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How to Keep Your Home Safe While on Vacation
As we all know, May will be here on Friday, marking the unofficial start to the summer season. The cold weather is finally gone, pool covers will soon be taken off, and the barbecues will begin to fire up. While there are plenty of summer activities to do at home between May and August, there is still the strong desire to go on vacation. Whether you’re going to another country or just a few hours away, you should always make sure your home is properly protected from any dangers. Here are some tips on how to prepare your home against safety hazards while you’re away.
The very first thing you should do to protect your home is to have a security system installed to hinder any possible intruders. It’s only the end of April, so odds are you’re not going on vacation just yet, meaning if you still don’t have an alarm system, now might be a good time to purchase one before we get further into the summer. You don’t want to be without a security system while on vacation, and then receive a call to find out that your home has been broken into. Also, make sure that all of the doors and windows of your home are firmly shut and locked. With all of this in place, you won’t have to worry about constructing any traps styled after those of Kevin McCallister’s in “Home Alone.”
Always make sure to check that everything is turned off, be they lighting fixtures or faucets, and also unplug or turn off any appliances that shouldn’t be left on while you’re away. You don’t want to be one of those people who are on vacation and constantly ponder over whether or not they remembered to turn off the oven. With that being said, it won’t hurt to double check to make sure everything is turned off, or maybe even triple check. Although that can be a bit of a pain, it beats worrying during your time away from home.
If you have any pets that require a lot of care, you can’t have them running loose throughout your home while you’re away, and you can’t just keep them in a cage the whole time without anyone at home to watch them. So, ask a trustworthy friend or relative to take care of your pet while you’re away. You can supply this individual with an extra key to your home so they can go inside to feed your pet, take care of it, and let it get some exercise; or, if this person is really good with animals, they might even volunteer to take your pet into their own home to watch over it.
I know whenever you’re about to go on vacation, you feel overjoyed about getting away, and odds are you’ll end up telling a few of your friends where you’ll be going. That’s okay to do, but prevent yourself and the rest of your family from revealing too much information and broadcasting it all over social media for hundreds of other people to see. If you want to give a few details to some close friends and family, that’s okay, but it isn’t everyone else’s business as to where you are going and for how long you will be gone for. Instead, wait until you return home, and then you can share stories and photos with however many people you want.
While you’re away, it will also help if you stop the delivery of your newspaper and have the post office hold your mail; or, you can have a neighbor collect it all from day to day if you decide to still have it delivered. If the wrong person sees that your newspapers and mail have been piling up, they’ll know that’s a sign that you’re not home and might consider breaking in. If you have a mail slot, the pileup of mail won’t be seen, and you can just ask your neighbor to take your newspapers from the front door and put them through the slot. If you have a mailbox, the mail and newspapers will be seen if it all keeps accumulating within, so in this case, you’ll want to ask a neighbor to take in whatever comes. When you get rid of the pileup of mail, this will all help in keeping up appearances that someone is at home.
You’ll surely enjoy your getaway a lot more if you know your home is safe from any harm. Once you have an idea of when you’ll be going away, use that time to make sure that your home is thoroughly protected from any risks. When you’re done with these precautionary measures, it will be time to pack your bags because your summer travels await!
To learn more about Rand Realty, visit their website and Facebook page, and make sure to “Like” their page. You can also follow them on Twitter.
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How to Go Green at Home
Today is Earth Day, the time of year where we give an extra boost of awareness to the importance of being eco-friendly. Although this is only a one-day observance, you should take the initiative to go green all year and do whatever you can to make Earth cleaner. The place where you can begin is your own home, so here are some actions you can take to start your commitment to bettering the environment.
We’ll begin with one of the biggest steps, and that is to install solar panels on your roof. Lately, I’ve been seeing more and more homes with these panels, and it’s easy to understand why they’re becoming increasingly popular; not only do these panels help you save money on electricity, but they will also add more value to your home if you ever decide to sell it. The EPA and Department of Energy will even provide Americans with tax credits for using solar energy. After reading some of these benefits to solar panels, I really hope you consider this valuable addition to your home.
In terms of electricity, there are several things you can do to make sure you don’t waste it, one of which is to turn off any lights in a room if you won’t be using that space for a while. Also, if you have an exhaust fan in your bathroom that you turn on before getting in the shower, don’t set the timer for longer than you expect to be showering. For any electronics that might require a charger, make sure to unplug the charger once the appliance’s battery is full. The charger can still draw energy when it’s left in an outlet, even if it doesn’t have the device plugged into it, so make sure to unplug your charger once you’re done using it. I’m sure you can think of at least 10 other ways you can save electricity, but these are a few to get you started.
