Should You Get Your Home’s AC Repaired in the Fall or Spring?

Air conditioning is a must-have in most parts of the country. Making sure your air conditioner is functioning properly can mean the difference between sweating in the sweltering summer heat or remaining cool and comfortable. Proper maintenance and servicing can help to prevent many common AC problems. Nonetheless, most homeowners will eventually find themselves in a situation where their cooling system no longer functions as well as it should. In this situation, you’ll generally be left with two choices, either get the system repaired or suffer through the heat. Therefore, here is everything you need to know about getting your AC repaired and when is the best time to do it.

Why Spring is the Best Time for AC Repairs

Spring is usually the best time to have your AC repaired, and the reason for this is fairly obvious. By getting your air conditioning repair taken care of in spring, you can be assured that your cooling system is ready to go and working properly before the worst of the summer heat hits. This is also precisely why most experts recommend having your cooling system inspected in the spring.

Avoiding the Summer Rush

Scheduling your inspection in the spring and getting any repairs taken care of early also ensures you won’t be without cooling during the hotter months. Most HVAC companies are extremely busy during the summer months. In some cases, it could take days or even weeks to even get someone out to your house to diagnose your cooling issues. Should this happen, you might find yourself forced to sweat it out for much longer than you want.

The Importance of Getting Repairs Done Quickly

If you do notice in the middle of summer that your cooling system isn’t working as well as normally, you might be tempted to wait until the fall or even next spring to have it repaired. However, by doing so, you might end up costing yourself a whole lot of money. When your AC unit isn’t functionally properly, it can’t cool your house and efficiently and effectively. This means that it will also have to run much more frequently to keep the home at your desired temperature. The result of this is that you’ll end up paying much more in energy costs to cool your home than you normally would. Therefore, it is always a good idea to get any problems professionally repaired as soon as possible.

Keeping your home cool during the summer is vital for both your comfort and overall quality of life. The last thing you really want to do is suddenly find yourself unable to cool your home when the temperature starts to rise. For this reason, it is always a good idea to have your air conditioner and entire HVAC system inspected during the spring. In this way, you can ensure that any necessary repairs are completed before you start sweating.

Decluttering tasks you must do if you want to sell your home

Decluttering your home is something you should do every so often. That is the best way to ensure you live in a healthy and comfortable environment. However, when you decide to put your home on the market and organize several open-house events, your home must look amazing. After all, that is the way to sell it quickly and for the best possible price. But, where does one start when it comes to selling a house or an apartment? Well, the first step is always decluttering. Once you declutter, cleaning and staging your home for sale will be much easier. Thus, today, we will teach you about all the decluttering tasks you must do if you want to sell your home. 

The Hallway

When it comes to selling homes, the first impression is all that counts (well, almost all). So, if you want to leave the best possible first impression, make sure your hallway is clean and organized. The hallway is the first place all the potential buyers will see, and if it's cluttered, messy, and dirty, they will not like it. Thus, start decluttering it as soon as possible.

First, sort through everything - coats, jackets, accessories, shoes, paperwork, kid's and pet's stuff, etc. Leave only the items you wear every day and get rid of everything else. Of course, 'getting rid of' does not mean 'throwing away' - it means 'putting someplace else' or even 'donating' or 'selling.' Moreover, if possible, try to maximize the storage space in the hallway. Install good quality coat and shoe storage, under-the-stairs storage, hangers, etc. This will be a big plus when selling a home - all buyers appreciate a well-organized storage space!

The Living Room

The living room must always look welcoming and as comfortable as possible. Potential buyers must be able to envision themselves living there. So, the first and the most obvious way to declutter your living room is to get rid of excess furniture. If you have already found your new Connecticut home and are ready to move out yourself, let local professionals deal with this. Having fewer furniture pieces will instantly make your living room more organized, and of course, more spacious.

Then, try to depersonalize the living room! Many people think that this is an unnecessary step, but trust us, real estate agents swear by this. By depersonalizing the home's main rooms, such as the living room, you tell buyers that this home is ready for them; you encourage them to envision themselves living there. So, to do this, consider repainting the wall in a  neutral color, have the carpets professionally cleaned, remove all your personal items such as family photos, memorabilia, travel souvenirs, etc. 

