If the place you come home to has stopped feeling like ‘home,’ you may wonder if it’s time to look for a new house. Moving to a new home is a big decision, so it’s natural to think carefully before you decide. Here are some signs it may be time for you to start looking for a new place.

1. There Isn’t Enough Room

Real estate prices are high everywhere, so you may have chosen your current home back when you first started your job. If so, your place may now be feeling like it’s too tight for you. You may need more space because you’ve had a baby. Or, you may be tired of sleeping in the same room where your kitchen is located. Living in a space that seems too tight for comfort can make you feel dissatisfied with your home. You’ve been working hard and deserve to invest in a place that’s right for your current situation. This decision is especially true if your cramped conditions are due to adding members to your family. The rest of your family will likely be uncomfortable if you’re uncomfortable.

2. You’re Ready for an Upgraded Backyard

Maybe your house feels right to you, but something inside you is longing for a different place to live. You may be in an apartment but prefer your own home. Perhaps you’d like a dog but need a much bigger yard to get one. Wanting an upgraded backyard can be a good reason to look for a new home. If you are looking for a nicer backyard, you might be hoping to find a place with a swimming pool. After all, statistics show there are 10 million swimming pools worldwide. The change you want to make may be a change in the neighborhood. If you’re looking for a better community for your children or trying to find a place with better schools, you may need to look for a new home.

3. The Local Weather Is Doing Too Much Damage

The weather where you live can affect you by causing damage to the outside of your home. For example, Forbes Magazine estimates that asphalt shingles usually last 20-25 years. Unfortunately, adverse weather conditions can cut that time short. The need for many repairs may frustrate you enough to inspire you to move. Let’s face it: the weather in the place where you live can also influence your mood. Some people thrive in hot areas, while others enjoy cooler climates. If you’re living in an environment that isn’t the one, you’d prefer, you may be determined to change that – and find a new home.

4. You Need to Step Away from an Unhappy Relationship

If you’ve been living with someone, and your relationship with them isn’t going well, moving to a different home may be in your best interest. In a recent online report, Cision reported that 19% of Americans are in an unhappy relationship. Even if you like the house you’re living in, staying in that home would be difficult because of the memories attached to that home.

5. You’re Perusing Real Estate Websites

Do you find yourself looking at the real estate section of the newspaper? Do you stare at homes that have a “For Sale” sign in their front yard? Your browser history may show you’ve been scrolling down the listings on some real estate websites. After all, you can find real estate listings on nearly 1.8 billion websites. If moving to a new home is on your mind to that extent, your subconscious may be trying to tell you something. Ask yourself how you feel. If your heart tells you, it’s time for a new home, it’s probably time to go for it!

Spring is here (finally!), which means it’s time for spring cleaning and for my annual Twin Cities Spring Cleaning Guide! 

To help you, this is a list of Twin Cities area resources to help you get rid of yard waste, papers, clothing and any other type of household items you no longer need.  

This guide is sponsored by my partners at Kid A! 

Kid A is a Minneapolis business that makes it super easy to sell and buy used baby/kid gear. To jumpstart your spring cleaning, Kid A will take all of your outgrown items at once, pay you for everything that they’ll sell, and donate the rest for you. They even do at-home pickups at no charge. Declutter, get paid, and spare the hassle!

Schedule a pickup or drop-off in no time at www.kidamarketplace.com. You can also bring items to drop-off at their shop (2313 W. 50th St., Minneapolis) anytime they are open (no appointment needed). 

And here is a gift from me and Kid A: a FREE 2-page printable Spring Cleaning Checklist to help you clean out after you declutter! Click here to download or on image below:

Twin Cities Spring Cleaning Guide 2023

CLEAN UP YOUR YARD

YARD WASTE COLLECTION SITES

Each county offers free yard waste collection sites or assistance for its residents. At these sites you can often pick up free compost for your garden (while it lasts). They may also offer junk collection days where you drop off items like tires or electronics and even hazardous waste for a discount. Check out your local county website for locations and times:

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Whether you want to renovate your home because you want it to feel and look better, or you’re making changes to things because you want to sell, you need a proper budget. If you don’t know how much you have to cover the costs and an estimate of how much the renovations are going to set you back, you’re heading for a big disaster. Of course, coming up with a good budget for home renovations is about more than saying ‘I have X amount and want to do A, B, and C’. There’s a lot that goes into creating a realistic budget, and this blog will present budget tips that will help you save money and prevent frustrations in the future!

