With winter knocking on our door and COVID-19 cases on the rise, most of us will be spending a lot more time at home this holiday season. Yes, watching old Christmas movies is great, but you can only do that for so long before you eventually feel the urge to get up and be productive. So, why not take advantage of that extra down time and do some easy DIY upgrades, improvement, and maintenance around your home?

It doesn’t have to cost you a fortune, but these projects are sure to give you a sense of satisfaction when you’re done with them!

Replace Knobs/Handles On Drawers, Doors, And Cabinets

Trends come and go, and that may mean it’s time to upgrade those 20-year-old knobs on your kitchen cabinets. Well lucky for you, this is a fairly easy project that can really make a difference. If you’re looking to completely replace the knobs, consider popping one off and taking it with you when you go shopping for new knobs. This will help ensure that the screw size for the new knows is correct. Besides a constantly thinking “lefty-loosie and righty-tighty,” this project should be fairly simple. 

On the other hand, maybe you like your current knobs, but the color doesn’t suit your style anymore. If practical, you may want to consider painting your knobs/handles. It may behoove you to take a knob with you to your local home improvement store and ask for advice on how to properly give it a new coat.

Replace Outdated Light Fixtures 

Hey! 1990 called and it wants its light fixtures back! Okay, maybe that was a bit harsh. But maybe it’s reality. This is another fairly simple project that you can knock out on your own and it can make a HUGE difference not only when walking in a room but lighting the room as well. Of course, you’ll want to take certain safety precautions as you are dealing with electricity, but as long as the wires are in place, swapping fixtures should be an easy process as long as you follow the instructions.

Lather On A Fresh Coat Of Paint

It goes without saying that a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for doors, walls, cabinets, and just about anything that can be painted. This is also a good time to touch-up peeling or chipping paint around the house. And while you’re at it, you may want to patch any drywall that may have cracks or holes in it (we won’t ask how it happened). Easy-to-use patching kits are available at most home improvement stores.

Freshen Up Tile And Grout

Let’s be blunt – tile and grout get nasty over time – it’s inevitable. But there’s an easy remedy to making your tile and grout look brand new again without having to completely replace it. Stop by your local home improvement store and pick up a tile and grout restoration kit. You’re going to have to put some effort into it and do some scrubbing, but once it’s done, you’re going to appreciate those sparkly tiles and shiny white grout!

Shampoo Your Carpet/Rugs

Whether you’re the only occupant in your home or you have kids and pets, carpet and rugs collect dirt and grime over time. This can lead to unsightly stains and unpleasant odors. Luckily, you don’t need to hire a professional to clean your rugs and carpet. For a couple hundred dollars and a couple hours of your time here and then, you can knock this project out yourself. Shop around online to see what shampooing machine best suits your needs. The great thing is that you can use this machine to clean your carpet and rugs for years to come. If you don’t want to fork over the money to buy a machine, rent one. Many local grocery and hardware stores offer rentals, such as a Rug Doctor, for a nominal fee. Walking on freshly cleaned carpets is one of the best feelings! 

Do Some Organizing!

All of us could probably use some of this one way or another. Depending on how much stuff you have, this may be a daunting task, but take our word for it, you will feel SO much better after doing some organizing. 

For example, if you’ve got a mountain of clothes piling up in your closet, take the time to go through it. Make a pile of stuff you want to keep and a pile that you’d like to donate or sell. For the stuff you’d like to keep, consider hanging it up in your closet or neatly folding it and stowing it away. Think about it this way, now you’ll have more room for new clothes! 

Install Weatherstripping

Who enjoys wasting money? We would venture to say not a whole lot of people. But when your home isn’t properly weatherproofed, you may unknowingly be throwing money out the window (no pun intended) when it comes to your energy bill. If cold air is able to seep into your home through windows, doors, or other openings, your furnace is going to have to work harder to keep your home warm, which in return uses more energy.

Consider paying a visit to your local home improvement store and purchasing some temporary weatherstripping to install around your windows and doors. This will help keeps drafts at bay and will help prevent a strain on your budget. The beauty of it is that when the weather warms up, the weatherstripping can easily be removed. 

Replace Your Furnace Filter

This is about as easy and inexpensive as it gets. All of the air in your home is circulated through this filter and is bound to collect dirt. It’s suggested that you check your air filter’s quality on a monthly basis and replace it every three months. These filters are just a few dollars and can make a huge difference in the air that you and your family is breathing in.

