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    8 Expert Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe During a Natural Disaster

    ByElla Field

    Whether you live in an area prone to tornadoes, wildfires, or earthquakes, having an emergency preparedness plan in place can make all the difference in keeping your family, including your pets, safe. We spoke with pet safety experts to learn exactly what you can—and should—do for different types of natural disasters and what you should keep on hand in case of emergency. Roxana Petzold is the pet services senior program manager at the American Red Cross. Susan Anderson is the senior director of disaster response at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). 1. Put Together an Emergency Kit Pack a bag to grab quickly if you have to evacuate or shelter. Include enough pet supplies for 7–10 days, including food, water, medications, and bowls. Add a photo of you and your pet in case you get separated. Check expiration dates and update the kit twice a year. 2. Create a Plan There are many circumstances you can’t control, but being prepared is one you can. Build a plan that outlines what you’ll do if an emergency were to occur. Know what kind of natural disasters are most likely to occur in your area and create a plan for each one. Draft additional plans for scenarios like flooding, power or water outages, and house fires. To assist you, use a printable checklist found on aspca.org , then practice your family’s emergency plan. “Everyone should have an assigned role,” says Roxana Petzold, pet services senior program manager at the American Red Cross. “Who’s grabbing which bag? Who’s got the dog?”  3. Download a Pet First Aid App The American Red Cross Pet First Aid app is a great resource for emergencies, including step-by-step instructions for common health and safety issues. You can also connect your vet info and find emergency hospitals and pet-friendly hotels. Keep this on your phone and explore the different resources, so if there is an emergency, you can more easily navigate it. 4. Know What to Do If There’s a Fire If there’s a wildfire and you need to evacuate, your pets should always go with you. That means creating a plan with potential places to shelter that will take pets. Since you can’t guarantee all evacuation sites will accept animals, research this now. Never let your pet near damaged property after a fire, and if air quality is poor, limit time outside.  If the fire is in your house, however, Susan Anderson, ASPCA senior director of disaster response, says, “Don’t go back in to grab your pet, as difficult as this is.” Consider adding a pet alert decal to one of your windows so first responders know there are pets in your home. 5. Practice Taking Shelter for Tornadoes and Large Storms If you need to take cover based on weather alerts and warnings, your pet does too. Go to the lowest level of your home in a room with no windows. After the storm, “Your pet might experience stress, fear, and disorientation. Familiar scents and landmarks might have changed,” Petzold says. Keep pets away from damaged electrical wires and trees, and look for debris on the ground that could be a hazard. Also, be aware that wildlife could have taken shelter in your home. 6. Prepare for a Hurricane or Flooding If local officials issue evacuation orders, follow the same protocol as for a fire. “Never tether pets to a pole or a tree or anything that would prevent them from getting to a safe area,” Anderson says. If you can’t evacuate and there’s a risk of flooding, go to the highest level of your house. After a hurricane or flood, don’t let your pets drink standing water, as it can be contaminated.  7. Be Aware of What to Do If There’s an Earthquake Unlike other natural disasters, earthquakes often happen without warning. If you live in an area where they might occur, it’s important to have large furniture anchored to walls to protect people and animals from falling objects. For any disaster, but especially for earthquakes, identify places in your home where your pet might hide when scared. Additionally, be sure your pets are microchipped and the info is up-to-date.  8. Be Cautious in Extreme Temperatures  “If you don’t want to be outside, your pet shouldn’t be either,” Anderson says. In the cold, put jackets on small or short-haired pets as they have less natural protection. In the heat, test walking surfaces with your hand. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for them. Treat an overheated pet with cooling packs or cold water on the head or armpits.

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    5 Mistakes Homeowners Make That Could Cost Thousands.

