Here are some simple steps to make your home more accessible if you’re living with someone who has disabilities or elderly. There are a number of trip hazards that should be addressed like throw rugs which can catch or slip under people. You can simply tape them down to prevent slippage and they can be removed easily. Using chairs with arms will help when getting out of the chair. In the kitchen purchasing large handle grips for tableware will help make life easier and also purchasing double handled pots and pans will help. Replacing knob handled door handles with the lever type will help those with arthritis.  More complex projects will require installing grab bars in the shower area and near the toilet. Non slip table on the bottom of the tub or shower will also help prevent injuries.

We talk about using caulk around doors and windows both inside and outside our homes. We talk about caulking around bathtubs but rarely talk about caulking being used around mixed materials in our homes for better cosmetics.  Here is the deal: maybe you have crown molding that has separated from the ceiling a little bit or the joints in the wood have separated a bit.  You got it….use caulking.  I have had several areas in my home recently that needed my attention; one was where the tile that surrounds the fireplace meets wood molding.  The two pieces has separated and did not look good. Use latex or acrylic caulking for these jobs.  The have good adhesion and can be painted whereas silicone cannot be painted.  The drier or house is ( like right now) the more materials pull apart. So a little caulking will do you.

If you have a small or large rip in a piece of carpet not only is it unslightly but it is also a safety hazard. As kids run through a house or we just walk through the house that torn piece of carpet can easily trip us. You can repair this problem  with a little work.  Pull the carpet together and match up where it is torn. You may have to pull the carpet tight with pliers. You will now nail the carpet to the sub floor so that it stays in place.  You repeat this process on the other side of the torn carpet until the two match up. Using an upholstering needle (curved type) you stich the carpet in place.  You may have to use a needle nose plier to pull the needle through the carpet. Once stitched remove the nails.

Sort into four categories. Use four boxes, sacks or plastic bags. Label them “toss,” “give away,” “relocate” (in other rooms) and “stay.” Remove one item at a time, deciding in which of the four categories it belongs. Clean every shelf and closet one at a time till you see the bottom. Use the last 15 minutes to clean up. Put “toss” items in the trash and “give away” items in the car). Take “relocate” items to designated rooms and push “stay” items back into the closet and then Collect articles from other areas that belong in the newly cleaned closet. NOW Reorganize the space, using storage principles: Keep frequently used items low and accessible. Store seldom used items on higher shelves

 I was recently in two garages in homes that where built about 10 years ago and both had cracks in the garage ceiling. The ceiling joists of your garage, l do not have enough support to compensate for the weight of the drywall or storage in the attic. In fact, most ceiling joists would, over time, sag under their own weight. The ceiling joists serve two purposes: To keep the walls from spreading apart under the weight of the roof and to support the weight of the ceiling.  So try this to solve the problem. First remove any stored items in the attic. If the ceiling still has a major sag, build a two-by-four wall in the garage to lift and brace the center of the joists.

By the way this doesn’t mean you should not do these projects to improve your home environment just don’t expect to get your money back when you sell the house.

Home offices…in most cases take away a bedroom so make sure it can easly be converted back to a bedroom.

Back up generator.  Sure can make life great when the power fails but when selling the house look to recover about 48% of the investment.

Upscale garage addition. A free standing two car garage with all the bells and whistles could run 90K and you will only recover about 45%.

The best investment is a new front door. Should return 90 to 110%

Many older homes with the original windows are the wood double hung type.  Over the years many of these windows accumulate many layers of paint on the windows.  In some cases these windows no longer open because they are literally painted shut. So here is an idea on how to free the stuck windows.

With a utility knife, score the paint between the sash and the window frame. Next insert putty knife along your scored edge and tap it carefully with a wood or rubber mallet. You can use a hammer, but be careful not to bang too hard with any tool, especially in cold weather, or you could crack the window.  There is also a window repair tool that is in the shape of a spade with metal teeth on the side which will work like a saw blade.

If you do not have wire shelving in your closet and all you need is a closet rod to hold the hangers here are some quick tips to make sure it stays in place.   In order to secure the closet rod it must be anchored into the wood studs.  No molly bolts or plastic anchors for this project.  In most cases the wood studs are place 16” apart and that is center to center. All of the screws must screw into the studs. The screws are run through the flange and into the studs. The flange on most closet rods is not always lined up to attach all the screws into the wood studs.  To solve this problem and make the rod more secure I recommend installing a 16” 1x 4 on the wall and anchor that to the studs with two drywall screws on each side. No attaché the rod and flange to the piece of wood.

One area that may be affected is the joint tape on the dry wall. The problem is usually with the tape against the ceiling.  As the home's environment dries out paper and wood may shrink.  As the joint tape shrinks it becomes loose from the dry wall. So here is a quick fix to the problem.  Using Elmer’s glue under the unattached area will stick it back to the wall. Applying a warm moist towel may make the tape more pliable.  After it is glued to the drywall a coat of joint compound will hide the seam.  Feather edge the compound out into the wall area. Allow to dry, then sand and prime.

