Eliminating Electrical Fire Hazards at Home

While electricity plays a major role in our daily lives, we often take its power and the conveniences it provides - along with its potential for fire-related hazards - for granted. According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) statistics, electrical fires resulted in $1.48 billion in property damage in a five-year period. To mitigate risks for electrical fire, protect your home and loved ones with these safety tips.

• Have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician.

(Image via FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

• Only plug one heat-producing appliance (such as a coffee maker, toaster, space heater, etc.) into a receptacle outlet at a time.

• Arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are a kind of circuit breaker that shuts off electricity when a dangerous condition occurs. Consider having them installed in your home by a qualified electrician.

• Use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to reduce the risk of shock. GFCIs shut off an electrical circuit when it becomes a shock hazard. They should be installed inside the home in bathrooms, kitchens, garages and basements. All outdoor receptacles should be GFCI-protected.

• Test AFCIs and GFCIs once a month to make sure they’re working properly.

• Check electrical cords to make sure they’re not running across doorways or under carpets.

• Extension cords are intended for temporary use. Have a qualified electrician add more receptacle outlets so you don’t have to use extension cords continuously.

• Use light bulbs that match the recommended wattage on the lamp or fixture. A sticker will indicate the maximum wattage light bulb to use.

Source: NFPA Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2015. All rights reserved.

Avoid 5 Spring Lawn Care Fails

As this year's winter finally ends, homeowners will be faced with the same challenge they are faced with every single year: how does one keep a healthy, dark green lawn looking its best?

(FreeDigitalPhotos.Net)

Unfortunately, many homeowners will make mistakes that set back the health of their lawn and they don't even know it.

"When it comes to having a nice lawn, ironically the lawns worst enemy is the person who thinks they are helping,” says Thomas Kelly, founder of BeeSafe Lawns. “Tinkering too much is a terrible thing when it comes to lawn care.”

With that in mind, avoids these pitfalls when caring for your lawn this spring:

1. Don't Jump the Gun

Right out of the gate, it's important to know that more isn't always better. The inclination is to load up the lawn with products that the lawn doesn't really need. Your lawn is experiencing one of its most healthy phases about two weeks after it breaks dormancy. Both roots and shoots are growing at a tremendous pace and sometimes doing too much can interfere.

2. Don’t Over-Water

One of the worst things to happen to even the best lawns is the introduction of an unlimited supply of water. The rule of thumb is that you should water three times per week for 40 minutes per zone only when rainfall is not present. Remember the saying, “April showers bring May flowers”? If it's raining, resist watering.

3. Don’t Bag Your Clippings

Your lawn wants to be fed naturally. Mulching the clippings back into the soil creates an additional source of nutrients, especially nitrogen and the goal of any lawn care program should be to reduce inputs.

4. Don’t Over-Fertilize

Your lawn needs about half as much fertilizer as the fertilizer companies lead you to believe. The more you apply, the more your lawn will require even more to stay healthy.

5. Hold Off on Seeding

The temptation is hard to resist. Those bare spots that were filled with crabgrass last year are bare again this spring. The commercials on the radio are telling you to plant seed now. The truth is, fall is the best time to seed and 90 percent of the time new seed won't make it through the summer.

Source: BeeSafe Lawns
Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2015. All rights reserved.

5 Ways to Increase Curb Appeal, Value

(Family Features)—Whether you're planning to list your home for sale soon or you're simply working to maintain features that attracted you to the charming abode in the first place, careful attention to curb appeal is a must.

In the real estate world, the saying to avoid judging a book by its cover does not apply. The exterior of your home sends an important message about its character, and even its value, making people eager to see what is inside. This first impression sets expectations for the entire property for potential buyers, appraisers and even your guests.

Keep your house looking young and inviting with these five home care tips:

(Image via FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

1. Look at the landscaping. Curb appeal is about the whole picture your home presents, which includes your lawn, shrubs and features such as flower beds and rock gardens. Keep grass neatly trimmed and prune vegetation for a well-kept look. Also give your home a thorough look from the street. Are trees or shrubs obscuring an appealing architectural detail? Does vegetation dwarf your home, making it seem small? Would a pop of color from some flowering plants add to the overall look?

2. Beware of dingy dirt. Because you see your home every day, you may not realize the exterior has become dull with a layer of dust and dirt. An adjustable pressure washer will let you wash siding, garage doors and shutters without stripping paint as well as delicate items such as glass top patio tables. Then switch to the high flow mode, which delivers up to five gallons per minute for extended reach to clean second story windows, eaves and gutters or to blast away hard-to-reach cobwebs and insect nests.

3. Update with paint. If a thorough washing leaves a ho-hum look behind, it may be time to revisit your home's exterior color scheme. Even modest adjustments, from pale beige to a deeper tan, for example, can completely alter the look. Or, focus on adding color to the trim, door and shutters if new, all-over color is out of the question.

4. Wash where you walk. The favorable impression created by impeccable landscaping and a fresh, clean facade can be swept away in an instant if sidewalks, driveways and patios are unsightly. Skip the messy buckets and brush, and instead reach for a high pressure, high flow pressure washer such as those featuring Briggs & Stratton's POWERflow+ technology, which include adjustable pressure and flow as well as power-soaping detergent tanks to let you clean tough stains then quickly wash them away with a single machine.

5. Dote on the details. Decks, fences, mailboxes, birdbaths, gazebos and other decorative features all factor into your home's exterior image. Thoroughly clean these items, repair any loose or broken pieces such as fence slats, and apply a fresh coat of paint or stain, if needed.

