(This post is brought to you by Maxx AC & Heating.)

Your home is meant to be a safe haven where you can escape the hazards and discomforts of the outside world. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Many health hazards can linger inside your house, causing everything from recurring headaches to an increased risk of cancer. Watch out for these subtle threats and take action to make your home as healthy as possible.

Noise pollution

This one is so common in our modern world that it’s often overlooked. Any sound over 70 dB can potentially be defined as noise pollution. If you’re exposed to noises of 80 dB or more for a stretch of at least eight hours at a time, these conditions might be hazardous to your health. According to information from Environmental Pollution Centers, noise pollution can cause hypertension, cardiovascular disease, sleep disturbances, and even hearing loss. Exposure to this type of noise can also hinder physical and psychological development in children.

Take action: Wear earplugs around particularly loud noises. Keep your home quiet and, if possible, choose a house that’s well-removed from heavy traffic. Ironically, even when it’s quiet outside you can create your own noise pollution. Be careful when using earphones and keep the volume down.

Light Pollution

Light pollution is excessive or inappropriate use of artificial light. This can occur both inside and outside your house. Exposure to artificial light at night disrupts your body’s natural rhythms. In addition to robbing you of a good night’s sleep, it might even increase your risk for depression, diabetes, obesity, and breast cancer.

Take action: Keep artificial lights to a minimum in your home, especially at night. If you have bright street lights outside your house, use blackout drapes to block the disruption.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Many seemingly harmless products that you bring into your home off-gas potentially hazardous chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Cleaning products and air fresheners meant to make your home more comfortable can contain VOCs that can cause headaches and nausea. They may also cause eye, nose, and throat irritation and even cancer.

Many new products, such as carpeting, composite wood, upholstery, and vinyl flooring, release VOCs after installation.

Take action: Be mindful of what you bring into your home. Use natural cleaning products and look for low-VOC or no-VOC items.

Unseen Mold

Visible mold is an obvious hazard, but mold growth often goes unseen. Peeling paint or discoloration on the walls and ceiling might indicate hidden mold growth. Mold can cause chronic coughs, rashes, and headaches.

Contact a professional if you can’t reach the problem yourself.  You should eliminate mold as quickly as possible. Use an air purifier to capture airborne spores that might linger even after the initial growth is taken care of.

Take action: Be mindful when cooking, showering, and completing other activities that release moisture. Always turn on an exhaust fan that vents to the outside while performing these tasks.

Taking a mindful approach to your home and the potential hazards there will help you identify and eliminate many subtle dangers. With a careful analysis of your space and a smart, proactive plan, you can make sure your home is the healthy retreat you want it to be.

(A big “thank you” to TruGreen for sponsoring this post!)

Even in a seller’s market, you’ll want to take a strategic approach to make sure your home sells as quickly as possible—and for the best price possible.

There are four key elements you can take into consideration when preparing to sell your home.

Curb Appeal

A good first impression will likely have a major impact on whether potential buyers even bother to take a closer look. Most buyers will form a first impression within seconds(seven, to be precise), and this means that how the front of your house and yard looks is crucially important. Things that might help include painting, putting in a new door, adding lighting, and taking care of your lawn.

Timing is Everything

Next on the list is timing. If at all possible, try to put your house on the market during the peak selling months in the spring and summer. Many buyers like to shop when the weather is nicer. Many parents also try to time a home purchase and move over the summer months so their children can be in a new school district before the next academic year starts.

During the fall and winter months, the housing market tends to slow down as kids return to school and the days grow shorter.

Look at Your Neighborhood

Sometimes things that don’t belong to you can have an impact. Cleaning up common areas around your neighborhood can also make your home look more attractive.

Make a Good First Impression Inside the Front Door

As we all know, kitchens can sell houses. However, when it comes to that quick sale, your hallway can be even more important. This almost relates to curb appeal and those first impressions that visitors get as they enter your home. Your hallway is most likely the first thing they will see, so keeping this spacious, free of clutter and in general good condition should be at the top of your to-do list.

(This post brought to you by North Coast Financial Inc.)

Great home staging can make all the difference between a disappointing experience listing a house for sale and experiencing phenomenal success in today’s home market.

