Tag: maintenance

Sprinkling Systems: How to Get the Job Done Yourself

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Just bought a house with a beautiful yard? Getting a sprinkler system installed is step number one to keep your yard looking great. When you have a sprinkler system, you don’t have to worry about remembering to water your lawn, watering too much, or watering too little. The automated system will take care of everything for you. Having a system professionally installed can be costly. You can save big by using these tips to install your new sprinkler system yourself.

Develop Your Plan

You need to know exactly where you will be installing your system and sprinkler heads before you start digging in your yard. Make sure that your design gives a proper amount of water to each area of your yard. For instance, the section of your yard that is in direct sunlight probably needs more watering than the shady area underneath an oak tree.

Gather Your Equipment

Your installation job will go much more smoothly if you gather all of the necessary equipment and supplies before you begin. It is frustrating to have to stop in the middle of the job to purchase a tool, so take a few minutes to ensure that you have everything you need. Along with the sprinkler system, you will likely need pipes and fittings, shovels, trench tools, wrenches and screwdrivers, work gloves, safety goggles, and a pipe-cutting saw.

Remove Old Equipment

If there is an old sprinkler system currently installed in your yard, remove all of the pieces before adding anything new. Instead of just throwing everything away, check to see if any of the parts are still useful. If any of the non-working parts are made of copper or other metals, you can sell them as scrap metal to make a few extra dollars to add to your project’s budget.

Follow Instructions and Work Carefully

Once you have completed all of your prep work, you are ready to begin installing your new system. First, you will need to install the controller and valve box, and then you can start placing the sprinkler heads. Work in one zone of your yard at a time, and check the water pressure for each section before you move on to another area.

After your system is installed, it is a good idea to test it several times to ensure that it is working properly. Thanks to your hard work, your yard will be lush and well-watered year-round with minimal effort.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Before You Settle In: Five Critical Details for First-Time Home Buyers

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

So you found a home you love and you just closed. Finally, your dream has come true. But before you hit the closest furniture store and start picking out chesterfields and credenzas for that gorgeous little nook, you’ll want to sort a few things out. By taking a few precautions upfront, you can save yourself plenty of heartache in the future. So before you settle in, consider these five tips for first-time home buyers.

Meet the Neighbors

Although it seems like such a small thing, you never know when you’ll need a hammer or screwdriver during the moving process. Who better to help you out than your neighbors? Plus, you’ll likely be living next to them for several years, so getting on good terms early can only make your tenure in your home a much more pleasant experience.

Figure out the Circuit Breaker

File this tip under “things you don’t think you need until suddenly it’s critical.” Figuring out which outlets go to which switch on the circuit breaker is a challenge under normal circumstances, but when the lights are out, it can be nearly impossible. Consider tackling this task early on, before things get hectic. That way, the next time the power goes off, you’ll already have mapped and labeled your circuits.

Start a Maintenance Fund

Now that you’ve purchased a house, you’re in the clear, right? Time to go buy furniture? Not so fast. Even in a custom home, you’re likely to run up against maintenance issues from time to time. Start saving now and you’ll be sure to have enough cash stashed on a rainy day. It may even be worth putting off major purchases (like credenzas) in order to start saving up today.

Paint Hard-to-Reach Spots

Before you start moving things into your new abode, consider painting. Custom homes typically start off white or off-white. Estate home builders in Orlando and elsewhere aren’t sure of new occupants’ color preferences, so many homes start off neutral. If you want to inject personality, consider painting before your home is full of stuff. This is especially critical for hard-to-reach places, like ceilings and closets. Painting before you move in means you don’t have to worry about moving objects out of the way or staining your belongings.

Start a Filing System Right Away

Now that you’re a homeowner, you’re going to have plenty of paperwork. Taxes may become slightly more complex, you may need repairs or you may just want to track how much the interest on your mortgage is. If you start a filing system when you first purchase a home, you can avoid staring down a huge pile of paperwork in the future. Plus, you’ll always know where your important home documents are.

It can be so exciting to buy your first house that it’s hard to know what to do next. Fortunately, a little preparation and work now can make owning your first home that much easier. Before you get comfy in your new home, make sure you use these five tips to prepare yourself for the future.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields