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Uh, oh, looks like it’s time for some deck cleaning again. I’m starting to see sunny days in the forecast and it’s not quite too hot yet…

Lydia from HomeForHome.com was kind enough to send a summary of their site. Sounds interesting! Would you swap home with someone for a period of time? Seems like this could turn even mundane destinations into an adventure!

In terms of our day to day lives, the internet is massive. Irrepressible. But apart from time spent literally using the computer, how far does internet affect the way we live? Well, the interesting new phenomenon of online home swapping would certainly suggest that such online communities can radically change the travel and holiday options that many internet users have.
Sites such as http://en.homeforhome.com offer users free memberships, and once they’ve set up a profile they have access to a database consisting of almost 3000 homes across the world with which they can propose holiday home swaps. In short, you set up a profile, find a house in a country or location that you like, and then ask them if that user would like to spend a holiday in your area. If they agree, then you can go and stay in a house of your choice and have a holiday without any accommodation costs. A free home exchange.
Admittedly, some people find the idea terrifying. “I’d never let a stranger into my house!” But there are plenty of people for whom home swapping has become the norm. It may be that it is particularly relevant given the current economic climate. Using homeforhome as an example – it was established in February 2009 has had an incredible rapid growth of 0 to 5274 users within 4 months.
It could easily be that as people are making big cut-backs on their spending, the idea of cheap holidays has come kicking and screaming into the fore. Or alternatively, it could be that it is only with the current speed and efficiency of the internet that large databases can be so readily accessed, on such a cohesive global level.
Either way, this is definitely a phenomenon produced by the internet, and for many it is the difference between being able to go on holiday and not being able to go on holiday.

When the gray, cold days of winter are finally gone, it’s time to give your home a thorough spring cleaning. Although most homeowners tackle the inside of their house, few remember that the outside needs a freshen-up as well! Wash away the grime of winter with window washing, gutter cleaning, and pressure washing. You’ll be amazed at how bright and clean your home looks.

Window Washing

After the rain, snow, and ice of winter, it’s no wonder your windows are dingy and spotted! Eliminate the dirty film of winter and let the cheerful light of spring pour through your window panes-it’s time to call the window washers. While you could undertake this strenuous, messy work yourself, it is generally better to contact a professional. They have the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience to efficiently and effectively wash your windows. With the pros, you can be confident you’ll get a complete window washing, and you won’t have to do the back breaking work yourself! Window washing should include cleaning all windows inside and out as well as any storm windows or screens.

Many window washers also offer interior glass washing services for chandeliers, mirrors, lamps, and ceiling fans; if these items are on your interior spring cleaning list, why not kill two birds with one stone and let the pros tackle these cleaning tasks, too!

Gutter Cleaning

Gutter cleaning is a maintenance task most homeowners dread, and subsequently neglect. But for gutters to effectively channel rainwater away from your house and foundation, they need to be unclogged and flowing freely. Especially following the storms of winter, it’s important to ensure that your gutters aren’t blocked by debris. Perhaps the best way to get your gutters clean is to hire a professional gutter cleaning service. Rather than putting off this dirty chore forever (and ending up with blocked up gutters as a result), employing gutter contractors is a great compromise that gets the gutters clean and lets you sit back and relax! They’ll remove leaves, twigs, and any built-up debris; flush out your gutters; and ensure that downspouts are working properly. Many gutter contractors can even repair gutters that have been damaged over the winter! Once your gutters are clean and repaired, you can rest assured that they’ll protect your home from excess rainwater.

Pressure Washing

Winter wreaks havoc on the appearance of your home: storms splash mud on your siding; excessive moisture encourages algae growth on your brick; salt can stain your driveway. Once the hassle of cold weather is past, it’s time to pressure wash your house. Perfect for removing a whole variety of eyesores from mud to dirt, mildew, and mold, power washing can get the exterior of your home looking great again. Best of all pressure washing services are inexpensive, especially compared with replacing your siding or roof! For optimal results, you do want to hire a professional power washing contractor. They’ll be able to get practically any part of your home’s exterior sparkling clean again without making amateur mistakes like damaging mortar or gouging wood. Contact your local power washing contractor to freshen:

Siding
Brick
Stone
Patios
Decks
Roofs
Sidewalks
Driveways
Concrete

When the weather warms up, it’s time to tackle a few exterior cleaning chores. Window washing, gutter cleaning, and pressure washing are three relatively inexpensive projects that can really help your home look great! For the best results, contact your local exterior cleaning company-sit back, relax, and leave the hard work to the pros!

Matt Gallo is a home improvement specialist and the Internet marketing manager for Prospect Genius, a leader in local online advertising.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Gallo

Tags: Tips and Tricks, toilet, videos

Well, it’s fall again and it’s time to start buttoning everything down before winter sets in. Once again, we are sharing our checklist, so you can keep your home in great order!

Since you’ll probably have a long weekend over thanksgiving, you have no excuse!

