Looking to give your home a curb appeal makeover? Since home improvements require an investment of time and money, it’s important to choose projects that will have the most visual impact. Here are three guaranteed ways to quickly increase your home’s curb appeal.

1. Update Your Garage Door

You might be surprised at the impact a garage door can have on your home’s overall curb appeal. If your garage door is dragging down your home’s curb appeal, replace it with a solid wood door, and install upgraded hardware like hinges and handles to give it some character. Finish the look by surrounding it with high quality vinyl trim and you’ll have a new, contemporary exterior focal point.

2. Install Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting is a great way to give your home some added curb appeal after dark. The right lighting can give your home a soft, cozy glow. Use a combination of uplighting and downlighting to properly highlight your home’s unique architectural features and landscaping. It’s also a great idea to install lighting around all walkways, driveways and paths. Solar powered lanterns are great for lighting these areas, keeping you and your guests safe as you navigate your property at night.

3. Refresh Your Landscaping

For a tried and true way to improve your home’s curb appeal, head outside and work on your landscaping. Plant flowers of varying colors and heights throughout your property to give your landscaping extra visual appeal. Most importantly, you’ll want to make sure your lawn is looking its best. Since keeping your lawn lush and green requires a lot of work, install lawn irrigation systems to give you a low-maintenance lawn that will impress the whole neighborhood!

Increasing your home’s curb appeal will show everyone that you take great pride in your home. By following these tips and investing in your home, you’ll soon have the most attractive home on the entire block!…

Air traffic controllers face many challenges. Something as simple as difficult weather patterns can present new obstacles for professionals in this industry. Fortunately, scientists are becoming more skilled at effectively modeling weather systems, making air traffic control and management safer and more reliable.

Weather Patterns

The weather is often considered very random. However, it’s more accurate to say that weather systems are complex. Air pressure, precipitation, heat levels, and various cloud changes can all influence the weather. Even something as theoretically simple as wind variations can be complicated in practice, since scientists have to take the wind’s speed, water vapor levels, and direction into account. Researchers are now getting better at both gathering and analyzing data related to the weather.

Improved Technology

Weather and climate research has become more precise recently for a number of different reasons. Notably, scientists can now use much more sophisticated software when they’re conducting advanced weather research Sterling VA. It’s now possible to simulate different weather systems much more effectively and thoroughly than it was in even the recent past. In a world where changes in the weather are easier to anticipate, aircraft operations can proceed with much less conflict.

Aircraft Traffic

The flight patterns of airplanes and other vehicles can become less consistent when weather problems occur. Air traffic controllers have to work much harder under these circumstances. Avoiding those sorts of complications can lower many of the risks involved with air travel.

Engineers have already made the aircraft vehicles themselves much safer over the years. Weather researchers can continue to make other parts of the process more efficient and controllable. Many people do value high-level weather and climate research for its own sake. However, this is the type of research that has multiple applications, especially for the air traffic industry and related fields.…

Do you have a big move ahead of you? There are many exciting aspects of moving. With a new living space, different environment and fresh connections, moving can be a great change for you. However, packing can take a lot time and effort. If you want to be ready for your moving company Austin TX in time, here are three pro tips.

Label Your Boxes

Get strategic with your packing. Label your boxes so you know exactly what’s in them. That way when you unpack, you’ll know what to expect and which boxes to unpack first. You’ll want to put necessary toiletries, clothes and bedding in a place where you’ll find them first. Mark these kinds of boxes with a star or specific color so you can find them easier later on.

Be Practical

The more stuff you have, the longer it will take you pack. It’s easy to pick up a lot of unnecessary things throughout the years. Think practically when packing and ask yourself if you really need the things you are taking with you. Keep a few garbage bags and donation boxes close by as you move from room to room. As you declutter, you’ll be grateful for the extra space and less stress.

Don’t Think Too Much

Although you’ll want to sort as practically as possible, don’t spend too much organizing. If you pack now, you can sort later when you have more time. Go from room to room and focus on putting things where they fit. Don’t forget to label boxes that have fragile items in them.

Whether you have a couple weeks or two days to pack, you can finish as you work effectively and quickly. Ask for help from friends and family to help pack and get more boxes to use. Don’t forget to pad anything that could easily break with newspaper, blankets and packing foam.…

You’re living the Florida dream, with a pool in your backyard and an endless summer in which to enjoy it. However, it can sometimes be easy to take your backyard oasis for granted. Here are three ways to fully appreciate your time outdoors and get the most out of your Florida pool.

