September is “Holiday Prep Month!” Did you think spring cleaning was only a once-a-year event? With three major holidays approaching in just under three months, September is the logical month to ensure that your home is prepared for the onslaught of visitors, cold weather, and holiday paraphernalia. Here are a few things that should be on your fall home maintenance checklist:

• Schedule a professional checkup for your heating system. Now is the time to find problems, not when it’s freezing outside.

• If you have a fireplace, get it inspected and cleaned before you begin to use it for the winter.

• Vacuum your heat registers and air return ducts. Or better yet, have a professional team clean you air duct system. If you have owned your house for several years, you may be surprised at the amount of dust and debris that can build up in your ductwork.

• Close foundation vents. If you don’t have automatic foundation vents installed, you’ll have to close them manually. You typically can access these vents by crawling into the crawl space beneath your house. This prevents heat loss from underneath your home during the colder months.

• Clean gutters and make sure downspouts are open. If the water can’t drain, it can seep in under your shingles.

• Seal drafty doors and windows. Check caulk around windows and weather stripping around doors and replace as needed.

• Locate your snow and leaf removal tools—blowers, and plows. Make sure they’re serviced and ready to go.

• Winterize or insulate exterior faucets and water lines. Schedule to have your sprinkler system serviced for the winter.

• Remove, clean, and store summertime screens.

Consider taking care of some things inside the house now too, particularly if you’re expecting company during the holidays. Taking care of some of these items now can relieve a lot of stress as your calendar fills up closer to the holidays.

• Get your guest rooms ready for holiday company while you have the time. If your guest room doubles as a storage area, start clearing out items now so that the room is ready by the time the holidays arrive. Clear out a drawer or two in a bureau for your guests to use—your guests may be more comfortable if they don’t have to live out of a suitcase.

• If you have pull-out couches that will be used, open them up, air them out, and schedule a professional cleaning, if necessary.

• Schedule your carpets to be professionally cleaned.

A little preventative maintenance and some prior planning can mean fewer headaches this winter and a more relaxing and enjoyable holiday season with family and friends.

August is a transitional month. Summer is winding down, and preparations have begun for the school year. Now is a great time to examine your home and take steps to get ready for colder weather.
Outside
Check the exterior of your home for problems that should be repaired before winter. Make sure the outside walls of your home are free of debris. Lumber, ladders, or toys stacked against the house can attract spiders, mice, and insects. As colder weather arrives, these pests have incentive to enter the warmth of your house.
If you stock firewood for the winter, don’t stack it against the house. Besides attracting wood-boring insects and other pests, it can prevent air circulation and trap moisture against the house. This can rot siding or trim. Store firewood 2 feet from the house and elevate it 18 inches above the ground.
Inside
Check your hot water heater and the surrounding areas for leaks, rust, or corrosion. Check lines and connections. Look underneath the tank with a flashlight. If you see water or signs of moisture, replace the tank.
Hot water tanks have a safety feature called a pressure release valve. If the pressure in the tank gets too great, this valve allows hot water to escape to keep the tank from exploding. Test this valve yearly for proper function. (Do this test during regular business hours in case you need help.) The valve has a small handle and is located on the top of the tank. A section of pipe is attached to allow the water to drain onto the floor. Put a bucket under the pipe before you test the valve. Carefully, because the water will be hot, pull the handle to open the valve for 5 seconds, then close the valve. A small amount of water should drain into the bucket. If the valve doesn’t close or if no water drains out, the valve may not be working. Call a plumber immediately.
Cover your water heater with a fiberglass insulation blanket to retain heat, particularly if you have an older water heater that has less-efficient built-in insulation. Do not cover heater controls.
Have your furnace systems inspected and serviced before winter. Use a qualified HVAC contractor.
Check sinks for slow drains. Each household sink is equipped with a J-trap—the pipe section underneath the sink with a J-shaped bend. This trap seals the drain with water to keep sewer gas from entering your home. The J-trap is a common place for clogs. To clean the drain, mix equal parts salt, baking soda, and vinegar. Add the mix to the drain, and then add two quarts of boiling water. You can also physically disconnect the J-trap and clean it with a garden hose or coat hanger. There will be water and other material in the trap, so wear protective gloves and be ready to catch the spill.

