Painting Tools That Every Homeowner Needs

If you plan on repainting your home’s interior or doing touch-ups to your existing paint anytime in the future, it helps to have some essential painting tools on standby (or to at least know what you need to grab from the store). Here are a few key painting tools that every homeowner needs to have.

Brushes and Rollers

Unless you’re planning to apply your paint with your bare hands (please don’t) or a paint sprayer, brushes and rollers are an absolute must-have. Pick up a basic set of paintbrushes along with a two-to-three-inch brush for trim work and a roller from your local paint or hardware store.

Plan on painting more than one room or have tall ceilings? Add a roller pole to your shopping list. This extends the length of your roller, which reduces strain on your arms, back, and legs and makes reaching up high easy.

A Roller Tray

Instead of dipping your brush right into the paint can, pour your paint into a roller tray and then go from there. These trays allow you to use a roller and can even extend the life of your paint.

You can pick up a roller tray at the same place you get your brushes, roller, and paint. They’re cheap (usually less than a dollar), so there’s no reason not to get one. Plastic trays are generally better than metal trays because they’re easier to clean.

Painter’s Tape

Can you paint a room without painter’s tape? Technically, yes—it’s not a necessity. But even though painter’s tape isn’t a requirement, it’s still a painting tool that every homeowner needs for a successful paint job.

Painter’s tape protects the places you don’t want to paint from getting paint on them. If you don’t use painter’s tape, you could end up with unwanted and unsightly splatters of paint on your ceiling or trim.

Sponges and Cloths

You can use these items to clean your wall before you start painting. These items are also required if you want to try some of the most popular decorative painting techniques. Want a beautiful color-washed wall? Grab your trusty sponge or cloth and get to painting!

Knives and Scrapers

Don’t forget the paint scraper, putty knife, and taping knife. These three tools will make applying spackle, patching up cracks, and scraping off paint fast and painless tasks.

How to Protect Your Property From Incoming Storms

No matter where you live, each season can bring violent weather changes that may damage your home and property. Before the bad weather arrives, there are a few ways that you can examine around your house and yard to be sure everything is secure and in good shape for withstanding harsh elements.

Check the Roof

If you are unable to inspect the roof yourself, contact a professional roofing contractor for assistance. It is a good idea to have your roof checked for damaged gutters, missing roof tiles, or chimney weaknesses. Schedule routine maintenance for anything that appears to have problems. High winds or loose tree limbs can cause problems or make existing damage even worse and more expensive to repair.

Look for Dangling Tree Limbs

While it is easy to find tree limbs that have already fallen off the tree, look for those that are hanging in the boughs, already detached and ready to fall, or hanging only slightly connected. Try to remove these before the storms arrive to keep them from being blown at your house where they can damage the roof, break windows, and dent the siding of your home. Check your trees periodically to find loose tree limbs before they fall suddenly and hurt someone.

Secure Loose Belongings

Move any outdoor trash cans, lawn furniture, or children's toys into your garage so they don't blow away. Take down lightweight furnishings like tents or hammocks to protect them from sustaining storm damages. Cover the porch, patio, or gazebo with a protective tarp or other gear you have available. Anything that sits outside that might be loose or fragile should be protected by covering or moving into a sheltered and enclosed area.

Ensure Outdoor Lights are Working

Since storm damage can happen quickly and unexpectedly, it is important to have lights in your yard or driveway working consistently when needed. Make sure the battery-operated lights have adequate power for the duration of the storm. Check the electric plug-in connection of outdoor light-sensitive lamp posts. Ground lights should all be working or replaced if not. Lighting for the porch, patio, or yard, such as motion detection lights, should also be checked to see if they can weather the storm.

Attention to details like these can make a difference in how well your property makes it through a tough storm that brings wind, heavy rain, snow, ice, or hail. Even a sandstorm can cause damage. Check everything on your property before the storm hits to come through it with little to no damage.

