Tools Every Homeowner Needs

Owning a home begins when you sign the papers at closing – and never ends. There is always work to do and projects to tackle. This sort of personalization is what makes home ownership so much fun! You get to make your home your own.  You just need the right tools to do it.

So whether you consider yourself a regular handyman or you know just enough to be dangerous, here are some tools that every homeowner needs to have in their toolbox.

-        Ladder: For those hard to reach places, light bulb changes and paint jobs

-        Drill and Drill Bits: A must have for most home improvement projects

-        Tape Measure: Know how big the room is before you buy that new sofa

-        Level: Hang pictures just right!

-        Screwdrivers: For all types of DIY furniture projects or new purchases

-        Stud Finder: Hanging a heavy piece of art? This is a must have.

-        Extension Cord: Don’t get caught trying to work without one.

-        Utility Knife: Open and breakdown boxes.

-        Misc Hardware: Get yourself an assortment of nails and screws.

Of course there are other tools you’ll want to add over the years but this should get you started.

Did we miss anything? What would you include in your homeowner tool box?

Building Process

The building process can be a little scary if you've never built a brand new home before, or in some cases if you have. Here at Parkridge Builders, we like to make the home building process as very simple as possible. Our Building Process follows these steps below, ensuring that you'll know what to expect along the way. See more at http://parkridgebuilders.com/building_process.html

Universal Design

Park Ridge Builders is a custom home builder with homes throughout the CSRA. We can build on your land or in one of our several featured communities.
We also provide Universal Design building services that make your home accessible and compatible to your changing needs throughout the years.
Universal Design includes elements such as:
Ground level entry through the front and rear doors
Wide interior doors and hallways
Clear lines of sight
Slip resistant surfaces
Higher than usual electrical receptacles
To learn more about our Universal Design services and how they can be built into your next home give us a call or send us an email at info@parkridgebuilders.com

Park Ridge Builders is a local business with over 35 years experience in the home building industry.

Glynn Bruker is President and Owner of Park Ridge Builders. He has been building custom homes in the CSRA for over 30 years. He is an active member of the Home Builders Association of Augusta and is a licensed builder in both Georgia and South Carolina. Glynn also holds a Certified Aging in Place Specialist certification from the NAHB.
Glynn and his wife Cathy have two children who are actively involved in the family business. Beth coordinates all of the interior design and style elements of the home. Ben oversees the quality assurance and warranty program.
http://parkridgebuilders.com

Resources for the Home Shopper

There are so many online tools and resources for today’s home shopper, there is no reason to be surprised or unprepared during your search.  The more information you have the better you are able to make a good decision for your family and negotiate your position when necessary.   Here are some of our recommendations on home buyer resources.

Mortgage Calculator

Home Affordability Calculator 

Check Your Credit Score

School Ratings

Compare Home Insurers

National Association of Home Builders

Understanding Homeowners Insurance

 

Understanding Homeowners Insurance

Purchasing homeowners insurance is a necessary part of buying a new home.  While it may seem tedious, this insurance protects your largest financial investment – your new home.

Insurance costs vary on the location of the home, age of the home, type of coverage needed and deductibles.

Go online to read about potential insurers and their customer service ratings. Typically insurance is purchased and then forgotten about so it’s helpful to see what customers with claims think about how their issues were handled.

It may help you save money to have your auto and homeowners insurance covered by the same company.

Your possessions such as clothing, electronics, and furniture are covered but if you have a special item that may exceed the included coverage make sure to mention that as a concern. It may require an addition to the standard policy.

A higher deductible will result in lower premiums. Go as high as you can since typically claims are filed only every 8-10 years.  Make sure you have the savings to cover that deductible should the worst happen.

Be sure to ask what the policy covers and what it doesn’t cover. Get all estimates in writing so you can price shop other companies while comparing apples to apples in coverage.

http://parkridgebuilders.com/

Tax Information for Homeowners

One of the many benefits of owning a home is the extra savings at tax time.  Yes owning a home is a great benefit when it comes to filing your taxes each year.  Whether you do your taxes on your own or use the services of a professional, make sure you take advantage of these tax savings opportunities.

Main tax benefits include being able to deduct interest payments and property tax payments.  Homeowners may also exclude, to a limit, capital gains made on the sale of a home that previous year.  Points paid toward your mortgage to get a better overall interest rate may also be deductible.

Certain environmentally friendly updates made to your home may also be eligible for a tax credit.

As the tax law continually changes and updates it is important to stay on top of what homeowner deductions or credits you may be eligible for.

http://parkridgebuilders.com/

#parkridgebuilders #homeownership 

Inside Chores for Cold Winter Days

When you're looking at the outside temperature and thinking today makes a great day to stay inside, we have some productive activities for you!

Of course resting on the couch and watching your favorite shows is a classic winter past time, you can take advantage of the colder temps to stay inside and get some much needed work done!

1. Cleaning the Oven
Cleaning the oven take some time and is the perfect activity for when you're going to be around the house for a few hours. Most ovens come with a self-clean button that does the work for you. If your oven is really greasy and grimy it make require some pre-cleaning on your part using either oven cleaner or a mix of vinegar and baking soda.

2.  Clean the Floors
Since you are spending more time indoors, it's time to ramp up your typical cleaning schedule. Sweep and mop the floors to keep any mud or dirt from tracking around the house. Vacuum regularly to keep dirt from being ground into the carpet fibers.

3.  Inspect the Pantry
Winter is a good time to reorganize the pantry and make it more efficient for the new year. While you're organizing check the dates to make sure no products are expired.  Pull out little used ingredients and do an online search for recipes that you may not have tried before.

4.  Mattress Care
Flip your mattress if you can or if you have a pillow top rotate it 180 degrees to prevent impressions or dents from forming. To freshen your mattress, sprinkle it with baking soda and then vacuum up.

5. Inspect and Clean Your Windows
Let more natural light in during the dark winter with clean, sparkling windows. Don't forget to clean around the frames which can gather dust and dirt.  Letting in a little more natural light can really cheer up a dreary winter day!

Take Advantage of Winter Days

When you're looking at the outside temperature and thinking today makes a great day to stay inside, we have some productive activities for you!

Of course resting on the couch and watching your favorite shows is a classic winter past time, you can take advantage of the colder temps to stay inside and get some much needed work done!

1. Cleaning the Oven
Cleaning the oven take some time and is the perfect activity for when you're going to be around the house for a few hours. Most ovens come with a self-clean button that does the work for you. If your oven is really greasy and grimy it make require some pre-cleaning on your part using either oven cleaner or a mix of vinegar and baking soda.

2.  Clean the Floors
Since you are spending more time indoors, it's time to ramp up your typical cleaning schedule. Sweep and mop the floors to keep any mud or dirt from tracking around the house. Vacuum regularly to keep dirt from being ground into the carpet fibers.

3.  Inspect the Pantry
Winter is a good time to reorganize the pantry and make it more efficient for the new year. While you're organizing check the dates to make sure no products are expired.  Pull out little used ingredients and do an online search for recipes that you may not have tried before.

4.  Mattress Care
Flip your mattress if you can or if you have a pillow top rotate it 180 degrees to prevent impressions or dents from forming. To freshen your mattress, sprinkle it with baking soda and then vacuum up.

5. Inspect and Clean Your Windows
Let more natural light in during the dark winter with clean, sparkling windows. Don't forget to clean around the frames which can gather dust and dirt.  Letting in a little more natural light can really cheer up a dreary winter day!