Tag Archives: Home Repairs

Honey-Do: DIY Valentine’s Day Ideas for Him or Her

“It’s almost Valentine’s Day!  Start planning to give a special gift now!”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Give your Valentine a gift that shows you truly care! Create a bonus room, finish that home repair, resurface hardwood floors or gift an appliance or she shed.

Plan bonus room

Ah, Valentine’s Day. A holiday that’s generally celebrated with overpriced roses and dinner in a crowded restaurant alongside a hundred other couples. While the token gifts of flowers and jewelry are nice, this year, give your valentine a gift that really shows your love: a completed honey-do list.

Has your significant other wanted a few things done around the house or been staring longingly at Pinterest boards full of beautiful reading nooks? Make dreams come true by completing a household project for a gift your significant other will never forget. Here are five DIY Valentine’s Day ideas that will have your valentine feeling the love…

How To Create A Bonus Room

Chances are your valentine has a hobby or interest that he or she would love more space for. Maybe she would appreciate a sewing room to quilt or design clothes in, or perhaps he would prefer a man cave to watch the game with friends. Whatever it is used for, a bonus room outshines any bouquet of flowers or teddy bear when it comes to gifts.

Creating a bonus room is pretty simple. First, find some unused space in your home, whether it’s a spare closet, an attic, the basement or an extra bedroom, to convert into the room of your valentine’s dreams.

Spend some time decluttering the space and evaluate if there are any repairs needed. Chores, such as patching drywall or adding flooring, can be done by you or outsourced. Does your valentine have a favorite color? If so, paint an accent wall in that color!

Fix That One Thing

Every home has that one thing; something that’s inefficient and annoying, but somehow no one ever gets around to fixing. Whether it’s a faulty light switch that doesn’t work or a TV that has been leaning against a wall, waiting for months to be mounted, fix that one thing and delight your sweetie.

Resurface Hardwood Floors

If your wood floors have had a lot of use over the years and are looking a bit dingy, consider resurfacing hardwood floors to bring back the shine. While there are many places that rent the tools to make this a DIY job, resurfacing wood floors is a task that’s best left to professionals, as mistakes can be costly. You could end up with dips and grooves in the wood or an uneven stain job that will leave your valentine feeling more sour than sweet.

Related: A Guide to Caring for and Refinishing Hardwood Floors

Give A Home Appliance

While a new appliance may not seem like the most romantic of gifts, the time and energy saved by a more efficient appliance over an outdated one can feel like the gift that keeps on giving. If there’s an appliance your significant other continually complains about, consider replacing it as a surprise. Make sure you offer to do the chore yourself as part of the gift! Depending on the appliance, it may be covered by an AHS Home Warranty.

Related: Lifespan of Modern Home Appliances

Gift a She Shed

She Sheds are all the rage these days. They’re the female equivalent of the man cave, except they’re housed in an outdoor shed. Done properly, She Sheds can provide a relaxing retreat that makes your backyard feel like an oasis. There are no set rules about what a She Shed must look like or contain. A quick internet search will show you everything you need to know to get started or check out these six ideas on who how to create the ultimate She Shed.

Design the shed around her favorite hobbies to create a gardening shed, a reading nook where she can curl up with a pile of books or an art studio where she can paint for hours. Don’t forget to put a big bow on the front door to make your valentine smile.

Originally published by American Home Shield

13 Kitchen Spots You Need to Clean Before the Stench Hits You

“How many times have you been in your kitchen and wondered ‘What is that Smell?‘  It might be coming from somewhere you forgot to clean.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Color and Pattern Make These Backsplashes Stand Out

“Ready to add a little something different to your Kitchen that won’t break the bank?  Try adding a colorful backsplash.  In most cases you can even do it yourself!”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

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!

Temperature changes outside

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.
Related: How to Maintain Your Water Heater to Save You Money in the Long Run
  • 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

Bathroom Workbook: How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost?

“Tired of your current bathroom, but not sure what you want to do, or how much it will cost?  Here’s an article that will explain what you should expect to pay, and just might inspire you!”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

4 Things You Need To Know About R-22 (Freon) Refrigerant

“If your A/C Unit was manufactured before 2004, you’re still using Freon.  And if you’ve had a repair where you needed to add Freon, you know how expensive it’s gotten.  Here’s a great article that explains why it’s so expensive now and how to start using the newer cheaper refrigerant.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Charging a residential heat pump system with refrigerant

You may or may not have heard of R22 refrigerant, but the phasing out of this refrigerant may affect you and the way you stay cool this spring and summer. Before the topic heats up, here are some fast facts to answer some common questions about R22 refrigerant:

1. What is R22 refrigerant?

Answer:  Isn’t R22 the robot from the big sci-fi mega movie? No, not R2-D2. Actually, R22 is a refrigerant gas. Refrigerant gas is what an air conditioner uses to produce cool air. R22 refrigerant was most commonly used in air conditioning units up until 2015.

