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Embarking on a home improvement project is both exciting and stressful.
Dont let one of these common mistakes spoil the fun

Dont rush! Large scale projects take months. Plan accordingly and build in several weeks for curve balls.

Miscommunication. Tensions can run high, so find out the best way to stay in touch with your contractor – email, text, weekly meetings.
Your contractor can then mitigate issues between you and your partner.

Controlling design. Theres a big difference between what you like and what makes the best sense for your home.
Let a designer help decide what works for design and functionality.

Forgetting to budget. Go into the project with a number, then add in another 10 – 20 percent.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

The electrical system in your house can wear out over time, especially if you have an older home and use a lot of appliances and electronic devices at once. These are some signs that you may need to speak to an electrician about upgrading your electrical system.

Tripped Circuits
Electricity enters the house at one location and travels to a circuit breaker panel that distributes it to other parts of the house. An old panel may not have enough circuits to meet your familys needs, or one or more individual circuits may not be able to handle several appliances and devices being used in a room at one time. If the circuit breaker panel is overburdened, heat can build up, which can damage the insulation and wiring and start a fire.

When an individual circuit breaker cant handle the demands being placed on it, it can trip and shut off the electricity. If that happens occasionally, it means the system is functioning as it should. If a circuit breaker trips often when you use multiple appliances in one room, that means the circuit is overburdened. It may need to be replaced with a circuit breaker that has a higher capacity and the wiring may also need to be upgraded.

Flickering Lights
If lights dim or flicker in one room when you use multiple appliances, that may mean that the wiring cant handle the demands being placed on it. If lights seem to flicker at random times, there may be a problem with one light or a widespread issue. The electrical system may need to be rewired to increase its capacity.

Hot Light Switches
If light switches feel hot when you touch them, that may indicate that the electrical system is overloaded. Normally, electricity flowing through a light switch generates a small amount of heat. A damaged switch may draw more electricity than it can handle, which can produce excess heat, wear out electrical components and create a fire hazard.

Other Signs of an Electrical Problem
Damaged wiring and corrosion can cause appliances and electronics to use more electricity than they should. If your electric bills seem unreasonably high, that may be a sign that your homes electrical system needs an upgrade.

If you find yourself replacing light bulbs more often than you should, it may indicate that damaged wiring causes too much electricity to reach the bulbs. That can cause them to wear out faster than they should.

Discoloration or burn marks on or around outlets can indicate that a circuit is carrying more current than it is designed to, which is causing high temperatures. This can lead to a fire if the problem isnt addressed.

Get Professional Help With Repairs
Electrical repairs are often complex and a problem may not be as simple and straightforward as you think it is. If you dont have the training and experience necessary to diagnose and fix an electrical problem yourself, hire a professional electrician.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Not sure what to do with that extra room? Here are a few ideas for putting it to good use…

Game Room

An ideal way to get the whole family together. Add comfortable seating and your favorite games.

Library

Create the perfect spot to disappear into a good book and put your literary collection on display.

Childrens Playroom

Sometimes the kids need a little more space to hang out with friends and be active.

Home Theater

Home theaters are one of the most sought-after amenities among luxury homebuyers.

Meditation Room

Feel like you need to find your zen? A private space for meditation could be in order.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If youre like most people, you have probably accumulated numerous sheet sets, blankets and towels over the years, causing your linen closet to be disorganized and cluttered. Here are some tips to help you simplify and create an organizational system that works.

Get Rid of Things You Dont Use

You may have old towels that you only keep because they were given to you as a gift or sheets that your adult children had when they were in elementary school. Cut through the clutter and donate items you no longer use.

Create an Organizational System That Works for Your Family
You may want to designate one section for each persons linens, or you may want to put all the queen-sized sheets on one shelf and all the twin-sized sheets on another. You may choose to sort towels by size and color, or you may have different sets for each bathroom and store them in different areas.

Dividers can keep linens separate and prevent stacks from falling over. You can also use boxes, storage bins or baskets to separate linens. When shopping for containers, think about the height and width of your closet shelves and what you want to store on each shelf so you can choose containers that will allow you to make the best use of the space available. Label containers so that you, other family members and guests can easily find what they need and assure that whoever puts away linens, puts them in the appropriate places.

If you struggle to find sheets and pillowcases that are part of a set, there is an easy way to organize them. Fold sheets and pillowcases that belong to one set and insert them into a pillowcase that is a member of the same set. When you need linens, you will be able to reach for a bundle and know that you have a complete, matching set.

Keep commonly used items front and center. Store less frequently used linens on higher shelves or toward the back of the closet.

Protect Your Linens
Some materials used to make closet shelves can damage linens or cause them to fade. Look for shelf liners to prevent damage. Clean the shelves with a damp sponge or cloth and let them dry completely before lining them. You may also want to use cedar to protect your belongings from moths and baking soda or a lavender sachet to prevent odors.

Look for Ways to Save Space
Folding linens is not always the best way to store them. If youre tight on space, rolling towels may be a good alternative.

For large, bulky items, such as comforters, invest in some space-saving bags. You can put large items in a bag, seal it and use a vacuum cleaner to remove the air and compress the bag into a flat unit.

Use space on the door to store items that dont fit on shelves. You can look for fixtures to hang your ironing board and iron, tablecloths or toiletries.

Published with permission from RISMedia.