Fall is right around the corner and September has me dreaming of cooler weather and pumpkin carving. Whether you're a pumpkin spice or an apple cider, and whether you rent or own, there are things you can do around your home to increase safety, lower heating bills and ensure the coming cold weather doesn't create issues down the road. Check for cracks in your driveway, sidewalks, porch and patio. Any cracks or lifting you see now will only get worse with freezing and thawing over the winter. Repair them before they become a trip hazard. Renters, don't think this doesn't apply to you. Your landlord may not see your home every day, so you take a look and report your findings in order to get things repaired. This one may not apply to renters, but every homeowner knows the struggle to get your lawn looking green and lush in the Spring. Get a leg up by fertilizing now, and giving your grass a chance to grow strong roots before the freezing weather hits. Smoke detector and ca...

Last week we talked indoor Spring prep, so let's move outside the house.  Don't worry, we'll get to the yard next week! Gutters and downspouts You know we're about to get the Spring rains, so cleaning your gutters is probably a no brainer, but here's something to consider, too.  If your gutters and downspouts aren't draining properly, it can cause the wood at your eaves to rot.  Leave the rot unattended long enough and you get holes.  Meaning critters getting into your attic.  Cleaning your gutters is not a fun job, but it really is important to do multiple times a year. Roof and chimney No, I am NOT suggesting that you jump up on your roof and take a walk around!  But you can see a lot from ground level.  Even without getting on a ladder you can look for lose or missing shingles, popped nails and evidence of bowing or sagging and other common problems .  If you see those things, call a professional to see if you need repairs before it gets ...

Can you believe Spring is just around the corner?  In Southeast Indiana you never really know when Spring weather will arrive, but the first day of Spring is March 19, just over 2 weeks away! That means it's time to get your house ready for Spring and all that it brings.  This has the potential to be a LONG post, so I'm going to break it up into several editions.  Since its been so rainy, let's start inside the home and give it a little time to dry up before heading outside next week. Foundation and basement Look for signs of moisture coming into your basement.  With all the rain we've had, this should be a fairly easy task, but please do take it seriously.  After all, the foundation is literally your house's home!  Moisture can be high humidity, cracks and even standing water in older homes.  Cracks tend to start from the bottom up, so look there first for signs of moisture.  While some settling is normal, cracks that look dark usu...

When you buy a new home, you're excited to paint and move your stuff in, and who wouldn't be?  But there are a few things that, while not nearly as fun, are more important to the safety and security of your new home. Change the locks Yes, you just got the keys and they may even be newly cut.  But there's no way to know if the sellers forgot to get a key back from a friend or family member and you don't want strangers to have a key to your new home.  New locks aren't that expensive and are easy to install yourself , and the peace of mind is priceless. Check windows and doors  If you worked with me as your Realtor, you had a thorough inspection with a reputable inspector.  But it's possible something broke after the inspection.  Make sure your doors and windows are secure.  That means properly locked and not causing any unnecessary energy leaks . Replace smoke detectors and batteries When I bought my current home I found a lot of things the sell...