Category: Homeowner Maintenance

person cleaning their gutters.

Cleaning Gutters on Your Mobile Home In a Snap

On By Maggie S.In Homeowner Maintenance

I started to notice there were water marks and leaves stuck to the side of my house and couldn’t figure it out. It hadn’t stormed badly, it wasn’t fall, and there weren’t any trees against the house. The culprit? We hadn’t cleaned the gutters!

Cleaning your gutters is so important because clogged gutters, broken gutters, or lack thereof mean your home isn’t being protected from potential water damage. When water flows down the side of your home without any redistribution process – it goes straight to your foundation, or to the ground underneath your skirting. This can cause your home to need to be releveled. Clogged gutters also can damage your entire gutter system by dry rotting your fascia, going behind it, or pulling it away from your home which will mean you’ll need to replace segments.

There are a few different strategies to cleaning out gutters, the most important part is to practice ladder safety by firmly planting the ladder and having a spotter hold the ladder in place from the bottom as you work. Be sure to read your ladder’s instruction manual as well.

  1. Set up your ladder. The most recommended ladder across home websites, is an extendable ladder. With a mobile home though, you probably won’t need that unless yours is built on a basement or you have a pitched roof.
  2. Next, find your gathering method. You can place a tarp below, hold a bucket (or strap it to your gutter), or use an alternative bag method. Choose the one that is the safest for your expertise, or based off if the materials your scoping are wet or dry.
  3. Select your tool. Now that you know where the mess is going, what will you use to get it there. You can go classic with gloves, choose a small shovel devise from a hardware store, or an alternative tool.
  4. Wear clothes with protection that you can get messy. Likely debris will get on you – that’s why goggles can be a good option as well. Wear something that washes easily or that your okay getting dirty.
  5. Notice and fix repairs while you’re up there. Tighten brackets or add screws as needed. You may even want to add gutter guards.

Be sure that you practice safety and have help when cleaning your gutters. Wear clothes that can get dirty and gloves. Protective eye gear isn’t a bad idea if you expect the leaves/debris to be wet. This maintenance will save the side of your house and prevent damage to your gutters and keep filtering the water away from your home.

Read More In-depth!

Gravel Driveway Repair and Preventative Care

On By Maggie S.In Homeowner Maintenance

Gravel driveways are a great, budget friendly option. Like everything else, they’ll need some maintenance and upkeep. There are plenty of things you can do to both avoid and fix problems as they arise. I’ll be looking at some of the options.

Drainage is the most important component of a gravel driveway. If your driveway has major drainage issues – you may need to do some back tracking. It could be that your driveway wasn’t put together correctly. More than likely though, the repair and upkeep addressed in this post will help you fix most issues.

Preventative –

  • Making a crown – most expert sites recommend this strategy to keep drainage moving downward. All you have to do is rake gravel to a peak in the center of your driveway. It doesn’t need to be super high, just enough to encourage the water to flow down the middle instead of down the sides.
  • Trenches and edging – These are great ideas that will give water a safe place to go. You can try digging shallow trenches on both sides of your driveway. You may also try doing a little rain garden or any type of edging that will keep your gravel in place and move the water to the end of your driveway.
  • Drains – Some people also put drains on either side of their driveway, these are more involved, but may be a perfect solution for you. Some people will install them on the sides as edging with metal or plastic grids overtop the thin drains. The most common drains are culvert pipes or French drains which are both dug underground (usually) to redistribute water.

Problem areas – 

  • Potholes – These can be tricky. Essentially, they are an issue of trapped water. A great do it yourself site, suggests a helpful process.
    • First, they recommend digging the hole out wide and deep enough, so the edges are solid. This way the gravel hole will hold for the filler.
    • Once it’s clear, you can fill with thinner/ crushed gravel.
    • Next, tamp/push down the gravel with a steel or wooden tool.
    • To finish, fill the remaining area with regular gravel to the top off the hole, plus some extra to blend it out.
    • Lastly, smooth out the gravel so everything blends well.
  • Clogged culverts– Sometimes debris and rocks can clog your pipes which prevent its whole process. There are plenty of tools you can purchase for this, or you can rig your own system. This home site recommends using something to push the debris while also spraying water down the pipe. 

