Entertaining Guests for the Holidays

When people are expecting a houseful of people during the holiday season, the host or hostess want their guests to feel like they are at home. There are a few essential things that every homeowner can do to achieve a peaceful season that spreads joy to everyone. Having vinyl replacement windows installed in the home at the end of summer is an excellent way to maintain the comfort level in the home while saving some money for the essentials needed for the celebration. Stockpile the Essentials A great way to make people feel more welcome is to have plenty of extras of everything. Running out of clean towels during a morning shower marathon is likely to create a bad atmosphere. Some of the most important things to stock up on ahead of time include facial and toilet tissue, hand and bath soap, first aid supplies, towels, blankets, and more.

Food - Something for Everyone The great thing about food is that no matter what your tastes, there’s always going to be something for anyone - the bad thing is that not everyone agrees on what they like, so when you’re expecting long-term company it’s best to have a wide variety of snacks and foods for everyone. Keep all sorts of beverages around, from soymilk to caffeine and caffeine-free options, or even something just for the grownups, and double-check on everyone’s food allergies to make sure you’ve got something to match any taste or lifestyle.

Decorate Accordingly Finally, purchase decorations for every room of the house. Homeowners can decorate bathrooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms with shabby chic or sleek and contemporary decor to achieve the exact look they want. Use personalized seating cards with names for every guest, make a photo collage for the people staying in each room, or add a favorite theme for each guest like NFL teams or holiday themes to make the space inviting.

Weatherize Your Doors

Every year, you get out the extra blankets and keep the thermostat as low as possible in hopes to keep your energy bills low. This year, take it upon yourself to get to the bottom of the problem. In most cases, it is the door that lets in too many drafts. If your feet are always cold and you want to save more on your energy costs even after installing some replacement windows, consider the following clever ideas to get your door properly weatherized:

Door Thresholds The door threshold is the piece of metal or wood that sits underneath your door. Most are adjustable, which means if you find cold air coming in under the door, you can adjust it higher. After adjusting it, you must still make sure your door is able to open and close properly, but this will keep the cold air from coming into your house.

Replace Worn Out Weather Stripping You may also find that the weather stripping around your door is old and worn. The weather stripping can be purchased at any hardware store and it is easy to replace. Weather stripping is going to seal your door tight to help you keep your house warmer.

Create a Draft Stopper If you are still finding the door is letting in drafts at the bottom, do not be discouraged. A lot of people use draft stoppers in the winter to help them reduce their energy costs. A draft stopper can be made out of just about anything. A rolled up blanket might sound good, but it won’t be a flexible as it needs to in order to stay put up against the door. Consider creating a tube of material and filling it with rice. It will stay in front of the door and keep out the drafts. By weatherizing the exterior doors in your home, you are going to notice an immediate difference in how well it heats. If you can look at your door and see light underneath it, there is a definite problem that needs to be corrected as a lot of heat is escaping. These simple tricks can save you hundreds of dollars this year on your energy costs.

Moving from Fall into Winter

Try as you might, you can't stop the days from marching by. Fall has begun, which means the bitter chill, wind, snow, and shorter days will be here before you know it. Now is the time to prepare your home so you'll be ready when the change in weather comes. By giving your home some attention, you will protect your house and stave off problems. You'll also be able to trim your utility bills.

Inspect the Exterior of Your Home Start by taking a close look at the exterior of your house. Check your windows and look for any gaps. If you have older windows, you'll want to consider swapping them for vinyl windows. Replacement windows will mean an initial investment, but you'll have future returns when you see the savings on your utility bills. If you can't make the move to energy efficient windows right now, you can winterize your windows to get similar results and it will be easier on your budget. Check your doors and take care of any drafts. If you've lost some vinyl siding during the year, replace any missing pieces. Give your home the TLC it deserves and you'll be able to enjoy your living space even more.

Check Your Furnace Now is the time to perform maintenance on your furnace. Bring in a heating technician to evaluate your furnace in order to clean it out and detect any problems. The last thing you want is for your furnace to quit when you need it the most. If there are any issues, essential repairs can be taken care of in a timely manner to ensure that your heating system will be working at optimal levels when the temperatures start to drop.

Don't Forget Your Ceiling Fans If you have ceiling fans and they have a reverse function, make sure you switch the direction of your blades once the heat kicks on. You'll be able to take advantage of the heat that rises to the ceiling and send it back down into your home to make it toastier this winter. Make your home more efficient and you'll be able to reap the benefits. It doesn't take a major investment or a lot of your time. With a little savvy and planning, you won't be shivering when Old Man Winter arrives.

Reasons To Update Your Windows For Fall

Occasionally updating your home with new replacement windows is an important part of keeping your home updated, livable, and valuable in the event you want to sell it one day. Replacing your home’s current windows in fall can bring with it many special advantages and benefits for both the autumn season and the rest of the year!

Protection From Temperature Changes Temperatures outside your home are changing constantly, and you will encounter major changes inside the house that you cannot avoid. Old windows in your home will let hot or cold air in the house, and all the air created by your HVAC unit will escape the house without a problem. Replacement windows help keep your home airtight, and you will use less energy when running the heat or air.

A Better View and Decoration Not only will energy efficient windows make your home easier to heat and cool, new windows can improve the overall look of your home. New windows will provide plenty of room for fall and holiday decorations, as well as giving a much better view of the leaves and snow outside when they start to fall. Not to mention it will help maintain the value and curb appeal of your home if you decide to move out!

Helpful Amenities Not only will the windows themselves help regulate your home’s environment, but your windows’ accessories can help too. New windows may come with interior blinds that will never age, and new windows may come with double paned glass that is extremely quiet. You can block out the rays of the sun, or you can block out all the loud noise that is going on outside your home with curtains - not to mention thicker curtains help keep the heat inside your home where it belongs. Your home becomes more comfortable when you get better windows, and each window is easier to decorate.

Prepare Your Property For Winter

The last thing most people want to think about is winter - but the earlier you begin thinking about it, the easier it will be for you! One area of their property people don’t often consider when preparing their homes for winter is the yard. You’ve probably been too busy paying attention to your home, trying to winterize everything to keep out the cold, but what about your backyard or landscape? We’ve got some tips right here to keep your property just as ready for winter as your home!

Pack Up the Hose Your days of watering the garden and the lawn are wrapping up. That means stashing away the hose as well. Roll it up and put it away to avoid damage over the winter months. If your faucet isn't frost-proof, you should turn it off with the shut-off valve in the house to avoid leaks or burst pipes.

Give Your Lawn Some TLC You're so busy thinking about your home. You can give your lawn some attention as well. When the leaves start to fall, you're thinking about the hassle of bagging them up and getting rid of them. This year, mow them instead. Make sure to break out the lawn mower when your leaves are completely dry. Don't use your bag and put a mulching blade on your mower. When you chop your leaves up into small pieces, you'll be able to nourish your lawn over the winter months. Your grass will come back and be a vibrant green in the spring.

Hold Off on Trimming Trees and Shrubs Most people tackle their trees and shrubs in the fall. Experts say it's better to hold off until the dead of winter. When you do your trimming at that point, the plants have been dormant and you won't cause damage to healthy branches. Everything should come back better than ever when the warm weather returns.

Check Your Sump Pump If you have a sump pump, you'll want to inspect it before winter arrives. Start by adding water to the pump pit to make sure the pump turns on. If you have any problems, call in the professionals. A sump pump is an excellent investment if you take on water in your basement every year during wet seasons. If you don't have one, think about getting one before the weather changes. Sudden meltdowns after a heavy snow can mean more water in your cellar.