Source: www.powerflowplus.com.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2015. All rights reserved.

4 Steps to a More Organized Home

One mistake many would-be organizers make is trying to organize their entire household in one fell swoop. Even if your home is relatively neat, a project of that magnitude can be daunting – and lead to a serious case of burnout.

(Image via FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

To avoid throwing in the towel early, be realistic about your goals by focusing on the areas in your home that accumulate the most clutter each week. Get started with these steps.

1. Set up a paper storage system – Designate an area for all papers close to an entrance or centrally located room, like the kitchen. When you notice documents accumulating, take time to go through your pile, shredding any that could compromise your identity, and recycle non-sensitive information.

2. Pare down crowded closets – Your closet may store everything and anything, but that doesn’t mean it has to be filled to capacity. Many seasonal items can be reduced significantly in size by vacuum sealing, and bed linens can be stored inside pillowcases. If you’ve got a hang-up about too many hangers, note which garments haven’t been worn as you take down and hang up frequently used pieces. If they haven’t been worn in a few weeks, donate, toss or sell.

3. Donate multiples – Many homeowners actually own multiples of common household items, such as hand towels, umbrellas and pot holders. Pay it forward by donating the multiples you can do without. A good rule of thumb: if you haven’t had a need for it in a year or more, donate it.

4. Simplify your desktop – Disorganization can happen digitally, too. If your computer’s overloaded with files, consider purging your desktop. Give priority to programs you use daily and delete other shortcuts that aren’t accessed on a regular basis. Streamline your photo collection, saving only the ones you’d keep in an album. And to really free up space, consider uninstalling programs that haven’t been opened in six months or more.

Source: RISMedia’s Housecall

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2015. All rights reserved.

4 Tips to Make Home Maintenance Easier

(Family Features)—Some home maintenance jobs require a significant investment of time and specialized equipment, but there are many projects you can accomplish efficiently with basic tools and the right approach. Follow these tips to get started:

Update your toolbox. Take inventory to ensure your collection is complete, and replace damaged or rusted tools. Your toolbox is also a good place to store common repair items such as adhesive.

(Image via FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

Get ahead of potential problems. For example, have a plunger on hand to prevent clogged sinks and toilets from causing water damage, and keep gutters and filters clean to prevent structural damage or fire. You can also protect your home and valuables from damage by using adhesive to secure precious items from getting knocked over, and protect floors from traffic damage by securing rugs and felt pads to furniture.

Take a helping hand. Most phones have levels and flashlights that can help with minor jobs, and your phone’s calendar can be set with recurring reminders so that you’ll never miss a maintenance date. In addition, find creative ways to make tasks easier. It can be tough to keep items in place while nailing or screwing into walls or ceilings, or installing features such as under-cabinet lighting. Glue Dots are a handy solution that won’t damage the surface, don’t expand and won’t make a mess.

Get organized. Daily home maintenance tasks like cleaning are easier when they are done along the way rather than letting them pile up, creating a bigger job. Store everyday needs in each room, or on each floor. For maximum efficiency, keep cleaning supplies in both the bath and the kitchen, and a broom and vacuum on each floor.

Making sure you have the right tools on hand and taking preventive steps to get ahead of potential problems will make minor home repair jobs quick and easy so you can get back to enjoying the comforts of your home.

Source: www.GlueDots.com.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2015. All rights reserved.

Tips for Keeping Those Home Resolutions

POWAY, CA, Jan 13, 2015—Build a deck, reorganize the laundry room, keep the kitchen clutter-free. Does that list sound familiar? Every January, thousands of people vow to keep their homes tidier or finally make those upgrades they've been talking about. In the following article, Tamara Kunce, REALTOR®at CENTURY 21 Award shows us how to keep our home resolutions this year, and beyond.

(Image via FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

1. Make a calendar. “Keeping up with home to-dos is easier when you have them scheduled,” says Tamara. Be sure to set realistic goals that allow yourself enough time to finish projects. For instance, if you want to build a deck in March, mark your calendar to start interviewing contractors in late January.

2. Create habits. Keeping a clutter-free home is all about creating clutter-free habits. Pick a day of the week where every family member tackles a different room of the house, or vow to spend 20 minutes after dinner putting things away. “These small habits, when done daily or weekly, will really re-shape your year,” says Tamara.

3. Don't set overambitious goals. It's unlikely that you're going to totally revamp every room in the house this year. Try and really evaluate the time and financial commitments each goal will require so you don't set yourself up for disappointment when your budget (be it time, or wallet) won't allow for you to refinish your basement and turn that walk-in closet into a master bath.

4. Build your housekeeping muscle. Similar to our body's method of building muscle, keeping your home clean takes time, commitment, and perseverance, according to Tamara. This can be called housekeeping muscle, and it takes some love and attention to build. If you want your home to sparkle all year long, but you're currently a long way from that, then do what you would when building a fitness routine: start small, and work at it often. Clean up right after dinner, vacuum one room of the house every day, make a habit of wiping down countertops and sweeping floors before you notice the dirt building up. As you establish this muscle, each task will become routine, and therefore, easier.

---

For more information on your home's health and real estate, please contact Tamara Kunce at tamarakunce@century21award.com, (619) 316-3214, or www.century21award.com/agents/TamaraKunce

For additional real estate information, please contact CENTURY 21 Award at info@century21award.com, (800) 293-1657, or CENTURY 21 Award.