Las Vegas Home Improvement

20 Craft Projects To Spice Up Your Las Vegas Home

June 13, 2011 By LasVegasHomes Leave a Comment

If you have a flair for home decoration projects, Better Homes & Garden has some terrific ideas for you on its website.

Titled “Fast and Fabulous Decorating Projects”, the lifestyle company offers inspiration for 20 do-it-yourself art projects that can breathe life into old furniture, and add pop to your home.

Published in thumbnail format, the guide is quick-to-browse and long on ideas.

In addition, because many of the highlighted projects involve the re-purposing and/or the recycling of existing furniture and other home goods, not only do costs stay low, but it’s likely that you have the required project materials in your home already:

A sampling of the projects includes:

Making bathrooms more private using stenciled window patterns
Creating slip-covered, upholstered headboards
Disguising less-than-perfect cabinet/cupboard doors with prints
Transforming old mirrors and windows into functional message boards
Decoupaging retro posters to revitalize old furniture

The projects range in difficulty from basic to advanced. Some require nothing more than scissors and glue; others require advanced skills in woodworking and sewing. There’s something for everyone.

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If you are a Las Vegas homeowner who would like to know more about Alternatives to Foreclosure including the Las Vegas Short Sale process, contact us to schedule a Foreclosure Alternatives Consultation.

Filed Under: Las Vegas Home Improvement, Las Vegas Home Tips, Recent News Tagged With: Better Homes and Garden, DIY, Home Decor

How To Make More Space In Your Garage

April 25, 2011 By LasVegasHomes Leave a Comment

How do you use your garage? If you’re like most homeowners, you park your car(s) in it, then use the remaining available space for the random storage of “things that don’t go in the house”.

Your garage can do so much more — all it needs is a little bit of organization.

In this 4-minute video from Lowe’s YouTube series, you’ll see how cabinetry, shelving, hooks and a master plan can add purpose to the non-car areas of your garage, and help you “make space”. You’ll even de-clutter parts of your home.

The video is rife with pointers for doing your garage right, including:

How to create “storage zones” of exactly the right size
How to organize sporting goods for easy access and optimal space-saving
Where to place trash receptacles, garden equipment, and seasonal decorations

According to the video, building out a garage should be a weekend project. You may finish faster, or slower, however, depending on the complexity and size of your garage and your storage needs.

Finishing a garage creates “space” — a helpful addition to any home. In addition, it enhances a home’s appeal to prospective buyers. Use the video above as a starting point and inspiration, and consider shopping storage specialty stores to finish out your project.

Considering a Las Vegas New Home purchase?

Use our Las Vegas New Homes search to define your criteria (price, location, home features) and access photos and floor plans.

Prefer an Existing Home?
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Search all Las Vegas Foreclosures, including Henderson, Green Valley and North Las Vegas bank-owned homes.

Filed Under: Las Vegas Home Improvement, Recent News Tagged With: Garage, Lowes, Storage

How To Clean A Gas Grill

April 4, 2011 By LasVegasHomes Leave a Comment

Keep a clean grill Whether you barbecue for friends or family once annually, or through all 4 Henderson seasons, it’s important to keep a clean gas grill. A well-maintained grill will help your food taste its best — no matter what you’re cooking up.

Cleaning a gas grill is simple and should be performed at least once every 12 months for light use, and once every 6 months for heavy use. You’ll need the following tools:

A drop cloth
Aluminum foil
A regular scrub brush plus a wire brush
An active garden hose
Dish detergent
A soft sponge
A bucket
Rubber gloves

With these tools in-hand, follow these basic steps.

First, disconnect the propane tank and move the grill onto the drop cloth. Open the grill and remove its grates and the flame guards (the v-shaped metal pieces on top of the burners). Then, disconnect the igniters and remove the burners. Soak the grates in hot water if they’re excessively dirty.

Set the pieces aside for cleaning.

Next, clean out any loose debris from the bottom of the grill. Use the detergent to make a soapy mixture and scrub the bottom of the grill, including its grill pans and grease trays. Clean the grates at this time, too.

Gently brush the outside of the burners with the wire brush, then allow running water from the garden hose to flow through the tubes to clean out the insides. If the burners appear to be cracked, replace them according to the grill manufacturer’s instructions.

Allow all of the above cleaned pieces to air dry, then reassemble the grill.

Next, clean the outside of the grill using a soapy mixture and a soft sponge, treating early-stage corrosion with some cooking oil applied like car wax. If your grill has a stainless steel exterior, wipe with the grain to minimize streaking. And that’s it!

Cleaning a gas grill can be time-consuming, but better tasting food is worth it. Plus, your grill will last longer.

Considering a Las Vegas New Home purchase?

