You think a lot about ways to keep your family and property safe, but there are so many little things that need to be secured. If your home has sliding glass doors, you may not know how to secure them properly. Read on for steps on how to get your sliding glass doors completely secure.
Know The Risks
While sliding glass doors and windows provide your home with a lot of light, without the right coverage, thieves can see right into your home and view all of your belongings. Visibility is one of the most apparent security risks with sliding glass doors.
The other fundamental risk is that these doors can slide off the track. If you’re unaware of it, it can be an easy way for criminals to get right into your home. Keep in mind that the locks on your sliding glass door may not be as secure as a traditional deadbolt lock that you have on your door.
The Fix
A dowel rod is one of the easiest ways to secure your sliding glass door. This rod fits in the track of the sliding door to prevent the door from sliding at all. To make this fix efficient, you’ll need to measure the track and get a dowel that’s the perfect size to fit in the track. You also should ensure that the rod is thick enough.
Sensor alarms also exist that help you to identify when the door is open. An alar like this deters thieves and even alerts you as to when the door is being opened. This feature can be helpful if you have young children as well.
Another security option for your sliding glass door is to install more heavy duty locks. Typical locks on sliding glass doors have latches that are shaped like a hook connecting to the door frame. These latches can be easily forced open. There are double bolted locks that allow for a more secure door. These locks can be a great addition to security along with the dowel rod since the locks are harder to break.
Check Your Door
Although it sounds painfully obvious, checking that your sliding glass door is locked every night before you head to bed will be an extra layer of security for your home. Make sure that the dowel rod is in place and any alarms that you have are set. Diligence is one of the best forms of security that you can have. It’s also vital that your door is functioning properly. Any problems that exist with the door should be addressed promptly.
You’ve been thinking it for a while: “I really should start putting some money aside for a down payment.” But, you just can’t seem to find any wiggle room in your budget.
You’re not alone. Saving for a down payment isn’t easy. Especially if you’ve got rent, car payments, student loans, and are trying to put money aside for retirement.
In today’s post, we’re going to talk about how to make a game plan for your down payment. This way, you can start saving immediately, bringing you closer to your goal of homeownership each day.
The first rule of budgeting is that you need to know where each dollar you earn ends up. From there, you can start re-allocating funds to the things you want to save for.
There are many apps and tools available to help you out with this process, including YNAB (You Need A Budget) and Mint. If apps aren’t your thing, you can always use a simple spreadsheet.
First, account for all of your income. This could include your salary, rental income, or other forms of money that you have coming in.
Next, detail each of your weekly and monthly expenses. Everything from groceries to the internet bill and retirement contributions.
Now it’s time to make some tough decisions. Are there ways you can cut down on your weekly or monthly expenses? Maybe you aren’t using that Amazon Prime membership as much as you thought you would. Or, maybe you’ve decided you don’t really watch anything on cable but the news. There are a number of ways one might cut back on their monthly bills.
Get creative with family plans, bulk shopping for food, or cooking budget-friendly meals. All of these savings will add up quickly.
Let’s face it, if you have thousands of dollars in student loans, you might not be able to aggressively pay them down by the time you want to move out of your apartment.
But, for small debts (under $1,000 credit card debt, for example), you could save more in the long run by paying them off and avoiding interest payments.
With the right savings account and credit card, you can earn money through savings interest and through cashback rewards on credit cards.
First, find a savings account with the highest possible interest rate. These can often be found from choosing an online bank who doesn’t have the overhead of running branches.
Next, direct deposit a set amount of your paycheck each week into that savings account. This way, you can be sure that you won’t dip into your down payment savings.
To generate additional income, you can use cash back rewards from credit cards for things like groceries and gas. Choose a credit card that offers the best cash back rewards for things like groceries and gas purchases. The key here is to only use your credit card on necessities and to always pay off the card in full at the end of each month.
If you follow these four steps, you should be able to streamline your down payment savings process and start saving right now.
If your budget allows for it, hiring a good housekeeper is well worth the money. If you're like most professional couples, you probably already feel "maxed out" after you've put in 40 to 60 hours at your jobs . When you add parenting responsibilities into the mix, there's not too much time and energy left for cleaning the house! While certain basic house cleaning tasks are unavoidable on a daily basis, it's a relief to know that a paid house cleaner will be coming in to do a thorough job soon.
Finding a reliable housekeeper with whom you feel comfortable can be a bit of a challenge, but if you can get referrals from family, friends, and others you know, then your search should put you on the right track.
The Selection Process
Since the main reason you're hiring a cleaning person is to make your life easier, the last thing you want to deal with is dependability problems or substandard work. That's why it's important to get referrals from people you know and trust. It often pays to interview more than one prospective cleaning person because you want to find someone who is the best match for your budget and needs. When you have two or three prospects to choose from, you'll be in a better position to choose the one with the best attitude, top references, and the most agreeable personality.
Unless a cleaning person was referred to you by someone you know well, it's a good idea to request references and contact a couple of them before making any final decisions. Calling at least two of their current customers (or past bosses) should give you some helpful insights into their work habits, punctuality, and willingness to follow directions.
