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How Upgrading Your Home Through Renovation Can Improve Your Health

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to add that soaker tub to your master bathroom or put an island in your freshly re-vamped kitchen, look no further. The results are in and the survey says: “renovating your home can actually be beneficial to your health in a multitude of ways.” That’s right, studies show that upgrading your home is more than just good for your property value. Below, we will take a look at why.

Mind and Matter: Reducing Mental Stress by Creating a Haven at Home

Stress is a real health hazard. Studies have proved that time and time again. Imagine coming home from work to unwind in your own personal zen space. Instead of being greeted by those outdated kitchen cabinets that have been an eyesore for the last five years, you walk into your dream kitchen. Tell us that wouldn’t feel great. Relax in the master suite that you’ve wanted all of your life, or enjoy new ambient lighting in your living room.

These little changes can make your home more of a haven and less of a stress factor. Even minimal updates can make a huge difference. All of the projects that you’ve been putting off may be stressing you out more than you realize. Fixing and upgrading certain areas of your home can be extraordinarily beneficial. You’ll feel more energized, accomplished, and may even streamline your day to day processes.

Your Own Personal Oasis

If you’ve been fantasizing about a backyard that feels like your own personal escape, you can stop daydreaming and start doing. Exterior enhancements like landscaping or additions that allow you to create your own garden can be huge stress relievers. There are tons of things that you could do to take your backyard from bland to dazzling over the course of a weekend or two.

For instance, a zen koi pond with a small waterfall or a quaint gazebo could add tons of charm to a drab flat yard space. Clearing space for a home garden can give you access to a permanent hobby that relaxes you and helps you use your leisure time more effectively. Bonus: you can even grow a few organic veggies to benefit your physical health.

Renovations like this may not cost as much as you’d think, either. For the same price as updating window fixtures, you could add exterior lighting and new patio paving stones for a chic and clean look. Upkeep isn’t all that hard and the right contractor can make your exterior home renovation process a breeze.

Let ReBLDing Help You Relieve the Pressure

Stressing throughout your renovations won’t do. The good news is that ReBLDing is here to save the day. We have taken almost all of the stress and guesswork out of hiring a contractor so that you can get the ball rolling on your dream remodel right away.

We offer access to all kinds of contractor services and industry professionals so that whatever you need, you can find quickly and easily by navigating our user-friendly search features. With ReBLDing, you get access to in-depth profiles, user reviews, and more. You’ll be able to find the contractor services that fit your specific needs with minimal effort. That’s not all. We also give you secure communication tracking, documented price quotes, and job status updates. You can relax throughout your entire home renovation process knowing that ReBLDing has your back.

If you’re ready to make your property feel more like a home, we are ready to help. Let ReBLDing assist you in turning your house into a stress-free sanctuary today.

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Common Home Projects You Should Leave to the Professionals

While it can sometimes be a good idea to take on the title of “weekend warrior” and enter the wide world of Pinterest and DIY magic, there are a few home renovation jobs that are best left to the pros. So how do you know which jobs should be done by professionals and which projects you can proudly complete yourself? Well, that’s why we’ve created this quick guide.

Knowing Your Limits

Before we go any further, we want to state that some projects can be done at home by individuals with certain skill sets. Are you an electrician by trade? Then, by all means, re-wire that breaker and start installing that new HVAC system! If not, we recommend calling a professional. Likewise, individuals with in-depth landscaping knowledge can probably install their own sprinkler systems, plumbers can fix piping, and architects can draft design blueprints. However, if you feel out of your element, don’t stress.

Also consider, even if you have the required skill sets, some jobs are either too unsafe, too expensive or require specific tools that you just don’t own. It’s also smart to sit down and weigh the value of your time against the potential expense of hiring a professional. There’s an entire industry of professionals who can save you time, money, and effort on any number of jobs. Our point is, don’t undersell yourself. If you feel like you can do a job, you should! On the other hand, if you find yourself hesitant, stressed, or overwhelmed, hiring a professional is a smart and efficient option.

Jobs for the Pros

Even the most skilled DIY renovators may find themselves in a bind with some of the following projects. The following list contains some of the most difficult jobs to accomplish without some kind of professional assistance.