Guest Post - 7 Benefits of CCTV Camera Installations on Your Property

https://guardiansafeandvault.com/

Concerns with suspicious activities in businesses are growing as technological innovations that develop every day increase companies’ presence online, where unscrupulous individuals lurk. Most people look into security system facts and figures to guide them in establishing security measures. 

However, security systems are no longer just for commercial spaces anymore. More and more homes are becoming aware of the benefits a home security system can provide. Homeowners are keeping up with modern times and upgrading their homes.

Nowadays, residential owners either turn to smart technologies that they can integrate into home automation or install CCTV cameras. If you want to join in on the trend, it is best to start by setting up security camera systems. 

Here are seven reasons you should install a security camera system on your property:

1. Deter Burglars

The main reason you should consider installing a CCTV in your home is to discourage robbers and burglars from entering your property. With cameras present, it will be less likely for criminals to carry out their break-in attempts compared to a house without cameras.

Be sure to install the cameras where the main areas of your property are covered such as the entrances, exits, and other lesser visible regions. To add caution to burglars, you can have a warning sign that says your property is under surveillance.

2. Gain a sense of reassurance and security

When you have CCTV installed on the property, you feel at ease as if someone keeps an eye on everything. Whether these systems are for the security of your condo or the safety of your house, a camera system can provide you peace of mind. 

Advanced CCTV systems can come with wireless models to monitor live footage from your smartphone or tablet. Some systems can also give you an alert whenever suspicious activity is happening.

Having access to home security at your fingertips means that you can supervise your property at all times. With this extra sense of security, you can be confident living your life, knowing that you and your family are safe.

3. Validate insurance claims

Did you know that having a security system installed in your home has insurance benefits? If a burglary occurred, you could file an insurance claim for theft or vandalism.

When you claim your insurance, supporting documents can help and validate your case. High-definition CCTV footages are a great way to prove the incident to insurers. Additionally, most insurance companies can give you up to a 20% discount on home insurance premiums if you have a security system installed in your house. 

4. Produce footage as evidence

Similar to presenting your CCTV footage as supporting documents for your insurance claim validation, your recorded videos can also aid the police when a crime has occurred on your property. Your security camera documents all activities under its scope. Therefore, the footage recorded is solid evidence.  

It is a bonus if your recording is in high-definition as you will have a better view of the perpetrator’s face. Some modern security cameras can even record audio. With these videos, there is a high chance that the police can identify and catch those involved. It is also possible that they can return your stolen items.

5. Check-in on family and pets

Sometimes, working parents want to check in with their children when they come back from school. You can easily do this if your security system includes remote monitoring. With this, you can get a live feed of your home on your smartphone or tablet, making it effortless to check in with the family even when you are at work. 

Not only can you check in with your kids using a camera system, but you can also monitor your pets. Leaving your pets at home can be a stressful situation. Paying for a pet sitter can be expensive as well. When you have a security camera system, you can look after them wherever you may be.

6. Save on costs

CCTV systems are a long-term safety investment. Once you have installed a security camera system on your property, you can use them for years with little maintenance costs. You can clean them now and then to make sure they are operating at their best. 

7. See who is at the door

Not all people at your doorstep are welcome on your property. Sometimes, there are folks you do not want to open the door for, like a sales representative or a stranger. With a home security system, you do not have to open the door to check who is behind it. Wherever you may be, you can be aware of who is knocking on your door.

Ensure Your Safety

A home security system brings an additional layer of defense against possible intruders. There are multiple options in the market today in terms of upgrading the security of your home. 

Nowadays, you can have remote monitoring features and CCTV footage with audio. With these technologies, you will be protecting yourself, your valuables, and your loved ones.

About the Author

Geri Pacleb is the head of Public Relations for Federal Land, Inc. She graduated from De La Salle University - Dasmarinas with a degree in Communication, and specialized in public relations.

Guest Post - How to increase the resale value of your home?

