4 Simple Chores to Get Your Home Ready for Spring

Spring is here and you know what they say: April showers bring May flowers. Are you ready for this rainy season? Just as grey skies and weather warnings have us bringing out our rain boots and jackets, it’s important to ensure that your home is protected in the event of a storm. To spare you some headaches and a few costly repair bills, we’ve outlined our top four home maintenance items to tackle this (and every) spring.

Gutters

Gutters collect rain and help move it off of and away from your home. Uncovered gutters will fill with debris (leaves, sticks, rocks, trash, etc.) over time and should be cleaned out regularly. Unkempt gutters are unable to adequately move water away from your home; instead it will pool in the gutters and overflow onto your roof - which can cause serious damage. Cleaning out your gutters twice a year (in the fall and the spring) can help save you from major repairs.

Roof

It’s a good idea to assess your roof after the snow has melted. The several inches of white stuff that’s been on your roof for two or three months can hide damage. Once it’s gone grab a ladder (and a pal; don’t do this on your own!) and see what shape your shingles, flashings and chimney are in. You want to make sure that everything is attached properly and in good condition. Winter weather hits roofs very hard, so it’s important to ensure yours has fared well when things start to warm up or else you could be at risk for water damage when your first major rain storm hits.

Grading

While you may look at your lawn and yard in terms of gardening and landscaping regularly, how often have you thought about your grading? The slope of your outdoor space can have a big impact on the state of your indoor space. If your yard slopes away from your home, there’s nothing to worry about. However, if your yard slopes toward your home, you might be in trouble. Rain, like everything else, has to follow the laws of gravity. If your home is at the bottom of a downward sloping lawn, water will follow that slope, pooling around the base of your home and seeping into your foundation. This can cause all sorts of damage. Setting up your lawn so that it is flat or sloping away from your home is a must-do.

Cracks

Here’s hoping you sealed all your cracks before the winter, but if you weren’t able to take care of this chore a few months ago, it’s still valuable to do it now. Go through your home and caulk all the cracks in the walls and around windows and doors you see. These holes allow air to seep out and pests to get in. Sealing minor cracks will help make your home more energy efficient and deter unwanted bugs and rodents from making their nests in your space.

Taking care of these chores will help make your space more comfortable this spring and summer, and these little home improvement projects can prepare for your next big renovation or remodel. Not feeling confident enough to tackle these chores on your own? Connect with a local pro in your area and see how they can help with your space. Referral based websites like Angie’s List and HomeStars can put you in touch with the right company. Looking for more advice, ideas, and inspiration for your home? Follow @HomeShows on Twitter and Instagram, and like Home and Garden Events on Facebook.

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American Family Insurance Tips & Trends: Keep Pests Out

We’re thrilled to have American Family Insurance sponsoring the Johnson County Home + Garden Show! American Family Insurance, along with their brand Ambassador Kathy Ireland, will share the latest safety tips and home decor trends. Check our blog frequently for more of American Family Insurance’s insights, or follow @amfam and @kchomeshows on Twitter to get the latest information!

Keep Pests Out

It's important to make the right preparations to ensure your home is pest free and secure.

For more homeowner advice visit the American Family Insurance team in Booth 404 at the Johnson County Home + Garden Show. Learn how they can help you, your family, and home stay safe.

Don't have tickets yet? Buy online and save $3! Click here to take advantage of this exclusive offer.

Sweepstakes Alert: When you're chatting with the American Family Insurance team at the show, don't forget to enter their sweepstakes. You could win a one-on-one consultation with Kathy Ireland and $15,000 in her home decor to reimagine your living space from American Family Insurance and Kathy Ireland World Wide. You can enter in Booth 404 or online at www.amfam.com/homeshows.

About American Family Insurance

Madison, Wis.– based American Family Insurance is the nation's third-largest mutual property/casualty insurance company and ranks 358th on the Fortune 500 list. The company sells American Family-brand products, including auto, homeowners, life, business and farm/ranch insurance, through its exclusive agents in 19 states. American Family affiliates (The General, Homesite and AssureStart) also provide options for consumers who want to manage their insurance matters directly over the Internet or by phone. Web: www.amfam.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/amfam; Twitter: www.twitter.com/amfam; Google+: plus.google.com/+amfam/.

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Fall Maintenance: 4 Chores to Protect Your Home

Although it might not feel like it at the moment, fall and cooler temperatures are on the horizon. Summer’s reach may seem to extend into September, but before we know it leaves will be begin to fall, the wind will start to pick up, and sweaters will become a necessity.

