Uncategorized

So, you have a souped-up smart home thats supposed to make everything in your life more efficient and stress-free. The one catch that many luxury homeowners are now experiencing, however, is that these cutting-edge devices could be compromising their privacy and security. From cyber-attacks to unwanted data collection, these concerns are understandable, but with a few easy steps you can ensure that your smart home is safe from any potential threats.

Create a Separate Network
Its always a good idea to have a separate wi-fi network for your smart devices to run on, which can usually be done without having to purchase an additional router. This way theyre kept entirely separate from your regular home network, which youre probably using for sensitive activities, like online banking, storing personal information or sending work-related emails.

Review Privacy Settings
Most of us dont usually take the time to read the painstakingly long terms and agreements that can sometimes give consent for a company to collect personal information. If youre not going to read it, you should at least do some research on the devices that you own to get a better sense of what the manufacturer or service provider is collecting. You may even learn theres a way to change the default privacy settings and prevent your data from being collected altogether.

Change Default Passwords
When you get a new smart product, be sure to change the default password, otherwise you might as well not even have one. While it can be tempting to use the same old password for every account, thats really not a great idea if you take your digital safety seriously. Get creative with your login information and always keep it written down somewhere rather than storing it on your computer or smartphone.

Install the Latest Updates
In addition to introducing new functionalities, software updates usually include improved security features. This can be a result of the manufacturer finding a potential vulnerability that theyre worried hackers can take advantage of, so its certainly a good idea to have your devices set to automatically update.

Consider a VPN
If youre going to control your devices from a public wi-fi network while youre out of the house ” and lets face it, thats very likely to happen at some point ” you should be using a VPN, or virtual private network. For example, if youre using the wi-fi at an airport and want to check your smartphone to see whos ringing your doorbell, a VPN will encrypt your connection and ensure that its not being picked up by anyone else on the network.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

A healthy lawn can make your home appear inviting to guests and can help you attract a buyer if you decide to move. Keeping your grass green requires commitment and an understanding of what your lawn needs and when.

When and How to Water Your Yard
Water the grass in the early morning so the water will be able to penetrate the soil, rather than evaporate, and so the lawn will have time to dry out before evening. Watering late in the day will leave the grass damp overnight and encourage the growth of mold and fungi.

Water your lawn deeply, rather than a little at a time. A thorough soaking will allow water to penetrate the roots and will make the grass stronger and healthier. The amount of water required will depend on the species of grass, type of soil, region and season.

The Right Way to Cut Your Grass
Before you cut your grass, make sure the lawnmower blade is sharp. A dull blade will tear the grass, and your yard may turn yellow and become diseased. The grass will then require extra water and nutrients to return it to a healthy condition.

Mow the lawn when the grass is dry and when it isnt too hot. Cut off only the top third of the grass, and leave the clippings on the lawn so they can decompose. They will provide the lawn with nitrogen, slow the evaporation of water and prevent the growth of weeds. If you cut more than one-third of the length of the grass, the roots will be shocked, the stems will be exposed to the sun, and they will likely burn.

How to Fertilize Your Lawn and Prevent Weeds
Fertilize the lawn in early spring and fall to help it grow green and lush. Be sure to follow the directions on the package. Keeping your lawn thick and healthy can prevent weeds from growing by not giving them the space and sunlight they need.

If you notice weeds growing among the grass, use a weed killer appropriate for the particular species of weeds. If you dont know the species youre dealing with, ask someone at a local garden center for guidance.

How to Aerate the Grass
Aeration is the process of removing small amounts of soil from a lawn. This allows air, water and fertilizer to penetrate deeper into the soil. Aeration also reduces soil compaction to create more room for roots to grow and removes thatch. You can rent an aerator at a home improvement store.

Get Expert Advice
Maintaining a healthy lawn requires a lot of work, but itll be far less overwhelming if you know what to do and when. Find out what species of grass you have in your yard if you dont already know, follow these tips, and ask employees at a local garden center or nursery for advice specific to your region.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

A house is a major purchase. In fact, its typically one of the biggest purchases people make in their whole lives. If youre like one of the millions of buyers who get a mortgage for their dream home, securing the lowest interest rate possible could go a long way toward saving you money over the lifetime of the loan.

