Weekly Home Tip 5 - Is Your House Ready for Winter??

FIVE QUICK TIPS TO GET YOUR HOME READY FOR WINTER

Roof repairs: If you can safely get onto your roof to inspect for missing shingles or other factors that may lead to a leaky roof, now's the time to do it!  If not, call in a professional organization and have them take care of the rooftop work for you.

Seal it off: Inspect doors and windows to ensure that the weather-stripping is in good condition.  This will keep your house warmer and cozier in the winter months.

Hot stuff: Make sure that your heater and ventilation systems are in good working order!  Clean out accessible ducts and replace filters where necessary.

Chimney sweep: Creosote, a black substance that builds up in the chimney when wood is burned, can cause chimney fires.  Inspect your chimney for creosote and call a chimney sweep to keep your fireplace safe and functional.

Gutter check: Now's the time to clean out those rain gutters again!  If you want to do it yourself, make sure that you can safely access the gutters and then scoop out any debris, blast the drains clean with a high-powered hose, and repair any leaks you may find along the way.

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Weekly Home Tip - Is Your Fireplace Safe?

Using Your Fireplace Safely

A fireplace is a great feature in any home, and can create that warm, homey feeling on a cold winter evening that every homeowner dreams of.  Whether you have a gas fireplace or a wood-burning fireplace, there are a few important precautions you should take and safety measures to follow every time you use your fireplace.

Keep The Fire Contained

Especially if you have an older home, you should verify that the fireplace and hearth are up to code.  The hearth is required to be a certain size to prevent sparks or embers from the fire hitting the carpet or wood floors and starting a fire.  You should also ensure that you have appropriate metal doors or a mesh curtain that will keep the fire and any sparks inside the fireplace itself.

Keep anything flammable away from the fireplace, including paper, blankets, furniture, or anything else that could easily catch fire.  If you have a wood-burning fireplace, keep the wood in a spot where a stray spark or ember won't reach it.  The same goes for kindling or anything you use to start the fire.

Maintaining The Fireplace And Chimney

In a wood-burning fireplace, a substance known as creosote can build up on the inside of the chimney, putting you at risk for a dangerous chimney fire.  Every year before the winter season begins, you should have a professional chimney sweep clean out your chimney.  They should also inspect everything to ensure your fireplace is functioning properly.  Be sure to clean out ashes and soot from the fireplace regularly; this is recommended every time you use it.

Even with a gas fireplace there is some maintenance to consider.  You should have a chimney sweep perform a yearly inspection and cleaning of the inside of your fireplace, especially in hard to reach places like the fan.  They should also make certain that the gas lines and ignition switch are working properly.

Fireplaces And Children

If you have children, use caution with your fireplace.  Never leave a child unattended in a room with a lit fireplace.  Be certain that lighters and matches are always kept well out of reach.  Before you start the fire burning season, sit down with your children and discuss the safety rules for the fireplace, making sure they understand the dangers.

Your fireplace can provide warmth and ambience, and will serve you well for a long time as long as you take care of it.  Keep up on maintenance and ensure that everything is safe and up to code before you use your fireplace.

Weekly Home Tip #3

Solar Lighting For Your Yard

One of the simplest, most economical and also eco-friendly ways to provide lighting in your yard is to use solar lights.  There are a wide variety of solar lighting options on the market that can help you to create the right ambience for an evening on the porch, light your sidewalk and driveway, or simple illuminate your yard for aesthetic appeal.

Solar lighting is simple to install and uses the energy absorbed from the sun during the day to provide the power for nighttime lighting.  This means you can light your yard without affecting your energy bills.  There are a few different options you can use to create the lighting effect you are seeking in your yard.

Lighting Your Yard And Patio

The most commonly used solar yard lights are the classic stake lights.  They can be placed at the interval of your choice, and are great for lining flower beds, placing around the patio, or illuminating the path up to your house.  These versatile lights are perfect for just about any situation.  They give a very classic look that works in both the front and back yard and will fit in with most landscaping or architecture.

To add mood lighting to your patio, solar powered Tiki torches are a great choice.  Unlike traditional torches, there is no risk of fire and no messy oil.  Many even flicker just like a candle to create the same ambience that you would expect from traditional Tiki torches.

Lighting Your Driveway

Another option you might want to consider is driveway solar lights.  These flat lights are designed to light the edges of the driveway to make parking easier at night.  Especially for long or curving driveways, these are a great way to illuminate the way at night.  There are two main types of driveway lights; the first type sits on top of the surface, while the second type is actually embedded in the driveway surface, leaving it level.  Either type illuminates very well, but the second type will not be damaged if you accidentally drive over it, so if that is a risk you might consider the embedded type of driveway lights.

Solar lights give your home a warm glow at night and require virtually no maintenance.  Install them, let the sun do the work, and then enjoy them when the sun goes down!

Weekly Home Tip 2

Tips On Saving Energy & Money At Home

When you save on energy, you also save money.  As a homeowner, there are a number of ways that you can do both and still have the energy to enjoy your everyday life.

The Buzz On Bulbs

One of the most obvious ways to save energy in your home is to turn off the television when nobody is watching or when the room is empty.  Additionally, avoid leaving lights on that aren't necessary.  Speaking of lights, your choice of light bulbs may also have an impact on your energy bill as certain types require more electricity than others resulting in higher energy costs.

Keep It Cool

During the warm spring and summer months, it's best to keep all appliances that give off a lot of heat away from the thermostat.  Otherwise, your home may appear hotter than it actually is and the air conditioner will then be made to work harder.  This, in turn, equals more energy being used and more money being spent on energy costs.

