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Protect your home
Spend your vacation NOT worrying about your house By Laura Firszt Networx
W
hen you’re planning a vacation, worrying about your house is unlikely to make the list of “top 10 things I want to do.” Fortunately, you can free up your precious time off for fun stuff like sightseeing , romancing and relaxing, yet still keep your home in great shape while you’re away. Just follow our handy guide. • Turn off the water supply to your washer. Better yet, turn off the water supply to your entire house. A failed washing machine hose or a burst water pipe can quickly and quietly cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage during your absence. • Stop your mail for the duration. Envelopes piling up in the mailbox are a sure sign no one’s home. That’s like putting out a welcome mat for would-be intruders. USPS will hold your mail for up to 30 days while you’re away … and you can notify them as much as a month in advance or at the last minute (3 a.m. on the morning you want delivery suspended). • Put a temporary hold on paper delivery, too. If you
[BIGSTOCK]
subscribe to a print newspaper, let the delivery service know the dates it will not be needed. • Create the illusion someone’s home. Another break-in deterrent is a house that appears occupied. Set up lights and a radio to turn on and off using a timer. A digital timer with battery backup will protect you even when there’s a power outage. • Adjust your thermostat. Leave your A/C on to dehumidify and prevent mold growth, but set the thermostat higher than usual for energy efficiency. Seventy-seven degrees or thereabouts should do the trick. If you have a programmable thermostat, make sure the temperature will be lowered a
couple of hours before your return. • Leave the house (relatively) clean. Wait, what! When you’re busy packing, who wants to pick up a broom? You will come home eventually, though, and when you do, you don’t want that post-vacation glow to turn into gloom. A major overhaul isn’t necessary; just make sure your house feels like a pleasant place to return to. BONUS POINTS: Change your sheets so you’ll sleep in a clean bed your first night home. • Take out the garbage. This will keep your home smelling sweet and discourage mice, houseflies, and other pests. If HOA regulations only allow putting out garbage on certain days of the week — not the day
you’ll be traveling — wrap the garbage well and stash it in your freezer. • Close and lock all windows and doors. This low-tech tip is still very effective. A wannabe burglar is usually looking for a house with easy access; locking up will make your home a much less tempting. Don’t forget that one particularly vulnerable spot — the entrance door from your attached garage. • Unplug. Disconnect your electronic devices (television, PCs, game consoles, and the like – even your microwave!) or switch off their power strip to minimize “phantom energy” use.
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7,36 2) 7+( :((. Looking to sell your home this year? These easy weekend DIY projects from ALEX are sure to get your home noticed by potential buyers. • Repair and refresh walls: Use spackling to eliminate those stubborn recurring cracks in drywall. • Update kitchen and bath hardware: Small features like hardware can visually update a room. (PIXABAY) • Revisit lighting throughout the home: Replace old globes and consider adding task and accent lighting to brighten things up.
*$5'(1,1* Beautiful edibles to add to your landscape Not all veggie gardening has to be boring — try plants with colorful blooms and jewel-toned fruit. Here are a few varieties that will hold their own: • Artichokes are a dramatic addition due to their otherworldly appearance especially when in bloom. • Eggplants come in more than just a deep purple, try the variegated ‘Graffiti’ variety or the diminutive teardrop shape of the ‘Fairy Tale’ eggplant. • Lavender does double duty as a fragrant pollinator with pretty purple blossoms. Try planting it as a border along paths or curb strip. — More Content Now
Must-know kitchen and bathroom trends Many homeowners wonder how they can turn their bathrooms or kitchens into something worthy of making the rounds on Pinterest or Instagram. Kohler Kitchen & Bath has identified these design trends for 2017: [BRANDPOINT] • Patterns play a big role in how large a room appears and what features are accented or emphasized. Don’t be afraid of blending — or mixing — patterns. • Two of the most striking colors to appear in kitchens and bathrooms these days are velvety blues and vivid greens. • Warm up whites with tones of brass, gold or bronze, which can soften the look of an all-white space.
'(&.6 ‘Monster’ size, mega-luxury When it comes to the size of their decks, the majority of Americans feel bigger is better — as multiple surveys indicate the decks are getting larger and more luxurious, RealtorMag reports. “Monster” decks are big — really big. Mark Kalady, decking sales manager for TAMKO Building Products Inc., says he’s recently seen residential decks grow to 3,000 square feet. Depending on the amenities included, a deck 1,600-1,800 square feet could be considered monster.
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How to fix that fixer-upper Get your project started with these three tips from www.health-womens.com: • Make a list of every smaller project you believe you’ll need to complete and then have it reviewed by a licensed contractor to be sure you’re not missing anything. • Top cabinets first. When installing new cabinets, start on top and work down so the bottom cabinets aren’t in your way. • Built to last. When it comes to flooring, consider longevity. Oak or pine wood floors and ceramic tile can last 100 years. — Brandpoint
25*$1,=,1*
What to do with a worn-out cooling system Summer temperatures can heat up the repair-or-replace debate for homeowners living with an older system.The experts at Champion offer some tips: • You may be able to repair if the system is less than 10 years old, the repair is covered under warranty, or repair will cost significantly less than replacing the system. • It may be time to replace if the system is older than 10 years, the cost of frequent and repeated repairs equals or exceeds the cost of replacing, you have very high energy bills, or the unreliable system is affecting the comfort of your home.
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Declutter your entryway
Tips to stop mosquitoes
The size of your entryway will help you decide what belongs and what doesn’t. If you have a spacious mudroom, you might choose to store shoes, boots, umbrellas and backpacks there. If you have a modest foyer, you may decide you only have room for car keys. If space allows, adding built-in storage such as cabinets and shelves can help keep an entry space organized and visually appealing.
Dr. Mark Beavers, Orkin entomologist, recommends these tips for keeping mosquitoes at bay this summer. • Minimize standing water: Mosquitoes only need a thimble-sized amount of stagnant water to reproduce. • Turn on fans: Most mosquitoes are poor flyers, so a simple deterrent is to make it difficult for them to fly.
— Brandpoint
— Family Features
(CDC/PUBLIC DOMAIN)
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