Homeowner Resources

Who doesn't love to decorate their home for the holidays? It's also the time we begin to notice small home improvement projects we wish we would have tackled last summer, especially if we expect holiday visitors.  No worries! It's not too late to tackle one or two of these Easy Holiday Home Improvement Projects. Grab our list, and depending upon your budget and time, we're certain you can make holiday upgrades your guests are going to notice and love! Update Your Kitchen Backsplash Get your kitchen noticed again with a new backsplash. A new backsplash can make a big impact in an outdated kitchen, and give your kitchen a fresh design boost. Make your backsplash your kitchen's focal point but in an elegant and understated way. According to Moss Building … [Read more...] about Easy Holiday Home Improvement Projects

It's the day before Thanksgiving. You have your turkey thawing, side dishes prepared and in the fridge, and you may even have your table set! You are once again "super host," but something is missing from your tabletop.  It needs character, color, and charisma...and time is running out. Here are 6 Last-Minute Thanksgiving Table Decor Ideas you can create in a hurry. Give your holiday table a stunning, out-of-the-ordinary twist in no time. 1. Persimmons with Bay Leaf Boughs Photo and idea courtesy of Gardenista.com The bright orange color is enough to set a tone for the tabletop. If you can’t get persimmons, substitute pomegranates or lemons or even tangerines or apples. Choose a beautiful fruit from the produce aisle at the grocery store. To provide a backdrop to the fruit, … [Read more...] about Get a Beautiful, Last-Minute Thanksgiving Table

Did you know plumbers receive up to 50% more calls the Friday after Thanksgiving than any other day of the year? Skip the Thanksgiving emergency plumber visit. Give your plumber a chance to wait in line for a big-screen TV like the rest of us.According to Roto-Rooter, the most common service calls on Black Friday are for garbage disposals and kitchen sink drains. Here are a few DON’TS from Roto-Rooter. Disposal DON'TS 1. Don’t put poultry skin or bones into your garbage disposal.2. Don’t put fibrous foods like celery, fruit, and potato peels into your garbage disposal as they will not break down sufficiently.3. Don’t pour fats or cooking oils down the drains, they will solidify in the pipes4. Don’t put starches like rice and pasta down the drain. They expand with water which … [Read more...] about Skip the Thanksgiving Emergency Plumber Visit

Years of use may cause your oven's temps to register less accurately. We have tips to help you clean your oven and make sure its temperature readings are correct so you can Get Your Oven Turkey-Ready! How to Test Your Oven's Temp Put an oven-safe thermometer (Can Cost As Low As $6) on the center rack where most of the food cooks. Then preheat your oven to 350°F or 177°C.Let your oven preheat for 20 minutes then take a temperature reading.If you want to make sure your oven is maintaining your desired temperature, continue to take readings every 20 minutes for the next two hours. Keep in mind, ovens cycle on and off to maintain a stable temperature.To find the average temperature: add all of the readings together and divide the total number by the number of readings you … [Read more...] about Get Your Oven Turkey-Ready!

Does just the thought of hosting Thanksgiving curdle your gravy? Most of us have been there and the day is no fun if you’re stressed. No worries. Here is Your Guide to a Stress-Free Thanksgiving. We can help you prepare and simplify, so your Turkey Day is more about giving thanks than giving yourself grief for your shortcomings. A Few Weeks Ahead… Make lists! Who is coming? No need to narrow down to an exact amount. Set an extra place setting the day of if needed.Make a list of all your perishables and non-perishables. Shop for your non-perishables now. Set aside a “Thanksgiving” spot in your cabinet to keep track and find later.Do you have enough chairs? Borrow or reserve at a party rental store.Tidy up and decorate your front porch or entryway. Throw an autumn wreath … [Read more...] about Your Guide to a Stress-Free Thanksgiving