The garage is one area of our homes at particularly high risk of fire. Why is that? Because it is the place, we generally keep the most combustible items like gas canisters, cleaning chemicals, outdoor equipment and used decorating supplies, etc. Any of these items could increase the risk of fire, especially if they are not stored in the proper way. 

What other factors contribute to a garage becoming a fire hazard? Very often, if we have to do some yard work or fix a piece of outdoor equipment, we use the garage to do it. If oily rags or combustible liquids are left on the garage floor, they can become a hazard, so it is important to clean these up as quickly as possible. You should not store bags full of garbage in the garage either, as these will increase the fire risk. 

Another way the garage can become a health hazard is if a vehicle is left running with the doors closed. This could be lethal, so never start the car or any other machine before opening the garage door first.  You must also ensure that you have carbon monoxide detectors and that they are regularly checked to make sure they are working properly.
​
Be extra careful if your garage is attached to your home. Damage to the connecting door and frame, such as cracks or gaps can allow toxic fumes to enter your living space. So, be vigilant with regard to garage maintenance and do your best to prevent it from becoming a fire hazard.

Given the title of this blog, you may be asking what are the signs we are talking about? The signs are those you may observe when a sinkhole has started to form. We all know how destructive a sinkhole can be, so, being able to recognize some of the warning signs is crucial. Here are some of them:

Let’s start with the exterior of your property. When a sinkhole starts to form it may show up in different ways, some indicators may be quite subtle, while others are more obvious. You might notice that vegetation has started dying for no apparent reason. This will happen if the plant's water source is draining away into a sinkhole. Trees or fence posts may start to lean, with areas that are usually underground becoming exposed. You also want to look out for cracks in the ground that form in circular patterns, and rapid ground subsidence or fissures. 

What can happen to the interior of a home when a sinkhole is forming? As is the case with the exterior, warning signs vary in severity. Look out for cracks suddenly appearing on walls and floors. Do doors and windows no longer close easily, indicating that they have shifted slightly? Also, if your home has well water, it may start to become muddy or cloudy looking.
​
These are just a few of the signs that could appear on your property when a sinkhole is forming. Before you start to panic, though, these signs can also be indicators of a completely different problem. The best thing to do is have the home thoroughly inspected to have the problem correctly diagnosed.

Finding bed bugs in your home is not something anyone wants, but the fact is that bed bugs have become a real problem for many people. Why is that? How do you know if you have bed bugs in your home, and what can be done about them?

How do you know if there are bed bugs in your home? Bed bugs have oval-shaped rust-colored bodies. However, they are difficult to detect as they are extremely small. It is more likely that you will observe what they leave behind. For example, you may notice tiny stains on your bed sheets or mattress that come from body fragments or their fecal matter. There may be a musty odor in the room. You may even find itchy bumps on your skin from their bites. 

How do you get bed bugs in your home? As we mentioned, bed bugs are extremely small, which means they are easy to transport. Despite the name, bed bugs can also be found in items like clothing, soft furnishings, books, and picture frames. So, if you have been somewhere that has them, it is possible that you brought them home with you in your luggage, etc. 

What should you do about bed bugs? The first thing is not to panic, as you may try to remedy the problem yourself and make the issue worse. Instead, contact a pest control expert who has experience in getting rid of bed bugs. They will know the best methods of bed bug removal. 

Mold is not something you want to share a living space with. However, you could be living with mold and not even realize it, which means you may be living in an unhealthy indoor environment. Let’s look at one example where this could happen.

Carpets. Were you aware that a carpet can develop a mold problem and not become noticeable until it has become a more extreme case? Therefore, it is good to think about the space before deciding whether or not to use carpet in it. You should consider the levels of humidity in the room and the likelihood that the floor will become wet or damp on a regular basis. Conditions like these will be ideal places for mold to develop in a carpet. Some examples of this are bathrooms and basements.
​
If you find mold in your carpet, what can you do? Firstly, it is good to look at the underside of the carpet every so often to check for mold. If you find that a small patch of mold has recently developed, then you should be able to take care of it with cleaning. But, if the mold has affected a large area of the carpet, has been wet for longer than 24 hours, or if the carpet has been in a flood, it is probably best to remove it together with the padding underneath. Make sure that the floor has been thoroughly clean and has dried out before replacing it.

Natural disasters are now a very common occurrence so planning ahead for one is something we all should do. Advance preparation will greatly increase the chances that you and your household will stay safe in an emergency, so how what are some things you can do now to be ready for a natural disaster?

Have your emergency go-bags ready. Do not wait until an emergency situation occurs to get your bag ready. It is unlikely you will have much time and supplies could become limited. Your go-bag should contain supplies to last you for about 3 days. It should include water, food, any medication you may need, clean clothes, toiletry items, important documents, and some cash. As well as a go-bag, it is also a good idea to keep extra supplies of water and nonperishable food items in the house.

