You’ve bought your tickets, planned your itinerary and packed your suitcases. Everything is set and everyone is excited. But coming home from a memorable trip and learning that a pipe leaked or burst while you’re gone can be downright devastating.

Whether you’re leaving for a long weekend or a month-long getaway, proper preparation can help prevent coming home to a disaster. Here’s how to prevent plumbing disasters while on vacation.

Test your sump pump

Sump pump helps keep water out of your basement. If a major storm comes while you’re gone and your sump pump fails, you could come home to a flooded basement. 

It’s a good idea to test your sump pump before you leave. Dump water down the sump pit and make sure that it’s in proper working condition.

Check for leaks

Even a small leak can turn into a large problem if left unattended. Inspect the water heater for cracks and rust. If that water tank leaks, you’d better catch it quick. Inspect the hoses, making sure that there are no leaks or kinks. Also, check all the pipes under the sink as this may also be a source of undetected leak. If you do find something, be sure to address the problem as soon as possible. 

Turn off main water valve

Locate your main water shut off valve. If you don’t know where it is, look for you water meter. It should be located nearby. Turning off the main water valve cuts off water to the house. This is your best protection against catastrophic water damage. 

Ask a friend to help

Ask a neighbor, a friend or a relative to check on your home periodically while you’re away just to make sure everything is in order. It may be a good idea to give this person a key to the house. Also, make sure that he or she knows where the main water valve is located in case a pipe bursts or leaks. 

Curb appeal comes naturally to many homes during the summer, when the sun is shining brightly and gardens are in bloom. But during the winter, when the ground is covered in snow and everything else has withered, maintaining curb appeal can prove to be a challenge. The problem is that curb appeal is essential when you’re selling your home.

How do you combat this trend when you’re trying to sell your home during the winter? Here are some things you can do to spruce up the exterior of your home in the dreary winter months.

Keep the driveways, pathways, and walkways clear

With snow comes ice, and with ice comes slipping. Keep your driveways, pathways, and walkways clear of ice and snow to ensure that potential buyers or guests can make it into your home without getting injured.

Before you spend time and money improving the looks of your home, focus on safety first. There is no sense in sprucing up your home if people are afraid to walk along the sidewalk.

Outdoor lighting

The days are shorter during the winter time. In most cases, it gets dark even before people get home. Most buyers decide to drive by houses they’re interested in after office hours. If your home looks dark and uninviting, this creates a negative impression among potential buyers.

Outdoor lighting doesn’t just brighten a winter landscape, it also enhances property safety and security. Garage scones and walkway lights will guide guests to your front door.  You may also wrap holiday lights around trees, fountains, and birdbaths to make your home attractive at night.

Fresh paint 

A fresh coat of paint brings vibrancy to the exterior of your home, making it look warm and pleasant during the cold winter month. This is one of the best ways to revitalize the look and feel of your home. It is also a good idea to paint your fence or front door with bold color to brighten the facade and make your home look more inviting.

Tidy lawn

Just because the grass is no longer green, doesn’t mean that you should slack off on curb appeal. Your home’s exterior beauty doesn’t have to fade along with the summer season.

Curb appeal is important year-round. You want your grounds to stay looking neat in winter and show potential buyers that your home has been well cared for. Clear dead leaves off of your lawn and plant some seasonal plants and flowers to keep your yards stunning during the dreary winter months.

Winter is a great time to move. Since most people are out on vacation or busy with holiday get-togethers, you can get great deal with moving companies. However, moving house during the winter is not without challenges. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures can make the moving process even more difficult.

Here are 4 smart tips to make your winter move easier.

Keep an eye on the weather 

Winter weather can be unpredictable. Even if the sun has been shining all week long, a blizzard may suddenly pop up just as you’re pulling away in your car.

Check weather reports from time to time and make sure to follow it up until the moving day. Keep tabs on the weather until the movers arrive so you get the latest updates. Anticipate any weather challenges and adapt to them.

Keep the heat on

You might be tempted to have your utilities disconnected prior to moving day, but please resist the urge to do so. On moving day, you’ll be opening and closing the door many times as the movers carry your boxes. This will send cold air into your home. Without the heat, everybody will feel cold and uncomfortable. You’ll want to keep the heat on on moving day.