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Filed Under: Las Vegas Home Improvement Tagged With: Cleaning, Grill, Outdoor

Water Conservation Tips For Your Home And Garden

March 28, 2011 By LasVegasHomes Leave a Comment

According to the EPA, the average U.S. household spends close to $500 each year on water and sewage bills. But by making just a few small changes, that figure could drop by as much as $170 annually. It’s all in how you use your water.

In this 4-minute video from Lowe’s, you’ll learn basic water conservation techniques that you can immediately put to work..

Some examples:

Don’t rinse food from dishes before putting them in a dishwasher. Scrape the dishes instead.
When brushing your teeth or shaving, turn off the water at the sink.
Use a rain barrel to capture rain, then use the rain to water plants and shrubs.

There’s a host of tips in the video but the recurring theme is that you should never “leave water running”. This is because water at home is “treated” water and the amount of energy required to treat 5 minutes’ worth of water from a faucet is equivalent to the amount of energy required to run a 60-watt light bulb for 14 hours.

That’s a lot of energy.

Water is a precious resource, and it can be expensive, too. Therefore, help the environment and your budget at the same time — practice water conservation at home.

Considering a Las Vegas New Home purchase?

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Filed Under: Las Vegas Home Improvement Tagged With: EPA, Green, Water Conservation

White Distilled Vinegar : An Environmentally-Friendly Home Cleaning Solution

September 13, 2010 By LasVegasHomes 1 Comment

White distilled vinegar Supermarket aisles in the Las Vegas area are filled with specialty cleansers — some for the kitchen, some for the bathroom, some for the carpets. Loaded with chemicals, these cleansers can be tough on the environment and costly, too.

If you’re in search of an alternative, consider white distilled vinegar. It’s inexpensive, safe to store, and highly effective as a household cleanser.

White vinegar’s strength comes from its acidity, roughly 8%. It’s acidity kills most mold, germs, and bacteria, and can remove minerals deposits from coffee makers and glass surfaces.

Some uses for white distilled vinegar include:

Cleaning the garbage disposal : 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar + 1/2 cup baking soda. Pour down drain and let sit for 5 minutes. Run hot water to flush it.
Removing lunch box odors : Soak bread slice in white distilled vinegar. Place it in lunch box overnight.
Remove dark spots on aluminum pots : Mix 1 cup white distilled vinegar + 1 cup hot water. Boil in pot.
Brighten carpets : Mix solution of 1 cup white distilled vinegar + 1 gallon water. Test on inconspicuous area first.
Remove water rings from wood : Mix solution of 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar + 1/4 cup vegetable oil. Rub with the grain.

White distilled vinegar is extremely versatile, but it can strip finish from counter-tops and floors if left to soak. Be sure to exercise care, therefore, when using vinegar at home.

Are you a Las Vegas area homeowner facing a possible foreclosure and wanting to learn more about your options? Contact Us Today for a no obligation Las Vegas short sale consultation.

Jan O’Brien is an expert with the Las Vegas short sale process. She is the co-author of the Certified Foreclosure Alternatives Consultant designation course. Call Jan direct at 702-858-9191 to schedule a Foreclosure Alternatives Consultation today.

Considering a Las Vegas Home purchase? Search all Las Vegas Homes for Sale using our free, interactive map-based search.

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Filed Under: Las Vegas Home Improvement Tagged With: Cleaning, Green, White Distilled Vinegar

How To Change A Showerhead – Las Vegas Home Improvement Tips

September 7, 2010 By LasVegasHomes Leave a Comment

There’s plenty of reasons to want to change a showerhead in your head. Perhaps you’re trying to fix a leak in the faucet; or, remodeling your bathroom; or, trying to conserve water via a low-flow showerhead.

Whatever the reason, changing a showerhead can be a basic do-it-yourself project. The tools aren’t complicated and the job is a quick one.

In this 2-minute video from AOL, you’ll learn:

What tools you’ll need to change the showerhead
How to remove your old showerhead
How to firmly attach your new showerhead to prevent leaks

If you get stuck, or just want to outsource, call a professional handyman to finish the job. Changing a showerhead should take less than a hour to complete.

Jan O’Brien is a Certified Foreclosure Alternatives Consultant (CFAC) and Certified Short-Sale Professional (CSP). She is experienced in the entire Las Vegas short sale process and provides a no-obligation Las Vegas short sale consultation to review your options and help you make the best decision regarding your distressed property.

Call Jan direct at 702-858-9191 to schedule a Foreclosure Alternatives Consultation today.

Now is a great time to buy Las Vegas Homes. Search all Las Vegas Homes for Sale using our free, interactive map-based search.

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Filed Under: Las Vegas Home Improvement Tagged With: Bathroom, DIY

How To Reduce Home Energy Costs By Sealing Air Leaks

August 30, 2010 By LasVegasHomes Leave a Comment

With Labor Day looming, the autumn and winter months aren’t far behind. It’s a good time to reflect on your home’s heating and cooling costs, and take steps to lower your energy bills. Finding air leaks may be a perfect first project.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, up to 30 percent can be cut from a home’s energy costs just by reducing drafts. For example, a 1/16-inch gap unsealed gap around a window is equivalent to leaving the window 3 inches open.

