Akron Today Magazine

Akron Lifestyle and Entertainment

House & Home

Lawn Cleanup Tips

What you do to clean up your lawn in the fall depends on a few factors.

  1. Do you have a large or small yard?
  2. Do you have many or a few trees?
  3. Do you have kids that like to help?
  4. Does your Akron area home provide curb side leaf pickup?

There are a variety of techniques to clean the yard.  In Kent, where I like, we have trees that keep their leaves until Spring in some cases.  That means we are picking up leaves throughout the Fall, Winter (if warmer) and Spring.  Because of this I like to pick them up in batches and not try to do the entire lawn at once.

30 Years ago you saw people raking and bagging the leaves.  Now the manual way to get it done is to rake leaves onto a tarp and drag the tarp to the front of the house and dump them along the curb and they will get cleaned up by your city in many cases.

Other options include leaf blowers.  Electric leaf blowers are inexpensive, but will only work well for modest amounts of leaves that are dry.  A gas leaf blower will be able to handle more leaves and damp leaves much better.  Make sure you wear ear plugs to protect your hearing.

Another option is simply to mow the leaves if they are few and scattered.  Mulching them into the yard with your lawnmower set low is good if there are not too many.

Lastly, hire a company to come and clean your yard.  If you are older or too busy, having a landscape company come and use blowers to clean your yard well will save you the hassle and difficulty.

Remember, just like shoveling snow, raking leaves is not an activity your body is most likely used to and it can be dangerous if you push too hard or try to do too much.  You will likely be sore for days and you could hurt your back or suffer other injuries, so make a smart choice to remove your leaves and cleaning your yard.

 

Gutter Cleaning – Must

Many people do not keep their gutters adequately clean. Sometimes this neglect comes from a forgetful owner, but often the consequences that result from improper gutter maintenance are simply not taken seriously. This is a costly mistake to make both in monetary terms and in the potential for serious injury.

Gutters are a part of almost every building and for a very good reason: Water must be directed away from the foundation. When debris such as tree leaves, pine needles, sticks and dust clog up the gutters, water then has nowhere to go. Any water that is not able to spill over the sides of the gutter begins to collect against the roof and rot will quickly set in. When this happens, the possibility exists that major repairs will then be required.

Rain water that spills over the gutter can not only cause soil erosion where it hits the ground, but it also can create a persistent accumulation of water that can seep into the ground and collect against the foundation of the building. This can put additional stress on concrete walls, creating cracks and causing basements to leak and become damp. In addition to simply causing the area to smell bad, this dampness can cause an infestation of mold. Many serious health complications may then result, such as asthma and allergies. Mold is very difficult to rid from a building and may quickly become so pervasive that staying in the structure is impossible.

Finally, when gutters are not cleaned, the debris acts as a perfect place for seeds to sprout. As these weeds and trees grow and multiply, their additional weight can cause the gutters to collapse.

Gutter cleaning is more than a responsibility: It is a critical part of properly maintaining any structure and is of vital importance.

Home Ownership in The Akron and Surrounding Areas

According to a recent study conducted by Harvard University found that almost 40 million Americans can’t afford their homes.  Mortgage, insurance, and taxes have become a heavy burden for many people that bought too much house, to begin with, and now are financially distressed.  The study also found that people that want to buy are unable to, due to the high cost of homes.

Wages have not kept up with inflation, while the increase in rent has risen considerably over the last few years making the dream of owning a home a bit less unattainable.

In the Akron and surrounding areas, the cost of a home is affordable depending on the neighborhood. A quick search can give you 2,752 homes for sale in less than a minute, with prices ranging from the low 20’s to the 250s. Homes in cities like Los Angeles and New York seem pretty impossible to own.  The median house value of a home in Los Angeles is approximate $633,000 according to the website Zillow.

What to do then if you really want to own a home?  You have to ask yourself several questions before you decide. 

