Doors are without a doubt the most important thing for access to homes and office buildings, and so are the door handles. These handles are an extension of your home’s personality, as they can give your home a new and sophisticated look. The process of selecting the best handles is far more complicated than one can imagine. To help you out, below is a list of things that you must consider before buying a door handle for your doors:

The Styling

One of the crucial steps in selecting a perfect door handle is its style. First, consider the overall theme of your residence or office building. For example, if you have a modern and stylish place, then make sure it is reflected in the door handles you will choose. Next, take the design of the room and doors into consideration while choosing the handles. Before making a choice, consider the styling at first, because you would not want your door handle to look out of place.



Types of door handles
To have a proper idea, you must know the basic types of handles available out there for doors. They are:

• Doorknobs: Doorknobs are the most common hardware items used for doors in modern homes and business place. Mainly shaped as round or square, they are operated with a tight grip and twist of the wrist.
• Lever Handles: Lever handles are much easier to operate when you have your hands full and you have to get through the door. The lever handle designs are particularly helpful for elderly, as they provide an easier grip without the use of much strength.
• Handle sets: Handle sets, or otherwise known as front door sets, are often used on exterior entrance doors. They are installed with matching deadbolts used as lock function and a thumb latch attached for you to push and open. However, this type of door handle can be difficult to operate for people with mobility disorders.

The Function
Once the decision is made regarding the type of door handles, you will purchase, do give a thought on the function of it. There are mainly four functions a door handle can provide. They are:

• Passage– It has non-locking function mostly used in hallways and closet doors.
• Entry– As the name suggests itself, entry set is a function that requires a key and is used in the front doors.
• Privacy– This function has an integrated or separate locking function. It is mostly used in bedrooms and bathrooms.
• Dummy– Dummy set falls into the category of fixed handle without a latch used for decorative door pulls and cupboards. For higher security needs, you can also add a keyed knob or lever to it.

Door Setup
The hardware you should install is directly proportional to the type or set up of the door you have. There are lots of light weight cheap handles that one can buy from a super store, but that does not mean you should go for it. For example, if your doors are thick, make sure that the door handle you choose are convenient for thick dimensions and are bought along with the necessary kits. By doing so, you will save time and the future cost to repair door handles.

The Budget Factor
Last but not the least is the budget factor that you must consider before investing in handles for your doors. When replacing or upgrading the doors or handles, most homeowners are unaware of the additional cost that comes with it. Therefore, it is incredibly vital that you do a proper research on the cost of available handles. By doing so, you will be the one who will benefit from it.

Conclusion
Now that you have read the article, you must have gained a better understanding of door handles. Make sure you go through the factors that are listed above and purchase the perfect handles according to your home style and security needs.

An outdoor space is only useful to the property owner if there is a proper shade over it. A folding arm awning is a really versatile option that can add style along with functionality to any outdoor spaces and increase their usability. Apart from making the most of outdoor spaces, folding arm awning are also used to provide additional shade to a door or a window. People use folding arm awning for many other applications like covering an entire pool area, making a retractable carport, extending the roof of an existing patio, creating an outdoor dining or entertainment space or any such other purposes.

There are 3 types of folding arm awning to choose from according to the requirement of the space:

To a novice, getting a home loan to finance the purchase of a home is certainly not a bed of roses and things might even be much more difficult for you if you have no idea of the steps that you should follow. Whether your credit score is wanting or not, you should be able to get finally that home loan that you badly need to ensure that you lovely family have a place they can call home. The good news is that the whole procedure of getting a home loan is not always a difficult one and provided you know what you are doing, things should be much simple for you.

Are you qualified?

To get home loans and mortgages, you must be qualified and before you even start to hunt for these loans, the first thing to do is to know if you are qualified or not. So, don’t start to hunt for house before you know the amount of home loan that you can afford to borrow. Fortunately, if you plan well, you will be able to save yourself the shame of getting your loans turned down or having to bid for houses on sale which you can’t afford. So, consult a mortgage expert at your locality and get information what the lenders look for in determining the eligibility of an individual. You can afford a home that is about 3 times what you earn per year, but this formula isn’t very reliable as well.

