Whether you’re single, married or living with roommates. Whether you own or rent your home. Whether you have kids or not, it’s essential to know what to do when disaster hits your home. While, of course, emergency responders play a huge part in protecting us from the things that can go awry around the home, our reactions in those split second moments when we realize something’s awry can make all the difference.

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Because it’s winter and the weather can be unpredictable, today we’re going to look at household flooding. Floods can not only be caused by torrential rain and nearby rivers bursting their banks, they’re often also caused by damage to our home’s pipes and plumbing. We use so many modern appliances that rely on water it’s easy to assume that they work by magic. Until something stops working. In those vital moments, here are some things that everyone should do to mitigate the damage and ensure that they save as much of their home and their possessions as possible.

Stop the flow of water

Obviously, this can’t be done with rain or river water. But if your flood is caused by a plumbing mishap, the water is just going to keep on coming into your home and damaging everything it touches until you stop the flow. Your first port of call should be to shut off the appliance that’s leaking. If there are any valves near to it which you can get to, shut those off too.

If you’re at all unsure, shut off the water to the whole house. This useful guide will teach you how to find your main water shutoff valve. To be on the safe side it’s also a good idea to shut off your power, too.

Log all the damage

Don’t attempt to drain the water, just yet. First, document the damage by taking pictures on a digital camera or smartphone. These will be absolutely vital in backing up your insurance claim. Contact your insurance company straight away to notify them of the flood and check that it’s okay with them to start removing the water. Might sound silly, but you want to avoid doing anything that might invalidate your policy. You don’t want to wind up short changed after all you’ve been through.

Clear out the water

Time is of the essence, when it comes to getting the water out of your home. The longer you delay, the more damage will be done to your home. If you want to do it yourself, you’ll need to rent a sump pump and wet vac to remove the water and an industrial fan to dry out your carpets and flooring. These are available from most hardware stores. However, if you’d rather leave it to a professional, contact a reliable Disaster Restoration Contractor. Not only can they help you save your home and possessions, they may even be able to identify and fix the source of the flood.

In the days after the water is cleared keep an eye out for mold which can crop up in the aftermath of a flood. While you may face a little disruption in the days that follow, your swift thinking and reactions will have saved as much of your home as possible!

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Let’s face it; properties are the biggest financial assets that most people will ever possess. Consequently, then, it’s vital that you look after it. Without the right protection, your most valuable item is at danger.

Maybe you’re hoping to settle your fears as a first-time homeowner. Or perhaps you’re a new developer hoping to make the most of an investment, or wishing to upgrade your home. Either way, Taking some tips from the pros will put you on the road to success. Here are five things that the best always do, and you should too.

#1. Invest in security

It’s a little obvious, but investing in quality security is always one of the most important factors in protecting the property. Surveillance cameras with remote tracking, advanced alarms, and automated gates are all good moves. Aside from the direct benefits of keeping intruders at bay, the use of improved security features will provide huge peace of mind. Whether living in a city apartment, or a suburban house, this should be the first item on the agenda.

#2. Consider the elements

While intruders may be the biggest source of fear, adverse weather is arguably the far more likely problem. Upgrading to double glazing and investing in shutters can protect the property against high winds. Depending on your location, it’s important to prepare for potential floods or the impact of intense sunlight. Flood barrier can be added to the doors as well as the garden while protection for the foundation is another step in the right direction.

#3. Stay vigilant

The home is a living environment. As such, you can expect a number of problems to arise over time. Quick action is the best way to prevent escalating damage to reduce the costs and time of repair work. Leaking roof? First steps to take in those situations will protect everything below. Likewise, damp, boiler problems, and related issues must be treated quickly and efficiently. Conversely, leaving the damage untreated will result in expensive and time-consuming damage.

#4. Find better insurance

Even when you take the necessary precautions, it’s impossible to rule out all potential dangers. Therefore, it’s imperative that you find the right type of home insurance coverage. While getting a cheaper premium is always a positive factor, you must not miss out on potential key features. If an issue does surface, you’ll want to know that the problems can be resolved ASAP. When the home insurer boasts a good payout, fast service, and tailored package, you won’t go far wrong.

#5. Keep it clean

It’s far easier to protect the look and health of the home when you maintain a good relationship with it. Cleanliness is one of the most significant factors by far. Short of time? Robotic vacuums and other appliances can do a lot of the hard work for you. Similarly, opting for a simplistic and uncluttered home design can have a truly telling impact. It saves you the hassle of getting into hard to reach spaces, meaning you’ll spend less time tidying and more time enjoying the property too.

Follow each of the above steps and your home will stay, well, as safe as houses.

