Holiday decorating is in full swing, and as homeowners deck their halls, they may want to also use the festivities as an excuse to inspect several out-of-sight areas of their home.

Here are the top seven home issues they suggest looking for:

Electrical outlets

Is a plug no longer working? Outdoor outlets are exposed to the elements and can become damaged. A ground fault circuit interrupter may have been tripped. Take precautions if you find any loose connections or exposed wiring.

Circuit breakers

While installing an outdoor light display, homeowners may discover problems with the home’s electrical system or circuit breaker box. “Some homeowners may only check out their electrical panel if they accidentally throw a breaker,” GroundWorks says. “However, proactive homeowners may want to look at their breaker box before installing holiday lights. You may discover that you need a diagram of which circuits are connected to which outlets or appliances. This can help you avoid overloading a single circuit.” LED Christmas lights tend to use less electricity and may help avoid blown fuses.

Overgrown shrubs

Plants should be about two feet from your house to protect your foundation. Tend to any overgrown plants while hanging holiday lights, or make a note on your calendar to do so in March or April. “If you have overgrown evergreens, you can also give them a light trim around the holidays and use that greenery for home decorations,” Groundworks says.

The roof or gutters

If you’re on a ladder to hang Christmas lights, be sure to take a look at the roof and gutters. Are the gutters clogged? Is rainwater pooling right next to the foundation? Are any shingles missing on your roof? Spot existing damage and avoid creating more problems by using light clips on the edge of your gutter while hanging Christmas lights, GroundWorks suggests.

Chimney

Take a close look at the chimney. Does it look like it’s tilting or starting to separate from the house? This could be a sign of foundation issues. To test it, Groundworks suggests, hold a string with a small weight from the top edge of the house. The string will always fall straight down. Compare that to the structure to determine whether there is a tilt to any portion of the home, including the chimney. A tilting chimney may show a visible gap where it is pulling away from the remainder of the house, Groundworks says. A foundation expert may need to identify the problems and explore the best ways to fix t

 

hem.

Pest damage

You may also spot damage from pests. “Along the eaves, you could find woodpecker holes or wasp nests,” Groundworks says. “Where the house meets the ground, you could find signs of termites or ants.”

Siding damage or wood rot

Look for any signs of deterioration, damage, or wood rot on your siding or window frames. If you find any, your home could be vulnerable to water damage. “In the warmer months, your home could be unprotected from heavy rains, resulting in flooding or moisture in your basement or crawl space,” Groundworks warns. “As the weather turns cold, the damaged siding could allow water inside the walls, cracking the concrete when it freezes.”

 

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We recently celebrated Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer.  Summer time inspires so many activities to bring the fun outdoors including a good ole’ fashion barbeque!  Here are some helpful tips and recipes to make your next party the talk of the town!

Décor & Atmosphere

Based off your guest list, you should have adequate tables and chairs to accommodate all.  Table cloths and centerpieces will add flair.  Centerpieces can include candles, lanterns, or seasonal flowers.  Clear party lights, lanterns, candles, etc. creates a festive atmosphere for after dark.  Music playing in the background is a must to keep the energy and fun going.

Supplies

Make sure you have the basics!  Ice, cups, plates, napkins, utensils, condiments, and serving platters.

Have a buffet table set up to display food and utensils.  A drink station can include ice buckets of beer, soft drinks, water or a cocktail station.  Extra trash bags and trash cans should be readily available close by.  Have bug spray available as you don’t want your guests leaving early because of bites!

Games

If kids are invited, put a few games out for them to enjoy so the adults can talk and relax.  Some great games include bean bag toss, horseshoes, washers, badminton, bubble station, and water balloons.  Some adults may get in on the fun as well.

Food

We all know that a Texas Barbeque is centered around the meat.  Be aware of your guest list and provide a couple of options like beef and chicken to help please all palates.  Of course the main dish needs a variety of side dishes!  Need ideas for side dishes?  See below for recipes inspired from some of our Realtor’s home states.

 

Tonya’s South Texas Baked Beans

Ingredients:

1/2 a small onion chopped

1 green bell pepper chopped

3 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard

2-16 oz cans Bush’s pork and beans

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup light brown sugar

4 tablespoons Bar B Que sauce

1/2 pound bacon strips cut into 1/2- inch pieces

1 tablespoon butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Saute onion and bell pepper in the butter until soft

In a casserole dish mix onion, bell pepper, beans, mustard, maple syrup, brown sugar, & bar b que sauce. Top with the bacon pieces. Bake, covered, for 45 to 60 minutes.

