Category: Home Maintenance

How to Maintain a Real Estate Investment Property

Investing in real estate can have a big payoff if it’s done right. But after finding the right property, making the necessary changes, and finding the perfect tenants, the work isn’t done—many investors forget to maintain their properties properly, which can mean bad news. A poorly maintained property can make it difficult to find good tenants and can result in lowered property value. So how can real estate investors effectively maintain their property?

Deep Clean Between Tenants

While tenants are responsible for cleaning while they’re living at the property, it’s up to property owners to clean in between tenants—before a new tenant moves in, property owners should do some deep cleaning. 

All of the floors should be cleaned and replaced as needed, countertops and other surfaces should be cleaned, and hard-to-reach areas, like behind furniture, should be given attention, too. This deep cleaning will help keep the house in good shape and ensure new tenants are happy when they move in.

Invest In Landscaping

Curb appeal plays a big role in both attracting new tenants and property value. This is why landscaping is so important. Simple landscaping tasks like mowing the lawn, trimming overgrown trees and bushes, and even planting some flowers can make a big difference. A major backyard renovation isn’t necessary, but basic upkeep is essential to keeping the property looking nice and maintained.

There may also be some bigger landscaping projects. For example, if there are dead or damaged trees in the yard, property owners shouldn’t let them stay—these trees are not only an eyesore, but they could fall and cause property damage or even injuries. 

With that in mind, property owners should conduct a search for “tree removal company near me” and find a reputable and experienced business to work with. Sometimes, outsourcing tasks, like tree removal, to professionals is the best option.

Make Necessary Repairs

Keeping up with repairs as needed is perhaps one of the most important tasks when it comes to maintaining a property. If repairs go left undone, bigger problems can arise. Repairs can be small tasks, like fixing a leaking pipe or patching a hole in a wall. But repairs can also be bigger tasks, like fixing a broken HVAC unit or repairing a roof. Either way, repairs should be completed as soon as the problem is noticed. 

If something like a leaking pipe isn’t taken care of, it can result in major problems—a leak can lead to pooling water or even flooding. This can result in water damage and even mold, which can cause serious health problems for tenants living in the house. This is why it’s so important that property owners take care of repairs right away, which will save them more money and time down the line.

If a property owner is good about managing one property, they may be wondering how to buy multiple investment properties. There are a few important steps to take before investing in multiple properties—property owners should make sure they have the tools and resources they need to properly maintain each of their properties so they can continue getting good tenants and a steady income. 

Additionally, property owners may want to consider hiring a property manager to help with certain tasks, like repairs and renovations. And lastly, property investors will need to secure a good loan. Getting a good home loan is crucial because, with a large enough loan amount and a low-interest rate, property owners can invest in high-quality properties. This will allow them to put minimal work into the property before looking for tenants, ultimately increasing their income.

Real estate investments can be a lot of work, but they can be rewarding, too. So if property owners keep these tips in mind to help maintain their properties, they should have minimal complaints from tenants and continue with good property values.

5 Ways to Make Your Home Safer in 2019

You’ve turned on the alarm. Triple-checked the locks. Left a few lights or the TV on to trick potential intruders into thinking someone’s home. The house is safe now, right? 

Yes, it might be. But let’s think outside the box a little: home safety, for the most part, is linked to warding off burglars. While that’s the main reason why homeowners do all of the above, they should also remember that their own home is where the greatest accident risk is—even when there’s no thief visible. 

Truth is, there are more great ways to watch out for your home’s security, some of which you haven’t yet considered and could save your family from harm. We’ve listed a few of them below:

Substitute Blind Cords For Motorized Windows

You’ve probably heard: if you have children, blind cords can be deadly. 12 percent of kids can get caught in blind cords and the consequences are lethal. Even if you’re a stay-at-home mom, it’s improbable that you’ll be able to watch your kids without interruption. 

In this case, your best alternative is to consider motorized window treatments instead of blinds. They not only eliminate dangers for small kids but also reduce the accumulation of dust, making them an ideal choice for little ones and those susceptible to allergies. 

Choose Railings Made Of Stainless Steel

Whether on staircases or balconies, railings are undoubtedly the best way to prevent falls. Depending on the material you choose, you could also be preventing your family from toxin exposure. Let us explain:

When giving your home a paint job (and that includes railings), the characteristic strong paint smell shouldn’t be your only concern. Traditional paints release certain volatile chemicals—also called volatile organic compounds—that remain in the ambient even years after a paint job, contrary to the odor. These compounds can be harmful to the health of whoever’s in the house. 

Stainless steel, on the other hand, is durable and rust-proof. That means it’s your best choice for indoor or outdoor railings, regardless of weather conditions. You can do your best research by googling “stainless steel railings company near me”.