Speaking of heat, it's a good idea to avoid excessive use of the oven when it's hot outside.  During the warm weather months, the oven can quickly cause your home's interior to heat up.  This means the air conditioner will once again be working harder to cool your home's interior, which increases your energy consumption.  One popular alternative is to use the microwave.

Shop Smart

Whether you have outdated appliances or are simply looking to furnish a new home, it's a good idea to keep energy efficiency in mind while shopping for new models.  Although energy-efficient appliances may be more expensive, they can save you money in the long run by cutting your energy costs every month.

Heating & Cooling

If you want to save a substantial amount of money, take a close look at your heating and cooling costs, which often make up over 50 percent of a family's energy bill.  When it comes to heating or cooling, make sure that the thermostat is adjusted at night and when the home is empty.  Otherwise, you are simply wasting energy.  Make sure that filters for both heating and cooling units are replaced regularly.

Sun Sense

In the summer, leave your curtains and/or blinds closed in order to minimize the sun's heat from entering your home as this could cause your air conditioner to work harder.  After all, your air conditioner is designed to cool your home and the sun's heat only makes the temperature rise.  In the winter, however, open your curtains in order to get the most out of the sun's warm rays. 

Weekly Home Tip!!!!

Home Safety Tips

Your home is your haven and, as such, it should be a place where you feel safe.  If you want to protect yourself and your family, home safety should be a priority in your life.  Here are some ideas on how to deal with some of the most common concerns facing homeowners today.

Do Some Detective Work On Your Detectors

Make sure that your smoke detectors are working and have fresh batteries.  It's important to clean them regularly to avoid a buildup of dust and dirt, which may cause them to malfunction or stop working altogether. 

Make Sure That Your Security System Is Secure

If your home has a security system, make sure that nobody else has the code.  If you purchased your home with the security system in place, have the code changed as a precaution.  Just as you would change the locks to prevent friends, acquaintances or family members of the previous owner from entering the house without your permission or knowledge, it's equally important to change the code on your security system. 

Obstacles & Falls

Many people die or get injured each year as a result of a fall in their home.  Make sure that the way you arrange your furniture and possessions makes it easy for you to move around your home.  Be especially careful about where you put low items that you may trip over.

Trailing electric and phone wires can also be hazardous-try to connect appliances to a socket nearby.  If trailing wires are unavoidable, arrange them as far out of the way as possible and tape them down with strong electrical tape or something similar.

Keep staircases and passageways clear, and never place a loose rug at the top of the stairs.

Try to organize your storage so that you can reach items you use regularly without having to climb.  Don't be tempted to balance on chairs or boxes if you do need to reach something high-use a proper step ladder with non-slip steps, or wait until someone else can help.

Weekly Home Tip!!

Ways To Make Your House Smell Good

If you want a house to smell clean, you clean it.  But what can you do to add a special touch that makes your house smell one step beyond clean?  Use some common “scents,” a little knowhow and a lot of creativity to make your house smell fantastic.

Use Your Good Scents

Many homeowners choose to use scented candles in their home.  As the candle burns, the oils melt and create a wonderful smell throughout the entire room.  Not only do these smell great, but certain scents can also be relaxing.  Lavender, for instance, is commonly used in aromatherapy and is believed to be a calming scent.  Vanilla, strawberry, cinnamon and even chocolate are also popular among homeowners who want to add a special touch to their home.

Good Enough To Eat

If you really want to make your home smell terrific, add a bowl of fresh fruit to the dining room table.  Oranges, tangerines and apples will provide a colorful centerpiece and a scent that's simply yummy.

If you like to bake, there's nothing better than the smell of freshly baked cookies fresh out of the oven.  Of course, if you don't feel up to baking every day, you can always use a chocolate scented candle instead.

Make Your Home Blossom

If you really want to add a terrific aroma to your home, place a vase of fresh cut flowers in your living/family room.  A perfectly designed arrangement will act as a wonderful centerpiece, but will also fill the room with a wonderful smell.  Roses are terrific for adding an unmistakable scent to any room, but many other flowers will prove to be just as nice.

Everyone “Nose” Potpourri

A potpourri mixture, which contains dried petals and spices, is typically placed in a bowl and used to add a wonderful scent to any room.  A variety of mixtures are commonly found in any retailer's craft section or anywhere that scented candles are sold.  Potpourri is low maintenance in that it requires nothing more than being placed in a bowl and situated in the room of your choice.

Freshening Up The Air

These days, air fresheners are everywhere.  Why?  Quite simply, because they work.  Individuals who suffer from allergies may have a difficult time with some scents and/or brands of air fresheners, so be sure to keep this in mind when shopping.  Air fresheners are available in a wide variety of scents and are generally inexpensive, which makes them a nice choice for many homeowners.

Tyler Rufenacht | Greater Madison Realty, LLC, dba RE/MAX Preferred | (608) 370-3506 4601 Bautista Dr, Mc Farland, WI 4BR/3.0BA Single Family offered at $289,900 Year Built 2012 Sq Footage 2,057 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3.0 Floors 2 Parking 2 Lot Size Unspecified description Immaculate one year old 4 Bedroom 2.5 bath home in Secret Places Subdivision in Mcfarland. Move right in and enjoy your home that backs up to a green-way and is located on a corner lot. The first floor features a large kitchen with stainless appliances, open concept kitchen/living/dining area, powder room, laundry/mudroom, and separate office with french doors. Featured on the second floor is a Master Suite with walk in closet and three other bedrooms. see additional photos below property features - Cable-ready - Wired additional photos Contact info:   Tyler Rufenacht Greater Madison Realty, LLC, dba RE/MAX Preferred (608) 370-3506 Posted: August 01, 2013