How to Find the Genealogy of Your House
You'll spend a lot of time at the library and the county courthouse. Ever wondered who lived in your house a few decades ago, or what the house looked like when it was built? You can research the genealogy of your home just like you can research your own family tree, using many of the same public records.

The determined researcher can have a lot of fun playing house detective, says Sally Light, author of “House Histories: A Guide to Tracing the Genealogy of Your Home.”

“There often are some fascinating stories. Others are ordinary, typical stories,” she says. Her best advice for someone beginning house genealogy research? “Don’t believe everything everyone says about your house.”

Libraries, county offices and historical societies and museums will be among your best resources.

Light suggests starting with a title search. You’ll need a legal description of your property. It’s on your deed, and on file at the county clerk’s or county tax assessor’s office. You might also need some kind of parcel identification number; check your annual property tax notice.

The title search tells you who owned the house and when it changed hands. County records also detail the sales price of each transaction. Light cautions that title information might not detail a home being passed from family member to family member.

The Jefferson County Historical Commission in Birmingham, AL. -- one of many local historical groups offering tips on researching the genealogy of a home – says that county appraisal files will often date a structure, identify previous occupants and even contain photographs of the home.

Old city directories can provide additional occupant information, the Birmingham group says. You also could check to see where a previous occupant lived before and after he or she lived in your home. Check your local library for city directories, also known as reverse directories.

The Jefferson County Historical Commission recommends supplementing what you learn from public documents with interviews with neighbors and others familiar with the oral history of your home.

Light says local fire departments often will have detailed property information going back decades, or even centuries. You could learn, for examples, the materials used to build your house, when additions were built on and the home’s contents.

The Smithsonian Institution has published an easy-to-follow guide to researching your home’s genealogy. Check it out on the Web at http://americanhistory.si.edu/house/pdfs/webhouseguide.pdf.

Spring Cleaning Checklist
Follow this helpful spring cleaning checklist to keep your home in tip-top shape. Home cleaning and maintenance is an essential rite of spring, like adjusting your clocks one hour ahead. Preparing a checklist for spring cleaning puts you in a forward-thinking mode, letting you both enjoy your home in the present and enhance its future resale value.

Use the following ideas to help you get started.

OUTDOORS

• Roof: Check for any damage incurred during the winter season, such as loose, broken or missing shingles. Arrange for a roofing professional to perform a thorough inspection and make any necessary repairs.

• Gutters and downspouts: Remove any leaves, dirt and debris left over from winter. Make sure that water drains away from your home to protect the foundation.

• Siding and foundation: Repair any broken masonry or lifting siding. Fill in or caulk any areas where insects could get inside the house to nest. Power-wash siding yourself or hire a professional to give it a thorough cleaning.

• External water taps: Hook up the garden hose and turn on the tap to make sure everything’s running properly and to check the water pressure.

• Outdoor lighting and landscaping: Test all outdoor light fixtures and replace light bulbs. Sweep away winter debris and dead leaves. Rake the ground (take care around newly sprouted plants and flowers) to aerate the soil. Prune shrubs and tree branches as needed.

• Porches and decks: Check for peeling paint, broken masonry and splintering or rotting boards. Rent a power washer for a thorough cleaning. Apply sealant, re-stain or re-paint as needed. Bring out and clean patio furniture.

INDOORS

• Windows and doors: Wash the windows until they sparkle and replace storms with screens.

• Air conditioners and humidifiers: Install individual room air conditioners or, if you have central air conditioning, hire a professional to clean and service it. Test all equipment to make sure it’s running smoothly. Turn off all humidifiers.

• Air ducts and vents: Vacuum your air vents to keep them clear of dust and debris. Consider hiring a professional to thoroughly clean your air ducts.

• Faucets and plumbing: Check for any leaking pipes or dripping faucets and have them repaired or replace washers where necessary. Remove calcium deposits from faucets and showerheads.

• Cabinetry and drawers: Tighten loose knobs and wobbly doors. Repair or sand down drawers that stick.

• Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors: Test to ensure all detectors are operating properly and replace all batteries.

• Kitchen and medicine cabinets: Take inventory and discard any canned, jarred or packaged goods and medications that are past their expiration dates.

• Mattresses: Rotate and flip your mattresses to help prevent sagging and increase their life span.

• Rugs and carpets: Send area rugs out to be dry-cleaned. Have carpets cleaned professionally or rent a machine and do it yourself.

• Clothing: Pack away winter clothing and dig your summer clothes out of storage. This is also a perfect opportunity to prune your wardrobe. Get rid of items you haven’t worn in the last three years. Donate them to charity or organize a neighborhood yard sale.

• China, glassware and silverware: Set aside half a day to clean, wash and polish those unused dishes and glasses that have been sitting on shelves collecting dust.

All done? Sit back and relax knowing you’ll be free to ring in spring with no unpleasant chores to dampen your spirits.

Lawn Care - Spring Checklist
The spring is an important time for lawn care. Lawn care seems to be the activity of choice for homeowners in the spring. As the days get warmer, people end their hibernation inside their homes to come out, socialize, and work on their lawns. By using the following checklist, you can make the most of your spring lawn care.

Rake
Even though you thought that raking was just for fall lawn care, it is actually important in the spring, too. Ever notice that dead grass under all of the green grass in your yard? That is called thatch, and more than ½ inch of it is detrimental to your lawn. Rake hard to remove it. This also reveals any dead spots that were covered by the thatch that you should now treat.

Soil
If you have not already done this as a part of your fall lawn care, take a soil sample and contact your county extension agent to find out how to have it tested where you live. It may be possible that you need to add lime to your soil to neutralize its pH to help the grass to grow.

Weeds
A common part of lawn care is fighting weeds. If crabgrass is a problem, you can apply a crabgrass preventative, but this must be done early in the spring. It is also important not to plant seeds at the same time as killing weeds – you’ll kill your seeds if you do.

Fertilizer
If you fertilized in the fall, you may not need to fertilize as a part of your spring lawn care. Too much can burn your grass. However, if you missed the fall fertilization, go ahead and do it in the spring.

Lawn mower
Proper maintenance of your lawn mower is an important part of lawn care. Remember to remove the spark plugs before working on it for safety – you may as well replace them now that you have them out. Sharpen the blades, replace the oil, and check the air filter to make sure your mower is ready to go.

