Category: Ask a Pro

Pro Tips for Fixing Minor Drywall Issues
Accidents happen. Whether it was a water leak, an errant toy that left a dent or a small hole, a gymnastic routine with a foot through the wall, or just everyday wear and tear. Often it’s the walls in your home that take the abuse resulting in drywall issues needing to be fixed.

While our Remodel-Design-Build Team at The Cleary Company encourages you to hire professionals to fix the larger, more involved damage (unless you are an experienced DiY homeowner), it makes sense for you to repair smaller issues yourself.

But how does one go about repairing drywall issues?

Tools & Materials

Drywall patch kits are sold in most home improvement stores, like Home Depot, and contain most of what you need for small repairs. Or create your own with the following items.
- Joint compound, drywall mud, or spackle – Look for quick-drying options.
- 3 to 4-inch putty knife.
- Mesh if the hole is larger than a ½ inch.
- A boxcutter is a good item to use to keep the area neat and free from frayed edges of drywall. A clean cut leaves fewer bumps.
- A dust mask is a good idea to wear when sanding the drywall compound.
3 Types of Small Drywall Repairs & How to Do Them

Dents & Dings
- Scrape any loose debris from the area.
- Spread a thin layer of fast-drying spackle over the area, creating a level layer with the drywall.
- Let it dry then sand and apply touch-up paint.
Popped Nail Heads
- Add a drywall screw above and below the popped nail head and secure the screw to the drywall. This will keep the existing nail head from popping out again.
- Sink the screws far enough below the drywall surface to allow spackle to be applied.
- Drive in the popped nail with a hammer.
- Cover the nail and screws with a thin coat of spackle, allow to dry, sand, and apply touch-up paint.
Holes
- Buy a patch kit and put the self-adhesive mesh patch over the hole.
- Cover the patch with spackling (joint) compound in a thin crisscross pattern, and thin the edges so it blends with the wall and doesn’t create a rough demarcation line.
- Let dry and reapply if more is needed.
- Sand smooth and paint. Depending on the size of the hole, you might have to repaint the whole wall.
- A bigger hole requires a few more steps beyond these and since there is more involved, we encourage you to use a repair person or watch some YouTube videos to learn the steps. You’ll need more tools for this as well!
Have a bigger project you need help with? We can help with referrals of a handyman or drywall professional. Give us a call at 614.459.4000!

Are you ready for an interior home remodel? Schedule a phone call with our Client Relations Coordinator to discuss your project!
March 16, 2023
5 Ways to Protect Your Home’s Interior

It’s your sanctuary, your escape, the place you come back to every day. But how do you protect the interior surfaces and furniture? Knowing how to keep your home looking great will put a smile on your face every time you walk in!

Carpets, Upholstery & Floors

Stains, pet accidents, shifting furniture around, movie night snacks—your furniture, carpets, and floors can all take a beating. First, pretreat with a stain protector like Scotchgard or a professionally applied finish, both are great options for upholstery and carpets. Secondly, felt pads on the bottoms of chairs are a must but don’t forget your table legs and bed frames too. They are an inexpensive purchase and will go a long way to keeping the floor looking new. Also, choosing flooring and furniture materials and finishes that work for your family’s lifestyle goes a long way to keeping your home’s interior looking its best. As your kids get older and pets are trained, and family life changes, so might your décor!

Walls

Keeping walls free of scuffs and scrapes doesn’t have to be an all-consuming chore. First, choosing a high-quality wall coating (aka paint) is the best defense. Latex paints have the longest-lasting finish, are easy to work with, dry quickly and are extremely durable but the finish options can be confusing for most homeowners. Check out this easy-to-use Guide to Paint Finishes from houselogic.com! A high-quality paint that is formulated for each room keeps walls looking great and makes clean-up easier. According to improovy.com, by and large, most professional painters use either Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore paint products.

For areas that are more prone to daily dings, install rubber stoppers, felt or plastic bumpers behind doors, chairs, headboards, etc. A chair rail in the dining or living room is a more stylish option to protect your walls. Scuff marks are unavoidable but keeping an eye out for them and cleaning them up as soon as you can is key. Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser is an effective tool for touching up or cleaning walls and doors.

