Budget-Friendly Ways to a Bathroom Remodeling Success

Budget-Friendly Ways to a Bathroom Remodeling Success

Every once in a while, we get the need to do some remodeling - sometimes it is just one room, yet in rare occasions it is the entire house. Besides the kitchen, another room that gets remodeled quite often is the bathroom. There are plenty of things one can do to upgrade this space. Listed below are budget-friendly ways to a successful bathroom remodeling.

Save On Tiles

If we don’t take the bathtub into consideration, the most expensive part of bathroom remodeling may as well be laying the tiles. This can be ridiculously expensive, especially if you are paying a contractor to do it for you. Now, I don’t know much about tiles, but I know that if a contractor does it, he will place as many tiles as he can, thus take as much money from you as possible. This is why you should limit the number of tiles you place. To save money, place tiles only on the floor, rather than placing them inside the shower and on the walls. You’ll surprised by the amount of money you’ll save by doing this.

The Painting Process

Another method of keeping your budget intact is repainting the bathroom. Since the bathroom is the smallest room in the house, repainting it usually takes a lot of time. You can even use a better paint or one with a satin finish. Also, keep in mind the sudden temperature swings happening in the bathroom, as well as mold and moisture. You might want to paint your ceiling with a special paint as well, the one that resists mold growth.

Reline Your Tub

Most people make the biggest mistake ever when remodeling their bathroom – they purchase a new tub. Keep in mind that purchasing a new tub should only happen in case you actually want a new tub. In every other scenario, you could save a lot of money simply by having a professional reline your old one. Do this only, and only with the tub; relining the sink or the shower costs more than replacing them completely. If your tub is made of porcelain or fiberglass, or even cast iron, you could refinish it yourself. DIY refinishing tool and paint may cost up to $150-200, but it is way less than replacing it or paying a contractor to do it.

In Case You Are Getting A New One

Now if you’ve really tried everything and you are left with no options but to replace your tub, shower or any of the bathroom accessories, the best option is to try and get a used one. Sites like eBay and Craigslist have good offers and you may end up getting a great deal if a good bargain is struck. You would be surprised by the quality of old things that people sell once they get them replaced. Check these websites from time and time, and turn on your notifications so that you don’t miss a next great deal.

Set Your Creativity Free

There are plenty of things you can do to make your bathroom look nicer. For instance, throw in an interesting runner rug, or use the old vintage can to hold your toothbrushes and toothpaste. Use old pieces of barn wood and transform them into shelves. There is no limit to the things you can do if you put your imagination to the test

Eco-Friendly Design

Another great way of upgrading your bathroom is by installing eco-friendly designs. We are talking about low-flow toilets, sinks and showers. By saving on the amount of spent water, you will not only preserve the environment, but at the same time save some money. To make things even more tempting, water saving faucets and shower heads often cost the same, if not even less than the regular ones.

Get creative, and renew your bathroom while trying not to spend a fortune on it. Instead, save money by applying these tips, and spend it on a holiday you’ve always wanted.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

Safest and Best Plumbing Pipes for Your Home to Avoid Blocked Drains

Safest and Best Plumbing Pipes for Your Home to Avoid Blocked Drains

There are a plethora of problems that affect your home’s plumbing and amongst them blocked drains is a very fairly common one. The many reasons for blocked drains range from the wrong kind of disposal to not maintaining your pipes the right way. In other cases, it also happens that you are over cleaning your pipes too much and because they are of a shoddy make, they tend to break faster. This breakage in turn results in the pipes getting clogged further, which in the long run implies that you will continue the bear the brink of this over-clogging. However, a simple solution here would be using safer and durable pipes.