Water
Proper lawn care of course includes watering your yard. A thorough, deep soaking once a week tends to help the roots grow deeper than several light watering's. And, Mother Nature often helps with this in the spring with lots of spring showers.

Spring is perfect for lawn care. Enjoy your time in your yard, but do be sure to spread out the work. If you do all of your lawn care in one weekend, you actually can do more damage to your yard than help. Take several weekends to work on your yard, enjoying your time outdoors while caring for your lawn.

Lawn Care - Summer Checklist
Keep on top of your lawn care during the hot summer months. Lawn care is important in the summer. The high temperatures and lack of water can really do damage to your lawn. The only way to combat these factors is through proper lawn care.

Water
Probably the most important part of your lawn care during the summer is to water your yard. However, there is a little more to it than simply turning on the sprinkler. You must water at the right time and at the right amount. First of all, water in the early morning hours, preferably when the dew is still on the grass. It is the coolest then so less of the water evaporates and more actually reaches the grass. Also, watering once a week and giving your yard a deep soaking tends to be better than several light waterings a week. A deeper watering causes the roots of the grass to grow deeper than they can with lighter waterings. Watering too often also encourages crabgrass.

Mow
Summer lawn care definitely involves mowing the yard. However, this can also cause damage to your grass if you are not careful. Set your mower at a high setting. This benefits your summer grass in a couple of ways. It encourages longer root growth, which can help your grass survive in the hot, dry environment of the summer months. Also, the longer grass makes it harder for water to evaporate, therefore making it easier for water to reach the roots.

Rake
Some of your grass inevitable dies throughout the summer. Also, mowing causes grass clippings to fall on your yard. Proper lawn care includes raking up this dead grass, known as thatch. If the thatch is ½ inch thick, it can damage your lawn. Periodically make a hard raking part of your lawn care to help your grass to be in its best shape.

Fertilize
Although fertilizing may seem like an assumed part of lawn care, it may not necessarily be what is best for your lawn. The nitrogen in the fertilizer can combine with the summer heat to burn your grass. Look for a slow-release fertilizer that has a lower nitrogen content. This kind of fertilizer is better for your summer lawn care. Another option is to simply not fertilize during the hotter months. Then, you are not encouraging new growth which will take up more water.

Yards can be delicate in the harsh weather of the summer so be diligent in your summer lawn care to help your lawn to make it through summer in good shape.

Buying a home with hazards
Before you make an offer on that home of your dreams, it's important to protect yourself. Most homes in the U.S. are safe. Some, however, can be hazardous to your health. The house you have your eye on may have dangerous levels of radon, lead dust or mold. It could be infested with vermin, or pose other environmental or health hazards. If you’re considering the purchase of a home, you’d be wise to take some precautions:

Hire a real estate lawyer
Hiring a lawyer could be the smartest investment you make. For around $500 to $1,500, a lawyer can insert clauses in your purchase agreement requiring a seller to confirm that the house has passed muster with a licensed termite or vermin inspector and is free of dangerous levels of radon, toxic mold, asbestos fibers, lead-based paint or other hazards. Your purchase agreement can also require a seller to provide you with the results of tests that confirm such things as a home’s well water being healthy and its septic system working properly. It can also require a seller to make appropriate repairs. And it can authorize you to hire your own home inspector to confirm that everything meets your requirements for environmental and health safety.

Get pre-approved for a mortgage
Homeowners who disclose their home’s hazards are often highly motivated to sell quickly at a rock-bottom price. By getting pre-approved for a mortgage, you’ll be able to act quickly and take advantage of a potential bargain. Just make sure your purchase price includes the cost of eliminating all the hazards.

Have the home inspected
For around $200 to $400, an insured and licensed home inspector can alert you to environmental or structural and mechanical problems. Armed with this information, you can decide whether or not you want to shoulder the cost of eliminating the hazards. Your inspector will be on the lookout for:

• Unsafe drinking water. Industrial pollutants can get into a home’s water supply. Old plumbing may contain lead, which can leach into drinking water. An underground fuel storage tank near a home could be leaking. Or a private well may contain harmful bacteria. What to do? If hazardous wastes are entering water that comes from an outside water supplier such as a federal agency, you’ll have to work with that agency to make sure it corrects the problem once you take over the house. If the problem is lead pipes, and you go through with the deal, you’ll have to replace the plumbing yourself. In the case of polluted well water or a nearby leaking storage tank, you may be better off to walk away from the deal -- the financial cost of remedying such problems can be prohibitively high.

• Radon gas. This invisible, odorless gas, created by the natural breakdown of uranium in the soil, is a carcinogen. To see if a home has unacceptably high levels, ask the homeowners to provide you with test results (make sure they are recent) or ask your home inspector to test the air. If radon is present, it will likely cost $800 to $2,500 to install exhaust fans or a ventilation system or undertake other renovations to reduce this radioactive gas to safe levels.

• Lead paint. Lead was only banned for use in paint in 1978. As a result, many homes built before then may have walls or ceilings covered in lead-based paint. Left undisturbed, this paint is not a hazard. But it’s a toxin that can cause permanent damage to the nervous system of children who chew on peeling paint chips or to anyone who breathes in the lead dust that can get into the air when walls are sanded or knocked down. A home inspector can test for lead particles in the air. If this test is positive, you will have to hire a company to professionally vacuum up all the lead dust (an ordinary vacuum cleaner won’t do). You may also want to repaint or wallpaper any home built before 1978.

• Infestation. Termites and carpenter ants can enter a home wherever soil meets wood. Damp wood exposed to wet masonry or brick may also be infested with a fungus called dry rot that eats away at wood. If a home inspector discovers a minor infestation without extensive damage, it may be worth buying the property anyway. Before you move in, you can pay a pest-control company and/or building contractor to eliminate the problem. In the case of an extensive infestation, you may be better off not to buy the home.

• Out-of-date or aluminum wiring. A home inspector or licensed electrician should be able to check a home’s wiring. Old-fashioned knob and tube wiring (ceramic “knobs” and wiring sheathed in plastic “tubes”) can be a fire hazard and even make a home ineligible for house insurance. So too can aluminum wiring that predates today’s copper wiring and carries the risk of breaking or bursting into sparks or flames. In either case, the remedy is to upgrade the wiring at a cost of up to several thousand dollars.

