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Winter Home Maintenance Tips: How to Keep Your Home in Tip-Top Shape

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Winter is a time when many homeowners start to worry about the state of their home. Will the cold weather cause any damage? What can be done to prevent it? In this blog post, we will discuss some tips on how to keep your home in good condition during winter. Follow these tips and you can rest assured that your home will be in great shape all season long!

Tip #01: Protect Your Home from the Cold Weather

One of the most important things you can do to protect your home during winter is to make sure that it is properly insulated. If your home isn’t well-insulated, then the cold weather can cause a lot of damage, such as frozen pipes and cracks in the walls. Make sure to check the insulation in your home and add more if necessary.

Tip #02: Inspect Your Roof for Damage

The roof is one of the most important parts of a home, and it’s also one of the most vulnerable to damage during winter. Make sure to inspect your roof for any cracks or leaks, and repair them as soon as possible. Additionally, make sure to clear away any snow or ice from the roof so that it doesn’t cause any damage.

Tip #03: Keep Your Home Clean

It’s important to keep your home clean during winter, especially if you have allergies. The cold weather can cause an increase in dust and other allergens, so make sure to vacuum and mop your floors regularly. You should also keep your windows clean to prevent the build-up of any dirt or ice.

Tip #04: Check Your Heating System

The heating system is one of the most important parts of a home during winter. Make sure to check your heating system regularly and have it serviced if necessary. Additionally, make sure to use the correct amount of heat for your home. If you use too much heat, then you could end up damaging your furniture or flooring.

Tip #05: Protect Your Pipes from Freezing

One of the most common problems that occur during winter is frozen pipes. To prevent this, make sure to insulate your pipes properly and keep them warm. If you do end up with frozen pipes, thaw them out as quickly as possible.

Tip #06: Shovel Snow and Ice Away from Your Home

It’s important to shovel snow and ice away from your home, especially if you have a porch or deck. This will help to prevent any damage caused by the snow and ice. It’s also a good idea to shovel snow off of your roof so that it doesn’t cause any leaks.

Tip #07: Check Your Gutters for Clogs

The gutters are another important part of a home that can easily be clogged by snow and ice. Make sure to check your gutters regularly for any clogs, and clear them away as soon as possible. This will help to prevent any water damage caused by the melting snow.

Tip #08: Keep an Eye on Your Home while You’re Away

If you’re going to be away from home for an extended period of time, make sure to have someone check on your home periodically. This will help to ensure that there is no damage caused by the cold weather. Additionally, it’s a good idea to set your thermostat to a lower temperature so that your home doesn’t get too warm.

These are just some of the tips on how to maintain your home during winter. Follow these tips and you can rest assured that your home will be in great shape all season long!

Complete Home Renovation – Where to Get Started

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Major home renovations are often extensive and time consuming and require a significant effort by a homeowner throughout the process. One of the most challenging parts of a major home renovation is simply getting started with it. Here are some of the key steps to get started with a home renovation.

Define Your Project

The first step to any home renovation is understanding the major home renovation that you want to pursue. You may be looking to add some living space to your home by adding a new floor to your home. Alternatively, you may be pursuing a major renovation to a kitchen or living area or simply looking to renovate the entire interior of your home. The first step should be to define the scope of your project and have a clear idea of what you are attempting to accomplish with your major home renovation.

Develop a Budget and Save

Once you understand the major home renovation that you are attempting to pursue, you will need to develop a budget and save for it. Start by researching what the cost of a similar renovation would be in your area. The internet is a great resource for this type of general research. As you begin to approach the commencement of your major home renovation you can start to get bids from contractors who would be able to provide you with a more accurate estimate of the cost of the major home renovation. Be sure to get at least three separate quotes for home renovations and use this as a gauge for the final cost.

Be sure to save regularly to put together money for your home renovation. Be sure to save at least 20% more than the quote you receive. For one, you will need to put aside some additional money for new furniture and decorations for your newly renovated home. In addition, you will want to have some cushion for any overages from contractors or due to any major problems that may be found as part of the home renovation. It is better to be safe than sorry. Given the nature of a home, it is good to set a part of your pay check for home renovations and then put aside a little extra when you have a major home renovation coming up.

Try to avoid piecemeal home renovations, if possible, and save to have the work done all at once. This way, you can avoid having the work done in a ramshackle way.

Find a General Contractor

Unless you are particularly handy, you will need to find a contractor to assist you with your major home renovation. While major home renovations will typically require a number of different contractors such as electricians and plumbers, you are often better off finding a general contractor who you contract with who will then sub-contract amounts out to the various individuals that they need to use. This way, you can avoid having to contract with many different specialists and avoid having to worry about how well the various contractors work together. Let your general contractor handle this process.

Find a general contractor who has a significant amount of experience tackling the size and scope of the renovations that you are pursuing. Look to see that they have the time to devote to your project and the resources to handle the project. In addition, obtain three or more bids and make sure that the quote that they are providing you with is reasonable for the major home renovation that you are pursuing.

Undergoing a major home renovation is a major inconvenience and often overwhelming from the start. Consider the aforementioned items to get started and put your renovation on the path of success.