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Location is extremely important when it comes to real estate. In addition to choosing the right city, you need to think about the location of a house within a neighborhood. A home on a corner lot has several potential pros and cons.

Size

Corner lots are generally larger than other lots in the same neighborhood. That means more room to entertain guests and for your kids to play, as well as more space for a pool or garden. It also means more landscaping and more fencing to maintain, which can be expensive and time-consuming.

Since corner lots tend to be larger than average, houses built in those locations often have different floorplans and yard configurations than others in the neighborhood. A house could have larger rooms, the garage could be in a different place or the front yard could be bigger than the back.

Noise

On a corner lot, you might have significantly less noise from your neighbors than you would if you were sandwiched between two homes. On the other hand, your house would be located along two streets. In a busy neighborhood, noise could be a problem.

Foot Traffic

Pedestrians walking in a neighborhood often cut across lawns in corner lots to save time. School districts frequently assign corners as bus stops. People walking and standing on your lawn may tear up the grass and leave trash. Dogs that are being walked on a sidewalk often veer off to a yard on a corner.

Light

Having fewer neighbors means your home would have more natural light. Neighborhood light poles are usually placed on corners and headlights from cars turning the corner could point directly at your house. Depending on the layout of the house, light at night might interfere with your sleep.

Parking

If you invite groups of guests over and your house doesnt have a large driveway, people will have to park on the street. With a house on a corner lot, guests could park on two adjacent streets, rather than trying to fit all their cars on one road.

Other Downsides

Since corner lots border two streets and may have sidewalks on both sides, they may be assessed more for property taxes than houses located between two other properties.

If residents are responsible for shoveling sidewalks in front of their property after a snowstorm, youll have a lot more work than your neighbors, both because of the length of the sidewalk and because plows often push snow onto corners.

Burglars often target homes on corner lots since there are fewer neighbors and since its easier to get away with streets on two sides.

Is a House on a Corner Right for You?
A property on a corner lot has many potential pros and cons. Depending on a specific house youre considering and your preferences, some of these may be a big deal and others may be of little or no importance. Before you buy a house, discuss these issues with your real estate agent.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

A rainstorm can provide much-needed water for your lawn, but it can also damage your home and endanger your familys health. A crawlspace under a house is supposed to stay dry no matter the weather. In addition to the possibility of water leaking into a crawlspace when it rains, you need to be concerned about groundwater rising and flooding the area. You should check your crawlspace after a rainstorm and take action immediately if you find water.

Why a Flooded Crawlspace Is Dangerous
Water in a crawlspace can cause mold to grow on hard surfaces and insulation. Spores can get into the ventilation system, spread throughout your home and cause headaches and respiratory problems that could threaten your familys health, especially if members have asthma or other medical issues. Standing water can attract insects, mice and rats, which can spread disease and can cause wood to rot, which can lead to major structural damage.

How to Handle Crawlspace Flooding and Prevent Future Problems
If you find water inside your crawlspace after it rains, address the issue right away. A sump pump can remove water currently in your crawlspace and pump water away from the foundation to keep the crawlspace from flooding in the future. A sump pump is installed in a basin in the ground inside a crawlspace. It automatically activates if water enters the basin and carries water out of the crawlspace though a discharge line that usually leads to the backyard. You should install a sump pump with a battery backup in case severe weather causes a power outage.

You can also prevent future crawlspace flooding by installing a French drain, which consists of a trench that is dug around the perimeter of the foundation and lined with gravel. The trench connects to a pipe that diverts water away from the house to the yard or street.

The general landscaping in your yard can have an impact on whether your crawlspace floods when it rains. If rainwater collects in puddles around the foundation, it can seep into the crawlspace through cracks. The land should be graded so water flows away from the house.

You should clean your gutters or have them professionally cleaned twice a year if you dont have gutter guards. That will allow water to flow through the downspouts and to be carried away from the perimeter of the house and prevent it from flowing over the sides of the gutters, landing near the foundation and flooding the crawlspace.

Dont Ignore Water in Your Crawlspace
A flooded crawlspace can cause major damage to your home and put your familys health at risk, and you may be completely unaware of the situation unless you take the time to check after a rainstorm. If you see water in your crawlspace, contact a professional right away to have the water pumped out and to figure out the best way to keep the problem from happening again and again.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Between the craziness of work, social events and family, its difficult to find the time to clean the house, let alone do a deep cleaning. Although we all somehow manage to clean regularly enough to keep our homes looking and smelling fresh, many people also likely ignore some commonly overlooked problem areas.

Are you ready to channel your inner “Type A” personality to go the extra mile and give your home a deep cleaning on occasion? Start with the following tips:

Clean the baseboards.At least once a year, really get down on your hands and knees with a rag and a toothbrush to remove dust and grime from your baseboards. This type of detailing has a huge impact in the overall sparkle of your space.

