Monthly Archives: June 2012

Last Updated on June 19, 2012

Owning a beach house and earning rental income from it helps offset the cost of a second home. Although you spend time in the beach house, making it a rental property to cover areas such as expense, replacements and comfort can draw return rentals and durability.  By following a few guidelines and making consistent updates to the property, your beach home can be a renter’s dream in no time!

The kitchen is one of the top spaces renters look at when choosing a beach rental property.  The look of the kitchen can not only help encourage more renters to look at your space, but it can also allow you, as the owner, to raise the price of your weekly rental cost.  First, take a look at the overall look of the kitchen.  If it needs remodeling, consider Granite Transformations as your remodeling service provider.   Granite Transformations has a unique countertop overlay product that allows your kitchen countertop to be transformed in just one day instead of the weeks it would take for a traditional kitchen remodel.  With no messy demolition, you can rest assured that you are not leaving the property without tenants for long.  In addition, the company has backsplash options and cabinet refacing for those kitchens that need more of a full upgrade.

After the look of the kitchen is updated, don’t forget about the essentials needed for renters. Select pots and pans, one of each size, that are easy to clean. Include at least one casserole dish and some mixing bowls. Include a large pot for boiling lobsters or corn. Include dishes, glasses and cutlery to serve at least ten. Remember kitchen utensils, including a corkscrew.

By starting with the kitchen and making continuous updates room by room, your beach property will become an ideal rental in no time.  Start today and your home will be ready in just a few short months, just in time for the 2012-2013 season.

Last Updated on June 19, 2012

By the month of June, most gardens are in full throttle and transitioning from the beautiful Spring months to summer. Even in the summer months, plants continue to grow and despite the heat and humidity, this is not the time to rest and ignore all your hard work from earlier in the year. Refuel your gardening spirit and be sure to take time to take care of your plants through the humid months.

Here are a few things you can do:

• If you choose to purchase new plants, keep them well watered.
• Check your mulch and add additional as needed.
• Check foliage for signs of nutrient deficiency.
• Give your houseplants a summer vacation outdoors.
• Make sure the birds have fresh water and food

Last Updated on June 19, 2012

With summer beginning, home burglaries skyrocket due to the ideal weather conditions. The added expense of a home security system can be overwhelming to some, so here are eight DIY tips you can do around your home to beef up your security and keep your family safe.

Here’s what you can do to strengthen your exterior doors:

• Reinforced Locking Mechanisms – Installing a 1-inch-long deadbolt lock, and a reinforced metal strike plate.
• Burglar-Proof Hinges – Re-hang your door to make certain the hinges are installed on the inside.  You can also hammer a nail through the midsection of the door hinge to make sure its hinges are never removed.
• Strengthen Your Door Frame – Secure your door frame to the wall by mounting a few three-inch screws along the frame and door stop.  Make sure the screws reach the wall stud.

So what can you do to prevent a burglar from coming in your window?

• Protect Glass Areas – 3M manufactures security or safety window film that can resist blows of up to 400 foot-pounds. This usually costs anywhere from $100-$150 dollars, depending on the size of your windows.
• Window Locks – Insert detachable eye-bolts in holes that you can drill into the sash where they both overlap.  Y can add locking scissor gates, or even metal grills.

Also check these added security measures you can take care of outside your home:

• Trim Hedges – Burglars hide behind hedges to get a better look into your home.  They can also break a window undetected by watching neighbors. Trim them down to a point where it’s possible to see your neighbors and anyone passing your home from the street.
• Security Landscaping – Another good way to deter burglars from breaking or entering your windows is to plant any type of thorny bush.  Roses are great and aesthetically pleasing.
• Lay Groundwork – Lay gravel under windows, or even as a surface treatment for a driveway.  A burglar’s footsteps can be heard in advance with these security measures in place.