So, the best thing to do is looking at your individual budget after which you will be able to figure out the amount of money which you can spare and the monthly payments that you can be able to make on your new house. There are many factors that you will need to consider so that you can be able to know the kind of mortgage that you can afford like taxes, insurance and other expenses like maintenance. Mortgage calculators are the best tool to use in order to determine what kind of loan that you can afford. Most importantly, make sure that you thoroughly check at your credit history as this will be used by the lenders for your pre-qualification.

Getting the best deals
 
Perhaps what you should really focus on when looking for home loans is ensuring that you get the best deals on home loans and mortgages. Doing so will really help you save big in the long run and be able to afford owing a home, especially in today’s tough economic times. Nowadays, lenders tend to perform due diligence on those borrowing home loans and passing the incredibly stricter tests is becoming very difficult for most borrowers. To ensure that you are on the right track, it is essential that you engage in comparable shopping for loans and mortgages and you will certainly be able to find great deals on them. It provided you have a good credit score, and your income allows you to apply for a home mortgage, getting one should certainly not be a bad thing to do.

It may come a time when you may want to the cancel the home warranty contract. The contract consists of a home protection plan that requires you to pay an annual fee so that you can get repair and replacement services while only paying a service call for each repair visit.To cancel the home protection plan successfully and avoid extra charges, below are the steps you need to take.

Warranty cancellation steps

Go through the policy in order to determine the cancellation and renewal terms. These terms are specific to each state. Some companies charge fees for termination before the contract term ends. Therefore, it is important that you review the terms way before you decide to terminate the contract. To be on the safe side, you can make the cancellation when the contract term approaches its end or at least two months before the renewal date.

Write a cancellation letter to the home warranty company to request it to cancel the services. In the letter, include the name of the policyholder, property address and the account number. Request the cancellation to be effected 30 days from the letter date and for you to get termination confirmation that is written. Many residential service contract providers require a 30-day notice before the cancellation of the contract. Sign the letter and post it to the company using a service that has delivery confirmation. You can also fax a copy. Remember to send a copy of the letter to the bank or credit card Company as a way to advise it to stop the payments. You should not email, fax or call the customer care for cancellation because it would be difficult to prove that you communicated to the warranty company about the cancellation.

Follow up on the cancellation

It would be wise to follow up with the home warranty company and the bank or the credit card company on the cancellation. After about two weeks of mailing the cancellation letter, call the warranty provider to check if the contract has been canceled. Make a request for a written confirmation of the cancellation to reach you either through mail or through fax. Note the customer representative who takes the call, the time and date you called. You can also use registered post to request for a written confirmation of the warranty cancellation. Contact the credit card company or the bank handling the warranty payments as a follow up on the cancellation instructions.

Check the bank or credit card statements

Once you have the confirmation of the cancellation, ensure that you check your bank and credit card statements to ensure that there are no unauthorized charges and renewals from the home warranty company. If there are charges or renewal fees after the cancellation, contact the credit card issuer or the bank to make a dispute. You may have to send the cancellation letter and cancellation confirmation letter to the bank or credit card Company to back the dispute. In many cases, the bank or credit card issuer pays the extra charge back.

There are different types of home warranty coverage provided by the providers. The most important thing to do is to ensure that when choosing a provider, you choose the one that will meet your needs. Find out what is covered and what is not covered by the policy to prevent later disappointments. Assess the warranty in comparison to your home and see if it will be beneficial to have it or not. The warranty coverage includes those provided to homes that have been newly constructed, those that are pre-existing and to the home sellers.

Warranty to the new homes

In many states, it is a requirement for contractors and builders to provide warranty for new homes. This is in order to assure the owner that in case there are repairs or defects, for a period of up to ten years after the construction, then it will cover the replacements and repairs. The condition is that the repairs and defects should not have occurred due to the fault or negligence of the owner. The home warranty covers the materials used and the construction workmanship. It also covers the performance of systems such as the electrical, HAVC and plumbing and the structures overall integrity. The specific requirements that should be met are monitored by the state concerned.