Speaking of saving energy, you might want to consider switching from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs. If you don’t care for the glow of the CFL bulbs, even just using one or two in your home can hinder the emissions of hundreds of pounds of greenhouse gases. According to the National Park Service, if every household in the U.S. replaced just one incandescent bulb with an energy-saving bulb, we would decrease global warming pollution by more than 90 billion pounds during the life of these bulbs. After reading that bit of information, you might want to save reading the rest of this post for later so you can take some time to go out and purchase a couple of these energy-saving bulbs.
When recycling, you should really have separate containers for paper and plastic products. You probably won’t have too many spacial issues with plastic products, but as far as the paper products go, if you have to put something in the container that will take up a lot of space, like a pizza box, make sure to fold it or cut it up to make it easier to throw out, which will leave room for other discarded paper products.
To limit your use of too many water bottles, commit to drinking more tap water. I know that might not be ideal for some, but if you’re worried about the content of your tap water, have a water softening system installed in your home. It will take any unwanted substances out of your water, and you can then use a stainless-steel bottle and refill it with tap water whenever you need it, instead of buying a bottle of water every time you’re thirsty. Once you have clean tap water, you might as well use it.
If you buy canned drinks with the six-pack plastic rings on top, be sure to cut them up before you throw them out, in order to prevent any animals from getting caught in them if they come in contact with the plastic.
As you’re saving water, it always helps to either take shorter showers or purchase shower heads that lessen the water pressure. Also, when you brush your teeth and shave, don’t keep the water running. Even though these two tasks don’t take up much time, you will be surprised at how many gallons of water you can waste if you keep it flowing.
It has started to get warmer out, which means you’re going to start firing up your air conditioner. I know it may seem tempting to leave it on all day when you’re not at home because you want to come back and be instantly cooled down, but doing this is a severe waste of electricity. If you turn the air conditioner on when you get home, it won’t take long for you to cool off, so there isn’t much of a point to keeping the AC on all day if there isn’t anyone home. Also, if there happens to be a summer night with a refreshing breeze, save some electricity and open a few windows to cool down. Sometimes, it might not seem that a breeze will be as effective as an AC, but on certain nights, it’s the way to go.
Although Earth Day only comes once a year, you should definitely do your best to make your home more eco-friendly. You don’t have to completely change your lifestyle to make this happen, but you can take small steps here and there to live a greener life. Whatever you do to accomplish this, it will all make a difference.
To learn more about Rand Realty, visit their website and Facebook page, and make sure to “Like” their page. You can also follow them on Twitter.
Sources
Solar World
Turbo Tax
Duke Energy Progress
House Beautiful
National Park Service
The Telegraph
Golf Courses in the Lower Hudson Valley and Northern New Jersey
The weather is starting to warm up, and we’re starting to think about the fun activities we’ll be enjoying once the chill in the air is officially gone for the season. Some of us look forward to swimming, some look forward to baseball, and some look forward to barbecues. One activity that is definitely anticipated is playing a relaxing game of golf. When you have a day off, it’s certainly a great way to take your mind off of work and play 18 holes. If you’re a golf enthusiast, here are some courses you should visit during the spring and summer.
In Rockland County, New York, there’s the Philip J. Rotella Memorial Golf Course in Thiells, which welcomes golfers of all skills and is known to have one of the finest greens in Rockland. It’s a par-72 course and measures over 6,500 yards from the back tees. While playing there, you’re also treated to the beautiful views of the homes on the neighboring mountains. When you’re done with your game, be sure to head into the Sonoma Grille for a delicious lunch or dinner as a way to unwind after your game.
Also in Rockland is the beautiful and scenic Patriot Hills Golf Club in Stony Point. If you want a course that has some of the best views that the county has to offer, then Patriot Hills is certainly a terrific choice, where you are treated to some majestic views of the surrounding mountains. What better way to enjoy some golf then to have the stunning geography of the Hudson Valley right before your eyes?
In Orange County, NY, visiting West Point is an experience that’s rich in history and offers many fun activities. So, if you’re up in Orange County, definitely visit the West Point Golf Course. It’s a par-70 course that has been listed in LINKS Magazine as one of the 10 best golf courses in the armed forces and stretches over 6,000 yards. West Point is one of the finest places to visit when in the Hudson Valley, so you can bet that it’ll be a lot of fun to play a round of golf in such a notable location.
