Category: Home reno

Tips When Filing an Insurance Claim for Your Home

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Keep your home and belongings safe by filing an insurance claim on your home. Here’s exactly how to do it the right way!


Photo: Pinterest

One of the last thoughts on your mind should be your homeowner’s insurance company giving you a rough time regarding your insurance claim. Here are some simple tips when dealing with your homeowner’s insurance claim regarding damage sustained to your home.

Get Covered with an Insurance Company

If you had to evacuate due to substantial damage to your home and or dangerous living conditions, you probably did not have any time to grab essentials including, clothes for work and or school, toiletries, etc. These types of property may have been wholly diminished in a natural disaster and or fire. Contact your insurance company and ask that they reimburse your damages and to send a check to wherever you may be residing at the time. This is so that you may purchase your necessities without the need to wait for your full insurance coverage. Tip: If you’re area is prone to flooding, consider purchasing a sump pump to minimize the damage.

Always put your needs first, be sure to not go overboard on what you need, be courteous and practical with what your necessities are as many insurance companies will refuse or be frivolous with reimbursing you. For example, you need work clothes (slacks, dress shirt, etc,) don’t assume you will go to a high-end store in town to purchase these items. The advance will be deducted from your total insurance claim amount you will receive when the claim is completed, so be sure not to hurt your end claim amount.

Document all of Your Stuff

If you’ve just bought a house, make sure to document all of your belongings in case of a disaster. When a disaster occurs, it will be easy to list everything you have lost. This may take some time and effort from everyone in the household. You will want to be sure that when making this list you start as soon as possible so you can remember everything you have lost before filing your insurance claim.

Never throw anything away. It is always easier to prove that what you have lost was in the household at the time of the disaster and or fire. If you hold on to these items such as family belongings, or even home decor items until your Public Adjuster they may be added to your claim, which will be valid proof it was there and lost during the incident. This will help compensate the loss of all items in the home at the time of the incident.

FILE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Filing your claim as soon as possible is key. Most insurance companies will require policyholders to submit their claims as soon as they can. Contact your homeowner’s insurance agent and or company immediately to begin the claim process. The said insurance company will require to provide and submit “proof of loss claim.” The form which will include all items lost at the time of damage, and include their value. Your immediate action is most important if there were many homeowners affected within your area. If not done in a timely manner, you could be at the bottom of the list of insurance policyholders who have filed their claims.

Top-Drawer Tips to a Successful DIY Project

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Planning your next DIY or calling a professional? We weigh in on the options and give some tips on DIY-ing your home!


Photo: Jana Bek

There are two kinds of homeowners: those who decide they do not have the time and would prefer to call in professional renovation companies to work on their home improvement, and those who prefer to get their hands dirty decorating their home, renovating and get the job done for themselves. Reading this, I believe you fall into the latter category. And while you should be proud to be one of the few willing to pick up their tool boxes and get work done, you should also bear in mind that there is a steep learning curve to budget DIY home renovation projects.

But not to worry. Being a handy person myself and one who struggled with the art at the beginning, I have compiled a list of things you should be aware of before you embark on the DIY journey.

It might end up taking double your time and money anticipated

The number one reason why I was attracted to DIY projects, (and this is a reason we probably share) is the fact that I saw prospects of saving hundreds and at times even thousands of dollars on the project. But what I didn’t know is that the savings were in an ideal situation. Situations in which I thought I only needed one tin of paint, I ended up using more.


Photo: Brit Morin

Let’s take a simple painting DIY task for instance. As you start, you have it in your head that a single tin of lavender paint and some brushes of particular sizes will do the trick. What you didn’t count on is that the shade of orange you want to paint over, has existed for quite some time and to paint over it, you will need an undercoat and several more brushes to get the job done. Adding to this, you will need to paint two coats of your undercoat and that of the lavender paint itself to get great results.

[su_note note_color=”#d3f19a” text_color=”#000000″ radius=”0″]DIY tasks that seemed simple like getting a carpet that matches the color of your freshly painted walls might be more challenging than you anticipated. Choosing a color that carpet companies do not manufacture in standard sizes will mean that you have to order in a unique piece costing you slightly more.[/su_note]

You are not a professional

You are intelligent and handy. So you decided to give DIY plumbing or DIY home repair a shot. But despite your traits, you will be soon questioning your ability to perceive depth, your sanity, and why in the world the pipes do not fit while the packaging promised that they would.

There are chances that you will get to the point of thinking tiling your bathroom floor is the answer to your DIY problem. Well, welcome to the world of minimum waterproofing and slope standards that have even the most optimistic folks going crazy and pulling their hair off.


Photo: The Every Girl

You have to accept that at times it is all you and other times the project is tricky.

If you have never learned the trade from a professional, you shouldn’t be shocked when you are ready to quit hours after you have started. After all, if what you are about to do was easy, then there wouldn’t be such a big market for professionals and experts in the industry.