Pets

Fur is a constant struggle with cats and dogs. Even if you vacuum every day, sometimes not even the most powerful vacuum will remove pet hair from every inch of your home. Keeping pets well groomed is not only good for their health and behavior it also prevents shedding. With their dead hair removed and their short hair prepped up by the groomer, your pets will shed less hair and contribute to making your home a cleaner place. Other options for creating a pet-friendly home include large, washable throw blankets decoratively tossed over a couch or chair to gather pet hair. Creating a cozy space just for your pet might be a fun idea to try. Safe, comfortable, loved pets tend to stay off the furniture if they’ve been taught that nor are they apt to destroy anything.

Scratches and claw marks can be a struggle. With several states now banning declawing, cat owners may be wondering how they can keep their home free of claw marks. Invest in scratching posts, unobtrusive corner protectors, or anti-scratch tape for couches and chairs to keep cats from scratching furniture. Again, grooming will help by regularly trimming the nails of both cats and dogs. Of course, choosing furniture and flooring that works best for your pets is another thing to consider.

Windows

Oh, that beautiful natural light. While most crave it and want natural light in our homes, the sun can also damage wood floors, fabrics and furniture. Curtains are one option, but also consider tinted windows, sun-filtering blinds, or UV film coatings. An awning might be a clever idea or if you’re remodeling or building, consider deeper overhangs for the windows that get the most direct sun during midday.

Keep it Clean!

While this really is obvious, keeping your home clean is an important preventive measure for protecting what is probably your largest economic asset. Cleaning spills as they happen, dusting and sweeping, protecting irreplaceable furniture pieces, and cleaning appliances frequently will all go a long way to protecting the interior of your home!

Working with our Remodel-Design-Build Team at The Cleary Company means you get all of our expertise, not only with the creation and implementation of your remodel, but we are here to assist you with choosing the right finishes and fixtures to fit your family’s lifestyle. Collaborating with you on design choices and providing information to help you protect the interior of your home.

Spring is just around the corner, for more information on how to protect your home, check out our Spring Home Maintenance Checklist!

March 7, 2023
Power Up Your Home Remodel!
A hot topic with our Team at The Cleary Company is energy use at the office. We frequently ask ourselves ~
- What can we do to be more energy efficient?
- How can we save energy and lower our utility costs?
- What changes can we make to create a cleaner Earth? (both in the office & in our client’s homes!)
There are many things you can do at home to save energy and harness energy from the sun. While some of these can be more costly than others, just thinking about them, could lead you to making small changes now. Here’s what we’re doing now and upgrades we’re planning for the future!

Changes You Can Make to Use Less Electricity in Your Home

Motion Sensor Lights – using right now – visit our office to see how they work!

It’s a simple switch! When the sensor detects motion the light comes on and if no movement is detected after a predetermined time the light shuts off. Motion sensor lights are compatible for home & commercial spaces.
- They can be installed on interior & exterior surfaces — walls, doorways, ceilings and entrances.
- Use them for safety or convenience. Lights turn on as you enter a room. Basements, attics and closets are popular uses at home.
- User friendly and has many benefits when incorporating Universal Design into your remodeling project.
Our Team feels safer when working late at the office with the majority of our lights having motion sensors.

Solar panels – coming soon!

Drive through a neighborhood almost anywhere in central Ohio and look up at the roofs. We guarantee on some house or building, you’ll see solar panels installed. In Ohio, with the number of gray days we have you’d think having solar panels wouldn’t be a great idea. Guess what? They are! Prices for the installation of solar panels have dropped over the last 10 years and now might be the time to install them on your home.
- You will still have a utility bill, but you may have credits for months that the panels generate more power than you use.
- Solar energy is cheaper, cleaner than standard power-grid based electricity and is “green”. Harnessing the power of the sun is beneficial to the health of the Earth.
- Read more information here: https://www.solarreviews.com/solar-panels/ohio
Energy-efficient appliances – using right now – visit our office to see how they work!

Investing in energy-efficient appliances has a positive impact on our environment and your bank account. Advancements in energy-efficient appliances have made it possible to reduce the amount of energy needed to get the same work done. Benefits include:
- Using less water while in use.
- Smaller energy load needed.
- Wash your clothes using cold water.
- Refrigerators create less heat and better insulation helps food stay colder and fresher.
- Heating elements in dishwashers to heat the water uses less hot water. AND contrary to what you might think, running your dishwasher uses less water than hand washing.
LED lightbulbs – using right now – visit our office to see how they work!

According to the US Department of Energy, 10 percent of your home’s electric bill is from using lights.
- Changing to LED lightbulbs, while more expensive at the beginning, usually offsets the cost of your bill over time. Not only that, but you’ll also go through lightbulbs less frequently, meaning fewer lightbulbs in the landfill.
- Add Smart devices to your existing lighting – you’ll save even more in cost and energy. Read more about Smart Technology on our blog!
Buying a New Car? Consider Going Electric!