Whether you are selling your family residence to upgrade or need to make the most out of your investment property financing, learning to make a home attractive to buyers is well worth the time commitment and reasonable expenses incurred.

Take a look below for some areas you may want to focus on to make the most of your listing.

Exterior and Curb Appeal

In the real estate market, first impressions are incredibly important. Thankfully, proper landscaping can make a huge difference. Be sure to trim back overgrown trees and replace tired plants. If needed, invest in fresh sod.

Also consider whether it would pay to resurface a cracked driveway, add an off-street parking area, and repaint or replace fencing. Don’t forget to also consider the condition of house numbers and the mailbox. Some simple and inexpensive changes can make a big difference.

Make Sure Flooring is in Good Condition

Take a critical look at the flooring. Professionally cleaning, stretching, or replacing carpets may be necessary. Refinishing wood floors will also greatly improve the overall appeal of the house when potential buyers step through the door.

Upgrade the Kitchen

Since it is the heart of the home, the kitchen is one of the best areas to invest in prior to selling a home. That said, be carefully to invest strategically since the sky is the limit when it comes to the amount of money that could go into a kitchen renovation. Smart money can be spent giving it a fantastic facelift by replacing hardware, painting cabinets, and updating lighting.

Renovate Bathrooms

Potential buyers are also attracted to homes with clean, comfortable, bathrooms. Consider replacing an old vanity, cleaning grout, updating hardware, and replacing an old toilet seat. You may also impress budget-conscious home buyers with new fixtures including eco-friendly taps and shower fittings that will conserve water.

Focus on Lighting

A dark, depressing atmosphere is likely to turn away potential buyers. Consider ways to make the most of available natural light and consider investing in new fixtures to give dark areas a light and airy atmosphere.

Maximize Storage

These days home buyers are likely to prefer homes with great storage areas. This is especially important if you’re trying to sell a small house. Great shelving can make even a small home extremely functional—and help buyers imagine how the home could be the perfect fit for their family.

(A big “thank you” to our friends at A & A Moving Co. for sponsoring this post!)

Moving to a new home is a tiring process. There is a lot that goes into it, not to mention that you have to do it all around your already busy life. And, if you’re like me, it’s easy to get stressed out trying to figure out how to make everything happen the way it should.

With that in mind, here is a simple checklist of things you need to do when moving into a new home. Hopefully it will make your next move a little less stressful.

Step 1: Find a Good Mover

The first thing you’ll want to do is find a good quality moving company. The pros at A & A Moving Co. know how much is involved in the process, “Packing items in homes, spending days or even weeks loading items in moving trucks and delivering them to new locations is not only time consuming and stressful, but items are not always packed with care. Boxes are sometimes hurriedly packed, not marked, or with special items broken. Unpacking trucks can also be a grueling process, especially after a long drive.”

Unless you don’t have a lot of things, have plenty of time on your hands, and have plenty of people to help you out, you’re probably going to want a mover.

But the quality of the team you hire makes all the difference. A good moving crew can make life so much easier, and a bad one can make your experience even worse.

When looking for a mover, there are three things to consider. First, make sure that the company is fully insured. If something happens to one or more items in transit, you’ll want to have the damage covered. Second, make sure the mover has received good reviews. There are plenty of sites online that review local businesses, so be sure to check them out for any mover you are considering. Finally, compare their rates. Pick a mover that not only has received positive feedback, but that doesn’t charge more than the others.

Step 2: Make a Detailed Itinerary

Now that you have a mover lined up, you can begin getting your home in order. Before you dive in, create an itinerary for yourself. This will be a running list of everything you need to do and everything you have already done. By jotting it down you get it out of your head and down on paper. That way you can feel confident you won’t forget anything.

Step 3: Stay Organized Throughout the Packing Process

If you are packing some of the boxes yourself, it’s important that to stay organized. If you just throw things into boxes without thought, you’ll find that your moving day is more complicated, and that unpacking will be a real headache. Instead, make sure you are labeling each box as you pack it up. Try to keep similar items grouped together, and don’t overload any of the boxes (for instance, don’t fill a big box with books). It might take you a little longer to pack up, but you’ll reap the benefits when you get to your new home.