Before fall hits in full force, consider taking care of the following home maintenance items. These are simple chores that can go a long way in protecting your home and your family during the cooler months. Completing them now, while they are less of a hassle, as opposed to in the future when you may be faced with turbulent weather and other obstacles, is a smart move.

Gutters

It’s a good idea to clean your gutters or eaves every few months. Dirt and debris can easily accumulate in these spaces over time, preventing water from properly flowing through them. Gutters exist to collect precipitation and move it away from the home. When rain can’t move through your gutters it will spill over onto your roof, which can cause leaks and water damage. Long story short, cleaning your gutters regularly can save you a lot of money and frustration.

Image via Better Homes and Gardens

Cracks/Windows

If you don’t seal foundation and window frame cracks in your home you may notice autumn’s cooler temperatures sooner than your neighbors. Caulking cracks not only helps to keep warm air in and cold air out, it also helps protect your space from rodents looking for a winter home. Fall is the time when our furry frenemies start looking for places to survive the winter. Help make sure you aren’t unsuspectingly sharing your space by sealing cracks – or as rats/mice see them: entryways!

Image via Apartment Therapy

Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors

We encourage readers to test their smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms on almost every maintenance blog we write. Here’s why: it’s really important! These devices save lives, yet they are so easily overlooked. To help make sure they’re functioning properly they should be tested every month, and their batteries should be changed twice a year. 

Image via Bob Villa

Pro Tip: Change your smoke detector batters when you change your clocks for Daylight Saving’s time. It happens twice a year, and you’re already going around your home resetting the clocks – it’s the perfect time to get it done.

Organizing Storage

Seasonal changes are the perfect time to get some organizing done. As you put away your summer clothes and bring your jackets and boots out of storage, why not switch other storage items around? You can restructure your storage spaces to bring upcoming holiday decorations to a more accessible spot, and move summer stuff to the back. It’s also a great time to assess your stuff. What summer items did you use or wear this season? What stayed on the shelf? Get rid of unused or unwanted items while the memories are fresh, instead of during spring cleaning when you’re excited about the potential of using/wearing these things during the warmer weather.

Image via Brit + Co

Once your maintenance is complete, it’s time to update the inside of your home for fall. Get decor ideas and inspiration to help refresh your space at the Marketplace Events Home Show nearest you. Connect with us on Facebook to see what events are happening in your area and get exclusive ticket discounts. Happy Fall Y’all!

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Travel Tips: Keep Your Home Safe While You're Away

Taking a trip this summer? Whether you’re spending your vacation lounging on an exotic beach, hiking through the wilderness, or exploring a new city, there are two things we want you to know. One: we’re jealous, and two: be smart when it comes to securing your home while you’re away. The former should come as no surprise, but for many, the latter is not always considered as they prepare to fly the coop. If you’re planning on leaving your home unoccupied for several days we have a few tips for you to keep in mind. Check ‘em out below and help keep your home safe.

No News is Good News – Ask a friend or neighbor to pick up your mail. A stack of letters and newspapers on your front porch is a good indication that no one’s home, and the larger the stack the clearer it is that the house is unoccupied. Deter burglars by simply having your mail rerouted or picked up by someone you know.

There’s Such a Thing as TMI – If you’re going to be tweeting and gramming your vacation, make sure to be smart about how much information you share. It might seem harmless to post the following with friends and followers, “Off with the hubby & kids for a week! See you in 7 days #Cleveland! #JamaicaBound”, but even 140 characters can contain a lot of details - may as well add #EmptyHouse #SecurityCode4321. In all seriousness though, anyone reading that would know that your home would be empty for a whole week while you were out of the country, so please share responsibly (maybe even consider posting your pictures after you return).

Be Keen if things Get Extreme – Along with having someone collect your mail, ask a friend or neighbor to check in on your home if your area should get hit with any extreme weather. That way if a tree falls on your home it’ll receive timely attention instead of continuing to cause damage while you’re away.

Forgotten Food will go Rotten – Check your refrigerator before you leave and get rid of any items that will go bad while you’re away. There’s nothing worse than coming home to rotten food, trust us.

This yogurt parfait looks yummy now, but wait a week and you'll lose your appetite!

