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Adulting For the Home Home How To Life

6 Easy Ways To Keep Your Home Secure and Safe

Your home should be a safe retreat where you feel secure and happy. Keeping your home safe doesn’t have to be difficult. With a few simple steps, you can make a big difference to your peace of mind when you want to keep your home secure.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

How to Keep Your Home Secure

1. Keep An Eye On Your Home

With security cameras as part of your security system from https://www.watchmenkc.com/residential-home-security-systems-kansas-city/, you can see and hear what is happening around your home. If you choose a modern camera, you can view the feed from your phone. For the best cameras, look for features like motion-triggered recording, infrared night vision, and two-way audio communication capability. 

2. Light Up The Front Drive And Garden

Intruders often take advantage of darkness, so light up the garden to put them off. Light is also safer for you coming home at night. Motion-activated security lights are a good choice to install in the back and front of your home. 

3. Install A Visual Security Alarm

Having a security alarm outside of your house can help deter would-be intruders. An alarm can also get you a discount from your home insurer, so ask your provider. 

4. Increase Gate And Fence Security

Don’t give an intruder an easy way to get in. Your garden gate should be the same height as the fence or wall and constructed securely. Metal gates are harder to climb than wooden ones. A gate with an open structure doesn’t give someone a place to hide. Check that the hinges, bolt, and padlock are secured on the garden side. Two locks on the gate are a good idea, too, just be sure to use a good locks supplier for trustworthy products.

Keep fences in good condition because damaged panels can give access to an intruder or a place to scope out the property. Fix trellis panels to the top of your fence or wall. Trellis panels will be strong enough for plants, but not for people to climb on. 

5. Safely Store Spare Keys

Don’t leave a spare key under the doormat. A wall-mounted key safe is much more secure, especially if it’s in a discreet location. These have a reinforced body that can stand up to sawing and hammering. If you have friends staying, they can access the keys without you needing to cut spare sets. 

6. See Who’s At The Door

A video doorbell will let you see and speak to visitors, even if you’re out. You can tell delivery drivers where to put packages. Plus, you can check who is at the door before answering it or while out of the house. Even if the bell doesn’t ring, motion can trigger notifications, so you know if someone has approached the house. 

If you can’t fit a video doorbell, you can fit a door chain to your front door instead, so you can see and speak to whoever is outside without opening the door all the way. You could also install a door viewer to see who’s at the door if there’s no window for you to check through. 


Infographic Provided by Eye Trax

Keep Your Home Secure

These tips will get you started with keeping your home secure and safe. When you feel safe in your home, you will relax easier and enjoy your time better. You will also feel better knowing that your family is safe.

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Health Healthy Living How To Learning Life

What Motivates People To Take Better Care of Their Teeth?

Have you ever struggled to look after your teeth? Do you find that brushing and flossing are annoying? In situations like this, it can help to identify what motivates other people to take better care of their teeth.

Why People Want to Take Better Care of Their Teeth

They’ve Felt Dental Pain in the Past and Want to Avoid it as Much as Possible

Dental pain can be one of the most uncomfortable and stressful experiences you’ll ever have. Since the pain affects nerves around your head, it can lead to headaches, earaches, and pain in the face. Once you’ve felt real dental pain, it’s hard to ignore the possibility of it happening again.

After experiencing dental pain, many people will take better care of their teeth and make regular trips to the dentist for a checkup. Dental checkups allow them to identify potential issues before they cause problems, and it leads to improved oral health.

While some people avoid the problem by taking painkillers, dental health problems will only get worse over time. Many of the issues are irreversible, so there’s no going back once you’ve lost a tooth unless you’re willing to pay for a cosmetic procedure.

They’re Trying to Avoid Paying Huge Amounts of Money for Dental Care

Dental care isn’t free. Even with insurance or a plan to subsidize the costs, you’re going to pay out of pocket. Cosmetic dentistry is beneficial, but it’s expensive and requires extensive planning and many procedures.

Even regular dental procedures can be expensive if you don’t take care of your teeth. Cleaning, extractions, and root canals are all common, but they’re not free. You’ll end up paying a lot of money if you only visit the dentist every couple of years. Address your dental problems as soon as possible so that you end up paying less over time.