Clean Your Dryer Ducts

Is your dryer not performing like it used to? The dryer ducts may be the culprit. Not only could this be affecting your dryer’s efficiency, but it could also pose a more serious problem – a fire hazard. You’re going to need some muscle to move your dryer away from the wall. Once you do so, unplug your dryer and disassemble the duct work and vacuum out all of the lint and dust to the best of your ability.

Replace Your Old Faucets/Shower Heads

Are your faucets and shower heads beyond the point of no return when it comes to calcium buildup? Or maybe they have a leak that you just can’t seem to stop. Consider upgrading these fixtures. Nowadays, both faucets can be pretty fancy, but do what suits you best. Before disconnecting these fixtures, be sure to turn off your water supply to avoid unnecessary messes. 

Star and her husband, Brian, are very excited to be back in Greater Lafayette after 15 years of relocating across the country with her husband’s 34-year Caterpillar Management career. Star was born and raised in Tippecanoe County and is a McCutcheon grad! She and Brian recently celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary! They have three children, two daughter-in-laws, and four energetic and precious grandchildren. 

Star has been licensed in Real Estate in Indiana since early 1980’s, got her principle real estate broker’s license in the early 1990’s, and was licensed as a principle real estate broker in the State of Colorado, Broker Owner of Star Purcell Real Estate in Denver, CO from 2013 to 2019. 

She has also worked with Cathy Russell in the 1990’s at Coldwell Banker Sycamore Realty! 

Star loves spending time traveling with her husband to see their kids, daughter-in-laws and grandkids in Boston, MA, Denver, CO and Wichita, KS! She also enjoys having fun playing Euchre with family & friends, reading, playing Pickleball, facilitating women’s Bible studies, spending time at the gun range with her hubby, and serving her family and LORD! Star is also a member of the Purdue University Homemakers Extension Club of Wayne Township and helps serve on the financial audit committee. 

Reach out to Star today at 303-842-7025 or at Star@RussellTeam.com.

If you’re a homeowner, your monthly mortgage payment is likely your most expensive bill, and if your income stream has been interrupted due to COVID-19, it may be impossible to foot the bill. As a way to provide some peace of mind to struggling homeowners, the federal government has enacted a temporary assistance program, helping keep homeowner’s in their home. 

The CARES Act

When widespread shutdowns and layoffs began earlier this year, lawmakers agreed to pass a massive $2.2 trillion relief package, known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. President Trump signed the bill into law on March 27, 2020. 

Along with a round of $1,200 stimulus checks for millions of Americans, the bill also outlined protections for homeowners with federal or government sponsored mortgage loans backed by FHA, VA, USDA, Freddie Mae, Fannie Mac. 

What Protections Does The CARES Act Offer Homeowners?

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a moratorium was put into place for many federally or government sponsored loans, barring lenders from foreclosing on homeowners who default on their loans. The moratorium is in place until December 31, 2020, unless an extension is put into place. Also, lenders are prohibited from beginning the foreclosure process, finalizing a foreclosure judgement, or carrying out a sale during this public health emergency. 

Second, if the coronavirus has left you burdened financially, you are eligible to request and obtain a forbearance on your mortgage for 180 days. If you’re still in a bind after the first six months, you have the right to request an additional 180 days after that. The process is fairly simple, just reach out to your mortgage lender and make a request. You won’t be faced with any fees or penalties and your credit score won’t take a hit, though lenders may be able to see that you requested a forbearance. When it comes to interest, it will still accrue.

According to Money.com, more than four million households have entered into mortgage forbearance programs. To put that in perspective, that’s 1 out of every 10 homeowners in the United States.

What To Do After Receiving Mortgage Forbearance

Be forewarned, just because you’re unable to make your payment now doesn’t mean you’re completely off the hook. Not to be confused with forgiveness, forbearance means the loans are only on hold. That means you’ll eventually have to pay back those missed payments. 

You’ll want to continue making payments on your property taxes and homeowner’s insurance, unless you’re able to work out alternative payment options. 

When your forbearance period ends, you likely won’t have to pony up everything you owe all at once. You may be given a payment reduction option, where future payments will be spread out over 12 months or added to your mortgage payment once the reduction period is over. 

Lastly, it’s suggested that if you have any money to spare after paying essential bills, that you set it aside for future mortgage payments. As soon as you’re able to pay your mortgage payments again, even if it’s before your forbearance ends, it’s highly recommended that you begin making those payments again.