Basic to Basics: 4 Ways to Winterize Your Home This Fall

Wouldn't it be great if we could snap our fingers and our homes would be instantly prepared for the cold weather season? No more draining our house, packing up the patio furniture, checking the roof and installation for leaks and cracks.

Someday, technology may be able to provide these services for us, but until then, it's up to us to winterize our homes for the season.

It’s now officially fall, which means it’s time to prepare your home for the colder weather that’s fast approaching. If you live in an area with chilling temperatures and frequent snowfall, being properly prepared is especially important. Maybe you’ve just purchased your first home and you aren’t sure how to get it ready for the colder weather? You don’t need to worry. Check out the great tips I’ve compiled below. We’re taking it back to the basics so that you’ll be able to build the right foundation that will outlast the chilling upcoming season.

Check Your Roof

Properly insulating your roof is especially important because heat rises. If there isn’t proper insulation at the top of your house, heat will seep out and you’ll end up paying much higher heating costs. Besides keeping the heat in, you want to keep the cold out! Insulation will help prevent that, as will having your roof checked and repaired before the weather hits. Check for holes or shabby roofing yourself, and then call someone if there are repairs that need to be made. It’s also a great idea to check your gutters. Cleaning your gutters properly so snow and ice doesn’t build up and leak back into your home is an essential step!

Insulation

You’ll want to check your entire home for any insulation issues, not just the roof. You can caulk areas yourself or call a professional. Double check windows, since that’s often a problem area when it comes to bad insulation. You can also install heavier curtains and keep them drawn at night and on especially cold days to keep the cold out and the heat inside. Make sure to examine your heating ducts as well. They’re normally out of sight, so wear and tear may go unnoticed. Without proper ducts, you’ll lose heat and end up paying higher heating costs.

Turn Off Water

This tip is especially important because if you don’t properly handle your water pipes they can burst, which could cause flooding and astronomical costs to fix the damage. If you live in your house year-round, you don’t need to worry about this for indoor pipes, but pay attention to your exterior water sources. Drain your pipes and lawn irrigation systems, them shut off the water to those locations. Also make sure you bring in hoses so they don’t freeze or get damaged during the winter. Far too many people forget to winterize their outdoor areas.

Lawn Care

When mowing your lawn in the fall, mulch your leaves with the mower instead of raking them up. Mix the leaves with some kind of lawn fertilizer and add this mixture to your lawn, plants, and trees so they’re nourished during the colder weather. This season is also a great time to aerate your lawn and prune trees and shrubs! Wrap any delicate plants, bushes, or trees in burlap so the cold doesn’t harm them. Also, water your trees every few weeks because fall and winter months can be pretty dry. Once you’ve done everything, properly store your lawn equipment somewhere that it won’t be damaged by ice and snow.

What are your go-to ways to winterize your home?

This article was originally published on Michael's website.

What is Growth Mindset?

This post was originally published on Michaelleafer.com

Within the last decade or so, a new concept has arisen relating to how we perform at our jobs or how students function in school. This idea is known as a “growth mindset” and relates to our way of thinking. Whether or not you possess a growth mindset can influence all aspects of your life, from your education to your career and even your personal relationships.

What is it?

A growth mindset is the opposite of a fixed mindset. When you hold a fixed mindset, you believe certain traits in people are stagnant and cannot be changed or improved. It’s believing that “you either have it, or you don’t”. With a growth mindset, you realize that certain skills and characteristics can be made better and refined. You’ll face challenges head-on and be more open to criticism and advice on your work. You won’t balk at asking for help or collaborating with your co-workers. Those with a fixed mindset, generally look at their lives as a series of competitions, whether it’s with their colleagues, their peers, or their friends. It’s all about who can prove to be innately better at something, instead of looking for ways to improve the traits you already naturally have. Check out this chart to see different attributes of a fixed vs. a growth mindset.

How can it help?

When you have a growth mindset, you’ll very likely perform better in your job as well as in life in general. Instead of viewing life as a long of successes and failures while worrying a decision or risk could make you look bad, you’ll tackle challenges and projects with the attitude that you’re going to try your best, because even if it doesn’t go the way you anticipated, you’ll have learned something from the experience.

