Category: Archive
Top Home Updates That Can Really Pay Off When You Sell Your Home
The market is currently in favor of sellers, with low-interest rates, rising home prices, and limited inventory. That doesn’t mean, though, that you’re off the hook when it comes to getting your house sale-ready. If you want to get the best asking price (and who wouldn’t?), there are certain updates that will deliver a higher
Dine in Style with an Outdoor Kitchen
Outdoor entertaining has come a long way from a charcoal grill and a picnic table in the backyard. Today, if you can dream it, odds are high that someone can create an outdoor kitchen for you. And if the 33,400 images for “Outdoor kitchens” on Houzz.com are any indication, a lot of people are building
Common Indoor Allergy Triggers in Spring
April showers bring May flowers, and May flowers bring pollen, and pollen can be miserable if you’re allergic to it. For some unfortunate people, even being indoors in spring can make you sick. If you’re having an indoor sneeze-fest, complete with a drippy nose and watery/itchy eyes, your home air quality could be compromised by
Hug a Plumber on April 25
How will you be celebrating National Hug a Plumber Day April 25? The Dictionary.com definition of a plumber is “a person who installs and repairs piping, fixtures, appliances and appurtenances in connection with the water supply, drainage systems, etc., both in and out of buildings.” While that might be the technical definition of a plumber,
Prepare Your Home for the Winter Thaw
It might seem like this winter has been relentless, but according to the Winter Misery Index (yes, that’s a real thing) published by the Minnesota DNR, our winter was only “moderate,” with 43 points for cold and 44 for snow. It was colder than last year, when our winter was designated as “mild,” but not
Spiff up Your Home with this Indoor Spring Cleaning Checklist
It might not feel like spring today (Mother Nature, what are you doing?!), but according to the calendar, the first day of spring is March 20. And with or without snow, this time of year is prime time for cleaning out the clutter so we’re ready when the birds are singing, the sun is shining,
Ways to Safeguard Your Home Before Leaving Town
Congratulations! You’re finally going on that long-anticipated and much-deserved vacation. Don’t make the mistake of waiting until the morning you leave to get your house prepped for vacation-mode. Here’s our pre-travel checklist: Unplug and reset the thermostat. Temporarily adjust the thermostat so you’re not wasting energy in an empty house. (A good rule of thumb
Tips to Get Your HVAC System Ready for Warmer Weather
March in Minnesota can’t make up its mind: one day we get slammed with enough snow to warrant school closures, and the next it’s 40 and sunny, bringing spring-time thoughts of flowers and sunshine and warmer days ahead. March weather also means your heating and cooling needs will likely go from one extreme to another.
How to Change Your Furnace Filter
Remembering to change your furnace filters is one of the best ways to maintain your HVAC system between tune-ups. Not only will regular furnace filter maintenance keep your air clear when open windows aren’t an option, but it will also reduce heating costs by improving the efficiency of your furnace. Keeping up with furnace filter maintenance isn’t difficult, but
Take Care of the Heart of Your Home: Your HVAC System
A highly functioning system translates to lower utility bills, better air quality, and fewer unnecessary costs With February 14 fast approaching, it’s hard to ignore the abundance of red, pink, and white hearts decorating retail stores and restaurants and even cars. Not coincidentally, February is also American Heart Month, drawing attention to cardiovascular disease and