Step 4: Make Sure Your New Home is Ready

With your old home ready to go, now it’s time to check on your new home. Make sure you have the date secured, so that there isn’t anyone still living in the home when you get there. You’ll also want to talk to the utilities companies so that everything is still running when you move in. The last thing you want to do is move into your new home and find that the electricity isn’t turning on, or that you won’t have Internet for a week.

Step 5: Take Your Time Unpacking

After you move everything in, you’ll likely be exhausted. However, you’ll also be anxious to get everything unpacked so that you can be completely done. During the unpacking phase, try not to rush. You have plenty of time to unpack everything. You can’t get it all done in a day. Rushing just leads to exhaustion and exhaustion could lead to breaking things—or at least making a huge mess! Take a few days if need by and get the packing done a little bit at a time.

Step 6: Make Your New Home Livable

Finally, it’s time to make your new home a place you can live in. Start decorating the way you like, organizing things like your bookshelves and cabinets, and starting cleaning things like the windows and floors. There will likely be dust and dirt tracked in during the move, so take the time to really scrub everything down. Once you’re finished not only will you have a place that is set up like you want, but it’ll be clean enough to live in as well.

And that’s it! When broken down into the steps above, the moving process doesn’t sound too bad. Just take everything one step at a time, remember to relax, and you should have no trouble reducing the stress that comes with moving.

 

(A big “thank you” to our friends at AV Drain for sponsoring this post.)

Have you ever experienced how quickly a clogged drain will slow down your family’s daily routine? If you’re like me you probably take your plumbing system for granted—until it stops working.

The pros at AV Drain, www.avdrain.com drain cleaner Mississauga, know the frustrations their customers face—and say there are several good reasons hiring a professional can be good for you and your home’s plumbing system.

Understanding Your Plumbing System

One of the most important factors in dealing with a clog properly is fully understanding your plumbing system. This is especially important since it may be composed of several different types of materials. An expert from a plumbing can check a few basics and know what type of metals and/or plastic is used for the system. That’s important because some drain cleaning products will weaken certain kinds of materials—potentially resulting in far more costly repairs in the future.

Correctly Assessing the Nature of the Clog

A professional’s experience dealing with various types of clogs can also pay off by fixing your problem quickly—and preventing future problems. First of all, correctly understanding the problem at hand is key since some methods and chemicals won’t be effective for certain types of clogs. This is also important since some methods will not be that effective on particular kinds of clogs. With the right drain cleaner, it won’t be long until the clog can be removed or dissolved, and the system will work properly again.

Keep in mind that the drain cleaners and products used by a professional typically do more than remove the larger chunk of the clog. They also help to loosen and remove residue that is clinging to the pipe walls. That’s good news for you since it helps minimize the potential for more clogs to develop.

Choosing the Right Solution

Once professional drain cleaners figure out the nature of the system, and the kind of clog present, they can determine the best way to proceed. The process may involve using pressure, air, or some type of solution that dissolves the clog. In some cases, it may require a combination of approaches. In any case, the goal is to resolve the problem quickly, avoid damage to the pipes, and get rid of the entire clog.

A Quick Inspection of the Drain and Pipes

Once the clog seems to have been removed, a professional drain cleaner should also conduct a quick check of the system. The goal is to make sure the water is draining properly everywhere and that the system is functioning as it should. Once that final inspection is completed, and no problems are detected, your family’s routine can get back up to speed.

(A big thank you to our friends at Super Squeegee for sponsoring this post!)

Are your windows covered in grime? Dirty windows mar the aesthetic appeal of your home. They’re ugly to look at and they interfere with the natural light that should be pouring through the glass. Luckily, there’s a good chance you can take care of the problem yourself.

You can hire a professional to clean your windows or you can see what some elbow grease can accomplish. You can also choose both options. Take care of occasional smudges on your own but call the big guys for a yearly deep clean.

Window cleaning is something of an art. Jeremiah Hickey, a window washer with USA record in SLO, CA, has been featured on multiple national media outlets because of his skill. Not only has he a won a Guinness record, he’s dominated in the world championships of window cleaning.