Warranty for buyers of preexisting homes

If you are buying a preexisting home, you can choose to buy the coverage of a home warranty. The home protection plan covers replacement or repair costs that may be incurred on the appliances and systems. Some of the appliances covered are dishwashers, refrigerators and ovens and the mechanical systems covered are electrical, plumbing and heating systems. The warranty covers the items for one year after the purchase date, with the cost of the repair and replacement being settled by the provider with the owner only paying a small service fee.

Warranty by home sellers

Most sellers include a warranty on the home they are selling. The seller can pay for the coverage or can request the buyer to pay part of it. Having a home protection plan has its benefits to the seller because most buyers prefer buying a home with a warranty. This can help the seller to sell it fast especially if the market is tough. Due to the protection plan, the seller can also get a high price while also enjoying relief from obligation in case repairs and replacement of appliances and systems are required after the sale. The warranty can be bought directly from the provider, or through the real estate agent.

When buying a home warranty, you should choose the one that suits your needs and from a company with a good reputation. This will help to prevent disappointments later on. The companies provide different coverage and you should analyze what a particular company cover before signing up with them. There is the basic plan and if you would like to have more items covered, you can opt for extra coverage by paying extra. Trade call fees also differ for each provider.

A home warranty also has its share of drawbacks and that is why some people avoid it despite others finding it useful.

Maintenance of systems and appliances

One of the requirements for provision of a home protection plan is that the systems and appliances should be well maintained. Items that are not properly maintained are not covered. This has caused many disagreements between the companies and holders of the warranties where some of the repair claims have not been honored due to lack of proper maintenance. The problem is that there is no given definition of proper maintenance and dishonest warranty companies may use it to deny clients their claims. As a result, some people avoid the use of warranties altogether for fear of getting unsettled valid claims.

When buying a home, one is not responsible for what happened before. In case you buy a home with an appliance that has not been maintained, it may be difficult to maintain it to the standard required by the home warranty companies. This may deny you coverage even if it is not your fault. The providers also set limits for the value of repairs you can get. If an item is too old, it may require more repairs to an extent of exceeding its set dollar limit and therefore, you may end up paying for additional repairs despite having warranty coverage.

When there are no claims or a claim is not honored

The advantage that home warranties have is that they reduce the cost incurred in repairing or replacing systems and appliances in the home. If your items break down, you do not have to spend a lot of money in repairs, especially if you do not have that kind of money. The downside comes in when your items do not require repairs for a year or more and yet you are paying the premiums. You may feel as if you are wasting your money on a home protection plan that you do not use and it would have been better if you had kept the money in an emergency fund for future repairs. You may also spend money on premiums and when you make a claim, it is not honored. This may make you feel as if you have wasted the money that you have been paying on premiums and trade call fee. Sometimes the repair may require components that have not been covered by the warranty, and you may end buying them in addition to paying the service fee.

Failure to choose a technician

Another drawback relates to contractors that are chosen to do the repairs. The home warranty company chooses them denying the warranty holder the freedom to choose their own contractor. This means that you are stuck with the person sent, even if you do not like them or their work. You can also not get into negotiations with the contractor the way you would if you had chosen your independent technician to do the repairs. The warranty holder is also left at the mercies of the technician and the warranty company when it comes to making the decision on the brands or models to be used while components are being replaced. In addition, instead of replacing an item, the two may prefer to repair it, and you may have no other choice but to agree with the decision.

Home warranty serves a need that is not catered for by home insurance. Many homes have subscribed to this service where their appliances and systems are covered for repair in case they break down. Some people get good experiences from this service and others are dissatisfied. It is therefore important to evaluate yourself and see if you need the warranty or not.

Find out what the warranty covers

Different warranty providers cover different items for repair and maintenance. Some of the items covered are major appliances, electrical and heating systems. You would have to pay extra for coverage of other items not covered in the main policy. You should therefore assess what the warranty covers and decide if you have items that you may need to be covered. It is important to read the fine print when taking a home warranty. You may find that there are loopholes, which may make the provider not give you the service even after you have paid for it. For instance, the provider may give you the service only if you have upgraded your building to latest standards. In that case, even if you take the home protection plan, you may not benefit from it.

