Month: July 2016

It’s never easy to admit the spark’s gone out of a relationship. After all, there was a reason you got together with your home security provider in the first place. But now things feel different. Whether you’re growing resentful of the pinch that comes with each monthly bill, or you no longer swoon at the voice that assures you everything is locked down for the night, the result is the same: that magic’s just not there anymore.

As with any split, there will be a lot to sort out. So before you break the news to your current company, consider these three options for switching up your home security services to better suit your needs.

Full Overhaul

If you cringe at the thought of spending one more moment with your current provider, you can completely uninstall your security system and start fresh. Pros: If you want better service and improved features or protection, then moving might be your best option. Home automation is one of the biggest trends in home security right now, so if your current company doesn’t offer the latest tech advances, the grass will definitely be greener somewhere else. You may also want to switch to a company with a better track record or stronger reputation. No matter what, make sure you’ve clearly identified talking points: what you aren’t getting from your current service and what you absolutely need from your new provider. Cons: Starting over will usually involve some kind of initial investment (which you already paid for once), and you’ll also need to make sure you’re not under any contract or penalty if you leave your current service. If money is your primary motivation, it could be worth it to talk to your current company and see if you two can give it one more try — depending, of course, on their willingness to shave a few bucks off the bill.

Change Monitoring

If what you’re missing in your security relationship is more personal attention, you might be able to switch up your monitoring service without swapping out all of your equipment. Pros: Alarm systems made by companies like Honeywell or GE aren’t usually tied to a specific security monitoring company. That makes it easy for you to play the field and shop around until you find the type of monitoring that meets your needs. And when you already own the equipment, you have a much better bargaining position when it comes to prices and contracts. Cons: Unfortunately, not all equipment can be used with monitoring services provided by companies outside of the one that did the installation. Some older systems still require a landline, too, so you’ll have to verify the requirements of your equipment as well. You may also be obligated to your current provider because of a contract, so make sure that you are free and clear to move on before investing too much time into research.

DIY

Sometimes you’re so fed up that it seems best to take matters into your own hands. With a little work on your part, you can break free from the confines of what your home security provider offers and create exactly the type of security system you want. Pros: Control and cost are at the top of the list when it comes to the benefits of a DIY home security system. You can put together the basics (including some combination of door and window sensors, keypads, cameras, and motion sensor lights) for a few hundred dollars — and that’s a one-time fee that doesn’t come with any additional monthly costs. This is also a great option for renters, because you’ll be able to take the system with you when you move. Cons: Having control over your home security system comes with a few downsides. You’ll be responsible for repairs and maintenance, and if you want to upgrade to the latest and greatest security features, it can be difficult and expensive. And it’s good to note that some DIY home security systems are less complex than professional systems, meaning they won’t be tied into a monitoring center or connected to the police. Depending on the level of security you need to feel safe, this can make DIY home security less appealing. Never go through a break up without proper guidance from your trusted support system. Do your research, know what you need, and you’ll be sure to find a home security provider who will be in it for the long run.

Today’s guest post is courtesy of ImproveNet.com — your online resource for planning your home improvement projects from start to finish. Home landscaping can be easy and fun for everyone in the family. In fact, even if you have a small front or backyard, fewer projects provide as big a boost to your curb appeal than landscaping. And lucky for you there are plenty of landscaping projects of varying cost and complexity to choose from. Whether it’s planting a new flower garden, adding turf, trimming trees or installing landscape curbing, there is a DIY landscaping project for every homeowner out there. To keep things simple, we found five of the easiest landscaping projects around for you to consider trying this summer. Once completed, your home’s curb appeal will stand out from all the other houses on the block.

1. Add Colorful Flowers

If you walk outside and see a dull, boring landscape, you need some color. Colorful flowers provide a warm and welcoming feel to any landscape. They’re attractive to look at, and create a safe space for helpful wildlife like bees, birds, and earthworms.