Doing so is highly recommended to prevent blocked drains. Most homes have older plumbing line that breaks apart easily due to wear and tear as well as due to the harsh use of other chemicals these days. So if your home is constantly having issues of blocked lines then you should consider getting an expert opinion and re-work the plumbing. Ideally you can try all kinds of cleaning methods with these pipes be it industrial or even your basic soda and vinegar combination here. Some of the available pipe options here include-

CPVC

This is one of the most common kinds of pipes used for preventing blocked drains issues. They are used mostly in residential places where both hot and cold water application is fairly common. These have also replaced the copper pipes in many areas. They come in a range of choices like 10-20 feet sizes and the diameters are about ½-inch to 2-inches. These come with special solvents too that aids in faster soldering and keeps your pipe safe for a longer time.

PEX

These too are used for hot and cold interior pipe purposes in residences. Not only are they are easy to move but they can be operated or maneuvered with ease without having to use elbows. You can use the standard 100 foot rolls that they come in. They are joint with either plastic or metal crimping and the diameter is about ¼ to ¾-inch. These work in preventing blocked drains because they are able to withstand the harsh weather conditions and thus can quickly get rid of dirt.

Copper

Copper pipes are a sturdy and sensible option for all residential homes because they are compatible with both hot and cold water. What makes these pipes sustainable is the fact they are quite light in weight and they are also very long-lasting. Since they fit easily into spaces, you don’t have to worry about fitting issues. Also, the material in itself is able to withstand chemical cleansers and procedures that are known for reducing the risks of blocked drains. You can get them in M (red) for indoor water distribution

What’s not suitable?

PVC

PVC or polyvinyl chloride is generally used for water applicants and thus is not suitable for your home unless you are living in very warm areas and use only cold water applications. Ideally these are used for irrigation and farming purposes and the pressure application here goes up to 2 inches. These are joined using mechanical couplings.

There are various other forms of new pipes being launched that are suitable for your home. These are specially devised to combat the problem of blocked drains by preventing materials from sticking to them. They are sturdier and not prone to easy breakage, which makes them ideal for long-term solutions. Of course, do consult with a plumber to know the best option as per your local rules. 

Guest Contributor, Mary Mathis

How to Choose A Reputable Emergency Plumber For Your Plumbing Needs

How to Choose a Reputable Emergency Plumber for your Plumbing Needs

When that dreaded pipe leak just can’t wait much longer to be fixed, or when a dripping faucet becomes unbearably annoying, you need it to be fixed as soon as possible. Or, you may be facing a problem with hot water and heat, and you need a plumber to get over and ease your woes. No matter whatever is the plumbing issue, choosing the right plumber is essential. When hunting for an emergency plumber, look for these 7 qualities that will highlight that you’ve found a professional who will get the job done to perfection.

1. Availability

Plumbing emergencies wait for no one, and there is nothing more irritating to having a serious problem and not being able to find someone to fix it. Look out for a good emergency plumber who is available 24/7 so that you can be sure that the problem will be rectified soon.

2. Wide Range of Services

Plumbers who offer several services are always better than those who handle a limited range of plumbing jobs. It ensures that you have a one-stop solution for all your plumbing needs since these professionals will have all the tools and expertise to solve no matter what problem arises.

3. Professionalism

A good plumber is one who is a true professional in the sense that he has all the appropriate qualifications and licensing, and has gone through all the training needed to understand the problem and come up with a quick solution. He will be able to answer all your questions and help you prevent recurrences.

4. Reliability

A reliable emergency plumber is a boon indeed. After all, you certainly don’t want to call a plumber over and sit and wait for hours, only for him not to turn up! Find a plumber who has the right credentials and real testimonials to prove that he cares about you individually. If you’re opting for a plumbing service, check for a company that provides guaranteed services so that you can be sure they’re reliable.

5. Preparedness

A good emergency plumber is always prepared with the proper tools, equipment, and team. When emergencies arise, especially at night, there won’t be any stores from which they can get any needed equipment. True professionals, however, are those that have everything on hand to take care of the job before a plumbing inconvenience becomes a serious problem.

6. Respectful of Your Property

A plumber who respects your property will get the job done in a way that doesn’t cause you inconvenience. For example, he will park in the right space, use walkways and follow any instructions you may have around the house. He will avoid messing up your home under the pretext of a plumbing emergency and will take care not to cause any damage due to negligence.