• Asbestos. Found in some insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, exterior siding, roofing products, shingles and other building materials, asbestos shouldn’t cause harm if it’s in good condition and located where it won’t be disturbed. But there’s the risk that it can cause lung disease if its fibers break down into particles tiny enough to be inhaled. If you want to renovate the portion of a home that has asbestos, you should hire specialized asbestos removal workers. References are available through local, state, or federal health or consumer-product agencies.
  Toxic mold. Some species of this microscopic fungus can cause serious illness if allowed to multiply in moist areas of a home such as where there has been flooding, a leaky roof or an improperly serviced air humidifier. The mold’s spores can continue to spread even after the area has dried. While it may be easy to clean up toxic mold that’s in just one small area, the price of getting rid of it once it has affected the structure, furnishings and carpets of a home can run into the thousands of dollars.

10 Easy Ways to Update Your Home
Looking to modernize your home to increase its resale value, but not deplete your bank account? Here are 10 easy ways to spruce it up quickly. You don’t have to spend a fortune on expensive upgrades to enhance the appeal of your home and make it more attractive to prospective buyers. With a little resourcefulness and creativity the following ideas can cost very little and yet make a dramatic difference.

1. Repair and replace. Patch up cracks and holes in walls. Fix or change broken light switches, door handles and screens. Replace or re-grout any broken, stained or loose tiles in the kitchen or bathroom.

2. Paint to refresh. A fresh coat of paint is an easy, cost-effective way to brighten up a room. As a general rule, avoid bold colors and stick with light, neutral tones like off-white or beige to make your home as appealing as possible to the widest range of potential buyers.

3. Refinish flooring. Are your wood floors showing their age? Sand them down and refinish them, or paint them a neutral color. Have your carpets professionally cleaned and replace any that are very worn or permanently stained.

4. Update hardware. Modernize the look of your kitchen and bathroom instantly with new stainless steel knobs, drawer pulls, towel racks and hooks. Save money by repainting, instead of replacing, dated kitchen cabinets.

5. Buy new fabrics. Fresh new curtains, lampshades and colorful throw pillows can transform the look of any room. New bedding and duvet covers can also punch up a bedroom. And a fresh new shower curtain can drastically improve the look of a bathroom.

6. Hang mirrors. Trick the eye by hanging a mirror to widen a narrow room or hallway. Expand the space further by positioning a mirror on the wall, kitty-corner, at the same height.

7. Modernize lighting. Swap in a modern, stainless steel lighting fixture in place of an outdated chandelier to give a room a contemporary look. Install dimmer switches on overhead lighting to enhance mood.

8. Display contemporary art. You can give your home a unique, artsy look even if you’re not artistically inclined yourself. Make black-and-white photocopies of your favorite family photos and insert them into new, contemporary frames. Black-and-white always looks timeless.

9. Add greenery. Add a touch of green to your home by purchasing a few low-maintenance indoor plants from your local greenhouse. Group the pots together for maximum visual impact. A two-tier herb garden in your kitchen can be easily installed on glass shelves across a sunny windowsill to bring in a touch of the outdoors.

10. Create a grand entrance. Replace rusty house numbers, drab porch lights and frayed doormats with new ones. Rejuvenate a tired-looking front door with fresh paint or stain. And place a planter of colorful flowers by the entrance.

When you’re finished, you will be the proud owner of a clean, modern-looking, desirable home that potential buyers will easily be able to picture themselves living in. All you have to do is sit back and wait for the right offer to come your way.

Easy makeover tips for your home's exterior
Try these easy ideas to give the outside of your home a makeover. Home makeovers are not just for the inside of your house. In many cases, the exterior of a home can be in desperate need of a makeover. The exterior is the most visible part of your home, but too often it can also be the most neglected. Try any of these easy exterior home makeovers to perk up the outside of your house.

1. Clean up the yard. Unsightly weeds, scattered mulch, and overgrown grass don’t do much for the appearance of your home (nor your relationships with the neighbors). Spend a weekend getting your yard into shape with this easy makeover. Trim the hedges and pull the weeds. Take a picture of your front yard to a local garden center for suggestions for plants and ground cover that can improve the look of your home’s exterior.

2. Clean the shutters, porch, doors, and windows. A nice color may be hiding underneath all that pollen and dirt caked onto your shutters, porch, doors and windows. Buy an attachment for your water hose (an actual pressure washer can be too harsh) and spray these areas clean. Remove the screens from the windows and clean the glass with glass cleaner.

3. Brighten up the exterior lighting. Another easy exterior home makeover involves upgrading the lighting. You can add more lighting or simply upgrade the fixtures that you currently have. Consider putting in either solar-powered or electric walkway lights. Add lighting to highlight a tree in your yard. Or, be creative and hang paper star lanterns from your front porch for a unique look.

4. Paint the shutters and trim. Painting the whole house can be expensive. If a full paint job is not in your budget, painting just the shutters and trim can give your home a fresh look. You may want to consider hiring a professional for this home makeover.

5. Create an outdoor room. This can be an impressive makeover for the exterior of your home. It doesn’t have to mean that you add an expensive deck or screened-in porch, either. Instead work with the space that you have. Add furniture and personal touches to your front porch to create a welcoming, outdoor room. Or, you can define a space in the backyard to use as an outdoor room. Include some indoor elements such as fabric for an eye-catching makeover.

Try these and other easy exterior home makeovers to spruce up the look of your house. It doesn’t take much time, and you will be happy with your home’s improved look.

Keep your house warm this winter
Tune up your heating system and make sure you have adequate insulation before cold weather strikes. Maintaining your heating system and ensuring your house has adequate insulation can make the difference between a shivery winter and a cozy one. Here are some specific steps you can take to stay warm:

Heating
You want to know that your heater still works before the cold weather hits and that your furnace is not leaking odorless, flammable and poisonous carbon monoxide fumes. So have your furnace or heating system serviced.

Ducts
Check for leaks in the seams. These can be repaired with duct tape. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry recommends cleaning heating ducts every five years, more often if you have pets.