Industry Specific Jobs

Wiring, plumbing, and roofing all have specific industries built around them. There is a legitimate reason for this. These jobs require advanced sets of skills, expensive equipment, and lots of real-life experience. This doesn’t mean that you can’t install your own ceiling fan or fish your wedding ring out of the drain, but if you have a suspicious leak, wiring issues, or other large fixes, take a step back and consider calling a pro. If a job has an entire profession built around it, and you aren’t a professional in the industry, you should probably save yourself the trouble and just hire out.

Big Structural Changes

If you need to renovate a lower floor, have foundation issues, or have decided it’s time to make amendments to the structure of your home, it’s definitely time to hire a pro. These jobs are large, time-consuming dangerous, and sometimes pretty risky. The margin for error with structural changes can be pretty wide. When it comes time to make structural adjustments, it’s probably also time to look toward the professionals.

Unforeseen Property Damage

Generally, most types of property damage will require the intercession of a professional. This is because damages can create complicated issues that may bleed into multiple areas of your home. Tree removal, water damage, large-scale roofing repair, and fire damages are all areas where the professionals can really help. Hiring a good contractor for repairs can save you from a lot of frustration in the long run. After all, if your property has become damaged, you probably don’t have the extra time and energy to drop everything and make your own repairs. It’s not like you can schedule fire damage into your day. Additionally, when catastrophe strikes, the last thing you want to accidental more accidental damage to your home, or worse, yourself.

ReBLDing Can Help!

Did your home renovation project make the list of jobs best left to the professionals? Don’t fret! ReBLDing has an extensive array of local contractors for you to choose from. You can find the professional assistance you need with minimal effort at record speeds using our user-friendly platform. Search for contractor services, read in-depth profiles, see the accolades and certifications of the specialists that pique your interest, and more.

ReBLDing is able to walk you through the entire renovation process. We even securely track the communications between you and the local contractors you choose so that you have everything on record. This is just one way that ReBLDing takes the guesswork out of complex projects. If it’s time to tackle a daunting job and you feel out of your element, let ReBLDing get you in touch with the experienced professionals that you need.

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Home Renovation Trends for 2019 and How ReBLDing Can Help You Achieve Them

Our local contractors love home renovations. After all, seeing those before and after shots of a gorgeously renovated space is simply smile-inducing. With 2019 fast approaching, many people have begun to plan their home renovations and updates. In a competitive housing market, it never hurts to stay well informed on the latest trends and styles of design and interior aesthetics. As you dive into 2019, you may decide that it’s time to do something innovative, creative, and fresh. We want to help! Below, we will take a look at some of our favorite home renovation trends for 2019.

Our Four Favorite Home Renovation Trends For 2019

Open Concept Kitchens
For 2019, open kitchens are an obvious go-to. As the world becomes more open, honest, and connected, family units seem to be following suit. An open kitchen allows for a casual dining experience combined with better sight distances and greater family interaction. These kitchens also create spatial flow and an enhanced feeling of expansiveness within your household. A few examples could be: large kitchen islands, half walls, and spaces that flow from room to room.

Floating Shelves
Open shelving can give you more floor space, better organization, and a feeling of composed style. A wall fitted with floating shells can take a room from ordinary to contemporary instantly. You can display photos, place vases and decorations, stack books, and so much more on these convenient and trendy shelves. Additionally, floating shelves can be painted in contrasting colors or made of unique hardwoods for an updated and appealing look. These shelves can be configured to make spaces feel larger or spread out to give a feeling of coziness. They are an extremely versatile option. Floating shelves can also replace nightstands and kitchen cabinets to give a room greater versatility.

Bold Ceramic
Bold ceramic tiling can make a room feel more interesting, exciting, or luxurious. It all depends on the tiles that you choose. Additionally, ceramic tiles are durable, easy to clean and give any space a high-end feeling. Another great thing about ceramic accenting and tiling is its cost. If you play it right, you may be able to save some money on your renovations. Accenting with backsplashes in the kitchen, adding ceramic tiling in a bathroom, or replacing dated laminate flooring with ceramics are all easy ways to add value to your home.

Back To Basics
In 2019, trends are honoring the past while looking to the future. Many interior designers are putting their focus on classic simplicity, clean elements, and creating a comfortable and calming atmosphere within the home. Copper, reclaimed wood, exposed grain, columns, and other similar materials and elements add to this bold and timeless style with rustic charm. Natural colors, sturdy high-quality materials, and clean designs are becoming increasingly popular. It seems that quality is the new quantity and the smart and versatile neutrals have replaced overstated the fluorescents and oversaturated hues of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. This throwback styling is less of a trend and more of a direction that the industry is taking. This is good news because renovations are more likely to last and stay current in the long-run.