The cost of the warranty

The cost depends on a provider, and it consists of payment of an annual premium of between 250 to 600 US dollars. If there are more items to be added to the basic cover, then the cost increases. If there is a repair that is needed on the covered item, the home warranty provider settles the cost. You will be required to pay a trade fee of between 50 to 100 US dollars per repair visit depending on the company.To know if you need a home protection plan you should weigh the amount you are likely to spend on repairs in relation to the premiums you are supposed to pay. For instance, a policy of 700 dollars that you only use for minor repairs may seem too much while it is favorable if you have many repairs or even a replacement that is costing more.

For a new home with new appliances, chances of repairs and replacement are few. This means that you will end up paying more in premiums than you are getting in services. You may opt not to have the coverage. However, for a house with older appliances and systems, it would be better to have the warranty due to the large number of repairs expected.
A new house may also have a builder’s warranty that covers the first year and you may therefore, not need to take a home protection plan.

The services

If you have a warranty, you do not choose who does the repairs because the provider has its contracted repair technicians. You also do not have a say as to when the repair will take place. If you are uncomfortable with this aspect, it is best that you do not get a cover but pay for the repairs.

When taking a home warranty, one hopes that the high cost of repairing appliances and systems is gone. These home protection plans are also taken by home sellers to protect the buyer from having to incur the cost of repair when they have not stayed in the house for long. Despite the warranty providing peace of mind, there are instances when disappointments can come in. This is because you did not get what you had expected from the warranty provider. Below are some tips that can help you avoid the disappointments.

Read and understand the contract

When getting into the contract, make sure that you understand the fine print. The terms of the contract stipulate what is covered and what the service provider can repair and replace. Different providers have differing coverage with some appliances being covered and others being left out. You may have to pay extra to have your swimming pool covered for repairs while using a particular provider while another provider may include it in the package. It is advisable that before you settle on a particular provider of home protection plan, you should search around and find the one that fits your needs.

Read and understand which systems and appliances are covered and what can be repaired or replaced. This will prevent disappointments in the future when the warranty company fails to repair or replace an item you thought was covered. In some cases, you may not have much choice especially if you buy a home and find that it already has a home warranty. However, you can change afterwards after the one-year contract expires.

Meet other required conditions

For a provider to honor the warranty and fix your systems and appliances there are some conditions that should be met. The appliances and systems should be maintained well, they should be in good working condition and the wear and tear should be normal. Ensure that the systems and appliances are well maintained because lack of proper maintenance can cause the warranty company to fail to make the repairs or to replace.The item covered must be in good working condition when being covered. This means that if your appliance or system is found to have been faulty before taking the coverage, it cannot be repaired or replaced. If the wear and tear is not usual on an appliance or a system, it may form ground for the reason why the provider will not repair it. The same case applies if there is improper installation.

Having a home warranty ensures that you have peace of mind such that you will not incur huge costs when your system or appliance breaks down. This is not always the case because sometimes the service provider may fail to repair your appliances or system for various reasons. Some of the causes being that the service in question is not covered by the contract, the item was faulty, has not been maintained, or it was not installed properly. Therefore, it is your role to ensure that as you look for a service provider, find out about how other customers have rated it. Check the items covered and those that are not. Make sure that you meet the required conditions so that the company can honor the warranty.

Getting a home warranty means spending money in form of annual fees and trade call fees. You should therefore make sure that you get the most out of it. Below are some tips that can help you to utilize fully the warranty protection.

Before filing a claim

Understand what is covered by your policy before you make a claim. This would depend on the plan you had chosen when getting into the contract. Some covers are may include particular items such as the swimming pool while others do not. Ensure that you have the home protection plan company’s phone number and your policy number at all times just in case you have an emergency. Test the hotline number before hand to ensure that you can use during an emergency. In case the company does not have it, ask them the way forward in the event of an emergency.

On repair and replacement

When an item needs to be repaired, call the customer support and inform them. The home warranty does not pay for services done by your repair technician. Remember that you need to pay a service call fee for every repair. Note that you will need to be patient when waiting for your item to be repaired because the companies take longer to send a technician unlike if you were looking for your own repair person.

Be familiar with the replacement policies. If you have an item that is not repairable, it is likely that it will be replaced with a similar item. Chances are that the replacement item is not the one you would have preferred were you buying a new one. In that case, you may opt for cash out, and you replace the item yourself, especially if you want to upgrade. However, you may get less than what the item may cost. About price, the home warranty company gives you relates to a wholesale price for an item of lesser value.