7. Safety-Minded

A good emergency plumber is safety-minded and avoids cutting corners just because it is an emergency. These professionals will protect themselves with eye masks, gloves, and facial masks to keep themselves safe while they handle the job. It shows that they are thorough, and you can get assured that they will show the same thoroughness with the job in hand too.

When choosing a good emergency plumber, ensure that you do your homework so that you choose only the best. Look out for qualities such as availability, reliability, professionalism, preparedness and respect. Additionally, opt for a plumbing service that comes with a guarantee so that you can be sure to get the best services each time. A plumber who offers a wider range of services is also more preferable than one who sticks to only a few jobs.

Guest Contributor, Melissa Hamler

Best Decorated Christmas House Contest

Whose house has the best Christmas decorations in our area? We love Christmas in our house. I have a 2 ½ year old boy who has been extremely enthusiastic for all the Christmas decorations. We drive around looking at the Christmas Decorated Houses, we stop, and gaze in admiration.

To show our appreciation we are having a contest for the best house in our area. $100 in gift cards for the Best Christmas Decorated House. If you follow our Facebook Page, our customers, and neighbors have been posting their beautifully decorated homes.

Last weekend, I took my son around the suburbs in our area to visit the houses everyone has been posting about. Let me tell you, he loved every second of it. My son had a giant smile on his face. He was having so much fun, that he didn’t want to leave each house we were visiting.
The detail, and hours that were spent on these Christmas Decorated Houses deserve all the exposure and appreciation that they could get. You must love Christmas and kids to put that much effort into decorating a house.

I know I’m a grown adult, but, I feel like a kid when I see a house that has Christmas Decorations. The joy it brings to people is worth every second these home owners put into decorating their homes.
To enter for a chance to win you must submit a picture and address to our Facebook Page.

These are the houses that have entered our contest so far:

8930 Fairfield Lane Tinley Park, IL 60487
15010 15014 avers Ave Midlothian IL 60445
14635 Saddle Brook Ln, Homer Glen, IL 60491
17321 Avon Ln Tinley Park, IL 60477
16815 Highbush Rd Orland Park, IL 60467
16423 Parliament Ave, Tinley Park, IL 60477

Winner will be named Sunday, December 11th 2016!!!!

Best of Luck

Bathroom Design Trends to Look Out For

Bathroom Design Trends to Look Out For

Long gone are the days when bathrooms were seen as nothing but places which you needed to have at home, deprived of almost anything which would improve its aesthetics. The only focus was on functionality, with little attempt at making such places pleasant to be in.

Whether we like it or not, things have changed a lot. Today’s bathroom is a potential place of luxury, which increases the value of your home like no other room except, perhaps, the kitchen. So, what are the modern trends in bathroom design?

Introduction of High-Tech

Built-in audio systems are pretty standard and there are many options for listening to music while having a shower or a bath. Some more advanced features make it possible to answer the phone from your shower booth, without interrupting your shower. Speaking of showers, the latest designs also allow us to regulate the water pressure and temperature, and select our favorite mood-enhancing color just by using an LCD screen mounted on the wall.

While having a relaxing bath, you may wish to treat yourself to a nice cool drink from a tub-side refrigerator. However, the innovative use of cooling equipment doesn’t end there. Apart from cooling beverages, some state-of-the-art medicine cabinets also keep your nail polish, organic skin products and medications cold.

Saving Water

The increasingly strict standards related to energy and water consumption have forced manufacturers to come up with ideas that would reduce the use, but provide the same or even better quality. Luckily, developments in various fields of industry have brought about many new options for your bathroom.

For example, low-flow toilets and faucets significantly reduce the amount of water used, thus lowering your utility bill significantly. Also, low-flow aerators can now be easily installed on both old and new faucets, which means you don’t need to change the whole fixture.

Another useful feature is an activation sensor, which is also supposed to contribute to reducing the water waste. Similarly, some contemporary shower heads can actually regulate water droplet size and speed, spray coverage and temperature, thus giving you the good old feeling with far less water used.