 

Shanna’s South Carolina Frogmore Stew

Ingredients:

1 1/2 gallons water

Juice of one (1) lemon

Salt to taste

3 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning*

Redskin new potatoes (depending on size, 3 or more per person)

2 pounds spicy sausage (like andouille or kielbasa, etc.), cut into 1/2-inch slices

10 to 12 ears of shucked corn on the cob, broken into 3-inch pieces

4 pounds uncooked shrimp in shell, preferably jumbo-size shrimp**

* The general rule is 2 tablespoons crab boil seasoning per gallon water (or more to taste)

** Some people like to substitute fresh crab for the shrimp.

Instructions:

In a very large stock pot over medium-high heat, add the water, lemon, salt, and Old Bay Seasoning; bring to a boil.

When the seasoned water comes to a boil, add redskin potatoes and boil for 20 minutes.  When done, the potatoes should be easily pierced with a knife but not mushy.

Add sausage and gently boil, uncovered, 5 minutes.

Add corn and cook and continue cooking an additional 5 minutes (begin timing immediately, do not wait until water is boiling).

Add shrimp and cook and additional 3 to 5 minutes longer.  Do not overcook the shrimp.  Remove from heat and drain immediately.

Serve with lots of paper towels or napkins and ice-cold beverages, plus melted butter for the corn, cocktail sauce for the shrimp, and sour cream or ketchup for the potatoes.  This is a messy dish; you’ll need a whole handful of napkins or paper towels.

Yields 8 servings.

 

Michele’s Texas Caviar

In a large bowl mix together:

2 cans of black beans drained and rinsed

2 cans of mexicorn drained – I don’t rinse this

2 fresh tomatoes diced

2 avocados diced

4 scallions chopped

1/2 cup canola oil

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 – 1 teaspoon salt to taste

Stir it and put it in the refrigerator for 30 mins or so and serve with Tostito scoops or Fritos. Your choice.for smaller venues I cut the recipe in half and it works.

 

Amy’s Louisiana Style Potato Salad

Ingredients:

3 eggs

5-6 medium potatoes peeled and cubed

1 cup of Mayo (eyeball it)

1/3 cup of Mustard (eyeball it)

1/3 cup of sweet pickle relish

Salt & Pepper

Paprika

Parsley

Boil eggs.  Cool down with cold water. Peel and chop.

Boil potatoes in salted water 10 to12 minutes, or until just tender. Drain the potatoes and set aside to cool.

In a bowl, combine mayo & mustard

Put drained potatoes in large bowl and season with salt & pepper.  Put in relish, chopped boiled eggs, mustard & mayo.  Stir all together with spoon making sure potatoes smooth out and are covered by all wet ingredients.  You can add more mayo or mustard to your taste. Smooth out the top with spoon after all ingredients mixed and sprinkle ½ tsp of paprika on top and garnish with fresh parsley.

 

Stacey’s New England Style Pasta Salad

1lb pasta of choice (elbows, cavatappi, ziti)

Feta cheese, crumbled

Zesty Italien dressing

1 package cherry tomatoes

I cucumber chopped in ¼ pieces

1 small red onion diced

1 small crown of broccoli cut up

Chopped peppers (be colorful-red, yellow, orange)

Cook pasta, run cold water over when your draining.  Pour the bottle of dressing over pasta and then pick all vegetables or the ones you like the best to be colorful and mix together, then chill in refrigerator.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Halloween is over and now on to the next!  Never too early to prepare for Thanksgiving especially if you are the host!  Thanksgiving meal prep takes a lot of time and preparation not to mention all the other stuff you need to do to prepare for Holiday guests.  Family can be stressful in itself so let’s focus on the stuff we can try to control.  Hopefully, having a plan with pave the way for a beautiful feast and good time all can be grateful for.

One month out

Make a list of people that will be visiting.

Do you want it to feel cozy, elegant or casual?

Order your turkey and ham early

Choose recipes and figure out who will be making what

Do a walk-through of your home- does anything need to be updated or fixed? New decorating project?

Clear space in your pantry

Clear out the coat closet

Figure out if you will need extra tables, chairs, etc. to accommodate guests.

 

Two to Three Weeks ahead

Create DIY or figure out your table décor

Create your shopping list for non-perishable items and one for perishable items

Make your cooking schedule.  What things can be prepared ahead of time?

Shop for your non-perishables and leave them organized by dish

 

The weekend before

Tidy up your house.  Not the time for deep cleaning and purging.

Tidy up the front porch, maybe add a splash of color with plants or flowers

Clean out fridge and freezer to make room for prep items and leftovers

Shop for your perishable items

Purchase or pick up your frozen turkey so it can start thawing in the fridge

Review your menu and shopping lists to see if you left something out

 

The Day Before

Tidy up again focusing on main areas such as entry ways and bathrooms

Set the table with place settings and décor

Prep any dishes to decrease the workload

Clear out dishwasher

Put any frozen prep dishes you made prior in the fridge to thaw

Set up kids table if necessary

 

Thanksgiving Day

Start cooking Turkey early morning and start your cooking plan

After dinner, promptly put dishes in dishwasher to clear away and make room for dessert!

