Category: Guest Blog Posts

Five Common Household Dilemmas And How To Deal With Them

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Whether you own or rent a home, it can be an adventure to deal with the myriad of fun issues and problems that can pop up with maintaining and caring for a house. While most of us can hang a picture, replace burnt out light bulbs, and take care of a wobbly table, many of us probably aren’t sure what to do with a few of the other bigger problems that can arise. Learn below about a few of the most common problems that plague home dwellers and how you can solve them.

Refrigerator Is Too Warm

You love opening the refrigerator door to grab a cold drink, but you probably don’t love opening the door and finding your food is sitting in there at room temperature. Before you toss the appliance, get behind the refrigerator and look at the coils. Debris, including dust and trash, can settle in the coils and cause the components to overheat. If you have animals around the house, you might find fur trapped back there. Use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment to gently brush away the debris. Granted there may be other issues, but this can often do the trick.

Dryer Doesn’t Heat

If it takes longer to dry your clothes than it did before, your filter might be the culprit. Even if you can’t see lint or dust trapped on the filter, a closer look might reveal a thin film of fabric softener left behind. Take the time to check the vent as well. Anything blocking the vent can stop the dryer from working properly. Cleaning the filter vent and reinstalling it should help.

Leaking Pipes and Appliances

When your pipes leak or your air conditioner releases a large amount of condensation, you can have a serious problem on your hands. As the water runs down the walls and settles under the floor, you can develop water damage. An expert in water damage restoration San Juan residents can call has suggested that water damage isn’t always easy to spot. Look for areas of discoloration or sagging in wall or ceiling materials. Even if you already know how to repair the damage or take care of the leaks, you can find more help at Orlando Service Help dot com.

Blocked Shower Head

A blocked shower head reduces your water pressure and can leave you feeling dirty after a shower. Here’s one you’ve probably never heard: one of the simplest solutions is using foaming denture tablets. Take the head out of the shower, place it in a large bucket of water, drop two tablets in the bottom and add enough water to cover the head. Rinse off the head before using it after the tablets do the hard work.

Pesky Insects

You may be able to take care of insects taking over your home with a few bay leaves. Bay has a naturally strong scent that repels ants and other bugs. Drop a few leaves in any jars or open containers that you use around the kitchen, and tuck a few leaves near any entrance to your home.

It’s generally not too long before some issue will arise with a home. Following these simple tips will help you conquer at least a few of the common household problems you might face.

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5 Creative Uses for Your Self-Storage Unit

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

No doubt, you’ve driven by some of the many storage unit locations in your area and possible even speculated on how you could benefit from renting one for yourself. Even if you excel in the art of simplistic living, and you don’t need a storage unit to help declutter your home, there are other creative uses for a storage unit that you might enjoy pursuing.

Hobby Space

While there are numerous advantages to small home living, the lack of space to pursue a hobby may one of the drawbacks to living in a compact space. A climate-controlled storage unit can be an ideal setting for creating a hobby space. You can keep all of your equipment and supplies easily accessible so you don’t have to spend time setting up the area whenever you have some leisure time.

Office Space

When you try to work from home, you are exposed to many distractions that can interfere with your productivity. Using a storage unit as an office eliminates those distractions.

Band Practice

Years ago, it was quite common for band practice to take place in a garage. Apartments, condominiums and townhomes may not have a garage, and if they do, the close proximity to others living in the complex makes it impossible to practice music there. Storage units have become a popular place for band practice.

Private Retreat

Have you ever wished you could just escape the chaos and hide out for a while? While an extended vacation may not be an option, a quick trip to a storage unit could be a viable solution. You can put some comfortable furniture in there and decorate it so that is looks and feels like a peaceful or exotic retreat. A little time spent there could help you find that sense of calm you desire.

Entrepreneur Space

You can use a storage unit as an organizational space if you plan to start a sales business that requires you have the products you sell on hand. This could also be a workspace if you plan to start some type of small item repair business.

A storage unit can serve a variety of purposes other than providing storage for surplus items that you can’t find storage space for at home. This might be the perfect time for you to take advantage of one or more of the many ways a unit can simplify or enhance your life.

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DIY Bathroom Remodel: Five Essential Tips to Keep in Mind

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Whether you’re looking to renovate your bathroom to improve your home’s resale value or to simply improve your comfort level, taking the do-it-yourself approach can prove to be a rewarding experience. Here are some tips to keep in mind before getting started.

Tip 1 – Start with a Good Thorough Cleaning

Starting your renovation project with a thorough cleaning can offer you a few benefits. First, many projects, such as painting, will require you to have a clean work area free of clutter and obstructions. Second, it will help you discover any areas that may need repair. Third, after cleaning some items in your bathroom, such as sinks, mirrors, bathtubs, and so on, you may discover that they don’t need to be replaced after all. This cleaning and evaluation process with help you to better determine the necessary scope of your project.

Tip 2 – Assess Your Desired Changes – and Your Budget

Unfortunately, many projects revolve around one’s budget. That, however, doesn’t mean you can’t move forward with your renovation plans. It only means that you may have to take on your project from a different angle. Sit down and make a list of everything you would like to change. Start off with the little things that are affordable. You’ll be surprised how far a little bit of time and money can go.

When your budget is able to afford it, you may want to go for a more in-depth remodel project. Even when your projects are large, you won’t want to overspend. For large projects that involve removing many of the original fixtures, you’ll want to plan in expenses for items like an affordable dumpster rental in Indianapolis.  You can then more effectively shop for providers that could fit your needs and budget.

