Essential Home Maintenance Tips for End of Winter Storms
If you haven’t performed your annual home maintenance checks this winter, don’t think you can avoid them because the season’s almost over. End-of-winter storms are wreaking havoc on homes across the country, and homeowners who don’t maintain their properties to combat storms will likely incur costly repairs and possible health risks.Heavy wind, rain, ice, and snow can threaten your home’s structural integrity and damage critical systems. Frigid winter temperatures usually force homeowners to rely on indoor heating systems that mail fail if not taken care of properly. Don’t be caught off guard because the weather is fine now. Attend to crucial yearly maintenance as soon as possible to save money, stay safe, and keep peace of mind.Here are some essential home maintenance tips you can review and take action on to avoid the surprise of damaged property, unsafe conditions, and costly repair bills. Inspect Carbon Monoxide and Smoke DetectorsChilly weather often prompts homeowners to fire up the furnace or gather around the fireplace. For those who don’t have properly functioning carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, however, warm days and nights indoors might turn into family health risks. Make sure you test your detectors and change the batteries at least once this season, and keep in mind that carbon monoxide detectors typically last for three to five years, while smoke detectors last for eight to ten years. Protect PipesDon’t neglect your plumbing if you live where water freezes. Protect your pipes from freezing and bursting by taking preventative measures like installing frost-proof spigots or closing interior shut-off valves leading to outdoor faucets. Wrap pipes in unheated areas, such as in basements and attics, with insulation. Get a Furnace InspectionIf you haven’t had someone inspect your furnace this winter, it’s time to hire a professional. Faulty furnaces can cause fires that put homes and lives at risk. Additionally, older furnaces aren’t as energy efficient as modern ones, so having an expert check your system could lower your heating bill. Inspect and Sweep Fireplaces and ChimneysFireplaces and chimneys cause almost three in ten fires associated with heating systems. This is reason enough to get a winter safety inspection on these systems if you haven’t already. But, consider too that you can get carbon monoxide poisoning from a blocked chimney or flue. Homeowners are also wise to do an annual check themselves for anything flammable set within a three-foot zone of a fireplace opening. Clear GuttersBefore the next winter storm rolls around, ensure your gutters are clear of leaves, branches, and other debris that can cause water to pool and freeze over, leading to a blockage. If you see icicles hanging from your gutters, this is a good indication that a problem already needs immediate attention. Ice dams in gutters can fall and injure someone or build up to the point where they threaten your home’s exterior. Check Exhaust VentsNatural gas appliances like furnaces, water heaters, and fireplaces work overtime during winter storms, all emitting exhaust that must be directed outdoors. It’s important to check your exhaust vents for blockages and ensure all flap traps open correctly. Otherwise, hazardous fumes may enter your home and pose a health hazard. Additionally, blocked vents and traps can be a fire risk if materials trapped inside get too hot and combust. Maintain Outdoor Utility EquipmentOutdoor utility panels and meters must be clear of ice and snow to function properly and safely. If you haven’t given your utility equipment a winter check, do it before the next storm hits. Remember that you should never use heat to melt ice or snow from a utility panel or meter. Also, avoid hitting the panel and meter if you have to shovel snow around them. Put an Emergency Kit TogetherHarsh and violent winter storms may cause power outages, block exterior doors, and bring on other issues that disrupt your comfort and safety. Be prepared by having a well-stocked emergency kit in your home. Stock your kit with extra food and water (for babies and pets, too), an emergency blanket, foot and hand warmers, medications, bandages, clothing, a flashlight, an ice scraper, a Swiss army knife, and a two-way radio (hand, battery, or solar-powered). As extra safety measures, ensure all household members know your family’s evacuation plan and all pets have an ID tag on their collar.Do you want to talk to a real estate professional about getting your home ready to sell this winter or in the upcoming months? Contact Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate® for a consultation.The post Essential Home Maintenance Tips for End of Winter Storms appeared first on Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life.