Furniture Design

The idea is to go for a minimalist look and conceal as much as possible. Sliding panels are used to hide various fixtures and provide new functions, such as those of a powder room bench or a surface to lay on and sunbathe.

Cabinets are designed to revolve 180-degrees in order to provide easy storage access, while shower seats, towel bars and walk-in tubs are no longer aiming to provide only functionality, but they are quite stylish, as well.

Finally, hand grips are designed not only to provide safety, but the materials used (chrome and brushed nickel) give them the contemporary look which suits pretty much any bath design, while more and more companies are producing foldaway seats for showers with limited space.

Tiles, Wonderful Tiles

Most modern bathroom designs are aiming to create a spa-like atmosphere, both in terms of the feeling you get and the aesthetic component. In order to achieve that, large tiles are used and the most popular look is metal. Some manufacturers combine traditional ceramic tiles with metallic granules and the result is a clean, industrial look.

So, as you can see, the trends are developing in two major directions. The first one is related to efficiency and environment-friendliness. Everything is done to minimize the unnecessary waste of energy and water, thus reducing your utility bill.

Another direction is the appearance. Clean, simple lines are used to create a minimalist look, while options to conceal fixtures that are not in use are fully exploited. The use of color and lights is there only to enhance the spa-like atmosphere, which is the ultimate goal of modern bathroom design.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

DIY Thanksgiving Decorations

Thanksgiving is crammed between Halloween and Christmas and hardly gets the attention it deserves. Décor often switches from cobwebs and pumpkins to garlands and Christmas trees, giving no thought to the holiday that lies in between. In reality, it’s impractical to spend lots of money on decorations that can only be used for a few weeks out of the year. Luckily there are a variety of things that can be done to reuse some of the decorations you already have (even ones you might not be aware of). There’s an abundance of unique, creative ideas floating around cyberspace, but we’ve saved you the hassle of searching by compiling this list of our top seven.
 
1.    Festive Candle Holders
Hollow out the center of your small pumpkins or apples (it’s done easiest with a drill). Use them to make candle holders, and embellish the base of the candle with leaves, berries, mini pine cones or whatever else you find lying around. Try grouping a few together and using them as a centerpiece for your big feast.
 
2.    Candy Corn Flower Pot
Fill a glass jar or trifle dish with a bag of candy corn, and use it as a base to arrange several flowers. The corn is a festive tribute to the Indians, and the plant will add a little greenery. Be creative when you plant selection – add some fall leaves, fresh flowers, or even an arrangement of twigs.

3.    Fall Leaf Lantern
Add a little ambiance to your room by creating a lantern with leaves you’ve gathered from outside. Start by pressing the leaves, to get them nice and flat.   Then glue them to a clean, glass jar using Modge Podge. Wait 20 minutes for it to dry and then layer another coat of Modge Podge on top of the leaves to seal them. Lastly, place a candle in the jar and your lantern is complete. Adding a variety of leaf colors looks best and adds a subtle, warm glow to any room.

 4.    Metallic Pumpkins and Gourds
Give all your pumpkins, squash, and gourds a makeover by coating them in metallic or glitter spray paint. Shades of gold, bronze, and sunset orange are perfect for Thanksgiving, and the sparkly luster adds a regal air.   Arrange your finished beauties in a large glass tumbler, apothecary jar, or atop a cake stand to complete the look. If you’d like to take it a step further, paint pumpkin stems brown to really make them pop.

5.         Colored Pine Cones
Nothing says fall quite like pine cones, and they can be a stunning decorative piece when given a coat of paint. A selection of contrasting fall-hued colors look beautiful on an entry table. Pick up a combination of small spray paint cans in maroon, gold, dark brown, sunset orange, mustard yellow, mossy green, or cream, and color pine cones to your heart’s content. Be creative with color combinations – you can’t go wrong! Cones can be displayed in a large bowl, glass vase, or even strung as a garland.
 