    ByElizabeth Fogarty

    Selling your home is one of the biggest financial moves you’ll ever make, and many homeowners are unknowingly leaving money on the table. A new survey from Zillow, conducted by The Harris Poll, revealed five major misconceptions that can cost sellers thousands of dollars. From over-investing in renovations to skipping key agent interviews, these are mistakes even experienced homeowners make. Here’s what to avoid and how to maximize your home’s value and get ahead in today’s competitive market. 1. Spending Too Much on the Wrong Renovations While it’s tempting to think a pricey kitchen remodel or a full addition will boost your home’s value, that’s not always the case. According to the survey, nearly one-quarter of homeowners (23%) believe building an addition offers the best return on investment. In reality, lower-cost upgrades, like a fresh coat of paint or improved landscaping, have a bigger impact on your bottom line. Focus on strategic updates that improve first impressions, both online and in person. Think fresh paint, staging, and curb appeal. 2. Underestimating the Power of “Screen Appeal” It’s not just about curb appeal anymore. Buyers often make their decision based on online photos and virtual tours before they ever step inside. Still, 40% of sellers think curb appeal matters most. But Zillow found that listings with features like 3D Home tours and high-resolution images sell for 2% more than similar listings without them. 3. Skipping Key Steps When Hiring an Agent Many homeowners believe they can skip the legwork when choosing a real estate agent, but Zillow experts warn against it. One in four homeowners don’t read online reviews, research sales history, or interview more than one agent. Treat hiring a real estate agent like a job interview. Ask about their local experience, listing strategy, and marketing tools, and check their track record. Related 4. Highlighting Wrong Features in Listings 45% of sellers think open floor plans boost value, but according to Zillow data, open layouts sell for 0.2% less than expected. On the flip side, listings that mention natural materials, like soapstone countertops or white oak flooring, can sell for up to 3.5% more. Work with your agent to highlight what today’s buyers are looking for. 5. Misunderstanding Seller Disclosure Rules Here’s a costly one: More than half of sellers think it’s okay to hide serious issues like water damage, pests, or asbestos to get a quicker sale. But failing to disclose known problems can lead to legal trouble and lost trust. Always disclose issues honestly and lean on your agent to help navigate what’s required in your state. What Sellers Get Right While some misconceptions remain, homeowners are making smart moves in key areas. 70% understand the value of listing across all major real estate platforms, including Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com. Only 8% believe in private, limited listings, correctly recognizing that casting a wider net brings better offers. Sellers who don’t list on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) make thousands less on average.

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    Toothpaste Is the Secret to Perfectly-Hung Picture Frames (Yes, Really!)

