Archives for June 2016

There are many reasons why you should kit out your home with the best possible security. The main two are that it will keep your family safe as well as your valuables. Even though a secure home is key to a happy life, you’ll be surprised to learn just how many people neglect it. Too many homeowners forget about whether their very own home is secure or not. If you live in an urban area, you probably won’t have forgotten about it. However, there is a chance you may have become a bit lax about it and let things slip. So, do you think it is time to update your home’s security? You best get ready to do some DIY then; here are my top tips for increasing your home’s security.

Credit

Get A Dog

This may seem like a trivial way to improve security, but it actually works! And your kids will love their new furry friend! In all seriousness, though, dogs can be great deterrents. If a potential intruder notices you have a dog, then they will be a lot less likely to try and break into your home. Some breeds, such as German Shepherds and Boxers, will be hardy enough to live in a kennel in your garden so will be very visible to burglars. However, if you choose a smaller breed that lives inside, it will also help ward off thieves. Especially if it barks a lot and is heard from outside. Don’t want a dog? No problem, you can still use them to help make your home super secure. You just need to be a bit imaginative! Instead of buying a dog, just buy ‘Beware of the Dog’ signs. Stick these to your garden gate or front door, and foolish burglars will be scared off by the dog they think is lurking inside your home!

Credit

Fix Your Doors And Windows

If some of the entry ways into your property are faulty, an intruder will find it very easy to let himself inside. So it is a good idea to take a quick check of all your doors and windows. Try locking them and gently push them. Do you think you could easily open them while they are locked? If so, you could do with replacing the lock. If you have old-fashioned doors and window frames, you might be better off upgrading to some modern fittings. Modern doors and windows are mainly made plastics which are harder to kick down than wooden doors and window frames. Don’t forget to check your garage doors as well. If they are faulty, you could end up with no car! To prevent this, you can always get a professional in to repair faulty ones. Take a look online from Neighborhood Garage Door Service Company.

Credit

Install CCTV

If you are losing sleep while you are away on holiday because you think people might be trying to break into your home, think about CCTV. There are now many cutting-edge systems which you can connect to your smartphone. To do this, you simply need to either install an app or connect the two through Bluetooth. You will then be able to tune in on your phone and watch what is being filmed through the CCTV cameras. But it doesn’t matter if you can’t afford such a modern system. One that does not hook up to your phone is perfectly fine as well. A standard system will just tape everything so you can go over it a later date and watch it. If you are burgled, CCTV also helps you track down the culprit. They will have been filmed, so you can give the tapes over to the police as evidence. If the camera’s caught the intruder’s face, then the authorities will have no trouble hunting them down. Don’t have the budget for this kind of technology? No problem, buy a cheap broken or fake camera on eBay or other online sites. If you have a camera on your property, thieves will be put off from trying to enter your home. There’s no way they’ll be able to tell whether it is working or not!

Credit

Buy A Burglar Alarm

Another great deterrent is the trusty burglar alarm. Call a professional company to install one on your property for you. You can try to do it yourself, but it is easy to get wrong. Then, all you need to do is turn on the alarm system every time you leave your home. If the system detects anyone entering the property during this time, it will give them a certain amount of time to enter a specific code into it. This code will deactivate the alarm. If the code isn’t entered, the alarm will go off, and everyone in your street will hear it and be alerted. It might also be possible to connect your alarm system to your local police station. That way, the police will know to check your property if the alarm goes off. There are many different alarm systems out there, so you will certainly be able to find one to suit your budget. You’ll also be able to buy a fake one. Just like with a fake CCTV camera, intruders can barely tell the difference between a real and dummy one. So they will be deterred from entering your property as soon as they notice it!

Credit

Leave The Lights On

Burglars will not try to get into your house if they think you are still home. So next time you leave the house for a few hours, think about leaving some lights on. You could even leave your TV on so that it sounds like you are watching it! As soon as an intruder notices a light, he won’t risk entering in case he is caught. If you don’t want to leave your TV or lights on, you can buy a special lamp that will mimic the light from a TV. If someone sees it through a window, they will think it is a TV.

So why not double check your home’s security today!

 

Moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do. Thankfully, there are ways of eliminating any hassle and making the process simpler. If you’re preparing to move, bear these handy tips in mind.

Get organized

If you’ve got a moving date, start planning as early as possible. Leaving everything to the last minute is never a good idea, especially when moving home. Draw up a list of everything you need to do in the coming weeks and work through it.

Start packing in advance. If you’re not hiring a removals firm, you’ll need time to pack up your possessions and label boxes.

Book time off work to give yourself time to get sorted before you move. The last thing you want is to be stressing out about getting everything done.

Packing tips

When it comes to packing, there are various options. You can hire a firm to do it all for you. You can go it alone. Or you can call favors from friends and family. Packing is time-consuming. You always end up having much more stuff than you first thought.

