​Throughout the hot months, our air conditioning systems get a lot of use so keeping them well maintained is very important. It is a good idea to your AC units serviced every year by a professional company, however, there are also some things that every homeowner can do to ensure they stay in good shape.
 
Regularly cleaning or replacing the filters on your ac units plays an essential role when it comes to maintaining them properly. A dirty or damaged filter will affect your home's air quality and place extra strain on the ac unit’s motor.
 
Air conditioning units that are outside are often exposed to all the elements. This will cover them in every kind of debris and dirt. The first step, then, is to clear away this debris, including branches, leaves, and spider webs, etc. that have accumulated around the unit. The next step will be to remove the cover of the ac unit which will allow you to clean the inside as well. Inside you will find hundreds of metal fins surrounding coils of piping. You may notice that some of these metal fins are bent. These can be straightened again using a tool called a fin comb.
 
Drainage lines are fitted to central ac units which draw away condensed water. If these drainage lines become blocked, which can happen over time, the air conditioner will not work optimally. As you clean your air conditioning unit, make sure these lines are not clogged and check that they are attached firmly to the unit.
 
Finally, if your ac unit requires oil, be sure to check the operating manual first to know what type of oil you should be using for your unit.

​Many homeowners choose the option of putting their homes on the market without the help of a realtor. This is usually because they want to be in control of the process and also want to avoid the real estate agent fees. Before you decide to sell the home yourself, you may want to think about the following suggestions:
 
If you want to sell your own home because you would like to be in control of the process then it's very important that you know exactly what you will be in for, as you may quickly begin to feel out of your depth otherwise. Make sure you are aware of the areas in which you can save money and those that should not be skimped on. An example of this is with the home inspection. You should not skimp on this. The reason is that a thorough home inspection carried out by a qualified, experienced home inspector will help you to find out about problems with your home that could affect its value. Knowing this before the buyer’s home inspection will enable you to fix the issues ahead of time. Houses that have had recent inspections are also more likely to attract buyers, so this is another benefit.
 
Have realistic expectations. You may have an amount of money in mind that you expect your home to sell for but ask yourself if it is a realistic amount. It is important to do this because you may just end up spending a great deal of time and energy waiting for an unrealistic offer. The advantage of hiring a real estate agent is that they are experts in their field. They keep up to date with market trends and know the amount that properties are fetching in your area, if you decide to go it alone, you will need to find out all this information yourself. You will also need to research things like the types of contracts, documents, and other legalities, etc.
 
So, if selling your own home is something that you are considering, these few suggestions will help to give you a brief idea of what to expect from the selling process.

​Every homeowner wants to get the best price for their house. To achieve this often requires some work to make the home look as appealing as possible to potential buyers. What are some ways you can do this without spending a fortune? Here are a few ideas:
 
The majority of home buyers these days are looking for a house with bright airy rooms so think of some ways to add as much light into your home as possible. Trim back any vegetation outside that might be blocking light from a room. It is also a good idea to take down heavy or dark window treatments. Rooms with too much furniture or clutter can make a space look a lot darker, not to mention a lot smaller so go for a minimal approach and remove any extra items. Another way to make a space look much brighter is with a fresh coat of white paint.
 
Something that can really age a home is the kitchen and bathrooms. While it may be beyond your budget to install new ones, can you refresh what is already there? For example, refinishing cabinetry and replacing hardware can transform the kitchen and re-glazing sinks and the tub can give a bathroom a new lease of life.
 
Are there any extra bedrooms in the home? With many people working from home these days it might be a good idea to repurpose one of them as a home office which would appeal to many homebuyers.
 
Lastly, use a variety of staging techniques that highlight the best features of each room. Remember, your home will most likely be seen online before someone decides to come and view it, so it is worth investing in good photos, and don’t forget to have everywhere clean and tidy before taking them.

​Did you know that it is recommended to get your home inspected once a year? There are many benefits to doing so, after all, a regular schedule of home maintenance is essential to saving you money on costly repairs later on.
 