Leave the Lights on – Just as unopened mail can signal that a house is unoccupied, so can a lack of movement. Put some of your outdoor and indoor lights on timers to help feign life in your home while you’re gone. This simple automation is great for deterring unwanted guests.

These tips should help keep your home secure while you’re away, and make sure to check out the home maintenance items below to further protect your home. You should have taken care of these chores during your spring cleaning, but if you haven’t, finish them up before your trip.

• Gutters – Keep your gutters clear of dirt and debris so that water can move through them and away from your roof. If your gutters are in bad shape and there’s a torrential rainstorm while you’re away, you could encounter some water damage when you return.
• Downspouts – Make sure your downspouts extend at least 6 feet away from your home to direct water away from your basement and foundation. If they aren’t long enough water will discharge too close to your home, and in the case of severely rainy weather you could be looking at water damage.
• Caulking – Just as you want to deter burglars, it’s important to keep nature’s pests out. Caulking and sealing windows, doors, and foundational cracks will help keep water, rodents, and bugs out. This is a good whether you’re home or not!

There may be lots of some work involved in getting your home ready before a trip, but once you’re on vacation it’s all worth it. So if you’re travelling this summer we hope you have an awesome and safe adventure!

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Indianapolis Home Show Exhibitor Spotlight: Hoosier Permanent Coatings

This Father's Day give your Dad something that will last. While exterior paint often needs touch-ups and maintenance, Hoosier Permanent Coatings does not. This unique product has the look and feel of paint, but is applied 10 times thicker. And that means you and your Dad will never have to paint again.

We sat down with the Hoosier Permanent Coatings team to talk about their services and what they can do for homeowners. Check out our interview and get ready to surprise Dad.

What are your featured products this season?
"Hoosier Permanent Coatings provides a permanent exterior coating that looks like fresh paint but is applied ten times thicker. It produces a smooth-to-the-touch finish that is long lasting, breathable, and extremely durable. It needs to be applied once - guaranteed - yet year after year, maintains a fresh coated appearance. The Hoosier Permanent Coasting system is virtually maintenance-free and meets or exceeds all EPA standards."

What inspires your products?
"Before Hoosier Permanent Coatings were available, homeowners only had the options of painting their homes or installing vinyl or aluminium siding. Paint, while flexible and affordable, is a temporary solution to a perpetual maintenance problem (similar to renting). Vinyl, on the other hand, offers a more permanent solution, but comes in limited color choices and often gaps, fades, or becomes a nesting ground for insects and other pests.

With our revolutionary product, we now give homeowners a better choice. Our permanent exterior coating looks like fresh paint but acts more like vinyl. Even as our product serves to protect and beautify the exterior of your home, it uniquely preserves the character and charm of the surface materials: stucco still looks like stucco; brick still looks like brick."

What advice would you give homeowners?
"As our motto says, stop painting forever! Hoosier Permanent Coatings is the best way to beautify and protect the exterior of your home. It can be applied to any exterior surface material, will look better than paint or siding, and lasts longer than either one!"

Need more Father's Day gift ideas? Check out our list of DIY Father's Day presents. Show Dad how much you care with something homemade!

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Capital Home Show Exhibitor Spotlight: Gutter Helmet

This Father's Day save Dad from a chore he hates doing: cleaning out the gutters. Gutter Helmet® protects your gutters from dirt and debris, while allowing water to pass through them and away from your home. Protect your roof, basement, and foundation without having to tackle the tricky task of cleaning the gutters.

We sat down with the Gutter Helmet® team to talk about their marvelous product and how it can help homeowners. Check out our interview below and surprise your Dad with something fantastic this Father's Day.

What are your featured products this season?
"Spring and early summer are two seasons that bring lots of rain and roof debris, so Gutter Helmet® is especially popular right now as it prevents debris from entering and clogging the gutters. Cleaning out the gutters is a household chore most homeowners dread, and it is also difficult, time consuming, and can be very dangerous. It's also unnecessary, thanks to Gutter Helmet®, our revolutionary Gutter Protection System. Gutter Helmet® has quickly become one of the best investments a homeowner can make, and it pays for itself over and over again."

What can we look forward to from you at the Capital Home Show?
"We provide interested homeowners a full demonstration of how the Gutter Helmet® Gutter Protection System works. Using a three-dimensional model outfitted with running water that mimics rain, we demonstrate how Gutter Helmet® prevents debris from entering the gutters. Homeowners can also take advantage of an exclusive discount only available at the show."

