Category: Guest Blog Posts

Make Your Garage More Organized by Considering These 5 Things

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

If your garage looks like a collection center for all of the overflow items that can’t fit inside your home, you are not getting that maximum benefit from that space. You can make your garage a more organized and functional space by considering the following five ideas.

Too Much Stuff

Chances are, you have a lot of things in your garage that you have forgotten you even own or things you simply don’t need. Therefore, the first step to organizing your garage is to remove what’s in there and sort the contents according to things you want to keep, things you can donate, and things to throw away. Establish an organizational system before you return the items you plan.

Look Up, Down, and Around

With the contents removed from your garage, you can mentally devise an organizational plan that will accommodate your stuff. There are lots of carts, cabinets, baskets, and other organizational tools available to help you create a system that works for you. Be sure to utilize the overhead space and all of the wall space. Pegboards, magnetic strips, and storage racks are essential features of an organized garage.

Keep Your Items Safe

After you have organized your garage, you want to be sure that the items you have stored there are safe. You can find garage door repair in Phoenix that can help you with issues such as doors that are off track, broken cables, or issues concerning the controls and remote.

Garage Aesthetics

You can feel quite proud of your organizational accomplishment, but few people will actually see your impressively organized space. However, everyone passing by will see your garage door. An unsightly door gives the impression that the space behind the door is probably a chaotic mess. You might want to consider letting an Orlando professional garage door company install the new attractive door that your organized garage is worthy of.

Add a Shed

If possible, you might consider adding a shed to your property. You can use this space for lawn and garden equipment which will free up more space in your garage and make it feel substantially less cluttered.

With tips like these, you can be sure to reduce your accumulation of stuff and organize the things you need. It can also be an immediate way to simplify your life and relieve you of the frustration of constantly searching for items you need. Improving both the interior space and exterior appearance of your garage may motivate you to pursue other home improvement and organization projects.

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How To Put Your Own Mark On Your Home: Five Do It Yourself Ideas

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

While many projects are probably best handled by a skilled contractor with years of industry experience, there are many do-it-yourself projects you can do in your home to increase its value, add to its beauty, and contribute to its uniqueness. When you buy a house, doing the project yourself is a great way to save money on any project, and it allows you to do it at your own pace and to your own specifications. Here are five do-it-yourself ideas that will put a mark on your home.

1) Paint –

Going to the home improvement store and looking at the paint color and other options available is one of the best ways to get ideas for a room. Painting is a cost-effective way to change the look of a room for the better. Before you paint, consider adding features to a room such as crown molding, chair rails, and custom lighting features. These are best picked out and added while you are painting the room rather than later. This way you will not have to move furniture around more than once.

2) A Bathroom Remodel –

As long as you do not plan on moving the main plumbing features of your bathroom, the bathroom is one of the easiest rooms in your house to remodel. Changing the tile flooring can drastically alter the look of a room, and changing the bathroom vanity and faucet gives you a plethora of style options to choose from.

3) Add a Spiral Staircase –

You can buy kits for building your own spiral staircase that adds a layer of customization to your home that the typical home does not possess. These kits come with staircases in a variety of color and style options that you can select from to match your current or planned decor and colors.

4) Make a Flowerbed –

One of the best ways to add some customization to your yard is to add a flowerbed. This is relatively easy to do and it gives you the flexibility to add flowers and shrubs of your own choosing. It’s a great way to put your personality into the exterior of your home.

5) Create a Patio –

You can create a simple patio from stones designed for this purpose that you can buy at the average home improvement store. This is a cheap and effective way to expand the living space outside your home.

These five projects are relatively easy for the typical homeowner to complete with a little preparation and effort. All of these projects will make your home a more customized, comfortable place that can match your style and personality.

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5 Ways to Determine When You Need a New Roof

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Your roof is a primary factor in your home. It provides essential protection and shelter for your home. As the years go by, your roof endures many different things, such as weather and normal wear and tear. Many homes have asphalt shingle roofs. These roofs have an average life of 8 to 10 years.

You should make necessary repairs to your roof as you notice them. Prolonging repairs could cause extensive, permanent damage to your roof. Unless you have been trained to repair a roof, it will in your best interest to hire a professional roofing company. Here are 5 signs that you need to look into getting a new roof for your home.

1. Visible Damages

Visible damages are the most common way to determine whether or not your roof needs to be replaced. If you can see shingles out of alignment or with large tears, you know that the problem needs to be addressed. When shingles need to be replaced, they will be weak and become brittle. These shingles often break or split, and should be replaced immediately to avoid expensive damages.

2. Dark Patching

Dark patching on your roof is yet another indication that you need a new roof. Shingles that frequently face sunlight will usually have dark patches on the surface. Shingles obtain stone granules that keep the asphalt from being exposed to sunlight. When the layer of stone granules begins to wear away, asphalt is exposed, causing black patches. Dark streaks can also be due to algae starting to grow on them. This should be treated by spraying a special solution to kill the growth. An expert can help you determine the problem and solution needed as necessary.

3. Gutter Granules

If you have shingles that are dark in color, it will be difficult to tell when the granules are starting to wear away. One way to determine when granules are wearing off of your shingles is to check your gutters, downspouts, and valleys for granule debris. If you find a lot of granules in these areas, it’s a pretty clear sign that a replacement roof will be needed soon.

