Archive for category Homeowner Tips
Ways to Utilize the Space Under Your Stairs
Posted by alanandheather in Home Improvement, Homeowner Tips, Living on December 19, 2013
If you live in a two-story house, your stairs to the second floor take up a lot of space on the first floor and leave a wedge-shaped vacant area beneath them. This area under the stairs is oftentimes neglected or is used for shoes and hanging coats if there is enough room. The problem with this is that it can rapidly become a dumping ground for hiding random things.
There are many ways you can transform the area underneath your stairs, however, once you recognize its potential. With a little thought, you could turn it into an efficient area that serves multiple needs.
Here are few tips to make the space under your stairs more useful:
- Install shelves, cabinets, and drawers under the stairs. You can buy ready-made stackable units or add custom, built-ins if you have an usually sized area. This provides plenty of room to store off-season clothing, seasonal decorations, and keepsake items you do not display in the main part of your house.
- 2. If the space is close to the water supply or drain lines, you can install a small half-bath or powder room. You can use space-saving fixtures, like a wall-mounted sink and toilet, to maximize the space and add value to your home. You can also turn the space under your stairs into a mini-utility room, where you can hide your washing machine and dryer from the main part of the house.
- 3. If you have an open staircase, the space underneath is a great place to squeeze in a little home office or study nook. You can add bookshelves and a small desktop that is either shallow enough to fit under your stairs or has the ability to fold up into the wall. Use space-saving containers to keep desk accessories and stationery neat and tidy without causing clutter.
Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors
http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com
Simple Things You Can Do to Save Energy at Home
Posted by alanandheather in Home Improvement, Homeowner Tips, Living on December 10, 2013
It is many homeowners’ goal to save energy in their homes and minimize their electric bills. Undoubtedly, electricity is the most basic service we need at home because we simply cannot function well without it. However, a lot of new appliances and gadgets are now operating without the use of electricity, which lowers our dependence on it. There are also things you can do around the house to help save energy and cut down on your electricity costs each month.
Here are a few effective home energy saving tips that will help you in increasing your savings:
- Make it a habit to turn off the lights when you leave a room. This is the simplest way to save energy. Also unplug all appliances when they are not in use because they still use a small amount of energy even when they are idle if they are plugged in.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs are more expensive, but they use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. Aside from that, they also last up to 10 times longer.
- Install outlet and light switch foam gaskets on your exterior walls. Electrical boxes that have switches and outlets extend into the wall cavity and can allow outside air infiltration. The foam gasket installed beneath the outlet and switch covers will minimize drafts.
- If your water heater is located in an area of the house that is unheated, insulate your hot water heater. Surrounding it with a water heater blanket can decrease stand-by heat loss by 25-40%.
- Be familiar with refrigerator cooling or condenser coils. The coils can be found by removing the cover panel located at the bottom of the front side of the refrigerator. The coils are more efficient when clean and dust-free. Use a vacuum nozzle to remove the dust once a year.
- Check your refrigerator temperature settings. Always inspect the door latch and seals of your fridge. To ensure an air tight fit and seal, replace old adhesive seals. Frost accumulation is inefficient, so defrost your freezer once in a while.
- During warmer weather, open all your windows to allow fresh air to come in rather than using your air-conditioning unit.
Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors
http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com