You can also visit The Golf Course at Mansion Ridge, which offers superb views of the countryside. It’s a par-72 course that extends over 6,800 yards. Located in Monroe, this course resides on a 220-acre estate that includes landmarks that have been standing since before the American Revolution. It’s also a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, which is the only 18-hole public course in New York to be given that honor. Nicklaus is one of the most celebrated golfers of our time, so don’t you want the opportunity to say that you played on such a course? Yes, you do!
If you’re golfing in Westchester County, NY, definitely check out Ossining’s Hudson Hills Golf Course, which is a par-71, championship course located in the Hudson River Valley and stretches throughout 7,000 yards. Seeing as playing golf will have you outside for a couple of hours, you want to make sure you can enjoy the views of the course and surrounding area, so when you’re on top of the first tee, you are treated to gorgeous scenery where you are able to see about one-third of the course in view. After a fun and friendly round, relax at Hudson Hills’ Lookout Grill, where golfers can come together and have a satisfying meal as they bond over the game.
The Dunwoodie Golf Course is situated at the top of “Dunwoodie Heights,” which is in the center of the city of Yonkers. Dunwoodie is a par-70 course with a yardage of over 5,700. Its impressive topography and steep slopes make for a game that will surely test your golfing skills. The course has practice greens, which you might want to take advantage of if the course is as challenging as they say, and it also offers a driving range that’s lighted if you want to get some golf time in at night. On a serene and cool summer evening, something like that will surely be relaxing.
In Bergen County, New Jersey, you should visit the Rockleigh Golf Course. It’s the county’s only 27-hole course, and it functions as two different courses, with one that’s great for beginners, and another that’s great for pros. The Red and White nines come together to form a par-72, championship course, which opened in 1946 and was fully renovated in 2004. This course is the host to the annual Bergen County Amateur Championship. The nine-hole Blue course was built in 1961, has a par of 36, and allows a novice golfer to become familiar with the game and get comfortable with playing. All of the practicing you commit yourself to on the Blue course will surely be worth it once you advance to the Red and White courses, especially since they are good enough to host the BCAC.
The Darlington Golf Course is located in Mahwah within the foothills of the Ramapo mountain range. This course has a par of 72 and is cut through a forest of hardwoods, offering an extraordinary setting to marvel at while golfing. Of course, you can’t be too distracted by the views when it’s your turn at the tee, but when you’re waiting to swing, looking at the views can add a bit of relaxation to the game if you get a bit tense while playing.
There are many golf courses to choose from throughout these counties, but these are just a few to consider. It’s only the middle of April, so you still have several months of warm weather to look forward to for a game of golf. So, with the spring in full swing, round up some friends and get ready to tee off!
If you’re interested in learning more about these courses and rates, call to inquire or visit them online.
To learn more about Rand Realty, visit their website and Facebook page, and make sure to “Like” their page. You can also follow them on Twitter.
How to Enhance Your Home’s Curb Appeal
When you’re getting ready to sell your home, you do everything you can to make it look flawless as you go from room to room to make sure that every space is as clean and organized as can be. While you’re taking care of the inside of your home, however, it’s very important not to forget about the outside. As soon as a potential buyer pulls up in front of your home, you want them to get excited about going inside. They might even want to stay outside for a few minutes beforehand to marvel at the exterior, if you have put a lot of admirable work into it. You want the outside to shine every bit as much as the inside, so here are some steps to take when working to increase your home’s curb appeal.
During the warmer months, you’ll definitely want to do some gardening to add pops of color to your front lawn, so take advantage of the beautiful weather to plant some flowers. You should even get some potted plants to hang from the roof of your front porch, and also maybe add a plant to each side of the front door to make the entrance even more welcoming.
For the colder months, after you’re done raking the leaves, decorate the front of your home with some pumpkins or other fall-season adornments to give your home a festive autumn feeling. In the winter, use some holiday lights to brighten up your home. I know it’s very unlikely for a buyer to be getting a tour of your home during the night when these lights will be turned on, but you never know if they might decide to drive past and see what your home looks like when it’s beautified for the holidays. A decorated home will also help to radiate a sense of warmth and love from within that home.