They Want to Maintain a Picture-Perfect Smile

Maintaining a picture-perfect smile is one of the most common motivators for people to take care of their teeth. It is surprisingly common to see people hesitate to smile because they don’t want others to see their teeth. If you want a beautiful smile, then you need to start taking better care of your teeth.

You don’t need to focus so much on things like whitening. Instead, it’s all about brushing, flossing, and regular checkups to ensure there are no cavities or other problematic issues. While it can be hard to get your teeth back into a beautiful state, it’s worth it to have more confidence in your smile.

Motivation to Take Better Care of Their Teeth

People find the motivation to take better care of their teeth in a few different ways. No matter the reason, taking care of your oral health is essential to living your best life.

Do you have any oral health tips to share? Leave a comment and let us know!

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Adulting Health Healthy Living Life Mental Health

Are You Really Taking Care Of Your Health, Though?

You might have decided some time back that you will take better care of your health for whatever reason. This could have been for fitness goals you want to reach or because you have a medical condition to manage. There are plenty of other reasons that you could have done this, but the reason ultimately doesn’t matter. The point is, you need to know whether or not you are really taking care of your health.

Are You Taking Care Of Your Health?

The Unexpected Areas

If you aren’t taking care of the unexpected areas of your health, then you aren’t taking care of your health as a whole. These unexpected areas will include things like your dental health, your hearing health, your mental health and so much more. If you know that you are not taking these things seriously, rethink the way you look after your health. For example, you should be seeing a dentist every six months, and if you’re not, you are risking serious issues.

When it comes to area health areas, such as hearing health, most people don’t have regular checkups unless they already have a diagnosed issue. So, it may be tricky to figure when is the right time to book your first appointment with an audiologist. But the truth is that you should not neglect little issues that bug you. So, for example, when it comes to hearing health, you may have noticed a persistent ringing in your ears or perhaps you’ve realized that you are turning up the TV volume more than usual. These could be signs that it’s time for a first appointment. 

The Right Frame Of Mind

If you’re not in the right frame of mind right now, then you can’t take care of your health properly. People often forget that mental health is an important aspect and should be taken just as seriously.

To properly look after yourself, you must believe that you can reach your goals. You also must have a positive mental attitude in all things. While working on your body, you must continue working on your mind. 

Motivation Is Key

The last thing that we’re going to mention is your motivation. Motivation is key to any success, and if you’re not motivated, you will fall flat and your health will suffer. If you have no motivation, you can’t enhance your health, so you’ve got to find some sooner rather than later.

Taking Care Of Your Health

This helpful information will help you see whether or not you are really taking care of your health. The problem that many people have is that they think they are taking care of themselves, when in reality, they aren’t. Take a closer look to see if you really are doing what you think you are. Leave a comment and let me know what you will start doing differently in your life!

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Adulting Health Healthy Living Life Mental Health Parenting

Top 4 Mental Health Improvement Tips for New Moms

Research shows that about 85% of women experience mental health issues like postpartum depression, blues, and psychosis. This disturbing statistic reiterates the need for moms to prioritize their mental wellness. Besides, mental wellness helps you handle your responsibilities as a new mom effectively. If you want to work on your mental health improvement, these tips will help you get started.

Tips for Mental Health Improvement

1. Join a Support Group for Moms 

The transition into motherhood can be overwhelming, making it imperative to join a support group for moms. These groups create a sense of belonging while mitigating stress, loneliness, and isolation. Groups for moms also provide the platform to openly express your feelings and enable you to cope with motherhood challenges.

You will learn helpful tips on how to navigate parenthood with ease. You may join an in-person support group, where you learn about body image, child health, coping strategies, and more. Another option is to opt for online groups if you can’t attend in-person meetings. 

2. Avoid Unhealthy Comparisons

According to Psychologist Erika Ames, women often seek affirmation from others, especially when they become mothers. However, unhealthy comparisons may set in, causing you to feel jealous or inadequate. What’s worse, it can lead to depression, loneliness, and poor well-being if it’s not immediately addressed. Fortunately, you can take steps to escape the trap of unhealthy comparisons.

