Category: Post Notes

PLACES AND SPACES

Small Home, Big Storage

While “tiny houses” take storage strategies to an extreme, accessible, well planned storage will make daily life easier in any smaller home.

The Drop Zone

Most people use a back or garage entrance more often than the front door. These entryways can incorporate drop zones where everyone can unload their backpacks, shoes, outerwear and more. Baskets under benches provide both seating and storage. Some drop zones incorporate a dedicated shelf or cubby for each family member’s gear.

Beyond the Office

These spaces are often used not only as an office, but for homework, projects, and more.

Repurpose closets by replacing hanging rods with shelving and drawers. A dresser can be used to store project materials for easy access. With multiple users, this multi-function room, like the drop zone, needs to have a workable system that everyone can follow.

Pantry Solutions

The smaller kitchens found in smaller homes need to at least accommodate kitchen staples and big, bulky items such as large mixing bowls, seldom-used small appliances and serving pieces. Pantry shelving for food items should be relatively shallow so that everything is easy to find and reach. This type of shelving can even be added to a niche in the wall between two studs.

Smaller homes aren’t going away, and continue to be especially popular as starter homes and with downsizers. With efficient and practical storage solutions, even a smaller home can accommodate the needs of most families.

HOME & LIFE

Easy Ways to Boost Your Home’s Cozy Factor

Try these surefire tips to warm up your home in the New Year and beyond.

• Set up your own hot cocoa bar with cinnamon, peppermint and marshmallow add-ins. Don’t forget the whipped cream!
• Keep a basket of soft, warm slippers or socks inside your entryway for guests.
• Candles, scented or unscented, will add instant visual warmth.
• Simmer cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange peel in a pot of water. Reheat to keep your home filled with fragrance all day.

HOME MATTERS

Zero Clearance Fireplaces

There’s nothing like enjoying a crackling, wood burning fireplace on a chilly evening or weekend. But what if your house didn’t happen to come with one? Enter the zero clearance fireplace.

Zero clearance refers to a prefabricated fireplace unit that can be installed against combustible surfaces such as walls or floors. A prefab chimney is then run up the inside or outside of the home.

Use a Qualified Installer

Not all types of zero clearance fireplaces are suitable for every situation, so consult an expert if you consider getting one. This is not a DIY project.

Is It Allowed?

Make sure you check local regulations to see if new wood burning fireplaces are approved in your community.

Glass Doors

Most zero clearance fireplaces have glass doors. In some models the doors can be closed while the fire is burning and in others the doors must be left open.

Maintenance

Like its traditional wood burning cousins, a zero clearance fireplace can have dangerous creosote buildup in the chimney flue and must be cleaned regularly to avoid a chimney fire.

GENERAL TIPS

• Burn only seasoned hardwood
• Load the logs near the back of the firebox
• Use a spark screen
• Make sure your smoke and CO alarms are functioning
• Never leave a fire unattended

Relax and enjoy!

INSPECTION INSIGHTS

Is Radon on Your Radar?

Radon is a naturally occurring odorless radioactive gas that seeps into homes from underground. Excessive levels of radon can be dangerous to your family’s health. Here’s what you need to know:

• Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.
• An estimated 1 in 15 homes in the US and Canada has an elevated level of radon.
• High levels of radon can be found in any type of home – new, old, snug, drafty, with or without a basement.
• Testing is the only way to determine if your home is affected.

A qualified radon inspector will:

• Test for unsafe levels of radon inside your home.
• Analyze the data and report on results.
• Recommend steps to reduce excessive radon levels if found.

Get peace of mind for you and your family. Schedule a radon inspection today!

LIFE LESSONS

Try These 5 Favorite Tips and Feel Better Every Day

No matter what time of the year, these easy-to-fit-in ideas can make a difference every day – and not just for you.

1. Reach out to a friend or relative. Even a quick text to touch base will do.
2. Put your to-do list in writing to help clear your thoughts, especially at night.
3. Make a cup of coffee or tea and just listen calmly to the sounds around you.
4. Take a quick walk, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
5. Greet everyone with “How’s your day going?” You may be the only one who asks.

HOME MATTERS

All About Garage Doors

Overhead garage doors may be the largest and heaviest moving object in most homes. For safety and reliability, make sure it’s up to date and kept in proper working order.