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations – just installed!

With more electric car models now available, we’re seeing more and more of them on the road. This got us thinking—will we have clients and guests visit our office driving electric cars? Will some of our Team members start driving electric cars? Will our next company van be electric? And as we pondered these questions, we concluded that having an electric car charging station at the office is a great business investment.

The value we see in EV charging stations is:
- Help the environment
- Provide a needed service to local EV charging options
- Make it easy for our Team to drive electric cars
- Convenience to our clients who drive an EV
- Attract new customers
- Prepare for the future during your next remodel!
Did you know there’s an online directory for finding EV charging stations? PlugShare!

Ready to discuss your remodel?

Our Team is ready to discuss and collaborate with you to decide what energy-saving options you can incorporate into your home remodeling project. We’re here to help!

And we are using, or have plans to use all these here at our office. We are hoping to install an electric car charger that can be used by our clients or any of our Team. We have discussed getting solar panels and are “electrified” about the possibility! We are already using energy-saving appliances, as well as LED lightbulbs and motion sensor lights.

Our Team can show you how to use efficiently power your home. Contact our Client Relations Coordinator today to schedule a conversation.
October 31, 2022
Kitchen Appliances Repair vs Replace
It’s that sinking feeling—you walk into the kitchen and the floor is wet because there is a leak coming from the refrigerator or dishwasher. You turn on the oven and nothing happens. Drying clothes that don’t get dry? You get the idea—the appliances aren’t working. Now what? Should you replace it or repair it?

As your Remodel-Design-Build Team at The Cleary Company, we replace many appliances for our clients. But sometimes we have clients who want to keep one or more of their appliances. This isn’t usually a problem, especially if we know they are still in good shape. But if they may be replacing it 3-5 years after their remodel, we know it will take extra planning.

So what to do when an appliance fails? If it’s an easy fix, there’s usually no question about repairing it. But a bigger issue is one to stop and think about. What’s worth repairing and what’s worth replacing and how do you know?

Recently we read a report from House Method and found some great answers. House Method provides expert research on home service providers. Their reviews cover home warranty, pest control, and lawn service companies. They are a comprehensive source for home services research. Read the full report here.

Key Facts to Consider
- Over the last year, the inflation rate of appliance costs has risen an average of 7.8%.
- Typical households spent, on average, at least $354 per year on major appliances in 2022, compared to $214 in 2013.
- Most of us will need to have an appliance repaired every couple of years.
- Supply change issues continue to make it harder to get new appliances and, in some cases, replacement parts.
- Appliance prices continue to increase. (You know this if you’ve been looking)
- There’s more wear and tear on our appliances due to a year of more of work and school from home!
Repair or Replace

A study from the United States Public Interest Research Group notes that the average family could save $330 per year by repairing appliances, instead of replacing them. Weigh the pros and cons of the value, the life span, and the cost for repair of the appliance as opposed to replacing it. Also, consider the following—
- Repair costs include service fees and replacement costs but can save money since you aren’t buying a new appliance.
- Repairs generate less waste in a landfill.
- A home warranty (a service contract that can be purchased) extends the coverage of appliances past the manufacturer’s warranty.
- Most appliances last for 5-7 years, with repairs every 2-3 years (on average).
- Replacing might be the best option if you want new features, better efficiency, and lower repair costs.
Review the chart below to help you decide if you want to replace or repair.

House Method—How Much Americans Spend on Home Appliances, July 2022

Of course, sometimes a repair isn’t worth it if the problem is too big or expensive, parts aren’t available, or you can’t find someone to do the work!

Tips to Extend the Life Span of Your Appliances

Regular care & maintenance can save you money and expensive repairs down the line.
- Clean the clothes dryer lint trap after every use.
- Empty or rinse the dishwasher filter every few months.
- Microwaves and ovens work best when cleaned.
- Keep vents clear from debris and clean filters as needed.
- Empty the refrigerator and freezer occasionally to get rid of unwanted food and clean the shelves.
- Vinegar and baking soda are your friends. Do a website search for the best ways to use them on your appliances. We like the cleaning tips on this website.
Repair or replace? Ultimately it will come down to several factors—age, cost, what the repair entails, energy efficiency and what your needs are.

