Home Tips & Ideas

More often than you would believe, scammers forge and file deed documents to fraudulently take ownership of homes to extort, mortgage, sell or rent the property. Crazy, isn't it? To protect your property against scams or fraud, the Broward County Property Appraiser has launched a FREE program that notifies homeowners immediately of any title changes to their property. It's called Owner Alert and it's a...

Plan ahead. Develop a master to-do list so you won’t forget something critical heading into moving day. This will also help you create an estimate of moving time and costs. Discard items you no longer want or need. Ask yourself how frequently you use an item and how you’d feel if you no longer had it. Sort unwanted items into “garage sale,” “donate,” and “recycle” piles. Pack similar...

Homeowners and house hunters are looking to maximize outdoor space while sheltering at home. The National Kitchen & Bath Association reports a 65% uptick in interest among its membership in outdoor living projects this year. NKBA, John Burns Real Estate Consulting, and Houzz have surveyed design professionals and home builders to identify some of the top outdoor trends this year. Year-round...

Text Version: The additional time that Americans are spending in their houses can lead to excess strain on different rooms of your home. Review these tips to get to know the areas to keep a close eye on and how to relieve strain to avoid overuse. KITCHEN Clean your dishwasher filter to increase the longevity of your appliance. Make sure your smoke detector works and the batteries are fresh...

Text Version: Looking for the best return on investment on the home you're buying? Consider these factors, which Realtor.com identified by analyzing millions of sales nationwide: 1. Small Size. Over the last five years, homes under 1,200 s.f. are favorites of retiring boomers and first-time buyers' and have appreciated by an average of 7.5% per year - While homes 2,400 s.f. or larger have risen just...

Text Version: FIRE PROTECTION 1. Install smoke/carbon monoxide alarms on every level. Test monthly and replace batteries each year. 2. Buy an A-B-C multipurpose fire extinguisher for the kitchen where half of all fires occur. Check pressure annually. 3. Plug major appliances into wall outlets, not extension cords, which can overheat. 4. Create escape plans for all rooms and place escape ladders in...

Text Version: Don't let small problems grow into major repairs. Inspect and, if necessary, fix the following so your home stays in tip-top shape! FOUNDATION/MASONRY Check foundation and chimney for deterioration Inspect wood surfaces for weathering or paint failure Check decks, porches, stairs and railings for loose/worn parts Make sure water doesn't pool around foundation ROOF...

Did you know that the USPS offers a free service that allows eligible residential consumers to see all incoming mail and packages scheduled to arrive soon? Here's how it works: It's called Informed Delivery and it allows you to view images of the exterior, address side of letter-sized mailpieces so you can track them as they are on their way to you. You can track these mailpieces (not the contents) via...

If you've been considering cutting the cord for free access to local channels like NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, etc .. but haven't wanted to deal with an antenna, there's a new option out there for you. The new service has debuted in the South Florida market as of this morning and it's called Locast. The exact channels available with the app vary based on your location and it's supported by an occasional...

Trim bushes and branches so they don’t block windows or architectural details. Set a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch or front walkway. Install new, matching locks and knobs on your front door. Repair any cracks or holes in the driveway, and clean oil spots with degreaser and a steel brush. Edge the grass around walkways and trees. Stow your garden tools...