When you are selling your house, you need to make sure that it’s in good condition. If it’s not, you may have trouble getting somebody interested in it. Some people insist that you absolutely have to renovate your home before you sell, while others say that it’s not worth it and you should try to sell it as it is. In truth, there are pros and cons on both sides and it depends on quite a few factors. Here’s how to decide whether you should renovate your house before selling it or not.

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Is There Serious Damage?

If your home has serious damage, like structural problems or a big hole in the roof, that’s not good news. It means that the house may be dangerous to live in and it’s likely to develop a lot of expensive problems further down the line if that damage is not fixed. Even a buyer that is looking for a place to fix up and is willing to do some work will be put off because it’s going to be expensive to get the house into a livable condition again. It’s important that you get a roof inspection and check out any cracks in the walls to make sure that there is no structural damage. If there is serious damage to the house, you will probably need to renovate before you sell because no buyer will be interested.

Are Buyers Willing To Do The Work?

If there is no serious damage, but there is a lot of cosmetic work and small repairs that need to be done, you still need to consider whether a buyer is willing to do the work, and there are a lot of factors here. Firstly, what is the scale of the work? If the house is looking a bit worse for wear, but a few coats of paint will bring it back to life, you should be able to find a buyer that is interested. But if you are trying to sell the house of a hoarder, for example, you have a much bigger job on your hands. It will be tough to find a buyer that is willing to clear out and decorate the entire house from top to bottom, so you may have to do a lot of the work beforehand, unless you find a company that will buy a house as-is.

The other thing to consider is the location because it has a big impact on the amount of work people are willing to do. If the location is great but the house needs work, you should still be able to find a buyer. But if the location is not very desirable, people will expect the house to be in perfect condition.

Will It Add Value and Appeal to Your Home?

Of course, when people come to view your home, they’re looking for a space that they want to live in and that appears in the best light. So, additional features really will help to make your property stand out from others on sale in the neighbourhood and could see your home tick more of their boxes and encourage them to put an offer in. All sorts of features can be appealing. A Richmond Window, a loft conversion creating an extra room, an en suite, a garage – the list goes on. It’s always a good idea to browse property sites and check in with estate agents to see what features other homes nearby have. You want to match or one up them!

Will You Make Sacrifices On Price?

When you are trying to decide how much to sell your home for, you need to consider the work that needs to be done on it. If you are going to leave it for the buyer, that will push the price down. But if you do the renovations and budget them well, you will make more money overall from the sale, so you need to consider whether you are willing to make sacrifices on price or not.

If you think about these things, you should be able to decide whether you should renovate your home before selling it or not.

Home is where the heart is, so they say. And there is nothing so beautiful as being in love with your home. If you have a blog or work from home from time to time, you need the space to be welcoming and beautiful too. Because you spend more time in it, it is even more important to keep it serene.

When life is hectic, you know that you can close the door, kick off your shoes and sink into your couch. Or light some of your favourite candles and sink into the bath. You want your home to be somewhere to support and nurture you. But you have to give that love to get it back. And it is more than just the aesthetic, but it helps if it pleases you to look at.

There are always going to be jobs that need doing around the house, some you can do yourself and some you’ll need to hire someone in to do for you.

So here are some tips to get your home feeling like a warm, safe place every time you step inside.

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Clutter

If you have children or even a busy life, then sometimes clutter just happens. From piles of unread leaflets that have come through the door, to bric-a-brac collecting on the stairs. It can feel like once you have tidied one bit, the next will need to be done. We know now that clutter can have a substantial mental impact, and we don’t even notice until the space becomes clean again. Picking up storage that is only to be used to quickly pack away clutter, and always sorted on a set day of the week will mean that you n longer have to spend time every day sorting and putting away. Instead the weekend, perhaps everyone will take their items from the box and put them away neatly.

Colour

The colour of your walls can make a significant impact on how you feel. The right colour scheme can often be a challenge, though. So think about what colours make you feel great. Light lavenders, whites, and pale blues and greens are often the most calming. And as you are going for zen, then try to choose colours that make you feel that way. Before you commit to anything use some colour tester strips and play with how they look for a few weeks. If there is a colour you are repeatedly drawn to, then you have your answer.

Odd Jobs

Every house has a range of jobs that people put off. It is time to get them done and clear that mental load. If you have peeling paint or chipped wood, it is time to hit the internet and find a tutorial on how to help you fix it. For bigger jobs, get the right professional in. For plumbers use a service like mrrooter.ca/toronto, and electricians can be found quickly via YELP too. Get them taken care of and cross them off your list.