Need of a remodel? Give us a call at 614-459-4000. We’d love to design and build your vision for your home.
October 19, 2022
August Home Maintenance Checklist
Do late summer temperatures have you cooling off indoors? You may want to take this opportunity to tackle removing the dust & allergens from your home’s appliances. Hot & humid summer weather in Columbus, Ohio has a tendency to fill homes with a lot of dirt, dust & debris.

Planning & sticking to a seasonal maintenance plan will ensure your home is in tip-top shape. Don’t fret, you’ll still have plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine!

Our Remodel-Design-Build Production Team at The Cleary Company has put together a maintenance checklist to get you started.

Air Conditioner Maintenance
- Replace filter – It’s important to replace the air filter on your central heating/cooling system regularly (preferably, every one to three months) to keep it operating efficiently. This task will also improve the air quality in your home. These filters are designed to collect dust, spores, hair, dander, and other particles from the air that is exchanged through the system. It will also save you money on your energy bill!
- Check drain pan & lines – To prevent a system shutdown and condensation leaks around your air conditioner, take some time to inspect the drain pan and condensate drain line. Like water droplets that form on a cold drink in summer when warm air passes over extremely cold evaporator coils, condensation forms and drips into a drain pan below. Unfortunately, sometimes condensate drain pans and lines can get damaged or clogged and cause quite a mess. If you detect an issue contact your HVAC professional!
Bathroom & Kitchen Maintenance
- Clean exhaust vent – Your bathroom is probably your home’s most used room and you probably clean it weekly but probably never think about the exhaust fan. They are typically hidden in the ceiling and easy to forget, but don’t! A fan covered in dust doesn’t work efficiently. More importantly, dust build-up can eventually lead to mold, mildew and in extreme cases a house fire! Check out FamilyHandyman.com for this and other step-by-step projects.
- Degrease range hood – Over time, the filter & fan underneath your range hood (or if microwave is overtop there’s also a filter & fan) collects grease and if it’s doing its job correctly it’s going to get icky. If it becomes blocked it will lose its effectiveness which is why this unpleasant task needs regular attention.
  - What You Need – very hot or boiling water, degreasing dish soap (Dawn works very well), baking soda, non-abrasive scrub brush, paper towels or dishcloth
- Vacuum refrigerator coils – The location of your appliances coils with either be at the bottom or behind. Remove the “toe kick” plate if located below, or if behind pull forward until able to reach. Using the crevice upholstery tool on your shop vac remove all visible dirt & dust on, above and below the coils. Don’t forget the floors under & behind! This is also a good time to do a deep clean of the interior. Check out this detailed video showing step-by-step instructions!
- Clean garbage disposal & dishwasher – Summer’s heat & humidity increases bacteria production, especially in the dark, damp conditions in your garbage disposal. Over-the-counter disposal cleaners work well to disinfect and remove any clogs. This is also a good time to clean out your cabinet under the sink and check for any bug or rodent activity.
Now you’re ready for some summer fun! Need help with any of these tasks? Contact us today for trusted handyman referrals!

Resources

If you, a neighbor or family member needs financial assistance maintaining a home, Modcon Living’s Safe at Home program can help! The program offers quality emergency repairs and home modifications to homeowners, with priority to seniors and physically disabled who have limited income, to live in safe and healthy homes. Services are provided by dedicated volunteers, professional contractors, and staff at no cost to qualified homeowners.
August 1, 2022
Easy Solutions for Common Home Repairs
Homeownership is a great investment but it can also be exhausting and overwhelming at times. A busy family can create a lot of wear and tear from constant use. So how do you protect what is probably your largest investment? Home Services by The Cleary Company in Columbus, Ohio has a team of experienced craftspeople who enjoy sharing their home maintenance knowledge. Read on to learn how you can complete easy home repairs, even if you’re not handy!

