As a new homeowner, you have a lot of things to think about. From navigating mortgage payments to figuring out what rules govern your HOA, the sheer amount of new information you need to know can be overwhelming.

But before you get caught up in the technical aspects of homeownership, it’s important to make sure the interior systems of your homework properly. It’s especially important to check your HVAC system to see if you need furnace maintenance and tune up services.

The last thing you want is to end up freezing cold in the middle of winter because your furnace isn’t working properly. To keep this and similar unpleasant situations from happening, here are a few things every new homeowner should know about HVAC systems.

Air Filters should be Changed Regularly

Furnaces have air filters inside that are designed to trap dirt and impurities so they don’t get circulated throughout your home. When the filters get too clogged, they can’t do their job effectively.

Most HVAC experts recommend replacing your filters at least once every six months. If you have pets or allergies, you may want to change your filters every three months.

Don’t Close Vents

Many homeowners don’t understand that closing air vents is detrimental to any HVAC system. Closing vents force your system to work harder than usual to maintain the temperature on the thermostat.

To take the pressure off your system, keep all vents open and avoid blocking them with things like blankets, furniture, and other objects. You can talk to an HVAC professional if you wish to create different zones within your home.

You Should Get a Tune-up Every Year

Furnace maintenance and tune-up appointments are essential if you want to enhance the life of your unit. Failing to get your HVAC system maintained at least once each year could lead to premature failure of the unit.

Regular HVAC services could save you money in the long run. When you have an expert check your system regularly, you increase the likelihood of being notified of small issues before they become major problems.

The Area Around The Outside of Your Unit Should Be Kept Clean

Your HVAC system has an internal component and an external component. The external component is generally located on the side or back of your house. This is the part of your system that intakes air and requires good airflow.

To make sure the exterior unit is able to do its job well, keep the area around it clean and free from debris. Don’t plant any bushes or trees within three feet of the unit. If fallen leaves or other debris blow into or around the unit, clean them up immediately.

Find a Good HVAC Company

Since you probably aren’t an HVAC professional, it’s a good idea to have one on speed dial. Use reviews and word-of-mouth referrals to find an HVAC company that has a good reputation.

Knowing who you can trust with your furnace repair needs can give you peace of mind as a homeowner. It can also help you keep your HVAC in good working order so you can rely on it year-round.

Explore More

• How to Clean Dryer Vent: Step by Step Guide
• 8 Annual Home Maintenance Practises to Never Skip
• 9 Common Signs That You Need an HVAC System Repair
• 5 Reasons on Why you Should Buy a Smart HVAC System
• Burners Vs. Furnaces: Which One Is a Better Heating Source?

Florida is called the Sunshine State for a reason, and even though you’re just a few hours away from the beach, it’s still nice to have a pool in the backyard. Having a pool means that you’re going to add another thing to your list of chores, as pools are hard work. They require regular maintenance, cleaning, and having a pool cleaning service. With regard to pool cleaning service, Windermere, FL, has many skilled experts.

If you’ve recently installed a pool or just moved to a house with a pool, then you should keep the below maintenance tips in mind. 

Start Skimming

Even if you don’t know anything about pools, you probably already know what skimming is. Many experts recommend that skimming is done daily to keep all leaves and debris from getting into drains. It doesn’t take too long, but it’s something you’re going to have to make sure that your pool is clean.  If you have an above-ground pool then make sure that you only use the recommended pool vacuum to clean dirt and debris.

Scrubbing is Very Important

After skimming, the next thing you’re going to be doing a lot is scrubbing. Algae can quickly build up along the outer edges of your pool tiles, and you’ll need to be scrubbing about once every week. The easiest thing to do is purchase a scrub brush, which will give you enough power to remove any algae grown. 

Check the Chemicals

While you won’t have to break out a hazmat suit, your pool needs to be chemically balanced. Too much of one chemical could give your pool a murky look or could cause skin irritation. Your summer hangout spot could become the top place to avoid. For the complete guide, the CDC has a few tips on the levels of chemicals about which every pool owner should know. 

