’s time to start making sure your ready. In addition decorating and getting enough candy, be sure to make sure your home is safe for all the little Trick-or-Treaters.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
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6 Halloween Must-Do’s to Keep Little Trick-or-Treaters Safe
Like clearing your walkway so tiny tots (and their parents) don’t stumble. Read
Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.
Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Do You Need to Adjust Your Thermostat When the Weather Changes?
“Now that the temperatures outside are finally starting to fall, it’s time to think about how to control the temperature inside, along with costs. It’s not always as simple as you might think.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Turn on the heater or turn off the A/C? As summer becomes fall, temperatures fluctuate from hot to cold. Use these tips to keep heating and cooling costs in check!
Whether you choose to describe it as being “up and down” or as “running hot and cold,” as a homeowner, you know that autumn weather can be unpredictable. Autumn temperatures that veer between extremes can make keeping your home comfortable a real challenge. As the season’s warm days turn into cool nights, how do you avoid running back and forth to adjust your thermostat — or even switching back and forth between your air conditioning and heating systems? Here are some tips to help when switching from cooling to heating as the seasons change.
Related: Reduce Your Winter Heating Costs
- Change your filters regularly. Your air conditioning system has gotten you through the worst of the summer, but September and early October can still be torrid. Don’t tax it any more than you have to. To keep your HVAC system running efficiently, change its filters regularly. Consider these general guidelines for filter changes.
- If your home is occupied by multiple people and pets, change your filters every 30 to 45 days.
- If your home is occupied by multiple people and only one pet, change your filters every 60 days.
- If your home is occupied by multiple people but no pets, change your filters every 90 days.
- Get an automatic or programmable thermostat. If you don’t already own a programmable thermostat, hire a professional to install one. Set the baseline temperature within your home to ensure your preferred level of comfort, then back off that temperature setting by a few degrees, especially for those hours of the day when you aren’t actually at home. According to the United States Department of Energy, you can save as much as 10 percent a year in energy usage (and on your utility bills) by making smart adjustments to your thermostat.
- Pile on the cozy bedding.This may seem low-tech, but that’s just another way of saying it’s a tried-and-true solution. If your house feels a little too cool at night, snuggle up under an extra blanket or two until it’s time to turn on the heater full-time.
- Have your heating system serviced.Before completely switching from cooling to heating, have a professional HVAC technician make sure your heating system is operating properly before the full blast of winter arrives. During this inspection, have the technician check for any signs of carbon monoxide leakage. Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that is potentially deadly. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), every year nearly 400 Americans die from carbon monoxide poisoning, and more than 4,000 Americans are hospitalized due to carbon monoxide exposure.
- Make sure your home is sealed.Check around your windows and doors for drafts. If you feel air moving or a disparity in temperature in these areas, use caulk or weather stripping to block the exchange of air between the interior and exterior of your home. Improperly sealed homes can easily cause your energy bill to increase by as much as 10 to 15 percent.
- Lower the temperature on your water heaterYou can save between 3 and 5 percent in energy costs for every 10 degrees you lower the high-temperature setting on your water heater. Keep your hot water simmering at about 120 degrees and insulate your water heater and its exposed pipes to reduce heat loss.
- Change out your light bulbs.As the days grow shorter and nights longer, replace standard incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent (CFL) or LED bulbs that use less energy and have a longer lifespan. Non-incandescent bulbs also give off less heat, meaning cooler temperatures inside a well-lit home during those days when winter still seems a long way off.
Of course, you can help protect your budget from home repair and replacement costs with an American Home Shield® Home Warranty Plan. We have options for every budget, and you can even choose from several flexible plans.
Originally Published by American Home Shield
Smart Options: Basement Flooring
“There are so many different types of Basement designs today. When it comes to the right flooring, you need to match what you choose, to how you are going to use it. Take a few minutes to understand the advantages of each of the styles of flooring you can choose from today.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
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Smart Options: Basement Flooring
Keeping your basement dry and free of condensation is key to installing the basement flooring of your choice. Read
Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.
Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
To-Dos: Your September Home Checklist
“Labor Day has come and gone and now Summer is officially over. It’s time to start getting your home ready for the Fall. Here are some great tips on what to do around your home, inside and out.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team