According to national nonprofit American Consumer Credit Counseling, here are five factors homebuyers need to consider to get the best mortgage rate:

Good credit score. The higher the credit score, the better the mortgage rate. People with lower scores are considered more at risk of defaulting on the loan. To improve your score, make sure you pay all your bills on time and try to eliminate or significantly lessen credit card balances.

Down payment. Building savings and being able to put forward a larger down payment will help you receive a lower mortgage rate. Ideally, you should try to save up enough to make a 20 percent down payment.

Steady employment. Working for the same employer for at least two years shows mortgage lenders you have steady earnings, which makes you a more attractive borrower.

Fixed rate vs. adjustable rate. Fixed-rate mortgages keep the same interest rate the entire life of the loan. Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) rates change over time, beginning with an introductory period that lasts three, five, seven or 10 years of a steady rate. Following this introductory period, the ARM rate may change periodically.

15 year vs. 30 year. If you have a consistent income and feel youll live in your home for an extended period, it may be worth considering a 15-year loan rather than the average 30-year loan. Although a 15-year loan means higher monthly payments, itll save you thousands of dollars in interest.

Make sure you shop around for lenders and do research, even when refinancing, to make sure youre getting the best rate for your situation.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Sprucing up your home – and setting yourself up to save some money to the bargain – doesnt take long hours or a lot of dough. DIY master Bob Vila suggests a few worthwhile projects you can whip through in 60 minutes or less:

Paint a wall – Painting one wall of a living or dining room can add instant style and drama. Choose a color that contrasts with and complements the rooms furnishings – a bold burgundy, perhaps, in a roomful of neutral beiges – and prepare to be amazed at the difference.

Switch out a faucet – Todays bold designs can change the look of a drab kitchen or bath. Turn off the water supply, unscrew the old fixture and screw in the new one. IF you add an aerator, youll save money on your water bill, too.

Install new hardware – Stylish new pulls on your kitchen cabinets can upgrade the rooms character, and you can get that new look in about an hour with nothing more than a screwdriver.

Switch out the switch plates – Replacing boring old switch plates with decorative new ones – think antique brass or a colorful graphic – is a good way to wake up a neutral space or add some fun to a kids room.

Spruce up the exterior – Power washing the exterior of your home reaps a double reward: a brighter look and debris-free gutters. You can rent a pressure washer at many home stores.

Change the furnace filter – If you havent done so for three months or more, replacing the furnace filter will improve both the air quality and the efficiency of the system.

Stop the squeaks – Get rid of the squeaks in doors and floors that often plague older homes. Start by squirting a little WD-40 on door hinges. Stop floor creaking by sprinkling talcum powder on the offending areas and sweeping it into the cracks.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If you believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then your home should certainly have a well-designed space to eat in each morning. A stylish breakfast nook is the perfect spot to ease into the daily routine with a hearty meal, but it can also be great for casual dining throughout the rest of the day, from a quick lunch with friends to a laid-back family dinner. Here are a few tips for designing the ideal breakfast nook in your home.

Connected to the Kitchen
The breakfast nook should feel as if its practically part of the cooking space. Rather than having to go back and forth between the kitchen and a separate dining area, everything is simplified and integrated so you can easily prepare your meal and sit down to enjoy. If youre cooking breakfast for the kids, this connectivity makes it easy for the family to catch up in the morning before everyone rushes out the door for their busy days.

Built-In Seating
Although its not essential, breakfast nooks are often designed with built-in seating that contributes to the informal ambience. Its really more about style than functionality, but theres just something casual and inviting about an L-shaped bench with cushions that wraps around the table.

Maximize Natural Light
Nothing energizes us at the start of the day like the morning light, which is why you should try to put your breakfast nook near plenty of windows if possible. This allows you to soak up the sunshine and feel connected to nature each morning. If you have an outdoor terrace or patio near the kitchen, you may even want to consider designing a separate outdoor breakfast area to enjoy during the warmer months.

Keep it Cozy
Unlike a grand dining room, the breakfast nook should feel cozy and intimate. Its important to keep a sense of scale in mind when designing one in your home to ensure the space feels suitable for relaxed dining. Furnishing it with comfortable seating and an uplifting color scheme will create the perfect vibe for when the family sits down together.

Published with permission from RISMedia.