    ByMaria Sabella

    If you’re always up for learning a new home improvement hack, you may have come across this viral Instagram reel that shows how to use toothpaste to hang pictures. As stunning as a gallery wall can be, the process of hanging pictures is not always quick and easy—and sometimes results in countless nail holes that need to be patched up. The toothpaste picture-hanging hack promises a foolproof method that takes out the guesswork. Best of all, it only requires a cheap item everyone already has at home: a regular ole tube of toothpaste. Keep reading to find out whether the viral hack actually works, what type of toothpaste works best, and how to make sure pictures are level. How the Toothpaste Picture Hanging Hack Works The viral toothpaste picture hanging hack is designed to take the guesswork out of hanging frames on the wall. It starts with a basic tube of white toothpaste that will serve as a the marker for where you need to hammer or drill a hole. To start, take your picture frame and lay it face-down on a flat surface. Locate the hanging hardware first—typically there will be one or two pieces of hanging hardware on the back of a frame, depending on how large and how heavy it is. The most common types of picture frame hardware are sawtooth hooks, D-rings, triangle hooks, and keyholes. Take the toothpaste a squeeze a small amount of it on the hanging hardware. If it’s a sawtooth hook, squeeze a dot of toothpaste in the middle of the sawtooth hook where the nail will go. Pick up the frame with the hanging hardware facing the wall, position it where you want the picture to hang, then gently press against the wall until the toothpaste transfers onto the wall. The toothpaste mark (or multiple marks) now serves as a guide to show you exactly where the nail holes need to be. Install nails or screws, then wipe off the excess toothpaste using a clean cloth or paper towel. Related How to Make Sure the Picture Is Level The hack seems simple enough, right? But if there is more than one piece of hanging hardware on the back of the frame or if you are hanging a pair of frames, how do you make sure the holes are level? Because there’s nothing more frustrating than realizing a picture is hanging crooked or a pair of frames doesn’t quite line up. This is where a level comes in. The viral Instagram reel doesn’t show a level being used, but it’s easy to incorporate into the hanging method. You may just need an extra set of hands to help you out, especially if the picture frame is beveled or not deep enough to prop a level on. Here’s where the tool comes in: Before you press the picture frame with the toothpaste on the wall, place a level on top of the frame. If the frame is deep enough to hold the level, you can do it by yourself. If not, have someone hold the level in place for you. Make any necessary adjustments and once the frame is level, press it against the wall to make toothpaste marks. Alternately, you can use a laser level that shoots a perfectly straight line across the wall to direct where you should position the frame. What Type of Toothpaste to Use For anyone nervous about whether or not toothpaste can hurt painted walls, you don’t have to worry about it causing any permanent damage. Sometimes toothpaste is actually used to clean scuff marks off of walls, so it is safe to use on most walls and it will not strip the paint. As for the type of toothpaste that’s best to use for the hack, a basic white toothpaste is a good choice. There’s no need for any fancy whitening or breath-freshening toothpaste, since all you need it to do is make marks on the wall. The thicker and creamier the consistency of the toothpaste the better it transfers onto the wall, so try to avoid gel-based toothpastes that may be too thin and run down the walls.

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    What Is That Burning Smell from the Furnace? How to Prevent Unpleasant Odors

    ByTimothy Dale