Average Home Renovation Costs

Before you get straight to making a budget, you should keep in mind the average home renovation costs. Naturally, your own costs will differ a bit because of your unique needs, but having an estimate can help you get started when you’re unsure of where to begin. You need to research the average costs so you can build a realistic budget. Other factors such as the rooms you plan to renovate, their specific sizes, and the area where you live can affect your costs, so make sure you know as much as possible about the average expenses you’ll incur.

For example, planning your budget for lawn care means understanding the costs and how often they occur. Lawn Chick recommends that you fertilize your lawn four times a year for the greenest grass. Planning for the cost allows you to cater your budget toward obtaining the best results.

Determine Your Budget

The basis of your budget is the amount of money you have readily available to spend. It’s easy to go over even the most well-planned budget, so plan ahead for expenses to exceed expectations. Whether you’re paying cash for your home renovation or taking out a loan will be important factors to keep in mind. If you’re borrowing money, you need to remember that you’ll have to pay it back with interest, so factor that into your plans. Do yourself a favor and shop around before choosing a lender so you can be sure you’re getting the best possible deal.

Prioritize Projects

Although it can be tempting to give your entire home a facelift, you should only focus on the most important projects. Once you’ve done them, you can start looking at other potential projects. By prioritizing your projects, you’re making sure you have the right amount of money for the most important tasks. Then, plan the projects in detail so you know you’re covering all the monetary aspects.

For example, you may want to install a new safety or privacy fence. Before you make your decision, consider the shape, style, and materials as they affect the costs. A big chunk of fence installation costs is influenced by the variety of styles, shapes, and materials that are available.

Once you have your important projects planned, you need to keep in mind the preparation that goes into completing them. With the right prep, for example, a good paint job with quality paint can last anything between 10 and 20 years. If you fail to prioritize the prep, the quality and longevity will be severely affected. Be sure you have the right materials, the right paint, and primer. If you don’t intend on doing the project yourself the right contractor to complete the job.

Conclusion

Doing home renovations can be a costly and very tiring affair, but if you plan your renovations properly, you’ll have an easier time. A good budget is essential to ensuring you don’t waste your money, so use all the advice shared with you here to come up with a great plan that won’t make you feel like you’re flushing your money down the drain.

Finances can make or break a family; thus, parents need to budget and regulate home spending for their sake and their children. Spending responsibly is a home management tip that allows parents to live comfortably within their means and provide comfortably for their children. Below are three tips that parents should follow to reduce home spending costs.

Home Security

Regarding home safety and security, there’s no such thing as being too cautious! Invest in a quality home security system to have your back at all times and protect your home and children against robbers. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program statistics show that breaking-in cases make up 95% of all burglaries. Besides resulting in physical deterioration to your property that will require repairs, burglars may also do away with valuable items whose replacement is costly. Home invasions put you and your children in the way of harm, such as injuries that will require hospital visits that will cost you not only time but also money.

Make a habit of setting offsetting the security alarm every time you leave the house and before you go to bed each night. If you have a terrible memory, leave a note by the door or set up a reminder on your phone. Another often overlooked way of keeping your home safe is updating your locks, especially once you move, as the previous owners may still gain access to the home using the old keyset.

Routine HVAC Maintenance

Heating ventilation and air conditioning systems maintain high indoor air quality at home. Yet, like any other systems, they require regular maintenance to operate correctly. According to Data Scope, routine HVAC maintenance reduces expensive repair costs by up to 95%. When HVAC systems fail due to neglect, any warranty on them becomes void as regular maintenance is often a condition under these agreements. Thus, you’ll have to cover the cost of new equipment out of pocket. Additionally, routine maintenance promotes efficient energy use in home heating and air conditioning equipment, keeping your monthly energy bill on the lower side.

Parents can perform simple HVAC maintenance, such as replacing the air conditioning unit’s air filter. A dirty filter can worsen respiratory conditions in children, such as asthma, warranting regular hospital visits. Maintenance plans are also often available with your HVAC repair company. It means a professional will come out according to an agreed-upon schedule and check the HVAC system for damage or gas leaks in the furnace. The contractor will also repair any issues that may crop up while performing routine maintenance designed to increase the overall life span of the system.

