Protect Your Home’s Long-Term Value with These Cleaning Habits

Things that are kept clean and well-maintained tend to last longer, look better, and function more efficiently. This “cleanliness = functionality” rule applies to all sorts of things including electronics, vehicles, antiques, and, yes, even your home. As time goes on, those little cleaning projects, minuscule repairs, and seemingly inconsequential messes can really start to add up! Taking care of your home and keeping up with those day to day tasks can help you maintain your property value more easily in the long-run. 

So what can you do to reduce frustrating messes and potential damage? How can you keep your home in an immaculate state of perfect working order and protect yourself from property depreciation? We are here to help! Below, we’ve included some of the best ways to protect your home’s long-term property value by simply keeping it well maintained.

Reduce General Clutter

The first thing that you can do to help maintain your property value involves de-cluttering.

Why should you do this?

You know all of those little things that you’re holding on to that you don’t really need? Letting untouched piles of boxes, bags, clothing, and broken objects stack up may actually damage your home. Clutter conceals cracks or damage, accumulates dust, and puts constant unnecessary weight and strain on the upper floors of a structure. In your yard, clutter can bring your property value down and cause bald spots in the grass.

How can you fix it? 

Once a year, go through and donate everything you don’t use or want. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Instead of letting things that you don’t want or need build up, put them to good use. Ask yourself, “does this item bring value or use to my life?” If it doesn’t, you may want to let it go.

Maintain Good Appliance Cleaning Habits

Taking care of your appliances is another great habit to get into.

Why do this? 

Cleaning your oven, dishwasher, washer, dryer, and fridge is more important than you may think. When you take the time to clean out these appliances, you can actually help them last longer and work better. When you take the time to deep clean these appliances, you can look for damage and cracks that could lead to leaks and water damage later.

How can you fix it? 

Simply pick one appliance to clean out and check every month. Cycle through them all throughout the course of a year. This is an easy way to keep everything in good repair. If you do find damage, ReBLDing can help you reach a broad range of qualified repairmen.

Clear Drains Periodically

Here’s another great way to help prevent damage and protect your home. 

Why do this?

Clogged drains can smell bad, cause leaks, and burst pipes. Snaking them and cleaning them from time to time is smart.

How can you fix it? 

You can do this yourself or hire help. Either way, you’ll want the proper tools. ReBLDing can help you find the perfect person for the job with our streamlined process by connecting homeowners to qualified contractors in your area.

Change Your Air Filters

Here’s another easy way to keep your home in great shape.

Why do this? 

Clogged air filters can wreak havoc on your venting systems. Dust and allergens can also  accumulate making your home dirty and miserable to live in.

How can you fix it? 
You can change these filters every 5-8 months yourself or hire a pro. Both options are easy but hiring a professional will take the stress out of the job. A professional will have the right supplies, reducing the time it takes for you to figure out what you really need from a hardware store.

Other Things You Can Do

Clean Carpets Regularly

Regular carpet cleaning reduces allergens in your home and can prevent damage to your floors

 Keep Up With Small Repairs

Those little spills, scratches and stains can add up! When you see a problem, it is smart to fix it quickly. This will keep things from building up and creating a larger bill in the long run.

Have Gutters Cleaned

Clogged gutters can cause more damage than you’d believe. A good repairman can clean them out quickly and inexpensively. 

Find Great Contractor Services With ReBLDing.

Some of these repairs can be a bit time consuming or have you feeling a tad overwhelmed. Don’t worry! Using contractor services with ReBLDing can save you time, money, and hassle. ReBLDing has an extensive lineup of contractors, repairmen, handymen, and more. These seasoned professionals have in-depth profiles available for you to review at your leisure. ReBLDing lets you get fast and fair quotes, track repairs and renovations, and communicate securely from the beginning to the end of your project.

Things to Consider Before You Start Renovating Your Home

If you’ve been fantasizing about an immaculate master bedroom, daydreaming about increasing your counter space or simply can’t stand the outdated finishes in your guest bathroom any longer, it may be time for a renovation. Before you begin your home renovation process, there are a few things you’ll want to consider. ReBLDing is here to help! 

Before You Begin Renovations
There are a few things that absolutely must be done before that first sledgehammer swing takes place. Making the proper preparations and doing things the right way will save you time, money, energy, and much more.

Planning and Preparing: Timeline and Budget

Every remodel process is different. Know the timeline that you want to work within the parameters of. Choose the order of renovations you wish to make based on your needs as an individual. Plan out your budget as precisely as you can. Remember, every home and every process is different. Make an in-depth list of your goals and stick to your guns as much as possible while operating within reason. Here’s a great link that can help you keep your budget on track: https://www.lifestorage.com/blog/moving/diy-home-renovation-plan/

Do Your Homework
Knowing certain things about your home, its structure, and its foundation can be a gamechanger. Additionally, having a contractor that you can trust is critical. Here are a few things you should do before you start renovating. 

• Inspect the Structure and Foundation of Your Home 
This step is especially important if you want to make drastic changes to your home. In California where natural disasters have been particularly intense over the years, a home inspection is an absolute must. Foundation issues and other structural problems have to be fixed before renovations take place, as they can impact the renovation process dramatically. 

