Category: Homeowner

COVID-19 changed lives in ways that we never imagined possible. One of those ways was the introduction of intense loneliness, isolation and boredom due to the lockdown and stay-home mandates.

Some Americans relied on pharmaceuticals to tolerate the isolation while others turned to overeating, exercise, or even adopting a four-legged companion.

“Shelters, nonprofit rescues, private breeders, pet stores — all reported more consumer demand than there were dogs and puppies to fill it,” according to Kim Kaven at washingtonpost.com.

She goes on to say that pet rescues reported receiving “… dozens of applications for individual dogs. Some breeders were reporting waiting lists well into 2021.”

Add to this the so-called Great Resignation and inflation and we end up with a bunch of folks without the money to cover the basic necessities let alone a pet health emergency.

There is something powerfully comforting about the unconditional love provided by our pets. For many, they become family members. When tragedy strikes a family member, we want to do everything we can to help.

Whether it’s emergency medical care or free pet food, many pet owners have no idea that there is help for them. Let’s take a look at some of that assistance.

Local veterinary teaching hospitals

If you live near a university with a veterinary program and hospital, calling or visiting may be the best first step. Many have surgical funds. The University of California at Davis, for instance, offers the Compassionate Care Fund.

Texas A&M University’s Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital offers The Roach Family Fund.

For contact information for the university near you, consult this nationwide list of accredited colleges of veterinary medicine.

Red Rover

“Bringing animals and their people from crisis to care,” Red Rover’s slogan, aptly describes the many programs the group offers. One of these is their “urgent veterinary care grant.”

“These grants are intended to fill a small gap in funding that is keeping an animal from receiving urgent veterinary care,” the group explains on its website.

“In addition to financial support, case managers are there to provide emotional support and guidance throughout the application process.”

The typical grant, according to the group, is $250.

The group also offers an extensive list of organizations that offer pet-related assistance, organized by state. You’ll find it online at redrover.org. 

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF)

AVMF doesn’t provide funds to the general public, but to individual veterinarians across the country. The funds are intended to “… provide veterinarians with a simple and effective way to offer charitable veterinary services to clients facing personal hardships.”

Ask your veterinarian if you and your pet qualify.

The Pet Fund

“The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals in the United States who need veterinary care,” according to The Pet Fund’s website.

The funds are only allocated for “… non-basic, non-urgent care.” This includes care for heart disease, endocrine disease, ongoing eye problems and cancer treatment, among others.

View the application online at thepetfund.com.

Pets of the Homeless

Most organizations that provide help for pets of the homeless are also happy to help others in need. They’re worth contacting if you can’t afford food for your pet.

To find a pet food bank near you, visit petsofthehomeless.org. Click on “Search Resources Near You,” and then enter your city or ZIP Code in the box on the new page.

Consult various pet resource directories

The Humane Society of the United States

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) offers several directories for pet parents needing help.

Alley Cat Allies

Directory of pet foodbank locations nationwide.

PetSmart® Charities

Nationwide directory of low-cost spay and neuter clinics.

Winter can brutal on our homes. In conversations with our clients who bought homes last summer and fall, we’re hearing a lot of confusion about how to deal with Mother Nature’s aftermath.

So, this month, we’ve decided to help give you a leg up and become proactive by answering some of these questions. We’ll start with roof issues, since these seem to be the most common complaint we’ve heard.

Roof damage

Naturally, we heat our homes in the winter. But, while that heat is keeping us warm and toasty inside, it’s also melting the ice of the roof.

Typically, the resulting water will end up in the home’s gutters and downspouts, which aren’t feeling the heat from the interior of the home. So, the water refreezes, forming what are known as “ice dams.”

The melted ice may also invade the roof’s flashings, causing damage to the attic.

Even if the ice doesn’t melt, the mere accumulation of snow and ice may become too heavy for the roof to hold and it will collapse.

Reduce the risk of clogged gutters by ensuring they are kept clean of debris as we head into winter. Hire a professional to remove ice and snow from the roof if you suspect it has become too heavy.

“The warning signs of a roof collapse include interior sagging ceilings, consistent creaking noises, difficulty opening and closing windows and doors, and more,” according to The Roof Doctor in Utah.