10 tips & tricks for fixing your home – no tools required!
1. Remove marker or crayon off walls. If you’re a parent of small children who love to draw, then this tip is for you! First determine whether the paint on your walls is matte or has a sheen. For matte paint it’s best to use a Magic Eraser but if there’s a sheen then spray a bit of WD-40 on a clean cloth and easily wipe off any markings.
2. Unclog a slow draining sink, bathtub or shower. You can use common household ingredients to unclog most drains. First boil water and pour it down the problem drain. Second, separately measure 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of white vinegar and pour them each down the drain. After 10 minutes has gone by follow with more boiling water.
3. Remove a broken light bulb. If you’re replacing a light bulb and it breaks while removing it from the socket, you can remove it safely with a potato. Yep! Take a firm potato and cut it in half. Using the soft cut side push it into the broken bulb until the glass is fully inserted. Slowly turn the potato (lefty loosey) until the bulb is out of the socket.
4. Fix a hole in a screen. You can quickly (and cheaply) repair a small hole in your window or door screen with clear nail polish. Once dry it acts like glue!
5. Patch nail holes with a bar of soap or crayon. If you have a surface with nail holes you want to hide try this easy hack. Choose a crayon that closely matches the surface color. Rub it over the hole with firm pressure. The waxy consistency will fill the opening. Or instead of a crayon, you can use a bar of soap! Take a basic bar of white soap and slowly rub it over the hole in a counterclockwise motion. You can use a warm wet cloth to remove any residue left on the wall.
6. Fix a squeaky door or cabinet. Did you use all the WD-40 cleaning your walls? If the hinges on your doors or cabinets are squeaking and getting on your nerves use cooking spray. Spray a little on the hinges for a quick lube.
7. Remove water stains. If you’ve recently had a water leak in your home that left an unsightly stain on your ceiling or wall, do this before painting. Mix a solution of 1 cup of bleach with 3 cups of warm water and apply to the stain. It will remove any mildew, grease or dirt and will help the new paint to properly adhere to the surface.
8. Loosen a sticky key. Moisture and weather can sometimes wreak havoc on exterior lock mechanisms. If you have a key that sticks when inserted into a lock, try rubbing a graphite pencil over the grooves a few times. It will create a natural lubricant making it easier into and out of the lock.
9. Fix a clogged showerhead. Mineral deposits and other grime can accumulate over time and restrict the amount of water flowing from your showerhead. Soak the showerhead overnight in white vinegar. Rinse and repeat the process as many times as needed.
10. Keep your garbage disposal clean. Fill the disposal with ice by pushing them down the drain. Turn on the disposal and allow it to run for a bit. The broken down ice will remove excess food and waster. Afterwards pour hot water and lemon down the drain for extra freshness.
Were you surprised by the number of things you can easily fix around the house in little time and with common household products? Fixing little things here and there yourself can really make a difference in the care and maintenance of your home, and in some cases, avoid costly repairs.

If you need professional help to maintain your home, please give us a call at 614-459-4000. We will do our best to connect you with referrals of industry experts who can help. When you have a small home renovation project you’re ready to discuss, visit our website to schedule a consult!
June 7, 2022
Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
Your home is likely your largest asset and you probably plan on spending many years living there. So then, why not protect your investment? Over the past 27 years, The Cleary Company Remodel Design Build in Columbus Ohio has seen many great homes with hidden damage that could’ve been prevented with proper home maintenance.

Home maintenance is one of those things that’s easy to forget or put off because many tasks only need to be done once in a while or a few times a year. Water damage is the number 1 culprit that weakens your home’s foundation, the very core that holds your house together. Before you forget, review the following checklist of recommended home maintenance items you should complete in April & May to protect your home and keep your family safe.

Staying on top of your home’s maintenance can prevent future expensive repairs.

April:
- Wash windows – Winter weather can wreak havoc on the exterior of your home. Washing the windows will rid your home of some exterior grime but you may also uncover minor or major damage from snow & ice. We recommend the squeegee method shown in this video. Make sure water is not getting inside your home. Replace any damaged caulking or flashing immediately.
- Clean gutters & downspouts – Spring showers are great for bringing winter foliage and flowers back to life however you do not want that water to penetrate your home. Keeping your gutters and downspouts clear of any debris will move any falling water away from your home. HouseLogic.com has many helpful DIY home maintenance tips as well as step-by-step instructions for cleaning your gutters. Again while you are cleaning the gutters and downspouts, inspect for any damage and promptly make repairs as needed.
- Check foundation, basement walls & exterior siding for any cracks or leaks – Water is no friend to wood, stucco, concrete, etc. Keeping your home’s foundation dry is important in maintaining your home’s integrity. Watch this video to learn how to spot issues which can lead to problems and when it’s best to call a professional. Some types of cracks, when ignored, can lead to severe damage.
May:
- Pressure wash your deck – Removing any mold or moss will help with extending your deck’s longevity and also keep your family and guests safe. After washing is completed inspect your deck for stains, hazards or water damage and make repairs as needed.
- Inspect clothes dryer vents – Check the exterior vent outlet for blockages due to lint or other debris and remove. Here’s a handy tutorial from wikiHow!
- Check smoke & CO2 detectors & fire extinguishers – According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), smoke detectors should be tested at least once a month and batteries should be replaced at least twice a year. If you have hardwired detectors it is recommended they be upgraded after 10 years. Most fire extinguishers last between 5 and 15 years, according to manufacturers. Check the tag on your extinguisher for dates and manufacturer’s instructions. A fire extinguisher with a gauge should be checked every month to make sure it is properly charged.
If you, a neighbor or family member needs financial assistance maintaining a home, Modcon Living’s Safe at Home program can help! The program offers quality emergency repairs and home modifications to homeowners, with priority to seniors and physically disabled who have limited income, to live in safe and healthy homes. Services are provided by dedicated volunteers, professional contractors, and staff at no cost to qualified homeowners.
March 1, 2022
Using Smart Technology in Your Home
How smart is your home? How smart do you want it to be? Smart home devices are plentiful and can help you do so much more in your home, hopefully saving you some time! Most devices are pretty easy to integrate into your home. Some, as simple as plug and go, a little help from your WIFI, downloading an app, or spending a bit of time reading directions. However, connecting your whole house with products and systems that work seamlessly together takes some forethought and planning.