Start Your Gravel Driveway Today!

I hope this helps get you started in planning how to maintain and take care of your gravel driveway. Ask a professional for help if you find a big issue or just want help making sure you do things well. May your driveway stay in good shape with this information!

Household Safety Check Points for Your Kids and Pets

On By Maggie S.In Homeowner Maintenance, Learn

Having pets or kids in the house is a blessing. It also requires attention to what’s in your home and what you bring into your space. We’ll help you think though potential hazards in the home and how to address them. Providing safety and comfort in your home is so important. Let’s jump into household safety precautions you can take in your home for peace of mind.

Children:

You’ll definitely want to do a good amount of research when prepping your home for kids. We aren’t an exhaustive voice on this, just one of many that can help you discover tips for safety. Check out our resource on baby proofing your home to get started.

I like the way the National Health Council has you think through child safety. They highlight 4 high-risk zones:

  • Water
  • Heat/Flame
  • Toxic substances
  • Potential for a fall

A lot of issues stem from these dangers listed above and thinking about where they are in your home is important. Thinking about how they play out uniquely in your home is the key to preventing injury or harm to your child. Take some time to evaluate your home and adjust according to your space and children in the home.

Typical trouble spots in your home that need covered or to be locked are: electrical outlets, cabinets with chemicals and/or medication in them, sharp edges of tables/other items in the home, door knobs, dressers, or tippable furniture, toilet seats, blind cords, long drapes or things hug on the wall that can be pulled from a child’s height, areas with sharp kitchen tools or weapons, etc. Here are some more in-depth safety home measures to integrate into your action plan.

Beyond thinking about the layout of your home and making dangerous things safe or untouchable for babies or children, you’ll also want to consider what you use in your home around your child.

Think through your cleaning materials, you may want to switch to an ecofriendly cleaner or use something natural to reduce harsh chemical use in your home. Or if you do use deep cleaners ensuring that you close the door so kids don’t go in and also ventilate the space with a fan or by opening a window.

Here’s to a safe home for your kiddos! Be sure to check out more resources on the subject! Now we’ll look at some pet safety in the home.

Pets:

Let’s start with some pet and children together safety tips.

Be sure to constantly monitor children below the age of 5 around pets. Teach them how to safely interact with animals: to be gentle, not invade their space (no forced petting), and learn to read the animals body language. Teach kids to wash their hands after playing with animals, taking them outside, or feeding them.

puppy getting it's teeth brushed

Keep your animals healthy with clean environment, taking them to the vet regularly, and giving them necessary medications. Watch kids around litter boxes, keep them out of reach of small children and pick up animal poop from your yard where kids play to protect from worms and other issues. Read more about keeping your kids and animals safe in the same home here.

Now, let’s check out some specifics for pet safety:

Many safety precautions you take for kids will overlap for pets: block access to chemicals, foods, medicine, gum, certain essential oils, etc. Check out more ways to pet proof your home by room.

You have to think more about the exterior of your home with pets as we don’t typically watch them as closely. Be mindful of the following:

  • Oil or antifreeze leaks from your car. Clean them up quickly as they toxic to your pet.
  • When you spray for bugs, plant something new, or use landscaping chemicals. Try to be pesticide free and use pet/child safe sprays. Look up plants to ensure they aren’t poison to pets.
  • Look for holes made by rodents to fill or fill holes your pet dug.
  • Check your yard periodically for trash, food bits, harmful items that may have blown or been tossed into your yard.
  • Give your pets access to water outside in the hot weather, especially if they are outside for long stretches of time or live outside.

We hope this helps you prep your home for pets, or improve pet safety in your home. For further reading check out this pet safety in the home resource.  

6 Ways to Increase Space in Your Single Wide

On By Maggie S.In Featured, Homeowner Maintenance

A single wide home is a great choice in homeownership. For many they are a perfect fit, but for the growing family, the collector, or the person that likes a good amount of cozy, personal touches – you may feel the need to think about your living area creatively. There’s usually plenty of space available to you – sometimes all you need is a bit of perspective to help you realize where you can utilize more room.

