Winter Maintenance Tasks That Every Homeowner Should Do This Year

Before harsh winter weather locks you and your family indoors, there are a few maintenance tasks you should do in and around your home. If you ignore these tasks, winter weather can cause damage to your home and increase your energy bills.

Inspect the Roof

You should inspect your roof for damage before winter. If summer storms have caused any damage to your roof, winter weather will cause further damage. Summer hailstorms can dent the shingles, and shingles with dents will lose their waterproof abilities. Melting snow will seep under the shingles and cause water to leak into the attic.

Clean the Gutters

Clean the gutters of leaves and debris. If the gutters are clogged, the water from melting snow will have nowhere to go and could cause an ice dam on the roof. An ice dam forms when water freezes at the edge of the roof and creates a dam. This traps melting snow, which could then leak into the home.

Turn Off and Maintain Air Conditioner Units

Turn off the power to your central air conditioning unit. If the AC is accidentally turned on during cold weather, the compressor could be damaged. If you don’t know where to turn off the power to the AC unit, an air conditioning repair company will show you where to turn it off.

You should then remove all debris like leaves, twigs and grass clippings. You can use a hose to clean it. Use foam weather stripping around any openings in the AC unit to keep cold air out of the home and cover the air conditioner. This is a good time to have AC professionals check your unit for any repairs that may need to be done.

Check Your Furnace

Replace the filter for the furnace. If it is a permanent filter, clean it thoroughly. The furnace filter should be changed every three months or more often if you have pets. Turn on the furnace before cold weather to ensure it is working properly. You can also have an HVAC company perform a maintenance check on the furnace.

Seal Windows and Doors

Drafty windows and doors can make you feel cold all winter and force you to keep the furnace on longer, which raises your heating bills. Check around windows for cracked or missing caulking and apply new caulking. Apply foam weather stripping around all exterior doors and make sure the door sweep is adjusted properly to keep out cold drafts.

These winter maintenance tasks will help you stay comfortable during the winter and prevent possible damage from freezing temperatures and winter storms.

Big Budget Items to Repair or Renovate Before Putting your House on the Market

Are you thinking of putting your home up for sale? Performing renovations and repairs will not only allow your space to be more comfortable and convenient for you, but it may make it appear to be more move-in ready to prospective buyers. Here are some of the best updates you can make to your home before putting it on the market:

Refresh the Bathroom

Bathrooms are usually a high priority for many potential buyers, and even minor updates will probably impress those that will tour your home. Concentrate on small projects, such as changing the showerhead, replacing the vanity, or even just the faucet, or re-caulking the bathtub. An easy and quick way to either modernize or make your bathroom more unique is to switch out the knobs and handles of drawers and cabinets, as well as change their paint job or repapering the walls.

If you don’t mind working on a larger project, which may provide you with a great return on your investment, refinish or replace the bathtub or install new flooring or tile walls.

Repair or Replace the Roof

Your roof is one of the first things that a potential buyer will see as he or she arrives to look at your home. A few cracked, buckled, or missing shingles may go unnoticed initially, but they will certainly negatively affect your curb appeal and worry home inspectors, not to mention they could be signs of problems already taking root within your roof that have the potential to worsen. The same can be said about finding things such as granules coming off of your shingles, leaks, ice dams, wind and hail damage, and sagging.

If you are only replacing your shingles, the project will not be that difficult. You can simply use the same material as what you already have.

However, if you must completely replace the roof, you have several options. You can go with the most common roofing in the country, which is durable, affordable, and easy-to-install asphalt shingles. Then there are wood shingles, which are gorgeous, and last just as long, but cost nearly double. Both metal roofing and clay or cement tile roofing lasts anywhere from twice as long, at 50 years, to approximately a century. They both are exorbitant in price, but worth the expense. Finally, slate roofs are made of real stone and can last over 100 years. There are also synthetic takes on both these and wood tiles.

No matter what you choose though, it’s sure to last you a long time, especially with the proper maintenance and care.

Increase Energy Efficiency

A fantastic improvement to make to your dwelling before selling it is making it more energy-efficient. There are several ways to accomplish this task. For example, you can add on-demand systems to replace failing water heaters, swap out older appliances for newer models, and add attic insulation to bring your house up to more modern standards.

Then, show buyers your low utility bills as an incentive to buy, or leave the EnergyStar certifications in view.

However, it is probably best to leave off solar panels. Many buyers may not appreciate the ongoing maintenance they would require to remain in decent shape.

In conclusion, there are many ways that you can repair or renovate your home for yourself and prospective buyers. Give these suggestions a try and you are sure to see greater interest in your property.

The ultimate unpacking checklist

Most people think that unpacking is the easiest part of the moving process. However, if not done properly, it can end up giving you an even bigger headache than decluttering and packing combined. To help you prevent this from happening, we've prepared the ultimate unpacking checklist. Since the way you pack is essential for easy unpacking, we've prepared useful packing tips, too. The only simpler thing would be hiring professionals to do everything for you.

Make unpacking simpler by packing properly

Paying attention to how you pack is the best way to make unpacking and settling into your new Connecticut home easier. The first step towards making this more manageable is to declutter your home. By getting rid of unnecessary belongings, you'll reduce the amount of stuff you'll have to pack and then unpack.

