Unless you live in a year-round warm climate, the approach of colder winter weather means it’s time to close your pool for the season.  Before covering your pool, some of the things you’ll need to do include balancing your water chemistry, adding winterizing chemicals to keep the water clear, lowering the water level and servicing the filter and pump. 

Using the correct procedure when cleaning and covering your pool will help ensure that it’s ready for use when you uncover it in spring. 

Find out more about the tools and supplies needed to close your pool and the steps you’ll need to follow in this YouTube video from Lowe’s.

Anyone who loves to read will tell you that books are the ultimate room accessory.  If you’d like bookshelves that really make a statement and draw attention to your book collection, check out these concealed floating bookshelves from Umbra.  The powder-coated steel shelf is actually concealed within the bottom book on the stack. 

This reasonably-priced shelf comes in large and small sizes.  Find out more about it on the Umbra website.

For homeowner’s who are “upside down” in their mortgage, meaning that their home’s value has dipped below the outstanding balance on their mortgage, a short sale may be the solution. Unlike foreclosure, a short sale allows a homeowner to avoid foreclosure and the embarrassment of having their home sold in an auction or public sale.

A short sale is the last resort for homeowners who don’t qualify for other options for debt relief.  Previous efforts to modify the current home loan must have failed and the owner is no longer able to make monthly mortgage payments.  Homeowners who have undergone hardships such as job loss are more likely to be successful in negotiating a short sale with their lender.

For more information about short sales, visit the Bank of America website.

With winter months approaching, it’s time to think about a warm crackling fire in the fireplace or stove. If you don’t have the convenience of a gas-powered fireplace, then you should check out the original Adirondack Firestone FireLighter Kit.

With this handy firestarter kit you’ll no longer have to worry about gathering newspaper and kindling to get your fire going. The kit consists of the ceramic vessel shown above, two bottles of Candle & Lamp Oil and a FireStone attached to a steel rod. Fill the vessel with oil, soak the FireStone in the vessel, roll it in fireplace ashes and then place it beneath your firewood. The FireStone will burn for 15 to 20 minutes, long enough to ignite your fire.

Find out more about this useful fireplace product at the official Adirondack FireStone website.