How To Have a More Reliable Internet

The importance of internet access and speed cannot be overstated. The internet facilitates business, both for large corporations and individual workers, and provides news and entertainment in our personal lives. A slow connection or a signal that routinely drops interrupts that access, which is why knowing how to have a more reliable internet is a critical piece of knowledge in our modern age.

Know Your Data Cap

Your allotted data every month is represented by your data cap, and it can range anywhere from a few hundred megabytes to a few hundred gigabytes. Using up this data is determined by how much you use the internet; even leaving a page open without clicking on anything uses up your data. Once your data usage reaches a certain threshold, your internet speed will drastically slow down.

Extending Your Cap

If you routinely experience slowdown or are aware that you go over your monthly limit, then you need to contact your Internet Service Provider. Your internet bill may cost more every month, but that is one possible solution to speeding up your internet.

Directly Interface With Your Modem

Your router is your home’s direct line to the internet. Typically, you plug in your modem to the router, which you then either plug in your computers to the router via a physical connection, such as Ethernet or through Wi-Fi. You can eliminate your router altogether and plug your computer directly into your modem.

Wired Connections

While there are troubles that appear when using an Ethernet cable, it is still the most reliable way to access the internet. A direct-wired connection will give you speeds that are much faster and a connection that is much more stable than what is possible with a wireless connection.

Resituate Your Router

As mentioned, your router plugs into your modem; the modem then grants the router internet access, which can offer access to multiple devices, either through a wired connection or wireless. If your only available option is to use a wireless connection, then you need to consider the placement of your router.

Disrupted Connection

A Wi-Fi connection, while less reliable, offers more convenience than a physical cable, but the wireless signal can have trouble getting through the walls of your home. That is why you need to carefully consider where you will place your router to have more reliable internet. Find a spot where it does not have to travel far or through solid walls to get to your device.

Identify the Issue

Multiple factors go into increasing internet speed and reliability. Know where your system’s shortcomings are and what needs to be improved. Without troubleshooting the problem, you may end up paying for extra data you do not need or replacing a perfectly good router.

How to Clean Your House in Preparation for Selling It

We partnered with a cleaning company for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

Cleaning your home before you move may look like a huge task, but if you break it down into steps, it is much easier. There are two great ways to do this: break it down by type of job, or divide it by room. For instance, you could wash all the windows at once, clean all the floors and baseboards, and clean out all the clutter, or take it room by room. Learn more about their cleaning services.

Clear out the Clutter

The first step to cleaning your home is to clear out the clutter. For example, in the kitchen most people have a spot where they just drop everything-their mail, empty jars, pens, and miscellaneous items. Give away or throw out items that are not needed. Kitchen counters can also look crowded with too many appliances. Only one or two appliances should be left visible on the counter, such as a coffee maker or small microwave. Other appliances should be boxed up or placed in a cupboard out of sight. The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house, and when you are selling your home, this room needs to look very spacious and inviting. Another space that is important to clean is the garage or workshop. When trying to sell your home, you want to make this space look as large as possible. You can take extra items to the thrift store or put them in temporary storage with a friend.

Wipe Surfaces

No one wants to see dirt and dust in a potential home, so all surfaces need to be cleaned. The more obvious places to clean include the floors, counters, and bathtubs, but do not forget windowsills, top of the refrigerator, bookshelves, baseboards, and light fixtures. Also, the large appliances in the kitchen should be wiped and polished (especially if they are stainless steel). The windows also need to be washed, especially any glass sliding doors or front doors with glass.

Care for the Yard

Some companies, like Olivia Cooley Group, know that the outside of the home is just as important as the inside when you are trying to sell your home. Leaves should be cleaned up, grass mowed, sticks and yard debris cleaned up, steps swept off, and bushes trimmed nicely. Consider cleaning up large children’s toys or extra lawn equipment for the nicest presentation.

To put the finishing touches on cleaning your home, be sure all the lights are working, doors and latches functioning, and all windows have screens in them. Personal family decorations should be taken down, with only a few simple pictures and decorations left. Curtains and blinds should be open to allow light into the room. These are great steps to make your home look beautiful.

How to Make Sure Your Roof Is Prepared for Spring Rainstorms

Your roofing is among the most costly elements of your house, and spring storms pose one of the greatest risks to them. From the wind tearing off a few shingles to the big branch dropping and poking a hole in your roofing, these storms will do significant damage to your roofing.

Although there is no solution to stopping this yearly onslaught of extreme weather, here are three simple and economical tips you could do to help shield your home from damage.

Trim Overhanging Branches

As you know, storms can become very turbulent in the spring months, and these moving winds can impose a severe effect on the trees surrounding your house. It is effortless for trees to drop their branches during these windstorms, particularly if some of these branches died in the cold season or if they have just gained their energy back.

