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For many who make the move into one of our beautiful, brand-new homes, the dedicated laundry room can be a source of immeasurable happiness and pride. Gone are the days of washing laundry in the dusty garage or the dark basement—a set-up so typical in older homes. And gone are the days of schlepping armloads of dirty laundry, laundry soap, dryer sheets, fabric softener and rolls of quarters to the laundromat or apartment laundry room. Indeed, having a private, indoor laundry is one of the biggest attractions of owning a modern, functional home, such as those built by LGI Homes. Who wouldn’t want a quiet, brightly-lit room where your family’s laundry can be done in comfort and with convenience—and no one ever heaps your wet clothes on top of the dryer out of impatience?

To make the best of an already great thing, here are some tips on how to organize and beautify your laundry room, elevating this simple luxury to the best of efficiency and ease:

1. Keep it simple. Clutter can turn even the largest laundry areas into a tangled nightmare of half-empty bottles, broken clothes pins, and lost socks. The less you store in your laundry area, the better, so trim down to the basics, and don’t use the laundry room as your home’s biggest junk drawer.

2. Stay organized. A small investment in organizational items like storage bins, baskets, and shelving can keep your laundry room tidy, attractive, and functional. Additional helpful items include hanging racks for drying and hanging ironed clothing, ironing stations with wall-mounted ironing boards, and a pin board for hanging stain removal and washing tips in plain sight.

3. Get personal. An easy way to streamline laundry day is to have baskets assigned for each member of the family. Cleaned clothing goes into a designated basket, which makes delivering clean laundry back to each family members’ room easier, and keeps finished laundry from hanging around the laundry room for too long! Look for baskets that are large enough to handle the amount of clean clothes you generate per person. Also, baskets that stack when not in use are ideal for saving space.

4. Go smaller. Many of us shop at large warehouse stores, and come home with army-sized containers of laundry detergent, fabric softener, etc. Instead of lugging out these larger containers every time you do laundry, consider opting for smaller, decorative containers that can be left within easy reach, while beautifying your laundry space at the same time. See-through glass containers are a great choice for powders and liquids, and can be purchased cheaply (in a wide variety of colors and shapes) at home decorating shops as well as thrift stores. Simply refill when needed, and laundry instantly becomes more elegant!

5. Avoid sock soup. Finally, a tip for everyone who has ever mourned the loss of a sock: when folding laundry, keep a bin nearby for the inevitable stray socks that remain at the bottom of the basket. Once every month or so, go through the sock bin and match up pairs—an easy task that even preschoolers in the family can do, and the thrill of reuniting these kindred souls can be very satisfying. You’ll save frustration, save time, and save your favorite pair of socks!

While the true beginning of Spring remains a ways off, many parts of the country have enjoyed a mild and warm winter that is already easing into the fairer weather of the year’s most joyful season. The sun is shining, trees are budding, and the urge to dive into some springtime home projects may already be strong. Even for those still locked in rain, ice or snow, the drear may be wearing thin, and a spring-themed project may not only lighten the look of the house, but your mood as well. To that end, we present the top three springtime home projects, and how to go about accomplishing them!

It's that time of year again when spring cleaning, gardening, and home improvement projects come to life.

1. Get the Garden Going. If you live in one of the country’s warmer climates, such as the Sunbelt, Texas, or California, your growing season for spring is just about to commence. If the soil isn’t too moist or too hard, begin by weeding your planting areas and then tilling in soil amendments such as compost or fertilizers. Remove dead or frost-damaged plants, and trim your perennials. Once the threat of frost has passed, you can begin setting in new plants and flowers, including summer-bloomers. For those still stuck indoors, March is an excellent time to begin seedlings indoors that can be transplanted to the outside once the weather warms.

2. Prepare for Spring Cleaning. The annual festival of dusting and deep-cleaning may be a few months away, but you can get a headstart by tackling some of your home’s storage areas—spending some time now sorting, organizing and reducing your “stuff” can help immeasurable when it comes time to clean. Go through closets and remove for donation items that are no longer worn. Damaged clothing can be relegated to rags, or simply thrown away. If your closet is chaotic, now is a great time to invest in some simple closet organizing tools (like belt hangers, shoe boxes, etc.) that keep your wardrobe in order. Apply the same principles to the attic, basement or storage areas in the garage. Your home will feel lighter and more efficient as you clear out the mess, and this pre-work will make your spring cleaning much easier to tackle when it comes time.

3. Address the details. Whether you’re throwing open the doors to springtime weather, or snuggled in the house away from a storm outside, now is the perfect time to take a second look at some of the details of your home that seem to get overlooked in the busier times of the year. Small things can drag down the appearance of your home—nicked paint, cracked electrical plates, broken blinds, for example—yet they’re so minor in nature that they never seem to get addressed. This wedge of time between the hectic holidays and the beginning of summer offers a great opportunity to tackle some of the smaller home maintenance and improvement projects on your list. Most are easily accomplished in a few hours, but you’ll be amazed at the difference these details make in the happiness, comfort and pride you feel in your home!

