For many of us, our home is a calm and peaceful refuge. One that stands between us and the hustle and bustle, and stress of the outside world. However, that peace can be so easily disrupted if our homes come under threat. Sadly, there are numerous threats to defend our homes against. Although the good news is there are tactics you can use to keep your home, as safe as houses! Read on to find out what they are.
Security
One of the most prominent threats to your home is security breaches from the outside. These can take physical form from burglars, or a virtual way from hackers. Fortunately, there are strategies that you can use to minimize the risk from either.
Firstly when it comes to physical threats such as people breaking into your home, ensuring you have a secure door and window locks is vital. Also installing security systems such as CCTV and alarms, a topic you can find out about at https://reolink.com/how-to-install-a-home-surveillance-system/ can help a great deal as well.
Alternatively, when dealing with threats of a virtual nature, IT security is critical. That means the network you are on is a secure one and that you use end-to-end encryption for anything private. Something you can read more about at https://www.thesslstore.com/blog/end-to-end-encryption-the-good-the-bad-and-the-politics/. The use of firewalls and antivirus software can also help you keep your virtual home life as safe as your physical one.
Weather
Bad weather can sometimes be an extreme threat to your home. Storms cause untold amounts of wind and water damage to the outer structure and often the inside of properties. Happily, there are some steps you can follow that will help to protect your home.
The first is to make sure that you invest in a roof like the ones on offer at ddroofing.com/services/residential-roofing/ as they are made from the very best quality materials. Something that means they will be a robust first line of defense when the weather does turn.
Additionally, having a plan in place for what to do if you are expecting extreme weather in the location in which you live is vital. Something that should, of course, first prioritize human well-being. Then also include additional actions like boarding up windows to minimize the risk of them smashing, as well as blocking up gaps under doors with sandbags to prevent water from getting in.
Germs
Finally, one of the most significant risks to your home can come from germs. Especially as most of the world finds itself in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis! Of course, the key here is to make sure that your home is as clean and hygienic as possible.
One way of doing this is to use advanced cleaning products such as antibacterial sprays and wipes, which are as the post at https://www.lbc.co.uk/hot-topics/coronavirus/which are effective against viruses as well as bacteria. Additionally, taking special care to wash your hand whenever you have come in from the outside is also vital. While regularly cleaning off high-use items like doorknobs, and tabletops can help to prevent illness from spreading. Thus keeping your home as safe from germs as possible.
There hasn’t been a viral outbreak as serious as Covid-19 in living memory. The modern world has made it very easy for this virus to spread around, catching thousands of people from different countries, backgrounds, and financial standings. This disease doesn’t discriminate, and this is putting a lot of pressure on normal people to keep themselves safe from it. Technology can be used to make your home into a fortress, but a lot of people are ignoring the options they have to ensure that their place doesn’t get overrun. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the best techy tools to help you to overcome your concerns about Covid-19.
Air Purification
Covid-19 can be transmitted in the air, and this makes it incredibly hard to be sure that you’re protected, even at home. Air purification has shown some success when it comes to cleaning the air of viruses, but they need to have the right kind of filtering system for this to work properly. Reading a Silveronyx air purifier review will give you an idea of what to expect from a device like this, and there are loads of options to choose from around the web. Of course, this won’t make your air completely clean but can help when it comes to trapping viruses and other questionable particles.
Video Doorbells
Living in fear of answering the door is never a good state to be in. Those who are most vulnerable to this virus are likely to be doing this, though, and it can make sense for even the healthiest of people to exercise caution when interacting with others. A video doorbell can allow you to see and talk to the people who knock at your door. This will allow you to handle their inquiry, while also providing you with the chance to assess the importance of their visit. Hopefully, you won’t get anyone trying to sell you things while the outbreak is still in full force, but this will certainly help if you do.
Washing Reminders
Washing your hands regularly is one of the best ways to halt the spread of a virus. Of course, though, most people only wash their hands when they are about to eat, have been to the toilet, or when their hands are visibly dirty. It isn’t easy to remember to keep on top of washing your hands when you’re not used to doing it all the time. Thankfully, there are plenty of apps on the market which are being made to help with this. Your phone should already be able to support tools like this, as long as it’s an Android or iPhone.
With all of this in mind, you should be feeling prepared to start better managing your life now that so many restrictions are in place. Everyone has to do their bit during this difficult time, and keeping your house free from contamination is a good place to start.
It’s common for people to leave things like fruit in bowls and sugar out on their kitchen counters. This is bad practice and you should stop doing this if you want to deal with pests You must find various ways to store all of your food to make it impossible for pests to get to. So here’s some advice that you should be following:
Don’t leave any food out in the open regardless of the location. This means don’t leave food out on your kitchen counter, your dining table, or even inside cupboards.