• Actually inspect the termination port of the dryer and the wall or roof jack.  Look for birds nest or clogged openings.  Most importantly, feel for proper exit velocity of the air leaving the vent and look at or feel the interior walls of the duct.  
• If you suspect clogged or partially clogged exhaust ducting, it is likely you need to have them cleaned.  Dryer vent cleaning improves the safety and efficiency and depending on the venting circumstances, should be cleaned or inspected every 6-12 months.
• Make sure your flex transition hose is not kinked or crushed.  The space behind your dryer should be sufficient as to provide adequate room for the flex transition hose to make its bends with minimal deflection and restrictions. 
• Dryer vent cleaning is a very real commercial trade and the contracted work is sometimes described as Routine and Problem Cleaning.  
• Routine cleaning is done from the outside by sending an air-propelled "jet-snake" through the vent.  It blows air 360 degrees backwards, blasting the lint loose and blowing it outside.  The lint is caught in a special bag.  
• Problem Cleaning is performed when an individual dryer is not drying clothes fast enough.  They disconnect and pull the dryer out, install a large blower on the vent, and blow, brush, vacuum and/or dismantle - whatever it takes to get the vent clean. 
• Look in your Yellow Pages under Duct Cleaning or search the Internet.  
• The use of the white vinyl flex pipe is all but completely prohibited, both by building departments and appliance manufacturers.  Some municipalities allow or do not discourage the foil covered vinyl flex but almost all appliance manufacturers insist on the use of the aluminum flexible pipe.  I have created a very useful comparison page.  Click here to view it.
• Keep exhaust duct as straight and short as possible.  Exhaust systems longer than the manufacturer's recommendations can extend drying times, affect appliance operation and may encourage lint build-up on pipe lining.
• More Dryer Vent Cleaning information can be found here.  Great site dealing in all aspects of vent maintenance, cleaning and solutions.
• When running the clothes dryer, be careful not to overdry. Running your dryer too long not only wastes energy but can also damage your clothes. We recommend using an automatic setting, such as "less dry" rather than a timed setting.

Clean lint filters regularly. Cleaning the lint filters on your washer and dryer will save energy, improve performance, and minimize fire hazards.

I know budgets are tight and it is tough to spend money on the house but let’s give the family room an inexpensive facelift. If the four walls are all painted the same color consider just painting one wall an accent color.  Consider leaving the walls the same but paint the ceiling out in a color other than white. Changing lamp shades to new styles can also make a big difference. If the sofa or chairs are beginning to show their age consider new pillows to give it a new look. One project that will give a new look and will not cost a dime is to rearrange the furniture in the room.  Remember to try furniture at an angle and not just in a square. If the wood furniture is looking tired consider painting the furniture which is very popular. Hope these ideas help with the new look in your home. 

Door hinges on interior doors sometimes become loose and the door does not close fully because the screw is stripped in the door or jam. To repair you remove the screw and insert a golf tee with some wood glue in the hole.  The tee is tapered and will snuggly fit in the hole.  You cut the tee flat with a hacksaw blade and run the screw into the tee.  If the door never stays open that is another problem that can be solved fairly easily.  Remove the pin from the hinge and with a hammer put a slight bow in the pin.  This will cause enough friction to keep the door open.  I have one other door issue to solve for you.  If you have a very steamy bathroom when taking a shower, removing and inch from the doors bottom will help with air ventilation.

We install new door knobs for many reasons; the finish or wearing off the old one or maybe a lever door knob would be better and easier to use then the knob type.  The project is a fairly simply one and the first step is to remove the old knob.  This can be done my removing the screws next to knob on the inside of the home.  After removing the screws turn the knob and pull towards you removing the knobs on both sides.  This will reveal the dead latch which can be removed by screws on the side of the door.  In most cases the dead latch can be kept in place and used with the new lock if desired.  Most holes sizes for the new lock to fit are 2 1/8 inch and the dead latch from outside of door to center of the hole is 2/38 or 2 ½ inches.  These dead latches are adjustable if you decide to install a new one.

You never want your home too dry or too wet.  Home humidity in the winter should be around 40%.  If your home is drier than this, adding a home humidifier would be a good idea. Here is just a short list of benefits from a properly humidified home in the winter time.  

1.      Maintains Health – Dry air is the perfect breeding ground for many viruses

2.      Beneficial for Dry Skin –.

3.      Valuable for the Home – Low humidity can cause wallpaper to peel, wood flooring to dry out, separate and crack, and wood furniture to crack and split.

4.      Air Feels Warmer, Saves Money – Dry air feels cooler than humidified air,. 

5.      Removes Static Electricity – When the air is dry, static electricity is the perpetrator of frizzy hair, tousled clothes and electric shocks 

6.      Healthy Environment for Indoor Plants – Many indoor plants require humidity to survive,

7.      Snoring Relief – Humidity moisturizes the respiratory system which can reduce the intensity and loudness of snoring.

•  Choose a focal point.  Perhaps a wall at the far end of a room. Painting this wall a deeper hue will help accomplish this goal.
• Accent furniture.  Keep all accent pieces light in feel.  When your side tables and cocktails table are heavy in shape or color, they have a tendency to add  visual weight to your room,.
• Reflection. Consider mirroring an entire wall with 12' x 12' mirrors.  This is timeless look and creates depth and dimension.
• Decor. Do not over accessorize a smaller space
• Lighting. Avoid hanging fixtures.  If, for instance, your ceilings are low, hanging fixtures will only further accentuate this.  Always use can lights when possible
• Storage.  Storage is, of course, always important in a small room.  Open bookcases used for storage tend to add nothing but a cluttered, closed in feeling.