To help explain the need for a yearly home inspection, please enjoy the following brief video. We are available to help you with all your home inspection needs, whether it’s a pre-listing inspection, a buyer’s home inspection, or a yearly maintenance inspection of your current home. Please feel free to call or contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss home inspections for 2021.
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​Having as much natural lighting as possible in a home is always a preferred choice but, what if your house is older? Very often older homes were not designed to incorporate a lot of natural light so, if you are looking to naturally illuminate it, what are your options? In this blog, we will consider some alternatives to traditional windows.
 
Skylights may be the first option that springs to mind. Skylights are a very good way to bring a ton of natural light into a room. When installing this type of window, however, be sure to select double-paned windows and have the flashing done professionally, otherwise, you may end up with unwanted leaks.
 
If you want a window that provides a lot of natural light but that won’t overheat the home during the summer months then Clerestory windows may be a good option for you. This type of window is wide and short in design and usually installed high on the wall. This design means that the roof's overhang does not allow the sun to heat up the room in the summer months. An added advantage is that due to the sun's lower position during winter, a clerestory window will allow heat to come in during the colder months.
 
Another natural lighting method you may not have thought of is light tubes. The tubes themselves are coated with a highly reflective material, as the light goes through the tubes, a diffuser helps to evenly distribute the light in the room. Light tubes are also fitted with a lens designed to boost low-level light but at the same time reduce the intensity of the sun at midday.
 
So, if you are looking to add natural light to your home, why not think about these alternatives to a traditional window?

​In this blog, we are going to focus on a few of the ways you can increase the security of your exterior doors. Although some of these suggestions may appear obvious, it may surprise you how vulnerable to break-ins your home's exterior doors really are.
 
The construction of the door itself plays a major role in how secure it will be. It should be built with solid materials and have a solid wood or steel core. Exterior doors also require regular maintenance. Look for any cracking, warping, or signs of rot and fix them before they get too bad.
 
Another obvious element of a secure exterior door is its lock. A good quality deadbolt lock should be used. Some homeowners like to install a chain on their front doors and, while this can provide additional security, it should only be used in addition to the deadbolt. You can also install a peephole which is good to check who is at your door without opening it. To prevent intruders from using a bump key to enter your home, bump-resistant locks are another good option
 
Front doors with glass paneling have a beautiful look to them and can allow extra light into a home but they could also present a security risk. If it is possible, position the lock as far away from the glass as possible. This would make it harder for a thief to smash through and access the lock.  Occasionally, a front door will have a mail slot in the door. In this case, a box or cage should be fitted on the inside which surrounds the slot so that no one can access the lock this way.
 
With all the steps we take to ensure our home is a secure one, why not take some time to check the security of your exterior doors?

​Moss will often grow on a roof in shaded areas that do not get much sunlight and in locations with higher levels of moisture. If you have noticed moss growing on your home's roof, you may be wondering if it can cause any damage to it. Here are a few things to consider before deciding whether or not to remove it:
 
You may first want to think about the type of materials used in the construction of the roof. Clay or stone shingles, for example, would not be damaged by moss. It is good to remember, though, that moss does retain a lot of moisture that, over time, could affect the roof's structure.
 
Another factor that will determine whether moss should be removed is where on the roof the moss is growing. If it is growing around or inside the gutters and downspouts, it could start to clog them up and prevent proper water drainage. This may lead to structural issues and water intrusion. In such a case, it is better to have the moss removed.
 
If you do decide that you want to remove the moss on your roof be careful about the method you use. Do some research on the best way to clean the roof based on the materials used to construct it. Remember that some cleaning methods could do more damage to the roof that the moss itself. It is also a good idea to have the roof inspected as this will help you find out the condition of the roof and see if it is necessary to have the moss removed.

​A thief is an opportunist who will look for the easiest target to steal from. If you want to prevent your home from being broken into, you need to make it as uninviting as possible by making sure they cannot enter your home unnoticed. What are some ways of doing this?
 