Safety First

Older garage doors can lack some of the safety features required in newer installations. Automatic openers must have sensors, usually a pair of electric eyes, that will stop and reverse the door if a person or pet moves across its path.

Power Out?

What about getting the door open during a power outage? Use the manual release – in most cases it’s a short red cord that hangs down close to the center of the door, inside the garage. Practice how to operate the release in case you need to get a car out of the garage during a power outage.

Smooth Sailing

Maintaining the door is important for safety and for quiet, smooth operation. A garage door specialist can provide periodic maintenance, or you can do much of this yourself, including lubricating the springs and hinges. The track where the wheels run should never be lubricated for safety reasons. A professional can also check the door balance and alignment and make any necessary adjustments.

Controlled Access

When moving into a new home, change the remote control code immediately for security purposes, just as you would re-key or change the home’s door locks. If the remote can’t be reprogrammed, chances are, it’s an outdated system, and should be upgraded for safety reasons.

A garage door and opener, with proper maintenance, will help ensure safe operation and should last for many trouble-free years.

SMARTER LIVING

“Calm” for the holidays

Feeling anxious about the holidays? Try these tips to bring on the calm:

• Don’t feel like you have to say “yes” to every invitation, menu demand or gift request.
• Ask others to pitch in on tasks such as shopping, baking and wrapping. And if someone offers help, accept it!
• Set a budget for gift purchases and stick to it. A mountain of new debt is no way to start the new year.
• If you’re hosting a meal, ask guests to bring side dishes or desserts. If they ask to do dishes, hand them a sponge!
• A 15 minute walk each day will leave you refreshed and help clear your head.

LIVING RIGHT AT HOME

Brighten Up Your Living Space in Winter

The shorter days will still be here for months to come, and spring can seem a long way away. But winter doesn’t mean your home needs to feel drab for months on end. Here are some easy ways to bring some springtime into your home and life right now.

Rooms of blooms
Choose a bouquet of colorful fresh flowers or a flowering plant to display in the kitchen, family room, or wherever you spend a lot of time. Or divide a large bunch of blooms into several smaller vases that you can place in a bathroom, by the kitchen sink, and on your nightstand.

Cheers!
If you live in a mild climate, a pot or two of bright flowering plants outside your front door provides instant cheer. Your neighbors (and the mail carrier) will appreciate it, too!

Punch up the color
Give your powder room or laundry area a lift with a fresh coat of paint in a fun new color, or create a bigger impact with an accent wall in any room.

Give it a spin
Whirl chunks of pineapple, mango, and banana with plain yogurt in the blender to bring a taste of the tropics to a dark morning. This healthy treat will give your day a delicious jump start and bring a smile to your face.

Be a quick change artist
Try new throw pillows or pillow covers in bright, fun fabrics to liven up your sofa and chairs. There are so are many great-looking, inexpensive options available you won’t have to splurge to give your room a fresh look.

SEASONAL SENSE

Before and after the storm

No matter where you live, winter storms can wreak havoc on property. Preventive steps can reduce the chance of serious damage to homes and lives.

Before the storm

• Outdoor furniture, grills, toys, birdbaths and the like should be stored away. Secure and anchor large objects such as prefab sheds and play structures to prevent them from falling or blowing over.
• Trees can look like they’re in good shape but may be diseased or have other problems that can cause them to fail unexpectedly. Trees stressed by drought or that are rooted in saturated soil can be more susceptible to problems when storms hit.
• Local ordinances may require that trees be trimmed a minimum distance from driveways, structures and power lines. For safety’s sake, a qualified professional should perform this work.
• Using binoculars, check your roof for missing or damaged shingles. Flying shingles can damage structures, while missing shingles can allow water to leak into the home. Any roofing repairs should be done professionally to ensure the work is done safely and correctly.

After the storm

• Look for downed or sagging power lines and report them immediately to your utility company. Always assume a downed power line is live, and never approach or touch it.
• Check around for fallen branches or other damage to trees and structures. This is also a good time to reinspect the roof for storm damage; any repairs should be made as soon as possible to prevent further problems and leaks.
• Note any areas where water may have infiltrated siding, the foundation, or windows and have repairs done before the next storm hits.

INSPECTION INSIGHTS

Why get a pre-listing home inspection?

A pre-listing inspection can uncover previously unknown problems – major and minor – allowing the opportunity to make repairs, updates, or replacements as needed or as the seller wishes. Addressing these issues before the home goes on the market can result in cleaner offers and a smoother transaction for both parties. Having well-informed sellers and buyers will work to everyone’s advantage.