6.    Pressed Leaf Art
Display the beauty of the outdoors by creating focal pieces with colorful fall leaves. Press leaves between books, and wait until leaves are fully dry. Place the pressed leaves between double sided glass frames to accentuate their silhouettes and bold colors. The simplicity of this decoration creates a tranquil, relaxing environment.

 7.    Corn Wreath
There are a couple different options for corn wreaths, depending on the look you’re going for and the amount of money you want to spend. You can make your wreath out of candy corn or Indian corn.   The candy corn wreath is simply a Styrofoam wreath covered in black duct tape with candy corn attached by a hot glue gun. Hang the wreath with a giant brown or red ribbon to give a Thanksgiving vibe.   The Indian corn wreath is even easier. Purchase a straw wreath and hot glue the corn to a straw wreath with the husks pointing outward.

Decorating for Thanksgiving can be easy and frugal when you take advantage of items you already have around the house or the yard. What better way to celebrate the season of thanks than the beauty of the outdoors? So open your mind, take a walk around the block, and visualize what you can create.

Guest Contributor,

Article By Anastasiya Johnson
Anastasiya is an interior designer and smart home planner for http://hdhomeautomationsystems.com/. When she is not planning out smart homes she is spending time with her husband and two kids.

Pipe Relining: A Non-Invasive, Affordable Way to Deal with the Broken Drain Pipe

Eco Friendly Drain Cleaner 

Pipe Relining: A Non-Invasive, Affordable Way to Deal with the Broken Drain Pipe

Maintaining pipes regularly is an absolute must for every homeowner, no matter if there are any signs of damage or not. It is always a much better option to reline your pipes regularly than to wait until they start leaking, but if you notice your drain pipe is broken, an immediate action is required. This is definitely not a DIY job, but luckily enough, today there are many companies that can help you with relining your pipes at affordable prices.

Thorough Examination

If you give your pipes another coat of protection without previously checking for any leaks, there are chances you will do more harm than good. Therefore, it’s an absolute must that the plumber checks all of your pipes before you start relining. The most common sign of leakage is wet areas on your lawn. Also, if the pressure in your home seems low, you will want to check for any bathroom leaks. If any issues are detected, the plumber should always first replace the damaged pipes, and only then apply another coat to them.

Getting Rid of Harmful Roots

Trees are surely a great decoration to have in your garden. Not only this, but they play a necessary ecological role, as well. Still, sometimes their roots can go so deep that they start damaging your underground pipes. This can cause you a lot of trouble and therefore it’s always a good idea to deal with the roots before they damage your pipes. So, before the professional protects your pipes with an additional layer, you should make sure that any harmful roots are removes, otherwise they can even penetrate into the new layer causing serious damage to your newly relined pipes.

Freeing the Pipes from Clogs

Another thing that simply has to be done before relining is freeing the pipes from any clogs. Dealing with some major clogs will be much more difficult once the plumber has finished relining your pipes. The best way to do this is to pour some drain-cleaning liquid into your pipes at least a few weeks before  relining. In fact, this should be done regularly, at least once a month, advise Sydney's pipe relining pros. When freeing your pipes from clogs, you should always aim at using some environmentally-friendly products, as in this way all the ground in your garden will remain unpolluted.

Dealing with Underground Obstacles

What’s so great about relining your pipes is that there’s no need to replace the old ones but simply enforce them. This can save you a lot of time and money. Still, this is not going to be the case if you start relining only to come upon an underground obstacle that will prevent you from getting the job done. This will not only slow the works down, but it will cause some additional expenses, as well. That’s why the plumber should always inspect the whole area before starting to apply a new coat on your pipes.

Relining your pipes is definitely a great way to keep them well-maintained and protect your precious garden. Having experts deal with any issues will keep future leaks at bay and save you money in the long run.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

19 Steps To Getting Your Home Ready For Your Thanksgiving Guests

Getting Your Home Ready for Thanksgiving

Are you having family and friends over for Thanksgiving? Did you forget to include cleaning in your schedule? Let me guess, you’ve been busy looking all over for perfect recipes. That is fine, we all do that. But, somewhere between now and Thursday morning, you need to clean your house from top to bottom. It’s not easy when you have kids, a husband who thinks everything magically cleans itself, and a puppy who is too busy barking at everyone that passes by your house (yes, my puppy sits on her throne by the window and barks at anything and everything).