ReBLDing Has Your Back
If you’re looking to freshen things up around your home in 2019, we’ve got you covered. ReBLDing grants you fast access to limitless local contractors, design specialists, and industry professionals, all at absolutely no cost! Not only that, but we can help walk you through the entire renovation process from the beginning to the end. Fully licensed and state approved, our local contractors know that transparency is the name of the game. We’ll give you access to a multitude of contractor profiles, keep you posted about job status updates, assist in your secure communication tracking, and provide you with documented estimates. You’ll be able to remove the stress and guesswork of your renovations and finally get down to business. You can make 2019 your year; we can help. Let ReBLDing assist you in achieving your dream home!

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Our Tips for a Safe Home for Your Children: A Quick Guide to Preventing Injuries

Home and family go hand in hand. Your house is where your children play, grow, and find a safe haven. However, your home and property may not be as safe as you believe. Many homeowners are unaware that an alarming number of childhood accidents actually happen within the parameters of the standard American household. This is because within the house children are more likely to go unsupervised, but that can be fixed with contractor services. Below, we will go over a few things that you can do to make your home safer for your children, your family, and even yourself.

Most Common Household Dangers

Knowing where common dangers lie is the first step you can take toward a safer home environment. The 8 most common household accidents are as follows:

8. Poisoning
Children are particularly prone to poisoning. Colorful chemical substances like antifreeze and laundry pods are particularly alluring.

7. Choking
Marbles, candy, and other rounded objects are usually responsible for choking. Other choking hazards include small toys, pieces of toys, and flexible rubbery objects.

6. Burns
Burns from the stove top, oven, electrical sockets, and even light fixtures are common injuries within a home.

5. Cuts/Glass-related Injuries
Concrete can cause scrapes while broken glass pieces from mirrors or windows are usually the main culprits when it comes to cuts.

4. Drowning
While the first thing that comes to mind when you hear drowning may be the family pool, don’t forget that bathtubs and toilets are other danger zones.

3. Trips and Falls
Falling down the stairs, off of a bunk bed, from a trampoline, or even tripping on a loose rug, can cause a great deal of harm.

2. Outdoor Injuries on the Property
Children playing in the yard or driveway of a home tend to fall victim to injuries as well. The exterior of your home may leave children vulnerable to loose dogs, insect stings, vehicular accidents, and more.

1. Falling Objects
So what’s the most common household danger for children? Falling objects. Televisions, bookcases, wardrobes, and other large objects are a legitimate danger within your home.

Ways to Make Your Home Safer

So how can you mitigate these potential disasters? It’s easier than you may realize.

Here are a few things you can do to prevent injury and make your home safer.

Identify Problem Areas
You need to identify the problem areas specific to your home. Each household is different. Some common dangers to look out for are:

• Corners – Sharp corners can cause head injuries.
• Rugs – Loose rugs can cause tripping.
• Railings – Railings that are too short, wide, or lose, can lead to falls.
• Balconies – Balconies and other areas tend to draw rambunctious kids.
• Furniture – Large unanchored furniture can fall on children.
• Water – Pools, toilets, and full bathtubs are dangerous to toddlers and babies.
• Other – Look for other dangers that are specific to your home. Think critically so that you can stop accidents before they happen.

Install Preventative Hardware
Making your home safer doesn’t mean padding the rooms. You just have to take some extra precautions. These days, many impressive products are available to make things safer and easier.

• Child Safety Locks – These should be installed on cabinets containing anything dangerous that you don’t want your kids getting into.

• Outlet Covers – Today, new outlets are designed with child protective measures built-in. If you have older electrical outlets, consider upgrading them, or getting safety socket plugs.

• Corner Guards – Small pieces of rubber can be easily attached to sharp corners.

• Security Cameras – If you won’t be able to monitor your children all of the time, live security cameras are now available that can stream to a monitor or even your Smartphone via WiFi.

• Furniture Anchors – Taking the time to properly anchor tall cabinets, bookshelves, and your television to your walls can prevent some serious injuries.

• Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors – These are essential to the safety of your entire family.

• Door Alarms – Inexpensive door alarms will tell you when young children are entering unauthorized areas.

Repair Damages and Make Alterations
It may be wise to take the time to repair damages, make the necessary alterations, and renovate certain areas of your home. This is especially true for new parents, or parents moving into a new home that isn’t child safe.