2. Who decided that it needed to go away?

Answer: The decision to ban the use of R22 refrigerant came from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), by phasing out all production of virgin hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to eliminate different types of R22refrigerant in specific phases, making R22 refrigerant much harder to source. The production of R22 refrigerant was dramatically reduced in 2014 and will continue to reduce each year. Production and consumption of R22 refrigerant will be totally phased out by 2020.

3. What should I do if my A/C was manufactured before 2004?

Answer: Turn it into a decorative lawn ornament? No. you don’t have to go that far. You can still have your A/C unit serviced with R22 refrigerant if available, but the cost per pound is high and will continue to increase. Another option is to replace R22 refrigerant with an alternative EPA approved HFC refrigerant. The cost for alternative refrigerants is much less, but it does require labor to fully evacuate the R22 refrigerant and replace with the alternative refrigerant and may require the replacement of some parts. Or, you could take the plunge and get a new, modern, energy-efficient A/C unit. Most of the components of such systems last on average 10-15 years, even when they are well maintained. A new A/C system can help lower your energy bills, too.

4. Will it cost me more money to get my A/C fixed now?

Answer: The short answer is, “Probably, yes.”

The alternative refrigerant costs much less than R22 refrigerant, but it does require flushing the system of existing refrigerant prior to charging your system with the alternative refrigerant you choose to use in place of R22 refrigerant. R407C is approved by the EPA for use as alternative to R22 refrigerant. Most manufacturers’ warranties on an existing systems will not be affected, depending upon the alternative refrigerant used in place of R22 refrigerant.

Originally Published by American Home Shield

10 Tile Layouts You Haven’t Thought Of

“Want to do something ‘different’ with tiles, but your really not sure what ‘different’ is?  Check out these great ideas!”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

 

8 Ways to Save Money on Electricity Bills This Spring

“As the temperatures begin to change it’s a great time to get some reminders on how to save on energy, or maybe even pick up a few new tips.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team 

Just because temperatures begin to rise drastically, your electricity bill doesn’t. Learn simple ways to lower your bill and use electricity wisely this spring.

dishwasher turned to cold

Looking for ways to save money on your electricity bill? Who isn’t?! Lucky for you, springtime is the perfect excuse to start fresh and change some of your old habits. Here are eight of the easiest ways to save money on electricity that you can start implementing today.

1. Use heat-generating appliances at night.

That goes for ovens, dishwashers, washers, dryers and any other appliances that may heat up the house. Also, check with your utility company to see if there are off-peak times when using appliances can earn you discounts on your electric bill.

Related: 10 Easy Dishwasher Tips That Will Help You Save Money

2. Think, “Small scale, big impact.”

Speaking of heat-generating appliances, have you ever thought about using a slow cooker or pressure cooker instead of the oven? These small appliances can cook amazing meals, all while cutting down on the amount of electricity used and keeping your kitchen nice and cool.

3. Adjust your washing habits.

Most clothing items do just fine on the cold-water wash setting. Likewise, do you really need to dry everything in the dryer? Take advantage of this fabulous spring weather and let your clothes air dry. The amount of energy it takes to air dry? Zilch.

4. Set the water heater temp to 120 degrees.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a heater that is set to 140 degrees or higher can waste $36 to $61 a year, just by maintaining the temperature. Even worse, it can waste more than $400 to bring fresh water up to that temperature. We bet you won’t even notice the change in temperature.

5. Turn on those ceiling fans.

They’re there for a reason. If you keep the air circulating in your home with your ceiling fans, your A/C won’t have to work as hard. Just make sure the blades are turning in a counterclockwise direction to keep the cool air flowing downward.

Related: Is there a perfect temperature to set your thermostat?

6. Unplug.

No, we’re not talking about your cell phone. We’re talking about that alarm clock in the guest bedroom that hasn’t been used in years. And the lamp over the piano that’s never switched on. In fact, it doesn’t hurt to do a nightly sweep through the house to ensure all unused devices and appliances aren’t wasting precious energy.

7. Close up shop.

In the areas of the house that aren’t used, that is. Simply close the vents in those rooms, so the air flow can be redirected to the areas of the house that you’re actually inhabiting.

8. Replace the air filters more often.

 Instead of replacing the filters every three months, consider switching them out every month. That will ensure your air conditioner isn’t slowed down by inefficiency. Want to save even more? Invest in a reusable filter.

It pays to know how to save money on your electricity bill. If you want to save on other household expenses, too, read up on ways to conserve water, as well as how to stretch your grocery budget.

Originally Published by American Home Sheild