    As temperatures start to drop, homeowners make the switch to heating to ensure the home remains comfortable. However, the warm air can often be accompanied by a burning smell that quickly permeates your space. However, there are ways to prevent this odor in the first place and other methods for handling unfamiliar odors, like a musty or electrical burning smell. Use this guide to discover how to prevent the furnace smell when you turn it on for the season, other mysterious furnace smells you might encounter, and when to call a professional. Why Does the Furnace Smell When You First Turn it On? In most cases, when a furnace smells after being turned on for the first time in the season, there’s no need to worry. The smell of burning dust should fade quickly. But, if the smell persists or you notice a different smell from the furnace, it could be due to a serious issue with the HVAC system. Consider these common reasons why the furnace may smell when you first turn it on. Burning dust smells are relatively common when first turning on the furnace for the season. This is typically due to a buildup of dust on the burners, heat exchanger, air ducts, and other heating unit components. Generally, this odor will fade quickly as the thin layer of dust is burned away. Musty odors coming from the furnace usually indicate that there is mold or mildew trapped inside the HVAC system. It may be in the heating unit, the ductwork, the furnace filter, or even the humidifier pad. Electrical burning smells are not normal and should be addressed as soon as possible. Sometimes the smell is due to a foreign object stuck in the ductwork or vents of the HVAC system, but on other occasions, this smell may be due to burned or frayed wiring, or can also be a result of the furnace overheating. Rotten egg scents produced by the furnace are a sign of a gas leak. Since natural gas is odorless, the gas companies add a sulfur-based chemical to give off the distinct odor of rotten eggs as a way of warning homeowners that there is gas in the vicinity. Gas is flammable, putting the home at risk of a fire or an explosion, and it’s also harmful if inhaled, so you should vacate the home immediately. Smoke smells can occur if the exhaust vent is blocked, forcing the combustion exhaust from the furnace to escape into the home. This smell may also be a result of flammable material inside the ductwork, near heating vents, or too close to the furnace. Animal odors are often due to pets. Pet hair and dander are taken into the ducts through the cold air return, where they will remain in the ducts. Every time the furnace turns on, it recirculates pet hair and smells, until you have your ducts professionally cleaned. It’s also not unheard of for a pest to enter the ductwork of the home, where droppings and hair will produce a foul odor when the furnace is turned on. Oil smells can indicate that the filter on the furnace is clogged. This is typically due to a problem with the filter, which can be easily resolved by an experienced DIYer or a professional HVAC tech. Sewage stenches are powerful and off-putting, but can also help identify when there is a problem with the home sewage system. If the furnace starts to smell like sewage when it is first turned on then there may be a broken wastewater line or an open sewer line nearby that will need to be located and repaired. Chemical smells from the furnace should not be ignored. This could indicate that the heat exchanger is broken or not operating properly, which may lead to the release of odorless, invisible carbon monoxide gas; a known risk of gas-based heating systems. How to Prevent the Furnace Smell When You Turn It On Burning Dust Smell While the burning dust smell that comes from the furnace when it is first turned on is relatively harmless, that doesn’t mean you need to just deal with it each year. Instead, you can have the furnace and evaporator coil cleaned by a professional before the cold season begins. DIYers with enough experience and confidence can clean the evaporator coil in a furnace on their own by turning off the furnace, removing the access panel, then gently cleaning the coil with a soft cloth or brush, while being careful to avoid damaging the fins. Wipe down the condensate pan and the surrounding areas, then replace the panel and turn the furnace back on. You should also take this opportunity to replace the air filter, where dust might be trapped from the previous season. If the burning dust smell persists, then it’s recommended to turn off the furnace and contact an HVAC professional to inspect and repair the HVAC system. Musty Odors Musty odors are typically produced by mold and mildew. In some cases, the mold or mildew is attached to dust or other debris, so it burns off relatively quickly, but if the musty odor doesn’t go away, then you should start by replacing or cleaning the air filters. Similarly, you can replace or wash the humidifier pad using a solution of water and vinegar to kill any mold or mildew. However, if the musty odor still