ReBLDing Can Help

Sometimes, repairs and renovations can get overwhelming. This is especially true if you’re trying to make immediate time-sensitive safety adjustments to your home. If it’s time to call in the professionals, we want you to know that we are here to help. Whether you need a professional childproofing specialist, contractor services for repairs, or other industry experts, ReBLDing has you covered.

Here at ReBLDing, we’ll help you find the contractor services that you require. Not only that, but we will stick with you through repairs or renovations from start to finish! We provide secure communications, job progress updates, quote and estimate tracking, and much more. You have enough to worry about with keeping track of your children and protecting your family. That’s why ReBLDing takes the guesswork out of hiring contractors of any kind. With access to thousands of professionals with fully descriptive user profiles, ReBLDing can get you in touch with the people you need.

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How to Keep Your Trees and Yard Healthy to Prevent Fire Damage

In light of the devastating wildfires that have ravaged their way across Southern California in recent weeks, we would like to take some time to discuss how you can protect your home and property from fire damage. For instance, certain kinds of defensive landscaping can go a long way toward keeping your home and family safe. Below, we will take a look at how exactly that works. 

What is defensive landscaping? 
Defensive landscaping utilizes judicious selection and placement of plants to strategically decrease the damage that may be caused by wildfire or other types of destructive fire damage. It also involves maintaining the health of trees and bushes and eliminating debris so that fires are less likely to quickly take to a property if nearby. This can go a long way toward keeping your home safe and minimizing the disastrous effects of a fire. Main principles of defensive landscaping include: 

• Planting with fire resistance in mind 
• Clearing flammable debris 
• Strategically placing landscaping materials 
• Maintaining the health of current plants 

Is this kind of landscaping unattractive? 
When you hear words like defensive or fire resistant, you might begin to conjure up images of rusty metal, cold concrete slabs, or sharp rock beds. Actually, defensive landscaping can be just as attractive as any kind of landscaping, if not more so. It simply utilizes the placement of plants to keep you and your home safer. Lush green plants and trees are much more fire resistant than wide open spaces or dead and dried out foliage. Many methods of defensive landscaping may actually wind up making a yard more aesthetically pleasing.

Maintaining Your Yard 
Beginning the process of fireproofing your yard is easier than you may think. For the most part, good maintenance is all you need. You’ll want to maintain your yard and trees and keep them as healthy as possible. Additional strategic planting and placement of plants can also be helpful. It’s also a good idea to remove unwanted debris like dead leaves and branches. 

How to Protect Your Trees
Maintaining the health of your trees is an important first step. For the most part, mature trees can fend for themselves. You can help protect them by keeping root systems safe and trimming away dead branches. Mulching regularly is also wise. 

• Mulch Regularly 
Mulching around the base of your trees is important. Mulch helps your trees maintain proper levels of moisture. It can also add key nutrients to the soil, depending on the kind of mulch you use. Apply one to four inches of mulch around the base of each tree. Start an inch away from the trunk and extend mulch all the way to the drip line of the under the branches. Repeat every few months or whenever you see mulch drying out or blowing away. 

• Don’t Over Fertilize 
Mature trees don’t need all that much fertilizer. Fertilizer can contain a lot of moisture, and too much moisture can actually be bad for trees. In addition to this, fertilizer can be flammable. 

• Protect Root Systems 
A root system is the lifeline of a tree. Many kinds of root damage are accidental. For instance, did you know that parking under a tree can damage its roots? Vehicles compact soil and thus may hinder root function. It’s also important to watch where you dig. 

For more tips on strategic planting and other defensive methods to prevent the spread of wildfires, follow this link. 

ReBLDing Can Help

ReBLDing can help restore communities that have gone through hard times caused by the wildfires. If you need help maintaining your yard, planting defensively, or repairing fire damage that’s already been done, don’t stress. We are here to help. 

ReBLDing has an extensive database of industry professionals that can assist you with essentially everything and anything in the housing industry. We can help you find the contractor services that you’re looking for. Our user-friendly interface allows you to track communications between contractors, see the status of current jobs, get fair estimates, and much more. If you need contractor services of any kind, you can count on ReBLDing to simplify the entire process from start to finish. In times of uncertainty, ReBLDing will help you find professionals that you can trust in an environment that puts you at ease.