You don’t need to be as good as Hickey, however, to make your windows shine. Keep reading to find out how to do it yourself.

Pre-Cleaning

It’s prep time! If you want your windows to look like they’ve been treated by a professional cleaner, you need to pre-clean the glass before you do any real scrubbing. Get rid of stubborn stains first and your job will be a lot easier. Bird poop, hard water minerals, etc, require special care to be removed.

Tips

• Soak the stains in vinegar for a few minutes. When the time is up, use a regular cloth to wipe it clean.
• Use a specialized mineral deposit cleaner
• If there’s debris clinging to the glass, use something sharp to pry it off
• Remember to clean the screens.

When you switch to cleaning the interior part of your window, there’s a little more prep work to do. According to Stephanie Lewis, customer experience manager at The Maids: “One of the big things about cleaning windows is really protecting your floors and the inside of your walls… You want to make sure you lay down a sheet or drop cloth to protect your carpet or flooring from getting wet and causing damage.”

Grab Your Supplies

Now you’re ready to get to the real work. You need the right tools, however. You might have these items lying around your house already or you might need to run to the store. Here’s what you need:

• A clean rag
• An absorbent cloth
• A squeegee
• Window cleaner

If you’re wary about the chemicals in the window cleaners sold at the store, you can make your own by mixing warm water and dish soap. To clean particularly stubborn filth, add some vinegar to your solution.

Start Cleaning

Time to start scrubbing. It doesn’t matter if you start inside or out. If you are going to clean the outside of your windows, however, it’s recommended that you choose an overcast day. Too much sunlight can mess up your work.

The next steps are pretty self-explanatory. Just start cleaning your windows. For larger windows, use your squeegee. A ladder is helpful if the window if the window is located high above your head or is very tall, but you can also attach your squeegee to a broomstick or something similar to give yourself more reach.

Take your time with the actual cleaning. You don’t want to rush through your work because you might be left with streaks or leftover spots. Most people find cleaning their windows to be a hassle, which means that you don’t want to be stuck doing it over again when you thought you were done. Here some more handy tips to make your windows smile again by cleaning them.

Make sure to properly dry the glass. One side of your squeegee is for cleaning, the other side is for scraping away the excess water. You’re going to have to use both sides to be effective.

Consider Getting Help

Floor-to-ceiling windows are incredibly impressive to look at but they can be a pain to keep clean. The same is true for windows located high up on the walls. As we’ve shown, you can take care of the cleaning yourself but it’s possible that you don’t want to. If the process seems too difficult or time-consuming, offload the work onto a professional. If you happen to live in Slo County, CA you could put a world champion cleaner to work. Hickey operates his own business, On The Spot Window Cleaning.

(A big “thank you” to our friends at Laurimar for sponsoring this post!)

As your family grows your home will undergo some necessary changes, yet that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style in order to have a hardy kid-friendly interior. Check out our ideas below for inspiration to create your own magazine-worthy home that’s practical and can handle everything that’s thrown to it by little people.

Make Use of Texture and Patterns

This is an easy and inexpensive way to achieve a more sophisticated look. It’s also practical since washable throws and pillows will help protect your furniture from accidental spills and unsightly stains. Also, opt for upholstery in patterns that will add energy and colour to the space.

Choose Durable Upholstery

Regardless of how well-behaved your children are, an all-white linen sofa doesn’t make the cut for family-friendly homes. Life will be much less stressful for you and your children if you select durable upholstery for everyday pieces such as lounge chairs and sofas. A wide variety of family-friendly fabrics are available that provide a high rub content, durability, and can be easily cleaned.

Avoid Surfaces That Show Every Fingerprint

Glass surfaces, anyone? Surfaces that show all can cause a lot it’s time for cleaning. A glass coffee table does look good in the magazine but having one in your home will lead to it being covered in fingerprints, food, and spills in no time. Choose surfaces that don’t reveal a trail like leather, timber, or resin, which are great alternatives to glass, brass or chrome.

Find Attractive Storage Options

Having kids usually means having lots of stuff and you’ll be surprised at how quickly their items accumulate. Rather than buying an ad hock collection of plastic toy boxes that will cheapen your home’s look, find solutions that will work with your style. Choose furniture that can double as storage, use baskets that boost personality, or get a custom made and well-designed cabinetry.

