WhiteFence Home Services Blog

Tips Before You Start the Next DIY Project

2010-09-02T13:01:09-04:00

I have never been what some would call a handyman. There are plenty of my friends that know their way around a toolbox much better than myself. That being said, occasionally I like to try out a couple of do-it-yourself projects from time to time, in order to learn more about that kind of thing and also to help fix stuff around the house.

Fortunately, this experimentation usually goes alright. However, we've all run into those snags and unexpected developments while trying to fix something on our own. You know, when the simple DIY project throws you a sudden curve ball and things take a turn for the worse. That's usually when the DIY project takes on a life of its own, a Frankenstein's monster that becomes hard to cull.

In order to keep from animating your next fix around the home, here are some tips before your start the next big DIY project:

Take reasonable bites. We've all heard of the phrase "don't bite off more than you can chew", and we all know that it applies to DIY projects especially. If you are an entry level guy like myself, trying to redo all of the electrical or plumbing for the entire house might be a leap too far. Instead, gradually work your way up to those larger projects.

Do your homework. Before jumping in with both feet without knowing how to address the problem, do some research beforehand. There are plenty of resources online that can help whether you're dealing with lawn care or fixing the garbage disposal. In addition, figure out how much it's going to cost to fix on your own, and match that with quotes from contractors.

Get a friend to help. Not everything has to be a one man job. If you know someone who is handy or has done the same kind of repair recently, invite them along. They might spot something you would have missed on your own, and can save you a world of headaches.

Finish the job. Sometimes life takes over and it gets difficult to finally finish that project, but the satisfaction makes all the toil completely worth it. It's easy to leave things half finished around the home, but take the time to get it done and get it done well, and it will pay off in the long run.

Top 5 Green Tips for Labor Day

2010-08-31T10:05:00-04:00

This weekend is Labor Day weekend, which for most people means a day off, lots of hamburgers and the symbolic end of summer. However, whether you're hosting a party, taking a trip or just sitting around the house Labor Day can also be a great time to go green.

Here are the top five tips to make your Labor Day a little more green this year:

Prepare your home for winter – The extra time off is the perfect time to get your house ready for the upcoming cold weather. Potential projects include changing air filters, closing any vents in unused rooms, upgrading your home's insulation, installing radiant barrier, caulking windows and doors and installing a programmable thermostat.

Cook with green energy – Instead of non-natural charcoal and lighter fluid, try cooking with propane, natural gas, natural charcoal or just plain old wood with a chimney starter. The chemicals in non-natural charcoal and lighter fluid pollute more and may emit VOCs.

Use real plates – While they can be tempting, it's much easier on the earth to skip the paper and plastic plates, utensils and napkins by serving your food with reusable items.

Carpool – Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends as far as traffic is concerned. Whether you're taking a trip with family or just heading over to a friend's house for a barbecue, see if you can carpool to reduce your carbon footprint. If you're hosting a party, try to arrange a carpooling scheme for your friends.

Serve green food – An easy way to make your festivities more eco-friendly is by serving local, organic and seasonal food. In early September, foods in season include peppers, corn, berries, tomatoes, and onions. Shop at a farmers market to make sure your food is local and check to make sure the produce you are eyeing is organic.

How Long is Your To-Do List?

2010-08-30T12:25:11-04:00

Does anyone ever feel like a two day weekend is hardly enough to get everything on your to-do list taken care of? Especially if "relax" is one of the things listed. For me, it seems like there is never enough time to completely cross out everything. Either new things start popping up to be added to the list, or the old things on the list take much longer than I hoped or expected them to.

For instance, I had a few things I wanted to get done around the house yesterday, but then my wife's car wouldn't start. Instead of cleaning out one of our bedrooms and moving some stuff to the attic, my morning became consumed with jumper cables, battery acid and bad alternators. I managed to get to the vacuuming and the dishes, but that other stuff is waiting for me like a monster in some horror movie. Fortunately, the 3-day weekend awaits this week, which will hopefully allow enough time to re-tackle those issues.

So I thought I'd ask our trusty blog readers if you had any strategy around your to-do lists? I've found that it helps me to break it down by day, and set realistic goals. That way, I feel good about what was accomplished and don't over stress myself during the evenings. It's a nice balance of getting things done but still getting in that important relaxing time to recharge for the next day. Another thing I try to do is take care of the most important items first. If you take care of the less important things, the important things will still demand their attention, simply because that's just how they are.

So what about you guys? How long are your to-do lists? What strategies do you use to help you stay on top of it? Feel free to share in the comments.

Money Saving Tips as Summer Comes to a Close

2010-08-26T10:05:00-04:00

It may still be sweltering outside here in Houston, but I assure you that we're finally reaching the end of summer. The kids are back at school, the summer vacation memories have been made and the cold weather is only a matter of weeks away.

Here are some tips to help you save during the end of summer:

Get a jump start on natural gas – With cool weather comes big heating bills. Start shopping for a low natural gas rate today to lock in the best deals.

Find a deal on TV service – All of your favorite TV shows will soon be back on the air for the fall television season. Also, football is getting into gear and the baseball postseason is just around the corner. Find a great low rate on HD TV service and watch your favorite shows and sporting events for less.

Save on phone calls – From calls to kids heading off to college to holiday phone calls to family, we're entering the busiest time of the year for home phone service. Compare offers on both traditional landline and VOIP service to find the plan best suited for your needs.

Don't give up on electricity – If you haven't already shopped for a new electricity rate this summer, there's still plenty of time to save on cooling bills. And with a new low rate, you'll keep on saving on your electricity right through the fall and winter, too.

Get the speed you need for less – With the kids back at school, it's time to make sure your Internet connection is up to the challenge. With so many broadband options available on WhiteFence, you might find you can actually upgrade to a higher speed for less money!

Bundle and save – Is there ever really a bad time to bundle your home services so save both money and time? I didn't think so!

Ready to start saving? Just head over to our homepage, enter your address and start comparing, connecting and saving on all of your home services.

Getting by with a Little Moving Help from Your Friends

2010-08-25T18:32:21-04:00

If you're like me, then you dread the phone ringing during moving season. Honestly, I will go to all kinds of lengths to keep the moving bug at bay. We've all been in that situation where you know that a buddy of yours is moving, and there's nothing that you want to do less this Saturday than helping him or her carry his or her junk up and down several flights of stairs. In the Texas sun, it's even worse.

However, if you are eventually tackled by a guilty conscience and roped into doing the moving deed with a friend, you know that at least you have a return favor to call in. Apartment Therapy has a recent article with moving tips for friends that gives great suggestions on how to make sure your move goes smoothly if you get some pals to chip in, in order to keep it from becoming a complete mess.

The list includes some very practical and informative tidbits, perfect for anybody that's not always the most organized. It covers everything from providing food and drinks at the end of the moving day, as well as keeping everyone hydrated and fed throughout the whole process. Additionally, it speaks to the importance of delegating tasks to different people, so there's not as much standing around and wondering what to do next.

I'm not sure how many of you have been on the receiving end of awful moves with friends, but I know I have. Once, a friend of mine didn't pack a single thing before all of us showed up, and handed out trash bags for us to pack his entire apartment in. I'm kind of wishing he had read this list for himself. Do any of you have any funny moving stories from times you've helped friends?

Source - Apartment Therapy

Poll: Why Did You Choose Your Current TV Service?

2010-08-24T10:05:00-04:00