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You likely already know that home maintenance tasks are a vital aspect to keep your home at its best, but some home maintenance goes far beyond simply protecting your largest investment. Fire safety maintenance ensures your safety and the safety of the ones you love. Dont get caught in a dangerous situation that could have been prevented with a few crucial, but easily accomplished, fire-safety tasks for your home.

Check Your Smoke Detectors
This task is a no-brainer. We all hear numerous reminders to check your smoke detectors monthly. Unfortunately, such an easy and infrequent task is often pushed to the wayside in many households. Dont set yourself up for an unsafe situation”set a recurring reminder to check your detectors to ensure your households safety. Dont forget, depending on your model, you may have to change your batteries yearly and replace your smoke alarm entirely every ten years.

Replace Your Fire Extinguishers
Having a fire extinguisher can be a lifesaver in the event of a small house fire. However, owners of fire extinguishers can feel a false sense of security; its not enough to have a fire extinguisher. You must know how to use it properly and be vigilant about replacing your extinguishers once they have reached their expiration date. Dont get caught with a faulty safety tool when you need it the most. Be sure to regularly replace your fire extinguishers upon their expiration.

Clean Your Dryer Vents
Dryer vents can be a hazard. Be certain to regularly clean your dryer vents to prevent flammable lint build up. Some signs that your dryer vent could be clogged include:

Damp clothes after a normal drying cycle.
Large amounts of lint build-up in the lint trap during each cycle.
High lint build-up in the lint trap each time you clean it.
Your clothes come out with a musty or burnt odor after drying.
Clothes seem unusually hot to the touch.

Clean the dryer lint filter before and after each load of laundry and completely clean any and all lint out of the vent pipe every three months. It may be a good idea to regularly hire a professional to inspect and clean your dryer venting, especially if your vents are long. A professional will be able to save you time and do a better job of cleaning those longer vents.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

To build or buy? Here are the pros and cons of both options…

Buying Pros:

You know exactly what youre getting and can inspect the craftsmanship before you purchase it.

Its a faster and more convenient process.

Buying Cons:

Finding a house that has every feature you desire isnt easy. It could mean buying a home that needs updates.

Building Pros:

Every detail is customized just the way you want it, from the architectural style to the kitchen countertops.

Ensure your home is built with the best materials and equip it with state-of-the-art technology.

Building Cons:

Its a time-consuming process with plenty of decisions to be made and additional costs that always seem to pop up along the way.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If youre looking to rent an apartment, there is a lot to consider. From budget to utilities to location, you will find many choices to suit your needs. But what about a place that’s already furnished? For a first-time renter on a budget, finding a furnished property can be great. For those who already own their own furniture, a furnished apartment may be unnecessary. Whatever your case may be, there are upsides and downsides to renting out a furnished apartment and all the strings attached.

What Does Furnished Really Mean?
Though there are many apartments listed as furnished, this can mean different things. Some units may be outfitted with necessities, such as a bed, dresser, kitchen table or couch. Others may offer more, such as curtains, rugs, lamps and even decor items. If you prefer a furnished apartment, talk to your real estate agent or future landlord about which items will be included when you move in. The sooner you know what is provided, the sooner youll know what you do and do not need to purchase before your big move.

Consider the Costs
Furnished apartments are often more expensive than unfurnished units. This is because the landlord has invested in the items available. If you are looking to save money, compare the cost of a furnished apartment to the cost of an unfurnished apartment, plus any furniture you may need to buy. If you dont already own furniture, especially larger pieces, a furnished unit may be cheaper than if you have to fully furnish an empty space.

Pros of a Furnished Apartment

No need to move heavy furniture or hire a moving company.
Save money with no additional furniture purchases.
Ideal for short-term rentals.

Cons of a Furnished Apartment

No space for furniture you already own.
Additional cost for storage for items that do not fit.
Higher monthly rent.

So, is a furnished apartment right for you? Discuss the pros, cons and costs with your real estate agent to figure out what type of apartment is right for you.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When looking for a new home, the characteristics of the house are obviously important, but you should also focus on the neighborhood. If you and your family currently have a healthy lifestyle, youll want to find a new home where you can stick to positive habits. If you have not focused on your health as much as you would like, think of buying a new home as a chance to start on a healthier path.

Look for Opportunities to Exercise
Staying active is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You and your family will be more likely to get out and exercise if there are places where you can do so safely. As you look for your next home, take a drive around the area and talk to your real estate agent about places where you and your family could get some physical activity.

Walking or biking to get to work, to run errands or simply to get some fresh air and physical activity can help you stay healthy. Look for a neighborhood with sidewalks, bicycle lanes on roads and walking or hiking trails. Ask your real estate agent about traffic patterns at different times of the day or visit the neighborhood at various times to see for yourself if you could walk and bike safely. You can also gather valuable information on noise, air pollution and traffic congestion to help you decide whether you would want to live there.

Seek out a neighborhood with green spaces, such as parks, playgrounds, public gardens and dog parks. Not only are those excellent places to exercise and get to know other members of your community, but being around nature has been proven to benefit physical and mental health.

If you and your kids prefer more structured forms of exercise, look for a neighborhood with appropriate facilities. Depending on your interests, you may want to search for a home in an area with athletic fields, pools, basketball courts, tennis courts and gyms.

Focus on Other Factors That Could Help Your Family Stay Healthy
Search for a neighborhood that is free of litter and where people seem to take pride in their homes and community. A home near supermarkets or farmers markets could help you stock up on nutritious foods. Buying a house near convenience stores and fast food restaurants might encourage you to make less healthy food choices.

Talk to Your Real Estate Agent and Current Residents
Before you decide to buy a house, learn as much as you can about the community. Talk to your real estate agent about local facilities that promote a healthy lifestyle. Ask what people do to have fun and relax, and what types of amenities the community has to offer so you can figure out if it would be a good fit for your family.

Published with permission from RISMedia.