Late October to mid-November is the perfect time to plant, weed, prune, and mulch, so your yard looks nicer and your plants will be protected during the winter.

1. Trim trees of dead branches for your own and neighbors’ safety. November-March is an ideal time to prune trees to prevent branches from blowing against the house.
2. Get rid of leggy shrubs and plant new ones. Plant new shade trees with leaves that change color.
3. Clean out flower beds and re-mulch with a layer of “wood chips, tree bark, leaves or other organic material.”
4. October-November is the ideal time to plant bulbs before the ground freezes. You can also plant pansies, ornamental kale, ornamental cabbage, and other cool-season annuals.
5. Pull weeds from the lawn after a rain so they’ll be easier to pull out by the roots. They’ll be less likely to reappear in the spring.

With fall and winter approaching, it’s essential to have your home’s heating systems inspected and serviced, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. A trained technician can check chimneys, central heat, gas heaters, heat pumps, electric heaters, and more to ensure they function properly and don’t produce dangerous carbon monoxide (CO). They can also install CO detectors throughout the house to ensure occupant safety.

Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, making it undetectable without alarms. CO poisoning symptoms can be mild or severe and are often mistaken for the flu. Low-level exposure can cause headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness. High-level exposure can lead to confusion, vomiting, loss of coordination, unconsciousness, and even death.

To prevent CO poisoning, the CPSC and Environmental Protection Agency recommend:

• Installing interconnected CO alarms that all sound together.
• Never using portable generators indoors; keep them at least 20 feet away from the home.
• Not using cooking appliances for heat.
• Opening the fireplace damper before and after use.
• Avoiding barbeque grills in semi-enclosed spaces like garages.

When you choose to remodel your home, it’s crucial that you hire the right contractor for the job. You can get referrals from friends, family, or your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network professional. But there are other ways to get information so you can make the right choice.

It’s a good idea to interview at least three contractors, including your referrals. Depending on your state’s licensing rules, you should know the rules and regulations for licensing professionals. The purpose of licensing is to ensure that “the contractor meets the city’s, town’s, or state’s requirements for working on residential and commercial construction projects.” Not all states require contractors to be licensed, and some focus only on specialties such as plumbing, electrical and HVAC, which makes it harder to ascertain a contractor’s expertise.

Angi.com offers a convenient state-by-state list of contractor license requirements and a license check tool with “links to the regulatory agencies’ real-time license verification websites” so you can confirm the contractor’s status before you hire. Some states also provide certifications that show the contractor has completed educational and work requirements for their specialties. Some regulators require contractors to carry general contractor insurance, provide references, financial statements, and proof of registration.

Ask for references and to see a portfolio of completed jobs. The contractor should agree to provide a written, detailed contract outlining the work to be done, the costs for each step, quality of materials to be used, completion dates, payment and inspection schedules, warranties, and means of communicating.

If you’re wondering if those sniffles and low-grade headaches you or your family are experiencing could be due to air-borne allergens, you may be surprised to learn that there could be another cause. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 90% of our time is spent indoors, so breathing problems could be caused by poor air quality in your home. If you test the air quality in your home, you may get some surprising answers.

Purchase air quality sensors that test for the following:

• Humidity: can increase the potential for mold and mildew growth.
• Temperature: high temps can cause insufficient humidity and health risks.
• Volatile organic compounds: chemical pollutants can come from building materials, carpet, and other installations.
• Particulate matter: dust mites and other allergens are airborne.
• Air quality index: this measurement is provided by the EPA for both indoor and outdoor air quality.

Air quality sensors test for toxins, harmful gases, and pollutants as well as specific problems such as carbon monoxide, a toxic gas. The sensors take in air, run algorithms to capture the number of particulates, store the data and prepare it for analysis and read out.

The EPA recommends that you monitor your health symptoms for a few weeks to identify improving or worsening symptoms. If you’re nauseous and confused, carbon monoxide may be present, while allergies tend to present with a scratchy throat or watery eyes. Lastly, buy a good air purifier to help remove particulate matter from the air.

If you haven’t had to hire a plumber lately, you may not know how much it costs to have one come out and fix a problem that was preventable. First-time homebuyers and new homeowners will really benefit from knowing what to do to prevent household water troubles.

The first thing you need to learn is where your outside water shutoff valve is. That way, if you have an indoor leak from a broken water line or a drip that won’t turn off, you can prevent possible water damage before you call the plumber.

There are also items you should never flush down the toilet. Don’t feel fooled by products like baby wipes, feminine products, facial tissues and makeup removal sheets, and clumpable cat litter that are advertised as flushable. They contain plastic fibers that could clog plumbing, so stick to toilet paper that doesn’t clog pipes. Don’t pour anything down the sink that isn’t water soluble, and that includes oils and damaging chemicals. Older plumbing has narrower pipes, and/or you may not have enough water pressure to send some items along their way.

Waste disposals can pulverize a lot more foods than in the past, but you’re much safer avoiding feeding them anything fibrous such as banana peels, breads or fruits with seeds, starchy foods like potato skins, or foods with nuts. Run water as you put items in the disposal and give them enough time to grind thoroughly. Stuff a sliced lemon down the neck for freshness.

If you’re like many first-time homeowners, you may be watching your pennies by using the same cleaner on all your countertops, stainless appliances, porcelain sinks and tubs and other fixtures. But you can easily strip finishes, set stains and make other mistakes by using the wrong product. Here are some inexpensive and proven old-fashioned solutions for cleaning your surfaces.

A gentle diluted dishwashing liquid or soap and water will clean anything well, including wood cabinets. Just be sure to rinse and dry the surface with a soft cloth to prevent streaking. Don’t use bleach, glass cleaner, or abrasive cleansers on any countertop.  Use cutting boards, spoon rests, and trivets to protect your surfaces from accidental knife cuts, stubborn food stains, and heat damage from pots and pans.

Countertops – For granite, quartz, soapstone and marble countertops, don’t use acidic (lemon, ammonia) or abrasive cleaners, bleach or glass cleaner. To attack stains, make a paste with baking soda and warm water. Apply and let it sit for five or 10 minutes, then rub the paste gently into the stain. Gently rub in a little mineral oil occasionally to make the finishes last longer.

Stainless appliances – Soap and water work best. After drying with a soft dishcloth, apply a little mineral oil to cut down on streaking and fingerprints.

Porcelain sinks and tubs – Bleach strips porcelain finishes, so use hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar to clean without scrubbing. For stubborn stains, use a little Naval Jelly and rinse thoroughly afterward.

In fall 2022, experts warned that heating costs will be the highest in 10 years as households pay nearly 18% more this winter. Between the 2020-21 and 2022-23 winters, home energy costs increased by 36%. So, what can you do to stay warm and save energy costs?

Check your home for air leaks:

• Nearly one-third of a home’s heat loss occurs through windows and doors.
• Air can leak through electrical outlets, baseboards, and attic hatches.
• Caulking leaks can save the average household up to $166 per year.
• Weather-stripping windows can save up to $83 per year.

Next, check your energy usage habits: 

• Lowering the thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 hours at night can save as much as 10 percent on your heating bills.
• A smart thermostat saves about $180 per year in energy costs.
• Just one LED bulb can save you $50 over its lifespan. Multiply that by the average number of light sockets in a home – 40 for a savings of $900.
• A gaming console uses at least 10 times more energy to stream a movie than a Roku box or smart TV app.

 Water Heater Tip!
Lowering your water heater from 140 degrees to 120 degrees will save as much as $400 annually.