Although most customers will probably try to be complimentary, if you ask the right questions and look for "red flags" in their answers, you'll be surprised at what you can learn. While it may be too blunt to ask if their cleaning person is honest, a lot can be inferred from their responses to other questions. For example, if a housekeeper has been working for the same customer for several years and cleans their house while the costumer is at their office or other place of employment, then there's a good chance the cleaner does excellent (or at least satisfactory) work and can be trusted. One direct question that generally needs to be asked when talking with references is "Would you personally recommend this person?" Asking how their housekeeper responds to special requests, suggestions, or constructive criticism may also provide revealing answers.
When getting a quote from a cleaning person or house cleaning service, it's useful to get an itemized list of what chores or services would be covered in the price. There are two advantages to this. First of all, you'll be able to compare "apples to apples". Secondly, you'll be able to gauge your expectations to what was initially promised and agreed to. While there may be other issues to consider, like possible background checks and insurance coverages they carry, once you've found a house cleaner you like and trust, you've cleared the biggest hurdle in your search!
Summer brings warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine. It also may serve as the best time to sell your house, and perhaps for good reason.
Many families relocate during summer to ensure that children can enroll in school before the new school year begins. Plus, summer often means longer days and extended vacations, ensuring that many homebuyers have extra time to browse properties.
For a home seller, it is important to allocate the necessary time and resources to get your home ready for the summer housing market. Lucky for you, we're here to help you do just that.
Here are three tips to prep your home for the summer real estate market.
1. Clean Up Your Home
Vacuuming the rugs, wiping down the walls and performing other home cleaning tasks is essential for home sellers, particularly during summer.
If you spend some time cleaning up your residence, you'll be able to improve your chances of making a great first impression on homebuyers. In addition, keeping your residence neat and tidy may help you show off the true beauty of your home, increasing your chances of maximizing the value of your property.
Also, don't forget to get rid of clutter before you add your house to the real estate market. By doing so, you can show homebuyers the true size of your living space.
2. Focus on the Landscaping
Your home's curb appeal will play a key role in its ability to generate interest from homebuyers.
For instance, a messy, weed-filled front lawn likely will be an eyesore to homebuyers. Comparatively, a clean, pristine front lawn will help your home sparkle in homebuyers' eyes.
Mow your lawn regularly – you'll be glad you did. With a beautiful lawn, your home will dazzle. As a result, a stunning lawn may help your residence stir up plenty of interest from homebuyers.
3. Offer the Right Price
Summer represents a popular time for homebuyers to look for bargains. In fact, many homebuyers may look to purchase a home at a below-average price, make various home improvements and "flip" it for a profit during summer.
An informed home seller will be able to set the right price for a residence from the get-go. If you learn about the prices of comparable homes in your city or town, you should have no trouble establishing a competitive price for your house.
Furthermore, working with an experienced real estate agent often is a great idea to maximize the value of your home. Your real estate agent can offer housing market data that you may struggle to find elsewhere, ensuring that you can set the ideal price for your home in summer.
Perhaps best of all, your real estate agent will offer recommendations to help you get your home ready for the summer housing market. He or she will respond to your real estate queries as well, guaranteeing that you can optimize the value of your residence.
Take advantage of the aforementioned tips, and you can streamline the process of selling your home in summer.
Setting up and completing a home inspection may seem like a long, arduous process. However, an inspection is a must-have for any homebuyer, at any time.
With a comprehensive home inspection, you can identify any potential problems with a house. And if you don't like what you find in an inspection report, you can always ask a home seller to complete improvements or reduce his or her asking price. Or, if you prefer, you can walk away from a home sale altogether.
Ultimately, there are several steps that you'll want to follow to conduct a home inspection, and these are:
1. Find an Expert Home Inspector
When it comes to a home purchase, there is no need to leave anything to chance. Fortunately, if you hire an expert home inspector, you can avoid the risk of missing possible issues during a home inspection.
Not all home inspectors are created equal, so you'll want to evaluate all of the options at your disposal.
To kick off your search for a home inspector, browse the web. This will enable you to find dozens of home inspectors in your area and assess online client reviews.
Also, don't hesitate to ask a home inspector for client referrals. If you obtain client referrals, you can better understand whether a home inspector can match or exceed your expectations.
2. Attend Your Home Inspection
Although homebuyers are not required to attend a home inspection, it generally is a good idea to walk with a home inspector as he or she examines your residence. By doing so, you may be able to gain home insights that might not be included in a home inspection report.
A home inspector may notice home problems that range from minor to severe. The inspector's job is to identify a problem and include it in a home inspection report.
If you attend a home inspection, an inspector may be able to provide you information about potential home problems, along with an estimate about how much assorted home repairs may cost. That way, you are better equipped than ever before to determine whether potential home problems could deter you from buying a house.
3. Evaluate the Home Inspection Report
A home inspection report can play a key role in the homebuying process. If you evaluate this report closely, you can learn about a home's strengths and weaknesses and decide whether to proceed with a home purchase.
If you have questions regarding a home inspection report, you can always follow-up with the inspector that provided the assessment. This will allow you to obtain the insights that you need to make an informed homebuying decision.
Lastly, it certainly helps to collaborate with a real estate agent before, during and after a home inspection. A real estate agent will guide you along the homebuying process and ensure that you can get the best possible results.
Follow the aforementioned steps, and you should have no trouble conducting a home inspection.
