Holiday Home Improvements & Repairs

Holiday Home Improvements & Repairs – When the holiday season comes around, I tend to have my shopping list completed by Thanksgiving, my decorating scheme planned, and have selected favorites from my bulging file folder full of holiday recipes. But in the midst of all that planning, I’ve sometimes missed exterior home repairs that keep my home from being as attractive – and safe- as possible.. Even minor home maintenance issues can cause accidents or provide an open invitation to thieves. While the rest of a home may look cozy, an old mailbox or worn door can give a far less appealing message – even before friends and family enter the threshold of your home. Holiday Home Repairs, contact Ted at Plano Texas Handyman 214-507-3415 to schedule an appointment. Holiday Home Improvements & Repairs But with a minimum of time and a little planning, you can make sure that your home is not only lovely on the inside but equally inviting on the outside. And with that added peace of mind, you can put on your favorite holiday music, start munching on holiday treats, and get ready to enjoy the festivities.

Here’s are ways to tweak your home’s holiday cheer (and safety):

1. Start with curb appeal and take a close look at your mailbox. If it is so wobbly that adding holiday decorations are likely to make it tip over, face it: your mailbox needs a makeover. That could be as simple as repainting it, replacing worn address numbers, and making sure a wobbly post is reset firmly in place. Holiday Home Repairs But don’t waste time on a mailbox that is dented, falling apart and clearly past its prime. There are so many stylish mailbox options available that it should be a snap to find one that compliments your home. A well-maintained and decorated mailbox provides a warm welcome for guests before they even enter the driveway. Holiday Home Improvements & Repairs 2. Make sure your exterior lights are in good working order. This may seem obvious but sometimes you can become blind to a couple of dim or burned out light bulbs (I certainly have). Hopefully, the problem will have a simple fix and you’ll just have to replace some of those bulbs. But if the lights are seriously tilted, the wiring doesn’t work or glass panels are broken, you may need to call a repair service. Working lights not only make your home’s exterior look better but let guests see steps, doors, overhanging tree limbs, etc. 3. Add low-cost features to maintain your home’s security and keep burglars at bay. You don’t have to own a burglar alarm to make sure your home is protected from burglars. Inexpensive fixes can be all it takes to do the trick. Good lighting all around your home can be all it takes to discourage potential thieves. If you have a dog that barks whenever strangers approach, that can also work as well – or even better – than a burglar alarm. Why? Home intruders may be willing to put up with the noise of an alarm, particularly if it only sets off sirens inside the house. But a dog is far less predictable and the threat of being attacked could scare off thieves (they don’t have to know that your dog is as likely to lick them to death as attack them). Holiday Home Improvements & Repairs 4. Double check all exterior doors. Are all the hinges firmly in place? What about the locks? Even a solid steel door won’t do any good if it is easily knocked off the door frame. While you’re at it, see if the door needs some touching up. A wood door may need to be repainted or have a fresh coat of stain. Or maybe the door just needs to be cleaned thoroughly or power washed. If you are thinking of repainting your home then you should check out Primetime Paint & Paper, and explore their different styles and colours for you to redesign your home, and turn it into your perfect dream house! 5. Finally, ask a friend or neighbor to be honest about any glaring problems you might be missing. You could be overlooking the sharp edge of a tree limb, one that is too close to the path leading to your house. Perhaps you’ve become blind to the chipped paint on your garage door. Holiday Home Repairs Ever taken a walk in June and seen a Christmas wreath still in place? I have. Similarly, homeowners can miss seemingly obvious items that need to be updated, fixed or moved. So get the opinion of a trusted friend, family member or sympathetic neighbor. Holiday Home Improvements & Repairs

Easy Home Weatherproofing

Some small weatherproofing jobs require little to no “handiness”, but can make a real difference once cold weather hits. By doing these things before the snow flies, you’ll be saving yourself some hassle (and possibly some money, too!):

• Clean gutters and downspouts in mid-fall and double-check them before winter. If you need a contractor’s assistance, just visit their website and schedule an appointment, especially if you want to replace your old gutters with new seamless gutters.
• Replace the filter in your furnace You can also check it while replacing the filter and see if you need a furnace repair.
• Close any vents in your home that may have been opened for the warm weather.
• Disconnect hoses from outside faucets and turn off the water.
• Buy a snow shovel and other winter supplies before the messy weather hits.
• Keep extra water and canned food in storage just in case.
• Test your heating system, so that you know it will work properly when you need it or if it needs a heating repair.
• Give your deck a fresh coat of sealer to protect it from the winter elements.
• Holiday Home Improvements & Repairs

Home Weatherproofing Inspections

Though some homeowners might tackle these jobs themselves, there’s no substitute for a professional eye to ensure home efficiency through the cold winter months:

• Check the attic, walls, and basement for adequate insulation. Also check for basement waterproofing. 
• Feel around electrical outlets and switch-plates for cold air, add insulation where necessary.
• Look around doors and windows for gaps and potential places where warm air can escape.
• Look on your roof to see if Water Damage and Roofing of San Marcos need to repair any leaks or weak points. Problems with residential roofing often get overlooked, but these are the problems that can turn into catastrophes during the colder months. Contact a residential roofing contractor if you have any problems with your roof before winter begins.
• Caulk or apply weatherstripping around problem draft areas.
• visit this website to have a contractor look for damaged roof shingles and loose gutters.
• Have a heating/cooling expert look at your furnace. If you are unsure of its efficiency, they’ll let you know if it is time to get a furnace repair. 
• Have chimneys and woodstoves cleaned early by a chimney sweep. If you’ve noticed some chippings in your chimney, make sure to contact a Chimney Masonry Repair specialist.
• Test the flue for each fireplace for a tight seal when closed.
• Holiday Home Improvements & Repairs

Holiday Home Repairs, contact Ted at Plano Texas Handyman 214-507-3415 to schedule an appointment. Holiday Home Improvements & Repairs