  1. Have you saved enough for a down payment?  Banks and mortgage lenders’ interest rates and options for a loan change if you have a nice downpayment for a home.  It is also good for you to know you can be disciplined enough to save as the costs associated with keeping a home after you buy it can be shocking for first-time buyers.
  2. How much house can you afford? You can go to any mortgage calculator on the web and enter your income. It will give you different options depending on what you enter, but it should not exceed more than 35% of your debt. Your monthly mortgage payment, car payments, child support payment, credit card and student loan payments should not exceed that amount. Remember you CAN buy too much home and eventually lose it, don’t fall into that trap.
  3. Is this your dream home, or only a home for a few years? Many people buy a first home planning to eventually get their dream home.  If that is your case, planning where and what to buy is extremely important.  You don’t want a neighborhood where home values are decreasing yearly, or if you have children, where the school district is not up to standard. Take your time and choose well.
  4. How do you feel about buying a fixer-upper? If you or your spouse are handy and enthusiastic about fixing a home, why not buy a fixer-upper?  Depending on the problems with a fixer-upper, you can really have a beautiful home without having a crippling mortgage.  Pay attention to the foundation of the home first and foremost. The foundation’s structural integrity is too important to the home for you to leave it up to chance.  If there is a problem with the foundation, call a foundation repair specialist for a quote and professional advice.
  5. Will your family keep the standard of living they were accustomed to? Buying a home does not mean you have to sit around staring at the walls of your home for years because you did not anticipate the cost associated with keeping up the home. The mortgage payment, taxes, and insurance you calculated before buying the home does not take into account the upkeep of the home.  As a rule, you need to save 1% of the cost of the home for the upkeep every single year.  Sometimes, we do not anticipate this and it can be a bit painful if we are already stretched too thin.

Most people would like to own their homes, it is the American dream after all, but don’t fall into the trap of buying too much house that you are always afraid of losing it.

5 Ways To Get Your House Ready to Sell

It’s time to move! Whether your job is taking you to a new city, you’re ready for a fresh start across the country, or you’re moving down the street for a few extra bedrooms, moving is a stressful, challenging time. As you prepare to put your house on the market, you have to be ready for strangers to traipse through your home at any given time. And most importantly, you need to impress them to get it sold. The following tips can make a big difference, and are sure to get that SOLD placard on your lawn in a flash.

1) Clean it up! It sounds simple, but a clean home is inviting, presentable, and gives potential buyers a look at the house in its most perfect possible state. Dust those ceiling fans, mop the floors, and make every surface sparkle. And don’t forget the outside – clean the gutters and power wash the siding.

2) Outdoors matter. Speaking of the outside, don’t neglect your landscaping. Plant a few flowers, pull out the weeds, and keep it freshly mowed for the best first impression you can give. We tell kids to never judge a book by its cover, but it’s unavoidable – everyone wants a pleasant looking home.
 
3) Fix everything. There would be nothing worse than thinking you have your house sold, but the deal gets hung up because of some needed repairs. It’s a buyer’s market, so make it easy on yourself in advance and replace those broken windows and the broken water heater. And that bright orange bedroom wall you love? Not everyone will, so repaint it a neutral white or gray before you leave.
 
4) Organization is key! Buyers may open up that forgotten closet or unkempt drawers, and if it looks jam-packed or messy, they might be led to assume there just isn’t enough storage space in the house. Keep it neat!
 
5) Make it inviting. Some of the smallest details matter a lot to buyers who are imagining what life might look like in your home. Get a new welcome mat, keep out just a few striking trinkets and artwork, and make it feel like home.

 

Home Maintenance Checklist For The Fall

There are many home maintenance chores we, as homeowners need to do before the winter months set in. Doing them yearly can prevent home repairs that can be costly, and time consuming. So, before the cold weather comes and you don’t feel like doing them, here is a 7 chore list that can help you get organized.

Call to have your furnace serviced. It is so important to have this done yearly, that is not possible to reiterate this enough. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a serious threat for you, your family and pets. Older furnaces specially need to be monitored to make sure they are working properly.

Clean the Gutters of your home. Leaves accumulate, and can cause blockages that can disrupt the flow of water. By cleaning them after the leaves fall every year ensures your gutters will stay clean, and debris free.

Stowing away your lawnmower and trimmers without servicing them, means you will have a hard time starting them next year. If you leave your lawn mower with gas in it, make sure you use a fuel stabilizer to keep your lawn mower engine’s free of excessive moisture and to prevent varnishing. You can buy an 8 oz. fuel stabilizer at your local Home Depot for $5.22 isn’t that cheap enough to avoid headaches in the spring?

Change the batteries in your smoke, and carbon monoxide detectors at home. A ten dollar expense can protect your family.

Make sure the drainage of your home is flowing the proper course. If water is sitting around the foundation of your home, then the drainage is not working properly. Make sure the flower beds around your home are not keeping water stagnate close to the foundation. That water will eventually find a way to the basement of your home if it is not properly waterproofed.

Trimming the shrubbery around your home will keep ants and other critters from finding a way onto the roof. Long branches from trees around your home can do damage to your house during strong winds, keep them short.

Stow away your garden hoses to avoid water backing up and freezing, causing damage to the pipes.