4. Curling Shingles

Many people do not realize how important attic ventilation is. Temperatures within an attic are known to be high. If proper ventilation is an issue, the heat will try to find other means of ventilation. This is the primary reason singles curl at the edges or begin to form a cup formation. If this problem occurs, you may be able to replace just the curling shingles for a while, but it is also a sign a new roof would be a good idea soon.

5. Seepage

Due to the weather, flashings, and sealants have to fight a war throughout the year. Severe weather can cause rusted flashing, sealants that are cracked, and membranes that are peeling. For this reason, these instances need to be checked frequently. If you see these signs, plan on getting a roofer to do a replacement soon.

Replacing a roof can be a complex task to complete if you do not know what to look for or how to install the required materials. If you’re looking for a roofing company in Vancouver or whatever your local area may be, there will most likely be a number of solid options that you can choose from. Check review sites like AngiesList to make sure they have received good reviews. Using a professional roofing company can save you time and money in the end. If your roof hasn’t been replaced for 7-10 years, look for the 5 signs listed above to know when it the time has come to contact a good roofer.

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Five Tips For Making Your Move As Smooth and Quick as Possible

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Moving is an enormous chore that requires extensive planning and preparation, and that’s without any hiccups or roadblocks. When complications arise, it can make your move even more tedious, which can leave you feeling physically and mentally drained. However, by taking certain steps during the process, you can make the move easier on yourself and reduce the likelihood of inconvenient hold-ups.

Pack Ahead of Time

You can never get started on your move too early, so about a week prior, start packing up everything you won’t need. Extra clothes, spare dishes, home decor, and storage items can all go into boxes where they’ll be out of the way. If you pack away all but the important things now, you’ll endure that much less stress on the big day.

Have Necessities on Hand

On the day of your move, you’re likely going to be pressed for time and energy. The last thing you’ll want to do is rummage through boxes looking for your food, utensils, or paper towels. For that reason, it’s wise to keep these things in a separate container where you can access them easily. This can be especially helpful after arriving in your new home, as you’ll probably just want to eat and go to bed.

Mark Boxes Clearly

If you want to avoid a lengthy and disorganized unpacking session, it’s essential to mark all of your boxes clearly. On each box, write which room it corresponds to and what it contains. This will also allow the movers to unload the boxes into the appropriate rooms. Unpacking is a breeze when everything is already in its place.

Hire a Reputable Company

Hiring a reputable moving company is one of the most important parts of ensuring a smooth and successful move. When looking for a moving company Surrey residents should choose movers that are experienced, professional, and properly equipped. This will help ensure the safety of both your belongings and your home.

Leave the Kids With a Sitter

Kids tend to get underfoot, especially when they’re excited about something. On moving days, you may not have the time or energy to keep them out of trouble. If you want to make things a lot easier, consider leaving the kids with a sitter until the move is over. That way, you can focus on what needs to be done.

Although moving is a large task, it doesn’t have to be so stressful. Try doing some of these things during your move and you’ll be surprised how much more smoothly it goes.

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Real Estate Staging Guide

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

If you need to sell a property in Orlando, FL, then you are already aware of the multitude of things that need to be done to make it appealing. Regardless of your experience, you know you will need to do a whole lot of prep work to get things ready for a sale. The following tips will give you what you need to begin:

  • Using the right mindset

There should be a balance between the emotional attachment you have made with the property and the desire to sell it. There are cases where people spend far too much during renovation on some project that wasn’t quite as needed as they may have thought. Make sure you use the services of a realtor or even a staging professional to ensure you know what you need to do.

  • Working on curb appeal

You should make sure the outside of your property looks inviting to anyone viewing it. Trim the garden, mulch the flowerbeds, paint the outside and make sure you create a refreshed and renewed home on the outside so you can increase its overall appeal. Keep in mind that the first impression is not something you’ll ever forget once you look at a place.

  • Using a new color

You should choose a more mild, neutral color palette for your sale rather than bold colors. Stick to grays, tans, and other similar colors that avoid being too obvious to the eye. Make sure you avoid any darker shades or colors, especially if you have to work with limited space as they will only make the rooms seem smaller. You should also keep in mind that refreshing the paint or wallpapers on the inside can be a great way to make things look appealing and great.

  • Letting light in

You can never overlook the importance of the levels of light inside a home. Avoid dark hallways and the lack of natural light, paying special attention to bathrooms and basements. You can have a fixture that has two light bulbs of sufficient power to transform a dark and dingy place into something better. Make sure you don’t have any light receptacles that are missing a light fixture, as this will leave a bad impression. You can combine that with fittings made of nickel or silver if you can. You can also combine those with table lamps or even floor lamps for added effect.

  • The importance of flooring

This is the other place around a home that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. You will get your investment back if you replace the flooring before you decide to sell it, as it will be much easier to sell a place that looks great than one that looks dingy and poorly maintained. In many cases, buyers will look for flaws in the home so they can ask you to lower the overall price. There is no sense in doing that if you can increase both the appeal of the home and the chance to sell it through a simple project like this one.

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