Let’s dive into some ways to make your single wide work better for your lifestyle!

  1. Shelving for days. Use shelves to increase storage and take your décor up a notch. If you’re unsure how to hang things well on your mobile home walls learn more here. Get the more about different ways to hang items here. Make the most of your space with sturdy shelves.
shelving in a manufactured home

2. Practical furniture. Do you have bulky pieces in your home? Is your couch too large for your living room? Thinking about the size and placement of your furniture is the pinnacle to creating space. Place your furniture in a way that agrees with the room or covers unused area. You might also sell what furniture you have and purchase something more compact. 

3. Expand your closet. If you’re closet area is sparse, try investing in a rolling clothes rack. You can also work inside your closet to utilize the space that is already there, read more here.

4. Add levels to your kitchen cabinets. Your cabinets may feel full, but are you using organizational shelves? If there’s space above your plates or mugs you can add shelves with four legs that are usually wire on the top for maximum stacking. There are also great towel bars, and thin, hanging baskets that may fit over cabinet doors. Some people also will add a magnetic strip or hooks under cabinets for tucked away storage. 

5. Use the doors. Over the door storage hangers are your best friend! Use them! From shoe racks designed for over the door to spice racks shelving – this is a major space saver. You can also use over the door hooks for your bedroom and bathroom. 

6. Organization station (catch all). Find a place to create a center with a desk, bulletin board, and calendar to serve as the place for all mail and new items in your home. This can serve as a transitional location for items and be used to keep random items in one place. 

We hope these ideas help you get organized and allow you to use and make space you didn’t realize you had available!

Get More Ideas!

blue backsplash in a manufactured home kitchen

Using Your Tax Refund as a Home Investment

On By vmfhomesblogIn Featured, Financial, Homeowner Maintenance

If it’s a tax season where you are getting a refund instead of having to pay or breaking even: congrats! If not, be patient, your season could be soon. Don’t get discouraged. The best option is usually to save instead of spend. However, tax refunds can be an exception because most people don’t budget them in. If you can, consider setting aside part of your refund to a savings account, outstanding bill, or high interest payment. Those are typically the best places to start.

Another great option if you’re in the market for a home is to consider using your tax refund towards your down payment. Down payments can deter some buyers from purchasing a home. However, using your tax refund could get you into your home quicker and may alleviate the need to pull from your savings. That’s a win-win!

After that, if you’ve got a little left over, you might consider showing your home some love with some of these upgrades listed below! Making an investment in where you live can pay off in the future. Skip the instant gratification and invest where it counts. Based on what amount you have left over we’ve outlined a few home improvement ideas by cost. Ideas are just estimates and will vary due to several factors, such as home size and the supplies used.

Most of the estimated project costs below are considering the cost of labor (for the ones that need that). If you plan to do the work or install – you could spend less!

Less than $300

Update light fixtures

Painting kitchen cabinets with a kit

Replace door knobs

Pressure wash

Programmable thermostat

$300 – 600

New dishwasher

Add kitchen backsplash

Add a new screen door

$600- 1,000

Entire home storage/organization

Adding updating landscaping/curb appeal

Replace garden tub or standing tub/shower

$1,000 – 1,500

Replace carpet in entire home

Build a shed

We hope this inspires you to try some updates in your home that add to your investment. We’ve tried to highlight upgrades that we think will make your home valuable and/or look better in the future.

Try a Project For Your Home!

Organization bins on shelves in a mobile home

How to Organize Your Home

On By Kayla PerezIn Homeowner Maintenance, Lifestyle

The year-end is an excellent opportunity for a fresh start for you and your home. If you’re unsure where to start, it’s best to begin with one room at a time to initiate the declutter process. Once your items are sorted, it is easier to organize them with containers and labels to help support your new lifestyle.

Organization can be applied to about any room in the home. Adding containers and organization  bins does not have to be expensive and they can be found in-store and online at a low price. Let’s discover what items we can use to help organize.

Kitchen

I believe many would agree the kitchen is the best room in home for the late night snacker! Why not make it easier to locate and grab your favorite food when entering the kitchen?