Ew, mold!

Those aforementioned pesky ice dams bring with them even more trouble.

The process of freezing and thawing that creates and enlarges the dam causes moisture with nowhere to go but into the attic and below.

This, in turn, may cause damage to insulation and drywall. It definitely creates the perfect atmosphere for mold grow.

But this isn’t the only area that mold may find hospitable. “In homes tightly sealed for winter, warm air can’t easily escape,” the mold experts with Comprehensive Mold Management in Rochester, NY. tell the Democrat and Chronicle.

“When windows are sealed tight, condensation tends to collect indoors on windows and even walls, creating an optimal area for mold to grow,” they continue.

Kitchen and bathroom steam can also create some of mold’s ideal atmosphere.

Wet basements

A basement radiates heat up to 8 inches outside the basement walls, according to the pros at Triad, a basement water solution company in Gaithersburg, MD.

That radiated warmth will melt frozen soil and snow, creating more moisture that may seep into the home.

The experts at Triad suggest that replacing poorly-draining soil around the basement with clean fill dirt may be the key to directing the melted snow away from the home.

Repair cracks in the basement’s walls and floor and ensure that the sump pump is working properly.

Then, turn your attention to the windows. Ensure they’re properly sealed and that the window wells have drainage holes and that those holes aren’t clogged with dirt.

Check the home’s gutters and downspouts. If these features aren’t installed properly, or routinely maintained, they have the potential to do more harm than good,” according to the pros at Triad.

The yard

Another common problem that winter visits on our homes has to do with the slope of our yard. Yours slopes away from your home, right? Like the downspouts, proper slope helps direct excess water away from the home. It should slope 6 inches down, away from the house.

Want to figure out the slope? This YouTube video offers an inexpensive, easy way to do so.

Feel free to reach out to us if you need help becoming proactive before winter. We have lots of tips that we’re happy to offer.

“Power outages likely if there is an extreme weather event this winter,” warn meteorologists at kens5.com.

“Report warns Texas to take certain steps to avoid future winter power outages,” blasts a recent headline at mysanantonio.com.

“Longer, more frequent outages afflict the U.S. power grid …,” according to a story in the Washington Post.

From coast to coast, Americans can expect at least one power outage in the coming years. In fact, according to Garrett Herring at spglobal.com, “US power outages jumped 73% in 2020,” resulting in 1.33 billion outage hours.

Short-term power outages are typically easy to handle. But, when the lights go out for an extended period of time, life becomes exceedingly more challenging.

Even if you haven’t yet experienced a prolonged blackout, the chances are good that one day you will. This is when a generator will come in handy.

Standby or portable generator?

Standby generators (also known as whole-home generators) are connected to your gas or propane source, permanently.

It is hooked into the home’s electricity so that when the unit senses that your power is out, it will switch itself on and shoot power to the circuits and appliances that you’ve previously selected.

Portable generators, on the other hand, don’t typically power the whole house. They also don’t turn themselves on and they need frequent refills of fuel (gasoline, propane, diesel, etc.).

Finally, portable generators must be located outdoors.

Cost, naturally, will play a big part in which generator you’ll choose.

“Whole-house generator cost averages $15,000 nationally,” according to Meghan Wentland at bobvilla.com. She goes on to state that the cost ranges from $10,000 to $20,000.

A portable generator, according to Wentland, will run you between $500 and $2,000.

If the cost doesn’t matter, your next decision will be exactly what you want to have powered during an outage.

If it’s just an appliance or two and a few lights, a portable generator may serve your purposes.

If you want to power the entire home, consider going with the standby generator.

Safety considerations

“Running a generator improperly can kill you in as little as 5 minutes if the concentration of carbon monoxide is high enough,” according to Haniya Rae at consumerreports.com.

Sadly, it happens to between 60 and 70 people each year.

“No matter what, resist the urge to move a portable generator inside the house or the garage,” cautions Don Huber, Consumer Report’s director of product safety.

Locate the portable generator at least 20 feet from the home and ensure that it exhausts in the opposite direction of the home.

For more generator safety information visit energy.gov.