Be sure that the home inspection is comprehensive and that you’ll get the report immediately upon completion of the inspection. This will allow sellers to get the information they need right away, so they can decide on their next steps prior to listing. Photos should also always be part of a professional report so that the full documentation of conditions is available to both the sellers and potential buyers. This is especially important when it comes to issues that might not be addressed or repaired prior to sale.

Having a pre-listing inspection in hand is a great way to inform potential buyers and give them peace of mind once the home hits the market, leading to a faster sale!

HOUSEWISE

Home sweet home security

We all love coming home at the end of the day to a place we feel safe. Here are some tips for keeping your home and valuables secure.

Secure Entrances – Thoroughly evaluate all entry points to your home. Make sure all doors have a secure lock and reinforce the door frames. Windows should be closed and locked at all times when you are away.

Secure Lighting – Lighting is a basic but important burglar deterrent. Indoor and outdoor lights can thwart intruders by making it look like the house is occupied when you are not home, and minimize the places burglars can hide at night.

Secure Garage – Garages are a favorite target for thieves because they contain easy to sell valuables like bicycles, tools and sports equipment. Garages can also provide easy access into the home. Keep all garage windows and access doors securely locked. Look into installing tempered glass in windows, or cover the inside of the windows with a sheet of durable Plexiglas.

Security System – There are lots of options available for homeowners who want to take this extra precaution. The latest systems can be operated using a mobile device or speaker-based “assistant,” allowing you to arm the system and remotely monitor indoor and outdoor security cameras. More conventional alarm systems include third-party monitoring, and unmonitored alarms that simply make a loud noise when triggered.

PLACES AND SPACES

The right tree in the right spot

One of the most common problems with home gardens is plants, particularly trees, that grow too large for their location.

Here are keys to avoiding this:

• Research how tall and wide a particular kind of plant or tree will be at maturity. That cute sapling at the nursery could grow up to be a giant you don’t have space for.
• Avoid planting a tree too close to the house. At full size it may damage the roof and gutters and need to be cut back.
• If the tree is deciduous (loses its leaves each fall), will the winter sun cause the rooms nearby to be too bright?
• Trees with aggressive and/or shallow root systems shouldn’t be planted near the house, pavement or other surfaces as they can potentially cause serious damage to the foundation.

SMARTER LIVING

Smart Vacation Planning for Your Home

Vacation coming up? While you may monitor a security camera setup remotely, here’s some good advice to give you added peace of mind about your home while you’re away.

• Make your home appear occupied. Schedule lights throughout the house to turn off and on at various times after dark using simple plug-in timers or a smartphone-controlled app.
• Use extra caution when communicating about your vacation dates on Facebook and other social media. Information spreads quickly, and you don’t want it to get into the wrong hands.
• Tell your close friends and trusted neighbors of your travel plans and let them know when you’re expecting to return. Make sure you can be reached in an emergency if necessary.
• Have the post office hold your mail and suspend any newspaper and package deliveries, or ask a neighbor to collect them for you each day.
• Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway on occasion so it looks like there’s someone at home.
• Arrange to have someone mow the lawn in your absence if you’ll be gone for more than a week.
• Close the window coverings in ground-level rooms so that would-be thieves aren’t tempted by valuables and other items visible from outside.
• If possible, load your vacation gear into the car in the garage so that you’re not announcing to passersby that you’re on your way out of town.
• Lock the garage, gates, and storage structures. Don’t forget to lock any side doors and doors leading into the house from the garage.

Now go ahead enjoy your time away!

HOUSEWISE

Keeping Your Cool

5 easy ways to help keep your home cool this summer.

• Close window coverings on south- and west-facing sides of the house until dusk.
• Change ceiling fans to the summer rotation setting (counter-clockwise) to make the room feel cooler.
• Give the stove a rest and use the microwave and outdoor grill instead.
• Use a programmable or smart thermostat to raise the AC temperature when you’re not home.
• Take well-deserved breaks with homemade lemonade on ice!

SUMMER LIVING

The Thrill of the Grill

Before firing up the grill, consider these safety tips for trouble-free cooking!