For instance, you may focus on your parenting values and determine why you make certain decisions. It’s also prudent to be extra kind to yourself and appreciate your uniqueness. By all means, remind yourself daily that you are enough and watch your confidence levels improve. 

3. Practice Self-Care 

New moms are prone to caregiver burnout, which is the state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. Therefore, it’s imperative to practice self-care to avoid this condition. Besides, it helps you maintain your self-worth while reducing your mental health risks.

Go to bed early to make up for your frequent night wakes, or ask your friends or partner to watch the baby while you rest. It’s also best to eat a balanced diet, avoid junk food and stay hydrated all day. By all means, exercise regularly, and socialize with other people to improve your emotional and mental state. Furthermore, you may leverage supplements for building your mind and preventing depression and anxiety. 


Infographic Provided by Antares Health Products

4. Reduce Social Media Time 

Social media can be helpful or detrimental, depending on how it’s utilized. While it’s easier to access online support groups, it can also create an unrealistic picture of parenting. According to Senior Lecturer Joanne Mayoh, social media showcases the perfect pregnancy, causing anxiety for moms who can’t meet these standards.

What’s more, people tend to portray babies as accessories rather than children, which might not sit well for some moms. Hence, it’s advisable to reduce your social media time and stick with motherhood realities. It’s also best to stick with accounts that portray the real motherhood essence and mute the ones that cause inadequacy. 

Mental Health Improvement

Transitioning into motherhood might be overwhelming, but you can navigate through it once you know the right strategies to adopt. These mental health improvement tips can help boost your well-being as you go through this exciting transition.

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Adulting Healthy Living How To Life Mental Health

4 Healthy Ways to Manage Setbacks in Life

Life is full of challenges, and knowing how to manage setbacks can help you overcome and succeed. How you react to these setbacks will determine whether you will achieve your life goals or not. For most people, when they experience setbacks, they give up and let their dreams escape. This doesn’t have to be the case, though.

You need to move forward and keep trying no matter what happens. Sure, it will not be a straight line, but with a bit of hope, discipline, and focus, you might find yourself attaining something you thought you wouldn’t.

As you work to overcome hardships and obstacles, you can learn how to manage setbacks in a healthy way.

How to Manage Setbacks Healthily

Take Care of Yourself

Before you think of how to manage setbacks in life, you must begin by prioritizing yourself. Ensure that you take good care of yourself and practice self-care, as this can help ensure you are prepared to handle the setbacks.

You can take care of yourself by eating healthy foods, exercising, pampering yourself with massages, going for regular health checks, connecting with friends and family, and most importantly, getting enough sleep. 

It will not help to worry about your problems at night as this can add to more stress. If you struggle to fall asleep, you can buy organic cbd products that help with falling and staying asleep.

Maintain a Positive Attitude

To deal with setbacks, you should maintain a positive attitude throughout. No one said it would be easy to think positively whenever you face a problem, but it sure is possible! All you have to do is view the situation from another perspective.

You can think of the good that will come out of the problem. For instance, if you lose a job, is it an opportunity to upgrade and find a better one. Or, it could be an opportunity to take a break in life and indulge in self-discovery

It could also be an opportunity to learn new skills and gain new experiences! Maintain a positive attitude throughout, and you will be amazed by how fast you can move on from a particular setback.

Improve Your Social Life

Another fantastic and healthy way to deal with setbacks in life is improving your social life. It may come as a surprise, but getting out there and connecting with people can help you deal with challenges in different ways.

For one, you may find someone going through the same ordeal. Knowing you are not alone can be a little bit comforting. Secondly, you may find someone to encourage you or provide an effective solution. Lastly, it will give you a new perspective on how to handle things the right way.

Focus on What You Can Fix

To deal with setbacks the healthy way, focus on what you can control and fix. No matter how massive the setback is or how many problems you are going through, it is vital to focus on improving. If you select a specific setback and deal with it appropriately, you will make it through and come out victorious.

How to Manage Setbacks

These are some of the best healthy ways to deal with setbacks in life. You can implement some, if not all, and the results will be more than satisfying.