I completely understand where you’re coming from. After working all day, it’s hard to have any energy left to tend to your home. Nobody is judging, I’m here to help.

Just to scare you, a made you a calendar of where we are today, and how quickly Thanksgiving is approaching.

Look around, how dirty is your house?

If you only have 30 minutes to Clean.

1.       Clean your main bathroom

2.       Clean your kitchen

3.       Clean your dining room

4.       Turn a few candles on

If you only have 2 hours to clean.

1.       Clean your main bathroom and a guest bathroom

2.       Clean your kitchen

3.       Clean your dining room

4.       Clean your living room

5.       Clean your fridge

6.       Turn candles on

If you have 6 hours to clean.

1. Clean all your bathrooms
2. Clean your kitchen
3. Make sure you scrub your oven, inside and out
4. Clean the inside of your fridge
5. Clean your dining room, make it inviting.
6. Clean and dust off your living room. Make sure you dust everything. Your mother-in-law sure loves to check that mantel
7. Clean the fire place
8. Clean the bar area
9. Clean the kids room
10. Clean the bed rooms
11. Clean the guest room
12. Clean your office
13. Walk around your house and dust off every curtain
14. Clean the ceiling fans
15. Clean the kids play area
16. Clean the front and back of the outside of the house
17. Add Holiday decorations
18. Add fresh cut flowers throughout the house
19. Add candles in every common area

You did everything you could. Don’t worry, it looks great.

---

Don’t forget to make a little bar area.

Holiday Bar Cart

• Wine, red and white
• Champagne, please chill
• Vodka
• Whiskey
• Scotch
• Rum
• Soda Water
• Tonic
• Coke/Diet Coke
• Ginger Ale
• Lemon wedges
• Cherries
• Orange Wedges
•  Ice
•  Wine Glasses
•  Champagne Flute
•  Rocks Glasses

Turn on some holiday music for ambiance.

If you have Comcast, it’s channel 741. They also have holiday music on On Demand. Or, turn on your Pandora for great Holiday tunes. Zero excuse for not having Holiday Tunes playing in the background.

If everything goes to plan, everyone will be having too much fun to notice anything you forgot or didn’t get to clean in time.

Now go enjoy yourself.

Happy Thanksgiving

Top Ways To Deal With Blocked Drains and Get Some Relief

Top Ways to Deal with Blocked Drains and Get Some Relief

As the drain is an important outlet in your home, blockage can cause a great deal of inconvenience to any homeowner. With the condition of the blocked drains, even the sink and shower water drains slowly. Even the water in the toilet might rise when the toilet is flushed. The combination of these things might result in a foul smell throughout the home and the surrounding. Therefore, it is important to clear the blocks and clogs in the drain at the earliest. If you make efforts to clean your drain regularly, chances are that you will not have to face any inconvenience with your drain.

Causes of Blockage

Prior to anything, you will have to understand the cause of blocked drains. This in turn might help you to prevent those conditions in the drain.

• Oil and greases are often the main cause for blockage. Unlike water, oils stick to the inside of the pipes, and over time these accumulate to cause blockage.
• At times, foreign substances often get stuck into the drains causing a block. Hair is one of most common substance that might accumulate and block the drain.
• If the drains are exposed, dry leaves often fall and get accumulated in the drain. This is also a source of blockage of the drain.
• At times, the slopes of the pipes affect the flow of waste from the drain into the sewer line.
• If the pipes are not installed correctly, the pipes might get misaligned resulting in poor drainage. In the course of time, it will result in blocking of the drains.
• Sometimes, the pipes might break down and the drain might collapse completely.

Now that you know some of the common causes of blockage, you should try to prevent them, which will cause less hassle.

Clearing A Clogged Drain

As soon as, you notice the signs of blocked drains, you should try to clear them at your home.

