Winter is coming.  We get lots of emergency water extractions in early winter, when people have failed to take precautions prior to the first freeze of the season.  There are numerous steps that homeowners can take to avoid burst pipes and other maintenance and safety issues during the winter.   Here are some of the ways you can prepare for winter:

1. Disconnect hoses and outdoor faucets.  This is one of the most common causes of water losses that we see during early winter.  To avoid allowing your pipes to freeze and burst, we recommend disconnecting your garden hoses and other outdoor faucets well in advance of the first freeze.  It’s easy enough to re-connect them on an as-needed basis when performing fall yardwork, but failing to take this precaution is costly.
2.  Clean out gutters and downspouts.Keeping your gutters clean will allow your home’s drainage system to work properly and keep water from pooling in places it shouldn’t.  Failing to clean out the gutters can lead to water in the basement and damaged exterior surfaces.  After cleaning out the gutters, you should consider installing gutter guards as an added precaution.
3. Change your furnace filter.Clean or replace your furnace filter as necessary.  It’s always a good idea to have a professional check your furnace once a year to ensure that it is functioning properly.
4. Seal cracks and gaps.  The United States Department of Energy claims that 10% of your heating bill is due to gaps in caulk and weather stripping.  To heat your home efficiently, check for gaps and cracks in windows and doors and repair damaged or non-functional areas.
5. Inspect the roof for problem areas.  Look over your roof and repair problem areas.  Doing this before snowfall is important, because in the event of a roof leak due to melting snow, you may be unable to identify the source of the leak.
6. Safety Steps.  Replace the batteries in each smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector, and test each device.  Clean and check your home fire extinguisher to ensure it is in proper working order.  Many fire departments will check fire extinguishers, and it is worth a call to see if this is offered near you.  Fall is also a good time to re-think your fire escape plans from each bedroom, making sure that there are two exit paths for each bedroom.

  

Yahoo Homes recently came out with an article that listed the Top 10 most popular home remodeling projects that aren’t worth your money. Apparently, even though the economy is in revival mode (didn’t you get the memo?), these 10 projects won’t give you the return on your investment when you sell your home.

The trouble is, maybe you’re not going to be selling your home, maybe you plan on sticking around for a few years. Maybe (gasp!) you even plan on raising all of your kids in your home until you send the youngest off to college (and your oldest is only 6 now). But we digress. Let’s get to the list, and see what other options there are for your hard earned dollar.

1.     While you’re washing clothes to pack for your trip, go ahead and do all the laundry and put away any clean clothes you’re not taking with you. You’ll be glad you did when you get back home with a suitcase full of dirty clothes!

2.     LaJolla Mom recommends adding 1/2 cup of chlorine to the toilet bowl to prevent the ring that sometimes occurs from standing water.  Love this tip! We’ve also heard that baking soda works, too!

3.     Make arrangements for pets and plants to be cared for by a family member or trusted friend/neighbor.

4.     Run the dishwasher – coming home to a sink filled with dirty dishes is no fun.

5.     Wipe down kitchen and bathroom counter tops  -  crumbs left behind are an invitation for ants and flies to take up residence while you’re away.

6.     Take out trash and place clean liners in all trash cans – you don’t want to come home to a house that smells of old trash!

7.     Clean out the fridge – use up or throw out anything that might go bad while you’re away.

8.     Do a quick sweep and vacuum if you have time.

9.     Set the thermostat to a temp that is less comfortable but still protects your pets and plants. 

10.  Here's a great tip from The Retreat In Laguna: Unplug any electronics and garage door openers.  This will cut down on any possible shortages, which can cause disastrous fires and prevent thieves from easy access through the garage door.

11.  Put fresh sheets on all the beds so that you can climb into a clean, cozy bed after traveling.

12.  Include a trash bag in each traveler’s suitcase for dirty clothes. This way, when you get back home, trash bags filled with dirty clothes can be dumped in the laundry room, and clean clothes can be put away.

13.  Brightnest recommends turning off your hot water heater. An empty house doesn’t need hot water, and your water heater will cost you money while you’re gone.

14.  Stop your mail and newspaper delivery service or ask a trusted neighbor to pick these up for you.

15.  Turn off the automatic icemaker. We’ve heard several stories from clients about an icemaker that leaked while homeowners were out of town, causing major damage to flooring and subfloors.

16.  And last but not least, from the Life as Mom blog: Double check that all your bills due while away have been paid or are scheduled to be paid. An absolute must – thanks for the reminder!

That’s it – set the alarm and you’re on your way! Have a wonderful, relaxing vacation –they’ll be plenty to do once you get home. Has it been more than six months since you’ve had your carpets professionally cleaned? Why not give yourself a break and let the pros handle the tough jobs for you? Schedule a professional carpet cleaning today!

1.     Change the locks on all exterior doors. As soon as the closing is over and you've been handed the keys to your new home, either buy and install new lock sets or have a locksmith switch them out. Remember that in addition to the previous owners, Realtors, maintenance personnel, inspection companies and various other companies and service providers are all likely to have keys to your house. Installing new locks will provide some peace of mind and ensure that this is house is truly your home.

2.     The folks at Houzz suggest that new homeowners Install new switch plates. Many older houses, especially those that have undergone renovations, will have mismatched outlets, dirty or discolored cover plates, and rusted or damaged air vent covers.

3.     Have the heating and cooling systems cleaned and serviced, and purchase a service contract so if the system stops working in the depths of winter, you won’t have to overpay to get a technician to come to your home. This is also a good time to have your air ducts cleaned.

4.     Lifehacker recommends you have the carpets professionally cleaned. We couldn’t agree more! Now is the perfect time; without any furniture to move the process is much faster and you’ll be able to move your own pieces into a space that you know has been deep cleaned by professional technicians. Spectrum is licensed, insured, IICRC-certified and CRI-approved. Give us a call at 636.680.5555 to find out about our reasonable rates and professional guarantee!

5.     This is also a perfect time to hire a cleaning service to clean out all the kitchen cabinets, wipe down closet shelving and give a good scrub to all the bathrooms.

6.     If your are moving into an apartment or home where you’re taking over appliances from a previous owner, Apartment Therapy recommends that you clean out and disinfect the fridge.

7.     Apartment therapy also recommends that you replace the toilets seats in all the bathrooms. A great tip!

Anything you’d add to our list? We’d love to hear from you! And if we can help you get your new home move-in ready, please give us a call or fill out our contact form – we look forward to serving you!

Valentine's Day has come and gone. But there's no reason you can't continue to show yourself a little love. And the best way to do that is by making your life just a little bit easier. These 12 life hacks might not make you instantly skinny or rich, but they might save you a little time or make life just a little less messy, and who couldn’t use that, right?

Turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, all those casseroles and pies... and don't forget those festive holiday drinks! If you're the host of this annual get together, only you know about the rainbow of stains left behind on your gorgeous tablecloths and freshly cleaned carpets. According to new research from the IICRC*, two in three households have had their floors or upholstery stained during the holidays. We've checked in with the heavyweights of stain removal from Heloise and Better Homes & Gardens to Good Housekeeping and our very own Spectrum Blog, to give you the best tips for removing the toughest stains from red wine and lipstick to pumpkin pie and gravy - and everything in between. So relax and enjoy your holiday - we've got you covered!