Archive for March, 2011

Going on vacation is supposed to be relaxing, but every time I go away, I can’t help but wonder what state my home is going to be in when I get back. Did I remember to turn off the coffee pot (the answer there is almost always no!), did I close the garage door, did I lock the back door? Will someone break in while I’m gone? These questions can make your vacation more stress-filled than stress-relieving. Well, I can’t tell you how to remember to turn off the coffee maker before leaving for an extended period of time, but here are a few things you can do to make your empty home less attractive to potential burglars.

• Leave interior and exterior lights on, or put them on a timer.
• Have someone you trust pick up mail, newspaper, and any packages you might receive while you’re gone.
• Disable automatic garage doors.
• Take your laptops and cameras with you.

The ultimate goal is to give your home the appearance that someone is there, or will be home soon. Don’t forget - you can always ask your neighborhood watch (of you have one) and your neighbors to keep an eye on your house and let you know if anything out of the ordinary happens.

Today is officially the second day of spring! As the temperatures rise, this is the perfect time to get any home-improvement projects under way. The rainy season isn’t here yet, it’s not too hot outside. But, how do you hire someone to make these improvements? Whether it’s your yearly AC tune-up (ahem - it IS that time again!), re-shingling the roof, or landscaping your yard, you need a professional. A hammer and business cards do not make a professional - you need to do your research to make sure you are entrusting your home with someone that knows what they are doing.

Here is the Better Business Bureau’s checklist to go through before hiring a contractor.

1. Check their track record. You can get a company’s BBB rating and complaint history at www.bbb.org.
2. Compare costs. You want to get at least 3 written bids based on the same warranty, specifications, labor, and time. And remember - cheaper is NOT always better!
3. Check to make sure the company is properly licensed and insured. Without the proper licenses and insurance, they won’t be able to protect you from any damages.
4. Ask for references. Be specific about the references you want - ask for contact information on their 3 most recent jobs. They will be able to give you all kinds of information - whether the contractor sticks to budget, their honesty and integrity, work ethic.
5. Get a written contract. Do not allow the contractor to start working until you have a written, signed agreement including start and completion dates, exact costs, specific work to be done, and warranty costs. Don’t forget to read the fine print before you sign.
6. You should never pay a deposit over 25%-33% of the total job costs, and the final payment should be due upon completion of the work - not before. Always pay by check or credit card and never by cash - this way you will have a record of all payments made.
7. Get all warranty information in writing. Again, you want to read the fine print carefully.
8. Be sure all workers employed by the contractor are bonded to protect you against theft and damage.
9. Check criminal history. Before letting anyone work on your home, check to see if they have a criminal record.

Remember the days of home-made volcanoes? Watching the baking soda and vinegar mixture (with a little red food coloring, of course!) roll down the mountainside, devouring everything in its path? Well, I have another use for your ‘lava’. You can use it to unclog your toilet! My love for all things Green aside, I have a small child and absolutely hate having toxic chemicals in my house – and drain cleaners are one of the worst! The next time your toilet is clogged, pour a cup of baking soda into the bowl, follow with a cup of vinegar, and sit back and watch the show! When the fireworks are over, pour boiling water down the drain to clean everything out – you still might need to follow with your plunger, but the clog will be much less resistant and you won’t risk your (or your little one’s) safety with those toxic drain cleaners!