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Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Have Homeowners Insurance

How much do you know about what homeowners insurance actually does? In the event of an emergency, what would really happen? Many people would be surprised to find out that a homeowners insurance policy can cover a lot more than just their house. Below, we will take a look at what your home insurance is capable of doing and why. Without further ado, here are the top ten reasons to have a reliable homeowners insurance policy and what it may be able to do for you and for your family. 

10. Bank Requirement 
One of the requirements of almost every mortgage lender will be the purchase of adequate homeowners insurance. If you wish to satisfy your mortgage lender, you’ll need to get the minimally required amount of home insurance. Each lender will have different requirements, but a minimum policy of some kind will probably be needed. 

9. Protection From Legal Liability 
You can’t really control if your mail carrier slips and falls on ice in your driveway or if one of your tree branches breaks off and lands on their mail truck. Homeowners insurance provides liability coverage to help protect you from lawsuits that may arise from unfortunate surprises like this.

8. Home Loss Protection 
If your home gets decimated or becomes otherwise uninhabitable, a homeowners policy can pay to relocate you. This is called “loss of use” coverage. A policy with this kind of coverage will help you pay for things like hotels, meals, and other similar living expenses. 

7. Item Replacement 
A good policy will cover your personal belongings. The insurance company may reimburse you for the value of items or pay to replace them beforehand. Keep in mind that these replacement policies can have caveats so know what’s covered and read your policy thoroughly. 

6. Medical Bill Assistance 
If a guest of yours gets hurt while on your property because of some random disaster, your homeowners policy may provide coverage for their medical bills and other expenses as a result of their injury.

5. Gives Protection From Humans 
People can cause as much trouble as mother nature. If your home is robbed or vandalized, your policy is there to protect you and your property. Your belongings may be replaced and repairs may be covered. 

4.Protects Equity 
Your home is a big investment. If you have built equity in your home by adding innovations or remodeling, your homeowners policy can help you protect the value of your house if it gets damaged. This way, you don’t have to build things up all over again from scratch. 

3. Covers Certain Repairs 
After a disaster strikes, your insurance company can help you repair damages. This means assisting with the cost of contractors, materials, and more. The claim that you file will have a big impact on what will be covered, so once again, be sure to understand your policy well. 

2. Helps Protect From Unforeseen Disasters 
Wind, earth, fire, and water are more than just the elements. They’re the ingredients for disasters that will usually be protected by your insurance policy. Most policies will protect from tornadoes, fire, windstorms and hail.

1. Gives Peace of Mind 
Lastly, homeowners insurance can give you peace of mind. Knowing that your family, home, and property, are properly protected, can help you stress less and enjoy life more. Because of this, it’s number one on our list of reasons to find a good homeowners insurance policy. 

After Disaster – The Next Step 
A good homeowners policy is a must in today’s world. However, even if your home insurance policy covers the cost of damages and repairs, it will be up to you to make the next move. That’s where ReBLDing can help. In a world that’s unpredictable, ReBLDing is the contractor services specialist you can trust. Find contractors, get fair estimates, track the status of a repair or construction job, save and organize conversations, and more, all in a secure and user-friendly environment. When disaster strikes, ReBLDing has the contractor services that you can count on without any of the stress and uncertainty.

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How to Create an Emergency Survival Kit

Disasters can strike at any time and are almost always unforeseen. Creating an emergency survival kit may just be one of the smartest moves you’ll ever make. An emergency services survival kit can help you in the event of a medical emergency, allow you to stay safe during a natural disaster, and much more. Below, we will take a look at how you can create an emergency survival kit of your own in the event that you run into some unforeseen circumstances. 

Step 1: Consider Your Needs 
Before you can create your kit, you’ll want to consider what you may need for your family or specific situation. Let’s look at a few things you may wish to take into consideration. 

Family size

Are you a family of one or part of a couple? Do you have children? The size and makeup of your family will greatly impact the items that you may need in your kit. 

Individual Situation and Specialized Circumstances

Do you have any special needs? If you’re a diabetic, for instance, it may be a good idea to have a separate kit with the supplies that you require to maintain your insulin levels. This is just an example to give you an idea of individual circumstances that can affect your kit’s contents. While we can suggest the general items that you should have in an emergency services survival kit, you need to consider your specific needs as an individual as well. 

Location

Where do you currently live? If you’re in California, for example, you may not need much in the way of cold weather gear. You can put that fluffy parka back. Packing unnecessary items can weigh your kit down and make it less ergonomically efficient.

