AAA House Manager Blog

While we’re currently locked in the dead of winter, spring is only a couple months away and with it comes warmer weather, pops of greenery, and a long list of things to get done in the garden.  Luckily, there’s no need to wait. You can (and should) get started on your to do list today. Here are a few tips to help your green thumb get off on the right foot.

We’ve been hearing some interesting home maintenance myths lately that has us thinking it’s time to separate fact from fiction. So just call us Adam and Jamie because we’re ready for some serious myth-busting. Luckily (or unfortunately?), there’s no need to blow anything up.

Happy 2020! With this new year, comes a wonderful opportunity to set some new habits around your home. One we can't recommend enough: doing a little something for your home each month. Those small efforts add up quickly! To make it easier, we compile our top recommendations each month. No need to research, simply follow along and start appreciating the impact around your home. If you want to skip ahead, we have the entire year's plan set out in our 12-month Bay Area Home Maintenance Checklist, plus optional calendar reminders and monthly emails so you never miss an update. 

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is more than a classic holiday movie — it’s a guide for how not to care for your home. 

So while we winced watching Clark Griswold face home disaster after disaster, we also couldn't resist turning his experience into a set of homeownership tips. (We're all about education here at House Manager, after all.)

Here are just a handful of practical lessons from the movie that all homeowners can use; we'd share them with Clark if we could!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! With the caroling, marshmallow toasting, glowing lights... and bursting pipes. OK, so maybe winter isn't all hot mulled wine and gingerbread decorating, but most home maintenance and hosting hiccups can easily be avoided with a little preparation. 

One of the best things about your AAA House Manager Membership is that the benefits begin right away. Whether you decide to start by scheduling a Home Service Visit, Essential Seasonal Maintenance, Virtual Service Visit, or a Home Assessment, your first visit can be held as quickly as three days after becoming a Member.

If you've already started creating a to-do list of items for us to tackle, but aren't sure how to prioritize it, a Home Assessment is a good place to start. It will be your House Manager's first opportunity to familiarize themselves with your home. After taking a closer look, they'll work with you on what items need to be taken care of right away. They will also put together your Home Health Report, which will identity other issues that may need to be taken care of in the future.

Last month, we shared our top tips for getting your home ready for fall. Now that winter is around the corner, it's time to winterize. Bay Area winters, while mild by most standards, also tend to be unpredictable. One day the sun will shine during lunchtime, then torrential rain will come down for three days straight and cause floods all around the Bay. Since we never quite know when the weather will turn, it's best to start preparing for those chilly nights and hefty downpours in November. Here are the biggest tasks to prioritize this month: 

The countdown is on! We’re exactly three weeks from Thanksgiving which means, if you’re hosting, you’re likely starting to feel the pressure of getting your home in order. (Fingers crossed you haven’t invited any Judgy McJudgersons who will be inspecting every inch of your home.) Either way, whether you’re looking to make a good impression or just want to liven up your living area for the holidays, here are 5 ideas for adding some pizzazz to your entertaining spaces before Thanksgiving.

A few months ago, we doled out tips to help you plan your next remodel project. If you took them — or will soon — then the countdown is on to demo day. Unfortunately, after months of deciding on hardware, finishes and colors, there are still a few decisions left to make before the big day. Here’s a look at some of the last minute preparations you can take to help get you and your home ready for your renovation.

A couple weeks ago we sat down with Susanne Stadler, executive director of the Bay Area organization At Home with Growing Older, who told us that, when it comes to getting a home ready to age in place, she recommends starting with the bathroom and entryway. For that reason, we decided to take a closer look at these two areas of the home (as well as a few others) to find easy, inexpensive fixes and upgrades you can do yourself. And, if you want to take it a step further, how AAA House Manager can help.