How to Turn Your Home into a Winter Wonderland for an Open House
Whether you’re selling your home and want to welcome buyers to view it or are entertaining guests for the holidays, turning your exterior and interior into a winter wonderland can create the perfect atmosphere.From lighting and landscaping to indoor decor and seasonal scents, there are many ways to bring the warmth and merriment of the season to those who visit you.Here are some tips for cozying and brightening your home for a winter open house.LightingSet the stage for a winter wonderland by stringing lights throughout your outdoors, in trees, on shrubs, along walkways, and on stair and porch railings. All-white light displays create an enchanting setting for wonder, but colored lights also delight guests, especially when set against a snowy backdrop. Inside, drape lights around doorways and on stairways, and add battery-operated string lights to bowls to create eye-catching table centerpieces. Decorative seasonal lights adorned outside and in help a home exude warmth and personality. Want to really turn on the wow factor? Consider adding a dramatic curtain of white lights along a wall or fence.LandscapingDress trees with sparkling decorations, erect a Nativity set on your lawn, and strategically place snowmen throughout your property to turn your landscape into a winter wonderland. Dazzle guests with a giant snow globe, little lanterns, and cozy places to sit and take in the sights in your yard.EntryYou’ll want open house guests to feel the fun and festiveness of the season well before they enter your home, so pay special attention to decorating your entry. Envelop your front steps, deck, and door with all things winter like bows, boughs of holly, wreaths, and pine cones. Place a winter-themed doormat on your porch and jingle bells on the front door knobs. Set up a welcome station right before guests enter with shoe booties, candy canes, and hot chocolate.Winter FragranceA great seasonal fragrance can quickly transform a home’s interior into a winter wonderland. Reach for candles, incense, wax melts, and diffusers scented with cinnamon and other warm spices, yummy gingerbread, or pretty pine. Ensure every room in your home, even the bathroom, is bathed in the season’s scents.FireplacesA warm and cozy fireplace can set the scene for a winter wonderland, perhaps more than anything else. So, decorate your mantel, light a fire, and draw open-house guests into the season’s magic. Don’t have a fireplace? Find a video of a fireplace, complete with crackling fire sounds, and play it on your TV.Indoor Plants Adding colorful seasonal plants to your indoors can instantly turn it into a festive gathering place. Go with striking candy cane amaryllis, paperwhites, poinsettias, and cyclamen. Or, opt for gorgeous greens like Norfolk Island pine, ivy, mistletoe, and juniper. Christmas cactus and tabletop firs are also popular plants in a winter wonderland design scheme. Of course, you can always leave your Christmas tree up throughout the winter season.*Note – Many house plants may be toxic to your pets, so check with your veterinarian before bringing any of these holiday favorites indoors.TablescapesSet the perfect dining table as winter wonderland eye candy or to welcome guests for a holiday meal. Lay out beautiful dinnerware, glassware, and napkins. Create an inviting mood with candles and floral centerpieces. Add winter trinkets like little glass trees or real evergreen pieces as decor. Think about introducing color and texture with tablecloths, place mats, table runners, and chair coverings.LayersVisually and literally warm up your home for winter guests by adding layers. Think of layering in terms of textiles and lighting, and create cozy spaces using combinations of blankets, rugs, pillows, curtains, towels, light fixtures, and lighted accessories. Wood also suggests warmth, so play around with ways to bring the outdoors into your wonderland setting.Winter DetailsWrap up all the details of your winter wonderland open house by adding thoughtful touches throughout your home like seasonal soap dishes and hand soaps, festive window decals, hanging snowflakes, and wintry coasters and knickknacks. Place holiday-themed hardcover books on coffee tables and leave candy dishes filled with tasty treats in every room. Make a miniature Christmas village a side table focal point and set out a craft table for kids.There are many ways to embrace the season and create a warm winter wonderland setting for guests. Use your imagination to come up with whimsical, joyful, and meaningful decorations and activities that produce memories people will cherish for years.Are you looking to sell or buy a home this winter? Let Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate® help.The post How to Turn Your Home into a Winter Wonderland for an Open House appeared first on Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life.
Fall Décor Trends with Interior Design Pro Jennifer Adams
With fall just around the corner, it’s the perfect excuse to update your home décor and welcome the new season in style. To effortlessly transition your home, here are some of the best décor trends to try. Bring Nature Indoors Taking inspiration from Mother Nature, bring the natural, lush beauty of the outdoors into your home with houseplants. They make great decorating accents by adding color and character, and they help create a flow between your indoor and outdoor spaces. With the variety of species, sizes and shapes, you have an array of choices that fit your needs and style. Additionally, plants purify the air and produce a calming effect. They’re the perfect natural mood-enhancer! Flower Power From patterns on wallpaper, curtains and upholstery to fresh bouquets dotting your tabletops, flowers are a gorgeous way to uplift any room. Like houseplants, flowers are a great accent, adding a splash of color and giving your space a finished look. With a myriad of options to choose from, you can go bold with a bright, colorful bouquet on your dining room table, and grace your entry table with an elegant monochrome arrangement that welcomes you home every day. Natural Wood Continuing with the theme of bringing nature indoors, you can’t go wrong with fine natural wood pieces like tables, stools, chairs, shelves and accessories. The idea is to allow the natural wood grains and tones take center stage. This trend also includes unfinished or distressed wood furniture like a rustic farmhouse kitchen table or dining room table. Earthy Tones As for a color palette, think earthy tones. Rich shades of brown, green, and blue are excellent choices, as well as soft whites that evoke sand dunes, pale wood, and natural linen. The idea is to create a soothing sanctuary to retreat and relax in. Don’t forget to add those pops of color, too—a burst of red, yellow or orange will enliven the space and your senses. Soft and Curvy From circular lampshades to round accent pillows to curvy sofas and armchairs, it’s all about soft lines. When you look around nature, curves rule—whether it’s the graceful curve of a flower’s petal, the delicate spiral of a seashell or the hardy roundness of a tree trunk. Similarly, incorporating curves into your home décor creates an elegant, fresh and inviting space with a natural flair. The post Fall Décor Trends with Interior Design Pro Jennifer Adams appeared first on Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life.
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