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More and more homeowners are opting to recreate the classic look of wood floors while relishing the durability and cost-effectiveness of the laminate options available on the market today. This synthetic flooring may have its downsides, but theres no doubt that good laminate flooring can give wood floors a run for their money.

Avoid Moisture Build-Up
Similar to traditional wood floors, laminate flooring does not handle moisture build-up well. This means spills must be addressed quickly, spot cleaning is ideal, and traditional wet mop methods that douse your floors in extra water that can cause warping or swelling.

Clean With the Right Tools
Laminate floors can be irreparably damaged with the wrong tools or chemicals. Unfortunately, for natural cleaning buffs, this can mean your preferred method is not ideal for your floors. Avoid high-heat steam mops and acidic cleaners, like vinegar, as these can damage the coating of your floors. Instead, clean day-to-day messes with a microfiber cloth or dry mop.

Look Out for Whiteners
Laminate floors get their wood look through a photographic applique that is covered by a protective seal. Some chemical products will fade and wear away at the protective coat and can cause bleaching or discoloration to your flooring. Excessive foot traffic can also be a culprit for this issue. Be sure to use laminate safe cleaners and cover areas that get extra wear and tear with an inexpensive area rug.

Deep Clean With Minimal Water
To achieve a deeper clean, mopping with Castille soap and water is an effective way to keep your floors free of grime without damaging them. Just be certain to wring out your mop well. Follow up after mopping by drying your floors with a microfiber cloth. For a sweat-free option, Swiffer-style wet cloths can be a hassle-free way to minimize moisture.

Upkeep for laminate floors is certainly less time-intensive than for traditional wood floors, but that doesnt mean that laminate doesnt require special care. Luckily, for the savvy homeowner that knows how to keep it safe from damage, laminate can be a cost-effective and beautiful option for any home.

 

Published with permission from RISMedia.

In determining your asking price, you need to consider why you have chosen to put your home on the market. In most cases, the higher the asking price, the longer it takes for the home to sell. As your local real estate professional, I thought you’d benefit from this infographic illustrating how to make sure you don’t overprice your home, since these homes tend to not be as competitive in the market.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

People move for all sorts of reasons, and while some moves can boast exciting opportunities, even a move under the best circumstances can be unbearably stressful. Transitioning to a new home can be hard on the furry members of your household, as well. Thankfully, there are measures you can put in place to make your next move as smooth as possible for your pets.

Board Your Pet on Moving Day
Ideally, you will not keep your pet around on moving day. The chaos can be stressful for your pet and you likely wont give your pet the attention it will want or need. Movers can also let out your pet unintentionally. Avoid this by boarding your pet or asking a trusted friend or family member to pet sit.

Keep an Essentials Box
Just as you should keep essentials with you during a move so that you have vital items, if your moving truck is lost or delayed, it can be helpful to create the same essentials box for your pet. Include any prescriptions, favorite toys, familiar items and their bed.

Make it Familiar
You may not be able to explain to Fido why you left your old house, but you can make their new home feel familiar right away. Set up a small area with your pets toys, food and bed. Keep daily rituals as similar as possible. Particularly for outdoor cats, allow them to get acclimated to a bedroom or smaller space before letting them rule the roost.

Fill Out the Paperwork
Moving comes with a lot of paperwork, but dont forget to add your pets files to the mix. Update their tags or microchip information to the new address and phone number and request that your previous vet transfer records to a local clinic.

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Summer sun means summer fun, but it also means increased cooling costs. If you are looking forward to backyard BBQs and dips in the pool, but are hoping to avoid paying an astronomic cooling bill, these tips can help.

Shut Out the Heat
Keep your cooling costs down by shutting out the heat. Its not enough to simply keep doors and windows closed, if your windows let in those sunny summer rays, your house will end up a greenhouse in no time. Ensure that your house doesnt heat up too much by installing thermal blackout curtains on windows. Keep them closed during the hottest parts of the day to keep your home from getting too toasty.

Use Your Ceiling Fan
Depending on the season, your fan can help you retain the heat or keep your room cool. If you havent flipped your fans switch for summer, its time. Ceiling fans can work wonders in a room by circulating the air and making it feel cooler without turning to your costly A/C for help.

Since ceiling fans use far less energy than A/C systems do, they can be used both in place of and in conjunction with your A/C to decrease the need to lower the temperature while keeping it comfortable.

Save it For Later
Heat generating activities will obviously increase your homes overall temperature. To keep your cooling costs in check, save those tasks for after it gets dark or begins to cool off in the evenings. Or, forgo those tasks altogether and find alternatives. For instance, instead of cooking on the stove, use the microwave, a grill or slow cooker, and instead of using the dryer, consider letting your clothes air-dry outdoors.

Optimize Your Cooling Systems
No matter what tips and tricks you have up your sleeve, you will need to still utilize your cooling systems on truly hot days. Keep costs low by preventing damage. Change filters regularly and set a cooling schedule. Allow your home to rest at a higher temperature when youre away and slowly cool it in anticipation of your arrival home. This eliminates the temptation to set your temperature unreasonably low when you come home to ensure that your A/C works hard enough to suddenly cool the house.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Here are a few tips to make sure youre getting the most out of your homes lighting.

Assess the Space

Lighting needs vary from room to room, so its important to consider how you use each space.

Types of Lighting

There are three types of lighting: ambient, accent and task.

Ambient lighting is the foundation and provides basic illumination.

Accent lighting spotlights different details.

Task lighting is purely functional for where you need extra light.

Create Depth

Mixing different light sources will create a sense of depth throughout each room.

Smart Systems

From the touch of your phone, you can have control over all the lights in your home.

Published with permission from RISMedia.