What inspires your products?
"From the very beginning, we wanted to create a culture and company focused on what's best for the customer in terms of product quality and customer service. Every staff member is trained from day one to take pride in exceeding customer expectations which is why we have a 90% likely to recommend among all of our customers. We offer the best warranties in the industry including a Triple Lifetime Manufacturer Performance Warranty, which is also transferable if you decide to move."

What is your favorite part of the Capital Home Show?
"Our favorite part is walking around and seeing what's new in the home improvement world. Every year there always seems to be one or two new products that completely amaze us. We've been participating in the Home + Garden Shows for almost 20 years now, and we like seeing familiar faces as well."

Ty Pennington checking out the Gutter Helmet® Booth!

What advice would you give homeowners?
"Spring and early summer are the best times to get out and take a look at your home, and search for any signs of possible damage caused by the winter season. You want t see if your gutters are pulling away from the home or sagging. Anytime you start to see a gap forming between your gutters and your home's exterior, you should be concerned because that can lead to water runoff which is a major issue. Water will follow the path of least resistance, which can lead to extensive wood rot, foundation and basement damage, and much more."

Need more Father's Day gift ideas? Check out our list of DIY Father's Day presents. Show Dad how much you care with something homemade!

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Home Maintenance Advice: 5 Chores To Do This Spring

We’ve talked about cleaning, we’ve talked about organizing, and now it’s time for the final installment in our spring cleaning blog series: home maintenance. For many households, early spring is a time devoted to getting your home in shape. While you’re giving overlooked areas a good scrubbing and organizing as part of your spring cleaning chores, take some time to complete a little basic home maintenance. It’s the perfect opportunity to address anything that may have happened to your home during the colder months, and prepare it for the warmer ones. We’ve compiled a list of home maintenance tasks you should consider as part of your spring cleaning. Check it out below.

Gutters – Although the saying is “April showers bring May flowers”, we tend to see a lot of rain throughout the spring and summer. To help combat the adverse affects extensive showers and moisture can have on your home, it’s important to make sure that your gutters (or eavestroughs) are clear of debris. Over the course of the year, leaves, dirt, and litter can collect in your gutters. If you don’t clean them out, the water from rain and melting snow can get trapped, and instead of being directed away from your roof, will instead spill onto it, damaging your shingles and potentially seeping into your attic.

Image via This Old House

Roof – Your roof can take a beating during the winter (this harsh season is usually toughest on roofs). The freeze/thaw cycle we experience towards the end of winter can be especially damaging. Once it’s warm enough and the snow has melted, inspect your roof (either safely on a ladder or on the ground using binoculars). Look to see whether you have any broken or worn shingles.

Image via This Old House

Should you have any damaged shingles, get in touch with a roofing specialist (if you don't know one, check out a referral based website, like Angie’s List or HomeStars, where you can find local, recommended, experts) and have them repaired immediately. These can serve as an entry point for water, so you want them fixed as soon as possible.

Furnace/AC – Throughout the year your furnace and air conditioner will see a lot of use. Although these are complex systems, even the most basic maintenance can help keep them working efficiently and improve their lifespan. Once a month you should check your furnace and air conditioner filter to see if it needs to be cleaned or replaced. If the filter full of dust and debris that means your furnace or air conditioner has to work harder to cycle the air it’s either heating or cooling. A clean filter makes this process more efficient.

Image via Mother Earth News

Some filters are reusable; some are not. If your filter is not reusable and you need to get a replacement filter, measure your filter BEFORE buying a new one (trust us!).

Grading – As you start working on your flower beds, check to see which way the ground close to your home is sloping. If it slopes towards your home, you’ve got an issue. When it rains, water will follow the slope or grade of your lot. If the ground around your home slopes toward your home, the water will move toward your home and pool. This can lead to moisture seeping into your foundation and basement. To correct the issue, re-slope the ground to direct water away from your home. Some shovels and a bit of hard work should do the trick.

Image via Angie's List

Caulking – Although this is a chore you should have tackled before the winter (it really helps with drafts and pests), if you have yet to do it, do it now. Sealing cracks in your foundation and around windows and doors will help to keep moisture and bugs out of your home. It will also help to keep cool, conditioned air in and hot air out.  

Image via The Simple Dollar

This is something most homeowners can tackle on their own, but if this is outside your comfort zone, reach out to a professional.