Graciously accept any help you get

Sit back and enjoy your pie!

 

 

 

 

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Spring has sprung! This is the time that many homeowners clean out their closets, cabinets, yards, etc. One other thing to consider this Spring is to make your home more energy efficient and save a little money in the long run!

Here are some ideas to save energy in your home’s most used rooms…

Bedroom
When the weather gets warmer many of us crank down our AC to be comfortable while sleeping. This can waste a lot of energy and it will impact your electricity bill. Ceiling fans can do wonders to help circulate air. Fans help to circulate cool air in the summer by pushing cooled air downward. Just by using a ceiling fan, you can raise the thermostat around 4 degrees with no reduction in comfort. Remember that ceiling fans cool our bodies but not the room, so remember to turn it off when you leave the room.

Another easy thing to do in your bedroom is to improve the lighting. Change out your light bulbs to CFLs or LEDs. They use about 75% less energy and will last longer.

Attic
Attics are an important part of the energy efficiency of our home. Adding insulation can make an immediate improvement. Do a check in your attic, especially if you have an older home and determine how much insulation can be added. This added insulation acts as a barrier to keep the heat out. To better maximize the benefits of added insulation, you can air seal by adding caulking, sealing and weather stripping to all seams, cracks and openings to the outside in your attic. To determine if your home needs added insulation, you can hire a qualified home energy auditor to do an assessment.

Kitchen
The kitchen is the most used room in the house, and therefore it takes a lot of electricity to keep it running. One of the biggest things is the appliances. You can use up to 40% less energy by replacing old refrigerators with an Energy Star labeled one. If your appliances are older than 2001, you should consider replacing with more updated, energy efficient models. Just think how nice your kitchen will look as you save money and energy! Of course, the same goes for light bulbs by changing to LEDs or CFLs. If you don’t want to do an overhaul there are a few other things you can do:
• Use pressure cookers or microwaves instead of the stove.
• Don’t open the oven door and peek in while cooking.
• Only run the dishwasher when full.
• Let your dishes air dry with the automatic air dry option or turn off dishwasher after the final rinse and open the door.
• Allow foods to partially cool before putting them in the refrigerator since it takes more energy to cool hot food.

Living Room
Do you have Energy Star electronics in your living room? These types of electronics help to reduce energy consumption without reducing the quality of the product. But you must remember to turn off these electronics when not in use. Even those in stand-by mode still consume energy. You can use ceiling fans in this room as well and replace light bulbs. It may also be beneficial to upgrade windows and doors not only in your living room but the entire house as well. If replacing windows is not an option, you can add caulking or weather stripping to reduce air leakage. Curtains and window coverings can help block the sun and keep your room cooler as well as adding a decorative touch.

Garage
Garages can be the biggest culprits of air loss in your home. One of the easiest ways to prevent air loss is to add weather stripping to the garage door and the door entering your home. If you are looking to increase curb appeal, you may consider purchasing a more energy efficient garage door. Lastly, many people keep their extra refrigerator in the garage for extra storage. Keeping the fridge/freezer at the proper temperature can cause it work harder. You may want to consider replacing or buying a model that is built garage friendly and can withstand extreme temperatures.

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Well it is that time of year again, time for those Holiday guests to start showing up. Here are a few tips that will help you prepare for any type of guest from your Grandmother to little children!

1.Too much Clutter? Don’t worry about those junk drawers and your linen closets, etc. Declutter the most important areas like the extra bedrooms, guest bedrooms and public areas. Remove unnecessary items from countertops, coffee & side tables. You can store the extra stuff in the garage, attic or out of the way closets.

2.Safety precautions for any guests young and old should be taken into account. For you elderly parents or grandparents make sure you have extra lighting at night so they can safely navigate their way throughout the house. Motion activated night lights work great! For those tiny tots, you may need to do a little childproofing on outlets and cabinet doors. Make sure cleaning products or any other hazardous materials are out of reach. Baby gates can help to keep children out of dangerous areas especially the stairs. For all, fire prevention is important. Make sure all the fire/smoke alarms are working properly and that you have fire extinguishers on hand. Fire drills or safety talks can be important as well.

3.Need a little extra storage space? Extra hooks or a coat rack can help keep all those hats and jackets put away. You can add an extra storage bench for guests to take off and store shoes and boots. A shelf in the garage can help you put away items you need to get out of the way!