Sure, that foil-wrapped holiday poinsettia you bought at the supermarket may still be quite decorative, but consider bringing home something a bit unexpected to help brighten up the interior of the home and chase away cabin fever.

Kalanchoe

“Cheerful” is the perfect word to describe the scallop-edged leaves and clusters of brightly- colored flowers of the kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana). Best of all, this gorgeous, colorful display occurs in winter, in shades of orange, pink, red, yellow and white.

This beauty performs best with lots of light so place it near a south-facing window. Overwatering will kill it, so allow the soil to dry-out between waterings. Learn more about this plant’s requirements at the New York Botanical Gardens website (scroll down the page).

Note: Parts of the Kalanchoe, especially the flowers, are poisonous to pets and children. If you suspect that your child has ingested the plant, call your medical professional or the American Association of Poison Control Centers, available 24 hours a day, at 800-222-1222.

If your pet ingests the plant, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.

Bonus: It’s easy to get your kalanchoe to rebloom – follow the walk-through provided by Clemson University Cooperative Extension.

Peace Lily

The shorter days of winter bring with them lower levels of sunlight streaming through the home’s windows. Choosing a plant that tolerates dusky conditions is an important factor.

The peace lily (Spathiphyllum group) loves shade, and winter just happens to provides its preferred light level.

Treat it right and this glossy-leaved stunner will not only brighten up a dark corner but do so with a bloom or two as well.

Learn more about the peace lily and its care requirements online at North Carolina State University Extension.

Note: The peace lily isn’t a true lily. The plant’s leaves contain calcium oxalate crystals which, if eaten in large quantities, can cause mouth and throat irritation, vomiting and trouble swallowing. Keep out of the reach of small children and pets.

Bonus: The peace lily will wilt to let you know when it’s time to water.

African Violet

We decided to include the African violet (Saintpaulia spp.) in our list of ways to add spring to the winter because they are so easy to grow and they easily tolerate warm indoor air in the winter.

In fact, you can help your African violet thrive by keeping indoor temperatures between 65 degrees to 79 degrees Fahrenheit.

Overwatering will kill it, so allow the soil to dry-out between waterings.

If the leaves begin to yellow, the plant may need more sunlight, so move it to a “window with western or southern exposure,” and filtered sunlight, recommend the experts at Optimara/Holtkamp Greenhouses, Inc.

Note: Never place the African violet in direct sun as it may burn the foliage.

Bonus: Create new African violets from the leaves of your current plant. Learn how online at Penn State University Extension’s website.

Yes, flower gardening season is over in much of the country. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t have gorgeous flowers growing indoors to brighten up an otherwise dreary time of year.

 

If you haven’t yet prepared your home for winter, you aren’t alone. Americans have had a rough and tumble 2021, with the pandemic, the economy heading south and the attending chaos of both.

Whatever the reason for putting off weatherproofing the windows in your home, it’s never too late in the season to get it done

Weatherproofing requires more than plastic sheets

When you’re ready to keep the cold air out and the warm air in, you can tackle the first step of the weatherproofing without too much hassle.

Begin by cleaning your windows, both inside and out. Not a fun job, but it’s part of the process.

While you’re cleaning them, check every window to ensure the caulking is in good condition. If not, remove the old and apply new caulking.

The U.S. Department of Energy offers handy advice on how to do this. You’ll find it online at energy.gov. Scroll down the page and click on “Caulking.”

Wooden frames or broken panes that require replacing may need to wait until spring as this can be a bigger job.

Gather your supplies 

Once the windows in your home are clean, it’s time to take them to the next, energy-efficient level with weather stripping and window insulation film.

If you don’t have these items on hand, you’ll find them at the large home improvement stores and at hardware stores.

Look for self-adhesive weather stripping as this will save a lot of time and energy. Follow the package instructions and check out the brilliant weather-stripping guide at lowes.com. It includes information about how to choose the right type of weather stripping for your windows and walk-throughs of how to apply it to different types of windows.

Once all your windows have this protection, it’s time to apply window insulation film. This is applied directly to windows. Again, check your local hardware or home improvement store to purchase.

The selection may be dizzying, so check out the recommendations at bobvila.com and the product reviews at amazon.com.

