Fall Maintenance Projects

By Michelle Wrege Thursday, October 1, 2015

As summer comes to a close, this is a time to establish a fall home maintenance checklist recommended by the National Home Servide Contract Association (NHSCA). 1. Turn off exterior faucets. Un-drained water in pipes can freeze easily, which will cause pipes to burst as the ice e...

Fall Maintenance Checklist

By Michelle Wrege Thursday, September 17, 2015

10 essential fall maintenance tasks to help you prepare for winter: 1. Stow the mower. 2. Don't be a drip. 3. Put your sprinkler system to sleep. 4. Seal the deal. 5. De-gunk your gutters. 6. Eyeball your roof. 7. Direct your drainage. 8....

Smart Home Technology

By Michelle Wrege Thursday, September 3, 2015

Smart Home gadgets are available everywhere now and some are designed to help you save money in the long run. For example, being able to control your thermostat and lighting from anywhere can lower energy costs. Have you been thinking about adding some of the latest Smart H...

Increased Rents and Lower "For Sale" Inventory in the US

By Michelle Wrege Thursday, August 20, 2015

Increasing rents and lower mortgage rates are making home ownership more attractive. However, many markets are seeing a decline in available homes for sale making it difficult to find the home you want. Check out this article from Zillow with more information.

Furnish Your Home For Less

By Michelle Wrege Friday, August 7, 2015

Quality furniture can be quite expensive when purchased new. If you are willing to spend a little time and do some research, you can find low cost, good quality, used furniture for your home. To begin your search make a list of items you need and write down measuremen...

Cleaning Tips to Help Cut Back on Housework

By Michelle Wrege Thursday, July 23, 2015

No time for housework? Here are a few tips to help make cleaning quicker and easier: Dusting - Keeping your homes humidity level between 40% - 50% can eliminate static (which attracts dust and makes it stick) and helps decrease dust mite growth. Countertops - When cooking somethi...

How to Prepare Your House Before Leaving for Vacation

By Michelle Wrege Friday, July 10, 2015

Are you going away for a week or longer this summer? Here are some tips on what to do before you leave for vacation: Air Conditioner: Leave the AC on with the fan switch set to "Auto". This will keep the humidity under control while you are away. If you have a manual thermostat, ...

Saving Money on Monthly Expenses - Part II

By Michelle Wrege Thursday, June 11, 2015

A continuation from our last blog for those of you looking to save money on your monthly expenses. 1. Reducing your entertainment expenses is a good place to start. There are many options for low cost entertainment. Cancel unused club memberships such as gym and countr...

Saving Money on Monthly Expenses

By Michelle Wrege Thursday, May 28, 2015

Looking for ways to save money each month? Here are a few tips to try to lower monthly costs. 1. Auto - Keep the air pressure in your tires at the maximum stated in the car's manual. Every two PSI of air that you able to add can improve gas mileage 1%. 2. Home/Auto Loans - Refina...

Keeping Cool This Summer By Reducing Body Heat

By Michelle Wrege Friday, May 15, 2015

With temperatures on the rise, keeping cool is important. Here are a few low-tech tips to keep cool this summer. 1. Wear Clothing Made of Natural Fabrics: Natural fabrics such as cotton, linen and hemp 'breathe' better and wick away moisture. 2. Eat Cool: Meals like salads and sa...