Get A Roof Replacement

Most people see few benefits to roof replacement. A roof replacement is costly whether you hire professionals or do the job yourself. Regardless, there are many benefits to replacing a roof once it hits a state of decline that is well worth considering. Conceivably, a roof replacement will yield an 85% return on investment (ROI) on resale. It’s true, according to research conducted by Home 365. The efficiency is because modern roofing systems have improved features such as higher energy efficiency and a higher fire rating. New roofs are hardier for mildew and termite attacks, reducing the need for maintenance and subsequent costs.

Another significant benefit of roof replacement is that when you hire licensed and bonded professional contracts to replace the roof of your home, the new roof will have a warranty cover. The agreement gives you a safety net and peace of mind should problems arise within the contract’s life cycle. While this expense will need monthly payments, it will save you a lot of money in the long run.

A home security system prevents unauthorized access, keeping valuables and family members safe. Air conditioning systems require regular maintenance to keep energy bills down and reduce the need for buying new ones. A roof replacement will save you repair costs as it comes with improved features such as energy efficiency.

Are you looking for ways to save energy and money in 2022? If so, you’re not alone. With the rising cost of living, more people are looking for ways to cut costs and reduce their energy consumption. Luckily, there are several simple tactics you can try to make a real difference in your energy bills. From installing energy-efficient lighting to making your home more airtight, there are several ways to save both energy and money. So if you’re interested in learning more about how to slash your energy bills, read on for some great tips.

1. Install Energy-Efficient Lighting

One of the easiest ways to save energy and money is to install energy-efficient lighting throughout your home. LED bulbs use up to 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, so making the switch can help you slash your energy bills. Not only that, but LED bulbs also last much longer than traditional bulbs, so you’ll also save money in the long run.

If you’re not ready to switch to LED bulbs just yet, there are several other energy-efficient lighting options available, such as compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. CFL bulbs use about 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to ten times longer. So, if you’re looking for a more energy-efficient lighting option, CFL bulbs are a great choice.

Another option is to install solar-powered lights around your home. Solar lights are powered by the sun, so they’re completely free to run. They’re also very easy to install and require no wiring, making them a great option for do-it-yourselfers.

Finally, you can also try using timers or motion sensors to control your lights. Timers allow you to set your lights to turn off automatically after a certain period, while motion sensors will only turn on your lights when someone is in the room. This can help you save energy.

2. Make Your Home More Airtight

Another great way to save energy and money is to make your home more airtight. By sealing up cracks and gaps around doors and windows, you can prevent heat from escaping, which will help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. In fact, professional sealing can save you up to 20% on your energy bills.

There are several ways to seal your home, but one of the easiest is to use caulk. Caulk is a flexible, water-resistant sealant that can be used to fill in cracks and gaps around doors and windows. You can also use weatherstripping to seal up larger gaps. Weatherstripping is a strip of material that you attach to the inside or outside of your doors and windows to prevent air from escaping.

3. Install a Smart Thermostat

One of the best ways to save energy and money is to install a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats are programmable thermostats that can be controlled remotely via an app on your smartphone or tablet. This means that you can set your thermostat to turn off when you’re not home, which can help you save a significant amount of energy.

In addition to being able to control your thermostat remotely, smart thermostats also have several other features that can help you save energy. For example, some smart thermostats come with sensors that can detect when someone is in the room and will only turn on the heat or air conditioning when someone is present. Other smart thermostats come with features that allow you to schedule your heating and cooling so that it’s only on when you need it. Remember to also lower your thermostat whenever possible. According to the Department of Energy, lowering your thermostat by 7-10 degrees for 8 hours a day can save you up to 10% on heating and cooling expenses yearly.

4. Educate Your Family About Energy Saving

One of the best ways to save energy and money is to educate your family about energy saving. Teaching your children about energy conservation can help them develop good habits that will last a lifetime. There are several ways to teach your children about energy conservation, but one of the best is to lead by example.

The next one is looking for online resources to help your children learn about energy conservation. Given that about 900,000 domain names are registered every week, chances are there’s a website, blog, or even app that can help your kids learn about saving energy.

These are just a few of the many ways you can save energy and money in 2022. By making a few simple changes, you can have a big impact on your energy bill. So, don’t wait. Start saving today.