The Kitchen and Dining Room 

The kitchen and dining room must also look their best when selling a home. After all, these two areas (and the bathroom) are the ones that will either make or break your sale. No buyer wants to invest a ton of time, energy, and money in upgrading these rooms. However, if you invest just a bit of your time, energy, and cash on decluttering the kitchen and dining room, you will not only be able to sell your home quickly and easily but also increase its value by up to 10%. 

When it comes to decluttering the dining room, we advise you to remove everything but the table and chairs. Make this room as spacious and as breathable as possible. Then, move onto the kitchen. It would be a good idea to have a couple of moving boxes by your side when decluttering this room. Put all the crockery, pots, pans, mugs, appliances, etc., that you plan on relocating anyway into these boxes. Be sure the work surfaces are entirely clutter-free and clean (including the horizontal and vertical ones, too - remove the magnets, the drawings, the paperwork, etc.). And, if possible, try to tidy up the drawers and cabinets as much as you can - yes, the buyers will peak. 

The Bedrooms - Master and Kid's Rooms

As previously mentioned, if you have already found your new Connecticut home, you should go ahead and move out as many pieces of furniture and other personal household knick-knacks as you can. Your tiktokmoving.com movers can help you do this! But, if you still cannot move out, at least try to make these two rooms as presentable as possible. Of course, you cannot take out your personal items from there, but you can make them all organized and well-presented.

Keep all the clothing items nicely stacked and hung in the closet and wardrobe. And keep the accessories and other things inside some of those organizational boxes and bins. Of course, you already know that you should keep your beds made and other surfaces like nightstands, makeup tables, shelves, etc., clean. When it comes to your children's room, unfortunately, there is nothing you can do. Your kids will always play with the toys and books, and their rooms will always be chaotic. But, that is okay! A messy room equals happy kids.

The Bathroom – a Home to many Decluttering Tasks You Must Do if You Want to Sell Your Home

Ideally, you should present your bathroom as adequately taken care of over the years and as a place of relaxation. So, yes, this toom too must be decluttered. First, remove any unnecessary items you have in there - empty (or expired) toiletries, old rags, towels, and bathrobes you do not use anymore, old bathing sponges and loofahs, etc. Try to organize the shelves and drawers as much as you can too. All the potential buyers will open them to check how much space they offer. 

And, once you have finished decluttering the bathroom, we strongly advise you to stage it properly. If you do not know how to do that, do some browsing and find out DIY organization hacks for your bathroom. A couple of nicely folded towels, a scented candle, and a few new bathroom decorations can completely change the look of your bathroom and thus increase its value! 

The Bottom Line

As you can see, there are many decluttering tasks you must do if you want to sell your home. What you need to remember is that decluttering will not only help you sell faster but it will also ensure you move out more easily. In addition, having fewer items to transfer to your new home will make your relocation costs lower. So there are many benefits of decluttering and you should never neglect doing it.

5 Potential Reasons Your Home May Smell Funny

Have you ever walked into your house from a fun afternoon with friends only to find a weird smell, but you’re not sure where it came from? That may occur more often than you think!

The smell may result from something as simple as a backed-up garbage disposal or as dangerous as a damaged furnace. Here are five potential reasons your home may smell funny.

Garbage Disposal

The garbage disposal in your sink may have flushed down many food bits in the past, but now it’s time to check it and make sure they’re not still sitting in your pipes!

If your nose leads you straight to the kitchen, it may be one of a few things—including your kitchen sink. Try to flush hot water down your disposal with some soap or use a Plink Fizzy Drain Freshener & Cleaner to ensure you thoroughly clean your drain. Be sure to follow the directions on the package, so you sanitize your sink correctly.

Pets

Your pets may also cause your home to have a funny smell. If your pet is feeling sick, they may hide and isolate themself—which may result in a bathroom accident or regurgitation occurrence behind your furniture.

Additionally, if you’re a cat owner, it’s essential to clean out their litter box every day. This will not only ensure your home smells good, but your kitty will have a clean and sanitary bathroom to use, preventing illness and anxiety.

