After spending most of the year inside, you may be itching for a change. It may not be practical to redecorate your home every time the season changes, but even small changes can make a big impact. With a few key updates, you can quickly and easily transition your home for fall.

Take stock of your current home décor

Before heading out to the store, take stock of what you already have in your home. This serves two purposes: first, you can identify areas you can easily decorate or update, saving you time and money, and second, if you already have smaller décor pieces, you can find similar items in a seasonal theme.

Switch up your accessories

Remember those smaller décor pieces we just mentioned? Changing out these décor pieces with seasonally themed ones are a quick win when updating your home. Fill a bowl with seasonal fruit like apples or pears, add a handful of pumpkins or gourds, or add a fall wreath to the door.

Update textiles and linens

Another easy way to decorate for fall is by updating your linens. It can be as simple as adding table runners, pillows, or blankets in seasonal colors to changing out the curtains and adding a few new area rugs. These are a great way to add pops of color to your home.

Create a signature seasonal scent

Our sense of smell is powerful. A whiff of a certain scent can transport you to a long-forgotten memory. Use this season as an opportunity to fill your home with a signature scent. You can use a scented candle, store-bought potpourri, or create a stovetop potpourri by simmering orange peels, apples, cloves, cinnamon sticks to fill your home with the scent of autumn.  

Soften your home with layers

Just like we layer up during the cooler months, you can quickly transition your home to fall through soft layers. Use blankets, pillows, and rugs to soften your home with a comforting texture.  

Filling your home with these small touches and comforts will liven up your space for the new season.

Looking for a new home? Visit us online at MySouthernHome.com to learn more about our new home communities throughout Polk County. We have a variety of move-in ready homes and to-be-built homes available to fit families of every size. We look forward to welcoming you to your new dream home.

In the spirit of new beginnings, we put together a few resolutions you may want to keep in your Southern home this year.

Reduce energy use

There’s more to “going green” than driving a hybrid car or installing solar panels on your home. You can trim energy use with a few simple changes around your home:

• Install LED lightbulbs and low-flow showerheads
• Turn off lights when you leave a room
• Set air conditioner to 78 degrees during the day or 85 degrees when you’re at work or away
• Set heater to 55 degrees at night
• Run dishwasher and washing machine only when full

Southern Homes are built to exceed energy efficiency requirements and all of our homes are outfitted with Energy Star appliances and low maintenance landscaping. Learn more about our green features.

Declutter your home

Decluttering your home is the most affordable way to transform your space and instantly feel better. Instead of jumping in and trying to declutter the entire house, break this project into smaller tasks by room. Pick a room, and take your time going through its contents, deciding which items you will keep, donate, or toss.

Create a cleaning schedule

Now that you cleared the clutter from your home, create a cleaning schedule to keep your home looking great. Make a schedule that works for your family and lifestyle, scheduling each cleaning task for a specific day, week, or time of month. Make this a family affair by enlisting every member of the family to help keep the house in working order.

Bring home fresh flowers

It may sound frivolous, but fresh flowers can have a huge impact not only on your mood but also in your home. Fresh flowers can improve your mood, spruce up your décor, and even purify the air!  Pick up some flowers during your next grocery trip and enjoy.

These simple resolutions will make your home a more relaxing space you’ll love being in. Southern Homes offers a variety of floorplans for each life stage, from young families to empty-nesters. Visit our website to view our current floorplans today.

There are many options to choose from when it comes to siding. With our new builds at Southern Homes, we often use decorative cementitious finish, which is similar to stucco. This is a cement-like siding that not only looks good but has great benefits. Decorative cementitious finish creates a shell around your home, so it requires less energy to keep it cool during the summer and warmer in the winter. Depending on the area in which you live, traffic or overhead plane noise can be loud, but  decorative cementitious finish significantly cuts down that noise.

There are numerous benefits to using  decorative cementitious finish as the exterior siding for your home. Although strong, it is normal for this material to crack, most likely as the home settles. But no worries, this cracking is simple to repair and we’re gong to teach you how!