Prevention is the best way to avoid costly repairs to your home. Those yearly chores we must do every year, are a necessity, and can save you time and money if you are diligent. Inspecting the foundation, and roof of your home should be done yearly as well to make sure there are not glaring problems that you overlooked before.

Shopping Around – The New Norm

Shopping around for items is normal, but many people are moving towards shopping for items and services that used to not be questioned.  Prices can be very different from one place to another depending on the vendor. And things that used to be a monopoly have a high degree of competition now.  This week I saw a friend on Facebook complain about a new medication he needed be $500 a month and not covered by insurance.  Within an hour he had people telling him how to get it for $60 and places he could maybe get it free (from manufacturer) and how to do it.

Facebook and other social media channels are helping people collaborate and share information to find better deals on things.  But are you looking for better deals when it comes to some of these things?

  1. Utilities – By shopping for utility providers, you can reduce your rate significantly.  Put when your contract is up on your calendar and reshop for it once it expires or your rate will go up and not one will notify you.
  2. Medical – The exact same procedure can be radically different from place to place.  Some people even find it cheaper to go to another country and have a medical vacation versus just taking the first offer on a medical procedure.  (Please do not shop around if it is an emergency though!)
  3. Auto Repairs – If you are one of those people still going to the dealer, you are paying too much for some things.  I do like the dealer for maintenance but not for big jobs unless it requires a specialist.  That said, this is one area asking around is very important.  Just taking the cheapest person to fix your car can be a nightmare.
  4. Prescriptions – Not only does the place matter, but there are programs that will give you a discount at your pharmacy, whether in Akron, Hudson, Fairlawn or Aurora.
  5. Cars – Sure we all shop around for cars already, but did you know if you know what you are looking for and you start calling dealerships (especially if you are a little flexible) you can get a great deal without ever setting foot on the lot (until you buy)?
  6. Entertainment – I cannot even say “TV” or “Cable” anymore because there are so many options for entertainment.  Do you just watch movies and tv shows?  You probably only need a streaming service.  The trick here is to know what you can’t live without and then shop around for the entertainment necessities and cut out the unused stuff.
  7. Insurance – If you got the best price on insurance more than a year ago, why have you not shopped it around again?  For example, we got a great deal on insurance a year ago and this year they raised the price about 30% for no reason.  Clearly the first year was a discount to get the business and they hope people will not move after year one and the price increase.  Time to start calling around.

I wish it was not such a hassle.  It is an unfortunate byproduct of our hyper capitalistic economy that businesses are always using gimmicks, specials and tricks to squeeze more money out of you.  You can either accept the games and pay more or you can manage your buying and pay less.  The choice is yours.

Winterize Your Home Before Fall

When Winter season is approaching, many people opt to leave their homes and visit other cities where it is warmer. If you are planning to vacate your home this winter, it is important you make preparations in the right way. The arrangements done should help you secure your property from theft and destruction. Preparations are easy and less costly. Various ideas are used in securing the house and all assets which are vulnerable to the falls. Here are useful tips that could help keep your home a better place to come back after the winter season is over.

Be proactive about your home sewage and plumbing

Heavy downfall is experienced during the winter season. Secure the pipes which are exposed on your compound. Alternating changes of temperatures could affect these pipes causing them to burst up. If you have a swimming pool or any other water spigots that are within your compound, consider cutting off water supply. On the last days, ensure sprinklers are dried of excess moisture using compressed air. Facilities like air conditioners must also be covered to keep off moisture from affecting the equipment.

Trim huge trees near the house

The weather experienced in winter is very harsh. There are frequent thunderstorms and winds. If there are trees that are positioned next to your house, this could pose a huge threat to your home. Accumulation of ice on branches causes them to break off. Hire tree companies that specialize in trimming and felling of trees professionally. They will help in trimming this vegetation thus reducing the risk of falling on your roof. Apart from trimming, cleaning of branches and leaves that have fallen is done.

Enclose the chimney

If your house has a fire point, ensure cleaning is done days before the winter comes. The chimney should be washed using chemicals that reduce acidic reactions on the surface. When cleaning is finished, chimney caps should be installed on top. The advantage of covering the top opening is to reduce any snow that falls into your fireplace. Corrosion is reduced, and your house stays in good condition during the period.

Decluttering Your Ohio Home

A common expression is that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.  It is safe to say that the opposite is true as well.  Have you seen when someone leaves a home and leaves many of their belongings in it?  Or how about going to a tag sale and seeing all the knickknacks which are on sale for a buck?  We should turn that expression around and say “One man’s treasure is many people’s trash.”

