Window safety tips for keeping your family and children safe include:

• Make sure that your homes? windows are not painted or nailed shut. If you cannot easily open them they cannot be used as an escape in the case of an emergency.

• Ensure that window air conditioning units are properly secured. Place them in windows where young children cannot reach them and where they are not blocking an escape route.

• Especially when young children are present, make sure that all of your windows can safely and securely lock.

• Do not place furniture underneath windows that children can easily climb on and gain access to the window on.

• Teach your children that playing and rough housing around windows and sliding glass doors is not safe and could lead to them getting hurt.

• If windows are open with screens, make sure they are not in the reach of children. Screens are not designed to hold the body weight of a person or child.

• If your windows have guards or security bars on them make sure that the release mechanisms are working properly.

An abundance of sunshine will always bring a cheery atmosphere into an otherwise dark or shaded room. There are a few ways to accomplish this while adding value to your home. Sliding glass doors added to a living room or family room will not only allow additional light in but it will also enhance the room?s appearance and increase the value of your real estate. You can be sure that sliding glass doors will open up other possibilities for decorating this area as well. The additional light is great for introducing a variety of live plants into your house. These live plants naturally remove pollutants from the air and release oxygen for cleaner breathing. One example is the Peace Lily. This beautiful and hardy plant helps to eliminate formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia and other toxins that have been released into the air. These toxins often come from carpets, upholstery, glue, paint and other items found in our homes. The rubber plant makes another great choice. This plant will enjoy the full or bright light that comes from your new source of sunlight and will help to eliminate carbon monoxide from the air.

This is also a great time of year to make some color changes with new paint combinations as you continue with your home improvement projects. There is nothing more refreshing than a fresh, newly painted room. And finally, consider new cabinets for your kitchen, choosing a new style and a different color of cabinetry.

As you launch into your choices of spring projects and begin implementing just a few of these home improvement ideas, you will be pleased with the results and your guests will feel like they have just stepped into a brand new home!

• One of the first basic steps is to identify heat and electrical sources in your home. Take a look around your home. Make a note of computers, TVs, cell phone chargers, your stove, laundry machine, dish washer, microwave and any other appliances you have plugged in or that create a heat source in your home.

• Taking simple steps like unplugging laptops and computers while not in use can save you on energy. These devices tend to use energy in your home even if they are not being used.

• Appliances like your dishwasher and laundry machines eat up a lot of energy throughout the day. Try to use them later into the evening when you are not using a large amount of energy on other things already.

• Try using your stove less in the hot summer months. Your air conditioning is already using a lot of energy to cool down your house. Heating up the stove will only make it work harder. If you must use your stove, try opening windows on either end of your home to create a cross breeze and keep your home cool.

• Try to think of more natural ways to keep your house cool. Keep window shades closed on southern facing windows. To keep the heat of the sun out. Open windows if there is a breeze, especially at night.

These simple steps can really make a difference in your home energy costs this summer. If you have older windows and are worried that your cooling cost is escaping through them, upgrading your windows to a more energy efficient style is a wise choice. Energy efficient replacement windows can change the temperature control in your home dramatically. New window installation will be well worth it in the long run to help reduce heating and cooling costs throughout the year. They will keep cool air in during the summer months and heat in during the winter. You will notice the difference in your Ohio home when you experience the benefits of replacement windows.

A few ways to incorporate radiant orchid, or similar colors into your home?

• Accent walls

• Throw pillows

• Area rugs

• Flowers

• And more!

For more home improvement tips and ideas to keep up with the latest home trends, make sure to follow our blog. Also, if your home is in need of a larger makeover like replacement windows, a new entry door or replacement vinyl siding, give us a call! Serving New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and still Maryland, Virginia and Ohio.

Spring is finally here and Baltimore residents are happy to get some of those long awaited to dos checked off their list. Do you have some spring cleaning to do around your home and property? It can be exciting to finally get started! But after a long winter where do you start? Winter?s storms can wreak havoc on Baltimore homes.

Let us start inside your home with a few basic tips to start your spring cleanup!

• Check and change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

• Flip, switch, rotate or remove your old mattress. This can make a real difference in your sleep habits.

• While you are at it, wash those pillows. There is nothing quite like a fresh bed to fall into at night.

• Dust, dust, dust. Who knew that dust could accumulate so quickly? Get out the duster and freshen up all of those knick-knacks and cupboards.

• It's time to take a look at your kitchen. Re-organize and get things just the way they should be before summer is here and everyone starts coming over for cookouts.

• Maybe things are not quite warm enough outside to start the garden. No worries start a small herb garden inside in your kitchen window. This can really help spice things up in the kitchen.

• Has your basement gone to storage over the winter? It's time to clean it out, donate a few items or have a yard sale. Get that space back and air it out!

• We all know spring is mud season. Cleaning your carpets as soon as It's over will help transition into summer.

• Wash those windows to help let in the light. Prepare your AC while you are at it. Things are starting to heat up out there with all of that sunshine.

Now let's take a look outside!

• How about we start with that beautiful deck. let's clean it off and get ready for the summer months. Are you wondering how your plants are doing after all that cold weather? Take a look, see what needs to be removed, rearranged and replanted.

• Now is a great time to put up window boxes for future flowers.

• Are you lucky enough to have a pool? Go out and check how It'survived the winter. See if there is any maintenance needed.

• Get your hoses ready for that beautiful summer garden.

• If needed you can fertilize your lawn in the spring months to help ensure it grows strong and green all summer.