Taking your time to check the trees and cut any branches that could be troublesome or unsafe if they dropped during a spring storm could also be one of the best choices you might make.

Clean Your Gutters

Your gutters' key task is to bring rainwater that falls on your roofing to a safe spot on the surface that doesn't harm your house. If your gutters are blocked up with debris as the storm hits, water will remain on your roofing and spill down the outside of your house, which can cause significant and costly damage.

After clearing your gutters of any residual autumn and winter waste, you should inspect them for holes or other harm indications that could prevent them from doing their job effectively or contact a roofing expert for roof repair.

Get an Inspection

Another step towards protecting your roofing is performing roof inspection. Before the storms begin, you should get an expert roofer to check your roofing and ensure it is in excellent condition. If they can help you discover and repair a small issue before the storms start to hit your roof, you'll save money and the hassle.

An experienced roofer will check your flashing. These are the metal parts that cover the joints of your roofing around the chimney and vents. They are more likely to be unplugged than other roof materials. Checking these sections and reassembling or removing any broken or loose flashing should help keep them safe in strong winds.

While you cannot keep spring storms out, you can protect your house by following the above tips. When your roofing is damaged during these extreme weather conditions, contact us.

How to Know When to Upgrade Your Appliances

Whether for cooking or cleaning, we rely on good appliances to help make our lives a little easier. Stoves, refrigerators, washers, and dryers, are all just some of the household appliances we use everyday. These are often large-ticket items that come with a hefty cost, and we try to avoid unnecessary upgrades and purchases by taking care of them when we can. So, it’s easy to become complacent with what you have and put up with the odd burner that doesn’t work quite right. 

How do you know when it’s time to swap out your old stove or oven for a newer model? There are many clues that let you know it’s time to throw out the old and install the new, and we’re here to help you find them! Here are our top three signs it’s time to upgrade your appliances. 

1. Things aren’t working right.

All right, this one is obvious, but it’s true! Because appliances can be expensive, we often put up with things not working properly. After so long, these minor inconveniences can become large hassles and annoying nuisances that take up a lot of extra time in the day. Here’s what to look for on some appliances: 

Stoves: 

A stove or range usually lasts around 15 years, so if you’re pushing that timeline or are well over it, it might be worth it to start looking for something new. When a stove starts to go, you can expect uneven heat distribution and faulty burners. Another sign is the control panel stops working, and this is the most expensive part to have replaced. 

Refrigerators: 

Current refrigerators are built much more efficiently than those of 20 or 30 years ago. These appliances last about 20 years, and can end up costing a lot of money to repair. If you notice a water leak, it may just be a simple hose that needs replacing, or it could be indicative of a larger issue. If your fridge is over 20 years old, it might be smarter to invest in a newer, more efficient refrigerator to cut down on energy costs and electric bills. 

Washing Machines: 

Washing machines last around 8-10 years, and in those years, they do a lot of work for your home. A tell-tale sign of a washer in need of an upgrade is excessive leaking. Some water here and there is no issue, but when it’s an excessive amount every time, you should start looking for a new washing machine. Also, listen for excessive noise. Older washers get easily unbalanced and cause a loud banging that is not only annoying, but causes even more damage to this appliance. 

2. Your appliances don’t match. 

There may have been a time in your life when you didn’t care about having mis-matched appliances. A white fridge, with a black stove, and a brushed-nickel sink seemed just fine at the time, but that aesthetic can become distracting. Or if you only replace appliances as they break, it’s easy to get this style. Because appliances last so long, many kitchens have this look. If you’re tired of your stove from the 90s and modern fridge butting heads, it’s time to upgrade. A kitchen should have a seamless, effortless look that is inviting and modern. Not every piece needs to be exactly the same, but once you pick a theme, stick with it and opt for streamlined appliances that match and make your kitchen look more expensive. 

3. There’s no more joy in cooking or any house work. 

Not everyone likes to cook or do chores like home organizing. When appliances are breaking and not working properly, these simple tasks can become a huge chore that ends up sucking the life out of your day. If you are someone who loves cooking, but have suddenly dreaded the thought of using your stove, you should upgrade! Ovens with uneven heat distribution, dishwashers that make loud noises, and dryers that need to be run multiple times to get the job done make doing small tasks draining. 

Now, a lot of items are built to function, even with broken parts, so that’s why it’s easy to let this go unnoticed for so long. But if cooking your favorite meal fills you with dread, and you often find yourself cursing your appliances, upgrade them and restore that small joy in your life. 

There are loads of appliances in your home that only live for so long. Everything from outdoor grills to dishwashers have an impact on your life. Not every appliance needs to be replaced right away, but it is smart to know your options and the tell-tale signs that an upgrade is imminent. 

Replacing appliances doesn’t have to be a hassle or intimidating––you just have to do your research, and there are many resources you can utilize to find the perfect fit for your home.