Flowers fall into three categories: annuals, biennials, and perennials. Below are a few examples of each: Annuals Annuals are flowers that only last for a single growing season. You’ll want to plant these as soon as the last frosts are passed in order to get the best blooms from them. Annuals include flowers like

• Begonias
• Cosmos
• Geraniums
• Snapdragons
• Strawflowers
• Sunflowers
• Zinnias

Biennials Biennieals last for two years, but don’t get really pretty until the second year. The first year, they will stay small, close to the ground, and mostly green. Year two, you’ll start to see flowers and more depth to the flowers. Some biennials include

• Black-Eyed Susans
• Foxgloves
• Poppies
• Wallflowers

Perennials Perennials are plants that can return again and again, season after season. During the winter months, the growth above-ground will die off and the plant may appear dead, but in the spring, they will start to green and bloom again. Some common perennials include

• Bleeding Heart
• Butterfly Bush
• Hibiscus
• Hydrangeas
• Irises
• Lavender
• Tulips

Remember, don’t go too overboard with your flowers. If you overdo it, your landscaping maintenance costs could add up. Or your yard could end up looking like the cat lady’s a few blocks over.

2. Mow Your Lawn & Cut In Edges

If you wanted to keep things even simpler than planting new flowers, regular maintenance can transform your backyard. When it comes to landscaping, maintenance always starts with mowing and cutting. During the summer, you should regularly mow your lawn. Sadly, there is no exact height all lawns should be, but the experts say to never take off more than 1/3 of the grass height. nike internationalist hombre Once a week is ideal in the summer, but biweekly is acceptable in the early spring when rain is more frequent. If you miss a week, do not overdo it next week. Your lawn needs to be long enough to produce shade and protect sensitive roots from being exposed to sunlight. The Garden Counselor explains, “Taller grass will grow deeper roots, keep the soil moist and crowd out many weeds. Keeping grass mowed short limits the amount of root growth that occurs.” This is the only way your lawn will grow and keep its shiny, green exterior. Cutting your lawn too short ruins your grass and shocks your lawn system. In addition to regular mowing, active DIYers should edge their lawns. A neatly edged lawn along a sidewalk or driveway is a thing of beauty. Luckily, basic string trimmers can get the job the done. If you want to see how the pros do it, watch how Mark and Theresa Clement of MyFixItUpLife edge their lawn:

3. Curb Your Landscape

If you’d like to add some precision or separation from your yard and walkway, driveway or house, then landscape curbing is a terrific and easy way to add some flare to your yard. Landscape curbing adds a decorative border around your lawn. Homeowners can use brick, pavers, or concrete to curb their landscapes, but if you want to minimize costs and keep this a DIY project, we highly recommend brick or pavers.

Brick and pavers are easy to install and require little DIY expertise. Once you pick out the perfect brick or paver for your landscape, start leveling the ground where the curbing will go. Pack in your brick and pavers and then surround them with gravel, sand, or landscape rocks. Make sure everything is packed in tightly and securely. Then sit back and enjoy the tidy new border around your lawn. Bear in mind, you can always change your curbed landscape if you change your mind in a few years. As opposed to concrete, pavers and brick are easy to remove and don’t require professional assistance.

4. Grow Vegetables

Few landscaping projects can teach your kids more about the earth and economy than growing vegetables. Not only will you get to spend quality time with your children, but it could also save you a few trips to the grocery store. If you’re serious about growing a vegetable garden, scheduling is key. Unlike watering or mowing your lawn, you cannot skip a day when it comes to vegetable gardens. They simply will not grow without regular upkeep. According to vegetable and landscaping experts, homeowners should plant shorter season edibles together and longer-season veggies in a separate section of the garden. This way, when the shorter season plants die off, you can plant more veggies on top of them and double your garden’s yield.

5. Add Lighting

Summers should be spent outside, but if you don’t have enough lighting around the house, how can you enjoy your glorious backyard at night? Whether you’re night swimming, stargazing or enjoying an after-dinner drink, homeowners need some source of light for their front and back yards. Luckily, when it comes to landscaping lighting, you have plenty of options to choose from.

String lights, or lanterns, are always an excellent choice for extra lighting. If placed strategically, they give a nice overall glow to a yard and reduce shadows. On the other hand, spotlighting and small lights along the patio or walkway work well if you’re looking for more shadows and brighter patches of light. If you’ve spent months working on improving your backyard, you owe it to yourself to light your space – enjoy all your hard work by day and night! Improving and updating your home’s landscape may seem daunting, but with these easy, DIY landscaping ideas, it can slowly turn into the crown jewel of the neighborhood. Jacob Hurwith is the marketing manager at ImproveNet, a website dedicated to informing homeowners on everything they need to know about home remodeling. Jacob loves hearing from homeowners and their unique home remodeling projects.