Countertop: Store the toaster, dish rack, and air fryer away and remove what is not in use. Start with clearing off the counter. This will help maximize counterspace.

  • Try canisters with labels to store sugar and flour. This helps create easier access to staple food items.
  • Spice up your spice rack with a plastic shelf that helps you visibly see your kitchen ingredients.

The Pantry:  This plays an important role in being organized, it can provide an easier way to view the food items in your household.

  • Crates can be used to group same food items in one area to add more space in your pantry.
  • Plastic clear containers work for multiple food items such as, cereal, snacks, and pasta.

Refrigerator: Get quicker access to food and spend less time holding the fridge door open.

  • Clear containers can hold you your fruits, vegetables, or larger items like juices or canned foods. This will help you avoid throwing away food that’s gone bad. Help your fruits and veggies stay fresh longer!
  • Egg holders provide more room to store items and less damage to your eggs.
Woman in kitchen with dog standing next to organization shelving

Bedroom

Let’s face it, does your room bring you peace after a long day? Or stress you out from the clutter flooding your room? Going through your room you might find the need for more space and realize you don’t have it. Here’s how to find that space that you have been missing…

woman organizing her closet with bins and shelving.

Closet: While going through your wardrobe, you may find clothing that you no longer need. That’s normal! Feel free to have an organization bin for donations as you sort through your closet. In the meantime, this is how we can clean up what you still have.

  • Storage bins can be utilized to store shoes or large clothing items to avoid and prevent a bulky closet.
  • Baskets help store jeans and seasonal clothing items. Baskets can vary from fabric, wicker, or plastic. Find the style that best suits you!

Drawers: It’s okay, we are all guilty of the junk drawer in our room. You know the one where we throw random things in because we don’t know where else it would fit. Well, here’s your sign to straighten it up!

  • Small bins to store t-shirts or undergarments will help open more space and avoid overflowing.
  • Dividers to help group smaller items like jewelry or makeup to keep the area clean.
  • Tray placements on top of the dresser for easy access instead of opening your drawers. These  are ideal when you are on the go.

Did a lightbulb go off while reading this? Are you inspired about how you can get your home into a system of organization and enjoy a cleaner, more efficient space? Happy sorting! 

Now that you have seen new ways on how to organize your space check out more tips here!

Christmas decoration. Candles safely placed on votives on a log with slots for votives.

Quick Holiday Safety Tips

On By Maggie S.In Homeowner Maintenance

It’s time to decorate for those that celebrate! Holiday decorating adds a lot to our homes and brightens the dark nights. Between travel and all these new elements in our home we want to be sure we are taking precautions to keep everyone safe. This will help to avoid fires, injury, or further damage. Below we’ve included tips to help keep you safe!

Décor Tips:

The National Safety Council has a lot of great ideas on how to stay safe this season. Check out some of their tips!

Electrical Tips:

  • Check lights before using. This will ensure there’s no broken bulbs or frayed wires, while also letting you know if they still work before you wrap them around your tree.
  • Use smart plugs or timers to make for easy automated shut off or have the ability to turn off lights you left on accidentally.
  • Keep outlets and plugs far and away from your tree base if you have a real tree to keep away from water.

Natural Décor Tips:

  • Be wary of poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly as they are poisonous to dogs, cats, and/or harmful to babies. Avoid them in your home or keep them secured out of reach or in an unvisited part of your homes’ exterior.
  • Keep your tree watered and away from fireplaces and radiators.
Candlesticks being blown out.

Candle Tips:

  • Make sure candles are secure and fit will in their containers.
  • Don’t mix loose candles with flammable décor. Use tea lights or votives in holders that are larger than the candle to protect your home from fire.
  • Try flameless candles!
Man taking pie out of the oven with two rags.

Kitchen Safety:

  • Keep timers running. maybe even two! Entertaining can distract from the oven and things you have cooking. Be sure not to get distracted.
  • Be mindful of pressure cookers and air fryers in holiday prep. Be careful not to multi-task cooking with these items unless you have an additional adult to help.
  • Keep an eye on mulling spices / potpourri that you boil for the scent. Lower the heat to low after you get a simmer going and keep ample water in the pot to avoid burning.