A natural disaster can cause untold damage to your property. You can prepare in advance to limit the amount of potential damage by clearing out gutters and downspouts and keeping trees trimmed to reduce the likelihood that tree limbs and branches will fall on your home. You will also want to create easy access to shut-off valves for the home’s utilities like gas, electricity, and water. 
​
Finally, ahead of time, discuss as a household emergency disaster routes and location points for meeting back up if you are separated. It is good to do this ahead of time as communication is usually a problem during a disaster. 

Accidents are simply unavoidable sometimes. However, much can be done to prevent home-related accidents by having a good home maintenance routine. The staircase is one area in particular that needs to be checked for safety regularly, as it is a part of the house that sees a lot of accidents. 

There are a few ways to maintain the stairs in your home. Firstly, you need to ensure that the stairs themselves are not slipping hazards, so check them for loose carpeting. If they are wooden, check that they are not too well polished, which will make them very dangerous. You should also make sure that the banisters or handrails are secure and not wobbly. 

The staircase as well as its surrounding area should also have good lighting. Each step needs to be clearly visible, especially if members of the household are elderly or visually impaired. 

Do you live in an older house? If so, your staircase may not meet current building standards. For example, to prevent stairs from becoming a tripping hazard, they need to be the same height. Banisters should be positioned close enough to one another that it would be impossible for a young child to get their head trapped. 
​
If it has been some time since you checked your staircase for safety, why not schedule some time to do it soon? This way you will be protecting yourself and your household from accidents and injury.ere to edit.

We all know the benefits of good money management, but with so much credit available to us these days, it can be easy to get carried away. Before we know it, we could end up with a bad credit report. Is this something we should worry about?

It is unlikely that you will be affected by a bad credit report while you go about your everyday routine. However, it is when you want to make a big investment, such as buying a house and need to apply for a loan or mortgage, that bad credit will catch up with you. The reason is that before a lender approves your loan, they will want to see how well you have handled money in the past. They will likely need to see your bill-paying history as well as any debts you currently have. If you do not have a good record of paying bills on time, etc. it may affect your loan approval.

Can you improve a bad credit report? It is never too late to start improving your credit report. Start by requesting a copy of your credit report. You are entitled to a free copy once a year and it will help you to see the areas you need to work on. Also, make sure you pay all your bills on time as this is another important way to help your credit report, plus it will save you a lot of money on late payment fees.
​
So, if you are looking to make a big investment in the future, start working on your credit score today and give yourself the best chance of success.

Smoke particles are extremely small, which means they will permeate almost everything; this is a real problem if you are a new homeowner moving into a house where the previous owner smoked. As well as a bad odor, you will also have to deal with nicotine which can be particularly difficult to remove. What can you do?

One of the first steps to take when you get the keys to your new home is to open all windows and doors to get good airflow going. Next, place odor absorbers throughout the house. Coffee grounds, baking soda, and citrus peel are all good natural odor absorbers.

Replace all the light bulbs in the home as these will have nicotine residue on them and will diffuse a bad odor into the air when switched on. You should also replace filters in air conditioning units and the HVAC system. Hard surfaces, except wood, can be cleaned using an ammonia-based cleaner which is good for removing nicotine.

You will likely want to give your new home a fresh coat of paint. When selecting paint, research one that is good for nicotine-coated walls, otherwise you will find that brown residue will start to seep out through the paint.
​
Cleaning nicotine out of carpeting is very difficult, and you may find it better to remove it altogether. Make sure you also give the floor a thorough cleaning and dry it out before installing new carpet or other types of flooring.

​For the majority of homebuyers, the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house. The kitchen's aesthetics naturally play a major role in the appeal of a kitchen, but were you aware that it can also tell you a lot about the condition of the home? How is that?
​
The kitchen sink is one way to test the state of the plumbing system. When the faucet is turned on what is the water pressure like? Does it seem to be very low? As the water is draining, does it take a long time? These are questions you will need to know the answers to before buying the house. It is also a good idea to look under the sink and adjoining cabinets for any signs of water damage that might suggest there is a leak somewhere. Even a leaking dishwasher can create problems like mold and rotting floors.

Does the kitchen have a gas oven? If it does, get close to it and check if you can smell any gas odors. Leaking gas could be a major problem, so this would need to be taken care of.

A kitchen will usually have more electrical outlets than other parts of the home. It is wise to check each one to make sure they are all working and, if not, why not?
​
So, when determining whether a home is right for you, make the kitchen your first stop, as it can help reveal the home's dark secrets.