The Design Team at the Cleary Company Remodel-Design-Build in Columbus Ohio facilitates many conversations about smart technology with our clients while creating their custom remodeling plans. Asking questions like –
- Will you need more outlets in the kitchen or office?
- How many areas will need charging stations?
- Where will control devices and speakers be placed?
- What devices do you plan on using?
help us create a plan and scope of work that is unique to your project. This collaboration helps create a home as smart as you need it to be.

The preferred vendor we utilize when we need guidance and support is CHS (Central Home Systems). You can see and touch their products throughout our office. Their team is well-versed on everything a home needs to be energy efficient, smart, and automated. We know that if we come to them with an idea or question, they can make it happen!

Another resource our client’s utilize is EZ-Integration located in Dublin. Both companies provide the skills of multiple specialized companies under one roof. No need for a separate installer for Security, Smart Home and Audio Visual entertainment. And more importantly, both provide excellent service and knowledge to our Team and our clients.

Smart Home Technology Options

Devices:

Amazon Echo, Google Mini, Google Nest, or other voice assistant smart devices, not only are they speakers for music, but they help us find items, check the weather, control appliances, set timers, among many other helpful functions. Their possibilities are pretty endless and will only continue to evolve over time.

Speakers:

Wireless smart speakers allow music streaming anywhere inside or outside your home. Many of them can pair with Alexa or Google Nest, making music listening easier than ever. Most of them work simply by plugging them in, downloading the app and connecting to your WIFI. George is a huge fan of Sonos!

Blinds & Shades:

Hunter Douglas has a line of automated shades you can control from anywhere by using their app. Energy efficiency, privacy, and convenience at the touch of a button. Visit Home Source Custom Draperies and Blinds located in north Columbus OH at 727 Mount Airyshire Blvd, 43235 to see the full line of Hunter Douglas products.

Appliances:

Kitchen appliances continue to develop new features for convenience and energy efficiency. Do a Google search for smart appliances. You’d be surprised what you can find!
- A slow cooker controlled from your smart device
- An electric range featuring IQ-touch digital controls
- The refrigerator with a built-in camera to help you see what you need while at the grocery store. Some models also have the ability to play music
- How about an electric fork that tracks your eating habits!
Thermostats:

Do you have a smart thermostat yet? This device learns how your family heats and cools the home, all while it learns your routine. Having this device can help with overall comfort and supply some cost savings. And if you leave for a period of time, you can turn up the heat or turn down the air conditioning before you arrive back home. Comfort at the tap of your phone or activated by your voice.

Doorbells & Security:

A doorbell is not what it used to be—now it is a home security camera, a way to talk with the UPS or Amazon delivery person, or chat with your neighbors. Along with these doorbells, many of our clients choose to have home security cameras installed. If you are away, this is an added sense of comfort and safety.

Doors & Locks:

Do you forget to close your garage door at night or when you leave to pick up the kids from school? Smart garage doors can be programmed to close at a specific time or from a tap on your phone. In addition, smart locks for your doors continue to evolve and change and offer both added security and monitoring.

Your home can be integrated more now than ever. While some of us might not be ready to have our home be that smart, others of us are saying, “Bring it on!” Whatever the case, our Team can help you navigate your way through not only the renovation but help you make your home even smarter.

