Get Your Home Ready For Back to School

School supplies are showing up on the shelves of stores everywhere reminding everyone that the final days of summer are edging closer.

With that in mind, it’s a good idea to evaluate your home to make sure you are organized and prepared for the approaching back to school days. Even if you do not have children in school, shortened daylight hours and changing traffic patterns can affect your neighborhood and home life, giving you a reason to pause and consider changes you may want to incorporate now.

Home Improvement Projects

With extended daylight hours, now is the time to evaluate your home and complete any projects you’ve been contemplating.  In addition, some work such as repairing or replacing a roof, should be done before the fall and winter weather arrives.  Now is the time to plan for any remaining home improvement projects to be done this year.

Are you going to do the work yourself?  Summer schedules and vacations are a bit more open typically, allowing you more freedom to work on your project and recruit friends who may be available to help, too. It’s easier to do work on your house with the summer weather.

If you’re not going to do the work yourself, call Man With Tools to get an estimate now, and then schedule the work to be done.  Tradesmen tend to get busy in fall as others realize that fall may be the last opportunity to get work done before the holidays (and guests!) and before work may be affected by the weather.

Finishing projects up now will give you peace of mind in the coming months, including those busy first weeks of fall and through the holidays.

Personal Planning Around Your Home

With sales on school and office supplies, now may be a good time for you to do personal planning and organizing as well.   Take a look at your home office.  Do you need a new wall calendar or a dry erase board, or can you de-clutter your home office space using home organizers or storage containers?  You can save time and money by shopping now while inventory is high. Watch for sale promotions during this period also.  With the extra daylight hours, this time of year is the perfect time of year to dedicate yourself to organizing.

Enjoy the rest of summer

Regardless of the projects you embark on as you enjoy the lingering days of summer, now is the time to prepare for the transition from summer to fall.  Make the most of the last part of summer – take trips, visit friends and family, have special time for yourself!

Pot Racks, Kitchen Racks, Shelves & Kitchen Storage Solutions

You may dream of totally remodeling your kitchen and doubling its cabinet space but you only have a budget for small changes. That’s not a problem. You can expand your storage by adding a rack with shelf or kitchen cart.

Install a Pot Rack Over the Island

Photo Credit: brittreints on Flickr

You aren’t doing anything with the space above the kitchen island, so why not put it to good use? Hang a pot rack. This serves as one of the most popular places to install such a rack because the island creates a barrier of sorts that keeps heads from getting too close and bumping into the items hanging down.

Add a Rack Above the Sink

Photo Credit: lancefisher on Flickr

Above the sink proves another common place for a pot rack. The location makes it easy to grab a pot and fill it with water for boiling purposes. It also allows you to let the pots hang dry if you so choose. Simply wash, rinse, hang and don’t worry about water dripping down as it dries, as it lands in the sink. You also won’t bump your head with this placement because the sink itself keeps you at a safe distance.

Hang a Rack on the Wall

Photo Credit: JohnE777 on Flickr

Racks also exist that sit flush with the wall and have hooks in front for hanging pots and space above to slide in lids. This turns a wall that might normally have held a lovely piece of art into an extension of your kitchen storage. Avoid putting such a rack in a pathway where it could get bumped by a passing shoulder.

Pot racks come in a variety of sizes and finishes, allowing you to choose one that suits the space and your kitchen. For example, you would not want a small rack over a large island for both aesthetic and functional purposes, as it would unbalance the room visually and make reaching pots in the center a chore. When choosing a finish, keep in mind the hardware in your kitchen and choose to match or complement. Stainless steel, wrought iron and brass are among the many options available. And don’t limit what you place on the rack. Many come with space above for items such as pans and cooling trays, and hooks can hold everything from pots and utensils to herbs that need to dry.

Add a Kitchen Storage Cart

Photo Credit: marusula on Flickr

A cart also adds to your storage space without requiring construction. Simply roll it into place, lock the wheels and leave it there, or you can tuck it away in the pantry when not in use. These handy items get used for everything from baking projects to serving as a cocktail cart during get-togethers of family and friends. If you do decide to give a cart a permanent place in your kitchen, the space above it makes an excellent spot for a pot rack just like with an island.

And as with all home improvement projects, your professional handyman would be more than happy to take on the installment tasks. Hanging heavy items such as pot racks requires proper placement on the ceiling or wall to avoid having it all come crashing down because of a lack of support. You also will want to take any lights on the ceiling into consideration.

Man With Tools can maintain your home to save you money. One call really does take care of everything on your to-do list. Make sure to stay on top of all your household repairs, improvements and maintenance needs and request service online today.