DIY Pest Control Can Save You Money!

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Spring is project time.  From DIY  home renovations and landscaping projects, even pest control becomes a big part of a homeowner's to-do list.  Unfortunately, pest control services can be pricey, rangig anywhere from $300 per year for a basic quarterly pest control service, to over $250 for just one ant or rodent job.  But there is an alternative to hiring a pest control company.

One option homeowners can turn to is do-it-yourself pest control.  Professional pest control products can save homeowners a significant amount of money, especially in today's economy.  they can also be just as safe to use as most other chemical household products, as long as customers follow the label.

The DIY pest control industry has grown significantly over the past several years mainly because of a new breed of internet pest control stores that sell professional pest control products.  These companies cater specifically to homeowners and businesses and often profile certified pest control experts on staff and a wealth of information to guide homeowners on how to treat their issues just like a professional, something people can't get from a big-box store.

Larger savings can be gained by replacing termite jobs and bed bug control with DIY alternatives.  For example, a termite job an cost anywhere from $1000 to $1500 for a typical residential home.  Bed bug control jobs can cost as high as $5000.    Compare this with DIY termite control products for $300 and DIY bed bug control kits for around $100-$250.  In general, savings by going DIY can be as high as 70% or more.

While there is no question professional services will be necessary in some cases, the fact is the majority of pest problems can be handled by a homeowner.  Customers are capable of reading a label and following directions and getting rid of pests on their own.  Pest control is not rocket science.  

Of course there can be risks with any DIY project, but the power of the internet is providing homeowners and businesses with the knowledge and products to solve their own pest problems safely and effectively.

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Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1171947#ixzz2Q51fhlsG

Article from www.digitaljournal.com

Top New Year's Resolutions for Your Home

The start of each new year is a hopeful time. People vow to get to the gym more often or to finally quit smoking. But as winter turns to spring, even the most steadfast determination can begin to wane, and resolutions often get sidelined. The same is true in remodeling. There always seem to be things on our wish lists that we never get around to.

We spoke with three experts to identify the home improvement projects most of us think about but rarely tackle. And we got tips on how to finally get these projects done.


1. Making Our Homes More Energy Efficient

Bob Vila knows a thing or two about the home improvement projects people dream about. One that he hears mentioned frequently is increasing a home’s energy efficiency. “People often ask me about energy conservation methods, from installing a programmable thermostat to adding insulation in an attic to replacing old windows and doors,” he says.

Why It’s Important: Boosting your home’s energy efficiency saves you money—a common resolution in and of itself!

What Holds Us Back: Budget concerns can be roadblocks to success, Bob points out, but they don’t have to be. “There are $50,000 window replacements, but there are also options as inexpensive as a tube of caulking to seal out drafts.”

How To Get It Done: “Take a realistic look at your finances and start with what you can afford,” Bob advises. “For larger projects, you may have to adjust your priorities in order to save money, like taking a one week vacation instead of two weeks.”

2. Remodeling a Kitchen or Bath

Modernizing an outdated kitchen or bath is a project that Amy Matthews, licensed contractor and host of DIY Network’s hit show “Sweat Equity,” is asked about time and again.

Why It’s Important: Aside from the aesthetic qualities, a beautiful new kitchen or bath can increase the value of your home.

What Holds Us Back: “I think people feel overwhelmed by the scope of these projects,” Amy reflects. “There are other rooms you can renovate for less money, but kitchens and baths can involve plumbing, gas lines, fixtures—they are expensive places to fix.”

How To Get It Done: “Begin by making a detailed plan of your dream room, but be realistic about the costs,” Amy says. To have the stove of your dreams, for example, you may need to compromise on cabinets—or the other way around. “A good contractor will be able to help you adjust your plan to fit your budget.”

3. Conquering Clutter

“Getting rid of clutter and finally getting organized is always on our readers’ list of New Year’s resolutions,” reports Amy Panos, Senior Editor for Home Design at Better Homes & Gardens.

Why It’s Important: Clutter-free spaces not only help you save time by making it easier to find what you need, they also foster an overall sense of serenity in your home.

What Holds Us Back: The urge to get it done all at once. “Remember, you didn’t accumulate the clutter in a day, and you’re not going to organize your whole house in a day,” Amy says.

How To Get It Done: Start small. “Think about the three areas that, if you could get them organized, would make the biggest difference in your daily life,” Amy suggests. “Work on one of them each month, even if it’s only for an hour a week. Focus on one and work on it until you finish, then move on to the next one. Let success breed success.”