Filters
Clean or replace furnace filters once a month or so. According to the American Lung Association, this reduces the potential for health problems including irritation of the eyes, decreased lung function, allergic reactions and cancer. To change or clean the filter, remove it from the slot beside the furnace and clean it or insert a new one. Write down the size of filter that fits your furnace before going to the store.

Insulation
Proper insulation in the roof keeps moisture out of the house and reduces your heating bills. Nine inches of insulation is recommended for most homes. The important areas to check are the attic, garage and crawlspace.

Carbon monoxide and fire detectors
If your carbon monoxide and fire detectors are not wired in, this is a good time to check the batteries.

Cut the cost of home repairs
You can save big bucks on repairs without sacrificing safety or quality. Everyone wants a bargain. But what seems at first blush to be a cheap fix for a leaking drain or glitch in the wiring can turn into an expensive nightmare. As soon as the repairman is paid, the problem may reappear due to shoddy workmanship and/or substandard materials. Paying too much for repairs doesn’t ensure a good job either. The following tips will help you save money and get the job done right.

For some repairs, the best way to reduce the cost is to do them yourself
But you have to know what you’re doing or you could create a mess that will cost big bucks for an experienced repairman to clean up. The secret is to learn to differentiate between a standard home-maintenance activity and something that needs an expert’s touch. There are numerous guidebooks devoted to teaching the basics of home maintenance and minor repairs. The best way to learn? Have a skilled friend or relative show you how.

Learning about home repairs has other money-saving benefits
If you understand the basics you can describe a minor repair accurately over the phone and avoid two visits from the repairman -- once to give you a quote and a second time to do the work. He or she will also know what tools and materials to bring. And you will have a better idea whether he or she has done a good job and charged you fairly.

The repairman’s time, not materials, makes up the bulk of the cost of most expert repairs. Ninety-five dollars of a $100 sink repair could easily be labor. But don’t skimp on materials -- if the new faucet fails, you’ve got to pay the labor again as well as buy a replacement.

In addition to an hourly rate, many repairmen charge a minimum fee for showing up -- even if the repair can’t be done
So you can save by batching repairs and having them all done at the same time. You can also batch jobs with neighbors. If you own an attached house, for instance, you and your next-door neighbor can get your roofs repaired, your fences fixed or your trees pruned at the same time. Get one quote and you’ll save more money because it will take less time than two.

You can also save by doing repairs promptly
Damage, especially from water, can escalate with time. Other problems, such as wiring trouble, may pose a safety hazard if neglected.

For larger jobs, get two or more competing quotes
If you live in an urban area, you may find repairmen based outside the city charge less per hour, as long as there’s not a lot of travel time involved.

You may be able to do the manual labor part of an expert repair yourself
If, for instance, demolition is involved. For some repairs, you may save by getting the materials yourself -- there’s often a markup on items like bathroom and light fixtures. Consult with the repairman before buying supplies yourself, to avoid buying the wrong thing and wasting his or her time.

Some repairmen will reduce the cost of a job if you pay them cash
But large contractors seldom do this. You won’t get a receipt, so you’ll have no recourse if something goes wrong and for this reason many Better Business Bureaus recommend always paying by check or money order.

Often repairmen or apprentices who work for large companies will moonlight
Some repairmen and apprentices can be hired for much less than their employer would charge. You may have to have repairs done in the evening or during weekends, though. And if you hire an apprentice, make sure you -- or a friend or relative -- know enough about the job to supervise.

Lawn Care - Winter Checklist
Lawn care is still important during the winter, even with the cold weather. Winter lawn care is still necessary even with the cold winds and short days. Just a few steps can help ensure that your winter lawn care pays off with a greener yard in the spring.

Before the first freeze
There is much lawn care that must be completed before the first freeze. Of course, the timing of the first freeze varies greatly depending on in which region you live. Be sure you have done the following before that first frost hits.

• Have the lawn aerated so that the compacted soil is loosened.

• Over seed your lawn after it is aerated so that the seeds can penetrate the soil.

• Make one last fertilization part of your lawn care so that the grasses can store the nutrients for the spring.

• Remove all debris from the yard. Not only does this include leaves and fallen branches, but also any toys, hoses, tools, etc. that can be hidden by snow and cause damage to the grass.

• Gradually mow the grass shorter and shorter as part of your winter lawn care. This helps prevent new grass during the winter, which can be more susceptible to winter diseases and also can dry out more easily.

At the end of winter
Lawn care preparation for spring begins as the winter starts to give way to spring.

• Check for any signs of disease on your lawn and treat them appropriately if you find any.

• Patch any bare spots in your yard.

Although winter lawn care is not as strenuous as perhaps fall or spring, is it still important to care for your lawn during the colder months. Year-round lawn care produces a better yard for when the grasses are growing again.

Home maintenance: Fall checklist
The following home maintenance checklist can help you to keep your home in good repair. Fall is a busy time for home maintenance. It is good to prepare your home for the cold months ahead. A little home maintenance now can prevent problems in the future. Check out the following tips to give you a head start on your home maintenance.

• Clean out the gutters and downspouts. Autumn means lots of falling leaves which tend to wind up in those two places. Removing the debris when most of the leaves have fallen will help ensure that your gutters do not get clogged and cause moisture problems.

• Check the roof for any loose or missing shingles. The cold weather can be tough on loose shingles so get them fixed now.

• Hire a chimney sweep to clean out your chimney. If it gets clogged, it can cause carbon monoxide to back up into your home.

• Have your heater serviced. If you ignore this bit of home maintenance, you may be in for some cold nights!

• Replace the filters and have the ducts cleaned while you’re at it. This improves the efficiency of your heater and the air quality, too.

• Check the weather stripping around doors and windows and caulking them if needed. This is an important step in maintaining your home. You don’t want your warm air to leak out and the cold winter air to creep in.

• Change out your summer screens from your windows and replace them with cold weather storm windows. This can help reduce your energy costs for the winter.

• Check your insulation. For this home maintenance, you may want to get a professional to help. Good insulation is one of the best ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

• Make sure pipes are all well-insulated. You don’t want a pipe to freeze during the winter weather.

• Check the vents in your attic to make sure that your screens are all in place. Your attic will be much warmer than outside. You may have some unwelcome guests using your attic to hibernate unless you prevent them from getting in.