If you’re doing the packing, start with items you know you won’t need before you move. If it’s the depths of winter, you won’t be needing shorts and swimwear and vice versa. Make sure you label your boxes clearly. Anything fragile should be handled carefully. Mark each box with the room name. This will save you time at the other end. As your moving date gets closer, you can continue to pack things you no longer need.

When you’re going through your possessions, it’s a good idea to get rid of anything you don’t want. Moving house is an ideal time to declutter and have a wardrobe cleanse. Make a pile for a charity shop if you have clothes, DVDs or books you don’t want to keep.

Image credit

Before you hand over the keys

Before you leave, it’s a good idea to hire professional cleaners to give your house or flat a thorough clean. Nobody wants to move into a dirty home, and you may lose your deposit if you leave a rental untidy. Look into apartment cleaning services in your local area. Once you’ve moved your boxes out, the cleaners can come in and ensure the property is sparkling. This will save you time when you’ve probably got lots of other things on your to-do list.

It’s always a good idea to pack an overnight bag for the first couple of days in your new home. This means that you don’t have to tackle the pile of boxes as soon as you set foot in your new place. Take pajamas, a change of clothes, underwear and toiletries. You may also wish to do a quick food shop so that you have teabags, coffee, bread and milk to hand.

The moving process

When you’re moving, the easiest thing to do is hire a removals firm. You can choose a comprehensive service, which includes everything. Or, simply hire somebody to move your furniture and boxes from A to B. If you’re looking to save money or you don’t have much stuff, you could hire a van. It may also be worth asking around to see if friends and family are on hand to help you load and unload. Take care when lifting heavy items. You may need to use a trolley.

Image from

Unpacking and getting settled in your new home

If you’ve taken time off work, it’s wise to tackle unpacking as soon as you’ve recovered from the move. Start with essentials like kitchen paraphernalia and clothing. Take each box to its intended location and put everything away. Fold down the boxes and store them in the attic or return them to the removals firm.

Once you’ve unpacked everything, you can think about making your new house or apartment a home. You may want to do some DIY or decorating, so look out for ideas online and in magazines. Take a trip to a home store and buy some accessories to create a homely atmosphere. Lamps, vases, cushions and throws are a good place to start.

Image by 

If you’re moving, you may be dreading the thought of spending hours packing and moving heavy boxes. Moving house is not top of most people’s favorite things to do. But it does mean that exciting times are ahead. If you follow these steps, you’ll find that moving isn’t all that bad. Get organized, ask for help and save yourself time on arduous tasks, like cleaning. Try and get sorted in your new home as quickly as possible. You’ll be happy and settled before you know it.

 

No matter how much we look after our home, there are some things that are beyond our control. And when we find we have a problem with our home, it is best to get it fixed as soon as possible. Don’t worry, though; you don’t have to spend money on a professional to save the day. You will be able to sort out many household issues on your own. Here’s how!

Image Source

A Leaky Roof

Have you recently noticed water dripping through your ceiling? You could be troubled with a leaky roof! This can be very easy to fix, even if you aren’t that skilled at DIY. One of the main reasons you will have this problem is because the shingles on your roof will need replacing. There are other ways that you can fix your roof, which you can learn from Advanced Exteriors here. But of course, if you feel too nervous about climbing up to your roof yourself, it might be better to call in the professionals!

Vermin Infestation

If you find that you have rats or mice in your home, you will be able to get rid of them yourself. First of all, make sure that there is no leftover food out in your kitchen which is attracting them. Then, check the pipes in your kitchen and bathroom to make sure there are no leaks. This source of water could be helping the pests survive. Place rat and mouse traps down to try and catch them. After a few days, you should have caught them all.

Image Source

Blocked Pipe

Is the water not running out of your sink or bath quick enough? If so, it sounds like the pipe could be blocked. Try and see if you can pull out any hairs from your bathroom plugs and large lumps of food from those in your kitchen. If that doesn’t fix things, pour some bleach down the plughole. After a few minutes, follow it with some boiling water straight from the kettle. This should loosen any blocked sediment. Still not fixed? Get a plunger to try and bring up whatever is blocking the pipe.

Blown Lightbulb

If your lights aren’t working, you may have to change the lightbulbs. You can buy new bulbs very cheaply in supermarkets. If that still doesn’t work, there may be an issue with your electrical circuit. Unless you are a qualified electrician, it is very important not to touch any of the circuit or wirings. Otherwise, you could end up electrocuting yourself! Especially if they are close to a water source in your kitchen or bathroom. It will be much easier to call an electrician who can safely solve the problem and get it all fixed quickly. Even if you think you know what you are doing, it’s best to stay away from electrics. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

 

So next time something goes wrong in your home, don’t panic. There will always be an easy solution. And if there isn’t, just call a handyman to sort everything out!