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Make Your Outdoor Decorating Merry, Bright and Safe

Tuesday, November 22, 2022
by Scott Darling

For many people, this is the time of year for dressing up their home and yard in lights galore! The planning and prepping are exciting and fun but keep safety in mind. Following these tips will have your outdoor decor safely sharing holiday cheer! 
 

  • Outdoor decor requires lights and extension cords that are manufactured for outdoor use. Look for this information on the packaging or tag at the end of the cord. Heavy-duty extension cord plugs should have a three-prong ground plug. 
     

  • Do not use lights that have stayed out since last year! Non-commercial light strands are only safely exposed to the elements for 90 days. Any longer, and deterioration of the insulation will begin. 
     

  • Outdoor receptacles should be ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets which will shut off power in case of electrical overload. If your home does not have enough outdoor outlets, purchase a portable outdoor GFCI plug. Safety outweighs any extra cost.
     

  • As you unpack the decorations, inspect older lights for frayed wires, nicks, or cuts along the outer cord, as well as broken bulbs. Broken bulbs can be replaced but toss the strands with damaged cords in the garbage. 
     

  • Use clips or hangers that are UL-approved--never nail, tack, or staple lights to any fixture. 

  • Before adding lights to tree branches or tall fixtures, make certain no power lines run through the branches, and keep all lighting at least ten feet from power lines. 
     

  • Only connect strands with the same number of bulbs--in other words, do not connect a 100-strand with two 25-strands.  
     

  • Avoid using a metal ladder if you are having to get up high with your lights--use wooden or fiberglass instead. If metal is your only choice, do not plug the lights in until installation is complete.
     

  • LED light strands should never be connected to incandescent lights. Now may be the time to think about using all LED lights. The start-up cost will be higher, but it will save money on your power bill as well as in replacement costs--LEDs can last up to twenty years! 

 

Know your home’s electrical limits and use common sense and care while decorating. No one wants the friendly neighborhood competition to turn into a disaster or experience a classic Clark Griswold power outage at home. Keep your holidays merry, bright, and safe! 

 

Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.

 

Photo credit: www.grandinroad.com

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Chester County PA Real Estate Market Trends for October 2022

Wednesday, November 16, 2022
by Scott Darling

Chester County PA Real Estate Market Trends for October 2022

Chester County PA single-family homes saw pending sales decrease by -30.6% in October 2022 when compared to October 2021. 453 homes sold in October with a median sales price of $465,000.The average days on the market stayed the same. If you are thinking about selling your home get a free instant home evaluation Learn More. 

 

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Get the Kids Involved in Home DIY

Thursday, November 10, 2022
by Scott Darling

Home projects and family go together! While there will be tools and situations where children should be closely supervised, there are plenty of activities that can include the entire family! 

 

  • If you have a room that needs painting, have the children paint the sample swatches on the walls. These areas do not have to be perfect, but this small job is the perfect way for them to learn beginner painting techniques. 
     

  • Furniture kits are a great way to have children learn about using tools and following step-by-step plans. Reading is not always required as there are many instructions that feature symbols, numbers, and diagrams that children can easily follow. 
     

  • Installing wall-hanging hardware or window treatments are excellent ways to teach school-age kids about using a level or measuring tape. 
     

  • Children and gardening go together naturally! Not only can they assist with planting projects, but building raised beds or trellises as well, and even preschoolers can be handy with a rake or help with weeding. 
     

  • Teach children that some repairs do not require a service call. Replace faucets, door knobs, or cabinetry pulls yourself, and let them in on the action when smaller tools are involved. They will not only learn valuable skills, but they will also learn about saving money! 
     

  • Creating outdoor spaces for the kids such as a pallet playhouse, a swing set kit, or simple soccer/street hockey goal will give them a sense of accomplishment if they help! 

 

Get your family excited about helping, have patience, and keep them safe while you are working. You will find that while you are spending time with them, those DIY jobs will start them on a journey of learning how to take care of their future home as a handy homeowner! 

 

Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.

 

Photo credit: www.blesserhouse.com

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Before You Remodel...

Friday, November 4, 2022
by Scott Darling

Depending on whether you are planning to sell your home in the next year or if you are in your forever home, remodeling is a great way to get what you want out of your home, or what buyers want.  There are things to consider before you jump into remodeling. 

 

  • - Decide on a budget, and how you’ll pay for the upgrade.  Consider hiring a financial planner who can help you choose which way is best. 
     

  • - If you decide to do this project yourself, and you’re not in the construction business, plan on taking much longer than a professional.  Be realistic about your skills and hire help if you need it. 
     

  • - Acquiring an architect or designer is a good idea if you’re making major changes.  You don’t want to run into major structural or electrical issues and not know what to do.
     

  • - Think about how long you want to stay in your home before you invest in big ticket items, like a six-burner range for the kitchen, or expensive hardwood flooring throughout the house.  If your sole plan is to make money from a sale, or if you want and can afford the upgrades, go ahead. But if you’re not going to enjoy those items while you’re living there, consider a simple refurbishing or using what you have if it’s in good working order and won’t look out of place. 
     

  • - When looking for a contractor, price isn’t necessarily the important thing.  Ask for references, check their license numbers, and call the former clients and ask to see the work that was done, either in photos or in person. The research will be worth it in the end.
          

  • - Once you hire your contractor, start getting your paperwork in order.  The contractor has their own responsibilities, and the homeowner has to take care of other items--check this list from realtor.com to see who is responsible for what. 
     

  • - Planning a timeline with your contractor is especially important, and make sure you leave room for possible unexpected issues. 
     

  • - Sit down with your family and figure out logistics, especially if you’re remodeling the kitchen or one of the bathrooms in your home.  Remodeling can cause a lot of stress, but if everyone knows what to do before it all happens, things can flow better. 
     

  • - As with moving, clean out the room before the renovation, giving away, selling or throwing out what you haven’t used in months.  Wrap and store any items you’re keeping in a spare room. 
     

  • - Before the construction team comes in to begin the project, sit down with your contractor to set location boundaries for the crew and your family, along with other logistics. The crew doesn’t want your children playing around with tools, and you don’t want your good bathroom towels used for grimy hands.  Everyone needs to know what is okay, and what isn’t.   

 

A home remodel is a big undertaking; watching renovation shows on television can give the idea that everything goes off without a hitch.  It takes planning, communication and good all-around management to make the process go smoothly, even if you hit a few bumps along the way. 
  

Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.

Photo credit: www.wormuthconstruction.com

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Displaying blog entries 1-4 of 4

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