The term “smart” home refers to a living space that contains remotely controlled or preprogrammed “smart” devices. These devices can help a space function more efficiently and give occupants more direct control over their environment. Many “smart” devices have been introduced in recent years, and this trend will undoubtedly continue. A simple example is a coffee maker equipped with a timer. You simply fill the machine with water and coffee grounds the night before and set the timer, and your coffee is waiting for you when you get up.
Smart technology for home automation systems has come a long way. The idea is to link all of the devices in the home together as much as possible and provide centralized computerized control of the interior and exterior environments and the home security system. You can access and control many of these systems via the Internet even when you’re not at home. The system can monitor individual rooms and turn off lights when a room is empty, or indicate when a malfunction has occurred or routine maintenance is required on a system.
Smart devices can help lower energy costs and can increase the energy ?efficiency of your home.
Thermostats?New generation thermostats now keep track of multiple settings. You can cut back cooling or heating during the week while you’re at work and school, but maintain comfortable temperatures in the evening and on the weekend without having to constantly adjust the thermostat. Next generation thermostats include touch screen technology to monitor room by room temperatures to channel your HVAC unit’s efforts efficiently into specific areas. This further impacts your energy bill by eliminating the wasted heating and cooling efforts of frequently unoccupied spaces in your home.
Windows?Small motorized devices incorporated into your window treatments can be programmed to open or close blinds and drapes, depending on the season or time of day. Windows can be opened or closed automatically for air circulation. Ventilation fans can be programmed to draw hot air out of the attic or turned off to conserve heat, depending on the season. ??Refrigerators?Small refrigerators equipped with built-in Internet terminals are already on the market.  These refrigerators can suggest recipes based on an inventory of currently stored food, keep track of expiration dates, create shopping lists as items are used, and maintain a calendar of appointments and important dates (to replace that calendar we all keep on the fridge).
Bathroom?In the bath, smart shower heads can store water temperature and pressure settings for each individual. Toilets can be equipped with self-clean settings.
And in the Living Room...?We’ve all wrestled with handheld remote control units for audio and video entertainment components. Smart technology lets you combine all of the remotes into one touch-screen controller that controls channel selection, recording, programming, and even room lighting and temperature. Home television sets can provide PC-like Internet capability, convenient home shopping, and interactive capability.??As smart technology continues to improve, more and more household tasks can be automated, giving us more free time and making life a bit easier. Consider ways to make your home a “smart” home.