Once you decide what you want to bring with you to your new place, it's time to start packing. Here are the three most important packing tips that will make unpacking easier.

• By packing one room at a time, you'll be able to group your belongings.

• While packing each room, make an inventory of your belongings. You'll be able to do a final clutter check and potentially decide if there is something else you'd like to toss. It's important not to skip this step. The experienced packers from Teddy Moving and Storage confirm that making an inventory is crucial if you want to make unpacking hassle-free.

• Make sure to label each box and write it down in your inventory. This way, you'll be able to look at your list, take a box to the right room, unpack it and place its content where it belongs.

• Set aside a box of essential items you'll need for your first night in your new home. After a tiring day, the last thing you want is to go through boxes looking for your toiletries and pajamas.

The unpacking checklist that will make your relocation easier

After an easy transfer from NYC to Connecticut, it's time to start unpacking. It's only normal to feel overwhelmed and unsure about where to begin. However, we're here to make it easier. Further in this article, you'll find our unpacking checklist.

Compare boxes to your inventory list and sort them

If you didn't have enough time to check every box as it was being carried inside by movers, now is the time to do it. Use your inventory list or the one provided by your moving company if you didn't make it yourself.

If you can't find something, make sure to contact your moving company. Also, take each box to the room it belongs to as it will be much easier to unpack it there. If you labeled the boxes while packing, it will be pretty easy to do this.

Set your priorities

Don't rush unpacking. You don't have to start doing it as soon as you move in. Remember, there are no more deadlines or moving dates you need to be mindful of. Therefore, take your time, and if you have more important things to focus on at the moment, don't neglect them only because you have to unpack.

Even though you might not feel comfortable living among piles of cardboard boxes, you still may have more important things to do. Maybe you need to prepare for work the next day or run errands in your new town. Whatever it is, take as much time as you need.

Create an unpacking strategy

If you prepare the right unpacking strategy, you already did half of the job. If you create a good unpacking plan and stick to it, the entire unpacking process will go smoothly, even unnoticed.

We guarantee there will be no emotional bursts or moments of high frustration or tension. After all, without a deadline constantly burdening you, you can relax and do things at your own comfortable pace.

Unpack only the essential things

The last thing you want to be doing after arriving at your new Connecticut home is to instantly start unpacking. A shower and clean bedsheets probably sound much better after all the hard work you invested into your move.

So, on your first and even your second day, try not to get too overwhelmed and unpack only the essential things.

Decide where to start

When it comes to deciding where to start, you'll probably come across many different opinions. However, most moving professionals agree that your kitchen should be the first room to unpack.

If you don't have time to completely unpack all of your kitchen items, unpack only what you need and use the most. Hook up appliances, and after you're done with the rest of your home, you can come back and organize your new kitchen in detail.

You are the one choosing when and where to start. Usually, it depends on the time of day you arrive at your new place. For instance, if you move in during the early afternoon, you might still feel energized and willing to unpack your kitchen first. On the other hand, if you arrive late in the afternoon or evening, your priorities will probably be the bathroom (a hot shower) and bedroom (good night's sleep).

The bottom line

We hope our unpacking checklist will help you settle quickly in your new home. Now that you know how to efficiently handle unpacking, it's time to think of ways to add a personal touch to your space and make your new Connecticut home reflect your personality. Best of luck with your move!

Does The Color Of Your Roofing Make A Difference?

In years past, you probably never thought much about the color of your roof. After all, before metal roofing and other materials came along, virtually every home had the same dark-brown or black asphalt shingle roof. However, times have changed, and today roofing materials come in almost all colors to match any home. But can the color of your roof really make a difference to your home in any substantial way? Here are some answers to this question.

Inside Temperature of Your Home

When it's summertime and the temperatures are climbing or a cold winter day or night where the temperature plummets, you want the inside of your home to be comfortable. If your roof is light-colored, it absorbs less heat, which in the summer means your A/C runs less and your electric bill is lower. But in the winter, this can mean your roof also absorbs less heat, forcing you to run the furnace or heaters more often.

Snow Melt

If you have a dark-colored roof that absorbs more heat, it stands to reason that the snow should melt off your roof much quicker than if the roof were light-colored. However, this isn't always true. For starters, winter days are generally shorter, meaning there is less sunlight for your dark roof to absorb. Also, when snow does get on the roof, the snow itself actually reflects sunlight away from the roof, meaning snow melts about the same regardless of roof color.

Added Value to Your Home

While homebuyers in the past did not pay much attention to a roof as long as it was in good condition, many buyers today are interested in getting a home that has a roof where the color blends in well with the rest of the home. Thus, if you are looking to sell your home in the near future, want to add value to your home, and set the stage for it to sell quicker, you may want to opt for a roof color that closely matches that of your home.

Durability

Finally, roof color does not seem to make any significant difference in terms of how long a roof lasts on a home. Instead, this is tied in directly to the type of roofing material used on the home, as well as it is installed properly.

Whether you're concerned about aesthetics, want to decrease your utility bill, or maybe are wanting to sell your home, spending a bit more time on selecting your roof color may make a much bigger difference than you imagined.