Planning is King

Do not dare hammer even a single nail to any surface before you have a plan written down. Most DIY-ers ignore the planning stage and believe that their enthusiasm for the project will get them results. Sorry to burst your bubble but success in DIY projects without a plan mapped out needs a miracle.

Write out all the tasks you need to complete and have knowledge of how much work you will do in addition to all the costs. This will better position you for success. Regardless of how small or big the project might be, a little forethought on the improvement process will go a long way.


Photo: Design Sponge

More hands lighten the workload

Getting your family and friends in on your DIY project will save you a lot of labor costs. However, they will come with a whole set of complications.

[su_note note_color=”#fdc1df” text_color=”#000000″ radius=”0″]Everyone, even the best DIY renovators have their limitations. If you intend to handle the project alone, without the required expertise, it will be an uphill task. You should know your strength and weaknesses in which you will need help. Make sure that you have enough individuals with complementary skills to help you finish the project in the timeframe stipulated during planning.[/su_note]

But while having helpers is recommended, having too many of them will lead to clashes, arguments, and conflicts which might slow down progress. That said, you will need to pick your team of volunteers keenly if you have the luxury to. But if you are relying on the goodwill of family and friends, you should be prepared to stomach not getting things done how you envisioned them. If not, you will have to be tactful in the way you make your suggestions and corrections. Bear in mind that these are volunteers and not paid workers.

As such, you at the very least owe it to them to make the project fun. So, go out of your way to make them happy and for good terms’ sake send a thank you card or even have them over for dinner when the project is complete.

Cheap is not always the best option

There are instances where cheap can be a major bargain and other times where cheap is exactly that; cheap! You need to learn to differentiate between the two instances. When working with a small budget, you will have to decide what you can compromise on, the things you would be happy waiting for and those that are big initial spends.

Being aware of the acceptable item prices. Pay attention to furniture stores and online stores for building materials and power tools alike. Speaking of power tools, when getting a cordless drill, be sure to take your time while choosing one. The Best Cordless Drill Reviews – The Nutty DIY Guide will be of great help in this.

Having this information beforehand prepares you for what is to come. This way, nothing will faze you and hinder you from completing your DIY project.

Basic Maintenance Tips to Get Your Home in Great Shape

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

When homeowners are not pleased with the way that their homes look, they usually take action and make some changes in the exterior and interior of their home. Most people will opt to add some fresh decor to their spaces or a spruce up their landscaping. While this can be a smart idea, it is far from the only way to get your home in great shape. Doing regular maintenance is one of the most important ways to keep your home in top shape. Here’s how: 


Photo: Architectural Digest

 To have a truly captivating home, you may want to think about getting in the habit of providing the right maintenance. You can keep your home protected with regular HVAC maintenance and there are plenty of other ways to get started.

The Right Temperature

Keeping your home at the right temperature is very important. When you are sitting in your house, you want to feel comfortable. It will do you no good to constantly feel a bit too cold or warmer than you would like to feel. Having a functional HVAC system will help you to keep the desired temperature in your space at all times. This will require you to pay attention to the maintenance needs of your system. If you have not used your AC throughout the winter, then it might not be ready for what the summer has in store.


Photo: Domino Magazine

Contact the professionals a few times throughout the year to get your system tuned-up. The experts will be able to inform you of any problems that might be on the horizon and how to best move forward with repairs. You want to resolve most of these issues before they have a chance to do any damage. Making maintenance a habit will help you to stay on top of your HVAC system and keep your home a comfortable space for all to enjoy.

Check the Pipes


Photo: MyDomaine

Another important aspect of your home’s functionality is the plumbing. Your home will not look great if you have water backing up through the drains. There are many different problems that your plumbing can experience. Paying attention to small warning signs will help you to know when it is time to contact professionals for assistance. Water that won’t drain, toilets that are backing up, and faucets that won’t stop leaking, are all strong indicators that you need assistance with your pipes. After a friend of mine purchased her home from Homebuilders Construction Sydney, she made sure to double check on these types of things, and never ended up having a piping problem. Make sure to double check your pipes when purchasing a home, or you could have tons of problems in the long run.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#fa7b05″ class=”” size=””]Tip: Plumbing issues should be responded to in a quick manner. You do not want to wait too long, as this can easily lead to your pipes bursting and causing serious flooding issues. The moment that you notice something is amiss with your pipes it is a wise idea to speak with experts who can provide you with solutions. When water can flow freely through the pipes in your home, it makes for a much happier environment.[/perfectpullquote]

Finding the Routine


Photo: HGTV

[su_note note_color=”#d5f3ea” text_color=”#000000″ radius=”0″]Keeping your home in great shape is all about getting into the right routine. When you make it a habit to have your HVAC inspected regularly and pay attention to issues with your plumbing, you are being a responsible homeowner. Use the tips listed here as a starting point and begin to consider additional methods of staying on top of your maintenance tasks. Paying attention to these duties will help your home look the way that it should.[/su_note]