Furnace

HVAC systems may sometimes produce odd smells, so they’re typically located in the basement or laundry room (away from everything else). But some odors may indicate a severe issue that requires urgent attention.

If you notice that your furnace emits odorous fumes, it may be clogged or require a filter change. However, try not to adjust anything on your furnace yourself—consult with an HVAC professional first to determine your next steps.

Mold or Mildew

Mold or mildew can show up anywhere in the home, so it’s imperative to locate where the smell is coming from. If you discover mold in your home, be sure to disinfect the area or have a professional remove and replace the affected areas.

Mold can affect someone suffering from allergies or asthma, so be sure to check with your doctor to maintain good health.

Rotten Food

Still can’t find that funny smell? Head back to your kitchen! Have you cleaned out your fridge lately? Sometimes we buy foods or bring food home from a restaurant and forget about it until its odor unmistakably reminds us to throw it out.

Try to clean out your fridge once a month to rid your kitchen of spoiled or expired foods and keep your home smelling fresh.

Now that you know the five potential reasons your home may smell funny, don’t just mask the smell in your home with an air freshener! Try using bamboo charcoal bags that are better for the environment. Not only will your home smell clean, but you’ll be incorporating eco-friendly measures!

Decoration on a Budget: How to Style a Girl’s Room without Braking the Bank

Decorating your little girl’s room is a fun way to spend quality time with your kid and provide her with a useful and beautiful space. Creating a space that’s fit for her age and her interests will inspire her to spend time in her space and practice her independence.  However, decorating a kid’s room can be very expensive—furniture, bedding, lighting and decoration can cost a lot of money if you’re not careful of your budget. If you need a few tips on how to create a room worthy of your little princess, here are a few tips that won’t break your bank.

Make it colorful

Kids usually love bright colors, that’s why their spaces are so much fun to decorate. But don’t automatically reach for pink for girls. The world is full of interesting and unique color schemes and your girl will definitely find something she likes. If you want to save money long-term, it’s best to choose a more neutral color combination and brighten it up with color accents, wallpaper and art. Adding splashes of color with bedding, curtains and rugs is also a great idea. This way, you don’t have to repaint her space every time your child changes her mind about her favorite color.

Be smart with the furniture

Kids can be very persuasive, but don’t get bullied into buying a princess bed or tree-house desk. These novelty furniture items might be cute, but your kid will grow out of them in no time. Instead, focus on functionality and timeless design with larger items—something she will be able to use even during her teenage years. If your baby girl insists on a spaceship bed, add canopies to a regular bed to simulate a rocket and finish the scene with NASA bed sheets.

Be mindful of her interests

Every girl is a unique flower, so if she’s old enough to express her interests, consult with her about the decorating process. You can even opt for a theme! All in all, if you include her interests in her room (gardening, unicorns, soccer, guitar, etc.) it will make her rooms feel unique and fit for her life. She will rush to invite friends over and keep the space clean…hopefully.

Add some prints on the walls

Prints are a great way to add personality and color to a space, so why not surprise your girl with a few interesting pieces of art? If your kid loves fashion and all things girly, you can find original famous fashion illustrator prints to grace her room. These prints will add color and interest to her space, but also encourage her to follow her dreams. Plus, if you choose signed pieces, you might even be giving your kid a piece of smart investment that will go for thousands in the future!

Light it up

Little kids love night lights, but pre-teens and teens might be embarrassed to use them. Regardless, it’s important to illuminate your girl’s room with proper general lighting, task lighting for studying, as well as soft lights to add safety and ambiance to the space. Today, fairy lights, LED strips and nightlights come in all shapes and colors imaginable, so you will definitely find something that fits your kid’s space and preference.

Add a relaxation corner

If the room in question is spacious, it’s a great idea to add a fun relaxation corner for naps, reading sessions, studying, texting with friends or daydreaming. No matter the age, kids love forts, and you can easily install a teepee into her space. With a few modifications, this relaxation corner can grow together with your child and change purposes.

With these tips in mind, you’re ready for a fun remodel of your little girl’s room. In no time, she will have a fun and cozy space and you will still have some money left in your bank account.