Depending upon where you live, the weather outside in February may be frightful—but that doesn’t mean that the enjoyable tasks of gardening are completely out of reach. On the contrary, February is an excellent month for gardeners across the country, serving as the perfect time to research, plan and begin laying the groundwork for the gardening that will take place in the spring. Here are some ideas of how you can indulge your green thumb, even as winter plods on for a few more months:

February is an excellent month for gardeners across the country to research, plan, and begin laying the groundwork.

1. Seed catalogs begin arriving at homes across the country in February, giving cabin-fevered gardeners the chance to dream of the heady bounty of their spring and summer vegetable gardens. Peruse the catalogs, plan your garden, and place your orders before popular varieties begin selling out—by the end of February is best.

2. February is also when bare-root plants (such as roses) begin appearing in gardening stores. Buying bareroot plants is an affordable way to purchase mature (but dormant) plants for your garden. By later in the winter, only leafed-out and blooming plants will be available (at a higher cost), so snag your plants early on for the best savings.

3. Weeding is best done early and often, and even February is an ideal time to go out into the garden and combat unwelcome garden interlopers. Remember: pulling one weed before it seeds is much easier than pulling the twenty that sprout up afterwards.

4. Towards the end of this month, start seedlings indoors for spring plantings. The extra weeks you gain by starting seedlings indoors will give your spring garden a boost, and increase production before the substantial heat of summer sets in.

5. Don’t forget to water if rainfall falls short. Cold weather can be harshly dry for plants, lawns and trees, so a consistent watering is important, even when it isn’t hot out.

6. Take the time to sharpen, repair or purchase necessary gardening tools. This is also a good month to organize your potting station, gardening shed, or planting box, making a list of needed items and replacing outdated or exhausted supplies of fertilizers, soil amendments, and herbal or traditional pesticides.

7. Finally, don’t forget to lay the groundwork for the coming busy gardening season. Build or tend to the composting bin, enrich the soil in your vegetable beds, fertilize winter bloomers, and test your soil to see if it needs to be amended. Getting these tasks done in February means that when the blooms of Spring start to arrive, you’ll be ready to get your spring garden rolling, without a moment’s delay!

With the turn of the season and winter coming on fast, many LGI Homes homeowners are getting ready to spend their very first holiday season in their brand-new home. Anticipating the first of many years of family memories, they can’t wait to get a jumpstart on decorating. Starting early gives these homeowners the time to ensure that they start out their holiday season safely, and avoid any impromptu trips to the emergency room. Make the most of the weeks before decorating time by reviewing these safe holiday decorating tips, and prepare your home for the holidays in the safest way possible.

For most the holiday season is a joyous event, so be sure to prevent and accidents or mishaps.

Check your tools. Having an organized and stocked tool box makes decorating your home easier, safer and less time-consuming. Check over your tools to make sure that each is in operating order; replace or repair any that are worn or prone to malfunction. This is particularly true for electrical handheld tools. If you’ll be decorating outdoors and along your roofline, make sure that you have a ladder tall enough to allow you to safely reach all necessary points.

Check your lights. Strands of holiday lights can become worn or frayed over the years, presenting electrocution and fire risks. When unpacking new or used lights, check over each strand carefully, looking for bared wires, cracked or broken sockets, and loose connections. Should any of these problems be discovered, throw the strand of lights away. Also check that all lights have been safety-tested—typically marked by “UL” or “ETL/ITSNA.” Finally, make sure that any lights used outside are rated for outdoor use, and can withstand possible inclement weather.

Child- and pet-proof your decorations. Check all decorations for possible breakage or damage, particularly if you share your home with small children or pets who could be injured by or swallow small pieces. Remove glass items and glass ornaments to higher locations in the home where they’ll be sufficiently out-of-reach from paws and small hands. Likewise, make sure that cords for any indoor decorative lights are out-of-reach or sufficiently out-of-sight to avoid having them tugged or chewed upon. Low-hanging decorative elements and fabrics should also be avoided, particularly if attached to (or laying underneath) heavy items. Any heavy items placed above eye level should be firmly secured.

Check your walkways. Both indoors and outdoors, ensure that your decorations leave ample room for guests and household members to navigate pathways, hallways and stairwells. Be aware of potential tripping hazards, and keep all lawn ornaments and decorations set off of the sidewalk to permit safe passage in front of your home.

Check your tree. Finally, if your holiday decoration plans include a Christmas tree, be sure to follow common sense safety rules. Artificial trees should be labelled “fire resistant” to mitigate potential fire danger. Live trees should be purchased as freshly as possible, and should be watered regularly to keep the tree from drying out. Remember that the tree should be set back from walkways in the home, and should never block doorways. For homes with young children and pets, keep lights off of the bottom third of the tree, and only use soft ornaments on this section. Alternatively, block access to the tree using an expandable gate. All trees should be weight-anchored to prevent them falling or being pulled over.

