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Are you living with termites without even knowing it? The wood-devouring insects can often go undetected and wreak havoc on a home, potentially compromising its structural integrity and causing thousands of dollars worth of damage. Even worse, because termite damage is considered preventable, it typically isnt covered by homeowners insurance. That puts the onus of any necessary treatment and home repairs on you and your wallet.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to help prevent a termite infestation. Follow these 10 tips from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA):

1. Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home, including entry points for utilities and pipes.

2. Keep basements, attics and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry. Termites need moisture to thrive.

3. Repair leaking faucets, water pipes and exterior AC units.

4. Repair fascia, soffits and rotted roof shingles. Some termites are drawn to deteriorating wood.

5. Replace weather stripping and loose mortar around basement foundation and windows.

6. Divert water away from the house through properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.

7. Maintain an 18-inch gap between soil and any wood portions of your home.

8. Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and 5 inches off the ground.

9. Routinely inspect your homes foundation for signs of mud tubes (used by termites to reach a food source), uneven or bubbling paint, and wood that sounds hollow when tapped.

10. Monitor all exterior areas of wood, including windows, doorframes and skirting boards for any noticeable changes.

If you suspect a termite problem, the NPMA urges you to contact a pest professional right away to confirm that a problem exists and determine the best course of action.Also, consider scheduling a professional inspection annually to catch potential termite problems before they get any worse and, thus, more expensive to fix.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

These easy upgrades will take your bedroom to a whole new level of luxury.

Wet Bar

A small wet bar is a great convenience for a quick night cap with your partner or a coffee in the morning.

Washer and Dryer

Make your life much easier by having your dressing area and laundry area in one place.

Smart Blackout Shades

Smart shades can be set to open at a specific time each morning so youre woken up by natural light.

Grooming and Makeup Areas

A built-in vanity for makeup in the dressing room, or a grooming area in the bathroom, will make your morning routine a breeze.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

As hard as we try, it often seems like there’s never enough space for everything we want to do. However, if you’re a homeowner who finally won the war on clutter, you might be wondering what to do with a now-empty garage.

Here are five great ideas for what you can do to transform your garage:

Home Gym
If you want to work out but hate schlepping to the gym, turn your empty garage into a versatile home gym. Depending on which types of exercise you prefer, you can look online for inexpensive pieces of equipment. You can check out local yard sales or go online to find gently used equipment. You can also invest in mats, free weights and whatever else motivates you to work out.

Playroom
As your family continues to grow, you might find yourself with less wiggle room. If your garage is suitable, you can transform it into a kids’ sanctuary where they can play in the sand, have painting stations and even play on a few low-sitting swings. The key is to make the space as child-friendly as possible, so that means upgrading your garage door opener, if necessary. It’s important if you do use your garage as a playroom that your little ones aren’t able to open the garage door. In addition, don’t forget to pad the floor with high-quality padding and carpeting for your little ones to play on.

Spare Bedroom
If you love to entertain but simply don’t have the room for overnight guests, you can transform your garage into a spare room. But before you start decorating, you need to make sure the space is insulated to keep guests warm. You also want to make sure it remains pest-free. Depending on the space, you might need only a coat of paint and a comfy bed to make your guests feel at home, or you may also need to invest in carpeting.

Office Space
You can use your garage to create the home office of your dreams. Even if it’s only in a corner of the garage, you can liven things up with a fresh coat of paint and new office furniture. Since the floor is probably concrete, you can easily warm things up by using throw rugs around your workspace. The garage makes a great office space because it’s separate from the rest of the home, meaning you’ll have minimal distractions.

Mudroom
If you need a place to store coats, boots and book bags without cluttering up your entryway, use your garage as a mudroom. With a little creativity and elbow grease, you can install wall hooks for everyone’s coats, as well as backpacks. You can also create a space where your family can leave wet umbrellas and muddy shoes outside.

When it comes to making use of an empty garage, there are a lot of things you can do. The key is knowing how to make the most of the space without pushing your budget.

Source: Anita Ginsburg/RISMedias Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Home theaters are becoming more commonplace as homeowners look to create convenient, comfortable and fun spaces where their families and guests can sit back and enjoy the show. If youre planning to upgrade an existing home theater, or perhaps install a new one, youll want to be sure itll provide the best viewing experience for years to come”and that means top-of-the-line fixtures, furniture and electronics.

Finding a contractor who can source the best-quality wiring, lighting fixtures and electronics is an important factor in creating a high-end home theater that conforms to your expectations, say the design experts at HGTV. Youll want to be sure that all the wiring is discreetly secreted behind the walls, so make sure that as the space is being built out, the wiring scheme is accounted for early in the process.

When it comes to the audio-visual and electronic equipment, the sky is the limit in terms of sight, sound and media delivery. You might choose to pair a giant projection screen with a set-top box that can serve HD content, or opt for a more traditional setup of a big-screen TV and Blu-ray player. Whichever way you’re leaning, you’ll want to give your theater installer free rein to select the best audio-visual products on the market.

Now you can turn your attention to the decor. Many high-end home theaters reflect a traditional cinema feel, featuring stadium seating, noise-cancelling wall paneling, and furniture with special features and amenities. The scope and layout of the room will be a major consideration when it comes to the variety of furniture and accessories you’ll choose.

Larger, more elaborate home theaters sometimes employ a design that reflects a movie-house experience with fixed armchair seating, while smaller spaces may be more akin to a luxurious media room and feature arrangements of chairs and couches where guests can simply settle in where they please.

Remotes have become very customizable. Some let you program them using your PC, while others use your smartphone to allow you to customize everything from dimming the lights and changing the temperature to getting the program started, all with the touch of a button on the backlit display of the remote.

Published with permission from RISMedia.