Tidy Up Around the House

It's summer, so if you were thinking about spring cleaning, you're a little late. But any time is a good time to spruce things up around the house. Whether you are trying to sell your home or not, taking care of these chores will make things nice for YOU (yes, you deserve it!):

1. Make sure your entrance way says “Hey, look at me!”
2. Prune dead limbs from trees.
3. Paint (or touch up) exterior, and repair screens and windows.
4. Clean your windows.
5. Check A/C and heating systems.
6. Fix leaky faucets, toilets, and faulty lights.
7. Vacuum drapes and carpets.
8. Repair wall cracks, re-caulk bathrooms and kitchen.
9. Clear out closets.
10. Remove excess furniture.
11. Mow lawn, edge driveway and walkways
12. Ensure windows, doors, and locks work smoothly.
13. Weed flower beds and trim shrubs.
14. Throw out junk from garage and storage areas.
15. Clean lawn furniture.
16. If you have a pool, make it crystal clear.

Looks like a pretty good "honey do" list if you ask me! Now, get off the internet and get to work! ;)

Protecting Your Foundation in the Summer

Summer has arrived and you want to make sure to water your foundation, or at least take steps to protect it from cracks. We have clay soil here in Tarrant County, which swells when it rains and contracts in the dry periods. If this happens unevenly, your foundation could become cracked or damaged. Here are some steps to keep your house level and your foundation crack-free:

1. Install a good ground cover. This will prevent excessive moisture from seeping deep into the soil. This will also prevent erosion of the soil and excessive drying of the soil through evaporation.
2. Water the soil around the house just enough to keep the grass green. The south and west sides of the house may require more watering to offset rapid evaporation.
3. Don't water too close; stay at least 18" away from the foundation.
4. Never water directly into cracks around your foundation. They are usually deep and watering can undermine the foundation.
5. Don't place sand or sandy loam around the foundation. Water drains through it too quickly where the sun and wind can't dry it.
6. Never allow water to pond around the foundation. Be sure to create a positive slope away from the house.

*Source: Foundation Maintenance Procedures from Bedrock Foundation Repair (I'm just passing along information. I am receiving no remuneration, nor is this an endorsement of this company.)