Are You Ready for Summer?

Snow west, sleet east. Depending where you are in this weekend’s weather blender you may be facing difficult weather conditions. When the temperatures across the midwest finally dropped below freezing the weekend after Christmas, the memory of the unseasonably warm temperatures just a week earlier quickly disappeared.

In addition to difficult driving conditions, sudden temperature changes also cause many other kinds of problems. From making sure that a home is comfortable and safe to knowing that your home is protected from the damages caused by frozen and broken pipes, it is always important to make sure that you are aware of these dangers.

Home Ownership Requires Careful Attention to Many Details

Whether you are moving into your first home after just getting married or you are living in an older home where you have resided for years, it is important to have a plan to take care of regular home maintenance issues. When you invest the time and money in fixing small household problems right a way, in fact, you can avoid the expenses dangers that come with bigger problems. For instance, fixing or replacing a window that has shown to leak when it rains can help you avoid the much more pricey problem of water damage to wood floors and other areas.

One of the best ways to make sure that you are able to maintain the value of your home is to CREATE A PLAN for monthly checks and chores, especially if you are planning upgrades like outdoor kitchens:

• Concrete driveways and sidewalks require attention if there are cracks developing, segments sinking, or caulking cracking. Catching these problems early on can help prevent more expensive repairs later on.
• Roofs, siding, doors, and windows are essential exterior parts of our home that must be closely checked, especially after a significant storm moves through the area. Fortunately, weather related damage is often at least partially covered by a home owner’s insurance policy.
• Every time you make a minor or major repair to either plumbing or electrical work it is in your best interest to make sure that you are working with certified and licensed plumbers and electricians.
• Air conditioning and heating repairs and maintenance are important to help protect one of the most important and expensive systems in your home.
• The decision to invest in new flooring inside a home is often a step that will allow you more easily maintain and clean. In fact, some of the latest materials that are available for flooring are more durable and offer a way for families to keep their home looking great with minimal effort.
• Estimates for three season room costs may seem prohibitive at first, but when you realize the luxury of outdoor kitchens you may be willing to make the investment.






• Areas surrounding your home like yards, landscaping, and fencing can also add value to the place where you live. In fact, the curb appeal of your home determines the first impression that any future buyers may have, so it is worth your effort to work on these efforts as well.






• Planning to recoup as much as 82% on an investment in a kitchen remodel serves as great motivation. Likewise, 40% of home owners report that they use their outdoor spaces for entertaining.
• Living room furniture and dining room sets may seem like some of the most fun purchases that you will ever have to make, put it is important to realize that these are just surface expenses that create a temporary look. Following through on important aspects of home ownerships, however, is more essential.
• Afternoons on a well build deck or patio can help extend your indoor living areas to the great outdoors and help your family create a lifetime of memories cooking together at outdoor kitchens. These spaces, however, need to be carefully maintained if they are going to hole their value.
• New homes are often easier to maintain than older ones, so it should come as no surprise that so many people are opting for the new house purchase instead of purchasing an existing piece of property.

Both indoor and outdoor kitchen remodeling and additions are great ways to help you get ready for a summer. The first few days after Christmas can seem bleak, but by planning for outdoor kitchens and patios you can set your sights on warmer days.