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Patios, decks, outdoor kitchens, special features—these can transform your outdoor area into a year-round, multifunctional living space that’s perfect for dining and entertaining. Even a small space can transform into an appealing outdoor retreat. Why stay cooped up inside? Extend the livable portion of your home by creating an outdoor living space.?  ?Add a Deck – The most common way to enhance your outdoor space is to add a deck. A deck increases the usability of your space, particularly if you have a sloped yard, bare patches, or uneven areas to hide. Decks provide a flat, finished entertainment space. Screened porches, gazebos, grill stations, planter boxes, built-in benches, and dining nooks can take your deck to the next level. Depending on the building material you use, you can achieve almost any look.
Wood is still a viable decking material. Pressure-treated lumber is easy to work with and can be refinished for years. Exotic hardwoods like redwood or cedar are beautiful and naturally resistant to insects and decay. Quality composite materials are a low-maintenance alternative to wood; these generally resist fading, cracking, and rotting. A newer alternative is aluminum. Aluminum systems create a gapless deck surface that is completely waterproof. Aluminum decking is powder-coated with a nonslip surface that eliminates the need for painting and staining. Aluminum stays cooler to the touch than some other deck surfaces.
Custom Patios – Patios are another outdoor favorite. This is a great solution when a house is constructed on a concrete slab and is too close to the ground for a deck. Constructed of concrete or brick pavers, a patio functions much the same as a deck. But gone are the days of the dull gray concrete slab. Stencils, stamping tools, custom designs and textures, stains, and colorants can give a concrete slab the look of flagstone or tile. If you prefer brick pavers, these can be mixed and matched by color or style to create beautiful patterns or a one-of-a-kind work of art.
Build an Outdoor Kitchen – Outdoor kitchens have become surprisingly popular. An outdoor kitchen can be as simple as a patio with a gas grill station or as elaborate as a full meal-preparation center complete with built-in gas-burner stoves, ovens, refrigerators, and sinks. Covered dining areas provide all-weather enjoyment for your guests and family.
Add a special feature – Other features make your space uniquely suited to your taste and lifestyle. A fire pit or built-in outdoor fireplace extends the use of your outdoor living area well into winter, providing warmth and a focus for cold-weather gatherings. Architectural features such as pergolas or trellises and carefully selected plantings create secluded areas for meditation. A water feature, such as a pond or fountain, can provide a beautiful focal point. Outdoor lighting can accent special features and provide security.
Whether you have acres or just a few square feet of space, consult an exterior designer for great ideas on making the most of your outdoor space.

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Curb appeal is the overall attractiveness of the exterior of your home. The more attractive your home appears, the better the first impression. Whether you are preparing to sell or planning to stay in your home for years to come, ensuring your home has great curb appeal will always pay off.

If you are selling, curb appeal can be the difference between a potential buyer wanting to see the inside of your home and deciding that it’s not worth the effort. Improving your home’s exterior reassures the buyer that you’ve taken care of the property, and sets an expectation for what’s inside.

Not selling? You still want to pay attention to your home's curb appeal. The look of your home and the attractiveness of your neighborhood overall, help maintain values for everyone. Now that warm weather is here, spend some time focusing on your home’s curb appeal.

An attractive yard. Keep the lawn neat, trimmed, and free of weeds. Trim or replace overgrown, tired looking shrubs. Make sure that the landscaping extends all the way to the street. Add seating areas, grouped plantings, and ornamental trees to break up an endless, boring lawn. Make sure the borders of your planted areas are well-defined, either with sharp, trenched edges or stone borders. Use fresh mulch to make plant beds look new. Give the mailbox a fresh coat of paint. Get rid of any distracting clutter.

Emphasize pathways. Make sure that pathways from the driveway or from the street to the house are well defined for approaching guests. Concrete walkways are a basic choice, whereas natural stone pavers can give the path a more organic feel. Try to choose a material that complements the exterior of your home. Make sure that walkways are well lit, particularly if the slope of your yard requires steps in the path.

Don’t ignore the driveway. If the old driveway is crumbling and full of weeds, consider resurfacing. Try pavers or stamped concrete in place of regular concrete. Make sure the garage door is freshly painted and doesn’t sag.

Make your entryway inviting. Your front door should match the style of your house. Replace worn door handles and locks. Swap out worn outdoor light fixtures (hang wall-mounted lights above eye level to reduce glare). Update house numbers so they can be seen easily from the street. Make the front door a focal point by framing it with attractive containers containing colorful seasonal plants.

Consider more expensive changes if necessary. New windows can make a huge difference in your home’s curb appeal. Choose windows that match the style of your house. Check that your roof is in good shape and free of mold. Your home’s exterior should be fresh and clean. Touch up exterior trim and paint if necessary. New windows, some siding, and roof materials qualify for the home improvement tax credits that are available through 2010. These credits can help offset some of the expense of the improvement.

Keep your curb-appeal plan simple. A few careful touches in the right places can ensure a beautiful home for everyone to enjoy.