• Never use a grill under a porch, overhang, carport, deck, or in a garage. Make sure the grill rests on a stable surface and can’t be tipped over. If the grill has locking casters, make sure they are engaged.
• Never use a propane or charcoal grill indoors.
• Periodically check hoses and connections on gas grills throughout the grilling season. Replace any cracked or brittle hoses before using the grill. Propane tanks should never be stored in a garage or other structure at any time.
• Start charcoal fires using a chimney starter instead of charcoal lighter fluid. Not only is a chimney starter safer, but your meal will taste better. If fluid is used, never add it to the coals once the fire has been lit.
• To help prevent grease fires, remove accumulated grease and residue from inside the lid of the grill at least every 5-6 uses. Use baking soda to extinguish a grease fire still contained within the grill unit.
• Always keep young children and pets away from the grill during and after cooking. With charcoal grills in particular, the exterior can remain hot long for a long time.

INSPECTION INSIGHT

Repairs and Upgrades: How Much Will They Cost?

During the process of buying or selling a home, your clients often learn about recommended or required repairs and upgrades. This can happen as a result of the home inspection as well as your expert knowledge of your market and comparable homes. Of course, the first thing homeowners want to know is, “How much will that cost?”

Pillar to Post is pleased to offer our popular Residential Construction and Remodeling Estimates cost guide, which provides estimated cost ranges for repair and/ or replacement of the major systems and components in a home. It also includes general guidelines for the life expectancies of those systems.

Request complimentary copies of the cost guide from your local Pillar To Post Home Inspector or download it at pillartopost.com/costguide.

SMARTER LIVING

Get in the Swim

Get the most out of your backyard pool with these practical tips for protecting pool users.

While it’s fun to take a refreshing dip, swim a few laps, or just watch the kids splash around, drownings and pool-related injuries occur each year, affecting thousands of families.

Here are some “musts” for enjoying a safe swim:

• Anyone using the pool should know how to swim. An experienced swimmer should always be present if anyone is still learning to swim.
• The pool should be enclosed with fencing a minimum of 4’ high. Gates should self-close and self-latch, with the latch inaccessible to small children. Homeowners should check local requirements for pool enclosures, as they may be stricter and/or provide additional specifications. If you have recently added or renovated a pool, an inspection may be required to approve the pool for use.
• An adult must always be present when children are in or around the pool. For younger children, the adult should be at the poolside. It is not enough to simply look out a window or door to check on them.
• Diving should be limited to in-ground pools. If there is a diving board, it must have sufficiently deep water beneath it. Always dive hands first, and jump feet first.
• To avoid possible injury, keep children away from pool filters and drains. Make sure pool surrounds and decking are free of toys and other objects that could be stepped on. And walk, don’t run, near the pool to avoid slips and falls.
• Keep rescue equipment nearby and easily accessible. For added peace of mind, consider having family members learn CPR skills.

Ground fault circuit interrupter red reset and black test button to prevent electric shock.

HOUSEWORKS

GFCI / AFCI Explained

GFCI and AFCI are specialized electrical safety devices with very different purposes. Let’s take a look at how each is used in the home as well as how they work.

A GFCI, or ground fault circuit interrupter, is a device designed to protect people from electrical shock in the home. GFCI receptacles should be installed in any area with potential risk for electrical shock and a direct path to the ground, especially areas with plumbing. These are generally installed in bathrooms, along kitchen counters, in garages, unfinished basements, outdoor outlets and near swimming pools and spas. A GFCI monitors the electrical current leaving from and returning to the receptacle. If there is a mismatch in the currents, the GFCI will shut off the receptacle immediately to protect people from serious electrical shock.

An arc fault circuit interrupter, or AFCI, is designed to prevent electrical fires. This relatively new type of circuit breaker detects arcing in an electrical circuit, shutting down the affected circuit before it can cause a fire. Arcing is possible if an electrical cable is punctured or cut by something as simple as hammering a nail into a wall. Other potential causes of arcing include frayed extension cords, loose electrical connections, and old and/or cracked insulation on electrical wires and cables.

An AFCI breaker fits into the electrical panel in place of a standard circuit breaker. AFCI breakers are much larger than standard breakers and have a test button. They may not be available for older electrical panels, so retrofitting with AFCI breakers is not always possible. In addition, old wiring may have been subjected to years of poorly executed modifications, which AFCIs may or may not compensate for. It’s always best to have a qualified electrician assess the panel and electrical components before making the decision to install AFCI breakers.