As the warm weather of summer transitions into those crisp days of fall, you may find your mind focused on another season of football, the joys of the coming holidays, and the return of kids to school. But before you yourself get caught up in the throes of autumn’s changes, remember that your home and garden both need to be readied for the upcoming changes, too! To that end, we’ve compiled for you this list of fall home maintenance tasks that will ready your home and landscape for Fall’s quixotic weather.

As a homeowner you will want to regularly perform maintenance checks and address any issues as soon as they occur.

Keeping these few steps in mind will help keep your home, whether a new home or a pre-existing home, up to par.

Now that the first day of summer has nearly arrived, the lazy days of summer have truly begun. But before you get into a vacation mind frame, take the time to do some vital summer cleaning. Summer is the time of backyard barbecues, pool parties (if you are lucky enough to have a pool), or impromptu backyard picnics. So keep the outside of your home company ready with a few important maintenance projects.

This past winter and spring brought unusually turbulent weather and moisture is not a homeowner’s friend. Check for any problems by carefully inspecting your home’s foundation, both inside and out. Repair any cracks you may find using caulk or cement. If you come across any areas where the ground has eroded away from the wall, fill them in with fresh dirt. Just make sure to slope the dirt away from the foundation, to prevent water from pooling up next to the foundation during the next storm.

Next, clean out the gutters and downspouts, and if you spot any places where winter snow has soaked through boards, replace them to prevent future rotting. Replace damaged siding that can’t be fixed and any broken roof shingles. If you have a deck or porch, check the integrity of the planks, replacing any that have warped or are damaged. Inspect your patio and use a quick drying cement to repair any cracks.

Once that is done, give your house a refreshing power wash to remove accumulated dirt and debris. A power wash can also eliminate mildew and help prevent mold from gaining a foothold. If you are feeling ambitious, and have owned your home for a number of years, you may want to add a fresh coat of paint to the exterior.

By taking a couple of weekends to perform regular maintenance and refresh your house now, you’ll save time and money down the road—and have a picture perfect house inside and out.

Take these steps on the Spring Checklist provided by LGI Homes to keep your new home in tiptop shape and to freshen it up each Spring:

SPRING CHECKLIST

• Change Furnace Filter (Monthly)
• Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• Clean Aerators on Faucets and Shower Heads
• Inspect Air-Conditioning Unit for Proper Operation
• Inspect Backsplash Caulking and Re-Caulk as Needed
• Inspect Shower and Tub Caulking and Re-Caulk as Needed
• Test GFCI receptacles
• Inspect Exterior Paint, Stain or Siding, Putty & Caulking
• Clean Fins on Outside AC Condensing Unit
• Check Drainage Swales for Proper Rain Water Flow
• Check for Evidence of Termites
• Inspect the Roof and Roof Vents
• Re-Seal Wood Fences

The area lights around your new LGI home are for safety and aesthetics.  They may be controlled by photo cells mounted on the side of your house or on the light unit itself.  Your lighting may also be controlled by wall switches located in your home.

It is important to always use the correct bulbs.  Do not exceed the bulb wattage recommended for the fixture.  Use exterior light bulbs for exterior fixtures and wet location light bulbs appropriately.

Recommended Maintenance

Monthly

• Look for and replace burned out bulbs.

Quarterly

• Clean the encasement so light can shine at full illumination.
• Ensure that mounting screws and plates are tight and wall plate is fully against the exterior wall or soffit.  Inspect sealant at joints between light fixtures and walls.  Repair or replace the sealant as needed.

Effects of deferred maintenance such as water and lack of cleaning will diminish the attractiveness and function of exterior light fixtures.

Homecare tips and information provided by Compendia.

The landscape around your new LGI home plays an important-role in the overall beauty of your property, as well as helps to prevent erosion.  Well-maintained landscaping will help increase the value of your property.  Part four of our four part landscaping series discusses Walls and Fencing. 

There are several different types of walls and fencing found on residential properties.  Each type requires different maintenance tasks and frequencies.  However, no matter what kind of walls and fencing you have there are some common guidelines.

It is important to keep landscaping trimmed away from walls and fencing and always remember do not change the grade.  The grade of the ground next to a wall or fence has been designed by an engineer.  Changes may cause tilting and cracking, or cause wood fencing that comes in contact with soil to rot.  It is also important to prevent water from ponding near walls and fencing.  Water, especially reclaimed water, can cause premature deterioration of the wall and fencing materials.  Read the rest of this entry »

The landscape around your new LGI home plays an important-role in the overall beauty of your property, as well as helps to prevent erosion.  Well-maintained landscaping will help increase the value of your property.  Part three of our four part landscaping series discusses Plants.

The ground cover, turf, trees, and shrubs that were installed by LGI Homes when you purchased your new home were selected for their compatibility with each other, architectural, site and soil conditions.  They grow at varying rates depending on climate conditions, maintenance, and a host of other factors.  The important thing to keep in mind is that the landscaping is a dynamic, living system and proper care is critical for it to mature successfully.  When installing additional plants, it is important that the plants you choose are compatible with existing plants.  Read the rest of this entry »