Make sure you store any kind of loose foods in containers when possible. For instance, a biscuit or cookie tin is a great place to store random snacks and plastic containers should be used whenever possible.
Storing loose food in the fridge is fine if you can guarantee that small pests like ants can’t get in. This isn’t common, but with some older fridges or a partially broken fridge, pests can get inside.
If you spill any food or drink, clean it up immediately. This will prevent it from sticking to various surfaces which could attract smaller pests.
Make sure areas where you store your food, such as the food cupboard or a pantry, are completely free of any holes or entry points that pests can use to get in. This can be difficult as critters like mice and even squirrels gnaw their way into your pantry if they’re really hungry. To counteract this, you can store the food in various types of containers.
As you can see, it’s rather easy to keep all of your food away from critters and pests. The reason you do this is simple; to cut off the food supply for all different types of pests. If you leave food in the open then they’re going to wreak havoc and eat all of the food they can get their little hands on. If you want to truly avoid pests in the future and also deal with existing pest problems, the best way to do so is to make sure they have no access to your food.
Other areas of food that you should be cleaning up
There are also some lesser-known and easily-forgotten areas where you might be leaving food out. For instance, if you have pets, then there’s a small chance that critters and smaller pests might invade your pet’s food bowl and start stealing from it.
You should also be clearing out areas of food waste such as your bins.
Lastly, don’t forget that pests also need a source of water to stay hydrated as well. Some pests are also drawn to water such as mosquitoes and cockroaches, so keeping areas dry can also avoid attracting them to your home.
By following the measures above, you can generally avoid most types of pests from invading your home. In a case like this, it’s best to know your enemy. If you need more information about a specific pest, we suggest speaking to experts that understand the pest that you’re currently dealing with. There may be very specific ways to help prevent pests from entering your home, such as using different kinds of deterrents.
In a worst-case scenario, you may need to use specially-formulated solutions to both get rid of the pests and prevent them from returning. Luckily, this is something that can easily be done by pest control experts or even with a little research. However, if you want a no-nonsense approach to pest control, it’s best to simply speak to an expert and have them get rid of the pest for you. This will provide the best results in the shortest amount of time. Again, this should be your last resort if you can’t get rid of them with basic preventative measures.
When it’s time to move, it’s time to move. For many of us, even thinking about hauling all of our stuff to a different location can be a real headache, and that is without even thinking about searching for a new place to live and getting settled. Selling your home is a big decision and is one that comes with a lot of strategic planning to get it done with minimal stress.
Here are some of the things you should focus on when trying to sell your home.
Here are some of the things, both emotional and physical that will help you to get your house sold, and your life moving forward.
You’ll have your reasons for wanting to move, but that doesn’t make letting go any easier.
When it comes to selling your home, you must sell it for what it is, its physical features, and the potential it has to be a future home for others, rather than simply holding onto the associations you hold onto.
Start by removing personal photographs, kids’ paintings, and awards. As proud as you are of your child’s painting of a tree they made at kindergarten, a buyer might have a hard time seeing past these personal features.
Utilize a local storage facility to store excess furniture. Even if the old dresser given to you by your great aunt means the world to you– if there’s no logical serving for it to be in your home at the time of sale- store it away. Yes, you may love your home furnishings, but it may not be to every buyer’s tastes- they are buying the room, not the couch.
Deep Clean and De-Clutter
One of the most stressful things about moving is packing up all of your belongings. Do yourself a favor and de-clutter before allowing potential buyers to walk through your home.
Not only will it help you out in the long term with moving your belongings (seriously, if you haven’t even seen it in years, you don’t need to take it with you to your next home) but it will also aid in the sale itself. Assume your buyers have no creativity and can’t see through personal clutter and you’re set.
A deep clean will improve the prospects of selling, too. As well as the positive psychological effects of cleaning (or paying somebody else to do it for you..) a cleaner house will sell better, showcasing it to its full potential.
Use your nose to trace the hidden smells in the home- it may be that some food rolled under the refrigerator some time ago, long forgotten, or the windows have been kept closed for too long? Not everybody can stand the smell of our furry friends. Use an air diffuser to eliminate pet odors before having people round to view your property.
When guiding people through the home, the scent can either make or break a deal. Overly musty, damp, dirty-smelling homes are going to put people off, as will overly perfume homes. Aim for something neutral and inviting that teases all of the senses. There is something magnetic about the smell of baking or freshly brewed coffee that puts buyers at ease and feeling at home.