Select Materials That Age Well

Want to maintain your home’s stylish aesthetic? A solid timber dining table, for instance, is a great option since it ages well regardless of heavy use. Timber will handle hours of homework. Moreover, it wears well even if hammered by toys. It may mark and dent over time, but this also adds personality and becomes a story of your kids’ childhood without it looking run down. (And with four kids at home I’m sure ours will have some stories to tell!)

New Home, New Look

 If you’re planning to move and are looking for decoration tips for your new home it’s a great idea to turn to an interior designer to make sure you make the most of your new space. For our readers in Australia—or those planning to relocate to Australia– for home options be sure to check out Laurimar house and land near Melbourne CBD. It’s a new community that’s packed with facilities, including a full line Woolworths supermarket. The neighbourhood makes for a convenient lifestyle, while the abundance of green open space and a close-knit community give the area a country feel. Plus, it’s just 30 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD. It’s a perfect location to start a family and design a home that suits your lifestyle.

Finally, no room should be off limits. All the spaces in your home must be liveable. After all, you’re not in a boutique hotel, but a home. Be creative, flexible and style your home to accommodate the entire family’s personalities and the growth. Don’t forget to have a little fun while decorating your house and you’ll end up with a home that exudes character, personality and sophistication.

Disclosure: Our post sponsor is Danze by Gerber with Blog Meets Brand and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.

Whether you’re renovating your home or have a bathroom or kitchen in need of a facelift, choosing quality fixtures should be a high priority.

I love Danze by Gerber’s Vaughn and Draper collections for their simple lines and sleek styling. After all, as a busy mom, I want fixtures that look great– and work as hard as I do.

Keeping Up Appearances In the Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of our home– and probably yours too. We spend countless hours cooking, cleaning up, and starting over. And that means we need a kitchen faucet that is functional, durable, and easy to keep clean.

The Vaughn kitchen faucet shown here includes a dual function spray head with DockForce® Magnetic Docking Technology making it easy to keep your entire sink clean and sanitary. According to the company the faucet is also designed to use water efficiently without sacrificing performance.

Cleaning Up in the Bathroom

In the bathroom, a faucet is often a key focal point. Fixtures, including sink faucets, tub faucets, and shower heads often set the tone for the overall look and feel of the entire space. Investing in quality fixtures will help keep a bathroom looking stylish and up-to-date.

The faucet shown in black is part of the Vaughn Collection. For the bathroom, this transitional collection includes a choice of chrome, stainless steel, brushed nickel, and satin black.

The Draper Collection features an updated classic style. The detailed fixtures are available in chrome and brushed nickel for the bathroom.

Once again, practical considerations are also important. With four kids, the faucets in our bathrooms get plenty of use every day. That means durability is important.

All of the Danze by Gerber faucets include a limited lifetime warranty.

For busy families, the single handle faucets available in the Vaughn Collection, shown in the picture here, could be a good choice for easy cleaning thanks to the simple, sleek design.

The most important thing is to select quality fixtures that will do their jobs well– and that you will truly enjoy having in your home for years to come.

Is it time update your kitchen or bathroom fixtures? Do you prefer sleek transitional designs or more classic details? We’d love to hear from you. Comment below!

(A big thanks to our friends at Taylor Morrison for sponsoring this post!)

Making interior design decisions can be intimidating for the average homeowner. After all, you want something that looks great and fits in with the season’s best trends, but you also want a home design that will look equally great next year. While trends often change, some smart strategies will help you make choices that will stand the test of time. In this post, we’ll focus on how you can make intelligent home décor decisions in three important areas of your home.

Your Kitchen

Cupboards are one of the most expensive—and critical—components in your kitchen. You can stretch your interior design dollars by taking a cue from gorgeous residences like Sol Y Mar in Rancho Palos Verdes, shown above. You’ll notice that the home’s kitchen features contrasting light and dark cabinetry.

Most homeowners opt for a single color scheme, but if you take a look at high-end homes (check for a “Parade of Homes” event in your local area) you are likely to find some design elements with sharp contrasts. These seemingly risky design choices are exactly what can make the difference between an average home and amazing home design that will stun your friends.