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article source: bobvila.com

Common Sense Safety Tips for DIY Home Projects

It’s important to keep up with home maintenance jobs in order to protect your home investment and have a safe living area. Many of these maintenance jobs also save money when you do-it-yourself. It’s important, however, to follow a few common sense safety precautions.


For instance, keep your work area neat. Don’t allow power cords to tangle and pick up and properly store power tools, sharp tools, or dangerous materials that might cause injury. And keep tools and supplies away from the reach of small children.

Dress appropriately for these do-it-yourself projects. For instance, wear sturdy clothing, work boots, and gloves to help protect you as you work. Be sure to wear safety glasses whenever you use power tools, hammers, or other striking or cutting tools. If you’re sanding wood or wallboard joint compound, wear a dust mask to avoid breathing the dust and fibers. If you’re working with hazardous chemicals and materials, a certified respirator is a must.



Before using any power tool, be sure to read and follow all precautions given in the manual. Always unplug the tool before servicing it, making adjustments, and when you’re finished using it. It’s also safety wise to keep all drill bits, blades, and cutters sharp since dull tools require extra force and makes them more dangerous to use.

Whenever you’re using a ladder, be sure to position it on a flat, firm surface. As you climb or reach, keep your weight centered and avoid standing on the top two runs.





Last but not least, keep a good first-aid kit on hand.

Good luck to all starting new home projects in the New Year!

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Article source: newsdemocratleader.com

10 Tips to Help You Focus on Home Projects

A great article worth sharing!  Helping you focus on your home projects!  Take a look at these helpful tips.

If you have a home, I guarantee that you have home improvement projects to do. Whether relating to season, maintenance, upgrades, or repairs, there is rarely a time when the list is empty. Some of us find the motivation to complete home projects easily, while others stop, start, re-start, or generally procrastinate. There are a variety of reasons why you might have trouble following through on projects. Not surprisingly, many of them are emotionally based. Sometimes you have to do some inner work before there is a prayer the outer work will actually be completed. Here are a few tips, both psychological and practical, to help you focus and follow through on projects.

1. Look at why you are doing the project to begin with.
“There is a conflict inherent in what we want and what we think is OK,” said Kevin Blanchard, MSW, who practices in Greenfield, MA. Blanchard said that people can have many reasons for wanting to do a project, one of which is to give others a certain impression of you or you feel you must to make your partner or others happy. “Some people want to be seen as someone who has freshly painted walls. Or is it your wife or mother’s idea? You have to ask yourself what you really want to do,” said Blanchard.

2. Prioritize.
“Thinking on paper and on a calendar is helpful when you have a list of projects,” said Marek Tresnack, LMHC, who also has a practice in Greenfield, MA. “Set up a plan for a month, a week, and a day,” he said.

Another idea in terms of prioritizing would be to make your list based on whether it’s a critical safety issue, routine, has a specific time-line, such as creating a room for a new baby, or would simply improve the value or look of your home.

3. Be realistic regarding your skill-set.
I don’t think I’m alone in the notion that in order to save money, I have to do just about every project in the house myself. Yes, I’ve even managed a lot with the help of detailed books on repairs, but there is a point where you simply need to hire a professional, especially for code-heavy or dangerous work like electrical work. You will save time, money, and a great deal of stress. A colleague of mine who lives in New York City hired a plumber recently to do some work that she just couldn't do herself after wasting hours trying to DIY the job. It was worth it; she's no longer showering in ankle-deep water.

4. Pace yourself, multi-tasking doesn’t always get more done faster.
Tresnack said that when beginning a project to try to  not create too many smaller tasks.  “Even the most multi-tasking CEO’s focus on one thing at a time, following through without letting anything disrupt them,” he said. Tresnack said that the mind compartmentalizes each task and each time we fully complete a task, a part of our mind can relax. “When you have accomplished something the mind can breathe, rest, and let go of it. It’s like having too many Windows open on your computer, your mind gets slower and slower,” he said.

5. Become “prevention focused.”
“Prevention focus is a term psychologists use to describe what happens when you think about your goals in terms of what you might lose,” said Dr. Heidi Grant Halvorson in her blog “Peeling back the Onion.”

“Study after study shows that when people think about their goals in terms of what would happen if things go wrong, they procrastinate less,” said Halvorson.

6. Have attainable goals.
Similar to prioritizing, assessing your resources carefully, including your time, and prior to starting a project, will help flesh out what’s realistic. I’ve learned that when I lay out what’s really needed in terms of materials, time, and cost, I’m able to then have a clearer vision of the project, which tends to reduce what I think of as the “looming” aspect of the project and it becomes easier to move forward. Having attainable goals also helps me budget my time, another resistance-reducer.