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Adulting How To Learning Life Parenting

4 Ways To Talk To Your Children About Death Without Scaring Them

There are many hard topics that come up in the course of parenting, but when it is time to talk to your children about death, it is probably one of the hardest to discuss. Children are innocent and impressionable, and this is a conversation that requires careful explanation. It’s not always easy to do but when it comes to talking about death, children need you to be honest. The details of the death aren’t something you want your children to find out about by accident because you then cannot control the conversation. 

This conversation happened to me a couple of weeks ago with my 5-year-old daughter. She randomly asked, “mom when do we die?”, and I replied honestly that no one knows when they will die. My husband thought I was too straightforward and would scare her, but it actually opened up a new line of questioning. She wasn’t scared or worried, and she had all of her questions answered.

Children are incredibly intelligent and easily able to adapt to an idea. When you discuss death, you might find that they are going to ask a ton of questions. The questions won’t always be easy to answer because you want to keep them innocent while still being honest, but you can do it.

It’s a balancing act, and whether you are discussing the details of actual death or you’re talking about the cremation information that’s out there from planning your own funeral, you need to plan this conversation out. It might help to have the support of another adult while you’re talking about death to your children, as they can answer questions with you. The beliefs that your family holds (spiritual or religious) are going to make a difference to the way that this conversation goes, too.

How To Talk To Your Children About Death

1. Start With What They Understand Already

Ask them what they know about death and what happens when you die. Talk about it in terms of flowers and the trees first, and then move on to talking about pets that may have passed away. Once you think it’s appropriate, move onto family members and their deaths.

2. Remember to Use the Right Word

When you’re explaining death to your children, you have to use the word “dead”. Don’t sugar coat it with “up in the sky” because children are very literal. Explain the way burial and cremation works, but using the word “dead” will avoid any issues with understanding. You can convey the finality that comes with death this way.

3. Be Descriptive

You don’t have to talk about what happens to the organs and the body after death during the process of deterioration, but you should think about what you will say about the body not working anymore. Talk about the heart stopping and the fact that they won’t be able to move or talk anymore. 

4. Practice

It’s not an easy conversation to have, so practice what you might say with another adult first. This will help you feel confident with your language and the words that you use. Focus on getting the message across about death being the last thing to happen. Practicing with another adult will also give you a second opinion on what you should say, so make sure it’s an adult with a valuable opinion.

Talk To Your Children About Death

Talking to children about death is a part of them growing up. Things and people around them will die, and being coy about that will only lead to confusion as they get older. Have this conversation while they’re young so that they can fully understand what is happening.

What tips would you add to this list? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Adulting How To Life On My Mind Things to Do

4 Reasons Why Future Planning Is So Important

Adults must plan for their future, but many don’t have any plans beyond the next day. For some, planning too far ahead is a laughable idea because when they plan anything, the universe has other ideas. The problem with a lack of future planning, though, is that it leads to drifting from their lives without considering that there could be a different curve ahead for them. 

The excuses are common: we are busy working, we’re busy studying, we’ll do it tomorrow, having a Will can wait, who needs to learn about urns when there are vacations to go on? The thing is, planning your future isn’t just about you. It’s about the family you save from arguing because you planned a funeral thirty years before the event.

Planning for the future is about the kids who need to know their futures are secured, too. Having a plan for your future is good sense, and it’s much easier to do when you know your reasons. This leads us to the reasons why future planning is so important listed for you below!

Why Future Planning Is So Important

1. Future Planning Gives You Direction

Businesses have a huge plan for their business, and you can have a life plan in the same way. It should detail what you want from your life and how you plan to get there. Consider the place you’re in right now and the place you wish you were in. You have the chance to make that happen when you’re smart about your planning.

2. You Keep Control

Okay, so we can’t actually control our lives, but can we? We may not be able to control the outside forces that dictate the course of our lives or how it ends; however, we can control how we get there and what happens afterward in our funeral efforts. We can control how we plan to reach every milestone. Future planning allows us the feeling of control that we are doing something about the life we have. This feeling goes for every aspect of your life. 