First things first…Supplies

It’s simple! All you need is:

• Patching compound
• Damp rag or sponge
• Touch up paint & paint brush

You can find all of those supplies at your local home improvement store.

We recommend ElastoPatch, which is a is a high performance, ready-to-use compound that eliminates recurring cracks by providing a permanently flexible fill.

Next step…Action

Once we have the supplies needed, we want to prep the area. Locate the area with the crack and gently brush the area to make sure there is no debris on surface. Once you have done that, we can start applying the patching compound.

You want to either caulk or apply the patching compound in a thin bead following the crack line. Once finished, you will take your index finger and gently work the compound into the crack and feathering the edges of the overlapped compound.

Once you have completed this step, you are about done. Use the damp cloth to wipe the excess compound from your index finger and over any compound outside of the problem area.

Last but not least…It’s paint time!

You’ve got your paint brush, and it’s time to go. After the compound has finished drying over the crack, you can then start applying your touch up paint. Just apply a light coat to your brush and use small strokes over the crack.

And just like that, you’re done! Rinse off your paint brush, store your paint and patching compound, and sit back and feel accomplished.

You can also check out the video below that shows a couple of our team members demonstrating how this is done!

Check smoke detectors: Check your home’s smoke detectors to make sure they’re working properly, including the batteries.

Check fire extinguishers: Check your fire extinguishers each month to make sure they’re ready to use in the event of an emergency. When checking your fire extinguishers, make sure to:

• Inspect the seals to make sure they are intact
• Check the pressure gauge
• Look for visible signs of damage (corrosion, leakage or a clogged nozzle)
• Make sure the extinguisher is in an easily accessible location
• Record your inspection!

Check for leaks: Take some time to check for leaks around toilets, under sinks and around the dishwasher and address any issues you find.

Inspect air conditioner and furnace: Summertime is prime air conditioning use. Make sure your air conditioner is ready by cleaning or replacing the filter replace air conditioner filter. Have a licensed HVAC technician inspect your system as well.

Check the Temperature Pressure Release (TPR) valve on the water heater: Check for leaks and test the TPR valve to make sure it’s working properly.

Check the roof: Make it a habit to regularly inspect your roof for broken or missing shingles and remove any debris or leaves. This will allow you to catch any potential issues before they become expensive headaches.

Inspect and clean your home’s exterior: Walk around your home and check the windows and siding to make sure everything is tightly sealed and clean. If your home’s siding could use some cleaning, you can use mild soap and water, a brush and a garden hose to clean it yourself or hire a professional to pressure wash the siding.

Check out our home maintenance guide on our website to review other maintenance tasks you should be doing to keep your Southern Home in top condition, submit a service request or see what’s covered under our warranty.

Monthly Maintenance
1. Check smoke detectors.
2. Check fire extinguishers for proper charge.
3. Clean or replace dirty filter in range hood.
4. Check for evidence of leaks around toilets, under sinks and around dishwasher.
5. Clean and freshen sink drains.
6. Inspect furnace and air conditioning filters. Replace as required.
7. Clean aerators on faucets regularly, depending on water hardness.
8. Monitor and maintain floor coverings on an as required basis.
9. Check the Temperature Pressure Release (TPR) valve on the water heater.

Biannual Maintenance
1. Inspect roof and chimney for broken or missing shingles.
2. Inspect outside of home and condition of siding, paint, stucco, etc.
3. Inspect windows and doors to verify proper operation and security.
4. Maintain wall finishes.
5. Monitor and maintain cabinets and countertops.
6. Inspect foundation.
7. Inspect main service panel, circuit breakers, all GFI outlets, etc.
8. Complete seasonal maintenance on heating and air conditioning by licensed HVAC contractor.
9. Check general condition of compressor.
10. Inspect and replace caulking and grout around tubs, showers and sinks, if needed.

Annual Maintenance
1. Examine caulking around windows, door, etc.
2. Inspect condition of concrete slabs and patios.
3. Check condition of septic tank and leech field.
4. Visually survey wood trim. Clean all woodwork and wax.
5. Have carpets professionally cleaned.
6. Complete annual furnace and air conditioning maintenance by a licensed HVAC contractor.

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