Wipe down the ceiling fan.Sure, you vacuum your floor and dust your shelves, but how often do you stop to look up? Ceiling fans collect a large amount of dust and debris and should be cleaned at least twice a year”or seasonally, if you can manage.

Clean out the cupboards.At least once a year, take everything out of your kitchen cupboards, wipe them down and re-organize. You might be shocked to discover how many expired or unused items are taking up precious space. You can finally throw the bad items in the trash and donate the good ones.

Tackle the freezer. Because frozen food lasts so long, you might forget whats even stuffed inside your freezer. It could be packed with freezer-burned food or leftovers you never revisited. Remove everything from the freezer, toss out anything you no longer need or want, and wipe the interior down. This should be done at least twice a year.

Beat out the dust. Couch cushions, throw pillows, drapes and rugs collect dust over time. On a sunny day at least once a year, take them outside and give them a good beatdown to remove allergens. Just make sure to turn your head away and avoid breathing in the dust particles.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Depending on where you live in the country, you likely need to turn on your furnace during the colder months. For most homeowners, the goal is to keep their home warm while keeping their energy bill low. If it seems like your home is always chilly but your energy bill is high, you may be losing heat. Here are some of the most common places heat can escape from your home and how to address the issue:

Around Windows
Your windows are one of the prime places for heat loss. Old windows are known for letting heat out while letting drafts in. By installing triple-glazed windows, you can add an effective three-layer barrier against the elements. However, if you can’t afford window replacement, invest in high-quality curtains to help keep warm air inside. It’s estimated that drapes can reduce heat loss by approximately 10 percent during the colder months. You can also install weather stripping, which helps to fill in ill-fitting windows.

Doors
Similarly, doors in need of repair or replacement are a leading source of heat loss. To prevent this from happening around your door, make sure the perimeter around the door frame is insulated well. You can use weather stripping or foam tape to fill in gaps. You should also install new door sweeps to keep cold air from entering underneath the door. If your doors are past the point of repair, replacement doors may be in order.

Through the Roof
Even if your windows and doors are tightly insulated, you may still be losing a good amount of heat through your roof. If your roof is old or in need of repair, heat can easily escape through cracks in the shingles or worn-out insulation. If only minor repairs are needed, you can easily seal up any holes and add insulation.

Power Outlets and Switches
Areas around power switches and outlets are also prime areas of heat loss. If the outlets aren’t insulated well, heat may be escaping through the walls. However, adding insulation is usually a quick fix. If you’re handy around the house, simply disconnect the power, remove the face plates and carefully add on external outlets and light switches. If you aren’t handy, enlist the help of an experienced electrician to avoid injury.

Keeping your home warm and toasty during the colder months is easier than you may think. Take time to ensure your home is ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at you!

Source: Anita Ginsburg/RISMedia’s Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If your house has limited space, your kids may have to share a room. Bunk beds can help you make the best use of available space and give your family options in the future, but there are possible problems to take into consideration.

More Space for Play and Storage
Young children need lots of space to play, as well as room for a toy box, shelves and dressers. With two single beds taking up valuable floor space, the rest of the room can feel cramped. With bunk beds, you could maximize the use of vertical space and make the entire room feel bigger. In addition, many bunk bed designs feature built-in drawers and shelves where kids can arrange their belongings.

Privacy and Independence
For kids who share a bedroom, privacy can be hard to come by. With bunk beds, each child will have an individual space to read, do homework, write, draw or sleep. If your kids have different sleeping schedules, the overhead light can be off, and one child can use a clip-on lamp.

Sleeping Options
If you have one child who invites friends to sleepovers or a young relative often comes to visit, a guest can sleep on a bunk bed instead of on a couch or an air mattress. Some bunk beds have a built-in trundle bed that can be stored underneath and pulled out if a third bed is needed.

Many bunk beds are designed so they can be separated. If you move to a larger house or build an addition with another bedroom in the future, you wont have to buy your kids separate twin beds.

Safety
Parents often worry about the possibility of a child falling from a bunk bed. Rolling out of bed while sleeping shouldnt be an issue as long as the top bunk has railings on each side, and they are undamaged and securely attached.

Falling while climbing the ladder is a more likely possibility. The child on the top bunk should be at least 6 years old and must be able to safely climb up and down. Regularly check the ladder to make sure its secure. Explain to your kids that horsing around on the bunk beds is dangerous and not allowed. Strictly enforce that rule.

Other Potential Problems
Making the bed on the top bunk can be tricky. You may need to help until the child who sleeps on top gets the hang of it.

Some kids feel claustrophobic when they start sleeping on a bottom bunk. If your child is uncomfortable, consider moving the bunk beds away from walls so there is open space on all sides.

Are Bunk Beds Right for Your Family?
Bunk beds can give your kids more room to play, privacy and independence, but they can be dangerous if not used correctly. If youre considering buying bunk beds, ask yourself if your kids are old enough and, if so, have a clear and direct conversation about rules and safety.

Published with permission from RISMedia.