Even if you’re not a chemist, testing the water is incredibly easy. You can buy a couple of testing kits, fill them with water from your pool, and wait a few seconds for the result. Pretty easy!

Monitor the Water Level

While pools may not be subject to the dangers of climate change, you do need to keep a close eye on the water level. Having water that’s too high or too low can cause a number of issues for your pool. Water that’s too high will allow debris to pass through a filter without being pulled into the skimmer itself.

Water that’s too low may damage your skimmer as it pulls in the air instead of debris. It may also run the pump dry and cause a severe malfunction

Have a Professional on Hand

Sometimes, there may be issues that arise that seem out of your skill level, or you feel that your pool needs a deep clean. That doesn’t mean you should skirt around the process by doing some maintenance yourself, but hire a pool cleaning service. With regard to pool cleaning service Windermere, FL, has plenty of options, and this service is smart for you and your pool’s health. 

A professional service can look at everything, from the equipment to make sure your chemicals are correctly balanced. Even though you might be a good steward, it never hurts to have a professional take a look at your pool. 

Don’t Forget About the Pool Deck

It’s not just the pool itself you need to be taking care of, but also your pool deck! The easiest thing to do is to power wash your deck every month or so. Power washing is not to get rid of debris, but dirt and grime that have built up over time across your deck. The process also involves a lot of fun!

Keep reading:–

• Pool Landscaping Ideas: Spectacular & Innovative Designs
• 5 Tips For New Pool Owners

When you are selling your house, you want to get the best offer you can. That’s one of the reasons why people renovate their homes before showing them to potential buyers. Some go as far as knocking down the walls, while others just pick up decorations through which they can make their homes more welcoming and appealing to potential new owners. Get amazing Home Renovation Tips here.

No matter which person you are, here are some of the ways in which you can increase the value of your home. So let’s get to it. 

Increase Light And Space 

Nobody wants to be stuck in places without light or space unless they are vampires. So if you want to increase the value of your house, and you have such rooms there, you should consider getting rid of them. Small, dark places are a big no-no when it comes to the real estate business. 

The best way to add some light to the room is by enhancing the natural light. If you want and have the option to, you can knock down some walls to brighten the place up, at the same time adding more space to it. 

Landscape And Curb Appeal

The first impression counts the most so you should do whatever you can for it to be good, especially in the real estate business. It is based on the exterior of your house that someone decides whether they want to go and see the interior. 

That’s why you should make sure that the front of the house is clean and welcoming. Your driveway should be appropriately paved, and the lawn should be well maintained. If you want to have some greenery in front, but you don’t have a green thumb, opt for plants that are drought tolerant. If there is a deck at the front of your house, make it as inviting as possible – add some nice furniture or create a colorful garden. Don’t be afraid to get creative, but do everything in moderation.

Create A Home Office

Since more and more people are deciding to work remotely or become a freelancer, adding a home office might be the right way of increasing your home’s value. Don’t be afraid to do it, especially if you have some extra space or a spare room in your house. 

While designing the home office, make sure that there is a lot of space to work. Also, think about things such as grounded outlets or data ports. If you want, you can also add an extra phone line.

Consider Adding A Deck 

If you always wanted to have a deck, but you were too afraid of the costs, now is the time to do it, especially since it was estimated that you could get back even up to 80% of what you spend on constructing it when you sell the house.  

When installing a deck, make sure that you give the plan some thought. Try to make it personal and add some unique features, such as a fire pit (if you have permission) or built-in benches. And if you want it to last longer than just one season, you should use higher-grade materials. 

Finish Your Basement 

If you have a basement, make the most of it. It is especially useful if you don’t have enough space for the rest of the house. The advantage of it is that it can turn into whatever you desire. Do you want a private bar? Go ahead. Do you need a playroom for your kids? No problem. 

