Category Archives: Family Home

DIY, Family Home, Holidays, Homeowners

8 Festive Ways to Decorate Your Home’s Exterior for Christmas

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By: Army of Davids Garage Doors

A garage door with a red bow, an easy way to decorate your home's exterior.

As we approach the holidays, more and more homeowners are pulling out their Christmas decorations. Glittering lights, garlands, and wreaths are just a few of the decorations you may find gracing the exterior of homes.

But you may be surprised that the garage door, front door, and home siding can be a part of the Christmas cheer, too! There are a lot of ways you can decorate your home without harming its finish. It will make your home more festive and bright, just in time for the holiday season.

We’ve come up with a list of 8 easy ways you can decorate your home’s exterior for a festive touch. With materials you can find at a nearby store, you’ll be all set to transform your home and yard into a fun Christmas wonderland.

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eNews, Family Home, Holidays, Homeowners

Creating a Family Time Capsule

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a collage of items that could be included in a family time capsule.

If you’re looking for a fun activity to bring your family closer together, consider making a family time capsule. By creating one, you’ll not only spend quality time with your family, but you’ll also learn valuable information depending on what your family members put into it. The best part is that the rules for the time capsule can be made up by the whole family so everyone has a say. Plus, you can take the time and decorate your time capsule with your family and make it unique!

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eNews, Family Home, Home Design

A Beginner’s Guide to Planning a Home Addition

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a blue home over a blueprint, showing plans for a home addition

Does your house seem to be feeling increasingly smaller? Perhaps your family has spent too much time cramped together over the past year, there is a new baby on the way, or you simply need some extra space for the home office or hobbies. If moving isn’t a desirable option, it is finally time to add more square footage to your house. How do you go about it? How do you plan a successful home addition?

This article discusses the steps involved in a home addition, how to make sure you are not in violation of zoning regulations, what to consider when building an addition, and how to budget for the project.

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Family Home, Holidays, Home Design

6 Home Styling Tips This Holiday Season

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A living room transformed by holiday decorating.

When the seasons begin to transition from fall to winter, you know it’s time to dress the entire home into something more toasty and comfy. While a holiday makeover sounds like it’s a lot of work to pull off in a very short amount of time, it doesn’t have to be stressful.

You don’t have to make it perfect and you can always decorate on a budget. What’s important is that you capture the holiday spirit the way you know how.

That said, here are six tips to help you get started if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed about making your home merry and bright this holiday season.

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eNews, Family Home, Homeowners

How to Save Energy in Winter

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a home with a scarf, showing how it's important to save energy in winter

Dark and dreary winters can often lead to higher energy costs as families try to make their living environments more enjoyable. Common culprits include lights flipped on all day to accommodate fewer daylight hours and increased use of the heater, thanks to freezing temperatures. Energy expenses also build up with seemingly small gestures like humidifiers, running taps, and hot water heater usage as you try to find the perfect way to defrost when winter blues take hold. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to lower your energy costs, which means big winter savings.

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Family Home, Home Sellers, Real Estate

Selling an Inherited Home

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A for sale sign in front of an inherited house.

Selling an inherited house is challenging on many levels. The first is the emotional impact of dealing with the death of a loved one. Then there’s paperwork, legal responsibilities, and financial considerations to take into account. That’s why we compiled this guide to help you with the process of selling an inherited house.

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Family Home, Food & Drink, Home Design, Homeowners

Stove Shopping: Gas vs. Electric

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A kitchen with a new stove next to blue cabinets.

As any homeowner will tell you, there’s more to a home than meets the eye. One decision on the horizon is choosing between gas and electric. If appliance choices have got you feeling the heat, know that it’s easier than you think. Here are a few pointers on choosing the right stove for your needs.

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Family Home, Health & Safety, Home Design, Homeowners

How to Make Home a Safer Place When Living with Kids

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A family with two young children happy and safe in the home.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that about 9.2 million children have to visit the emergency department for an unintentional injury each year. Unfortunately, the CDC also states that injuries are the leading cause of death for children in the US and Canada, too.

Children are curious, easily distracted, and more prone to injury than adults are. So, it’s important to take extra precautions to keep them safe, even in the home.

Thankfully, most of the accidents mentioned in the CDC’s research are preventable with the right approaches to safety. Here’s what you need to know to minimize risks and make your home a safe and hazard-free space for kids.

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Family Home, Home Buyers, Home Sellers, Real Estate

Buying a Condo vs. Buying a House: Key Differences

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a condo building next to a single family home, representing buying a condo vs. buying a house

Buying your first home is an exciting time. You’ve decided to step out of the comfort of renting or staying somewhere rent-free and step into a place you can truly call your own. But if you’re not interested in a large space, is owning a condo the same thing as owning a house?

Both options have their benefits and drawbacks, but it ultimately comes down to what you value in a home. You must choose which option fits you correctly, or you might find yourself thinking the grass is greener on your neighbor’s lawn.

We’ll walk you through the process and differences of buying a condo vs. buying a house.

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