Step 2: Gather Proper Supplies
Taking the time to gather and lay out the supplies that you need is the next step to take. Here is a list of most of the basic supplies that you should be keeping in your emergency survival kit. 
• Water or water purifier 
• Food (dry or canned food that has a long expiration date) 
• Flashlight 
• Radio (battery-powered or hand-crank) 
• Batteries 
• First aid kit 
• Medications 
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items 
• Tools (Swiss army knife, multi-purpose tools, etc.) 
• Copies of important documents and ID cards 
• Extra cell phone charger 
• Family emergency services contact information 
• Cash or tradeable valuables 
• Blanket 
• Maps of the area

Step 3: Put Your Kit Together
Now you simply have to pack everything together. Depending on which type of container you’re keeping everything in, pack things in order from heaviest to lightest with heavier items on the bottom. Try to leave items that are essential (a flashlight, knife, etc.) toward the top or opening of your kit for quick accessibility. 

Remember, if you do happen to become the victim of an unforeseen natural disaster, ReBLDing can help you get your life back on track. We know that the home restoration process can seem overwhelming. Let us introduce you to numerous highly recommended contractors, home restoration specialists, repair service specialists and more. ReBLDing can also help you quickly and easily establish a secure connection with a contractor or repair specialist that is perfect for you. We’ll walk you through your entire repair process! You can keep track of repairs, communications, receipts, estimates, and more with our user-friendly platform interface. ReBLDing is equipped with a huge array of helpful features. At ReBLDing, we know that disasters are unpredictable. Our contractor service process is reliable, simple to understand, and fast. We want to make your home repair process as stress-free and easy as possible. If you need contractor services of any kind after an unforeseen catastrophe, check out ReBLDing!

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Top Home Insurance Misconceptions

home insurance

Your Homeowners Policy 
In times of trouble, your homeowner’s policy can be an important tool. This kind of home insurance is capable of protecting you from bearing the burden of certain repair costs and other expenses after an unforeseen disaster. These policies are a great help in situations where your property has become subject to fire damage, the aftermath of extreme weather, flooding, and more. The right homeowner’s policy can help you get back on your feet quickly and with less stress. 

Getting to the Bottom of Things 
Many insurance companies tend to use confusing linguistic terminology in one place or another within their policies. This can lead to a number of fairly common policy misconceptions, myths, and other frustrating miscommunications. These areas of confusion tend to go unchecked until a time of crisis rears its head. 

What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You 
At ReBLDing, we want you to know what to watch out for so that you can get the most value out of your policies. The things that homeowners don’t understand about their policies can lead to misinformation that can really sting down the road. You definitely don’t want to find out later that something important isn’t covered.

Below, we have included some common myths and misconceptions about homeowners insurance. Some of these myths are even perpetuated with misleading terminology within the policies. We hope that this knowledge will help you better understand your options and assist you in protecting your property in the event of a catastrophe.

6 Common Homeowners Policy Myths and Misconceptions

Here are the top 6 homeowners policy misconceptions that you may not have heard of. 

Myth 1: Premiums Will Increase With Every Claim 
Actually, a single claim may not result in a premium increase of any sort. The damage in this area usually comes from filing multiple claims. Still, it’s a good idea to estimate costs before filing a claim to see if it is really worth taking the hit. After all, you don’t want to file when you can cover it and be surprised by an even worse incident a few months later. While this is unlikely, a good stance to take may be to “hope for the best, prepare for the worst. “ 

Myth 2: A Detailed Home Inventory is Not Needed 
Many homeowners assume the value of their claim will be calculated by a lump sum of their damaged items and repair costs. This isn’t always the case. Some claim adjustments are required after it looks like certain items may be covered. Proof of ownership may be required by your insurance company. There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from losing out when it comes to proof of ownership claim adjustments and similar processes. There are many free worksheets available that you can fill out which allow you to do a home inventory from room to room. We recommend doing this. Better safe than sorry! 

Myth 3: Damage is Always Automatically Covered 
Certain types of damage are expected to be covered no matter what. These types of coverage include water damage, termites, weather damage, and other unforeseen catastrophes. In actuality, there are certain conditions that may apply which will prevent you from being covered. For example, in the state of Florida, where flooding is common, you’d expect a homeowners policy to cover flood damage. Guess what? It doesn’t. Coverage must be purchased separately. Watch for these little surprises. Just because something should sensibly be covered doesn’t mean that it will be. 