To make your own design decisions study as many beautiful homes as you can. Before long you will be able to choose two shades that perfectly complement each other and your family’s tastes. You can also make use of a color palette to help you choose the shades.

Great design also has a practical component. When renovating the entire kitchen, try to add more drawers. Deep drawers are great, and they can be easily added practically everywhere. Consider other storage challenges you currently face and see if you can incorporate some great solutions into your new kitchen design.

Your Living Room

When designing your living room, it is important to make sure it’s an inviting space where family and friends will enjoy spending quality time.

While you may want to opt for a clean look, make sure the overall effect of your living room décor scheme is inviting. Warm paint colors, comfortable furniture, and interesting wall art will help make the space attractive and relaxing. You can also add magazines, books, and attractive editions of favorite board games. Most importantly, keep your family’s taste and style in mind to make sure it’s not only beautiful but also decorated in a way that will make it a center for family entertainment.

Your Bathrooms

Bathrooms are a great place to make a huge impact in your home. If you have space, consider adding a vanity, open shelving, or a larger bathroom mirror that will create a great focal point. This can make a huge difference if the bathroom is small since the mirror makes everything seem larger. To make the space seem even larger, paint the walls white or a light neutral shade. This is especially effective if you have a good source of outdoor light through windows. If you have a dark bathroom, consider whether a new light fixture would transform the space.

Also, take a critical look to see if new finishes would improve the overall feel of the room or make it easier to clean. Deep cleaning with products like Bon Ami and Bar Keeper’s Friend can help you determine whether you actually need to replace counters, flooring, and fixtures. You may discover that simply replacing the sealant around sinks and bathtubs will give your bathroom a fresh new appearance. (This will also help prevent dangerous mold from developing when water seeps into walls and floorboards.)

Are you facing a design challenge? Experienced a recent success? We’d love to hear from you! Comment  below.

Backyard Makeover Ideas for Spring

 

A Shed for All Equipment

If you have kids, expect your backyard to be a maze of clutter and clunky toys. So, making a storage space for these bikes, pool toys, and sports equipment should be one of your first priorities. If you have enough space, make a weather resistant shed. The outdoor toys will be newer for a longer time and you can also store the gardening and lawn equipment, pool cleaning equipment, and lounge chairs. Check out this amazing shed/greenhouse combo on one of our sister sites.

Beautify the Backyard

Make the backyard your own private, springtime wonderland by spending some money behind its beautification. Make a small garden there or clean up and maintain the lawn with fertilization, mowing, mulching, insect and weed control, and other general maintenance work.

Check out the rocks, boxes around planters, gazebos, arbors, fences, pavers, and anything else that needs repair. Hard-scape areas like paint and grout areas may well need a makeover. Do the necessary repair and renovation to make the place beautiful. Enjoy quality time there with your family.

DIY Tricks with Galvanized Bucket

Why don’t you resort to some DIY tricks to make the backyard more organized and functional? Think smart and you will find that even a trivial thing like a galvanized bucket can be super functional and up for various uses. If you have a big galvanized bucket, turn it into a beautiful outdoor coffee table. Place it in a suitable spot and place a wood, plastic, or glass tabletop on it. Your backyard coffee table is ready!

Don’t like your garden hose just lying out on the ground? Don’t worry! The ever-versatile galvanized bucket is here to help. Coil up the hose and place it into the bucket. A simple but perfect hose holder!

If the bucket is relatively small, you can still use it as both a hose and sprinkler holder. Turn the bucket on its side and attach to a wall. Now, keep the sprinkler inside while the hose can be coiled around it.

Hang Some Bird Feeders

Do you have trees in your backyard? If yes, invite the birds that are back with their beautiful trills after winter into your backyard. Hang some bird feeders in the trees and place some clay saucers filled with water on a low tree stump or on the ground.

These tips for springtime backyard makeover will help you cleaning the place, organizing it, beautifying it, and making it ready for both spring and summer. Your backyard will be ready for spending leisure time and for camping out to spend a night of stargazing and fun.

Do you think your backyard needs a makeover? What’s your plan?