Protect your belongings 

Some items are especially vulnerable to cold temperatures. Electronics and other cold-sensitive items should be kept indoors for as long as possible and should be transported in a heated vehicle to avoid damage. 

Objects that are made of wood should be insulated during a move. These items can warp when exposed to freezing temperatures. Books and other documents will also need additional care. Place them in waterproof bins and make sure that they are sealed tight before they get loaded onto the moving truck.

Clear snow 

We understand that you have a lot on your plate right now, but make sure that you shovel snow prior to moving day. 

Snow and ice can be slippery. Clear the snow to prevent anyone from getting hurt. You may also spread rock salt on the ground to slow down the re-icing process. If snow is falling, we suggest that you mix calcium chloride with the rock salt. This will make snow and ice melt faster.

If you play hostess every year, you might want to think of ways to make holiday entertaining simple. This is because a lot of time is spent entertaining guests, preparing and eating meals with family and friends. 

If you’ve been considering remodeling your kitchen in preparation for the holidays, we suggest that you start now. Some of you might think that it’s too late to start a remodeling project, but if you begin now, you’ll have plenty of time to work on this project and make sure that everything is in order before Christmas arrives. 

Here are some remodeling ideas to get your kitchen ready for the holidays. 

Get a new kitchen island

People with small kitchen spaces know the chaos that can result from preparing meals for a large gathering. Half-prepared meals, along with the ingredients, end up in chairs. In some cases, we even place them on top of stove burners that are not in use, or worse, the floor. 

Adding a new kitchen island will provide you with a much-needed prep space. Plus, your guests can use this space to gather while you prepare a meal.  

Remove the wall that separates the kitchen from the living room

Are you dreading the thought of having your family over this holiday season and end up crowding into your little kitchen so they can talk with you while you prepare food for everyone? If so, then you might want to get rid of that pesky wall. Preparing holiday meals and accommodating large groups of people can be a lot easier if you open up the space. 

Add storage

You can maximize unused space by adding additional shelving to hold your cooking oils, spices and other go-to items for easy access. Pots and pans can be hung from the ceiling. A reclaimed rack can be mounted to the wall to store wine glasses and bottles. Utensils can be hung on a rod and a magnetic knife rack to hold all your knives. 

The holiday season is supposed to be joyful time of year. It should be about relaxing and sharing good times with family and friends. But the sad truth is that more accidents occur during the hThe holiday season is supposed to be joyful time of year.oliday season than any other time of the year. 

Of course, we want to ensure that everyone enjoys a safe and a merry holiday season. Please take time to read these tips and pass them along to your family and friends so no one will fall victim to these common holiday dangers. 

Fire

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the incidents of house fires increase by as much as 50% during the holiday season. Many of which are started either by candles or Christmas trees. 

Candles are a classic way to add a joyous mood to your home. They may look pretty and smell nice, but they are potential fire hazards and may burn down your house if you’re not careful. 

Never leave a candle unattended. This may seem like a no-brainer, but a lot of people seem to forget just how dangerous candles can be. Be sure to extinguish the candle before going to bed or leaving the house. Never burn a candle near books, carpets, beddings, drapes, furniture or anything that can catch fire. Remember, every fire needs to be treated with caution, including candles. 

Plumbing problem

Plumbing problems may not be life-threatening, but they can cause thousands and thousands of dollars on property damage, which may also lead to a costly repair. 

With the temperatures dropping below freezing during this time of the year, your pipes are at risk freezing, or worse, bursting. The last thing you want to deal with is a flooded house during the holidays. 

To prevent this from happening, we recommend that you disconnect your water hose from your outdoor spigot and bring it inside the house. Also, let cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. This is especially important when the weather outside is very cold. 

Mold

Nothing says Christmas quite like the fresh pine scent of a live Christmas tree. However, they can be a possible source of mold exposure. A new study shows that the molds that thrive in its branches can trigger weeks of suffering for homeowners. 