You want to draw buyers inside your house as soon as they pull up outside the door. They have to be so intrigued by the property that they cannot help but want to look inside and see what the deal is.
Outdoor space can be an even more critical selling point to a home than the property itself. It’s what encourages somebody to turn the door handle and walk inside. Make it seem move-in ready by focusing on the front yard, doors, cladding, etc, not something made to seem like an afterthought.
Paint the door an inviting color- nothing too garish that will put buyers off, but something that makes the home look like a finished piece that could be a home for them- not a project!
Make sure that a buyer can see the door number so they know which property they are walking through. Ensure all the paths point to your door, and not at number 1029 when you’re at 1038- don’t leave them guessing.
Create a DIY Checklist
Of course, there will be those DIY projects that have been on the ‘to-do’ list for years. A blown light bulb here, and a scuffed wall there-it can soon become a little overwhelming to deal with.
However, a buyer may well naturally begin to mentally decrease their potential offer depending on what they see needs doing around the house. Check on the smaller, and bigger things that need doing.
If you have a cracked window pane, enlist the services of Renewal by Andersen windows to get that sorted right out. Clear your gutters and get the windows cleaned. Check all of the lights and electrics work throughout the house.
If you’ve disassociated yourself with your home, it can be even easier to put these things off, but now is the most important time to focus on these little tasks so you don’t have to think about them later on.
Even spending those extra few hundred dollars can increase the property value by thousands, which is thousands toward your new home.
A kitchen has the most value tied to it per square footage, so it’s obvious to focus on this when preparing your home for sale.
Your budget may not allow for a complete kitchen refit, which is fine- there are some simple ways to add value without having to do that. Even something as simple as painting cupboard doors or changing the handles can make it look more finished.
When selling your home, you need to show it off to its full potential so that buyers cannot refuse to make an offer having walked through. Use some of these simple tips and tricks to get your property sold for the biggest possible amount of money!
During the winter months, your home will have gathered some clutter and been kept as warm and cozy as possible. Now the spring is upon us, you do not need to feel quite so wrapped up and it is time to get you and your home ready for the new season.
You can get your home ready for spring without spending many dollars by breathing new life into it as the flowers bloom and the birds sing their first songs of the year…
Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning is not a tradition without reason. Your home will have gathered dust and clutter while you were more interested in staying warm and now is the time to get it sorted.
Empty each room of its accessories like ornaments and books. What you are left with will be much simpler to clean, and it will also be easier to move things around so that underneath the furniture gets done too.
Then before you put anything back, consider carefully if you really need it. There will always be things that have outgrown their usefulness or can be put away until next winter. Either dispose of them or store them and suddenly you will find that you are putting a lot less back into the room. This will not only look better, but it will also help to keep the cleaning work to a minimum.
When you have done this to every room in your home, then you can start to consider the other things you need to do to be ready for spring.
If a spring clean is not enough to give a room a fresh look, consider painting the walls in a different color. Spring colors tend to be pale but vibrant ones such as yellows, light blues, and pinks.
If you have to paint the walls of a couple of rooms to make them look better, it will not cost a fortune and could make a huge difference. If it is bedrooms you are painting, you may want to splash out on some new bed linen to match the color you have chosen, or in the living room, it could be that some new cushions covers would do the job.
Even the kitchen and bathrooms could benefit from a coat of paint on the walls to help make them more inviting.
If you have heavy drapes for the winter and lighter ones for the spring, now is the time to change those too. They will possibly be different colors, and the change they will give will make you feel more like spring has arrived.
Refurbish, Not Replace
If you have some furniture that has seen better days, do not be in too much of a rush to throw it away and replace it. Often, with some loving attention, you can refurbish pieces and save yourself a small fortune. Kitchen chairs, for example, could just need the old paint stripping off and a new one applying. Chairs seats can benefit from having new material affixed, and cushions from having new covers.
If you have no idea where to start with these things, there are plenty of online tutorials to help you. You just need to remember that if you are working on something you were going to throw away, and you mess it up, you are no worse off than before you started, as the piece can still go in the trash if need be.
Of course, there will always be some jobs that you should not even attempt yourself. Electrics, plumbing, fitting windows, a new roof, and many other jobs should be done by experts. You will always find people accredited with the skills you need, and they have the bonus of insurance if something goes wrong. Andersen patio doors, as just one example, come with a warranty that you would not have if you tried to fit them yourself. So, work out what you can comfortably do and what you cannot or should not and act accordingly for the best results.