Contact our Team today to get started on your next project!
January 19, 2022
We Can All Make a Difference for the Environment – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Compost
Recycling has never been easier! It isn’t just the in thing to do—it’s vital for our planet. It conserves natural resources, reduces the amount of energy needed to create new goods, keeps items out of landfills, and creates jobs. Did you know that over 76% of the material in the landfill could be recycled or composted?!

At The Cleary Company, Our Team is dedicated to doing what we can to compost and recycle. If everyone does their part, can you imagine what, collectively, we could accomplish? The beauty of this is that all the companies we work with are available to you, as a homeowner or business, as well. Let’s all do our part to reduce, reuse, recycle & compost!

Our Partners

We are grateful to be in Columbus, OH, Franklin County, where we have resources available to make composting and recycling easier. We partner with several companies in town to do our part. All these companies provide all types of information and suggestions on their websites to help us do better. We are grateful for their expertise and guidance helping us to #BeBetter and #LiveBetter.

The Compost Exchange does a big job with a small bucket. Their goal? To collect and recycle food scraps and turn it into nutrient-rich compost and soil. We love knowing that we are keeping scraps from the trash can or the kitchen disposal! And think about it—if you throw food scraps away in a plastic bag, it’s going to sit in the landfill for a long time, without decomposing. This low-cost option includes pick up from your office and home, depending on where you live. We found this information from their website really enlightening.
- “The average American family produces about 600 pounds of organic, recyclable materials each year. A simple change in how each household “manages” the disposal of these valuable resources can have a huge effect on our shared world – our soil, our water, and our air. Let’s face it, every day after peeling that banana or cleaning out the fridge, we place these organic materials somewhere – into a trash can to be taken to our already overcrowded landfill OR into a composting bucket to be made into healthy soil to grow food and flowers in our local gardens.”
Rumpke offers recycling and more. As one of the largest waste and recycling companies, we love that their mission is to keep our hometown clean. We try to keep our trash to a minimum, but we are in the business of creating new from old, and with that comes trash. We appreciate Rumpke’s ability to help us keep our office free of trash. Being able to recycle so many items is a true blessing for our planet and keeping items out of landfills. Their website is filled with information, including what can be recycled through their recycling pick-up program.

We also appreciate that Rumpke creates customized waste and recycling programs to fit businesses’ needs. Whether it’s a large quantity of paper, cardboard boxes, or a large number of recyclables, they will work to create a program that works for you.

But what about Construction & Demolition Debris?

Frog Hauling, you’ve seen their recognizable green dumpsters at our job sites. Affordable, well-maintained, and convenient, Frog Hauling’s ability to help us keep our job sites clean and free of debris is greatly appreciated. Even more awesome is their commitment to sort the salvageable from the waste. Every effort possible is used to recycle discarded construction and demolition debris. They are also the only Columbus hauling service the provides the ability for their customers to help recycle their property.

For their homeowner clients, when possible, they will remove metals, wood, plastic, cardboard, Eco items, etc. – free of charge. When Possible, if items are usable, they take them to an appropriate charity drop off location for you – free of charge. They do their best to recycle as much as they can. If a client bags their recyclables up and loads them in last, that helps them get your recyclables to the proper location.

We appreciate a partner who is also committed to recycling and providing an eco-friendly service.

Frank Road Recycling accepts and sort comingled construction and demolition debris with years of experience reusing and recycling materials in Central Ohio. As much as possible, they will sort C&D waste to remove metals, wood, plastic, and cardboard. Check out these interesting Ohio recycling facts and stats from their website.73% of corrugated cardboard discards are recovered.
- Every ton of recycled paper cuts pollution by 95%.
- Recycling plastics into new products save about 50% of the energy used to make new products.
- Steel is America’s most recycled material!
- Ohio is the second largest steel producing stat in the U.S.
- Steel makers recycle more than 68% of the steel produced.
- The energy conserved by recycling 1 pound of steel is enough to light a 60 watt bulb for more than a day!
Check out their rates and accepted items on their website!

What is SWACO?

SWACO, the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio, was one of 52 districts created by the Ohio General Assembly in 1989. These districts were established with the mission of reducing reliance on landfills. Do you have items you’d like to recycle, but don’t know if it can be? Utilize SWACO’s website and get rid of many items you don’t want to just throw away. On their website, select what you want to recycle and they let you know where to take it if it’s something you can’t recycle at your home or through your business provider. (Think motor oil, oil-based paint, pharmaceutical, compact fluorescent light bulbs, propane tanks, and more. )

A stat we found on their website makes us proud of Franklin county. “Franklin County’s recycling and composting rate, known as a diversion rate, is 51% while the national average is only 34%”!