You’ll find an application tutorial at energystar.gov.

Although it sounds like weatherproofing your windows will take the better part of a weekend, it’s actually a quick job that you can be done in an hour or two, depending on the number of windows in your home.

The best news is that once you’re finished, you can expect your home to remain warm and snug for the rest of the winter.

Halloween is upon us and that means trips with the kids to corn mazes and haunted houses, shopping for pumpkins and buying treats.

In other words, if you have young children, Halloween means family time.

What better way to celebrate our haunted month than will some creepy movies? Pop up some corn instead of wandering through a field of it and sit back with the family while you all get into the Halloween spirit.

We also have suggestions for those with older children, or none at all!

“Super Monsters Save Halloween”

“Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest”

Although it’s recommended for pre-schoolers (but not rated), if your child scares easily, you may want to opt for another movie. “Cute but my 4 1/2 year old son was scared by the no noggin [headless scarecrow] and brought it up twice at bedtime,” according to one parent reviewer with several others saying the same. Read more reviews at commonsensemedia.org. 

“Nightmare Before Christmas”

Suitable for kids age 7 and up, the “Nightmare Before Christmas” brings us the King of Halloween, Jack Skellington and his trip through the door to Christmas Town. There, he decides to give up his annual Halloween festivities and try his hand at December’s holiday. Kids love this one. Rated PG.

“The Lady Vanishes”

Love  classic spooky tales? Here’s an Alfred Hitchcock 1938 release that centers around the disappearance of a young woman’s traveling companion, the denial of the other passengers that her companion ever existed and her search to figure out what happened. No rating.

“Rosemary’s Baby”

A young, waifish mom-to-be thinks there is something not quite right about the child she is carrying. When she and her husband move to a new apartment, in a building with a haunted reputation and oddball occupants, all heck breaks loose. The truth of it all is revealed when Rosemary gives birth. Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes star in this 1968 classic. Rated R.

“Dracula”

Released in 1931, this is the Dracula that forever cemented the dastardly blood sucker in America’s psyche. The midnight ride through the fog is worth the price of admission. No rating.

“Scream”

Wes Craven’s classic, released in 1996, stars Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Neve Campbell and Drew Barrymore. The movie follows a California high school student who becomes the target of Ghostface, a mysterious killer. Considered a “slasher movie,” this one’s not suited for kids. Besides, it’s rated R.

“Silence of the Lambs”

It was scary back in 1991 and it’s still scary today, with Academy Award winning performances from Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. The latter plays Hannibal Lecter, lover of fava beans, Chianti and human flesh while messing with the mind of Foster’s Clarissa Starling, FBI agent. Rated R.

 

It has been said that the easiest way to eat an elephant is by taking one bite at a time. The same holds true for home maintenance tasks. Broken down into smaller bites, the jobs don’t seem so overwhelming.

We like to categorize them by seasons. Heading into fall, and the wild weather to come in winter, there are several preparatory home maintenance tasks that you can and should get underway right now.

“A home operates with the seasons, coming to life in the spring and hunkering down for the winter,” said Ronda Kaysen, New York Times columnist and author of “Right at Home.”

The good news is that some of these chores can be tackled in one weekend.

How’s the caulking holding up?

If it’s been awhile since you checked the caulking in the home, take some time this weekend to check it out. Even if you just check the caulking around the doors and windows, you’ll be one step ahead in preparing your home for the colder weather to come.

An easy way to check for air leaks from windows is with a lit candle. Hold the candle “… close to the window seams on a breezy day,” instructs the experts at diynetwork.com.

“If the flame bends, it signals air movement pushing through the window from outdoors.”

Go outside and check the caulking on the frame. If you notice gaps or cracks it, you’ll need to replace the caulking.

Other areas of the home to check include around doors and anywhere that pipes and vents protrude to the outside wall.

You’ll find tips on caulking windows at bobvilla.com.

Inspect the roof

Real estate agents learn early in their careers to look at the ceilings when touring a home with their clients. Often, water stains on the ceiling are the first indication to homeowners that the roof is leaking, although they may also signify leaky plumbing or fixtures.

Next, go outside and take a look at the roof, checking for missing and broken shingles.