4.Command Central-Your Kitchen! Put away any kitchen appliance or decorative items you will not be needing and put in the garage or extra closet to keep your counter-tops clear for prepping and cooking. Create a coffee station outside of the kitchen so guests can help themselves without crowding the kitchen. If you like to visit and cook, place extra stools around the kitchen area so guests can sit and chat.

5.Sleeping arrangements can be tricky. If you have extra guest bedrooms, make sure you have extra blankets and pillows available so guests can be comfortable. If you don’t have a ceiling fan, put a small portable fan in the room in case your guests run hot. If you don’t have a guest bedroom or not enough you can carve out sleeping spaces in public areas. Couches, roll away cots and blow up mattresses will work.

6.Prepare your bathrooms for maximum usage. Put extra toilet paper in easily accessible areas, have extra towels in linen closets, put extra toiletries in a little basket just in case guests forgot something. Make sure you have a secure bath mat to avoid falls and plungers by each toilet to help avoid embarrassing situations. For all those clean freaks that don’t like to sit on toilets after others, have a can of disinfectant wipes so they can wipe off toilet seats.

We hope you have found these tips helpful! Happy Thanksgiving!

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Well Summer has come and gone and Labor Day is upon us! Whether you are planning a big cookout with the neighbors or just a dinner with your family, Labor Day is a great excuse to complete those outdoor projects that spruce up and add value to your home before that big get-together.

Power Wash Your House
You can either rent or buy a power washer. Pay close attention to entryways, overhangs and eaves of your home. You can use plain water that way your grass, shrubs and flowers benefit as well.

Wash and Repair Windows and Screens
You can use a chemical-free mixture of two tablespoons white vinegar and a gallon of water. Use newspapers instead of paper towels for a streak-free shine. You can use a broom and water to clean screens. It may be a good time to replace any broken windows or screens as well before fall/winter.

Re-stain or Pain any Wood Trimmings and/or Deck
After washing down any wood you will need to let it dry then apply any paint or stain to give it a fresh and updated look.

Style Your Outdoor Space
Hose off any outdoor furniture and remove cobwebs and dust and clean the cushions. Arrange a conversation area by adding side tables for drinks and food. Add a splash of color with outdoor rugs and pillows. If you are planning to barbeque, make sure your grill is clean and in working condition.

Add a Pop of Autumn Color
Give flower beds and outdoor pots a new look for fall with autumn flowering plants.

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Make a New Year’s resolution to save money in your home by making some simple changes. You may be able to free up money to take that vacation you wanted or even for a home remodel.

Cutting the Cord
Get rid of cable and your landline and you can save over $100 a month! You can keep your fast internet and stream shows online to your TV via Netflix, Hulu, Chromecast, and Amazon just to name a few.

Tint your Windows in the summer
If the sun beats down through your windows especially in the summer, consider having them tinted. The window film acts as an imperceptible layer similar to how sunglasses by filtering out infrared and UV rays. You will have upfront costs to tint the windows but your savings can translate to an average of 20%-25% in energy savings costs. Not only will tinted windows save energy, but it can protect your carpet, paintings, wood floors and furniture from fading.

Seal your windows in the winter
Small gaps or cracks around the window or door frame allow air to leak inside. Just by sealing or fixing the gaps around your windows and doors can bring down the heating bill around 10%-15%.

Change the way you wash your clothes
Switch to washing in cold water. Your clothes will still get clean and some stains do come out better in cold water. If you do this you can save around $60 a year. Consider line drying in nice weather instead of the dryer and do clean out your dryer vent and you can reduce energy costs by $9-$12 per month.

Get Low Energy Bulbs
Switching to low-energy bulbs is quick and easy way to reduce lighting costs. A 60 watt bulb can save between $30-$80 over its lifetime. If the average household has 50 bulbs you can save a minimum of $1,500! You don’t have to go out and switch out all the light bulbs at once. Swap out the ones you use most frequently or replace them with low energy ones as they burn out.

Kill Energy Vampires
Do you leave appliances plugged in when not in use? How about your phone chargers? By unplugging these items when not in use, you can save an average of $165 a year. There are special power cords that can be purchased that will turn off equipment when it senses they are not in use.

Turn down your water heater
The higher the water heater is turned up the more energy is needed to keep gallons of water scalding hot for no reason. By lowering it 10 degrees Fahrenheit will save you 3%-5% on your heating costs. You can also purchase a blanket or cover your water heater to keep in in to save you an additional 4%-9% in savings.

Have an energy audit
Many utility companies will offer energy audits at no costs. They will send an expert out to assess your home’s energy consumption and look for improvement areas where you can cut back or fix. They will examine your utility usage, examine your windows, duct work, shower heads and more. You can save as much as 30%.

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