If it’s raining, have the lights turned on in your home. Even if the potential buyer won’t get the full effect of your home’s exterior beauty in the rainy weather, at least they will be able to see the interior beauty shine through the windows when they pull up to the home.
Always remember to keep your lawn freshly mown. It will let your potential buyer know that you are diligent in keeping up the pristine appearances of your lawn. Don’t make the buyer have to venture through a jungle to get to the front door!
It’s important that you keep the front of your home as tidy as possible, so if you have children, try to keep their outdoor toys off of the lawn and front porch. You don’t want the buyer tripping over anything on their way to the door and potentially hurting themselves. It also won’t hurt to take a quick scan of your lawn to make sure there aren’t any bits of litter floating around.
If your porch is beginning to look old and the paint has started to chip, consider applying a new coating, either of the same color or a different color entirely. If you end up picking a new color, you don’t want it to be obnoxious, but you want it to be eye-catching to the buyer. So, pick something that’s both tasteful and attention-grabbing.
When tasked with boosting your home’s curb appeal, you’ll definitely want to consider hiring a professional if you plan on making any significant changes, such as creating a walkway, like from the driveway to the front door.
For your home to stay in the mind of the buyer, consider including some outdoor artwork on your front lawn, such as birdbaths, sculptures, or wind chimes. Never underestimate the relaxing power of the musical sound of wind chimes. Just try not to go overboard with the artwork.
There is much you can do when improving your home’s curb appeal, but these are just a few suggestions to help you get started. This is a task that involves a lot of work, but it’s also fun and rewarding. Do everything you can to make your home memorable for the potential buyers so they step out of their car and think to themselves, “I would love to own this home.”
To learn more about Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, visit their website and Facebook page, and make sure to “Like” their page. You can also follow them on Twitter.
Sources
www.bhg.com/home-improvement/exteriors/curb-appeal/ways-to-add-curb-appeal/
How to Host a Housewarming Party
You’ve just bought a home. Your furniture is all set up. Everything has been put in its proper place. All of the empty boxes have been put away. You have finally settled into your new surroundings. You have met your (hopefully friendly) neighbors. What’s next on the list? Throwing a housewarming party, of course! This is a fun, yet important, step in your transition to your new home because you want your neighbors to know you are fun and outgoing. With that in mind, here are some tips on how to host a fun housewarming party.
We’ll start off with what you definitely need to have: food, and lots of it. Yes, guests will come to the party for the people, but food is always one of the top attracters. For appetizers, have a decent assortment of finger food, such as chips and dip or antipasto, to tide over your guests until dinner. Now that the weather is much more pleasant, having your party outdoors can allow you to show off your grilling skills, so make sure to buy plenty of food for the fire if you intend to grill. For dessert, consider a platter of cookies, a tray of brownies, a chocolate cake, or anything sweet to cap off a delicious dinner.
If you’re hosting an outdoor party, your guests will be spending most of their time in the backyard. Although that may be the case, take some time every so often during the party to give small groups of your guests a tour of the home. This is a way to show that you are proud of your new home and excited to show it to your neighbors. It is a housewarming party, after all.
A party isn’t a party without music. Make sure to have a fairly diverse collection of genres, as a way to please the varied tastes of your guests. If the party is outdoors, be considerate and have your music play at an acceptable volume, just so you’re not disturbing anyone on your block who may not be at the party. Also, although this is a party, it’s not a dance party or a rave, so as far as music is concerned, go with anything that doesn’t seem too abrasive for a housewarming occasion. Maybe think about sticking with the classics, such as music from Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, or Elvis.
To provide your guests with something to do when they’re feeling active, consider setting up a badminton net or a horseshoes court. It will add some more fun to the get-together and encourage friendly competition among the guests.
Although you obviously should never ask your guests to bring a gift, some of them might. If that’s the case, make a list of those who bring a housewarming gift and what they brought; then, begin writing those “Thank You” notes. Don’t let too much time pass between the party and sending them out. Timeliness will let your guests know that you really appreciate the gifts that were given to you.
You want your neighbors to have positive first impressions of you, and putting on an enjoyable party will certainly help in establishing friendly connections with your neighbors. Remember, you’re going to be living near these individuals for however many years, so you want to make sure they form a favorable opinion of you. With all of this being said, once you’re done unpacking, start making friends!
To learn more about Rand Realty, visit their website and Facebook page, and make sure to “Like” their page. You can also follow them on Twitter.
Sources
