Homeowner Resources

Summer and hot weather are right around the corner, which means: it's time to prepare your home for fire season. Smart fire prevention cannot only protect your home -- it can save your life. Here are helpful tips to help you prepare for the upcoming fire season. Install and test smoke alarms Smoke alarms can detect smoldering and flaming fires so be sure to install them on every level of your home and outside each sleeping area. Test them each month and replace the batteries at least once a year. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years, according to American Red Cross. Check your fire extinguishers Consider keeping a fire extinguisher in your home. It should be installed high on the wall, near an exit, and away from children and all heat sources. American Red Cross … [Read more...] about Preparing Your Home for Fire Season

It's time to give your backyard a facelift! From patios to pergolas, you can transform your outdoor space into a charming oasis. Get back to spending time outside with family this summer with our favorite outdoor design ideas. Outdoor Great Room Photo courtesy of HGTV An arched pergola with bistro lights creates the perfect area for entertaining on warm summer nights. Pergolas have a flexible design, allowing you to truly customize it and bring your imagination to life. This pergola stands on its own, creating an enchanting escape separated from the home. Patio-Pergola Pleasure Photo courtesy of DIY Network This patio-pergola duo beautifully accents the home by staying consistent with the color scheme of the home's exterior. The relaxing seating area right … [Read more...] about Patios to Pergolas: Give Your Backyard a Facelift

Who knew there was a "best" time to buy appliances? Well, it's true, folks. The saying "timing is everything" applies to buying dishwashers, refrigerators, dryers, and other appliances for your home. If you don't need a new appliance right away and can play the waiting game, you can score some serious deals. So when is the best time to buy appliances? There's more than one answer. End of the month This is the perfect time to hunt for bargains. Stores have to meet quotas and are more likely to reduce prices toward the end of the month. This opens the gates to negotiation -- if a retailer is trying to meet their sales goal, they'll be more likely to discuss adjusting the price with you. Holidays Holidays are great for big savings. Our inboxes overflow with … [Read more...] about When is the Best Time to Buy Appliances?

From a fresh coat of paint to brand new fixtures, updating your home doesn't have to cost a fortune. There are plenty of fun and simple projects you can do to enhance the look of your home and attract buyers. So whether you're looking to sell your home or freshen it up, we have 5 fast, easy, and budget-friendly upgrades for you to try on your home. 1) Enhance curb appeal Enhancing curb appeal adds a great deal of value to your home and can be addressed at any price point. First impressions matter! Buyers want a home exterior that screams wow, not meh, especially since 63% of homebuyers stop by a house after viewing it online. Planting new flowers, adding a splash of color to your front door, or even upgrading your mailbox can lure in the most discerning … [Read more...] about 5 Fast, Easy, & Budget-Friendly Upgrades for Your Home

Earth Day is a globally celebrated holiday that raises awareness about environmental issues affecting our world. Many communities even turn the holiday into a week-long event of marches, clean-ups, petitions, and more. If marches and petitions aren't for you, there are little things you and your family can do every day to make a big difference. A brief history On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans across the country participated in rallies to stand up for healthy, sustainable environments. According to EarthDay.org, "groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values". That first Earth … [Read more...] about What is Earth Day & How To Celebrate it