When the home warranty sends a repair technician, you still have to pay the service fee even for a small repair such as a running toilet or a dripping faucet. Therefore, it is advisable to find out how much the repair would cost from a local company before calling the warranty company. You may be surprised to find that the company will charge less for the repair than you would have paid as a trade call fee to the repair person sent by the company. In that case, it would be better to deal with small repair problems than to call the home protection plan company.

Maintenance

Have your equipment and systems regularly maintained. Keep documentation on the maintenance and servicing of the furnaces, air conditioning and the water heater. Also, maintain other maintenance records of the home. When the end of the contract approaches, analyze the state of the home, what you would have spent on repairs without the warranty and the amount you have paid as warranty costs. This will help you to know whether to renew the contract.

Taking a home warranty has its benefits, and that is why most homeowners use the service. Despite that, it is important to do a lot of research to ensure that the warranty provider you use is honest and will honor your claims. You should also choose the one that will meet your needs. The main purpose of a home warranty is to put the mind of the homeowner at ease concerning the repairs of home systems and appliances. Some of the repairs and replacements cost a fortune, and with a home protection plan, one is required to pay the service fee while the warranty provider caters for the rest of the cost.

Benefits for buyers and homeowners

If you are a homeowner, or you have just bought a home, the home protection plan comes in handy to save money on repairs and replacement of appliances and systems. In case you do not have an emergency fund to cater for repairs, especially the unexpected ones, the warranty can come in handy. You can still have the residential service contract even if you have an emergency fund, but you do not want to use it on repairs and replacement of your systems and appliances. Another benefit that arises is that you do not have to look for a contractor when you need repairs in your house. As soon as you report to the warranty provider that your items need repairs, they send a technician who does the job. The only cost you incur is a small trade service fee instead of large amounts of money that the repair may have cost.

Home warranties also come in handy during the home purchase. The buyer is more at ease if the home has a protection plan for the items due to lack of information on how they have been used and maintained before. If the home is new, the buyer may not know if it has been well built and the warranty may serve to bring peace of mind. Buying a home requires a lot of money. You may not be ready for additional expenses in form of repairs and therefore, you may find a warranty helpful. Some warranty providers even provide comprehensive services where appliances and systems are covered without considering their make or age. Some may also not place restrictions on the square footage of the house.

Benefits for home sellers

For a seller, a home warranty provides protection because the buyer will not complain about defects in appliances and systems that may come up later on. Despite this, the seller should still disclose any problems the home may have.Covering a home with a home protection plan when selling is a plus that is preferred by the buyers. This makes the home stand out and to sell faster because the buyers will not have to worry about spending large sums of money on repairs or on replacing the appliances or systems. It also prevents closing delays, which may be caused by system or appliance failure.

Where does the home warranty come in? Having the dishwasher or your heating system or any other appliance or system break down can be stressful, especially if you have not budgeted for its repairs. The warranty reduces the stress of having to bear the cost of repairs for the home appliances and systems. It is a contract between a company that provides home warranty services and the homeowner. The company provides repair services and replacements for appliances and systems for duration of twelve months upon the homeowner paying an annual fee.

The warranty is also useful during the sale a house because it keeps the sellers and buyers minds at peace. The seller does not have to worry about being called by buyer in case the appliances and systems break down after the sale. The buyer is also at ease knowing that there is coverage for the appliances, in case they break down and does not have to spend money for the repairs. Therefore, it is advisable for home buyers to ensure there is a home protection plan in place before buying a house.

How does the warranty work?

Home warranty also goes by the names home protection plan or service contract. It does not take the place of home insurance because it only covers the replacements and repairs of appliances and systems. If your covered system or appliance breaks down, you simply call the warranty company who sends a service technician to rectify the problem. All you need to pay is a small fee for the service. Some of the conditions required for the appliances to be covered are that they must be in working condition at the time of coverage and they should have been properly installed.

What is covered by the warranty?

