Home Improvement Guide

Exterior Security Make sure garage, shed and property gates and fully secured after every use. Purchase more secure locks if necessary. Expensive gardening equipment should be security locked away such as lawn mowers. Be sure all garage doors are locked when leaving the house If you have a door connecting the garage to the house it should be solid wood or metal and secured with a strong lock and dead bolt.

Your garage door should be fitted with a strong security lock which is preferably secured to the floor. Get into the habit of always locking your car door when you come home at night. Bicycles and motorbikes should be secured or locked away safe. If you own ladders make you these are all secured or locked away.

Don’t allow drain pipes to be used to gain access to upper floors. Shrubs, trees and bushes should all be pruned so the burglar cannot hide. Install exterior security floodlighting that works with a motion sensor. Be sure any outdoor lighting is switched on in the evening.

So an emergency service can find your house in an emergency, make sure your house number or name is clearly visible Imagine you have locked yourself out – how easy could you break in? Fix any weaknesses that can allow an easy entry for the burglar.

Exterior Door Security Your external doors should be of solid hardwood or metal construction. Glass panels should be reinforced. Fit a peep hole for viewing visitors. Fit a deadbolt lock into the frame of the door. Always make sure exterior doors are locked, even if you go out for a couple of minutes and especially at night. Give extra keys to a neighbor you can trust and never hide them under the front doormat or in a flower pot.

Window Security Check for rotting window frames and replace if necessary. Secure every window in the house with a high security window lock. Consider security window bars if you think your windows could be smashed in order to gain entry.

General Security Around The Home Use interior timers for your lamps. This will give the impression someone is at home. Use a security safe for all your valuables or deposit them in a bank. Keep firearms security locked in an appropriate firearms cupboard. This should be fitted with a trigger guard lock. Keep an up to date inventory of all of your possessions.

Take digital photos of your possessions and valuables and burn the photos to DVD. Put the DVD in a bank safety deposit box. Have emergency telephone numbers next to your telephone. Make sure your whole family is aware of an evacuation procedure in the event of an emergency such as a fire. Let trusted neighbour know that you are going on vacation so they can watch over your property.

Security mark all valuable items such as your computer, TV, Hi-Fi etc… with an appropriate identification mark as recognized by your local police. Cancel deliveries and papers when on vacation And of course, activate your alarm system when leaving your property.

Even though our country is in a recession, you can still create a great looking home on a budget. In fact, it may even be a better time to redecorate because of all the great deals you can find. Many stores have significantly reduced prices in order to sell more furniture and decor. Homeowners are often selling things because they are looking to make some extra cash. Foreclosed homes are often full of furnishings which are then auctioned off at great prices. You never know where you will find the next great deal! Here are a few more tips to great decorating during a recession:

-Shop at garage sales and find great used furniture for cheap prices
-Look in the clearance section of regular furniture stores. They may have some great deals!
-Check out classifieds and craigslist.com for super deals.
-Use inexpensive ways to re-decorate your rooms, such as with paint, area rugs and ready-made draperies.

For more great budget decorating ideas, purchase Designing on a Budget! This no-nonsense budget decorating book will walk you through learning to design on a dime! Also get great tips on Personal Organizing, Kitchen Decorating on a Budget, and Secrets on How to Sell Your Home Fast.

Garage sale decorating, why not?

Summer is a great time to get outside and have some fun! One great way to save money and get some fresh air is to visit garage sales in your area. Garage sales can be a great way to save money on home decor. You may want to do some pre-screening in your newspaper or on Craigslist to check out the larger garage sales in your area. You can find great bargains on everything from furniture, draperies, accessories, dishware and more!

There are a few key points to remember when doing garage sale decorating:

1. Don’t buy things you don’t need. Have a plan before you go out, and know what specific items you are looking for. Don’t buy things just because they are cheap, otherwise you will just end up with a bunch of “junk”.
2. Look for quality. Many homeowners are just looking to clear out their basement or garage, and are selling items that are otherwise valuable. Others just have a bunch of miscellaneous items that could easily be thrown in the trash. Thy to find that diamond in the rough.
3. Everything is negotiable. Don’t just pay the marked price. Try bargaining with the seller, or try getting them to throw in something extra for the same price. You never know what kind of bargain you may get.

And most of all, have fun out there and stay cool!

For more great budget decorating ideas, check out Designing on a Budget!