Have A Comprehensive Fire Escape Plan

Preventing home fires can be tricky. Even if you have installed smoke alarms, the fact that they’ll work when you need them the most isn’t a certainty seeing that, in a period of three years, 23 percent of fire-related deaths happened in homes where fire alarms didn’t work correctly. 

Of course, alarms are essential and so are fire extinguishers in strategic places. Speaking of strategy, you should create an uncomplicated fire escape plan for the whole family and conduct a monthly fire drill—this will make sure everybody knows how to escape in the case of a real situation, especially children. 

Automate Your Home

Just like smartphones, we can now have smart locks and smart lights in our homes. 

Home automation can put simple yet easily forgettable activities in the palm of your hands. You no longer need to wrack your brain trying to remember if you locked the front door—when in doubt, just check an app on your cellphone. If it’s unlocked, solve your problem with a click. 

Noticed suspicious activity in the backyard at night? Don’t put your life at risk by going out there. Simply turn on the lights without leaving where you are. If there’s an intruder, they’ll likely panic and go away.

Learn Everything You Can About Personal Safety

It doesn’t matter how convinced you are that nothing bad can happen in your home; taking some time to learn CPR and the Heimlich maneuver is always a good idea. You need to be prepared for life-threatening situations such as witnessing a loved one choking or drowning in a pool. These kinds of problems require fast thinking and acting, therefore you should already be aware of what to do to save a life. 

The only way to create a truly safe household is to see safety issues from all angles. From fending off intruders to avoiding tragic accidents, be sure to prevent all concerns from the inside out.

Tips to Create a Soothing, Safe and Fun Sensory Atmosphere at Home

Millions of children have sensory issues or fall on the autism spectrum. There are many different ways people take in information or process the world around them. Signs can emerge as early as a year old but usually diagnosed around three years old. Your child may begin to miss certain developing marks like making eye contact, repetitive behaviors such as spinning toys (or themselves) or flapping their hands. 

You can help your child discover calming and entertaining toys at home that, for example, encourage muscle growth and motor skills. With a little TLC and some DIY, it’s easy to make a variety of great projects and special spaces to relax in. Here are some tips to create a soothing, safe, and fun sensory atmosphere at home. 

Sensory processing disorders and autism spectrum disorders have many similarities. Kids with both SPD and ASD may also have a variety of compulsions or hyperactivity, making concentration at school or home difficult. A child with autism can have sensory processing issues too, such as finding specific noises, music, or lights to be disturbing or frightening. They may cover their ears, cry, or even hide until the trigger stops. 

Sometimes what people see as tantrums are responses to sensory overloads. Developmental delays can frustrate a child trying to express their feelings or words. This can leave them to express themselves by hitting, crying, or even avoiding those around them. Many children with these disorders have low muscle tone in parts of their bodies or have trouble with gross and fine motor skills. Early intervention programs offer IEPs in a school district. This helps create a personalized program for a child who has one or both of these disorders. 

Experts such as autism spectrum disorder specialist, physical, occupational, or speech therapists may even come to your home for additional services. With a team of teachers, doctors, and specialists, kids can greatly benefit from their IEP. 

Continuing successful behaviors and rewards at home are important. Games, toys, and sensory safe areas in the home are a great way to teach and work with your child. A light table or box can be created with soft white Christmas lights, wood, and a translucent plastic cover to illuminate see-through magnetic toys, colored pieces of plastic, or even used for artwork. The glow isn’t harsh, lowering the risk of bothering those with light sensitivities.

Directions for DIY lightboxes can be found as well as ones already made on various websites. Chose a corner of your child’s bedroom or a play area filled with their favorite sensory toys, pillows to lay on, calming sensory bottles, and soft lighting. This can also be a place your child can go to when they’re feeling stressed. 

Keep loud, flashing toys out of reach if your child becomes anxious from them. Over-stimulation for a child who has sensory issues can be overwhelming. A child can become upset, angry, frustrated, or scared from loud noises and bright lights. Keeping televisions and devices volumes on low or using noise-canceling headphones may also help reduce traumatic episodes. 

Sensory toys are incredibly important to encourage the development of gross and fine motor skills. Low muscle tone in the hands, for example, can cause difficulties such as grasping eating implements, buttoning a shirt, trouble zipping a jacket, or tying shoes. Underdevelopment of gross motor skills can affect jumping, kicking a ball, and proper core or trunk support. Kneading toxic-free dough can strengthen fingers and wrists while your child creates their own projects and sculptures. Colorful and edible play dough can be made from an easy to follow recipes for picky eaters. Eating different textures and consistencies of food that require your child to chew more helps strengthen jaw muscles to decrease drooling and speech troubles. 

Additional sensory implements are kinetic sand, squishy ooze, and archaeology kits containing hidden toys like dinosaurs that need to be dug up. These are all great ways to find out which sensory toys your child enjoys and encourages muscle development in the fingers.