Different providers have varying coverage with some appliances and systems not being covered. The items covered may also depend on the purchased coverage, which may leave some items out. Therefore, it is important when getting a home protection plan to find out what the warranty provider covers and what is not covered. Some of the appliances covered are dryers, refrigerators and ovens and the systems covered are electrical systems, air conditioning, furnace and plumbing. If there is an uncovered appliance and you would like to have it covered, you can get additional coverage at an extra cost. You can also request a customized package to suit your needs.

What the warranty is not

A home warranty is not insurance, but it can be thought of a supplementary to insurance because it covers the replacements and repairs of appliances that have been covered by the insurance. The homeowner’s policy only caters for the covered peril while the warranty offers relief for the appliances and systems damage due to the daily wear and tear. For instance, if the home is damaged by fire, the insurance company can compensate for the loss including those of the appliances lost. However, if your oven stops working due to the normal wear and tear, the insurance company cannot replace it. The warranty company is the one that repairs or replaces the oven.

Things such as maintenance and improvement of a home never stop and this is the reality that every homeowner must always come to terms with. Home exterior painters will tell you that painting your home’s exterior comes with a wide range of benefits and is something that you should include in your homekeeping tasks. If you don’t have the free time to do the painting on your own, you can hire expert painters to get your lovely home repainted and improve its looks.

To start with, one reason that makes home exterior painting very important is that doing so helps maintain your home. Besides the aesthetic value that comes with painting, it is also worthy noting that the paint painted on the exterior acts as the first defense line against various elements that your home is exposed to. In this regard, painting helps a lot to stop the rain, wind, snow, sleet and other elements which could penetrate to your home exterior.

When the painting of your home starts peeling, this is the right time that you should consider putting a new coat on. This actually works like the coat of wax that is found on your car. Also, if you want to give your home a different look, it is important that you also hire an experienced exterior home painter as well. You might probably see something in a magazine or on television which might catch your eye and an expert painter will help you try it in the best way possible.
If you are finally tired and bored for your house having the same color and look year in year out, it is a high time that you considered trying something new. Some people simply want a change and there is no better way to get it than through painting. This helps give your home a brand new look and makes living there exciting.

Most people have of course encountered those disgusting pictures of mites and the idea of them residing in your bed is something that you might really not want to come into terms with. These creatures are tiny microscopic and are attracted to the sheets as they feed on the dead skin that we leave after sleeping. These creatures are certainly able to motivate any person to consider washing their sheets for a couple of times in a week as you would certainly not want to share your bed with them.

Making the mistake of not washing your bed sheet can be very expensive and it is one that you will certainly not want to make. For instance, this can lead to quick wearing and tearing of sheet sets and considering the high prices that they are usually sold at, you can be sure that this is something that you will want to protect at all costs.
The anxiety that is brought about by these dust mites is what motivates most homeowners to consider washing their bed sheets in some hot water when undertaking their usual house keeping tasks. But according to experts, it is not such a good idea to wash your bed linens in some hot water. Nowadays, most manufacturers of bedding usually recommend that the stuff can be washed either in cold or warm water.

For those bed linens that are made from bamboo rayon which are in fact very popular nowadays, these ones should be washed directly in cold water. Considering this, it goes without saying that it is of paramount importance that you read the instructions available on the label very well so that you don’t make some costly mistakes in the course of wanting to clean your sheets.

Living in a clean home can be one of the best experiences that can greatly boost your mood and increase the quality of your life amazingly. Even though everyone really likes living in a clean house, achieving this not always as easy as such.

As you juggle between home and work, you end up finding yourself with very little free time that you can utilize in your homekeeping duties. For those who tend to have some more free time available, they opt to spend it on activities that are more enjoyable rather than scrubbing a dirty tile. By the time you are thinking about cleaning, you find that your house is already in great disarray that requires a whole weekend of cleaning.

The only way that you can be able to maintain a less cluttered and clean home is by having a cleaning routine which helps you to be at the top of things always. By tackling on the small jobs as they come by, this will prevent them from finally becoming very big tasks that are difficult to accomplish. Being in the knowledge of some good cleaning habits can really help you a lot in ensuring that your home is always bright and shiny looking.