Whether you are searching for a brand new job or if you are searching for a brand new home. You have control over where you work and where you live. Something as small as going to a recruiter to find a job or finding the perfect moving & relocation services that will help you on the day you are moving. You control who you let in to help you, and you control where that help gets you. You are the master of your destiny and although certain things are out of your scope of control, what you can control is the true essence of your life.

3. You Get The Chance to Focus

It’s nice to think about what you want from the future and to plot the path to get there. The point of future planning is to give you focus and ensure that you get where you need to go. 

4. Visualization

Your plan for your future is going to change your life and you can do that when you visualize the plan happening for you in real-time. Being able to visualize your goals helps you get where you want to be with ease.

Future Planning

With future planning, whether for your retirement, your future, or the education of your children, you need a plan. Without a plan, you won’t have any set path, and you won’t know what to spend your life aiming for. With a plan, though, you can relax a little knowing that everything is taken care of.

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Adulting Health Healthy Living How To Life Mental Health

5 Straightforward Ways To Put Your Mind At Ease Every Day

You’ve lived long enough to have experienced your fair share of negative instances. Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, as you probably know by now. You get a lot of bad and a lot of good in a very balanced way. If you’re not prepared for this kind of roller coaster, then you’re going to be on edge. People who are anxious and shaky with regard to most things in life are that way because their minds are trained and prepared for what’s to come. Luckily, there are ways to put your mind at ease and help you enjoy life. Whether you look for remedies such as Delta 8 Gummies that have CBD to help relax you, yoga or something else, there are many options you can try. As well as this, it’s important to train your mind.

We can train our minds to be in a much more positive space, and we can prepare our mental states for anything that comes our way. Here are just a few ways to do it.

How To Put Your Mind At Ease

1. Stay Active

Being on the move helps you in a few different ways. When you are busy with other activities, you won’t have time or space in your mind to ruminate. Plus, moving and exercising helps the brain as it releases endorphins, allowing you to feel natural positivity and pleasure.

2. Keep Energized 

Similar to exercise, having energy will make you feel better both mentally and physically. When you lack energy, you might be tempted to sit around and do nothing productive. You can fall into a trap of thinking negatively and miserably, too, as your brain isn’t as satisfied as it should be.

Eat enough calories for the day, drink lots of water, and get enough rest. Life will be SO much easier that way. You’ll be in a much better place to attack all kinds of problems.

3. Relax With Medicinal Means 

Things like CBD have been instrumental in making people feel more at ease. You can learn more here as this site will tell you all about the benefits as well as the specifics of how it’s utilized. CBD oil can reduce anxiety while putting the body at ease. 

4. Go To Work On Your Home Regularly 

You must fix any personal problems you have before you can really go after external issues. Your home plays a large role in your mental well-being. If your home isn’t in great shape, then you’ll be carrying a burden around wherever you go.

You’ll know if your home is calling out for some love. If it is, then don’t be afraid to change things up. Even the smallest decluttering task can put you in a better headspace. 

5. View Every Instance As Positive

This can be difficult if you’ve never done it before, but it’s something that will save your life. If you have a more optimistic outlook on life, even the worst days will be seen as good experiences. If you think positively about future instances, you’ll likely end up with a positive outcome.

Our brains tend to attract what they feel or think about. Try implementing some positive affirmations in your life and see what a difference it makes.

Put Your Mind At Ease

You can never predict what will happen next in life, but you can live on edge because of it. Focus on staying positive and live in the present as you work to put your mind at ease. As you use these tips, you will notice an improvement in your overall well-being.

What are some of the ways you put your mind at ease? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Adulting Finances Life

3 of the Worst Home Expenses that can Be Cut or Lowered in Your Budget

Some of your worst home expenses are ones that take up too much of your budget and recur each month. Plus, you’re likely just sick of dealing with them. Luckily, there are some great expense cutting and saving strategies out there to help with your worst home expenses. 

The fact that these expenses can get this bad isn’t only on you. So many people struggle with the expenses below, which are mostly bills, and that’s because they rack up quickly! When you know how bad they can be and how to avoid making them any worse in the future, you have a better chance of living with financial wellness on your shoulders. 