Unless you are very disciplined, you most likely have a lot of stuff in your home that you do not use.  The longer you have been there the worse it has no doubt gotten.

Decluttering your home will make it more enjoyable.  When you go on vacation one of the nicest elements is the lack of clutter in a nice, spacious hotel.

Decluttering will save you money.  You can sell valuable things on ebay or amazon and you can just throw away a lot of stuff.  This will save you money because the more you throw away, the more thoughtful you are before you buy new things.

Decluttering will help you stay more organized.  By only keeping things you really need and keeping things picked up and put away, your life will be simpler and more organized.

Decluttering will make it easier to sell your home or move.  The less you have the more show-ready your home is if you decide to put it on the market.  Everyone knows the more cluttered a house is the less desirable it is to potential buyers.  By keeping it decluttered, you can be ready to move without months of cleaning.

Tips for Decluttering your Akron Home

  1. If you have not used something for more than a year, either put it up for sale or throw it away.
  2. Keep a minimal amount of holiday / seasonal items for decorating.  Only keep what you enjoy the most.  This stuff has a habit of building up.
  3. Take care of papers, mail and deliveries right away.  Do not let stacks grow.  Whenever possible, store documents electronically and dispose of papers quickly.
  4. Know where your local recycling center is and have older documents you no longer need shredded.  This is often free if you know where to go.
  5. Don’t assign emotions to items.  Unless something truly gives you joy see it for the item it is and get rid of it if you do not need it.
  6. Don’t keep clothes you do not wear.  Donating them can give you a tax break while helping someone out.

This is a big start to living a fresher, cleaner and more clutter-free life.  Enjoy the empty space.

 

 

Basement Waterproofing in Akron

Northeast Ohio, including Akron, Canton and Cleveland, are full of older homes that have experienced wet basement issues over the years. Maybe you have a home that needs basement waterproofing services. If so, keep the following things in mind.

  • Do not try to patch a basement crack yourself – You might stop the water from coming into the basement temporarily but you could cause it to collect in the wall, and as it gets cold it can freeze and cause greater foundation issues.
  • Do not hire a basement waterproofer without checking out– This is important. Hire an experienced Ohio basement waterproofing company who has a proven track record and many years in business.
  • Look For Trust Factors – when considering hiring a company, do they have professional, branded trucks? Do they have a physical office? Do they have a high quality basement waterproofing website? Do they have good ratings with BBB, Angie’s List and Home Advisor? Do they return your phone call or email within a day or two? All of these are factors when considering the professionalism of a waterproofing company.
  • Testimonials – Do they have legit testimonials? Do they have before an after pictures? Are some of their testimonials posted directly from the public, and not just by them on their own website? Verifiable testimonials are one of the best ways to make sure they do a good job and you are likely to be happy with their basement waterproofing service.
  • Options – Some waterproofing companies are just going to push the most expensive options. In some cases, there are not cheaper options available. However, often the person doing a basement inspection can give you several options and pricing, along with the positives and negatives of each option.

These are all factors to consider when you are looking at an Akron Basement Waterproofing company to hire.

Outdoor Projects To Get Done Now

Summer is going by fast and it is time to start some outdoor home projects done before the Fall is here.  I have assembled this list of things to check out on your house while it is still nice out and getting things done is easier

Roof shingles- Shingles can be loose or missing which is a problem for water damage.  Having a handyman patch one area of your roof to prevent water damage later on can really save you money.

Power washing- Want to brighten up your home without repainting it?  Consider having it power washed to remove stains and mildew.

Tree Trimming – Tree branches with no leaves are easy to spot this time of year and now is the time to hire someone to remove those dangerous limbs.

Window frames and sills – As the cold comes back, you do not want to get caught with window rot and damage.  Fixing these will better insulate your home.  It may not cost a lot.  It could be as simple as adding new caulking but could also be whole home window replacements which can be costly.

Porch and deck repair – Don’t let some boards or steps go to long if they are getting soft or rotting.  These damaged parts of your porch or deck can be replaced and then have the whole thing washed and re-stained so the whole thing still matches.

Gutter Guards are  a good investment before the leaves start falling you want to consider gutter guards to keep leaves and debris out of your spouting.  You can replace gutters with built in gutter guarded spouting or you can buy sheets of screen to lay over your gutters to keep the big stuff out.

Repair Cement – Another thing to consider. If your driveway is getting uneven you can call a cement leveler and have them inject cement under areas of your cement pads to raise them up and level them out.

Every house is different.  This is a good time to do a repair inventory and call specialists to get the most critical work done while the weather is still great to be out there.