If you have additions or comments, just let us know!

Every Fall

Prune Trees and Shrubs
Clean Faucets / Showerheads
Clean Lapshades
Test Pressure Relief Valve on Water Heater
Treat Granite
Have Chimney Swept
Check Under Faucets for Leaks
Check Washing Machine for Leaks
Clean Condenser Coils on Refrigerator
Clean Drain Traps on All Sinks
Detatch (Winterize) Garden Hoses
Update Home Inventory
Lubricate Door Hinges
Magic Erase Wall Marks
Touch Up Painting
Take Down Garden
Scheduled Maintenance on Appliances
Service Garage Door
Test Circuit Breakers
Inspect Roof for Damage
Light gas fireplace pilot light
Replace Downspout Diffusers
Winterize Sprinklers

In the Fall and the Spring

Dust Tops of Cabinets / Outcroppings
Clean Bathroom Tile
Clean Blinds
Clean Ceiling Fans
Clean HVAC Air Intakes
Clean Light Fixtures
Clean Under Range Hood / Replace Filter
Dust Baseboards / Doorframes
Dust Cobwebs
Dust Electronics
Dust Pictures
Vaccuum Under Beds
Vaccuum Under Couches / Tables
Wash Windows
Check Ground Slope Near Home
Clean Dryer Exhaust
Condition Leather Furniture
New Furnace Filter
Run All Faucets
Throw Out Unworn Clothes
Toggle Humidifier
Test Sump Pump
Inspect Walls for Moisture (after rain)
Vacuum Furniture
Vaccuum Smoke Alarms
Vaccuum Heat Registers
Clean Window Sills

Tags: checklist, fall, Home Maintenance

“That crack in the sidewalk will wait.”

“We can paint next year.”

We all say these types of things all the time. We rarely have enough time to take care of everything in our home (or the rest of our lives) and to keep it perfect, but ignoring these small problems can lead to a big problem later.

If you follow the “Broken Windows” theory, these small problems accumulate over time and have a significant psychological effect. The theory asserts that each neighborhood in decline started with one broken window that was never fixed. Over time, broken windows throughout the neighborhood become the norm, and pretty soon you can say the same thing about graffiti, crack dealers, and other forms of crime. For more on this, see “Fixing Broken Windows”, it’s a great read, even if it doesn’t have Bob Vila on the cover.

This can happen in an individual home too. We all know someone who has started a remodeling project that has never been completed. Something just always seems to come up that is more important. Pretty soon, navigating around ladders and paint buckets becomes normal for the family. Then another project seems more important, we we have a few more ladders, maybe some more tarps out. There is a snowball effect that occurs over time until the home is in such disarray that most people clean it up and sell it (at a discount).

This is why it is so critical to stay up to date on your home maintenance. Start with a checklist of small projects that can be completed quickly. Don’t be ambitious! There is more glory in a new kitchen, but if the rest of the home suffers, the overall effect could well be a decline in your home’s value. A new kitchen with all stainless steel appliances doesn’t increase your home’s value if the roof starts leaking and warps the walls.

There are good times for homeowners to pursue these big projects, but they shouldn’t even be attempted until all the basics of annual maintenance are performed.

Luckily we’ve built a checklist to help you stay up on all the annual maintenance tasks you should be doing to make sure your home retains its value. You’ll have plenty of time later to put in the jacuzzi tub, right now you probably need to be double-checking your sump pump!

Tell us more about your horror stories in the comments. I’m sure we all have some.

In one of my finer moments, I decided I was going to stain the deck in the morning before a birthday party for a friend who lived out of town. Three trips to the hardware store later, I was 2 hours late and that deck is still splotchy to this day!

Tags: broken windows, Home Maintenance, stories

Folks, there are brand spanking new calculators in the calculators section at http://homeownerstuff.com/calculators/. The first in the series is designed to help you figure out if you should pay off your home or invest the difference.

Probably an easy decision this week, since everything is on sale, but you should run the numbers yourself!

Tags: calculators, Tips and Tricks, Tools

Tags: humor, videos

Whoa, where was this before I started on my weekend projects this week!

A new guide by do-it-yourself expert Andrea Ridout, on bookstore shelves this month, provides even the most repair-challenged with an easy-to-follow blueprint for tackling home-improvement projects around the house.

Looks like Bob Vila has a semi-annual checklist that’s very similar to the one we’re going to be promoting on this site. Good for everyone, go check it out.

BobVila.com: Home Maintenance Checklist

Here’s a simple bi-annual “Top to Bottom” checklist to keep your home in shape year round.

1. Roof: Check roof and around vents, skylights and chimneys for leaks. Repair as necessary.
2. Attic: If there is no ridge vent, keep gable vents open year-round to ensure proper ventilation.
3. Gutters: Clean gutters and drain pipes so leaves won’t clog them and be sure they drain away from the house. (Fall: In cold-climate areas) Drain outside faucets.
…

Tags: bob vila, checklist

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