Research has shown that this difference between growth and fixed mindsets particularly affects students. It is common for young students to believe they are either intelligent or unintelligent and this belief affects their work accordingly. When a student believes he’s just not good at math, it causes him to not want to work as hard in the subject and instills a defeatist attitude in him, which results in lower scores no matter what he does. On the other hand, if that same student believes a bad grade in a math class doesn’t correlate to his natural abilities, he’ll be more likely to work harder on the next assignment or exam, which will result in a higher grade.

This same method works in your professional and personal lives. At work, instead of looking at projects and tasks as ways to continually prove how successful and smart you are, look at them as ways to create innovative ideas and solutions while collaborating with your co-workers. This method creates a more positive working environment and often produces better results for the company. Similarly, in your personal life, it’s important to view relationships as learning experiences, instead of situations where you must constantly prove to another person that you’re worth their time and attention.

How to get it

Unfortunately, a growth mindset isn’t something you can magically perfect over night. It’ll take effort to develop. Most people are a mix of growth and fixed mindsets, which may change day to day. Just remind yourself every day of the type of mindset you want to embody and what ways you wish to improve your personal outlook. There is no specific type of growth mindset that is superior to others, so just tailor your new mindset to what areas you need to improve. Your first step toward developing a growth mindset is being open to the idea that you won’t immediately have one!

Do you have a growth mindset? Check out Michael's website for more tips on how you can be the best version of yourself at work and at home! 

Quick Guide: 4 Staging Secrets

This post was orginially published on Michaelleafer.net. 

Michael Leafer is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for re-fabbing houses. Located in the Boston area, Michael is an expert when it comes to industry secrets. Check out his latest post, where he outlines a few simple ways you can stage your home or apartment so you can attract the best occupants for your place! 

Staging Tip #1: Clean Until It Shines

A pristine, clean home will always go for more money. Why? More times than not, prospective buyers have a difficult time imagining the space in its ideal manner. If a home is dirty and unappealing, they’ll forge an instant emotional memory of that home. Do what you can to remove all clutter and mess.

Staging Tip #2: Decorate with Classic, Simple Pieces

You don’t have to spend a fortune to craft your home’s compelling story. Hang inexpensive sheer curtains in the windows, and place a doormat leading up to the entrance. Depending on the amount of furniture in the space, you might also consider adding a vase of fresh flowers on the table or a bowl of fruit in the kitchen. When you take the time to make the house feel alive, your buyers will feel that, too.

Staging Tip #3: Don’t Forget Curb Appeal

Remember, this is the image that they’ll see when they first arrive! Do your best to make sure that the lawn is mowed and the sidewalks are swept. If you have time, do a little weeding or planting. If you’re looking to attract long-term, stable renters, you’ll want to make the effort to woo them.

Staging Tip #4: Focus on your Floors & Walls

When staging an empty house or apartment, the floors and the walls of the place will be noticed, whether you want them to or not! If you’re dealing with old carpet, why not professionally clean it or replace it? If the space is blessed with hardwoods, see if you can refinish the surface with a cleaner or a heavy-duty polishing.

For the walls: patch up any visible holes and paint over any outdated or damaged areas.

Staging your home can go a long way when attracting the right occupants for your home. By taking time to plan and organize the staging before you begin to show the house, you’ll be better prepared throughout the entire project!

Be sure to check out my other blogs where I tackle a host of home improvement projects, like how to revamp an outdated kitchen and how you can make your curb appeal irresistible!

4 Easy Steps to Remodel Your Kitchen

Remodeling your kitchen can be a great way to improve the value of your home. Need a few quick tips to get you started? Check out my full blog where the orginal post was published. On my website, you'll find even more ways to renovate and remodel your space. Whether you're looking to rent, sell, or enjoy the space, my home secrets will save your time and money!

Here are 4 Tips to remodel your kitchen--the heart of your home.