• If you find hair or any other foreign substance trapped in the drain, you can try using a wire or a plunger to remove the foreign substance. If you find corrosion in the fixture of the tap, you can put a bucket to hold water and disassemble the parts to get a new one. 
• There are some drain cleaners available in the market and these are known to work effectively. However, you should get the one suited for the specific type of blockage to get the best results.

In fact, if you have some knowledge along with some plumbing tools, you might try your hands on clearing the blocked drains. Otherwise, the best idea is to call a professional plumber. The professionals are highly skilled and experienced, and they can identify the cause to help you fix the problem. Therefore, you can be certain of getting a clean drain without any kind of foul smell from the drains.

Emergency Cleaning Service

However, in some situations, you might notice that the blocked drains have created huge mess. In such a situation, you will require emergency cleaning services. There is no point trying to self-clean the drain in such a situation because you might make more mess out of it. On the contrary, the best thing that you can do is to call a professional plumber to resolve the issue at the earliest. The plumber with their years of experience will not only clean the drains, but also give you some of the most effective tips by means of which you can maintain the condition of your drain in the course of time. Thus, you will benefit from it.  

-Guest Contributor, Evan Javier

Why Don't They Have a Course in College on How to Properly Maintain Our Biggest Investment?

Maintain Your Biggest Investment!

They teach us almost everything we need to know about life in school. The college I attended had an unlimited number of courses you could take. It was great, they taught me how to make money, how to manage it, but not how to manage my biggest investment. Since your home is one of the biggest investment you’ll make in your lifetime, they should have taught How to Maintain Your Biggest Investment.

You spend most of your life working. Working to buy a house, working to buy a car, working to pay off school, working to pay for your family’s necessities, working to pay for vacations, and working because unfortunately most of us aren’t Trust Fund Babies.

After working year after year, and saving your hard-earned money, you finally decide to purchase a beautiful home that will house your growing family. Time goes by and you realize it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. You are responsible for every single little thing in that house. Congratulations!

If you’re a handy man, everything might come easy to you, or you already know the right people to call. If you’re everyone else, you hate when something goes wrong in your home. “Why me? Why do the God’s hate me?” You must understand that there is a theory behind all of this: you didn’t maintain your house, you neglected your home dwelling. You were too busy working.

Did your house come with instructions? Mine didn’t. Nobody thought me what to maintain in my house. I just learned as things broke or decided to not function properly anymore.

·       Check your roof for leaks, water damage, mold, or anything that looks out of place.

·       Check your walls for leaks, water damage, or stains.

·       Check your gutters, they are probably filled with leaves, clean them.

·       Check your plumbing, inside and outside of the house.

·       Check your water heater, learn how it works and how to maintain it.

·       Check your furnace, learn how it works and how to maintain it. Please change the filter monthly.

·       Check your Central Air.

·       Check your vents. Yes, clean them.

·       Check your dishwasher, make sure the pipes are fine.

·       Check your garbage disposal, maintain it monthly. Stop putting everything done the disposal.

·       Check your washer/dryer. Gas line, drains, and electric.

·       Check your refrigerator, is your ice line hooked up correct?

·       Check your stove, is you gas line connected properly?

·       Check your Fuse Box, make sure it was installed by a Licensed Electrician.

·       Check your windows, walk around your house and make sure that they were properly installed. They need to be sealed around the edges.

·       Check your outlets, walk around your house and inspect every single outlet. Do you have kids? Make sure they are covered.

·       Check your sump pump, does it run/pump when it’s raining for proper drainage?

·       Check your ejector pump, if you have a bathroom in your basement, you should have an ejector pump. Make sure it’s not clogged, and it’s pumping.

·       Check your smoke detector, change the batteries when needed.

·       Check your carbon monoxide detector, change the batteries when needed.

·       Always make sure you have extra batteries around your house.

·       Always make sure you have extra light bulbs around your house.

This is just a basic list. You should know how to take care of everything or have the correct person ready to tackle the job.

Your home is your biggest investment, maintain it!