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    How to Seal Windows and Reduce Energy Bills

    ByKamron Sanders

    Poorly sealed windows allow heat to enter your home during the summer and cool drafts during the winter. As a result, your HVAC unit works overtime to maintain your desired temperature, leading to high energy bills. Here, we explain how to seal windows with various materials and methods including caulk, weather stripping, plastic shrink-wrap, and draft stoppers. While replacing your windows with new energy-efficient ones is the most effective way to stop the draft and lower your utility bill, it’s not always an option. Luckily, there are several ways to seal your existing windows to help prevent air transfer between the interior and exterior. Caulk Around the Windows Caulking around windows is sometimes all it takes to reduce their draftiness. It’s also one of the most cost-effective ways to seal a window, as caulk is relatively inexpensive. Caulk is ideal for filling small cracks around various window components. It can create a watertight and airtight seal that remains flexible for years after application. This flexibility ensures the caulk’s seal won’t crack due to natural expansion and contraction. If your window has gaps larger than 1/2 inch, caulk may not work well. If these gaps are deep, expanding foam insulation designed for window and door use may be necessary to fill the cavity. Once the foam is fully expanded, you can trim it flush using a sharp knife and cover it using a wood trim piece or a bead of caulk, whichever is more appropriate for your window. Install Weather Stripping Weather stripping is useful for sealing around the moving components of a window, such as beneath a moving sash. Whereas caulk will seal the joint, weather stripping allows you to open and close the window, sealing the gap tightly once the window is closed. Most foam weather stripping has one sticky side so it can be adhered to the fixed portion of the window without sticking to the moving one. To promote a strong bond between the foam weather stripping and the window sash, remove dust or debris, thoroughly clean the window with a degreaser, and dry the surface. Seal with Plastic Shrink-Wrap To create a temporary airtight seal around your window, look for plastic shrink-wrap window insulating kits, which include double-stick tape and sheets of plastic shrink-wrap. To seal a window using plastic shrink-wrap, follow these steps: Clean the window. Apply strips of double-stick tape on all four sides of the window frame. Cut the plastic sheeting slightly larger than the window pane. Place it on the pane, pressing it against the double-stick tape to secure it. Use a hairdryer or a heat gun on low to shrink the plastic, starting on the perimeter and moving across the shrink-wrap until it’s perfectly taut. Clean up the excess plastic using a utility knife. If you’re planning to shrink-wrap all of your windows, leave at least one window in each room uncovered for a potential fire escape. Insert Draft Stoppers Store-bought draft stoppers can be great for stopping drafts with minimal effort and without altering the window. There are various styles of draft stoppers tailored for different types of windows and doors. Many draft stoppers include two tubes that can be cut to the window’s width and then slid inside a piece of fabric. The fabric is then slid beneath the window sash. Once the window is closed, the two tubes are tightly held on each side of the window. While this style of draft stopper can be effective for windows, they are often used on doors. A more effective style of a window draft stopper is designed to stick along the bottom edge of the window sash. Once the sash is closed, the overhanging rubber material compresses against the window frame to prevent airflow. The most effortless style of draft stopper that can be used to reduce a window draft looks like a long pillow. You simply lay it at the bottom of the window to block the draft. How to Identify a Drafty Window If the source of your window draft isn’t obvious (such as a visible crack), it can be hard to pinpoint where the issue lies. Here are some useful ways to identify a window draft. Turn off any fans and other air movers. You may have difficulty identifying your draft because air is moving from sources like fans, dehumidifiers, HVAC systems, and more. Light a candle and place it next to the window. Blow the candle out and watch the smoke. The candle smoke will blow if it’s positioned near the draft. This method may take a few tries and it can be helpful to trace the window’s border with the candle. Some lightweight curtains will move when blown by a window draft. Drafty windows are prone to condensation buildup. If you have just one window with condensation on it, there’s a good chance it’s the source of the draft.

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    How to declutter your home: comprehensive, room-by-room tips