• Clean and put away your yard tools so that they are ready to go in the spring.

Just as nature prepares for the cold weather of winter, fall home maintenance means preparing your home to handle the cold winter. A little work now can help ensure that your home is nice and warm and ready to handle the harsh winter weather.

Home maintenance: Summer checklist
The following home maintenance checklist can help with your summer home repairs. Summer’s heat and dry weather can be tough on your home. A little home maintenance can go a long way to keep your house in good repair. Follow this checklist to stay on top of your home maintenance during the summer.

Outside
There are many home maintenance projects that you can do in the summer to keep the exterior of your home and your yard looking great.

• Trim back any trees or shrubs that have grown too close to the house. This not only prevents damage from tree limbs but helps with safety, too, by eliminating any blind spots.

• Make sure no water pools or collects anywhere in your yard. Stagnant water is a breeding area for mosquitoes. There will be enough mosquitoes about during the summer without providing them a place to multiply.

• Maintain your deck or patio. Thoroughly clean and scrub your deck or patio and apply a deck sealer the next day. You will need sunny, dry weather for this home maintenance task.

• Wash the exterior of your house using a garden hose. A pressure washer can actually cause damage unless used by a professional. An attachment on your water hose should be sufficient. You can even buy an attachment that allows you to add a mild detergent to aid in washing your siding.

• Repair any cracks in the driveway or sidewalk with a concrete caulk for small cracks or a concrete patch for larger ones.
  Take care of your swimming pool. Have it ready for the season and maintain it throughout the summer.

Inside
Don’t neglect the inside of your home. Here are some summer home maintenance projects.

• Service your air conditioner. If you have not done so already, have the biannual service done by a professional. Also, change out all of your air filters.

• Check the windows and doors. The weather stripping may need some maintenance. Cold air can escape through any cracks here. Caulk around the doors and windows as needed as part of your home maintenance.

• Thoroughly clean the dryer lint. Clean the lint trap as well as the exterior vent cap. It needs to be clear to allow air to not be trapped. It can actually result in carbon monoxide backing up into your house.

• Clean the icemaker. You are going to need a lot of ice-cold drinks with the summer heat, so make sure that your icemaker is up to the task.

• Before you go on vacation, check your home’s security. This is an important part of home maintenance that involves the interior as well as the exterior of your home. You want your yard well-lit and your home easy to see. (With the trees and shrubs trimmed, it should be.) Make sure all the locks work well on the windows and doors. Test your alarm system. Cancel the paper and mail or have a neighbor pick them up for you when you travel. Leave a few lights on or better yet, have them on a timer.

A few hours of home maintenance can help improve the condition of your home and head off any potential problems. A little preventative maintenance can save you lots of money in pricey repairs.

Home maintenance: Winter checklist
Use this handy home maintenance checklist to make your home winter-ready. Preparing your house for winter is an important part of home maintenance. Winter weather can be hard on a home. The following home maintenance tips can help make sure your home is winter-ready.

• If you have not done so already, have your heater serviced. Preventative maintenance with your heating system can keep it from breaking down when you can least afford it.

• Part of home maintenance includes making sure that the pipes are well-insulated. Nighttime temperatures can dip pretty low, causing exposed pipes to freeze and break.

• Make sure that your storm windows are in place to keep the warm air inside your house and the cold air out.

• If you have unused rooms, close them off and lower the temperature to no less than 55 degrees. You don’t need to pay to heat the unused space, but you also do not want any pipes to freeze.

• Stockpile any fuel that you may need. If you require propane or some other fuel, always have enough on hand for several days. That way in case of emergency, you have some in reserve.

• If you have a window unit, that should also be part of your home maintenance checklist. Either cover it or remove it from the window for winter.

• Store any firewood at least 30 feet from the house. Storing it too close can be a fire hazard and can also attract pests (adding to your home maintenance in the spring).

• Service your snow blower so that it is ready to go. Also, have salt ready if you tend to use it when it snows.

• Don’t forget holiday decorating! Check that your exterior outlets are in good condition, and make sure all of the wires in any holiday lighting are still in good shape.

This simple home maintenance tasks can help make your home winter-ready. The cold weather can be very tough on a home, so make sure to have your winter home maintenance done before the weather gets too cold.

Home Maintenance - Spring Checklist
The following home maintenance checklist can help with your spring upkeep of your home. Home maintenance fits in nicely with spring projects. Most likely, you are already doing a little spring landscaping. However, it may be time to give your home a little maintenance, too. The many spring showers can actually cause some damage to your house. Follow this checklist for your spring home maintenance to keep your home in tip-top shape and avoid any possible water damage.

• Clean the gutters and make sure that they are in good repair. You can use a ladder, an attachment for your hose, or even a professional. You want them to work correctly and not be clogged, which can lead to water damage.

• Check the undersides of the eaves for any rotting. It can lead to water damage in your attic.

• Look over the roof for any damaged, missing, or loose shingles. You can improve your home’s maintenance if you repair any roof damage before there is a lot of rain.

• Examine inside the attic for any water damage from leaky shingles. You’ll want to repair that before it gets any worse and costs more.

• Be sure downspouts carry rainwater at least 5 feet away from the foundation. This is an important for home maintenance. If they drain too close to the foundation, it can result in water damage.

• Check your sprinklers as part of your home maintenance. None of the lawn sprinklers should hit the house with water, which can lead to moisture problems.

• Examine the weather stripping on your doors and windows. The cold weather of winter may have caused damage. If it looks like there is any damage, caulk it.

• Remove any storm windows and replace with summer screens.

• Home maintenance also involves checking your heating and air conditioning units. Spring is a good time to have a service check of your air conditioner to head off any problems before the summer heat waves.

• Home ownership includes home maintenance. Starting off your spring with a maintenance checklist can correct any problems before they get worse and cost even more money to fix.

Cleaning - Fall Checklist
Use the following fall cleaning checklist to maintain your home. Fall is a good time to give your home a thorough cleaning. With the holidays approaching, you may have family coming to visit or parties to host. A deep fall cleaning gets your home ready for the holidays and company.

