Category: Home

With December just around the corner, it’s time to start unpacking your decorations and get ready for the Christmas season. But if you want to make more significant changes this year – that is, more than putting up a tree and some festive bunting – then check out these home improvement ideas to get your home ready for the year ahead.

 

1. Build an extension

Do you want to unlock more space in your home for entertaining, working and welcoming guests? You could consider building an extension or outhouse to give you more room to play with, either at the rear of your property or as a two-storey. Doing so will not only make your home more spacious, but it could increase the value of your property by an average of £33,000. Of course, an extension can be an expensive investment, but its added value can future-proof your home and help you get a better price when it comes to selling.

 

2. Update your living areas

Your living room is one of the most important rooms your home – it’s where you socialise, eat, spend time with your loved ones and unwind after a stressful workday. So you should update your living areas before Christmas day arrives so that you can entertain guests and wake up on December 25 to a comfortable, modern living room. Check out this guide from HouseBeautiful, who have put together thirty inspirational living room ideas.

 

3. Give your kids a new playroom

If you’re expecting Santa to be bringing lots of presents for your youngsters in December, then perhaps a new children’s playroom could be an option? Opening up a spare bedroom or dining room into a playroom will give your children a place to relax and have fun – and it will keep the rest of your home tidy and free of clutter and mess.

 

4. Replace your roof

When was the last time you thought about your roof? If you’ve noticed leaks, drafts, or that the exterior of your property is looking shabby, then you consider replacing your roof. If you work with a roofing contractor in the North East, like Findley Roofing & Building, you will be able to take advantage of 0% APR finance and get a new roof just in time for Christmas.

 

5. Do some landscape gardening

December may not be the warmest time of the year, but there’s no excuse not to put on a pair of wellington boots and make some improvements to your garden and outside areas. If you want to reduce the amount of time you spend on garden maintenance, then consider replacing grass and flower areas with decking or stone paving. Getting your garden ready just in time for Christmas makes sense, especially if you’re expecting lots of visitors.

We’ve put together five Christmas home improvements that you should consider this year, but there are, of course, more. For example, you could decorate your garden and turn your shed into Santa’s Grotto, or you could install a wood-burning fire in your living room so you can snuggle up with marshmallows, hot cocoa and a good old-fashioned Christmas movie.

 

Changing residences is a part of life. But moving isn’t all about hauling your things off and settling down at a new location. It also requires changing your mailing address. You want to ensure that all of your important letters and packages are sent to the right doorstep. You can do this by updating your information with USPS and other government agencies. US postal services address change is a simple process that lets you update your mailing address in a fast and convenient way. Read more to learn how to change your mailing address without sharing your information:

 

1. Let USPS know

It’s easy to update your mailing address with USPS. You can do it online, by phone, or by filling out a form personally. When doing it online, just visit the US Postal Service website and fill out a Change of Address (COA) form. You will be asked to indicate whether your move is a permanent or a temporary one. You will also be asked to provide the full names of family members who are moving with you. When submitting online, your debit or credit card will be charged a small verification fee. If you want to avoid this, you can file a request personally by going to your local post office.

Changing your address over the phone requires calling your local post office and requesting a form 3575 to be mailed to you. This method also charges you a service fee, and only works if you haven’t moved yet.

The cheapest way to change your address with USPS is to go your local post office and file a form 3575. This waives you of any verification and service fee that’s required by using the online and phone method.

 

2. Let SSA know

If you’re a beneficiary of any federal grants, it’s important for them to know about your move as well. This ensures that all important mail are delivered to the correct doorstep. If you’re a recipient of social security income, retirement, survivor’s benefit, and medicare, you should report your change of address to your nearest Social Security Administration office.

Updating your address with the SSA is the best way to ensure that your government benefits are being sent without delay. You may either change your address online or visit the nearest social security office. If you go online, you may key in your zip code to find the nearest office around you.

 

3. Let IRS know

The Internal Revenue Service must be updated about your personal information all the time. This includes your current mailing address. Changing your address via USPS and SSA doesn’t guarantee a crossover to the IRS database.

There are several ways to update your mailing address with them. You can submit a written statement by downloading and printing a Form 8822 and supplying the necessary information. This includes your full name, your old address, your new address, and your social security number.

You can also call the nearest IRS office and make the update from there. Again, always be ready with your full name, birth date, address, and your social security number. If you’re not in a rush and want to be spared from any additional paperwork, you can simply change your address when you file your next tax return.

Baton Rouge is a warm city, with constant hot weather throughout the summer months and it is not surprising for the temperature inside your home to reach an uncomfortable high. Air conditioners provided by trusted firms like Alpha Air LLC – Baton Rouge Air Conditioning run on most days throughout the year contributing to a huge chunk of monthly expenses in utility bills, in spite of them being really efficient, to begin with. This is why Baton Rouge residents continuously find ways to keep the temperatures down inside their homes and avoid working up the air conditioning too much until it gives up. This has led to the discovery of many simple hacks that prove helpful in keeping the house cool, lessen the use of air conditioners, and save money on the power bill.

Here are some of the proven effective ways to keep the home cool during the warm months in Baton Rouge.

1. Keep the Blinds Closed

When your air conditioner already cooled the inside of your home, avoid the escape of cool air by keeping your blinds closed. Sunlight entering the room can easily dissipate cold air and cause the temperature to rise. Better yet, you must invest in blackout curtains to keep light away and maintain the coolness inside the home even if it is scorching hot outside.