    ByVirginia Clark

    Clearing out your house can be an exhausting process: so many decisions to make, so much stuff to move around, and so much research into the best ways to donate or recycle your unwanted things. Tackling one room at a time is logical and helps to make things manageable, and there are few rooms that will take more than one day to clear and reorganise. Some people take to decluttering like a duck to water, but others need a little more guidance. As a general rule, we find that if you can’t remember the last time you used something, or if it takes a while to dive down and find that memory, it’s time to get rid of the item in question. We’ve broken it down room by room, so you can follow along with the process, and find tips on the easiest and most convenient ways to get rid of things (if you live in the UK, at any rate). Some general principles Take everything out of the drawer/cupboard/wardrobe before you start sorting and group it. You need to see all your shirts/tins of food/chargers in one place before you make decisions. When you put it back, keep the groups! If all of the same kinds of thing are together, it makes it much easier to keep track of what you have. If you can’t remember the last time you used an item (assuming it’s something functional), or retrieving the memory takes some effort, it’s time to get rid of it. If it’s expired (for food or bathroom products), if it’s been in the freezer for longer than three months (some might say six months), or it hasn’t fit you in the last year, get rid of it. Create seasonal storage, so that winter duvets, woolly jumpers and puffer coats are out of sight when you don’t need them. Underbed boxes are perfect for this. If you have a large house and lots of different places where things could be, it can be helpful to make a map or diagram of where everything is, and keep it somewhere easily accessible. Have a plan for what you’re going to do with unwanted items. It is overwhelming to pull everything out of your cupboards and have no idea what to do with them. Don’t throw things away unless you absolutely have to. Most things can be recycled, and there are more and more facilities to do so easily. As you begin with any given room, set up a box for things to throw away (keep it to a minimum), things to recycle, things to donate, and things to sell. This will make it easier to take action once the room is in order. Setting up a halfway house box in your house can also be helpful for ambiguous items. If you’re hesitating about donating something or putting it in the rubbish, relegate it to the box for a week or two, and then go through the box and see if your feelings have changed. Many retailers have started offering facilities to recycle old electrical items and textiles, or even buy back old furniture, and some offer vouchers in return. IKEA’s scheme to buy back assembled pieces of furniture is particularly worth knowing about, since old IKEA furniture can be hard to shift in other ways, and they will give you in-store credit for new pieces. John Lewis has promised to have similar schemes in place in every category by 2025, and currently recycle small tech appliances. Listing something for free on Gumtree is very often the quickest way to get rid of something. If you’re tempted to list an item for a small sum, but you want to prioritise getting it out of the house quickly, think about giving it away instead. People become remarkably unfussy when something is free, and they’ll come and collect it without a peep. For whole house clear-outs that involve multiple kinds of item (furniture, clothes, books, etc), booking a collection with the British Heart Foundation (which is great for furniture) or icollectclothes.com (which takes clothes, books, toys and small homewares) is a hassle-free way to go. How to dispose of different types of clutter If the thought of lugging old books and DVDs down to the charity shop is a dispiriting one, Ziffit (run by second-hand book moguls World of Books) is an excellent option for disposing of them, and you can regain a few pennies at the same time. Scan the ISBN or barcode with the camera on your phone, and the Ziffit app tells you how much they’re willing to pay you for it (usually somewhere between 50p and £5). You can then package them up, and organise a collection: minimal effort and a tiny bit of money back, hurrah! Electrical and electronic items Small electrical items like hairdryers/DVD players can be a pain to recycle. Looking at your local council website is a sensible place to start, as they will have the location of big recycling centres as well as any nearby WEEE (Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment) bins. These are usually located on major roads or in car parks, and take small devices that plug in. Some retailers also offer WEEE recycling: Currys is one of the best, and will take pretty much anything and give you a small voucher in return. Find out more here. You can also take small

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    14-Storey Condo Building Pitched for Oak & King Edward

    Bydavid.taylor@colliers.com

    Westbank has submitted a rezoning application for the Esso Station at the Southwest corner of Oak Street and West King Edward Street in Vancouver. The 11,328 SF site at 1010 West King Edward is currently zoned C-2, which allows up to 6-storeys for rental, or 4-storeys for condo. The Cambie Corridor Plan allows up to 6-storeys for condo and 3.0 FSR. The proposal is to allow for a 14-storey condo building that includes: 85 condo units; 34 one-bedrooms, 36 two-bedrooms & 15 three-bedrooms; 800 SF of retail space on the ground floor; a total density of 8.0 FSR; A building height of 143 ft. 106 underground parking stalls. This application is being considered under the  Cambie Corridor Plan. The architect for the project is Olson Kundig, who also designed Wesgroup’s condo project “W16” at West 16th and Cambie Street. The full rezoning application can be viewed here: https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/1010-w-king-edward

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    West Vancouver Finalizes Ambleside Centre Local Area Plan

    Bydavid.taylor@colliers.com

    The District of West Vancouver has given first reading to a final draft of the Ambleside Centre Local Area Plan (LAP). The Ambleside LAP has been in the works since early 2022, and has gone through multiple rounds of public engagement and refinement by planning staff. The affected area is generally along Marine Drive from 13th to 18th Streets. Here are the recommended land use policies: Zoning updates to allow 3-4 storeys on most lots in the LAP, including on small lots Five sites designated ‘Waterfront’ along Bellevue West of 15th allowing taller forms through rezoning Four sites along parts of Clyde and Duchess allowing taller forms through rezoning The LAP will go for public hearing in June and if approved, would form part of the OCP shortly thereafter. A presentation on the Ambleside LAP can be viewed here: https://westvancouver.ca/media/6103