Here are some of the top tips for making your home more habitable for less money than you think.

Mitigate Mold

Mold, a potentially dangerous uninvited guest, can cause illness and decrease the value of a home quickly. Peter Jacobus, an agent for American Family Insurance, tells homeowners to be proactive in their efforts to keep a home safe from this unwanted affliction.

1. Reduce Humidity

By keeping the level of moisture in your home below 40%, you can often outsmart mold. Avoid excessive dampness by using dehumidifiers in rooms that collect steam. An air-conditioner will perform this role in the summer.

2. Ventilate

In addition to reducing moisture, overall good airflow is key. Your home should have exhaust fans in both the kitchen and bathroom, for starters.

3. Paint With Care

By using an inexpensive mold inhibitor mixed into your paint, you can further protect your walls and ceilings against mold growth. (Products cost around $6 per packet and can be found at home home improvement stores.)

4. Skip the Carpet

Per square foot, carpet can be more expensive than other floor coverings and is never appropriate for moisture prone areas — like bathrooms.

Confuse Criminals

While no home can be 100% robbery-proof, some simple changes to your set-up can keep you clear of break-ins. Sadie Cornelius, Security Expert for ASecureLife.com, recommends some simple precautions and security upgrades.

5. Add Deadbolts

All outside facing windows and doors should have one. They don't have to be fancy — they just need to work!

6. Stash the Spare Key

Just don't put it outside. Fake planters, rocks, or other "in plain sight" hiding places are well-known by career criminals.

7. Invest in Motion Sensors

Just having some outside lights that flick on when they detect a visitor can spook away a thief. Motion lights start around $10, and can be found at most hardware stores.

8. Get a Peephole

They're not just useful for hotel rooms. Knowing who's outside from behind the safety of your door is a good idea!

In addition, you're always wise to keep news of an empty house to yourself.

9. Skip Oversharing on Social

Please, no posts on Facebook about how much you're enjoying your vacation in Hawaii. Wait until you get back to post photos, and turn off location services from any apps that post on your behalf while you're gone.

10. Leave a Light On

Don't keep your home completely dark. Consider investing in a timer for your television to have some activity happening in the home during your prime time viewing hours.

Source: Wisebread.com