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New Year’s Resolutions for Your Mobile Home

CENTRESTAGEFILMS — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 23:12:10 +0000

New Year’s resolutions have gotten a bad rap in recent years, with mental health professionals noting that – whatever the positive, life-enhancing motives behind them – our January wish lists are rarely rooted in reality. The result is that too many people are plunged into depression when they realize they will not achieve a favorite, albeit unachievable, goal. Personal resolutions are a no-win situation.

That said, there is something about having a fresh start each January 1 that feels good and exciting. Perhaps the answer lies in pursuing something smaller and more manageable than pledging to read a book a week or taking up skydiving. Owners of manufactured homes, for instance, can convert their self-improvement impulse into a home-improvement one. Here is a list of realistic resolutions manufactured homeowners might want to consider pursuing in 2023.

Paint Job: Nothing says “nothing’s changed” than seeing the same color on your walls year after year. The start of 2023 provides the perfect moment to significantly upgrade your environment by updating your home’s color scheme. You’ll be surprised how much a fresh coat of vibrant paint makes your home feel newer and look cleaner.

Landscaping: Once the interior of your unit is sparkling and fresh, it’s time to turn your attention to the exterior. Consider adding some bushes or flowers to the front of your home to make it look more appealing and welcoming. You’ll be glad you did come spring and summer.

Neglected Chores: You will find these around every home – important maintenance to-do’s no one has taken the time to do. (And who can blame them?) The new year offers just the incentive you need to get going on that list by repairing that weather stripping, cleaning out your dishwasher or donating those old clothes to a favorite non-profit.

Get Efficient: Make the commitment to make 2023 the year you increase your unit’s energy efficiency. This can be done in ways large (adding mobile home roof insulation) and small (changing your light bulbs to more efficient models). The costs incurred in the process will be more than outweighed by lower utility bills year-round.

Emergency Preparedness Kit: Americans in recent years have seen repeated examples of how climate change is impacting our weather. Massive wildfires, increased tornado activity, deadly hurricanes – climate change is here, it’s real and it poses a particularly acute threat to manufactured housing. The turn of the year provides just the moment you need to assemble an emergency preparedness kit complete with such necessary items as flashlights, batteries, toilet paper and basic first aid. And while you’re at it, create and being practicing a family emergency escape plan.

Join Your Neighborhood Watch: While not a home improvement project, participating in a neighborhood watch can increase the safety of your home and community. It’s also a great way to get to know your neighbors better.

At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

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Home Improvements for the Ages: Choosing the Right Household Projects for Aging in Place

CENTRESTAGEFILMS — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 17:59:21 +0000

The arrival of spring often invokes a desire to make things feel new again. Around the home, that can mean decluttering your possessions, doing some deep “spring cleaning,” or perhaps taking advantage of more desirable weather (i.e, not too hot and not too cold) to tackle some home improvement projects.

When planning such projects, seniors or those approaching their retirement years should select home improvement projects that will increase their independence as they age. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of six home improvement projects that will improve the functionality of your space.

So, if you’re in your retirement years and warmer weather has you wanting to grab your toolbox, read these recommendations first!

1. Replace doorknobs with levers.

Traditional doorknobs can be hard to grasp and turn, particularly for people with arthritis or balance issues. Levers are easier to grip and allow you to use the weight of your hand to push or pull doors open. They’re affordable and stylish too.

2. Consider your reach zone.

Balance and mobility restrictions can make bending over and reaching up more difficult as we age, so keep this in mind when placing outlets, shelves, cabinets, and the like. Place electrical outlets higher off the floor (18 to 20 inches off the floor, as opposed to the typical 12 to 15 inches) and install cabinets and shelves within a 54-inch “reach zone” in order to make them more accessible.

Other ways to improve storage include:

In lieu of storing frequently used items, use lazy susans to keep things organized and compact on countertops.
Store heavy pots and pans on racks or dowels instead of stacking them.
Install wall hooks at a level that is within your reach zone.
Consider slide-out shelving for deeper cabinets.
Install levers or push latches on drawers to make them easier to open.

3. Select flooring and countertop materials that contrast in color.

As we age, our eyes lose the ability to differentiate planes, which means that when a counter is the same color as the floor, it can be difficult to see. Avoid this problem by selecting flooring and countertop materials that contrast with one another, such as white or tan countertops with gray or dark brown flooring. In other words, avoid light on light or dark on dark.

4. Make bathrooms more accessible with these options:

Walk-in tubs.
Non-slip mats/flooring.
Handrails or grab bars.
Anti-scald valves.
Curb-free showers.
More space to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, caregivers, or some combination of these.

5. Fall-proof your stairs.

As we age, we tend to lose balance and stability and falls can be particularly dangerous for seniors. Therefore, stairs pose a particular hazard. Reduce the risk of falls by replacing one or two steps with a ramp whenever possible and/or adding a railing.

For longer staircases, improve lighting, add railings on both sides, and install anti-slip mats on stair edges. In addition, ensure that the flooring between rooms is smooth to prevent tripping.

6. Improve Lighting.

Our eyesight can diminish with age, so ensure that your space has adequate lighting. Window light and skylights are great options for bringing in natural light. Adding task lighting in the kitchen and other workspaces is also beneficial.

Making these functional improvements to your home can allow you to live independently for longer. Keep these recommendations in mind the next time you pick up a hammer.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post Home Improvements for the Ages: Choosing the Right Household Projects for Aging in Place appeared first on Other CMS.

Resolve for Regular Monthly Home Maintenance in 2021

CENTRESTAGEFILMS — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 22:11:05 +0000

Many of us make resolutions at the start of each new year to live more healthy lives, grow personally or spiritually, tighten our budgets, and the like. The new year is also a great time to commit to maintaining and improving what may be our most valuable asset: our homes.

The year 2020 saw Americans spending more time at home than ever before, as stay-at-home orders were put in place across the country during the Covid-19 pandemic. As Covid cases are expected to rise this winter and Americans remain largely homebound, there is no better time to focus on making sure that our homes are in tip-top shape. Dividing up home maintenance tasks by month can also make these chores a bit less daunting.

Our home maintenance checklist is a handy resource for staying on track with home improvements and safety checks. It includes a focus for each month and a checklist of related tasks. The focus for each month is as follows:

January – Safety Checks
February – Check for Leaks and Recaulk
March – Indoor Maintenance
April – Declutter
May – Service Your HVAC System
June – Yard Maintenance
July – Check for Pests
August – Inspect Your Roof
September – Improve Your Carbon Footprint
October – Touch up Your Exterior
November – Take Care of Leaves and Debris
December – Winterize

For a more detailed annual home maintenance guide, check out our blog article on this subject.

Following a home maintenance checklist such as this allows you to tackle important issues throughout the year, rather than waiting for them to become costly problems. Provide a safe, clean, and healthy living environment for you and your family by making a commitment to home maintenance at the start of the year and each month that follows.

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