7. Try to avoid perfectionism.
Perfectionism can lead to the noblest cause of procrastination. When I have created an image of not only what, but how much needs to be done, I’ve sometimes become too overwhelmed to actually do the project. Case in point, I had a room that had wallpaper I hated. In peeling off the wallpaper, the backing was left behind. In a 100-year-old house with plaster walls, getting the backing off and the room skim-coated and painted ended up taking nearly three years. In wanting it perfect right away, I just couldn’t get started.

8. Let go of the fear.
For those of you who are inclined towards introspection, Tresnack recommends sitting down before you start a project and try to focus on what about the project may be making you afraid. “If you are procrastinating, sit for a moment and look at what your fears are about the situation. You may even want to write about it,” he said. Tresnack said that procrastination creates an “emotional cloud, which makes things harder to accomplish.”

9. Celebrate your successes.
“Every time we accomplish something it gives our mind a little boost,” said Tresnack. It’s important to stop and relish what we have accomplished before moving on to the next project. If you feel more satisfaction, the next project may feel more enjoyable.

10. Make projects into social events.
There are always a lot of small projects that need to be done. But for the bigger projects, make it an excuse for a party or a date with your significant other. Having a work a party is not a new idea, but it’s a fun one. Not only can you get the project done faster, but you can build on the feeling of making work seem less like work.

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Eight Tips for a Supremely Organized Winter Garage

Mountains of snow on the horizon mean that shovels, snow blowers, skis and more are about to come out of the woodwork. Prepare appropriately for the daily use of winter equipment and gear by getting your garage in tip-top shape now. An organized garage that acts as a functional storage space will keep everything you need at hand, allowing you to move through chores and errands with efficiency and ease. Optimize your garage space by following the below tips from the pros.

Traditional Garage And Shed design by Minneapolis Architect Murphy & Co. Design

Plan accordingly. Before you make any move, assess your space carefully. Even if you want to do the dirty work yourself, you may want to call in a professional simply to help you create a working vision. “You want to understand exactly what your personal storage requirements are, and then design your garage accordingly to fit your needs,” says Jeff Murphy, president of Murphy and Co. Design “It’s amazing what a good design can do to the quality of life in your garage.”

Modern Garage And Shed design by Chicago Closets And Organization Pro Storage Systems

Avoid general floor storage. First rule of thumb: Keep the garage floor as clear as possible. “Snow melting off your car will make anything left out wet and muddy,” says Rozalia Kiss, design manager at transForm

Modern Garage And Shed design by Salt Lake City Closets And Organization Flow Wall System

Work your walls. Use all the wall space available; this not only keeps things off the floor, but also leaves optimal space for your car. “Consider a wall track system to hang shovels and other tools in an easy-to-reach place by the garage door,” says Kiss. “For heavy, bulky items such as winter sports equipment, install deep garage shelving with metal stiffeners.”

Other design

Look up for general storage. Running out of available wall space? Use the ceiling. “There are many great companies that specialize in simple garage storage, including overhead storage that can mount on your current ceiling,” Murphy says.

Modern Garage And Shed design by New York Closets And Organization transFORM | The Art of Custom Storage

Consider creating a gear closet. Murphy suggests creating a dedicated sports or gear closet out of a room accessed directly from the garage. “These spaces are simply a larger closet with shelves and open storage, which works great for unloading kids’ sports items right from a vehicle into a room where it doesn’t matter if it becomes wet or dirty,” he says. “This room is typically heated the same as the house.”

Modern Garage And Shed design by Salt Lake City Closets And Organization Flow Wall System

Hang racks for skis and snowboards. “Mounting a ski or snowboard rack on the wall is a nice way to keep the clutter down in the garage,” says Murphy. “It allows for a dedicated location to keep them off the floor and out of the way of tipping over.”

Contemporary Spaces design by Hawaii Closets And Organization Organized Hawaii

Keep sand and salt at hand. Use sliding wire baskets or install a tilt-out hamper for easy access to sand, salt and even (well-wrapped) birdseed. “This also helps to keep them protected, stored and off the floor all winter long,” says Kiss.

Eclectic Garage And Shed design by Salt Lake City Closets And Organization Flow Wall System

Install motion-sensor-activated and battery-powered LED lights. You never know when a winter storm might challenge your power, so it’s best to be prepared. “Motion-sense-activated and battery-powered LED lights help you find supplies in the event of a power outage and can be easily mounted under cabinets to illuminate countertops, and installed in drawers and closets,” says Kiss

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/11/27/8-tips-for-supremely-organized-winter-garage/#ixzz2EmrY9jXh

Article source: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/11/27/8-tips-for-supremely-organized-winter-garage/ 

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