6 Steps to a Safer Home

Spending more time at home these days? You’re in good company! Use this extended time on the homefront to conduct a safety check to make sure your dwelling has all the right precautions in place. Include the following six tasks:

1. Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. This is the simplest, yet perhaps most important, safety check you can do. Just press down on the test button until the alarm sounds. If it doesn’t, then you need to replace the batteries. Remember, you should have a smoke detector in every room and a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of the house.

2. Outfit your kitchen for safety. A few simple steps in the kitchen can make a big difference when it comes to avoiding an emergency. Remove any flammable items, like pot holders and dish towels, from the vicinity of the stovetop. When you’re cooking, keep a pot lid at the ready to snuff out any fires that may flare up. In addition, make a nominal investment in a fire extinguisher, another smart item to keep in the kitchen.

3. Unclutter your outlets. With more of your family at home, chances are your outlets are more overloaded than usual as everyone looks for space to plug in their devices. Overloaded outlets, however, can be a fire hazard, so take the time to streamline the situation. Consider a surge protector strip to safely accommodate multiple wires, and do away with any frayed cords.

4. Eliminate tripping hazards. More people at home usually means a little more chaos—and stuff. Do regular strolls through each room to tidy up stray toys, shoes, books and rearranged furniture. Remind your family members to be a bit more focused on putting things back in their rightful place.

5. Improve air quality. Before turning on your AC for the season, dust all the air vents and change the filter. While you’re at it, take some time to properly clean humidifiers, fans and air purifiers as well.

6. Store your cleaning products. Just about all of us have stocked up on cleaning supplies in recent months, and are using them more frequently. But in the wrong situation, cleaning products can be hazardous, so make sure they’re properly closed after each use, and stored in an out-of-the-way spot, such as under the sink or in a closet. If you have curious little ones at home, add a lock to those storage spots.

JUNE 2020 - LUXURY MARKET REPORT FOR SACRAMENTO COUNTY

June 2020 - Luxury Market Report for Placer County

Smart Home Gadgets That Will Elevate Your Home

Technology seems to mutate with the speed of light, but is your home keeping up with the changes? Smarten it up with a few smart-home electronics that will boost safety, increase comfort and may even save you a few bucks:

Video Doorbell
The VTech Video Doorbell, about $115, lets you screen and even video chat with visitors before you answer the door. And the system takes a snapshot each time the doorbell is pressed, so you’ll always know who came a-knocking while you were away.

Smart Door Lock
The August Smart Lock uses keyless technology to keep your home safe no matter where you are. From your smartphone, you can let guests in, check to make sure you locked up before you left, keep a record of who has entered and exited, and unlock your door from the driveway. Cost? About $220.

Home Automation
You can ease into wireless control of your lighting and appliances with Insteon’s Start Here Kit, about $125, before moving on to automating other household needs, like irrigation control and occupancy sensing.

Water Saver
The WaterPebble Water Saver memorizes the length of your first shower and uses it as a benchmark to measure future shower times. Using a series of ‘traffic lights,’ it reduces your shower time by a fraction each time, helping you save on your water bill without trying. About $12.

Learning Thermostat
For about $250, the Nest programmable thermostat will learn your heating and cooling schedule and program itself. It can even be controlled from your phone and could save you up to 20 percent on energy costs.

Smart Watering
Is your sprinkling system over-watering or under-watering your lawn? Toro’s wireless Xtra Smart Soil Moisture Sensor keeps the moisture level just right. Not only will the health of you lawn improve, but your wallet (and the Earth) will benefit, too. About $115.

4 Luxe Father's Day Gift Ideas for Around the House

Father’s Day is right around the corner, but there’s still time to get the perfect gift. With endless options to choose from, it can be difficult to find something that lets dad know just how much he means to you. For the fathers who already have it all, here are several fun gift ideas that he’ll enjoy using at home.  

Happy Fathers Day!

Gifts for the Home Gym
Everyone’s working out from home these days, but for some, it can be a struggle. If this sounds like your dad,give him a gift for the home gym that’s worth getting excited about, like a Peloton bike or Mirror, a wall-mounted LCD screen that gives you access to professional trainers and endless exercise classes. 

Garage-Inspired Gifts
For the dad who spends his free time tinkering in the garage, get him something that he can use in his happy place. A beautiful new set of tools is always a great choice, but if he’s all set in that department, you can get him a professional-grade tool chest to store everything. A refrigerator for keeping his favorite beverages nearby is another practical option that’s sure to come in handy. 

Something for the Rec Room
Does he need some new activities to enjoy at home? Then get him a gift for the rec room, like a handcrafted chess board or a billiard table. If he’s the type who likes an ongoing project, then a home brewing kit to make his own beer might be the ideal gift to keep him busy and discover a new hobby.

Backyard Gift Ideas
When we think of backyard gifts for dad, a brand new grill always comes to mind. However, if he already has a state-of-the-art grill for cooking his favorite meals, then maybe he could use an outdoor bar cart for crafting his favorite beverages without having to run back inside the house.

Hiring a Contractor? Know the Cleanup Policy