When you are outside you will be able to smell the freshly cut lawns, the new flowers in bloom and the blossom on the trees. Why not take some of those spring aromas into your home.
There is more than one way to do this. You could buy scented candles, or plain ones and some essential oils. These will give your home a pleasant smell of spring as long as they are burning. You can buy essential oils that help you to relax, and others that promote a good nights sleep. There is a huge variety of them, all with differing effects. You should look into what they do before spending any money on them.
The alternative is to introduce nature into your home with some plants or vases of fresh flowers. The advantage of the plants is that they will not need to be changed every few days, but for most people, there is something special about having freshly cut flowers in their home.
Plants and flowers are also good as they take away the carbon monoxide in the air and replace it with oxygen. This will mean that even on a chilly spring evening when you need to close all the windows, the air in your home will stay fresher because of their presence.
Change Your Wall Hangings
Move your pictures around and you may be surprised how suddenly you start to notice them again. When something has been in the same place for a long time, it is easy just to walk past it without a second glance.
You could even change some of them totally. Perhaps put some family photos in some of the frames, or be really brave and paint a piece of art yourself. It does not need to be a masterpiece to be effective, but just something that matches the tone of the room. Some people get creative by stretching a piece of colorful material over a frame, and that can work just as well.
If your mirrors are in the right place they are probably best left as they are. Mirrors reflect the light from windows and will make a room look brighter and larger. This happens to a greater extent if they are placed opposite a window and if that is where your mirrors are, then leave them there.
You should go around your home and make sure the lights are all working and that none of them need a replacement bulb. Good lighting in a home is crucial, as your family should have the choice between having a bright light and a duller one, depending on what they are doing. It could also be the time to replace any light fittings that are looking past their age.
Light fittings do not need to be expensive, but a new shade on a lamp, or fitting in the center of your living room ceiling, can make a difference to the amount of light in the room.
Are You Ready For Spring?
Every home and family is different, and only you will know what your home needs to make it ready for spring. The above are a few suggestions to help you on the way, but there are no doubt other things that you and your family will want to do.
The key is being prepared and having a plan in regards to what you want to do. Completing jobs in the wrong order can mean that some work has to be duplicated, and that is something you want to avoid if possible. For instance, do not put your accessories back into rooms until the room has had its deep clean, or you will just have more items to move around during the cleaning process.
The needs of an average family have evolved, and adding a home office to your home is something that is sure to benefit everyone. Finding a space for the kids to complete homework and adults to organize paperwork or work remotely can transform your lives for the better. Without question, the unused guest room is the perfect place to bring those visions to life.
If you are going to complete this transformation, however, it’s imperative that you do it in style. Here are five top tricks to ensure that you do.
Turn up the light. Given that the box room is one of the tightest spaces in the home, it’s vital that you make it brighter. Choosing a light color scheme will certainly help reflect the natural light. Meanwhile, translucent window films retain a sense of privacy and add to the décor. This improved energy should go a long way to influencing your mindset for increased productivity. Besides, it’ll simply make the space more attractive.
Make it comfortable. While the office is a place to be productive, you need to inject a sense of comfort too. If it’s cold, stuffy or uninviting, you won’t want to use it. New flooring from Carpet One will make a huge difference to the atmosphere as well as the insulation. Meanwhile, adding a good HVAC system should also rank high on the agenda. While it needn’t be as comfortable as your lounge, positive surroundings can only serve you well.
Avoid overcrowding. As one of the smaller rooms in the home, it’s vital that you prevent the claustrophobic feelings. A clean and tidy space is key. Going paperless with bills and various work documents will certainly serve you well while good under desk storage is vital too. You should also try to keep some of the desk surface free as you may need to write in a notepad or complete other tasks from time to time. If you want to decorate the space with personal items, such as photos, the walls are your friend.
Invest in technology. It sounds a little obvious, but an office space without the right tech features will only ever provide limited results. If the internet doesn’t reach this room with a strong signal, WiFi boosters at Office Works offer the best solution. Hardware and software choices will vary from family to family while it may be necessary for each household member to have their own devices. Either way, the function of the room is just as crucial as the design.
Embrace metal accessories. Gold, brass, and silver accessories can make a striking impact without causing major distractions from work. Lamps, waste bins, and ornaments are all great additions that needn’t break the bank. If nothing else, it brings a sense of class to the room, which can help transform your mentality to start seeing this as a professional environment. For a home-based freelancer or someone that will genuinely utilize this space, those rewards are huge.
Follow these simple steps, and you’ll be sure to make the most of your new home office for many years to come. The fact that it’ll add value to the property is merely a bonus.