Finally, check trees that are close to the roof for overgrowth and trim it back so that it’s not in contact with the roof.

If you suspect roof damage, call a roofing contractor for a more thorough inspection.

Get rid of gutter gunk

While you’re checking out the home’s roof, take a look at the gutters. The main purpose of gutters is to ensure that water is directed away from the foundation. If they’re full of leaves and other debris, they’ll be ineffective and may cause foundation damage.

Remove the debris and ensure that the gutters are securely attached to the home.

Ensure your refrigerator doesn’t poop out

It’s one of those home-maintenance tasks most homeowners neglect. But did you know that appliance experts recommend cleaning your refrigerator’s coils every six months?

The coils help to keep warm air from intruding to the inside of the refrigerator. They tend to collect dust, pet fur and other debris that then slows the unit’s efficiency.

What ends up happening is that the refrigerator works harder and, thus, uses more energy.

The refrigerator’s coils are located either at the bottom of the front of the unit or in the back. Use your vacuum cleaner to remove the debris and, if necessary, a coil cleaning brush. These are inexpensive and can be purchased at amazon.com, lowe’s.com and walmart.com.

While, thankfully, hurricane Ida is now in the rearview mirror and all is quiet on the weather front, emergency preparedness experts are warning us that we are only in the beginning of hurricane season.

Are you ready for the next one?

Hurricane readiness can save your home, your life and even thousands of dollars on homeowners insurance.

Is a Hurricane Headed Your Way?

Florida and Louisiana may be the most common victims of the Atlantic hurricane season, but as we have seen in the last few years, everyone from Texas to the Jersey shore needs to be prepared.

Anyone who has been through a hurricane or has had a home damaged by one will tell you that waiting to prepare until there is a hurricane on the radar isn’t wise.

Get supplies now. Make plans for what you’ll do when the next one hits.

Evacuate or Hunker Down?

If an evacuation order is mandated, then you should absolutely pack up and go. In fact, even if there is a chance a hurricane will hit your area, you ought to get out of town early if you can.

Otherwise, you face becoming trapped and vulnerable in the ensuing traffic jams. Plus, as we have seen during the worst hurricanes of the last decade, it isn’t always the wind and rain that is the worst threat to your safety – often it is the mayhem that follows.

Whether you are staying or going, you need to have your emergency kit ready and be well-stocked on essentials.
Evacuating? Before heading out, do the following:

• Fill up the gas tank in your vehicle.
• Turn off pilot lights and shut off your gas line
• Turn off the water supply and master electrical breaker
• Secure anything moveable, such as patio furniture and garden equipment, that is outdoors.
• Board up windows or close hurricane shutters.
• Ensure you have cash on hand.

If you plan on staying put, ensure you do the following:

• Buy plywood, aluminum or steel panels to cover doors and windows.
• Purchase garage door storm braces. Garage doors are the most vulnerable point in the typical home, according to the experts at the National Weather Service. Watch the how-to install video at youtube.com.
• Cut back large trees that may topple onto the home.
• Secure outdoor furniture and other items that may get tossed during the storm.

What you’ll need if you decide to hunker down:

• Food for three to seven days (don’t forget pet, baby food and infant formula)
• Plenty of water (at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day)
• Manual can opener
• First aid kit
• Medications
• Flashlights
• Radio
• Batteries
• Cash
• Copies of important documents including IDs for all adults and your homeowner insurance policy
• Either a blanket or sleeping bag for each family member

Get approaching hurricane alerts and forecasts by visiting the National Weather Service’s National Hurricane Center online at nhc.noaa.gov.

Fall mums, also known as garden mums, used to be commonly known as chrysanthemums. They are available in many colors and sizes, are easy to grow in the garden bed as well as containers and they’re sure to add a jolt of color when everything else is dying back.

The best time to plant the fall mum is in late August to mid-September.

The fall mum is planted either in late August or early September. But you can still plant until “… six weeks before the first killing frost,” according to Leanne Potts at hgtv.com.

What you’ll need

• Shovel
• Compost
• Gardening fork
• 5-10-5 fertilizer
• Pruning shears
• Mulch

Prepare the planting bed

The ideal place to plant your fall mum is one that gets a full day of sunshine. The plant will produce more and better blooms the more sun it gets.