First of all, take a look at your properties landscaping. Do you have many trees and shrubs surrounding the home's entrance or windows that are shielding them from the view of the street? If you do, an intruder may easily be able to hide behind them and break-in, unnoticed by neighbors or passersby.  Placing fencing around your property can work to discourage a thief but, again, you will want to check that it doesn’t act as a shield for hiding behind.
 
Another way to make your home unappealing to a thief is with good, solid exterior doors and windows. Make sure your doors are fitted with quality deadbolts. Windows and doors need to be in good shape and show no signs of deterioration. As an extra security measure, you may want to install heavy-duty wire screens or window bars. If you do this, though, make sure that all the homes occupants would be able to exit the windows easily in an emergency.
 
Outside lighting is another way to deter a would-be intruder. Fit motion censored lighting to every side of the home, leaving no areas of darkness. It is also a good idea to leave some lights on in the house if you are going to be away so that you give the impression someone is home.
 
Sliding glass doors are another easy entry point for a thief. Fit locks to both the top and bottom of each door and, as an extra measure, you could also place a piece of wood like a cut off broom handle into the tracks of the door.
 
These simple steps will go a long way to making your home uninviting to a thief.

​Dust mites can be found in practically every home and, while they are not generally thought of as a huge problem, they can trigger allergies in many people. So, then, what are some things you can do to lower the number of dust mites in your home?
 
Perhaps your first thought is to try one of the many detergents available today that claim to rid your home of dust mites. The problem is, though, that a lot of chemical detergents are not always as effective as they claim to be. Before you take the chemical approach, why not try some of the more natural methods of dust-mite removal that have proven successful at lowering dust mite numbers? Here are some of those methods:
 
Lower humidity levels. Dust mites just love a warm, humid environment so, if you are looking to reduce their numbers, try to reduce the humidity. Air conditioners and electric blankets are good ways to do this.
 
Regular dusting and vacuuming. Always dust before vacuuming and do it using a damp cloth which will help to stop the redistribution of dust from one surface to another. When vacuuming, be sure to include textiles and soft furnishings, as well as the floors. If you can, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter in it as this will prevent dust from entering back into the air.
 
Wash bedding at a high temperature. Dust mites love bedding but simply washing them will not eliminate them. Washing bedding at a minimum temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit will kill them off. You can also place your linens in the dryer on a high temperature for 10 minutes which will also get rid of them.
 
Air purifiers that have a HEPA filter. Air purifiers are beneficial in homes with allergy sufferers, although they will only reduce dust mite numbers in the air. Because dust mites are not usually airborne, however, you will find this does not eliminate them completely.

If you are looking for a hard-wearing, durable, easy to clean floor then ceramic tile may be a good option for you. However, like most types of flooring, over time ceramic tile can fall into disrepair. Let’s discuss a few of the wear and tear issues you may encounter and what you would need to do about them.
 
Probably one of the most common problems you may experience with ceramic tile is cracking. Most of the time the cause is simple wear and tear but there are some other reasons this can happen. One reason is that the tiles were not installed properly. Another reason is that in areas that experience extremes of temperature the house will expand or contract which can also cause cracks to form in tile floors. Depending on the size of the crack in the tile the repair job could range from simply filling them in with a little grout to the need to replace the tile altogether.
 
Grout is an area where you will likely notice deterioration with ceramic tile floors. You may notice it is crumbling, cracking, or becoming discolored. This will happen if the grout has not been sealed properly, allowing the grout to absorb moisture. You may notice this especially in bathrooms or other moisture-prone areas. In cases where grout is too damaged, the best solution is to remove the grout and redo it.
 
If you notice the tile floor is uneven in places this can be because the tile was not installed correctly. Give the floor a thorough inspection and if you see particularly uneven areas, you may find the only solution is to redo it.
 
Yes, ceramic tile flooring is a good, durable option but, like most flooring, it can develop issues over time.