2. Seal Off Rooms

To seal off rooms doesn’t mean totally locking them up. This just means that you should make sure that cool air won’t easily escape to other rooms. This is very helpful when you are cooling only one part of the house. Your bedroom, for example. Hence, with rooms sealed you don’t need to overwork your air conditioners.

3. Change Your Sheets

Changing the sheets on your room will not only give you a clean comfortable bed to lie down, it will also lessen the heat. Flannel sheets and fleece blankets seem a good choice since they are top rated in insulation, but switching to cotton is a great move during the warm months. Buckwheat pillows are also great additions to making your warm summer nights very comfortable.

4. Keep Your Body Cool

Our bodies also emit heat. This is why a room with too many people requires heavier work for your air conditioning. As well, some people tend to turn the system up even if the room is already cooled just because they feel hot. Take a cool drink, cool off some parts of your body with a wet towel, choose your clothes wisely, and find other ways to reduce your body heat.

5. Let the Air In During the Night

Even during summer time, the temperature significantly drops at night. This means you won’t need your air conditioner to work at all when you can just let the cold summer night air in. Open windows and ventilation sources to invite the cool air.

There are more ways to keep your home cool during summer in Baton Rouge, with or without your AC. Be smart about finding more hacks and try the ones that may work for you.

 

One important part of the house that provides you safety and security is your roof. It prevents rainwater, snow, and any other things from going inside your home. It also allows you to beat the heat of the sun. In any season and temperature, your roof faces everyday challenges and when they get weathered, you end up facing a whole new problem of a broken roof and eventually, leaking. This is why maintaining your roof regularly is very important to avoid these scenarios.

Also, if your roof is well-maintained, you will not have to spend a lot of money in the future for a costly repair. You will also prevent more damage to worsen your roof. It can be a little tiring process, but it is worth it than facing a costly roof replacement in the future.

Here are five important tips in order to properly maintain your roof.

 

1. Clear away the debris consistently.

This is probably one of the most overlooked things that homeowners do not see right away. Any debris that goes to your roof and collected in your gutters can cause a draining issue. Clean your gutters regularly so that your roof properly drains and not jeopardize the other parts of your home. A bonus tip; do not use a pressure-washer in cleaning your roof as it can cause further damage.

 

2. Remove moss caused during the wet season.

Moss easily grows on many types of surfaces during wet and humid climates. Since your roof faces the rain and any types of weather 24/7, it is apparent that it becomes an ideal place for moss growth. It may seem harmless at first, but if not removed regularly, it will eventually creep into your roof shingles, and when it does, rainwater could get in. Your shingles will be more susceptible to rotting. In order to remove moss, try some roof cleaning products from your local store that are available to you. Avoid scraping them as it can cause an ugly wear on your roof.

 

3. Schedule regular maintenance with a professional roofing contractor.

Maintaining a roof can be a very time-consuming and you may not have the time to do it yourself. In this case, the best option would be to hire a roof expert who can do the cleaning, repairing, and maintaining of your roof. Find a reliable Baltimore roofing contractor in your area so they can do an inspection on your roof.

 

4. Do not wait for a storm until you check your roof.

Prior to an upcoming storm or blizzard, double check your roof so that you will have a peaceful time when it comes. Catch any problems early to save money in the long run.

 

5. Maintain your attic as well.

Regular checking does not end up on the exterior of your roof. When any damage occurs, the first part of the house that gets affected would be your attic. Make sure that your attic has proper insulation and ventilation to avoid unwanted moisture from sitting on the underside of your roof. Keep your attic dry.

Being a first-time homeowner is a great accomplishment and an exciting time in your life. If you purchased a home that has a nice garden but you have never maintained a garden before, this article will serve as a big help. We will provide some great gardening tips that will be useful to you as a beginner. For more information about gardening, visit toolsaroundthehouse.com.

 

1 – Create a garden scrapbook. If you are new to gardening, it is a good idea to create a book of what your garden entails. This will help you care for the plants in the garden and remember every type of plant that you have. A simple way to do this is to take a photo album and use the tags from the plants to make your album. Add pertinent information such as how often the plant needs to be watered, when it blooms, and in what condition it grows best. This information will help you a great deal in maintaining your garden.

 

2 – Invest in a non-stick shovel or make one yourself. A non-stick shovel is a great tool to have. If you already have a shovel that you like, you can make it non-stick by spraying it with teflon lubricant. The reason that this is important and helpful is that the non-stick feel will help dirt slide off the shovel. This makes cleaning up easy and will keep dirt out of your shed or garage.

 

3 – Create an easy to read rain gauge. A rain gauge will help you determine how much water your plants have been getting naturally from the elements. An easy way to read the gauge is to add a couple of drops of food coloring to your measuring device. When the rain falls, it will mix with the food coloring and make it easier to read. Not to mention, it will look cool.

 

4 – Protect bulbs from predators. If you plant bulbs in your garden, there are benefits to protecting them from predators who will want to feast on them. A simple way to prevent this from happening is to use a lightweight netting over your flower bed. When the warmer weather comes, all you have to do is remove the netting and your flowers will grow naturally.

 

5 – Create portable space for potting plants. Potting plants in the garage or shed may not be all that convenient. An easy way to make a portable potting station is to use your wheelbarrow. Simply add a large piece of wood across the wheelbarrow and it will serve as a shelf so that you can easily pot your plants in your garden.

 

Starting your first garden can be an intimidating endeavor but also one that is very rewarding. Spending time outside with your plants can be therapeutic and make your home look gorgeous. Even if you find that you have a hard time with the concept of gardening and figuring out which plants work best for your climate, stick with it. As with anything, the more you practice, the better you and your garden will become.