The Worst Home Expenses

1. Your Credit Card Balance

The total amount of credit card debt in the United States is at $807 billion, with most people in the midst of paying off a $5000+ balance. If you have a high balance to work through, then the interest might just be demoralizing you further. 

To combat this, you could try to apply for a balance transfer card. Try to tackle the higher end of your credit card debt, including purchases that carry a high amount of interest (APR) before you tackle anything else. 

2. Your Mortgage Payments

Dealing with your mortgage payments can be tricky. The longer the term of your mortgage, the more you have to pay. Plus, who knows when the interest rate is going to go up and make things even more expensive? However, there’s a lot you can do here. 

You could try refinancing or recasting the mortgage, both of which will allow you to eliminate your mortgage expenses quicker. Both of these options have their own benefits based on current financial standing.

Another good thing to do is keep an eye on the mortgage market. Using quote sites such as MortgageQuote.com, you can get an in-depth look at the kind of mortgage payment amounts and terms for properties like yours, and secure a much better deal because of it. 

3. Your Reliable Transport

Having a vehicle costs a ton of money over the years, even if you stop noticing the expense. The average amount a person will pay for their car or financing each month is $706. This amount is probably more than you’re paying for your mortgage in the same time frame. 

You have to factor maintenance needs and gas into this number, too. However, factoring maintenance into your emergency fund and joining a mileage rewards program are two good ways to combat these costs. 

The Worst Home Expenses that can Be Cut or Lowered

Some home expenses are worse than others, and the ones listed here are some of the worst home expenses. Make sure you can deal with them effectively, and limit the long-term stress of these expenses. In the meantime, try to find ways to cut or lower the expenses.

Leave a comment and give a tip for cutting or lowering some of the worst home expenses!

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Adulting For the Home Home How To Learning Life

Is Your Home Calling Out For Some Love?

It’s easy to forget that our home needs a bit of TLC from time to time. After all, we don’t tend to react until something goes wrong. By that point, however, you will likely have an expensive repair bill and a lot of damage to deal with. You must ensure your home gets the attention it deserves on a regular basis by watching for signs of your home calling out for some love.

By performing frequent check-ups around your property, you can preserve the condition of your home and avoid expensive repairs in the future. With that in mind, read on to discover some warning signs that your home deserves a bit of TLC.  

Is Your Home Calling Out For Some Love? Signs to Watch For

Squealing, Clanging, and Rattling

If you are hearing any funny noises around the home, don’t ignore them. Boilers and furnaces can make quite a bit of noise if they are not taken care of properly. Or, it could even be your air conditioning system that is the problem. A clanging sound can occur if parts have loosened, which is often the case over time. No matter what the issue is, it’s essential to get it addressed right away.

Water Damage

Over time, water damage can build up, causing expensive problems for you to deal with. The sooner you deal with it, the fewer issues it will cause.

Some signs of water damage include stained ceilings and running water when no one is using it. If you have noticed any ceiling damage, your roof could be the problem. Calling in a water damage restoration professional is vital, as water damage can have a detrimental impact on the structure of your property.

Worn Countertops

One of the biggest indications of wear-and-tear in a property is worn countertops because countertops are designed to be long-lasting. If they start to become dull, chipped, or burnt, it is a good indication of your home calling out for love. Not only will new countertops add to the aesthetic appeal of your property, but they can boost the value of it too.

Clutter

If your home is covered in clutter, it’s time to make a change. Clutter can be difficult to live with. Not only does it look bad, but it can also make you feel stressed.

Coming home to a cluttered home is the last thing you want when you’ve had a difficult day at work. By getting your house to the stage where it is clutter-free, you will notice a massive difference in how you feel and how much you enjoy your home.

Mold and Mildew

Not only does mildew and mold look awful, but it can have an adverse impact on your health too. Hiring a specialist to remove the mold and mildew is essential, and then you must take steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again. It is also worth assessing the ventilation in the rooms that have been impacted.

Is Your Home Calling Out For Some Love?

Being a homeowner can be tricky because it comes with so many responsibilities. Watching for signs of your home calling out for some love is essential to preventing worsening issues and expensive problems. Don’t ignore these things, no matter how little they seem at first.

If you have any other tips, I’d love to hear about them in the comments!