Category Archives: Homeowners

Family Home, Homeowners

Landscaping Trends to Increase Home Value

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Your curb may be close to the drain, but don’t be confused: Putting money into curb appeal is in no way throwing money down the drain. Homes with better landscaping sell for a higher price — and few people would ignore the kind of value it can add to your home. Depending on where you are and how much landscaping you do, you could be talking about tens of thousands of dollars. Here are a few landscaping trends that increase the value of your home.

Sustainability

The low-maintenance, low-water and eco-friendly yard is not a myth. While a thick, green lawn is always appealing, you can always mix things up with xeriscaping elements or native plants to bring out the best in your yard. Sustainability has become a keyword in the landscaping industry. Clients want to see yards that add to the natural biodiversity of their neighborhoods. Another benefit? A yard that’s easy to keep up is a good selling point for potential buyers.

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Homeowners

Casual BackYard Dinner Menus to Make Cooking at Home More Fun

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We may be stuck at home but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate spring with some outdoor fun!

Even if you’re not a cook, there are a ton of things that can be thrown together with minimal time and effort. There’s no better time to start eating more vegetables and fruits with so many in season to choose from and the time to experiment!

Start Out With Some Grilled Fruit Kabobs

Fresh fruits are packed with antioxidants and a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Grilling fruit intensifies the flavors and brings out the fruit’s natural sweetness. Some great options that hold up well on the grill are bananas, pineapples, peaches, and melons. Cut fruits into large pieces to avoid losing any small pieces through the grates on the grill. You’ll know it’s done when the middle of the fruit is hot and it has thick, dark grill marks.

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Family Home, Homeowners

Spring Cleaning Hacks

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Spring motivates a lot of us to do some much needed deep cleaning. It’s a good idea to take a few days to really cleanse your space and revamp your style. Cleaning and decluttering is a great way to start off the new season and fill your time. Not only does it clear your house, it also clears your mind!

Clean Baseboards, Cabinets, Doors, Windowsills, and Walls

Sound like fun yet? These are not typically chores we do on a regular basis, but a lot of crud builds up here, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. 

Baseboards and window sills accumulate dust, dirt, hair and can become discolored. You’ll be amazed how much cleaner and brighter your space looks with freshly scrubbed baseboards and window sills. 

Don’t forget to do the ones in the kitchen, too. Sticky food residue easily accumulates here and can attract bugs when the warmer weather sets in. Wipe down your walls and doors to get off the dirt and grime, especially the parts closer to the floor where the foot traffic is coming and going. 

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Home Design, Homeowners

Revamping Your Yard After Winter

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Harsh winters can be tough on your yard, and can leave them looking a mess-dead grass and plants, damaged shrubs, trees and more. Your yard could be so damaged that you consider drastic measures, such as hiring different people and companies to fix up your yard again. Luckily, there are easier ways to revamp your yard after a hard winter and they don’t require you to spend as much money. 

Fertilize the yard and replace grass

After a long and cold winter, your grass can be looking flat and brown, which calls for a lot of tending and caring. The best way to help your grass to look luscious and lively again is by supplying it with the nutrients it needs to do so. Luckily, this is an easy task that you can complete on your own. Fertilizer supplies the nutrients that grass needs to flourish.  By following the directions on the fertilizer you buy, you’ll have your grass looking green and full of life in no time. 

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Family Home, Homeowners

Introducing Yourself to Neighbors After Moving

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Dear introverts, we know it’s difficult to read this, but getting to know your neighbors and allowing them to get to know you can truly be a lifesaver. Especially if you live alone in a new neighborhood like many students and young professionals. It’s overwhelming, true, establishing that initial contact with strangers who happen to live next door. However, the benefits far outweigh the anxiety you must be feeling. Indeed, extroverted people have it easier breaking the ice in a blink of an eye. The good thing is you can learn a thing or two from them.

