Three Essentials of a Perfect Home Office
LH eNewsletter
Helpful Tips from Louisville HandymanOctober 2013
In This Issue
Top 10 Fall Home Maintenance Tips
Three Essentials of a Perfect Home Office

About Us


We were founded in 2002 on the belief that by delivering prompt service, professional craftsman, and guaranteed work, we will fill a market need. Nine years and over  6,600 jobs later, we know this to be true. We enjoy a growing base of repeat customers, who also refer us to their friends and family.

502-292-2727

Greetings!

You can fill a chill in the air which means the time to complete exterior projects is now. Check out our Top 10 Fall Home Maintenance Tips to get your home ready for winter.

Also, keep reading to learn our three essentials of a perfect home office.
 
Cool evenings mean it's time to get the house ready for winter...here are our Top 10 Fall Home Maintenance Tips to help you.

1. Take time to assess the condition of your home, make notes and take action! Walk around your home and make notes room by room of items that need attention. Being aware of issues and taking action are keys to keeping your maintenance costs down.

2. Check caulking around your bathtub, shower and sinks. One of the most common sources of water damage inside of your house is improper caulking -- especially in front of the tub or shower.

3. Check the condition of caulking and paint on the outside of your home. Water intrusion due to the absence of caulk or paint will quickly rot your windows and trim, resulting in costly repairs.

4. Clean the gutters, check downspouts and landscape drains. Water from your roof and gutters must be diverted away from your foundation to prevent erosion and water from getting inside your house.

5. Check that attic vents are unobstructed as well as the condition of attic insulation. Missing insulation or not enough insulation will cause high heating bills and frozen pipes.

6. Check for missing shingles or damaged roofing and flashing. A missing shingle can cause major problems. Catch it early.

7. Service your furnace for winter and replace the filter. Preventative maintenance is important for safety, efficiency and extending the life of your equipment.

8. Rebuild any toilets over 5 years old before gaskets/parts fail. The US Geological service reports that a leaking toilet can waste 8,000 gallons of water per year.

9. Shut-off and drain outdoor faucets, and remove hoses. A hose left on an outdoor faucet will often cause a pipe to burst. Disconnect all outdoor hoses prior to the first freeze.

10. Test all smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, change batteries, & make sure all fire extinguishers are properly charged to keep you and your family safe.

As always, we stand ready to help on these or any repairs with your home.

Sincerely

Joe French
President
Three Essentials of a Perfect Home Office

You may need a home office for keeping up with family finances, or for telecommuting, or for a small business with regular clients. Whichever it may be, we recommend these three essentials for creating a perfect home office.

1. Allow for Privacy

In years past, a home office often consisted of a desk tucked into a corner of the kitchen. The intention was to help a busy homeowner multi-task: prepare meals, watch kids, and pay bills all at the same time. This concept is no longer so popular, since the kitchen has increasingly become the place in the home where everyone congregates. Homeowners need a quieter location to concentrate on family business without constant interruptions and distractions. Today the home office is usually located in a separate room adjacent to the kitchen. Keeping the office door open provides a sight-line to the kids, but closing the door allows privacy when necessary. If this arrangement is not feasible in your home, another option is to install tall bookcases in the kitchen (or family room) to divide the office area from the rest of room.

2. Include Daylighting

Home offices are sometimes set up quickly with little forethought. They are squeezed into whatever space is easily available, such as a large hall closet or under a staircase. If ample lighting is not provided, these spaces can be disappointingly dark and gloomy. Ideally, a home office should have windows or skylights that allow natural daylight into the area. Some of the benefits of natural daylight include helping energize your body and uplift your mood by increasing serotonin levels. It can also help your immune system by boosting the body's production of Vitamin D. Plentiful general and task lighting should be installed in addition, utilizing daylight-replicating light sources. It is important, however, to avoid creating a glare on your computer screen from the overhead lights.

3. Select the Right Furnishings & Equipment

Homeowners will often purchase a standard office desk, filing cabinet and bookcase when they outfit a home office. As time goes by, they may discover that this arrangement does not function well for their particular business needs. It is best to plan ahead: make a list of all your various business activities, and start thinking outside the box. Do you need a large, flat surface on which to work? Perhaps a table would suit your needs better than a desk. Would a number of small cubbies serve your purposes better than open bookshelves? Consider ergonomics as you are selecting your office furnishings and deciding where to store equipment and supplies. Heavier items that you may need to lift should be located at waist height to avoid back strain. Invest in the fastest, most reliable office equipment you can afford, from your cell phone to your printer. This will pay you back with time dividends in the final analysis.

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