1. Clean Regularly

Who wants to swim in a pool filled with leaves, bugs and grime? It doesn’t sound very inviting, does it? Maintaining the cleanliness of your pool is key to getting the most out of it. It may feel like a full-time job, but the refreshing payoff of a dip in your clean pool is worth the effort. Don’t want to waste valuable time cleaning? Hiring a pool service company Sarasota FL can save you considerable time and effort, as well as ensure that the pool always contains the proper balance of chemicals.

2. Plan Time Outdoors

It’s difficult to fully enjoy your pool when you don’t set aside enough time to spend outdoors. Has this been your experience lately? Viewing your pool as a fun, tropical destination for you and your family can make scheduling time outdoors a breeze. Take a Saturday “day trip” to the pool, plan a poolside dinner “party,” where swimwear is the desired attire, or simply make the decision to designate more of your free time as pool time.

3. Buy New Pool Toys

Buy some new pool toys to maximize your pool time fun. Help your kiddos make a splash by allowing them to pick out their own new floats, games and water toys. You may even want to buy yourself a comfortable float to encourage you to spend time relaxing in the pool.

If you’re lucky enough to have a pool in your backyard, don’t waste it! Keep these three ideas in mind to get the most fun and relaxation out of your pool.…

You might not think that your carpet needs professional cleaning, but you would be surprised at what you can’t see that hides below the surface. Calling a professional service to clean your carpet can be a huge advantage in saving you time and keeping your living space in good condition. Here are three reasons to consider a professional carpet cleaner once in a while.

1. Family Can Be Messy

It’s no secret that children can make a mess very quickly. Even if they’re careful, accidents still happen, which can leave you with stains like food and paint all over your carpet. These can be particularly hard to get out and leave marks that continue to darken over time. Searching for a cleaner near you online (like “carpet cleaning Portland”) as soon as possible can ensure your carpet actually gets clean.

2. You Have Pets

Pets have their own odors that can start to soak into the carpet, making your home smell more like the dog than the nicely scented fabric softener you picked out at the store. Pets that spend their time outdoors can also track in mud and unwelcome guests that like to burrow into the carpet. If you have a pet, consider getting the carpet professionally cleaned at least a few times a year.

3. You’re Hosting an Important Event

If you’re throwing a party or an important event soon, you want your house to look as welcoming as possible. Tough stains and bad odors in the carpet can diminish the wow factor you’re trying to set. Make an appointment with a carpet cleaner sometime during the week before your event to get your carpet looking sharp and brand new for your guests. This will save you time and keep your carpet cleaner for your own personal use long into the future.…

Summer looks a little different this year. With people still working in lockdown or coming out of lockdown but worried about a second wave, coronavirus has transformed summers completely. If you’re staring down the barrel of a quarantine summer and unsure what to do, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Homebound Activities

For starters, everyone is going to be stuck at home a lot more this summer. Between vacations getting canceled and friends remaining socially distant, people are going to be staying home more this summer than they have in summers past. Pools are closed, beaches are limited and other traditional summer activities are canceled. Certainly, it has a lot of people looking at indoor air conditioner Harvest AL or their area, thinking that as long as they’re going to be stuck inside, they might as well be comfortable.

Get Some Sunlight

Before you commit to spending the whole summer inside, don’t forget that sun is important. Vitamin D deficiencies can affect everything from your mood to your sleep cycle, and they’re hard to fight back against. Even if you’re just sitting outside with sunscreen, it’s important to get some sun while you can.

Practice Safe Socialization

Summer is a time for socialization, especially for kids. With so many popular hang out spots closed or only open in a limited way and the looming possibility of a delayed or limited school opening, it’s important to find new ways to stay in touch with old friends. It’s also important to stay safe with the risk of infection still high and many people at risk. So this summer, while you should absolutely stay in touch with your friends and loved ones, find ways to do that without putting them in danger.

Every summer is different but this summer is different for everyone. It’s important to take care of yourselves and your families.…

When it comes to HVAC systems, it is important for you to invest in routine maintenance. This can go a long way toward preventing some of the most common problems that arise with HVAC systems. When it comes to heating and cooling repair Sterling VA, there are a few common HVAC issues that arise.

Issues with the Thermostat

One of the most common problems that might arise with an HVAC unit is thermostat problems. The thermostat plays an important role in the function of the rest of the HVAC system. In order for the HVAC system to know when to turn on, it has to know what the temperature is. If the thermostat is not working properly, then the HVAC system will not know what the temperature of the room is. Therefore, it might end up turning on or off at the wrong time.