Tip 3 – Assess Your DIY Capabilities

Before you get started, make sure that you are completely honest with yourself about what you can, and can’t, do by yourself. Trying to save a couple of bucks is a great idea, but not if you get in over your head and have to call a professional contractor. If you’re not absolutely sure, don’t risk it. Make sure that you really know what you are doing-especially when it comes to projects like replacing fixtures as doing it improperly will only give you further headaches down the road.

Tip 4 – Cheap Repairs in Proper Order

Once you have a list of things you’d like to change in your bathroom, it’s best to start by performing any repairs that are needed. It’s pointless to replace your flooring, only to have it ruined again by a leaking toilet, for example. Also, some repairs such as re-caulking your bathtub can prove to be relatively inexpensive and fairly simple projects, and as a bonus, fixing loose caulk can save you money down the line by protecting your walls from water damage.

Tip 5 – Cheap Upgrades

While you’re at it, don’t forget about the variety of cheap upgrades that you have at your disposal. Upgrading your shower heads, getting new shower curtains, getting brighter light bulbs, and putting on a new coat of paint are great inexpensive and easy ways to improve your bathroom experience. The ways you can improve the look and feel of your bathroom are only limited by your imagination.

As you can see, renovating your bathroom doesn’t have to be an expensive, complicated disaster. By keeping these simple tips in mind, your do-it-yourself project can be a fun, hassle-free experience — all without breaking the bank!

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Putting Your Home On The Market: 5 Curb Appeal Tips For The Winter

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Selling your home in the winter is a little harder than selling it during the summer. Shoppers are so busy with the holidays that they don’t want to even think about buying a new home, and other shoppers hate dealing with the snow and ice. Increasing the curb appeal during the winter can help you get your house sold.

Change the Lighting

Depending on where you live, the sun might set as early as five pm at night, which is the same time that people leave work. Adding some new lighting to your home can make the house look brighter and livelier, but those lights will also give potential buyers a better look at the property. Outdoor lighting is something that is often forgotten about in homes. By giving your home a good look at night you can see where a little extra something would be very welcomed.

Add Some Decorations

While some experts tell you that you should get rid of clutter and anything that makes your house look lived in that advice doesn’t apply during the holidays. Shoppers want to imagine how they would feel living there, opening their gifts on Christmas day and celebrating with friends. Adding an inflatable Santa, decorating the trees and shrubs with lights or hanging pine from your porch gives your home a festive look.

You basically want to make the house look a bit on the neutral side, so your potential buyers can see themselves in your home, but also homey. It is a bit of a fine line, but portraying the right look with your home during the holidays can really help your house fly off the market.

Take Care of Pests

When the temperature drops, rodents and pests look for places to hide. You might find squirrels living in the eaves, mice hiding in your porch or even raccoons nesting under your home. If you need help with companies can help. You don’t need to worry about sliding on the ice, injuring yourself under the porch or even suffering from bites.

Eliminate Ice and Snow

As much as you might like the look of those icicles hanging from your roof, shoppers look at those icicles as a potential hazard. Now is the time to shovel the walk, take care of the built up snow that ice trucks left in your yard and get rid of snow and ice hanging from the roof. Remember that the way your home looks says a lot to the potential buyers. By staying on top of these seemingly small ideas, the message can say a lot more.

Bring in Some New Plants

A bright pop of color can make your home instantly look more inviting and welcoming. While you can’t use all types of flowers during the winter months, you can find some cold-weather plants. Poinsettias, certain types of ivy and witch hazel all thrive in cold weather.

Despite what some people might say, you can sell your house easily during the winter. You need to get your house ready for potential buyers with a little bit of curb appeal from holiday decorations and cold-weather plants you place outside.

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The Four Home Additions That Will Be Worth Your While

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

No home is complete without the right additions. Technology is advancing at a very fast pace and there are many different gadgets and additions that every homeowner should look into. These additions can add an extra element of safety to your home, or they can make your house easier to clean and maintain. Whatever the case, here are the top four home additions that will be worth your while.

Smart TV

Every house could use a Smart TV. Smart TVs differ from their “dumb” cousins by adding a lot of different features that can enhance the TV watching experience. These features include social media sharing, streaming services, compatibility with tablets and smartphones, and voice recognition.

Home Security

An advanced home security system is a must when you are making additions to your home. How secure you want your house to be is entirely up to you. If you live in a good neighborhood, perhaps you will be fine with just a security camera and a loud alarm. If you want to go a little overboard, there’s probably a security system out there with radar and heat-seeking missiles. Whatever the case, you want your house to be secure. Orlando Security Company is a great place to check your options in regard to home security.

iRobot Vacuum Cleaner

This adorable little guy goes around cleaning up all of your crumbs. No one likes picking up behind other people, so engineers created a robot to do it. This makes housekeeping a lot easier and less of a pain. While it may not seem like much, this is just the precursor to having actual robot maids cleaning our houses.

Home Automation Systems

Home automation systems are becoming increasingly popular. These systems allow the house to perform tasks on “autopilot” to an extent. If the house detects that no one is in a room, it will turn off any lights in case someone left them on. This saves energy and money. A home automation system also allows certain house functions to be performed via an app on your smartphone or tablet. For instance, you would be able to control the lights, locks, doors, and thermostat all from your phone.

As technology continues to move forward, it’s very likely that a lot of these things will become much more standard with houses. Show everyone you’re ahead of the curve by investing in some of these additions right now. They are helpful and will make your home life a lot easier and more enjoyable.

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