4 Problems That Can Arise When Your Home Is More Than 50 Years Old

As homes age, they're going to require an increasing amount of maintenance and repair. Once your house reaches its 50th birthday, there are several things you should be on the lookout for. Here are four problems that can arise when your home is more than 50 years old.

Plumbing Failures

Assuming the plumbing hasn't been replaced at some point during the house's lifetime, there's a very high chance of pipe failures in a home that's 50 or more years old. Old pipes are more likely to crack or leak, and plumbing fixtures that are half a century old tend to be at the end of their lives. Having your plumbing replaced is a great way to update the home and protect it against potentially catastrophic water damage in the future.

Foundation Problems

As a home's foundation settles, it's fairly normal for some small cracks to form in the basement walls. Over time, though, you can begin to see larger cracks forming and walls beginning to bow inward. Foundation problems should be fixed as quickly as possible, since they will only become more expensive if left untreated. If you address foundation problems early on, you may even be able to get away with having carbon fiber straps installed on your basement walls to ease them back into place.

Electrical Problems

Like plumbing, old wiring can present its share of problems in older homes. From lights ceasing to work properly to outlets dying, aging electrical systems can be extremely inconvenient. In extreme conditions, they can also be potential fire hazards. If your home is currently running on wiring that's decades old, consider looking into local electrical services to have it rewired.

Floor Joists Bowing or Giving Out

If your home has sustained water damage or has major foundation issues, you may also have some floor joists that need to be replaced. Though it may seem complicated, replacing floor joists is fairly routine when you're renovating an older home. You'll need a professional contractor to do the work, but the costs usually aren't too unreasonable. Fixing joists can prevent sagging floors in the future and fix current problems of uneven flooring.

Old homes have charm and character, but they require more upkeep than newer ones. By keeping an eye open for these four problems and fixing them quickly, you can continue to enjoy your older home for many years to come.

The Different Residential Fence Types

The type of fence you choose for your home will impact a lot of different factors. It will enhance its curb appeal, provide security, and will clearly define your property lines. You should pay consideration to the overall look and feel of your home so that you can pick an adequate fence. Of course, you’ll have to factor in things such as your budget, durability, and ease of installation. To make things easier for you, here are the different residential fence types you should consider.

Welded Wire Fence

A welded wire fence is a durable type of fence that’s great for security. If you have a garden that you’d like to protect from neighborhood dogs and critters, you should go with this type. One of the main things you should know about building a welded wire fence is that you can do it yourself. As a result, it’s a very cost-effective form of fencing. If you’re on a tight budget, you can put together a welded wire fence with a few inexpensive materials.

Aluminum Fences

Aluminum fences are particularly visually appealing. They come in a wide variety of colors and styles, giving you a lot of design options. If security isn’t your top priority for your fence, then you’ll love aluminum fencing. These fences are also light on maintenance. However, they aren’t very durable, so bear that in mind when installing them.

Wood Fencing

Wood is by far the most popular material choice for fences in America. That’s because there are so many styles, shapes, and designs of wood fencing. You can also choose from different heights and widths. As a result, wood fences are both great for privacy and have visual appeal. You can also paint wood, granting you lots of options for color.

While wood fencing has plenty of advantages, this type of fence is pretty time-consuming to install, plus it takes a lot of expertise to do right. If you don’t know what you’re doing, do not attempt to put up wood fencing. Instead, hire an experienced professional who will do an excellent job for you.

PVC Fencing

These types of fences are by far the most affordable. PVC pipe is an abundant and cheap material, making it an excellent choice for fencing. While it’s not the most visually appealing, PVC is sturdy and will provide good security.

Vinyl Fencing

While this option is pretty expensive, vinyl is an excellent material to use in fences. That’s because it’s durable, visually appealing, and flexible. It’s even more resilient than wood. Select from a wide variety of styles, heights, and colors.

Understanding the different residential fence types will help you choose the type of fence that will work best for your home. Share this guide with your neighbors when they ask how you decided on your fencing.

Simple Habits To Stay Organized Everyday

Being organized isn’t a natural skill for most of us; it involves a willingness to change patterns you’ve stuck to for a long time. Keeping both your home and life in order is a daily practice, but it can be a difficult one to maintain, and it can take a few steps to adjust your behavior.

Here are simple habits to stay organized every day.

To-Do Lists

Having a schedule and to-do lists are vital when staying organized. Take a few minutes the night before to plan out the next work by prioritizing important events Planning your day out allows you to block off portions of time, so that an appointment or task won’t catch you by surprise and derail your day.

Declutter

Regularly decluttering your home can be very helpful in staying organized. Streamline your home by decluttering in these ways:

• Go through piles of papers and sort what is essential and what can be thrown out.

• Donate books to streamline a cluttered bookcase. Do the same with records or video games overflowing from entertainment centers.

• Discard old and expired medication that might be taking up space in your bathroom

• Fold and hang clothing, and donate anything that hasn’t been worn in over a year.

Make Your Bed

Making your bed every morning helps to set up a small win to start a day. Taking this tiny by meaningful action will propel you into positive action. Don’t worry about doing it perfectly every morning; even just rearranging the blankets and pillows can help you start your day off on the right foot.

Designate Everything

Give every item in your house a home! Categorizing everything, even the little things, will simplify organizing. When you’re attempting to designate an item, ask yourself where you would most use it or where others in your household would search for it. This can take some clever and outside-of-the-box solutions, but be sure to properly store cleaning supplies and other corrosive items.

Point of Use

When you’re organizing your belongings, thinking about their purpose will help you decide where they live. Place things in drawers and cabinets with the most used in front to avoid creating frustration or confusion when searching for something.

With these simple habits to stay organized every day, you’ll keep your home and life in order!

Struggling With Clutter In Your Small Living Space

Many millennials’ experience with homeownership extends to their parents’ houses and a dorm or apartment with a nine-month lease. When it’s time to move into a house or apartment complete with a deed or contract, that transition may prove difficult.

One challenge that many new tenants face is clutter. Although living in an apartment or small house may feel cozy at times, it also allows clutter to accumulate quickly.

Why Clutter Appears

Despite one’s best intentions, piles of “stuff” can take up valuable territory — physically and even emotionally. Here are some reasons your living space may be in disarray:

1. Uncertainty of What Constitutes as Clutter: The definition of clutter varies from person to person. However, a good rule of thumb is that if an item is broken or not useful, aesthetically pleasing or sentimental, it might be time to donate or toss it.

2. Inability to Let Go: Many people tend to hold on to a specific piece of clothing or home item if it’s sentimental, a gift or being saved for a just-in-case event. Emotions can make belongings feel irreplaceable, but you should recognize when something is ready to go.

3. Lack of Organizational Routine: Most clutter piles get bigger simply because they become part of the general landscape. By implementing a functional routine, cleaning could become second nature and clutter won’t have time to accumulate.

4. Impulse Shopping: Impulse buying can be a recipe for disaster. Don’t buy sale items or hobby supplies if you’re not sure where to store them or when they’ll be used. Buying on impulse may give instant gratification, but it probably won’t help you in the long run.

To learn more about the psychological effects of clutter and what you can do to combat it, check out our resource.

Struggling With Clutter from Mo2 Properties