In a world where even a tiny application in your mobile phone demands an upgrade every now and then, your standard deserves one too. People’s preferences evolve, the world around us changes, families get bigger, and many more factors that may push one to move to a bigger house or a place that fits the bill better. 

The motive of this blog is not to factor in or analyze the reasons why people shift to a different house but to tell you how to make the most out of the house that you’re actually about to sell. Well, to begin with, it isn’t that difficult! Just a few additions here and there and you’ll manage to successfully increase the resale value of your home. 

Let’s dive straight into the pointers.

->  Create an illusion of a bigger space

It is not necessary for everyone to have a huge space to themselves but you can always make a space look and feel super spacious. It’s just some mind tricks and we’re gonna share just that with you. Use large format tiles for your space and help it achieve a more spacious feel. The more grout lines your space has, the busier the design looks, which ultimately overwhelms the space.

Opt for glossy tiles if you have a small space to tile as they reflect the natural light that helps your space look more spacious. 

-> Steel the Show

If you're planning to sell your place and move out soon, you should do some modifications to the place that can generate demand for it. These modifications need to be smart and not very expensive. One way that serves the purpose right is by adding stainless steel equipment to the kitchen. Prefer not to get tempted by the high-end finishes. They might just end up costing more and attracting relatively very less buyers. 

-> Tile it up, At Least these Two Spaces!

Don’t worry! We’re not going to keep these spaces a secret. It is always good to have your space beautifully tiled but if that seems like an overwhelming task and you’re pressed for time, you can get the bathroom and kitchen aesthetically tiled. Tiles possess some qualities and positive attributes that can help a lot in the longer run. 

Tiles have taken the market by storm and rightly so. They provide so many features and that too in a relatively cost-efficient manner. Your checklist while buying a tile should include looking for an anti-skid, low maintenance, cost-efficient, anti-germ, scratch- and stain-resistant, and easily cleanable tile.

You can always choose the tiles according to your preference but always do your homework on what’s trending in the market and which one of them will suit your requirement and budget the best.

-> Be Energy Efficient

Never underestimate the buyer! Buyers these days prefer places that are eco-friendly and save them some bucks too. As we all have access to a lot of information, everyone is aware of the effects various appliances can have on the environment. People are aware these days and want to do their bit for the planet, even if it is as small as going energy efficient with appliances. If you’re upgrading any of your appliances, like an air conditioner or a geyser, make sure to look for an energy-efficient option as it can help pursue the buyer better.

-> Beautify Area in Front of the House

Don’t we all know that the first impression is the last impression! The same goes for your home too. A neat, clean, and beautiful landscape is very attractive to homebuyers and can be a non-negotiable factor. Always keep it beautiful and well-maintained. It always works in the favor of the homeowner. In fact, it’s a common finding that a well-kept landscape often converts the deal into a sale. In a 2018 survey, 17% of Realtors said that a landscape maintenance project recently resulted in a sale

Mowing lawns and maintaining them might cost you a fair amount but the return on investment is equally high. It’ll not go in vain. 

-> Be Good at Cover-ups

Don’t get any wrong ideas. All we’re trying to say is that if your home looks a little worn out from any rim or corner, take the DIY route and pick up some paint baskets for a quick fix. A clean paint job is always pleasing to the eyes and you should do whatever is within your limits to make your place look pretty to the homebuyers. A fresh coat of paint can make old surfaces appear as good as new while adding an instant appeal to the place.

While these small adjustments will improve the comfort of your home while you live there, they will also increase the value of your property when it comes to selling it, if at all. 

Author Bio:
Isha Tandon has worked within the architecture and interior design industry as a flooring consultant - specializing in ceramic tiles, stones, and terrazzo. She has worked with Orientbell Limited, a leading tile manufacturer in India, as a product development manager and has recently joined the marketing team as their digital content strategist. Her experience comes in handy in understanding the audience as she creates value-driven content for readers that is not only informational but engaging and interesting to read as well. She creates lifestyle pieces that focus on interior design products, trends, and processes. She loves to travel to historic places with rich architecture.