1. Choose and paint your room

This can make a dramatic difference in the feel of your space. When dealing with small kitchens, I like to opt for a white hue, which will open up the room and make the space feel more clean.

2. Change the hardware!

After you've painted the kitchen a new shade, you can move on towards the hardware of your cabinets. This simple step can often bring new life to your defeated space. Opt for modern shapes and silver finishes.

3. Consider Applying Backsplash

After the paint and the hardware, adding a backsplash can be a great next step. If you've chosen white for your walls and cabinets, you can be more liberal in your decisions with color and pattern. My advice? Stick to classic colors that will hold its value for years, or decades, to come.

4. Stage your Space!

If you're buying or renting the home, take a few minutes to stage the kitchen accordingly. For many home buyers, the kitchen is the most important room in the house, and the space that can turn a lot of buyers away. Taking the time to embellish the room can pay off big time. A few starters? Try a vase full of flowers, a bowl of lemons, and a festive kitchen rug. You'll be amazed at the warmth emitting from the space!

4 Easy Steps to Remodel Your Kitchen

Remodeling your kitchen can be a great way to improve the value of your home. Need a few quick tips to get you started? Check out my full blog where the orginal post was published. On my website, you'll find even more ways to renovate and remodel your space. Whether you're looking to rent, sell, or enjoy the space, my home secrets will save your time and money!

Here are 4 Tips to remodel your kitchen--the heart of your home.

1. Choose and paint your room

This can make a dramatic difference in the feel of your space. When dealing with small kitchens, I like to opt for a white hue, which will open up the room and make the space feel more clean.

2. Change the hardware!

After you've painted the kitchen a new shade, you can move on towards the hardware of your cabinets. This simple step can often bring new life to your defeated space. Opt for modern shapes and silver finishes.

3. Consider Applying Backsplash

After the paint and the hardware, adding a backsplash can be a great next step. If you've chosen white for your walls and cabinets, you can be more liberal in your decisions with color and pattern. My advice? Stick to classic colors that will hold its value for years, or decades, to come.

4. Stage your Space!

If you're buying or renting the home, take a few minutes to stage the kitchen accordingly. For many home buyers, the kitchen is the most important room in the house, and the space that can turn a lot of buyers away. Taking the time to embellish the room can pay off big time. A few starters? Try a vase full of flowers, a bowl of lemons, and a festive kitchen rug. You'll be amazed at the warmth emitting from the space!

What’s the best way to find your professional joy?

The most successful entrepreneurs all share one important trait. They're extremely hardworking. This hard work is the foundation of their success. While learning to work harder can be a skill learned by anybody, it’s best when attempted in scale. For example, if you’re looking to find more hours in your day, the best and easiest way to manage that is to wake up earlier in the morning. Giving yourself even an extra hour can be remarkable in terms of productivity.

How does hard work lead to joy? 

It doesn't lead to joy directly. However, it exposes you to a wide range of jobs and skills. Those who dabble in dozens of different careers or tasks find themselves actively sifting through jobs that they like or dislike. This is a fantastic way you can discover what you love to do! 

I've tried something out and I love it! 
While feeling excitement about a new project or skill is natural, it's important to note that you are in the early phases of this attraction. Give yourself a few months or years working on this. Do you still love it? 

Yes! I do! 

Great! The next best thing is to delve deeper into that skill. Do more of that work until slowly, that work will turn into more of your time. You may have to work for little money or accolades in the beginning, especially if you’re just starting out. But by honing in on a skill that you’re excited about is the best way to find success and happiness in your career. For me, it was working with my hands to flip houses. While I knew I loved to work with my hands all of my life, it took me until mid-career to place the pieces together.

Are you a first-time entrepreneur?

All entrepreneurs learn two things early in life. First, they must actively try many different jobs and careers out to find what they are most passionate about. Second, once they discover that passion, they should spend time everyday practicing and strengthening their skill set.

Check out a few resources from Michael Leafer, founder of Leaf Management. These books, podcasts, and social media tools will help you take the leap into the world of entrepreneurship. What tools have you found to be most effective in your growth?