Protect Your Assets - It's Time to Winterize

As winter approaches, homeowners need to consider the updates and repairs that will keep their home warm and cozy during not just this cold season, but for many to come. Neglected leaks or other repairs can cause gradual disasters, so don't leave them for another winter.

A small leak in a roof soon begins to cause irreparable damage. In snowy areas such as Minnesota, spring can be a horrible time to discover a leak, as accumulated snow begins to melt. Check attics and roof-tops on a regular basis, but especially before snow starts to fall, to assure no leaks have formed. While a patch of suitable roofing material should be enough to eliminate your immediate leak, consider that one leak usually signifies that the entire roof is nearing the end of its life. So patch your leak immediately, but unless a specific and direct accident caused that one leak, and the rest of your roof is new, start planning for a new roof right way. Waiting a season could result in another leak, and even more irreparable damage to the construction of your home. While a new roof can be expensive, it will add immeasurable value, safety and comfort to your home.

Insulation is another important consideration before winter is completely upon Minnesota. Insulation's main function is to prevent heat from leaving your home, and to prevent cold from penetrating your walls and ceiling. Assure you have adequate insulation, and that there is no damage to the insulation. Leaks and dampness will reduce the effectiveness of your insulation, and in the worst case scenario, mold could develop, meaning your insulation will need replacing.

The important thing is to check for leaks or any other damage to your home often enough that you can fix them before a problem sets in. If neglected, leaks or damage can create long-term problems that can be far more expensive than if they were fixed immediately.

So winterize, and protect your most valuable asset: your home.

Jerry Clifford is an experience Minnesota Realtor specializing in Eden Prairie real estate.

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Make A Room Divider With Photo Display

Some people keep asking themselves whether it is actually possible to build your own photo room divider. The answer to that would be "yes". In fact, doing so will help you save a lot of money, and who doesn't like the idea of that, right?

One thing you will need is a frame for the room divider. You can make use of your old ones or you can try building it yourself. The frame, of course, is necessary only if you are planning to make a standing photo room divider. The next thing you ought to get is some corkboard, roughly in the same dimensions as you want your folding room divider to be. Of course, you will also need some glue and some map pins.

What you need to do to make a photo room divider is to attach the corkboard to the frame. After that, you are actually pretty much done. The great thing about this homemade photo room divider is the fact that it offers a lot more in terms of customizability.

Unlike other types of photo room dividers which require you to place your photographs inside specific pockets, this homemade photo room divider actually allows you to pin your photographs anywhere along the main body of the board.

When you design your homemade photo room divider, you can do so using various cutouts or printouts. You might want to make sure that the photo room divider is decorated with a specific design in mind. Otherwise, things are just bound to get chaotic.

A great idea you can use would be creating a mosaic on the photo room divider. This will give you both the freedom to truly express yourself and the organization which will help you make sure that your self-expression is done in a context which other people may be able to appreciate.

As you can see it is actually quite easy to make your own photo room divider. However, some people may not have the skills or the resources needed to complete this little project. In cases like this, you might just have to settle for buying your photo room divider commercially. It might not be as fun, but it's better than nothing.

For tips on choosing room dividers, visit http://www.roomdividers101.com

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