Home + Family

Many people have been feeling a little bit cramped this year. A lot of us didn't realize that our apartments were small until the COVID-19 pandemic had us all in lockdown staring at the same four walls every day. There's a reason that moving companies can't even keep up with the huge numbers of New York City residents moving to the suburbs. If you also want some more space, but can't afford a relocation to the suburbs or are counting on New York to be revitalized post-pandemic, there are design solutions that you can use. In fact, interior design is somewhat an art of illusions. Think about it: interior designers take a completely raw space and, with the magic of decor, turn it into a new home, or a coffee shop, or a retail store. Read on for some interior design tips and tricks that ca...

When you have a family member suffering from cancer or some other life-threatening illness, it puts you in a difficult position. On the one hand, they need you to be their strength and encourage them through this difficult life phase. On the other hand, you're in great need of some compassion yourself as you prepare yourself for the coming loss. Nothing can make losing a loved one any easier—it's an inevitable part of life, and the only silver lining is that they won't suffer anymore once they pass away. In the meantime, it's up to you to be their rock, and these steps should help you to accomplish that. It may be a good idea for you and your loved one to go to therapy. It's understandable to feel depressed about end-of-life transitions. It's almost impossible to helplessly watch so...

One thing many people take for granted is their senses. We think that we'll always be able to see that gorgeous sunset, so we don't bother with sunglasses. We think that we'll always be able to taste new culinary adventures, so we eat hot foods that burn our palates or waste time on boring eats. And plenty of folks assume they'll always be able to hear their favorite band, so they blast music into their earphones. The truth is, though, that health concerns like hearing loss, tinnitus, and nearsightedness are far too common. We don't like to think of these things because they're unpleasant, but with almost 50 million people in the United States suffering from tinnitus (a ringing, buzzing, or humming in the ears without an external source), it's worth considering your options ahead of tim...

The HVAC system in your home is critical to your everyday life because it will make you and your family comfortable and safe. You want a furnace that will run reliably and keep your family warm throughout the chilly winter months. Likewise, during the summer, when the sidewalks are so hot they burn the bottoms of your feet, you want your home to be your oasis of cool and calm. Your air conditioning system should make your home a welcoming refuge from the hot summer sun. You're going to need it. Logically, you will use your air conditioner the most in the summer because that's when it's going to be the hottest outside, which directly impacts the temperature inside your house. If you have a relatively new air conditioner or recently had work done on your air conditioner, running it in ea...

Getting professional help when something goes wrong is part of being a homeowner, but doing preventive maintenance is just as important and can save you a lot of money down the line. In addition to preparing yourself for future problems and potentially avoiding a costly repair later on, you'll also have the peace of mind of knowing that your home is safe, protected, and in working order. When evaluating what maintenance projects make sense for you and your home, it can be overwhelming to decide what to prioritize. If you're unsure where to start, let's go over four things in your home that definitely need preventive maintenance. 1. Gutters One of the most important parts of the exterior of your home are your gutters, and they need to be checked and given regular maintenance. If you're ...

Home repairs can really sneak up on homeowners if they aren’t careful. There’s simply nothing worse than an untimely failure that plunges your home into darkness for days at a time, or one that knocks out your heating in the dead of winter. Unexpected repairs are sadly par for the course when it comes to being a homeowner. That being said, there are a number of ways to leverage collateral or prepare for these inevitable breakdowns that can induce hair pulling and tears if you haven’t prepared. Plan ahead for outages in uptime. As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to make sure that your thermostat and AC unit is running as it should, the roof isn’t leaking, your water heater coil is functional, and a host of other line items that make up a routine maintenance list. Conducting routin...

As a homeowner, there's plenty you have yet to learn about your house, and that's a good thing! Imagine if you already knew everything about tiling, fixing your water heater, and taking care of your garage floor when you first moved into your new home? With nothing left to learn, life can get boring. One thing that homeowners tend not to know a lot about is the water flow in their homes. This is one area where homeowners, no matter how savvy, usually opt to call a professional plumber to do the work. But just because you're calling a plumber to look at your hot water heater, your faucet, or any other water flow element doesn't mean that you shouldn't understand the mechanics of the system. You should be able to speak with the plumber you've hired about their work, especially so that you...

Congratulations! You've decided to find a home to own. This is a very exciting time in your life, but you may feel swamped and overwhelmed when it comes to figuring out everything you need to make this investment. While it is no secret that there is a lot you need to know when looking for the right home for you, there are some important details you need to be aware of when house shopping. Here are some additional details to look out for when buying a home, that is not all cosmetic related. Online Property Records. Unless your home is brand new and just built, it is of the utmost importance to look up the home's property records online. This public information is easily available online and can tell you a lot of important details about the home's past. Not only will these land records p...

Being a homeowner is a totally different game from being a tenant. Homeowners are responsible for their own maintenance and repairs whenever anything goes wrong, and there's a ton of stuff to keep track of. You could practically consider homeownership a second job, and that's two you'll have in your house if you're already working from home because of the pandemic. About 42% of the U.S. workforce now works from home. There are various pros and cons to working from home, but if you're among this number, you'll have even more chances to look out for signs your house needs some maintenance work. With its extreme weather patterns and humid climate, homes in the south may require some unique steps in their regular maintenance than those in New York, for example. Here's some advice on things ...

This year has been one that has challenged us in many capacities. You might find yourself struggling to get up in the morning and underwhelmed by the same routine at work. Why not break the monotony and give yourself something to look forward to by planning to invest in yourself next month? With a little motivation and inspiration, you can break your routine and brighten up your life with small changes. Whether you want to learn a new hobby or skill, take a spontaneous road trip, or simply treat yourself to that new pair of boots you've been eyeing, go easy on yourself and enjoy a few treats next month. 1. Take a vacation One of the best ways to treat yourself is to get out of town and go on an adventure. Since air travel is challenging at the moment, you might want to go on a road trip....