Interior painting is something that makes your lovely home look refreshed and clean and even gives it that incredibly welcoming atmosphere. Regardless of whether your home as a modern, traditional or contemporary style, painting the interior parts help a lot in achieving and maintaining that look.
To start with, it is needless to say that over time, the interior painting of your house starts to show wear and tear and it ages and this is a good indicator that you should consider putting on a new coat right away. Nicks, smudges, hand prints, nail holes and scrapes can all make your interior painting less attractive.
Even though your home is faced with so many threats, these ones are eye- catching which makes your rooms appear less exceptional and attractive. You might be surprised at how simply painting of the house can improve its looks and make it worthy admiration.

Another sign that should indicate to you that you need to repaint it is when the paint starts peeling and cracking. More often than not, there are two possible problems that can cause this. The first one is as a result of moisture that comes from the windows and finally ends up accumulating on the sills.
The other reason has to do with the painting being exposed to the sun consistently and this finally leads to the drying and cracking of the patient. Both of these two reasons can lead to some very serious damage to your painting if you don’t notice and take good care of it.
Besides, it is also of paramount importance that you are very careful about the type of painting being used in every room of your house. For instance, most people don’t know that oil based paining might cause some issues to the bathroom ceilings.

The moisture from the showers tends to collect on your house ceiling and starts dripping down into the walls and leaves some water marks as well as drip lines with time.
Painting experts usually recommend the use of flat latex painting as it is able to absorb most of the moisture that befalls on the house. You can also combat this problem by using a ceiling vent. Due to its durability, you should use oil based paints in areas such as doors, trim, crown molding, cabinets and windows.
Finally, if you are planning to sell your home any time soon or have its value re- assessed, painting the interior of your home is something that you should consider. This is because this increases your home’s perceived value and you will certainly be fetching a lot more when you put up your house on the market for sale.

Saving energy is something that is being encouraged a lot in recent times especially now that the cost of energy has been rising to some undesirable amounts. Even though cutting back on how you use energy at home comes with its share of downsides, you have many reasons why you should really consider it as it also comes with some profound benefits as well.

First, it is important that you reduce your energy consumption and there are a couple of ways that can help you do this. You can for example start off by turning your thermostat down and this will be able to cut back your consumption of energy by more than 5 percent. You will be surprised to know that you might even not be able to notice the difference and also, avoid heating rooms which you don’t intend to use as this is a sheer waste of energy.

Secondly, you might also want to consider decreasing the temperature of hot water in the thermostat. Higher temperatures means higher energy bills by the end of the month and in most cases, you might still find yourself having to cool off the water as you can’t use it when it is extra hot. It is also highly recommended that you wash economically if you want to reduce your energy bills significantly. In this regard, use your washing machine after collecting a full load and when you have a partial load, consider using the half load or economy setting.

Not many homeowners manage to stay at the top of their homekeeping tasks considering the ever increasing busy lives of many people. However, you might be surprised to know that everything can be easily manageable if you develop the habit of sticking to a certain schedule and the whole process becomes much easier. With a good schedule, you will just spend some few minutes to ensure that your home is looking tidy and attractive at all times.

First, having a weekly plan will really help you a lot to be at the top of things. The best thing to do is breaking down your house into different sections and set certain days to clean certain sectors. For instance, you can dedicate all your homekeeping efforts on the dining room and kitchen on Monday. You can handle the basement on Tuesdays which should include cleaning, dusting and even organizing the room in the best way possible. This helps ensure that you don’t devote a single day to clean your entire living area which can be quite tiresome.

Make sure that you also remember doing the exterior as well which should include tidying the garage and mowing the lawn. If you tackle your house in just small sections from time to time, you will be amazed to know that you will have completed the entire house within two weeks or so and then repeat the process all over. Making good preparation at all times is something of great importance.

Mold start out usually just like a small spot on the surface and before you even know it, it quickly develops into a serious health hazard. In small areas, removing mold can be quite a simple affair but everything becomes more complex when it starts spreading to large areas nearby. It is essential that you remove bathroom mold so that you can ensure that your lovely family and you are not bombarded by serious health issues. Fortunately, there are so many ways in which you can attack bathroom mold and ensuring that it becomes history at your home. The first and perhaps the most effective method involve the use of bleach and baking soda in a simple process that helps eradicate the mold from your lovely bathroom.