Just because you or a member of your family has a mold allergy, doesn’t mean that you should give up on your Christmas tree tradition. What you want to do, however, is to have it on display for a maximum 7 days. You can put the tree up on Christmas Eve and then take it down on New Year’s Day. The longer the tree is in your home, the higher the chances of mold to grow. 

Every home that is being built today has shutoff valves that are readily accessible. Knowing where and how to shut off your home’s main water supply is important especially in times of emergency. 

Don’t wait until you have an emergency before locating your shutoff valves. Precious minutes can be lost if you or the plumber has to search for it; thus, causing more damage to your property.

Once you’ve found the valve, mark it with a small yard flag, tag, colorful paint or anything that would make the location obvious. Make sure everybody in your household know where it is and how it works.

Possible locations

I wish I could tell you that every shutoff valve is uniform in location. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Some are located inside; while others are located outside.

 In the crawlspace or basement

If you get freezing temperatures in the winter, the shutoff valve must be located in a warm area inside your house. In this case, you might want to look in the basement or crawlspace, where the waterline enters the home. 

Outside the house

In some homes, the water shutoff valve is located outside – generally in front of your house and near the side property line.  It might be in a concrete or plastic box on the ground. Lift the lid of the box and find the water meter. The valve is usually located next to it. If there are 2 valves, turning off either valve should work.

Near the pressure tank

If you get your water from a well and you don’t have a meter, find where the water pipes enter the house and follow those pipes to the pressure tank. In most cases, the pressure tank can be seen in the basement, in a closet near the water heater or the garage. 

Try a simple test once you’ve located the valve. Shut off the main water valve and check the faucets inside your home. If you can’t turn the valve, don’t force it. 

Most people avoid selling their homes during the holidays. This is due to the fact that people are too preoccupied with planning vacations, buying gifts, cooking meals and attending parties during this time of the year. However, the old thinking doesn’t apply any longer – thanks to the Internet and smart phones.

The buying season is now year-round. While sales tend to drop off during the holidays, there are good reasons to go ahead and list your home now rather than wait until spring. Here are some of them.

Less competition 

Some sellers take their properties off the market during the holiday season. Others would wait until the after the first of the year before listing their homes. For that reason, serious buyers have fewer properties to choose from.

Because of the scarcity of similar, competitive listings, it puts you in a unique position of power. Less competition means you can have a higher asking price.

Buyers never stop looking online

A huge percentage of home buyers start looking at properties online, as opposed to seeing them in person. With the internet, tablets, smartphones and our always-on lifestyle, serious buyers are still trying to look at properties even during the holiday break. They would check out new listings while waiting for the kids’ school holiday show to start or before going to bed. These buyers are excited to see new and awesome homes on the market.

Buyers are motivated

Those who remain active in their searches and are still looking at properties around Christmas or New Years are undoubtedly serious buyers. Perhaps they’re relocating to the area and holiday season is the only time they can go to town. Or maybe they need to buy before the end of the year for tax reasons. Whatever the reason is, this often results to a quicker sale process.

Leverage the holiday spirit 

As anyone who’s bought or sold a property will tell you: emotion is a big part of the transaction. And there may no more powerful emotional pull than the feelings associated with winter holidays. So why not tap into this powerful emotional tone-setter and use it to sell your existing property? 

By aligning your property with an existing holiday motif, you can increase your chances of making a deal much to your liking. 

Selling a house is no walk in the park. It becomes even more challenging if you decide to sell your house in winter. If you live in an area where it gets snows, you need extra effort to make sure your house looks attractive to potential buyers.

Use these tips when staging your home for the winter season.

Make curb appeal a top priority 

Now that all the leaves have fallen, potential buyers have a clearer view of your home. Make your house look cozy and inviting by giving it a fresh coat of paint. Adding a new doormat, house number, and hardware can also make a big difference. Also, keep your lawn looking neat. Don’t forget to illuminate the way to your front door.

Shovel the snow and keep your driveways and walkways salted and free of snow. There is no point in beautifying your home if potential buyers are afraid to walk on the sidewalk or step on the porch.

