Are you getting the most out of your smartphone’s camera?

If you mostly use it for selfies and cute photos of your cat, the answer is no.

With a few strategic snaps, your smartphone camera can save you time and money at home (in addition to sharing your amazing brunch with the world, of course).

Here are eight ways a snap of your phone camera can make life easier:

1. Audit Your Fridge

Before you head out to the grocery store, snap a picture of your open refrigerator. Make sure everything is in plain sight before you take the photo! The photo will help you remember what you have, so you’ll know exactly what you should buy and won’t be left wondering if you have any milk left while trolling aisle six.

Tip: Fridge too messy to photograph? Organize it today!

2. Keep Track of Disassembly Projects

If you need to fix something with a lot of different parts, take a quick photo of the assembled item before you take it apart. It’ll be way easier to put Humpty Dumpty back together again that way.

Tip: If the project is extra complex, we recommend shooting a couple of photos from different angles and at varying levels of detail.

3. Find a Qualified Pro to Help You Out

If your home improvement to-do list is growing, and you don’t have the time (or interest) in knocking things out yourself, get some help from the pros! Snapfix allows you to snap a photo of your project, and then sit back and let someone find you a pro. It’s that easy!

4. Pick the Right Paint Hue

Painting is one of the quickest ways to update the look of a room, but choosing a color isn’t easy. Before you head to the home improvement store, take a panorama of the room you want to paint. Then, take a few close-up snapshots of the fabric in the room. That way, you’ll be able to pull out distinct colors that may work for the wall. Using the panorama, choose a few different paint chip hues at the store.

Tip: Use the 60-30-10 rule. That means 60 percent of the room should be a dominant color, 30 percent of the room should be a secondary color and 10 percent should be the accent color.

5. Keep Track of Your Appliance’s Serial Numbers

An appliance serial number is something you probably never think about until there’s a problem. To make your life easier, take photos of your appliance serial numbers and store them in a folder on your computer. It’s a nice backup system!

6. Never Forget a Borrowed Item Again

Have you ever searched for a certain book, remember you lent it to someone but …. who? To get your belongings back, take a quick photo every time a friend borrows something from you. Tell your friends to smile, and snap a shot of their face with the borrowed thing. That way, you’ll always know where your stuff is and who to bug to get it back. You can also send them the photo as a not-so-subtle reminder to return the item!

7. Always Have Your Prescription Numbers Handy

There’s no need to hold onto empty pill bottles! Instead, take a photo of your prescription number as soon as the medicine comes in from the pharmacy. Next time you need a refill, you’ll be able to quickly pass along necessary information, even if you don’t have your medication with you.

Tip: Some pharmacies will even scan a picture of the barcode if you have a clear enough image.

8. Have Your WiFi Password Handy, Always

When guests visit, one of the first questions asked is typically “What’s your WiFi?” To avoid scrambling to remember or worse, moving your router to look at the back of it, take a photo of the long password. That way, all you need is your phone to get your friends online. 

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

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When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

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If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.