Holiday Waste Information

And since this is the holiday season, we love the information we found on SWACO’s website to help cut down on waste this holiday season.

Did you know that 25% more trash is thrown away during the holidays? SWACO suggests these tips to reduce waste. Check out the link above for more information.
- Look for items with minimal packaging.
- Don’t throw away unwanted decorations. Donate them instead to a local non-profit organization.
- Compost trees and wreaths in Franklin County (Or your county if they provide this service) by placing them at the curb on your yard waste collection day.
- Create a new dish from leftovers.
- Keep food scraps out of the landfill. Find a free community compost drop-off site.
- Recycle your cardboard—break them down to save space. Recycle plastic and glass bottles, jugs and jars, paper, and metal cans in your recycling bins.
It doesn’t take much effort to compost, reduce, recycle, reuse and think about what we are throwing away. Taking a bit of time, doing some research, and reaching out to ask questions, will help our planet, our community, and our neighbors.

We feel that finding the right type of person/company to partner with is key to maintaining the fun, family-like character of our company. The Cleary Company looks for partners with similar values as ours. We are committed to being the best stewards of the Earth that we can be.
December 22, 2021
Should I Remodel or Move?
How Renovations are Impacting Real Estate Decisions in Columbus Ohio

According to a recent article from Roofstock, “Home prices in Columbus continue to skyrocket”. This is great news for those people selling their homes, but the flip side means they have to find someplace else to live and in Columbus, that is an issue as inventory is tight.

Home buying is more challenging these days due to historically low inventory and a mortgage market that is overwhelmed with a full line of applications. In addition, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and demand for new homes have builders scrambling to keep up with the demand. New construction has lagged behind demand for several years now and the supply chain issues created by the pandemic have only exacerbated the problem.

The Columbus, OH home sales market has been a seller’s market, with homes values soaring, bidding wars, and low inventory. These factors are coupled with a shortage of new home builds, as new research from Realtor.com states, “The U.S. is short 5.24 million homes, an increase of 1.4 million from the 2019 gap of 3.84 million” as reported in this article from CNBC earlier this fall.

To this end, we are seeing more and more people stay in their homes and choose to renovate. Many remodelers in Columbus, OH (The Cleary Company included), are booked 9-12 months out. What does this tell us? People are choosing to renovate and expand or improve their homes instead of moving. But why is this the case in addition to the housing sales issues?

Renovate Instead of Relocate

According to a 2018 Zillow Housing Aspirations Report, “76% of Americans would rather renovate than use their savings for a down payment.” While this information is from 2018, as a premier remodeling company, we know this still rings true in 2021. If you’ve lived in your home long enough to qualify for a home equity loan or line of credit, have been saving money, or can refinance and create additional equity with a re-appraisal, renovating might be a better option.

The cost of selling your home and buying a new home involves realtor costs and commissions, both minor and major repairs to the home you own and the home you will buy (especially if it isn’t a new build), title insurance, seller costs, home appraisal, moving costs, closing costs, change in property taxes, and possible capital gains taxes if your home has appreciated more than $250,000 from the original purchase price.

Pros of Remodeling Your Current Home

Even though, right now, the time it takes to renovate your home might be longer than normal, there are still many pros to remodeling.
- No need to move to a different neighborhood. The emotional investment you have created in your neighborhood with your friends, schools and amenities isn’t in jeopardy by a move.
- Change your home to fit your needs. Do you need a home office, additional space, a new kitchen, bathroom, or outdoor living?
- Choose the materials you want for your home, not what a builder may choose, or someone selling their home chose.
- Renovating a room or several rooms is less costly than buying a new home just to get a home office or extra bedroom. We can take the footprint of your home and make it work for you.
- You’ll continue to add equity/ROI to your home, provided you don’t create the most expensive home on the block when renovating.
- You don’t have to move, though a whole house remodel might mean you will want to move out for a while. We’ve had clients do both!
- It may be more cost-effective for you than buying a new home that requires changes as well.
While the choice to remodel or move is very personal and the final decision can be difficult if remodeling is the decision you make, we are here to help. We would be happy to discuss possible options with you. Our Team can help you decide if renovating your home will work for you and your needs.

Read more about the remodeling boom in Central Ohio on our blog. Are you ready to remodel your home? Contact us today to get started!
December 1, 2021