4 Signs Rodents Have Started Living in Your Home During the Winter

Now that you're ready for Spring cleaning, this is a great time to look for evidence of mice or other rodents having moved into your home over the winter. While they are often nocturnal and more likely to be seen at night, here are some signs to look for that may indicate the presence of these pests.

Mouse Tracks

Rodents tend to creep along the walls and drawer edges as they move around your home. You can usually find mouse tracks, which is their fecal droppings, when they are in the area. You've probably seen them, but if not, they look like small, dark pellets or seeds about a quarter inch in length. Don't handle them directly, as they are germy, but clean them out with tissue or a cloth and then sanitize the area.

Unusual Openings

Inspect the outside of your home or small openings that should not be there. Cracks in the concrete foundation or small torn spots in the siding may provide an entrance for pests. Look in the basement and attic or cracks or damage in the walls that may reveal an opening from the outside. Check the baseboards in your house as well as the floors of closets and cupboards, which is where rodents prefer to nest.

Nesting

You may find signs of rodent nesting in stacks of newspapers or magazines that are mostly undisturbed. Mice also look for dark corners in cupboards where the shelf liner can be scratched loose to make a nest. You can even find them in dresser drawers where old books or pictures are loosely stored. Shredded paper, cardboard, and similar substances could mean that rodents are your new boarders, and they may be having a family!

Burrowing Sounds

Although less common, you might hear the faint sounds of rodents in your house, especially at night. Sometimes they enter through a hole in the roof, so you could even hear them scratching around in the ceiling or walls. Coming down through the chimney is another common entryway, so keep the flue closed. But even if you don't hear them, they might be getting comfortable in your home. If you are not sure, call mice removal experts to evaluate the signs you have noticed and eliminate the rodents from your house.

No one wants to share their home with pesky creatures from outdoors. Look for evidence they have invaded your property and take steps to remove them before they multiply.

How to Utilize Your Garage as an Organized Storage Solution

For most people their cars are an expensive investment that needs to be taken care of well, therefore a well-built garage is a must-have for almost everyone. The garage can be used for a lot more than just housing your car, with proper technique and organization you can use your garage as an organized storage solution. There are a few steps that can help you organize and plan your garage; the first step is setting aside a day for the cleaning and repair of the garage. Set aside three zones on the day of your cleaning. The pile to be kept, the sell or donate pile, and then get rid of piles that should also contain all expired chemicals that require special disposal and broken beyond repair household items and toys.

Draw a Floor Plan for Your Garage

The second stage is to draw a plan for your garage; take down measurements of your garage, pay attention to switches, space your car takes, windows and doors. Then the plan should follow the criteria; heavy items put on the corner to avoid people tripping on them. Things used together should also be stored together for ease of access. Everyday items like bikes should always be closer to exits, this is to make it easy to access them and finally seasonal items should be kept at the furthest points as they are rarely required.

Garage Storage Solutions

You should then research garage storage solutions, things that will help you organize your space. You can also customize your garage storage equipment; this would make it feel like part of the house and also help organize your space by fitting into tight spaces. It is also important to consult a professional to help you plan and organize the garage. Get storage bins that can be stacked on top of each other to conserve space, also lockable storage to store chemicals safely. Add open shelves and vertical storage to help with organization.

Store the Sorted Piles

The final stage after the planning and installation of the shelves is the packaging of the items from the keep pile. The packaging should be orderly and according to usage, with items used for the same purpose packaged together. The packaging bins should be stacked together to conserve space.

The garage is a space when properly organized can help you store a lot of the extra stuff you have laying around that you don't want to lose.

Safety Updates to Make When Moving Into a New Home

When settling into a new living place, you want to not only feel safe there but actually be safe. There is danger from intruders and fires in every home, and there are other dangers that a person should protect against, as well. If you are moving into a new home, you should take steps to stay safe. The following are a few precautions to take. 

Invest in Security Features

Most people have been told that it is important for them to change out the locks when they move into a new home, but it can be all the smarter to invest in security doors and have those installed in a home. Special doors can keep a family safe while they are inside their home. A person should also invest in other security features, such as cameras and video doorbells. The more security features that one sets up, the more relaxed they are going to feel both when they are inside their home and when they are away from the place. While you are changing the doors of your new home, consider having special locks installed. Something with a keypad feature will make it even more secure. 

Invest in Monitors and Alarms

There are things that can get into the air in a home that can make things turn dangerous quickly. Carbon monoxide monitors can help a person be alerted if the air in their home is no longer safe for breathing. There are smart monitors available today that make it easy for a person to keep an eye on the air in their home. You should invest in new fire alarms for your new home, as well as smart carbon monoxide monitors.

Invest in an Air Purification System

Even when there is not carbon monoxide in the air, breathing certain pollutants in a home can be dangerous to a person's lungs and body. In order to make a home as safe as possible, one should purchase an air purification system and have that installed. This will take care of the dust, smoke, and germs that are in the air. This will also help with the smell of the air, and it will help you feel comfortable in your new home. An air purification system can be set up to clean the air in the entire home.

When a person makes certain safety updates to the home that they are moving into, they can make that home feel safe and comfortable. Some of a person's stress will go away when they focus on making their home safe.

Looking to Sell? What Your Flooring Says About the Rest of Your Property

If you are selling your home, your flooring is going to be one of the first things that potential buyers will notice. It can be the making or breaking point for that final sell. If you want to give off a good first impression, quality flooring is going to be an important choice.

Flooring Shows that Your Property is Cared for

While having dingy, scratched, and worn flooring can give off a bad impression, flooring that looks new and welcoming can do the opposite. When you want to show potential buyers that your home is well cared for, your flooring should look its best.

Your Flooring Reflects Your Home's Style

If you want your buyers to think your home is luxurious and inviting, it is important to start with the flooring. No one is going to think your home is stylish if your flooring looks bad. You can choose a material like vinyl plank flooring to give your home a luxurious upgrade. This kind of flooring is water-resistant which may attract buyers who have children. Installing some flooring that will remain undamaged by spills will surely improve your chances of selling it quickly.

Your Flooring Shows the Value of Your Home

If your flooring is drab and stained, it will reflect the overall value of your home. You have to consider that your flooring is the largest surface in your home. Everyone who enters your residence will notice if your floors are in good shape or not. If you want to raise the value of your home, it is imperative to have quality flooring.

Good Flooring Helps Your Property Look Clean

Everyone enjoys a clean and fresh home. Dingy floors will never look as clean as they should. If you want to showcase a home that looks its best, it is going to be a good idea to have flooring that can be cleaned well. Quality flooring should be simple to clean and should instantly give your home a fresh appearance.

Your Floors Are One of the First Things People Will Notice

If you want to sell your home fast, make sure that your flooring is going to impress people. Since it will be one of the first things people notice about your home, you want to make certain that your flooring looks good. Invest in a durable material that will give your home the look that you want it to have. Potential buyers will always notice your flooring, so it is important to have a surface that you can be proud to show off.