We hope our spring cleaning series has helped you get more organized and prepared as we inch closer to summer. Missed our pieces on cleaning and organizing? Check ‘em out here and here. 

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Cleaning Your Gutters: Don’t Eave It To The Last Minute

What’s on your “To Do” list right now? If cleaning out your gutters or eaves isn’t on there, grab a pen! We know it’s a busy time of year and that this is not a glamorous task, but trust us you do not want to leave this chore to the last minute. It’s much easier to take care of now, before the temperature dips dramatically and the wind begins to whip. It’s not safe or fun to be on a ladder in the snow.

Image via This Old House

As much as we might try to deny it, winter is coming. It’s a harsh season on your home, and your roof feels the brunt of its effects. Heaps of snow, ice, and sleet have the potential to cause serious damage. Cleaning your gutters before winter is in full force can help to protect your roof and your property.

Over the course of the year dirt and debris will accumulate in your gutters. Without a regular cleaning this buildup can impact how well your gutters work. It acts as a barrier, limiting the amount of water that can pass through. Gutters exist to collect the water that falls from the sky and drips off your roof. It moves through the gutter, down the downspout, and away from your home. If any part of that process is disrupted it greatly increases the chance of water seeping into your home. When water can’t move through your gutter it will remain there until it overflows onto your roof. Should that happen, there is a much higher possibility of it deteriorating your shingles, permeating your roof, and leaking into your home. 

Image via Right @ Home

When your shingles experience this type of wear and tear often, (clogged gutters continually overflowing water onto and under them), you could have more significant and costly issues on your hands. It’s best to avoid these headaches altogether by cleaning your gutters regularly – at least once every spring and fall.

If you simply don’t have the time to take care of this chore, consider hiring someone. Referral websites like Angie’s List and HomeStars will help you find someone reliable in your area. And, while you’re making sure your gutters are in good working order, take a look at your downspouts as well. They should extend at least six feet from your home to properly direct water away from your foundation. Completing these easy chores now will help protect your home for many months to come.

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Pre-Winter Warm Up: 3 Chores to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Fall is in full swing. The leaves are beginning to turn, deciding to leave your jacket behind is becoming less and less of an option, and there's pumpkin flavored everything at your local coffee shop. We hate to say it, but hot on the heels of fall's arrival is a particularly unsavory character: Old Man Winter. It may be too soon to start talking about this dreaded season, (the amount of snow we are or aren't getting does tend to dominate most conversations for about three months so let's give it a rest for now), but it's not too early to prepare for winter's effects on your home. The blustery winds, severe snowfalls, and freeze-thaw cycles we experience during the winter can be hard on properties. So before the snow begins to fall and the ever-dropping temperature makes it harder and harder to be outside comfortably, try tackling the winter prep maintenance we've outlined below - your home and your wallet will thank you.

1. Seal up your home - Use caulking or weatherstripping to seal any of your home's cracks. Pay close attention to your foundation, windows, and doors. Although these little openings may seem inconsequential, fixing them will help to keep the heat in your home - when houses aren't sealed properly they get drafty and costly to heat. Not only that, it can also make a difference when it comes to deterring bugs and pests who are looking for a warm place to hide out from the cold.

Image via House & Home

2. Inspect your roof - As long as it's safe, get up on your roof and check or any damaged shingles or flashings. (If your roof is too steep to look at safely, grab your binoculars and take a look from a more reasonable height). If you notice any areas that look suspect, contact a roofing specialist. Should you encounter a problem, you want to make sure to catch it before there's a pile of snow on your roof slowly melting and seeping into your attic or forming an ice dam. Not sure where to find a reliable roofing company? Check out referral websites like Angie's List and HomeStars. Their user reviews will help you find a reputable individual or company to work with.

Image via House & Home

3. Change your furnace filter - You should be checking your filter about once a month. If it has accumulated a considerable amount of dust, it's time to change or clean it, (depending on the type of filter you have - some are disposable, some aren't). If your filter isn't dirty, put it back and check it again next month. Clean filters help your furnace to operate more efficiently and can even prolong its lifespan.

Tip: Measure your furnace filter before you go to the hardware store to buy a new one.

Image via Bob Vila

Home maintenance is one of the less fun things about fall's arrival, so we have to ask: what's your favorite thing about fall? What are you most looking forward to? We're definitely excited about our fall home shows! Check out the Marketplace Events home show nearest you to get expert advice and inspiration for every area of your home - US Shows & Canadian Shows.

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