And if you want to increase the value, even more, you should think about adding a bathroom. The important thing here is to not forget about having enough light so that this extra room will increase the value of the whole house, and not decrease it. 

Update Or Add Bathrooms

Let’s be honest – the bathroom is one of the most important parts of your home. If your house doesn’t have enough bathrooms, or if they are very old, they can quickly turn off potential buyers. That’s why, if you want to increase the value of your house, you should look around the bathrooms first – maybe there is something that you can improve. 

Update Your Kitchen

The kitchen is another important part of the house that can significantly add value to your home. However, you need to remember that it will only be beneficial to you if you will be careful – you need to plan the costs so that you will gain from the renovation, and not lose. If you want to install, for example, marble countertops, will you be able to get at least half of the money you spend back? 

Sometimes you don’t need to change the whole kitchen. Maybe a slight update of appliances or a window over the sink will be enough? 

Conclusion

There are many ways in which you can increase the value of your house – some more radical than others. What all of them have in common though is that you need to think them over carefully so that you will not overspend – sometimes all it takes is to add subtle touches to your house. Good Luck. 

Keep reading:

• The Four Best Ways to Add Value to Your Home
• 6 Easy and Affordable Ways to Update Your Living Room
• How To Do Simple Updates On Your Kitchen
• 3 Hidden Benefits of Updating Your Windows

One thing that homeowners despise is calling their property “distressed.” As such, you will hardly find any homeowner that advertises their homes as distressed unless otherwise, they are in desperate need of cash.

However, there are a few ways in which you can identify properties online that can be rightly called “distressed”. You can try your luck with these properties if you want to get a good bargain or looking for a home for a lower price as compared to the market value of that property. Given below are a few ways you can zero in on the same online, where the probability of finding one is immense.

Identifying Distressed Properties Online

Check out these tips below!

Delinquent Taxes

If you are comfortable navigating the local tax assessor’s website, you will be able to find out properties with delinquent taxes. For instance, if you want to locate a property in Pittsburg; you have to type in the names of the tax assessor and the area. However, there will not be any straightforward advertisement that will read out aloud stuff like “sell my house fast Pittsburgh-PA.”

You have to locate one with the help of professionals that assist prospective homebuyers who are looking to invest in distressed properties. By doing so, your chances of finding such property become even more as compared to your applying your efforts the DIY way.

Delinquent Payments in Mortgage (facing foreclosure)

Information about properties that are about to be foreclosed is also available online. Although, not all properties might be listed, yet with the help of real estate agents taking care of such property transactions can be of immense help in such instances. Besides online information available about foreclosure, it’s also important to know what pre-foreclosure is, you can find a comprehensive guide here.

These are properties where homeowners have fallen behind on their regular mortgage payments. You will come across many such websites that solely deal with such properties.

Legal Implications on Properties

You will come across many such properties that must be sold to fulfill legal obligations. For instance, if any property is attached to bankruptcy or is a bone of contention in a matrimonial settlement like divorce, such properties are usually up for sale. More appropriately, such properties are oftentimes auctioned, the information of which is provided online on specific and relevant websites.

Also, real estate agents are dealing with distressed properties that can help you to take the transaction successfully to completion. The notice for foreclosed or mortgaged properties is made public. Similarly, the public gets information about properties that are up for sale through online and offline notices.

Bank-owned Properties

Bank-owned properties, also known as real-estate-owned properties are referred to as properties that are more than just distressed. They are already foreclosed most of the time. Agents also sell these properties based on “as-is.” So, you have to be content with the property in the same condition that you get it.

Although distressed properties offer a good bargain it is not just the money that must drive you to invest. The condition of the property and related legalities must be taken into account also.

Keep reading:–

• 9 Eye-Catching & Unique Living Room Mirror Ideas
• The Right Murphy Bed for You
• Benefits of Purchasing 1031 Exchange Properties for Sale
• Tips In Identifying Quality Water Filter Systems
• What You Need to Know If You Move to a State with No Income Tax