The fall mum has a very shallow root system so you won’t need to dig up the soil too much when preparing the bed. Dig down to a depth of 4 inches, turning the soil and crushing any large clods of dirt.

Remove any rocks or old roots or other debris that you find. Spread a 2-inch layer of compost over the planting bed and, with the gardening fork, mix it in well with the existing soil, and then level the bed so that there aren’t any depressions.

Plant the mums

The distance you place between plants is going to depend a lot upon the size of the mums you are planting. Generally, you will want to space them 18 inches apart.

Remove the plant from its current pot by tipping the pot over and gently coaxing it out. Squeezing the sides of plastic planting pots helps disengage roots that are stuck to the sides.

Once it’s out of the nursery pot, loosen the mum’s outer roots with your fingers.

Dig a hole twice the width and the same depth as the pot in which the mum was growing. Place the roots of the plant into the hole and backfill, patting the soil around the roots as you go. Firm the soil around the plant and then water deeply.

Care of the newly-planted mum

Regular, deep watering is vital for the success of your fall mum garden. Give them a good soak twice a week.

They won’t require any fertilizer their first season in the garden. Next season, plan on feeding monthly with a 5-10-5 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb. per 100 square feet of garden space.

When your mum plants have reached 6-inches in height, cut an inch of new growth from every shoot. These cut shoots will produce more branches and, when those have grown 3 inches, cut them as well. Keep doing this until July. This will encourage the mum plant to be bushier and it will provide you with more flowers.

As winter approaches, keep the plants moist. There’s no need to cut them back, as you will do this in the spring. When the soil freezes, add a 4-inch layer of mulch around them.

In the spring, rake back the mulch and cut the mum plants back to the soil. As you did last season, start trimming the new growth when the plant is 6 inches tall.

Happy Fall!

Summer 2020 and 2021 saw the sale of pools, and homes with pools, skyrocket. In July of this year, “… a basic vinyl in-ground pool — without the bells and whistles of heating, decking or any further customization — costs $85,000 on average, up from the $60,000 to $65,000 in 2019,” said Zachary Kussin at nypost.com.

As a result, a huge swath of the American public has been subjected to crash courses in subjects such as balancing the chlorine and pH levels in their pools, checking alkalinity and calcium hardness levels, keeping the pool chlorinated and more.

With winter just few months away, their next question will be “What do I do to get this thing ready for winter?”

If you’re among the curious, read on.

Open your pool early and close your pool late

It’s tempting to want to get a head start on closing your pool as summer winds down and kids head back to school. Tempting, but not wise.

“If you close your pool while the weather is still warm, the winter protection chemicals you’ve added will often not last until spring,” according to Lana Seidman with HIC of Staten Island, Inc., a non-profit trade association

She goes on to explain that “… pool chemicals are consumed much faster in hotter temperatures versus cooler temperatures.”

How hot is hot? Sixty degrees Fahrenheit appears to be the magic number. This is the temperature at which algae goes dormant, according to Seidman. Wait until the water temperature remains consistently lower than 60 degrees before closing your pool.

Give the pool a good scrub

The experts at Thatcher Pools recommend that you “… grab the pool brush and your telescoping pole and start scrubbing. Scrub everything from the walls to the floor, and get to the nooks and crannies if you can.”

Not only does this process loosen debris but also algae spores that may have settled into those nooks and crannies.

Finally, vacuum up all the loosened debris.

Get those chemicals balanced

Here’s what to aim for, according to those pros at Thatcher Pools:

• pH: 7.2 to 7.8
• Alkalinity: 100 to 150 parts per million (ppm)
• Chlorine: Less than 5 parts per million.

Add an algaecide (never add this when the chloring level is high) and pool enzymes next. Consider using a Winter Pill that will work all winter long.

You’ll also want to shock the pool, regardless of how clear the water is. Find a shock product designed to be used when closing a pool that contains “… at least 65 per cent hypochlorite.”

No, the work isn’t over yet, but this gives you a good head start. You’ll find pool closing walk-through tutorials and videos online.