Getting started
Before you begin cleaning your home, do a little preparation. First, have a plan. Make a list of everything that you want to accomplish. If your cleaning is going to take more than a day, create a timeframe. You will also want to gather your supplies before you begin. Try to have on hand the following:

• Garbage bags for throwing away as much as you can as you clean,

• Gloves to protect your hands

• A good duster

• White vinegar for cleaning most surfaces as well as mirrors and windows,

• Lemon juice to remove stains from counters and to use as a disinfectant

• Baking soda for cleaning and scrubbing down your sinks, tubs, and toilets

• Club soda to remove stains in carpet and upholstery

• Distilled water to clean leather furniture, or

• Your own favorite cleaning products.

Quarterly tasks

• Wash down the baseboards and moldings.

• Clean the exterior of all of your cabinetry.

• Wash the porches and exterior doors with an attachment on your water hose.

Fall tasks
Because of holiday preparations, it makes sense to make certain tasks a part of your fall cleaning regimen.

• Clean the carpets. Nothing makes a home look better than freshly cleaned carpets. And, if you are worried about your niece spilling cherry pie on your freshly cleaned carpets, find a company that will come back within a specific timeframe to remove stains.

• Clean the chandeliers and light fixtures. Leave the chandelier in place to gently wash it – just place a towel below it to protect the furniture. Remove the light globes from the other light fixtures and soak them for cleaning. Wash the porch lights, too.

• Clean the attic. If you keep decorations in the attic, fall is a great time to clean it out. Toss any junk that has migrated up there. Also, vacuum it out by starting at the ceiling and working your way down (wear a mask). This can improve the air quality in your home.

• Your kitchen is going to work overtime during the holidays. Prepare it by cleaning the oven and range. Also, clean out the refrigerator and freezer to make room for all of those leftovers.

• Be sure all of the silver is polished and ready to be used.

• Clean out the gutters when the leaves are through falling.

Fall is a busy time, but you won’t regret taking the time for a deep cleaning for your home. Giving your home a deep cleaning can help it to look its best for the upcoming holidays.

Cleaning - Summer Checklist
Use the following cleaning checklist to help with your summer cleaning. The warm weather of summer gives you a great opportunity to focus on cleaning certain areas of your home. Tasks that were too cold to do in the spring should be easy for the summer. The following summer cleaning tips can help you keep your home looking its best.

Getting started
Before you begin cleaning your home, do a little preparation. First, have make a list of everything that you want to accomplish. If your cleaning is going to take more than a day, create a timeframe. You’ll also want to gather your supplies before you begin. Try to have on hand the following:

• Garbage bags for throwing away as much as you can as you clean

• Gloves to protect your hands

• A good duster

• White vinegar for cleaning most surfaces as well as mirrors and windows

• Lemon juice to remove stains from counters and to use as a disinfectant

• Baking soda for cleaning and scrubbing down your sinks, tubs, and toilets

• Club soda to remove stains in carpet and upholstery

• Distilled water to clean leather furniture, or

• Your own favorite cleaning products.

Quarterly tasks
With a deep cleaning, there are certain tasks that need to be done at least every quarter to keep your home in good shape. If you make these tasks a part of your quarterly cleaning, they shouldn’t take too long to do.

• Wash down the baseboards and moldings.

• Clean the exterior of all of your cabinetry.

• Wash the porches and exterior doors with an attachment on your water hose.

Summer tasks

Wash the windows of your home, both inside and out. You may need an attachment for your hose to help in cleaning the exterior of the windows.
Use that attachment also for cleaning the siding of your house. A pressure washer can be too rough unless used by a professional, so your water hose should suffice.

• Clean and re-stain your deck (if needed).

• Thoroughly wash the driveway and sidewalk.

• Clean your grill thoroughly. (It probably gets a lot of use during the summer.)

• Clean the patio furniture so you can enjoy outdoor dinners.

There are areas that should get your attention on the indoors, too.

• Have the air conditioner serviced and all of the filters changed. Summer is hard on an air conditioner, so you want it ready to go.

• Clean out the pantry. Throw out food that is expired. Donate cans that you stocked up on but never used. Also, organize your pantry so you have a better feel for what you have.

• Have the water heater serviced. This is best done by a professional. It should be drained and flushed. If you do decide to do it yourself, don’t forget to turn off the water and electricity first.

• Time to get rid of those dust mites sleeping in your mattresses. Vacuum the mattresses and flip them if possible. Also, be sure to wash all bed coverings in the hottest water possible.

Just a bit of deep cleaning can get your home in tip-top shape for the summer. Be sure to divide the work up (and enlist help!) so you don’t overdo it.

Summer means outdoor living, so be sure to focus on that area of your home when cleaning.

Cleaning - Winter Checklist
Use the following winter checklist to help with your winter house cleaning. Winter is a great time for some deep cleaning inside your home. The cold weather may have you trapped inside, but you can take advantage of this hibernation to improve the quality of your home through cleaning it. The following tips can help to guide you in your winter cleaning.

Getting started
Before you begin cleaning your home, do a little preparation. First, have a plan. Make a list of everything that you want to accomplish. If your cleaning is going to take more than a day, it helps to create a timeframe. You’ll also want to gather your supplies before you begin. Try to have the following on hand:

• Garbage bags for throwing away as much as you can as you clean

• Gloves to protect your hands

• A good duster

• White vinegar for cleaning most surfaces as well as mirrors and windows

• Lemon juice to remove stains from counters and to use as a disinfectant

• Baking soda for cleaning and scrubbing down your sinks, tubs, and toilets

• Club soda to remove stains in carpet and upholstery

• Distilled water to clean leather furniture

• Your own favorite cleaning products

Quarterly tasks
With deep cleaning, there are certain tasks that need to be done at least every quarter to keep your home in good shape. If you make these tasks a part of your quarterly cleaning, they shouldn’t take too long to do.

• Wash down the baseboards and moldings.

• Clean the exterior of all of your cabinetry.

• Wash the porches and exterior doors with an attachment on your water hose.

Winter tasks
Take advantage of your time indoors during the cold weather to tackle the following cleaning projects.

• Clean the chimney (especially if you use it regularly). Have this professionally done by a chimney sweep.

• Have your heater serviced so it is prepared for the cold weather. Be sure to change the filters.