Decorate for the holidays 

Most people who are looking at houses in winter are serious buyers. Many of them are looking to settle in their new home before Christmas. Putting up some holiday decorations can help stir the holiday spirit. So go ahead and decorate the house for the holidays, but don’t overdo it. Too many ornaments can crowd your home and distract buyers.

A few subtle touches like a wreath, a bowl of pinecones, some Christmas stockings, and a pot of cider simmering on your stove can create a warm and festive feeling in your home.

Give each room a warm touch 

Accessorize your home with rugs, pillows and art. Use accessories with warm colors such as yellow, orange, and red. These colors are often associated with warmth, heat, and fire, so they’ll make the room look and feel warm and cozy.

Crank up the heat

Give potential buyers a reason to linger for little bit longer. Pump up that thermostat to ensure that they stay warm and comfortable. If you have a fireplace, then go ahead and light a fire.

Winter months is just around the corner. While there is nothing we can do about the winter weather, there are steps you can take to make your home more energy-efficient while keeping it warm all winter long.

Here are some home improvement projects you can do to make your home more comfortable and cozy. These projects can help you save money and energy this winter.

Replace outdated furnace 

The average life span of a furnace is approximately 15 years. Because a new furnace can be quite expensive, most people wait until their furnace reaches the end of its life before getting a new one.

If your furnace is more than 12 years old, we recommend that you begin shopping for a new one. It may still be working, but it is likely that your heating bills are higher than they need to be. Older models are usually more expensive to operate since they use a lot of electricity to heat your home. New units are more energy efficient; hence, allowing you to save money in the long run.

Install a programmable thermostat

Heating your home can be quite expensive. And nothing is more frustrated than paying for wasted energy. In order to save money, we suggest that you turn the temperature up by a few degrees before leaving the house or before going to bed. You can turn up the heat once again upon waking up in the morning and when you come home at night. This works, however, if you remember to do so.

For your convenience, consider installing a programmable thermostat. With this gadget, you don’t have to turn the heat up and down manually. Plus, you are likely to save 3% on your bill with each degree you turn down the heat.

Insulate your water heater

Water heating accounts for 13% of your home’s total energy cost. This is because your water heater works constantly to keep water hot and ready whenever you need it. To make your water heater more energy efficient, consider adding a thick blanket or insulation around your water heater. This will help you save money and energy, not only during the winter but throughout the year.

Given the right conditions, mold can grow just about anywhere in your home. As you probably know, mold is not just unsightly; it can also cause health problems. 

If you would like to keep your home a healthy space to inhabit, be sure to include these areas in your regular inspection. Make sure there are no leaks or other sources of moisture, which may lead to mold growth. Through regular inspection, you can steer clear of the unhealthy and expensive problems mold can cause. 

Here are 4 common places to look for mold.

Basement

Basement mold is especially common in homes with foundation cracks, broken drain tiles, missing waterproof membranes, homes that have been flooded, homes that are poorly sloped and older homes. 

Some people use their basement as storage space for old furniture, cardboard boxes and other items they no longer use. Unfortunately, most basements are not designed with humidity and temperature controls. As a result, moisture develops and mold begins to grow. 

Bathroom 

Mold can and will grow where there is moisture. Because moisture is constantly a part of its environment, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that the bathroom is one of the most common areas for mold growth. To prevent mold growth, make sure to allow ventilation time after showering. 

Most people don’t have an idea they have mold until they smell it. Some would ignore those small patches of mold, thinking they’re just dirt. Look for mold underneath the sink, around the toilet, shower curtains or on the walls. 

Kitchen

Despite people’s effort to keep the kitchen clean and sanitized, it tends to be one of the places where mold can take root. This is mainly because the kitchen is used for preparing foods, where water is one of the most important ingredients. Standing water, spils that are left uncleaned, leaking sinks, drains and faucets, can all lead to mold growth. 

Window sills

Window sills are a prime place for mold to start and spread. Unfortunately, most people don’t often spend a lot of time examining their window sills. After keeping their windows shut all winter, homeowners typically spot mold in windows when they open them in spring. Prevent the growth of mold by keeping the glass panes moisture and dust-free.