• Shop Around for Professionals 
This important step can save you so much trouble. ReBLDing is the absolute best way to find professionals and specialists in your exact area. Some of the benefits of using ReBLDing include: 

• The wide range of professionals 
• Specialized searches for specific jobs 
• Huge range of Southern California contractors 
• Secure environment 
• Fair estimates 
• Less hassle in the long-run 

Not only do our professionals and Southern California contractors have great reviews, but ReBLDing also helps you from the hiring process to the end of your home renovation. Our smart selection system helps you quickly locate the experts and specialists that you’re looking for. Innovative and secure communication tracking features allow you to keep conversations, estimates, and everything else, on record for later reference. In-depth profiles are user-friendly and easy to view, compare, and share. Shopping for a contractor using ReBLDing is a great way to save yourself time and energy. It may also save you from a lot of frustration later on down the road. 

• Know What Sells in Your Area 
This one is a bit of a buzz-kill, but it’s true! You may decide that you want to move some day. You may end up moving whether you want to or not. Plan for the future! Make renovations that you love, but keep them realistic. Check out this link for some great renovations that can help you increase the value of your home! 

Utilize Resources like ReBLDing

Achieving your dream home is possible; ReBLDing can help. We have the extensive range of reliable and trustworthy contractors that you’re looking for. Browse through hundreds of impressive candidates and compare professionals side by side while enjoying our completely user-friendly interface. Keep in mind that with ReBLDing, you can review the profile of the Southern California contractor that you are interested in quickly, easily, and as many times as you want. We also help to safeguard you from potential risks and scams by using our innovative and secure communication tracking system. ReBLDing really can help you simplify your home renovation process. Our contractor selection system, fair and legitimate estimates, and communication tracking features can help you meet your remodel construction milestones from start to finish. 

Additional helpful links: 
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/things-to-do-before-renovating-house/ 

https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/6-things-to-do-to-prepare-for-your-home-renovation 

https://www.zillow.com/blog/before-gutting-a-home-224778/ 

Let ReBLDing help you get the ball rolling on your home renovations today!

Insurance Tips to Make Sure You Get the Most Coverage After a Loss

Insurance Tips to Make Sure You Get the Most Coverage After a Loss

Knowing how to accurately file a property insurance claim can impact your payment timeframe, claim payment amount, and waking life, dramatically. Additionally, understanding the steps that you can take to get the most coverage after a loss beforehand can save you stress, motivation, and money in the long run. Apart from understanding your policy and having proper documentation on hand, there are a few things you can do to get the coverage that you’re entitled to. 

Facing Your Insurance Company

When you’ve experienced a loss or damage to your property, the last thing you need is a battle with your insurance company. If you end up with an aggressive employee or overly ambitious claims adjustor, you might end up having your case handled unfairly. Our tips listed below will help you get the most out of your claim.

Knowing the Lingo is the First Step

Speaking fluent legal insurance jargon is one of our extremely helpful insurance tips. This will allow you to better understand what your representative is saying, and explain your status properly. Here are a few common terms that you’ll need to know. Additionally, here is a link to our in-depth Insurance Term Glossary.

Types of Settlements

Knowing which type of settlement you may receive is important. Your insurance company should be ready to fairly replace and fix damaged property and items. If you have been making your payments, you are entitled to the coverage that your insurance plan has promised. The settlement that you receive can vary based on how you report your claim. If possible, never accept a settlement that is less than what is promised in your policy. 

• Replacement Cost Settlements 
These settlements are one of the more reasonable options. These settlements cover the cost that it will take to replace damaged items. If you have enough coverage, these settlements can help you get your life back on track. The catch is that the payout time may be slow. Every company is different so specify the settlement payment process with your representative before anything is set in stone. 

• Actual Cash Value Settlements 
Actual cash value basis claims are structured around the depreciated value of items. This means that you will not get the money that you need to replace actual items. Keep this in mind when your insurance company makes you a coverage offer that uses this term. 

Words to Avoid

When filing your homeowners claim, there are a few things that you definitely do not want to say. We are not in any way urging deception, but what is a simple conversation to you may be held against you unfairly later. Speak carefully as you file your claim. Unfortunate as it may be, that first phone call can turn what would be a painless process into a drawn-out battle. 

• Sorry 
Habitually, you may apologize out of embarrassment, frustration, or common courtesy. When it comes to filing a claim, don’t. There is no need to assign blame to yourself, especially in the case of a disaster or property damage. This may go against your responsible nature, but accepting assistance is an absolute must when filing any homeowners claim. 

• Renovated or Customized 
You may have just finished remodeling your and/or kitchen bathroom. The insurance claim adjuster probably won’t want to hear any speculative figures or recent renovation stories. Instead of explaining your renovations, have the actual material receipts, construction costs, and contractor fees printed and ready. ReBLDing logs many of these expenses on our platform so you’ll be able to access them quickly. Having these concrete numbers on hand can be a great way to hold your own against an aggressive adjuster. 

Additionally

Never mention damages that your property already had unless you absolutely have to, even in passing or humorously. If you suspect mold or termites, that’s none of the business of the claim’s adjuster. Don’t give them excuses to cut your claim.
ReBLDing is here to help you get your life back on track after you experience a loss. We offer quotes, contractor services, secure communication, and insurance tips for all of our customers. At ReBLDing, we know that disaster damages can be stressful. When it’s time to hire a contractor and fix your home, we want to make your renovation process as safe, painless, and simple as possible. We can track your costs, contractor communications, and real estimates so that they’re easily accessible. Using our services allows you quick access to all of the contractor costs and some of those key financial figures that you may need when filing a claim.