Know thy neighbor and the best moment to approach

First things first. Before you rent an apartment, you should explore your neighborhood online. Find a platform with building or neighborhood reviews and go through them. They will give you valuable insight into what kind of community you can expect after you move in. 

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Homeowners

5 Easy Ways to Save Big on Monthly Home Expenses

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Having a home comes with a lot of advantages, especially for the modern family. You don’t have to deal with unhappy first floor tenants when your 3-year-old is running around upstairs, there’s no aggravating landlord popping up unannounced and your family has more than enough freedom to truly make it feel like home. 

However, there’s also a lot of upkeep and all-around oversight that you have to take into account. From utility bills, monthly mortgage payments or even grocery costs, home expenses pile up quickly. If you’re looking for some easy ways to gain quick relief, test out some of these tricks to get your family’s finances in the green. 

1. Consolidate Other Debt

Oftentimes, debt can cripple our abilities to budget effectively. Other debt may be taking away from extra money to put toward your monthly home expenses. Instead of struggling to make ends meet, consider accessing the value that your home has accrued over time and start living comfortably.

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Homeowners

Gifts for First-time Homeowners

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What gift do you get the first-time homeowner in your life? If this is something you’ve been struggling with, we’ve got you covered! From household gadgets to decor items to things that make your house feel more like a home, our list of gifts for the first-time homeowner will give you plenty of ideas for what to give (or what to buy yourself)!

Custom return address stamp

Since your loved one recently became a homeowner, a return address stamp is a gift they can use over and over again! While many would opt for purchasing customized stationary, a stamp is much more useful, versatile, and reusable. It’s also affordable, if you’re on a budget and need a heartfelt gift!

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Homeowners

Should You Hire a Cleaning Service?

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We can all agree that cleaning our homes is a necessity, but we don’t always make it a priority. That’s where a cleaning service comes in. While it may not be in everyone’s budget, a professional cleaning service can truly help you out — and more often than not, you’ll find that they’re worth every penny. Here’s why you should consider hiring a professional cleaning service sooner rather than later.

They can clean the hard-to-reach or inconvenient places

We’re talking about your baseboards, the area around your toilet, the inside of your refrigerator…these places aren’t the most convenient to clean. A professional cleaning service can clean your home from top to bottom and make sure all the nooks and crannies are spotless. So you won’t have to worry about dust or grime buildup that can lead to problems with your health and home in the long run — because a cleaning service will ensure your home is spotless!

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Home Design, Homeowners

Best Instagram Accounts for Home Inspiration

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The internet is full of inspiration from recipes, date night outfits and home design. Whether you are looking to make small improvements, start a full-on renovation or just want some decor ideas to switch up the look of a space, Instagram can be a great resource for ideas and tips. Here are our top five Instagram accounts to follow if you are a homeowner looking for inspiration.

@uglyducklingdiy

With over 16K followers, Sarah with the Ugly Duckling House is based in Atlanta and covers everything from everyday activities with her pups to home renovations and DIYs. This account is perfect for the homeowner that is looking to make their home unique with outdoor features they craft themselves or make their hosted events more impressive with stand-out table settings. 

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Home Design, Homeowners

Adapting Your Room For a Better Night’s Sleep

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New year, better sleep! Prioritizing a better night’s sleep is a common resolution, but it can be difficult to put into practice…especially if you’re used to getting minimal sleep all the time. So we’ve gathered our best tips for adapting your home and bedroom environment for a better night’s sleep. 

If you can’t wake up with the sun, get a sunrise alarm clock 

Wouldn’t it be nice to avoid alarm clocks altogether and wake up with the sun every morning? While that might not be possible for everyone, a sunrise alarm clock is the next best thing. You can purchase an alarm clock like this one, which simulates sun and gradually gets brighter and brighter as the time nears your ideal wakeup time. So say goodbye to annoying, loud alarms and hello to waking up with the (simulated) sunshine!

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