Life is busy. Kids, work, meals, appointments - the list goes on. And no matter where you live, you also have to spend time keeping your home safe and running smoothly. We've put together a Yearly Homeowner's Checklist, with tasks for each month, to help remind you of common home maintenance chores to make your life just a little bit easier. 

This is an article submitted by a guest author. Not all views expressed are those of Amerifirst Home Mortgage or its employees. 

If your mailbox could talk, what would it say? “Hey Susan, here’s more coupons for your favorite Moose Tracks ice cream you can't get enough of, an overdue bill for your monthly $50 gym membership, and two new pre-approved loan offers from financial institutions you never requested.”

We live in an instant-gratification society. We want what we want, and we want it now. Some of this is simply human nature. Some of the fault for this lies at the feet of our mass media. We're trained to think a complicated murder investigation can be solved and prosecuted in an hour TV show. Such is the case when it comes to all things home related.   Thanks to networks like the DIY Network and HGTV, we have become accustomed to seeing home renovations wrapped up in a single episode, by homeowners just like you and me. However, that's not how real life works. In real life, remodeling projects take time and a lot of work. Sometimes, they even take the work of a professional!

The FHA 203k option for home buyers covers a long list of home improvements, repairs, renovations and rehab projects. But when I came across this house, I saw 7 right away. Take a look.  

Replacing the sill plate on a house can sound like an impossible job. The sill plate is basically the buffer between the bottom of your walls and the top of your basement or foundation. It’s treated wood, and it’s anchored to the cement below. Sometimes these need to be replaced.  But do you want to put jacks under your home and lift it up all on your own? It can be done.