• Rid your mattresses of dust mites. For cleaning the mattresses, vacuum them after removing the bedding and flip them if possible. Also, wash all bedding on the hottest temperature possible.

• Clean out the pantry. Throw out any food that is past its expiration date. Donate any cans that you bought but never used.

• Clean your computer. This involves cleaning off its desk as well as cleaning the keyboard, monitor, and printer.

• Tackle the junk drawer. Cleaning it out at least once a year guarantees room to throw your car keys in there. And, you just might find a coupon or gift card before it expires.

• Go through the holiday decorations. As you take them down, organize them. Buy bins to keep them in if necessary. Get rid of any that you no longer use.

• Focus on the indoors for winter cleaning. It’s too cold to be working outside, but there are plenty of tasks to keep you busy cleaning and maintaining the inside your home.

Staging a home on a budget
You don't have to shell out a lot of cash to make your home more inviting to buyers. Staging a home is always a big help, but it can be especially important during a weaker housing market when there are many homes for sale and you want yours to stand out.

You can spend thousands of dollars staging a home if a professional company brings in furniture, artwork and decorative pieces for every room, as well as outdoor items such as nice patio furniture. But staging a home is also possible on a budget, whether you come up with ideas yourself or get advice from a professional stager or real estate agent and do the work yourself.

Home staging basics
The most basic element of staging a home is to get it sparkling clean and clear of clutter -- both things you can do yourself for little or no cost. If you’re lucky, you can haul away the extra items in a friend’s pickup truck and store them in a relative’s garage while you’re showing the home. You can often get free boxes at grocery or liquor stores.

A fresh coat of neutral paint is another inexpensive way to stage a home. If you’re handy with a sewing machine, you can make new, light window treatments to replace heavy, outdated draperies that overwhelm a room or block a great view. If sewing isn’t your strength, you may be able to find someone who can do the work inexpensively.

When you’re staging a home, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on decorative items, either. Home stagers often move items from one room to another; you can do the same. Place a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter or table. Stage the dining room by pulling out your nice silverware and setting the table for a party. You don’t need linen napkins and a silver tea service. Simple but nice pieces will look just fine for your staging.

Remember to consider curb appeal
Outdoors, staging a home is all about enhancing the curb appeal. The first step is to make sure the house and yard are clean and well-maintained. Staging the yard is as simple as trimming the bushes, putting down mulch, keeping the leaves raked and potting a few flowering plants to add color or interest in key areas. A new, traditional-looking doormat can’t hurt, either.

Finally, since staging a home can make it easier to sell, your real estate agent may be willing to spend some of the marketing budget on professional staging.

Basement organization: reclaim your space
Try these ideas to organize your basement. With a little basement organization, this underground room can become a useful part of your home, rather than a dungeon of clutter where no one dares to venture. The following basement organization tips can help you regain control of an important space in your house.

Throw away, donate, keep
When it comes to basement organization, the first step is to sort through everything. Throw away everything you can. Donate the rest. Keep only what you really need or actually use. Don’t just put stuff in your basement thinking you might use it someday. Be able to let go.

After this process, what is left should be stored in plastic bins or boxes to keep it well organized. The most thorough basement organization includes a well thought-out storage method -- all Christmas decorations together, clothing together, etc.

Be aware of moisture problems
Basements often have moisture problems, so keep this in mind during your basement organization project. The moisture level can help determine what actually goes into your basement. Photos can be ruined if there is too much moisture. Plus, there is also always a chance that a basement can flood. Try not to store anything that can be damaged by water directly on the floor.

Use the space wisely
After you finish the most daunting part of basement organization -- sorting through everything -- make sure to use the space well. Consider your needs. Is part of your basement a living area of your home? Then, use the corner areas or a side room as storage. The basement is also a great space to create wine storage. The cooler temperatures typically found in a basement make it ideal for storing wine.

Once you have completed your basement organization project, the next step is to maintain it. Keep it organized. Also, regularly check on your belongings to be sure that there hasn’t been any water damage.

Garage organization tips: closing the door on clutter
Try these ideas to regain control of your garage. Is there so much clutter in your garage that you don’t even know what it holds? Are your cars almost afraid to spend the night inside, assuming they can still fit find room to get in? If so, it may be time for a little garage organization. Devoting one day to garage organization can transform your garage from a dumping ground into a useful extension of your home.

Gut it
Garage organization is not an inside job. You must enlist your driveway for assistance. Start by emptying your garage out and putting everything onto the driveway. As you are doing this, create a couple of piles. Go ahead and bag anything that you know is trash. Pile number two should be for anything that needs to be donated. Do you have sporting equipment that you haven’t touched in five years? Donate it. Same for those duplicate hedge trimmers that you have collected. Once you have separated what needs to be thrown away and what needs to be donated, you can look at what is left and decide how to best organize it.

Divide your space
Take what you’re keeping and organize it so that related things are together. Then you’re ready for the next step in your garage organization project: Divide your garage into specific areas. Create a section for yard tools, another for kids’ toys and another for power tools. Buy what you need to store it properly and improve your garage organization. Buy a nice toolbox that can store all of your tools. Purchase shelving that can hold the garden tools.

While dividing the space during your garage organization project, don’t forget to look up. The walls of your garage can provide lots of storage space. They can be a great place to hang bikes, shovels, rakes, etc. It is amazing how much space this can add to your garage.

Maintain
Now that your garage organization is done, your next step is to keep it that way. Figure out how you let it get so bad to begin with, and then think of ways to prevent that from happening again. Create a habit of picking up after yourself in the garage. One tip that might help is to make sure that your cars are parked in your garage every night. If there is room for your cars, chances are that the garage is picked up and organized. Once your cars move back to the driveway, you have given in to the clutter once again.

Garage organization is an obtainable goal and you can make it a reality in just one day. After that, the key is to not let your guard down, but to maintain your hard work.

Home organization: tips you can live with
Try these ideas to conquer the clutter in your home for good. Is clutter taking over your home? Are you worried that someone might stop by and see what a disaster your house is? Perhaps it is time for a little home organization. Here are five steps to regain control of your home.

1. Assess the situation
Is your entire home in need of home organization or are just a few key areas overrun with clutter? Decide what the most pressing needs are and start there. It may be that only storage areas and junk drawers need organizing. You can start that right away. However, if it is your entire house that is in need of home organization, go ahead and move on to the next step.

