Home Ownership

Home ownership is one of the most rewarding responsibilities of a person’s life. That’s why it’s so important to consistently add value and keep up with regular maintenance. Whether you’re a new owner, keeping up with your current home, or looking to sell, prioritizing tasks can be daunting. We aim to help figure out what is most impactful to your home with expert advice. We cover all types of DIY and contracted projects. Check out the articles below for a wide range of answers to common homeowner questions!

Must Read Articles About Home Ownership :

What's it Worth to You? How to Add Value to Your Home

It doesn't matter if you're about to say goodbye or you're just settling in for the long-haul: your home means something to you. That's why it's worth adding enjoyment value to your home as well as potential upgrades for a higher resale price at the end of it. Whether you want to spruce up your home to make the most of it or add to an imminent resale price, try these simple tips to create more value from your property.

A Maintained Home is a Happy Home: The Top Home Maintenance Tips Everyone Should Know

When it comes to home maintenance, you should abide by the one to four percent rule. This rule states you should spend between one and four percent of your home’s value each year on repairs and maintenance. You may wonder what type of repairs you should focus on to keep your home well maintained. This can vary based on the house, it’s age and other factors, and there are some general guidelines you can use. Regardless of if you build or buy, keeping your home properly maintained is a must.

Remarkable Health Benefits of Being Organized

Of course, too many things lying around has clear health hazards, such as tripping over toys in the middle of the night. Nevertheless, clutter causes many internal problems which – although less obvious than the Lego maze strewn across your family room floor – are quite impactful on your life. Read on to learn five reasons why getting organized is vital to your overall well-being.

Evaluate Your House for a Deck

In the summertime when the living is easy, there’s nothing quite like a deck for cooking out, entertaining, or simply relaxing. In addition to boosting outdoor living space, a deck can be an asset when you sell your home. Planning a successful deck requires careful consideration of your site, your budget, and the features you should — or shouldn’t — include. Here are some planning priorities to bear in mind.

Recent Home Ownership Articles:

Low-VOC Paint Protects Health, Pocketbook

By: Joseph D'Agnese Low-VOC paints are kind to your health, and they won't break the bank, either. Learn more about these eco-friendly ways to brighten a room. VOCs health hazards Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are solids and liquids that convert easily to gas or vapor at room temperature. VOCs are contained in many paint products and have been linked to a variety of health problems--watery eyes, headaches, asthma, respiratory diseases and cancer. Common paint VOCs Common VOCs i... [Read More]

Spring Cleaning

With the arrival of Spring comes the annual rite of Spring Cleaning. Don’t just throw out the things you do not want. Lots of people have yard sales but they take a lot of time preparing and staging. Another way to get rid of unwanted clothing, furniture, lawn mowers and that old vehicle or boat that is just setting there taking up space and no longer used is to donate them to a charitable organization such as the Goodwills or Salvation Army. Sometimes if you give your local... [Read More]

10 Tips for Saving Money in the Garden

By Laura Fisher Kaiser Carefully plan and plot your garden to add value to your home and make the most of your time and money. So don’t impulsively drive to your garden center. Walk your land, consult an almanac, test the soil, and make a budget. You’ll save your back, your budget, and your home’s curb appeal. Tip #1: Get to know your land Before shelling out money for new plants, consider what’s thrived and died in past gardens. Ask, “Is this plant doing its job? Adding beauty? Provi... [Read More]

5 Bright Garden Lighting Ideas

By Alyson McNutt English How does your garden glow? Try out some of our garden lighting ideas, and you’ll be walking in sunshine … even after dark. Stepping-stone lights Engineered to withstand the wear and tear of foot traffic, these glowing stepping stones will safely light your path for up to 12 hours when fully charged. Use them to illuminate walkways and other high-traffic outdoor areas. Power source: Solar Downside: Making a whole pathway can be pricey. Cost: About $50 for a... [Read More]

Giant outdoor clock with pink blooming flowers

Daylight Savings Time Means Spring Yard Work is Around the Corner

Well it’s getting to be that time of year when we change the clocks ahead and we find we have a little more daylight at the end of the work day to come home and see what the winter has left for us to clean up around the house. This means the yard work that we will soon be doing is close at hand. It’s time to get the lawn mowers and garden tractors dusted off and serviced for the use they will provide for the summer months. It’s a good thing to have these implements serviced with oil cha... [Read More]

Spring Forward – Time to test the smoke alarms!

As we spring forward an hour for Daylight Savings, it's a great reminder to make sure you have a working smoke alarm in your home. Smoke alarms significantly increase your chances of surviving a deadly home fire, so we are encouraging everyone to take these simple steps to be prepared: Test and clean your smoke alarms today and on the first of every month Replace the batteries at least once a year Place smoke alarms on every level of your residence and in every bedroom Check the... [Read More]

7 Tips for Staging Your Home

By: G. M. Filisko Make your home warm and inviting to boost your home’s value and speed up the sale process. Start with a clean slate Before you can worry about where to place furniture and which wall hanging should go where, each room in your home must be spotless. Do a thorough cleaning right down to the nitpicky details like wiping down light switch covers. Deep clean and deodorize carpets and window coverings. Stow away your clutter It’s harder for buyers to picture themselve... [Read More]

Winter Home Maintenance Tips

Here we are in the middle of winter. At least the days with daylight are getting longer. It snowed recently and more is to be expected before we receive the Spring thaw. Winter weather brings out the snow plows and shovels but fun for the kids who enjoy playing in the snow. A maintenance reminder once the snow has melted and re-froze for those who have a footer drain or downspout runoff. You should check and make sure the ends are open so the next time it rains the water will flow away ... [Read More]

Habits for a Healthy House

Always run your vented Range Hood every time you cook so that you eliminate Steam, Smoke, & Food Particles that get into the air that can create problems. Stream and cooking in general will create moisture which can breed mold. Also it can help eliminate particulates in the air that could have an effect on people that have asthma or other breathing issues not to mention the dirt/germs that can build up from these particulates overtime. Never Warm up your Car in the Garage with the ... [Read More]

How to Replace Weather Stripping

By: Douglas Trattner When weather stripping on doors and windows gets worn out, cold air comes sneaking in. Here’s how to replace weather stripping and stop air leaks. Identifying worn weather stripping Weather stripping deteriorates due to age, friction, and exposure to the elements. It also can be damaged by people, pets, and pests. At least once each year, inspect your windows and doors to check for air leaks that indicate your weather stripping isn’t doing its job. Self-adhe... [Read More]