Posts with tag 'Home maintenance'

Settling into the home you chose from  Bemidji homes for sale or Brainerd homes for sale? If your home has a deck, it can be the center of attention for your outdoor parties or for your daily relaxation throughout a good part of the year. But a deck is also a responsibility. Plan to inspect the deck each year to make sure it's safe. A good maintenance regimen can preserve your deck and ensure those who use it are safe.

• Check Your Deck Every Spring
  Now's the time to give your deck a thorough once-over. The North American Deck and Railing Association encourages deck owners to check out the following:
  
  
  • Possible rust on metal sections such as connectors and bolts
  • Possible wood rot, including telltale signs of mold
  • Attachments of decking floor

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Spring, while objectively beautiful, isn't limited to warm weather, green grass, and blooming flowers. It's also the time when nasty pests come out of hibernation hungry, homeless, and ready to mate. Your home can be the perfect source of food and shelter for pests such as ants, bees, mosquitoes, ticks, flies, spiders, termites, and rodents, unless you combat them proactively. Preventing unwanted critters from invading your home is much easier and cheaper than addressing an infestation problem. And this involves reducing attractions for pests.

And if you're putting your home on the market this spring, having a sparkling and pest-free home will help attract buyers interested in Bemidji homes for sale and St. Cloud homes for sale. Here are some effective tips on how to make your home pest-free so you can enjoy a safe and comfortable spring.

• Seal Cracks and Gaps
  Any part of your home that's connected to the great outdoors can be an invasion spot. Pests can wiggle through tiny cracks and gaps, so you should routinely inspect the exterior of your home. Some of the spots pests will sneak through include doors, windows, chimneys, utility lines, siding, and roof shingles. Repair anything that creates a possible entry point and fill small cracks with caulk to prevent pests from entering.

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Cold weather is upon us, and with the furnace running more often, our heating bills are climbing. On a budget this year? Here are a few tips for lowering your heating bill, based on what our real estate agents see in the most energy-efficient Minneapolis homes for sale.

1. Turn down the thermostat. One of the most simple ways to save money on your heating bill is to turn down the thermostat, especially when you don't need the house to stay warm. For instance, overnight and when you're at work are two times when you can turn the heat down and save some money. If you keep forgetting, you might invest in a programmable thermostat that will do it for you. Smart thermostats are also a popular feature we see in Saint Paul homes for sale.

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Your driveway is one of the parts of your home that tends to be taken for granted. Home and garden magazines usually give driveways a short shrift. But as it's a large space on the exterior of your home, it helps form that important first impression for visitors and potential home buyers. If your driveway is showing signs of age or damage, it can also make that final stretch of coming home more distressing than de-stressing. Renewing your driveway can be the move that makes your house the envy of all the Minneapolis homes for sale. 

Knowing the benefits of the most common driveway materials will help you decide if repair or replacement is your best option. If you want to match your neighbors' driveways, know what challenges they may be facing with the material. If you want to contrast and stand out among the Saint Paul homes for sale, make sure your choice is an outstanding one.

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One of the easiest and most affordable ways to make your house look better is to tend to your walls. Those scuffs and dents make a home look dingy and older than it is. But you can shed the years and the damage in no time with a few tools and basic techniques sure to make your home stand out among the Minneapolis homes for sale. 

1. Start With A Clean Slate 
   Dust and wash your walls at least once a year. You may want to dust your walls more often if you have seasonal allergies. Use a microfiber cloth and a telescoping mop handle to reach up to the ceiling and into corners. Spray all-purpose cleaner onto a second cloth to remove additional grime. Tackle stains and spots with dish soap and a sponge. Never use abrasive cleaners on your walls.

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