Homeowner Tips

28

Sep

Around The Home

Baby on the Way? Learn How to Child-proof Your Home so Your Baby Is Safe From Harm

Do you have a baby on the way? If so, you are likely already wondering how you are supposed to make your home safe from harm. The good news is that with a little work, you'll be able to make your house or apartment that much safer. Let's take a look at how you can child-proof your home in under a few hours. Start With The Baby's Bedroom For the first few months, your baby will be spending a lot of time either sleeping or resting in their crib. You'll want to keep the crib away from any cords, blinds,…

02

Sep

By Lori Blank

Around The Home

3 Tips for Creating a Warm, Welcoming Guest Bedroom

If you're a homeowner with children, at some point, you'll be saying goodbye. They'll move off to college or to start their career and adult life. As children move out, you'll discover that you have extra bedrooms and other living spaces that will need a new purpose. Let's take a look at three ways that you can transform an unused bedroom into a welcoming place for guests to stay. Get Started With A Deep Clean The first thing you'll want to do is engage in a top-to-bottom deep clean of the room. Get everything out of the room so that…

17

Aug

By Lori Blank

Around The Home

Winter’s Coming: Learn How to Prepare Your Plants, Trees and Other Landscaping

From the approaching holiday season to the New Year, there are a lot of things to prepare for when it comes to the winter. It's important, though, not to forget about the needs of your lawn for the upcoming cold season. If you're wondering how to ready your trees, your plants and your yard, here are some tips for saving your vegetation until the springtime. Fertilize For Grass Growth It might seem like a waste of time to fertilize your grass going into the winter months, but this is actually the perfect time to prep it for spring. As fertilizer…

11

Aug

By Lori Blank

Real Estate Tips

Taking an Extended Vacation? Renting Your Home to Long-term Tenants is a Great Option

Taking an extended vacation can seem like a dream come true. You may have plans to spend your summer in Europe, your winter in the Caribbean or even a full year or longer exploring a different region. If you have the luxury of taking an extended vacation, you may have your sights set on adventure and relaxation. However, you also need to consider the practicality of leaving behind your home and belongings for an extended period of time. A great idea is to take on a long-term tenant for your home, and there are a number of benefits that you…

30

Jun

By Lori Blank

Around The Home

DIY Home Upgrades: 5 Reasons Why Hardwood Flooring Should Be on Your Renovation List

Whether you're planning on selling your home soon or you want to do a few minor renovations for your own enjoyment, an ailing hardwood floor may be on your list of things to tackle. While this can be a more difficult renovation to complete than many other household items, here are five reasons you may want to move it to the top of the list. An Issue with Structure If there happens to be any glaring structural issues with your hardwood, a complete do-over will be a necessity if you want to sell your house in the future. While this…

08

Jun

By Lori Blank

Around The Home

3 Easy Ways to Make Your Home More ‘Pet Friendly’

Whether you're moving to a new home or you have a new family pet, it can be a struggle to make the place a little friendlier for them. From the garbage can to the cupboards and doors, there can be a lot of dangers that have the ability to hurt your furry friend you might not be aware of. If you're looking for some simple ways to make their life a little easier, here are a few things you can do. Take Care Of The Trash The image of dogs sifting through the trash is common for a reason, so…

19

Apr

By Lori Blank

Around The Home

Let’s Talk Fencing: How to Put a Fence Around Your Home Without Destroying Its Appeal

Many homeowners consider a fence around their property for a variety of reasons, whether it's to keep the dog in the yard or to maintain privacy. However, the wrong fence can entirely change the look of your property and make a beautiful yard a bit of an eyesore. If you're trying to determine what kind of fence will work for your home, here are some tips before you start to dig in the dirt. What's Your Fence For? Before deciding what kind of material to use, it's important to know what type of utility you want for your fence. While…

08

Apr

By Lori Blank

Around The Home

Renovating on a Budget? Check Out These Equity-boosting Inexpensive Home Upgrades

The idea of embarking on home renovations may strike many homeowners as an expensive one, but there are plenty of ways that you can easily upgrade your home without spending a lot of money. If you're looking for improvements that will truly (and frugally) improve the value of your home, here are a few do-it-yourself options you may want to consider. Change The Lighting There are few small fixes that will improve the look of your home like lighting, so one of the best things you can do for the overall look of your house is change out some of…

01

Apr

By Lori Blank

Home Seller Tips

Thinking About Selling Your Home Without A Real Estate Agent? Don’t – Here’s Why

If you're considering selling your home in the near future, you may be tempted to simply cut out the middleman and opt for an FSBO sale. However, selling a home is a major undertaking, and most "For Sale By Owner" home sales run into obstacles. So why is an FSBO sale such a problem for most homeowners? Here are three reasons why you'll want an agent to represent you instead of going it alone. An FSBO Puts You At Risk Of A Lawsuit Selling a home involves mountains of paperwork, and in order to make the transfer of ownership legal…

29

Mar

By Lori Blank

Homeowner Tips

What Are The Top Signs You Need To Refinance?

You might have heard that more people are refinancing these days. During the refinancing process, you essentially take your current home loan and replace it with a different one. You can reduce your mortgage payments, shorten the life of your loan, or withdraw cash you can use for other purposes. What are a few of the signs that indicate you should consider refinancing? You Can Secure A Lower Interest Rate If you think you can secure a lower interest rate on your mortgage, it might be time to refinance. There are a number of reasons why you might be able to…