Myth 4: Current Market Value is Considered When Determining Premiums 
This is not always true. For instance, the cost of materials and labor today can easily surpass the market value of a home purchased years ago. On the flipside, luxury properties in coveted locations may inflate in worth over time. The rebuild cost for properties that have inflated in value will be much less than the worth of the property. Because of this, it’s smart to ensure that your insurance policy calculates replacement cost value so that you can avoid paying certain premiums for a property that has depreciated. 

Myth 5: Renewal Doesn’t Impact Coverage 
This is another common myth. In actuality, renewing your policy may have multiple stipulations and general policy updates attached to it. Reading the fine print is the first step to take when renewing coverage. If you don’t like the changes to your homeowner’s policy, you may want to look somewhere else. 

Myth 6: Umbrella Policies Cover Everything 
Personal umbrella policies sometimes claim to cover everything. Unfortunately, these policies may, in fact, have a few “leaks.” For instance, if you have an umbrella policy that covers your home, but at the time of an incident you are using your home for business-related reasons, you might not be covered. Additionally, umbrella coverage usually only kicks in after you’ve used up every other type of available coverage. 

Remember, at ReBLDing, we can help. Our system allows you to select the contractors and repair professionals that you need for any job. We also help you track costs, communications, estimates, repair progress, and much more, all in a secure and user-friendly environment. At ReBLDing we can help you make your entire home repair or renovation process simple and stress-free!

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Ways to Prepare Your Home for Southern California Winters

Seasonal changes can have an impact on your home. Even in sunny Southern California, knowing how to properly prepare your home for winter is important. Things like temperature dips, cold rain, and occasional early morning frosts can cause damage to homes that are not prepared properly. At ReBLDing, we have many helpful tools available to assist you in your winter preparation process. It’s a lot easier to get ready now when it’s nice outside, than later on down the road. Let’s take a look at a few things you can do to get your home ready for those chilly days and long nights. 

Inspect Your Furnace 
One of the first things that you’ll want to do is inspect your furnace. You can test your furnace by turning your heat up to 80 degrees and seeing if warm air begins to blow. If not, you may have a problem. 

Clear Vents 
You will also want to make sure that everything is cleared away from your heating vents. When you’ve been leaving them dormant, things may be piled up on top of your vents or positioned either accidentally or on purpose to block them. This is a no go, as blocked vents are less effective and may become a fire hazard. 

Seal Doors and Windows 
After you have your heating systems taken care of, you’ll want to start sealing your doors and windows. Transition areas where any glass meets wood, wood meets brick, and so on, can be prone to leakage or drafts. This can increase your heating bill or even increase the possibility of water damage. Taking some time to prevent this may save you quite a bit of aggravation in the long run. You can use self-expanding caulk, sealing strips, or weatherproofing tape. Large gaps can be fixed by a local professional that are easily accessible through ReBLDing.

Prep the Fireplace 
If you have a fireplace, you’ll want to have it ready for cold winter nights. It’s a lot easier to do this now when the weather is still nice, as opposed to in the middle of a cold and rainy evening when you attempt to light a cozy fire only to find out nothing is working properly. Start with the chimney. In the warmer months, debris like bird nests and fallen leaves can cause blockages. You’ll also want to clear soot buildup from burning fireplaces. For gas fireplaces, have connectors inspected if you suspect potential problems. Hiring a service person may save you time and aggravation with certain fireplaces and chimneys and ReBLDing is the perfect place to find the right person for the job.

Pools and Hot Tubs 
In Southern California, pools and hot tubs can usually be utilized year-round. If you decide to drain your pool, remove all service equipment, clear filters, and follow instructions in your user manual so that when it comes time to use your pool again, everything will operate correctly. If you have a pool cover, inspect it for rips, tears, and other signs of damage. 

Your Roof and Rain Gutters 
Having someone inspect your roof may be wise. Prevention is much easier than responding to problems in this case. Rain gutters should also be cleaned out and prepared. For more preventative tips, check out our previous blog on Protecting Your Home’s Long-Term Value with These Cleaning Habits for more.

ReBLDing is Here to Help

Hiring contractor services is the best move to get quality work. ReBLDing has a multitude of experienced industry and service professionals on hand to help get your home properly winterized. All of our contractors have extensive profiles that you can review. After hiring contractor services, ReBLDing allows you to securely track communications, payments, progress, and more. We can help you with your entire winter preparation process from start to finish.

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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.