Problems with the Air Filters

Another common issue that might arise with the HVAC system has to do with the air filters. The air filters are important because they trap dust and debris that would otherwise get into the HVAC system itself. Over time, these air filters can get clogged with a lot of dust and debris. This can force the HVAC system to work harder to do its job. This can drive up electricity bills and shorten the life of the HVAC system. It is important to clean and replace the air filters on time.

Trust the Trained Professionals

These are only a few of the numerous issues that might arise with an HVAC system. If something goes wrong with the system, it is important to rely on the experience of trained professionals who can get the issues corrected the first time. Do not hesitate to reach out and ask for help with any HVAC issues.…

Thinking about selling your home? There are ways to prepare your home to properly welcome potential buyers. Here are three things you should do before you put your home on the market.

1. Update Your Landscaping

Getting your landscaping in excellent shape is a great way to signal to homebuyers that you care for your property. Taking care of your lawn, as well as your flowers and trees, can be a big job. Whether your landscaping just needs a minor update or a complete overhaul, expert landscape services Memphis TN will bring your yard up to par, leading to a quick sale when you go to sell your home.

2. Declutter and Clean

When a potential buyer enters your home, they want a clean slate in order to imagine what everyday life would feel like if they choose to purchase your property. This is why your home needs to be decluttered and deep cleaned before it’s ready to welcome homebuyers. Remove all personal items from your house and store them away. Once you’ve taken out the excess clutter, it’s time to deep clean every surface in your home. Do a thorough job of cleaning – buyers will be inspecting your home and you want to make sure that they are impressed from start to finish.

3. Make Minor Repairs

If you’ve been putting off any minor repairs throughout the house, make these small fixes before you put your home on the market. Repair any leaking toilets or faucets, tighten up loose doorknobs and handles and patch any holes you may have in areas of drywall. Taking care of these small details will show buyers that your home is move-in ready.

Take some of the stress out of the selling process by making sure each potential buyer has a great first impression of your home. By following these tips, your home will be prepared for a quick sale.…

Even though your roof isn’t something you look at regularly, you shouldn’t forget about it. The state of your roof may not be immediately noticeable to you and your friends, but a dirty roof can have lingering effects. If your home has a recent roof installation Sacramento, then here are three reasons why you should have it regularly cleaned.

Prevent Mold

Any place where leaves and other debris collect on your roof, so does rain and moisture. When part of your roof stays damp for a prolonged period, it can develop mold. Instead of creating a haven for allergens, a roof cleaning can keep this moisture from collecting and reduce your chance of developing mold in your roof and the rest of your home.

Ward Off Leaks

Another side effect of rain and damp debris collecting on your roof is the development of leaks. When you protect your roof installation Sacramento with regular cleaning, you can decrease the number of leaks that can show up over time. When you schedule a cleaning for your roof, see about having the gutters checked. Dirty or blocked gutters lead to many of the same issues as a dirty roof.

Spot Other Issues

Roofs wear out over time, even when regularly cleaned. During a roof cleaning, workers can point out other issues as they are spotted. These could include discoloration and warping, signs that you may need roof repair or replacement. This is especially important if your roof has corners and hidden areas that are not easily seen from the ground.

Whether your roof is brand new or you have had it for many years, regular roof cleaning is a good way to protect your home. Preventing mold and leaks saves you money, and spotting other issues early can prevent then from getting out of control.…

The heat and humidity that is a staple in the Sunshine State produces a breeding ground for numerous insects. These pests can be a persistent nuisance for residents and visitors. Some of them can become health hazards or threats to property. If you live in or own property in Florida, below are some of the most common bugs to be aware and why you need pest control Key West.

1. Mosquitoes

These flying insects are a well-known pest in warm climates and are especially drawn to the swamps and lagoons found throughout Florida. Not only is their attraction to humans unwelcome, they also present a health hazard. They are known to be carriers of various diseases harmful to both people and livestock.

2. Termites

While not very harmful to humans directly, these pests can cause catastrophic property damage if left unchecked. There are actually several species – drywood and subterranean being two of the most popular. Since their food source is wood, most homes and businesses are susceptible to an infestation. Additionally, it is not always obvious that they have taken up residence until it’s too late.

3. Red Ants

Otherwise known as fire ants, they are extremely pervasive and are attracted to warmth and moisture. If not treated promptly their mounds can grow quite large and will end up damaging grass and landscaping. If that isn’t enough, coming in contact with a colony can result in multiple stings to a human, which results in painful welts that last for days.

4. Lovebugs

Contrary to their romantic name, these little bugs can be downright annoying. Fortunately their presence is seasonal and only bothersome in late spring and early fall. They gather in droves on bright surfaces and can ruin a cars paint as well as an otherwise pleasant day at the beach.…