That’s a lot of wasted Las Vegas air.

The good news is that air leaks are rather simple to identify, and simple to fix. The key is to know where to look. And, to make the job easier, the government offers a complete DIY Guide To Sealing and Insulating a home.

Some of the key tips include:

Focus on the attic and basement, where most air is lost
Locate problem areas on a chimney
Check recessed lights which allow air flow between conditioned and unconditioned air

The government’s website also provides a 13-page PDF with detailed images, instructions, and recommendation to help you with the work.

However, if the job is beyond your skill set, be sure to call a qualified contractor. Sealing your home from air leaks will reduce your monthly energy bill and the money spent to pay a professional will be just a fraction of what you’ll save over time.

(Image courtesy: US Department of Energy)

Call Jan direct at 702-858-9191 to schedule a Foreclosure Alternatives Consultation today.

Now is a great time to buy Las Vegas Homes. Search all Las Vegas Homes for Sale using our free, interactive map-based search.

Search all Las Vegas Foreclosures, including Henderson, Green Valley and North Las Vegas bank-owned homes.

Filed Under: Las Vegas Home Improvement Tagged With: Air Leaks, Department of Energy, DIY

Las Vegas Home Tips: How To Re-Grout And Caulk Bathroom Tiles

August 23, 2010 By LasVegasHomes Leave a Comment

Over time, the grout in a shower can become dirty and discolored, and start to separate from its grout lines. This is a potentially dangerous condition for a home because broken grout lines allow water to seep into the walls, which can then lead to the growth of mold spores.

Fortunately, keeping your grout in tip-top shape is simple.

In this 2-minute video, you’ll learn how to clean the existing grout in your shower and to prepare for a new coating. You’ll also learn how to replace its caulk.

The video’s tips include:

Why you should remove excess grout diagonally with a sponge
How to protect your tub from damage while the re-grout is in process
Choosing the right caulk for the job

The North American Tile Cleaning Association also offers helpful grout-cleaning advice. Visit their website at http://www.tilecleaning.org.

Are you a Las Vegas area homeowner facing a possible foreclosure and wanting to learn more about your options? Contact Us Today for a no obligation Las Vegas short sale consultation.

Considering a Las Vegas Home purchase? Search all Las Vegas Homes for Sale using our free, interactive map-based search.

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Filed Under: Las Vegas Home Improvement Tagged With: Caulk, DIY, Grout, home improvement

Are You Throwing Out Food Before It Goes Bad?

August 9, 2010 By LasVegasHomes Leave a Comment

Milk lasts beyond its Sell By date Just because the expiration date has passed, that doesn’t mean that the food is spoiled. It’s a deep-seated misconception that results in the average American household wasting 14% of all food purchases.

The estimated cost of waste like that totals in the billions.

The data comes from a study commissioned by ShelfLifeAdvice.com, a website devoted to helping households cut food bills by providing better information of how to properly store food; of how food expiration dates work; and, by defining what “use by”, “sell by” and other product dates actually mean.

Among survey participants, women fared better than men, older people fared better than younger people, and married people fared better than non-married people. Overall, however, there’s room for better understanding.

For example:

Milk will remain safe for about a week after the “sell by” date. It’s safe to drink beyond that, but the taste may change for the worse.
Cottage Cheese will remain safe for about 2 weeks after the “sell by” date.
Mayonnaise will last for up to 4 months after opening, when kept cold

And, perhaps the biggest surprise, is that eggs, if properly refrigerated, will remain fresh for up to 5 weeks after the “sell by” date on the carton.

Read the survey’s complete results on the ShelfLifeAdvice.com website, including facts you may not have known about keeping your food beyond its expiration date. What you learn will keep you from pitching food prematurely, and help you save money at the grocery store.

Are you a Las Vegas area homeowner facing a possible foreclosure and wanting to learn more about your options? Contact Us Today for a no obligation Las Vegas short sale consultation.

Considering a Las Vegas Home purchase? Search all Las Vegas Homes for Sale using our free, interactive map-based search.

Search all Las Vegas Foreclosures, including Henderson, Green Valley and North Las Vegas bank-owned homes.

Filed Under: Las Vegas Home Improvement Tagged With: Food, Groceries

20 Craft Projects To Spice Up Your Las Vegas Home

How To Make More Space In Your Garage

How To Clean A Gas Grill

Water Conservation Tips For Your Home And Garden

White Distilled Vinegar : An Environmentally-Friendly Home Cleaning Solution

How To Change A Showerhead – Las Vegas Home Improvement Tips

How To Reduce Home Energy Costs By Sealing Air Leaks

Las Vegas Home Tips: How To Re-Grout And Caulk Bathroom Tiles

Are You Throwing Out Food Before It Goes Bad?

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