We hope this can serve as a quick checklist for your home and helps you make adjustments as needed for your and your families’ safety. Protecting your home and the people in it is the most important. Check out our post for holiday décor ideas that are simple and safe!

Three paint lids in a row with paint brushed placed on them. The colors are sage green, pastel pink, and a soft gray.

Preparing to Paint Your Home

On By Rachel MersingerIn Homeowner Maintenance, Learn

Whether it is a new-to-you space or a familiar one, painting can always be a fun project. While fun, it can also feel overwhelming. To help prevent it from feeling that way, let’s go over some tips and tricks to making this process as easy as you can.

Before you first shake up and open that paint can, it is important to plan out what you want your room to look like. Picking your color is a fun part of the process but you’ll want to keep some things in mind:

Lighting:

Consider the lighting in your room. If you do not have a lot of natural light or if there is dim lighting, you will want to consider a lighter color than a darker one.

Need some inspiration? See what’s trending this year.

Other colors in the room:

Coordinate your paint colors with your furniture and curtains. While those items are replaceable, it is a good idea to see if your paint swatch will go with that color beforehand, so you don’t have to purchase new if you weren’t wanting to.

TIP: If you do have a room that you want to keep light but add a bit of drama, consider doing an accent wall!

Couple painting a wall in their home together. A woman is standing on a ladder while a man paints with a roller.

Materials:

Once you have picked out your paint colors, it’s time to gather your supplies.

  • Besides the paint, you’ll need an angled brush to cut in and rollers for the walls.
  • To protect your floors, add an old sheet or cotton drop cloth to your list. (You can always shop a thrift store for old sheets too).
  • Using quality painter’s tape will help prevent paint bleeding through and last, but not least, primer. Primer is cheaper and will help you use less coats of paint. It may feel like more work at the beginning but skipping this step will have you wishing you didn’t in the end.

Before you start your project, consider your local weather. The less humidity, the faster your paint will dry and will prevent drip marks on the wall. Prepping your walls before painting is also important as it adheres the best to a clean surface. If you have wallpaper, consider whether you want to remove it or paint over it.

Tip: If you start painting but need to stop. You can wrap your roller or brush in plastic wrap then place in the fridge. This will help keep your paint fresh, so you don’t have to wash it out in between coats.

Now that you know all that you need to get started, let’s get that project going!

Want to switch up your furniture to match your own room but don’t want to buy new? Check out how here.

Mobile Home Upgrades That May Improve Value

On By Maggie S.In Homeowner Maintenance, Learn

There are some relatively easy upgrades you can add to your home for little cost. One of the great things about mobile homes is that there is so much you can do with them, and often a little research and how-to knowledge is all you need to achieve the look or project you desire. Let’s check out some ideas!

Insulation is a great upgrade for your mobile home. It not only will regulate your temperatures, but it may also possibly help lower your energy bills. Plus, there are plenty of options that won’t even inconvenience you while it’s being added!

Painting the walls in your mobile home can add the personal touch you’ve been wanting. Most mobile homes have vinyl-on-gypsum wall panels, which means the walls are coated and will probably need some sanding or a paint with primer to stick properly. Get all the details about painting your mobile home walls.

Spruce up your home by updating your kitchen cabinets. From knobs to paint color, all it takes is a little embellishment. Get started on painting your cabinets with a kit today!

You can also work on making your home more energy efficient. This may mean a smart thermostat that fluctuates throughout the day, new windows, sealing your roof, etc. These upgrades usually help regulate the temperature within your home as well. Don’t stop there, there are tons of easy ways to save energy in your home without spending money. Get energy saving tips!

Lastly, Landscaping can add tons of charm to your home. You can choose a color scheme or just unique plants, the choice is yours! Not only will landscaping look great, but it can absorb water and keep your home dry, too! Try some of our landscaping ideas to improve drainage!

There are many more updates out there, including upgrades you can look into that won’t cost much for your home. It’s really about knowing your home and yourself enough to know what you’d benefit from as well as what you’re willing to keep up with!