It is essential that you start with using hot soapy water and add baking soda into it so that you can remove the mod. It is well known that baking soda is one of the best homekeeping agents that you can use especially when it comes to cleaning. This recipe is awesome and will make your bathroom outstanding clean and lovely. A good mold removal recipe should include liquid soap, baking soda and several drops of essential oils which could be citrus, lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus and peppermint. Enough water should be added to form a cleaning paste.

The next step should involve mixing 1 part of the bleach to two parts of water and the mixture should then be transferred into a spraying bottle. The area should also be nicely sprayed with a bleaching solution and then left to dry. After you are done, repeating the process once again and scrub the bathroom floor clean using a brush after which you let it to dry. The floor then needs to be rinsed properly and the process repeated for a couple of times as necessary to ensure all the mold has been completely removed and is gone.

There are so many reasons why every homeowner out there should be concerned about saving water. Ranging from environmental reasons and economical reasons, it is essential to ensure that water is used prudently at home especially when undertaking an important activity such as homekeeping. For some people, water to them is a very limited resource that they really can’t afford to waste since it is not there in the first place.

To star with, it makes a lot of sense that water at home should always be turned off when not being used. It is quite unreasonable for you to live your taps running when you are doing your clean ups at home as this will only lead to wastage of the water unreasonably. So, whether you are cleaning your furniture, washing dishes or watering your lawn, just be careful not to leave the water running. A very important aspect of good homekeeping is watering the landscapes, gardens and plants around the house. Generally speaking, well watered lawns and gardens contribute greatly towards giving your home surrounding an attractive look and making the environment even more lively. However, you should be careful about how you do the watering as this is something that can really consume a lot of water if you are not careful. Most importantly, it is essential that you don’t do the watering at a time when there is a high evaporation rate especially during windy circumstances or midday.

Also, you also need to save water in your kitchen as this; together with the washroom are the two places where most of the water is used in the household. Various activities undertaken around home such as watering ornamental plants and house plants that are planted around the home can also end up consuming lots of water and you will really need to be very careful about them. The shower room as previously mentioned is a place where more efforts are required towards ensuring that the water is used economically at home. Simply because most homekeeping activities are usually undertaken here such as laundry doesn’t mean that hundreds of water gallons should be used here on a daily basis. There are some few things that you can do to reduce the amount of water that is used here such as using a shower head with a low flow and reducing water usage commode.
Capturing the rain water is essentially the best way to get water for using around your home. As such, it is important that you set up a good capturing system that will help ensure that you are catching as much rain water as possible. Also, make sure that your plumbing is checked regularly for leakages in order to reduce the wasted water and everything else will work out alright and according to your plans.

For most households, the general living areas are the most frequented places at home and as such, it is needless to say that they are in most cases the dirtiest. It is important that these places are cleaned very well and the cleaning should be done regularly so that they can appear well maintained and definitely good looking. The first place of the general living area to clean is of course the floor. How you will clean your floor will essentially depend on the kind of floor that you have this could either be wood, linoleum, ceramic and even carpet. All these types of floors require that you use a certain method of cleaning and it is essential that you find out the most appropriate one depending on the kind of floor that you have.

The most effective way of cleaning the floor is vacuuming and this will really help a lot to loosen up the junk and dust that could have accumulated on your carpet for a long time. Alternatively, you might also want to consider using a dry mop to dust the floor. The best one to use is certainly the microfiber for those homeowners having wooden/ tiled floors. If you can find a carpet sweeper, the best for you if you have a carpeted floor as this assures you of fantastic results.

Mopping your floor is a homekeeping duty that you should undertake on a daily basis. While there are some helpful and innovative substitutes to floor mopping, you need to remember that floor mopping is not optional but something that you must take very seriously if you want your floor to be looking at its best at all time. A mop will certainly leave your floor looking sparkling clean and this is with no doubt the most desired outcome by every homeowner.
When it comes to rag mops, the market has different options available at your disposal. Opting for rag mops that have real fabric tend to scrub much better and are able to last even longer compared to those mops that have a sponge. Using a good mop guarantees you one thing and that is the fact that your floors will have a fantastic look. Make sure that you do your homework very well to find the most appropriate cleaner that can guarantee you the best results.