2. Break your house down into small areas
As you begin your home organization project, your house may be so cluttered that you do not even know where to start. It can be overwhelming to try to tackle the entire house at once. Instead, think of your house in smaller areas. For example, the entry way and any formal areas can be area one. Your kitchen and breakfast room can be area two. The family room can be area three. Divide your house into areas that make sense to you based on your floor plan. Now you can de-clutter one area per day or even per week. You can complete your home organization venture in your own time frame.

3. Store, donate, throw away
When it comes to home organization, the next step is to evaluate what you have. Again, don’t try to do the whole house at once. Instead, tackle one area at a time. Divide everything into three groups: store, donate and throw away. Make the hard choices –- if it is a shirt that you have not worn in three years, either donate it or throw it away. As you proceed with your home organization, you may even find some things that you forgot you even had. That’s a sure sign that you should either donate or toss them.

4. Get the tools you need for storage
Now that you have thrown out or donated what you no longer need, the next step is to properly store what you are keeping. For items that are keepsakes or things that only come out for holidays, buy big plastic bins, clearly label them, and store them in the attic or basement. Buy an organizer for the junk drawer; you can even use a plastic cutlery tray. If you have a spot that collects things like keys and mail, go ahead and make it the official key/mail/etc. spot. But, buy some sort of tray or organizer that will not only organize it, but also make it look nice.

5. Keep it up
Now that you have achieved a respectable level of home organization, don’t let the clutter back into your life. You must stay vigilant in keeping it at bay. Pick two times a day and spend fifteen minutes de-cluttering. If you get into the habit of picking things up, it probably won’t even take the full fifteen minutes. Once a week, go around your house with a garbage bag and a donation box. Throw away or donate what you can. If you keep up your home organization with some minor maintenance, you can keep clutter from taking over your home again.

The laundry room: What to consider when buying a home
Use our tips to make sure the washer and dryer in the house you’re thinking of buying are in good repair. You’re in negotiations to buy an older home and the seller offers to throw in the washer and dryer to persuade you to notch up your offer. Before you jump at the deal, ask the owner about the appliances and carefully inspect them.

You can also ask your home inspector to evaluate the appliances’ age and serviceability, but first find out what appliances your state requires the inspector to check and whether he or she must gauge their efficiency or estimate their life span. Your best bet is to take it upon yourself to be thorough and know what you’re getting.

Your real estate agent can ask the seller for the purchase, warranty and repair receipts. This will tell you the age and reliability of the appliances. Older appliances typically demand more energy so assume the higher the energy bills, the older the appliance.

When taking stock of the appliances, the laundry room is particularly important because problems with washers and dryers are costly to repair. Most laundry appliances will last about 12 to 14 years. To test them, turn them on and note whether all the cycles work; whether there’s adequate water pressure as the washer fills and whether the dryer gets warm; and whether there are any leaks or squeaks – signs of worn belts. If the dryer vent is vinyl, it will have to be replaced as vinyl ducts are flammable and are now in violation of safety codes. Next, check the washer hose for cracks, corrosion or blisters, which are signs the inner hose lining has deteriorated and could rupture. Positive features to look for include delicate or hand-wash settings, larger load capacities, low noise level while running and conservation functions, as these indicate newer models.

If you have children, an older washer or dryer could pose another danger. The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that small children can climb in, become trapped and possibly suffocate. The CPSC has guidelines for childproofing your working appliances and those you are discarding.

Even if the appliances work perfectly, replacing them when you can afford to do so will likely save money on your energy bills. In 2003, Americans saved $9 billion by installing ENERGY STAR®-rated appliances, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Passing a Home Inspection
When you're selling your home, don't get lulled into complacency because your house shows wells; underneath it all you may have problems. Don’t wait for inspection day to review the condition of your home. Check for potentially deal-breaking flaws ahead of time.

When you’re selling your home, don’t get lulled into complacency because your house shows wells. Underneath it all you may have problems. A home inspection will check out these eight possible pitfalls; make sure to repair them before putting your home on the market.

1. Plumbing. A home inspector will look for corroded pipes by checking water pressure, and test appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers. You may want to consider installing new fixtures to draw attention away from the age of your plumbing.

2. Bad odors, dampness, mold and mildew. These can mean your basement has too much moisture and an inspector will want to know why. Have drainage problems damaged the foundation, rafters or floor joists? If the problem is simply poor ventilation, all you may need is a dehumidifier.

3. Structural concerns. A sagging roof, uneven floors or cracks in the walls or foundation are obvious problems. While some conditions may be expensive to rectify, it’s well worth repairing those that require only cosmetic repairs.

4. Roof damage. Clean your gutters and downspouts because the inspector will check them. He will also determine the condition of the shingles or roofing material, even if there is no sign of trouble, such as water stains. The flashing around the chimney and bricks and mortar will also be assessed for leaks. If you know you have trouble with the flashing, have it repaired. Usually, this is not a big expense compared to the cost of a new roof.

5. Leaky doors and windows. Replacing caulking or weather stripping is usually enough, so do it before any leaks cause damage that is more difficult to repair.

6. Environmental concerns. If you are worried your home might have any environmental contaminants, you might want to pay for your own home inspection before a buyer arranges for one. A specialized inspection may be required, for instance, if radon gas is suspected. Other things to look for include lead or other contaminants in the water, lead-based paint (common in houses built before 1978) and asbestos or formaldehyde insulation.

7. Heating and cooling systems. The heating and air-conditioning systems are usually fairly easy to access and inspect. Your furnace doesn’t have to be new, just in good working order.

8. Electrical system. Make sure all sockets work. The wiring, electrical panels and circuit breakers must meet current code standards. If you do not have 200-amp service, then an upgrade may be recommended.

If you have some concerns about the condition of your home, arranging your own pre-sale home inspection may be helpful. Correcting any flaws may speed up a sale and boost your price. Any reported defects you choose not to correct must be disclosed to prospective buyers. In most cases, buyer’s inspections call for only minor repairs. Be aware, however, that some buyers may make a counteroffer with a lengthy list of repairs to try to drive down the price of a house. If this happens, you may want to consider whether the deal is worth it.