Real Estate Information Archive

While shopping for plants, pay attention to the plant information tags in the cell packs. Following those details are essential for good growth. 
 

Enriching the soil with compost is the first step to using nature to fertilize your plants, and one way to do that is with grass clippings! According to Mother Earth News, a mulch of 1”-2” of cut grass can feed your garden for the season.  
 

Earthworms are the source for many good things for plants and your soil. They can be purchased or save money and attract them naturally by adding plenty of organic matter to your garden soil. 
 

When and how you water your garden plays an important part in keeping diseases and pests at bay. A morning shower with a water hose can rid your plants of nasty aphids. Watering in the evenings can cause fungi and mildew to grow, and neither is easy to get rid of once they set in. 
 

Learn the difference between beneficial and unwelcome insects. For example, they may frighten us, but many stinging insects are taking care of the bad ones that are eating up our plants. The Sod God offers some excellent information as well as infographics to help you distinguish between the good and the bad. 
 

Row covers are a great and chemical-free way to keep not only insects away, but veggie-loving birds as well. If they cover your plants completely as they grow, they will provide a barrier between your plants and the bad guys. 
 

There are many natural products available to kill and repel insects: diatomaceous earth, insecticidal soap, horticultural oils, and capsaicin to name a few. As with chemical pesticides, follow package directions exactly to keep plants safe, as well as wildlife and pets. 

Not knowing what is on your credit report can set you up for a surprise when a potential lender pulls it for inspection. Obtain a free report through your bank or credit union so you can correct or dispute errors before you fill out a loan application. 
 

Sending late payments on credit cards and other monthly bills during the approval process will show on your credit report. 
 

Opening a new line of credit for large purchases will raise your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Except in emergencies, avoid buying anything on credit until after closing on your new home. 
 

In the same manner, closing credit accounts can negatively affect your credit score. If you have paid off credit card balances, leave them active, as this shows lenders that you have credit options available. 
 

Trying to help a family member get a loan by co-signing with them will raise your DTI and can discourage lenders. 
 

Unless it is completely unavoidable, changing jobs can hurt your loan chances. Lenders like to see a steady income from employment with the same company or same field. 
 

If you are using gifted funds to assist with the down payment, do not deposit the money into your bank account without documentation from the giver. Learn more about the procedures for down payment gifts from the balance. 
 

Do not let poor credit and lack of a 20% down payment keep you from buying a house. FHA, USDA, and the VA all have programs to help make the dream of homeownership a reality. Check each website for eligibility requirements. 

Rake leaves and other debris so your lawn can absorb as much sun as possible to look its best.
 

Order seeds if you have not already done so and get them started as soon as possible. The Old Farmer’s Almanac has some great advice for indoor seed-starting. 
 

Do not wait to find a mechanical problem with your mower when it is time to use it.  Home Depot offers some tips for getting your lawnmower ready for the busy season. 
 

Check your irrigation system for any cracks if the cold weather has been brutal this year. 
 

If you see daffodils blooming, that means it is time to get cold weather veggies in the ground:  onions, garlic, sweet peas, salads, carrots, and potatoes are cold-hardy and will be ready to harvest first! 
 

Continue to keep bird feeders full.  Clean your hummingbird feeders with a mixture of warm water white vinegar, rinse, and allow to air dry.  Check out this hummingbird Spring migration information so you will be ready when the hummers return. 
 

It is important to prune dead wood and suckers out of flowering trees and shrubbery.  However, plants that bloom in early spring and summer or that bloom off old wood, i.e.., azaleas, hydrangeas, forsythia, dogwoods, should not be completely cut back until after they flower. Cutting them back now will take off the new flower bud that formed last year. 
 

After pruning fruit trees, spray with neem oil to help prevent any pests that have overwintered and can destroy the summer harvest. 

- Decluttering every space in your home is probably the first place to start.  Getting organized is one of the best and simplest ways to improve your home’s look. Selling items on social media marketplaces or having a yard sale will also put money in your pockets for an added benefit! 
 

- A quick and easy fix-up for your interior is paint! Not only is it inexpensive, but it is also an easy DIY when you tackle one room per weekend. 
 

- After painting, why not add some crown molding? Purchase plaster-coated foam molding that can be cut with a handsaw and put into place with joint compound. 
 

- Spruce up your mudroom, kitchen, or bathroom floors with self-stick tiles. This type of vinyl flooring comes in many styles and colors, and you can create a pattern for some added style. 
 

- Simple kitchen updates can make a big difference:  a countertop makeover, new hardware for cabinets and drawer pulls, peel-and-stick backsplash installation, or new paint on the cabinetry.
 

- While costing a bit more, if your bathroom needs a boost, ready-made sink cabinetry,  prefab tub/shower kits, or tub refinishing kits can be purchased at a local home store or online for thousands less than hiring a pro. 
 

- If a total exterior paint job is not in the budget, give the house a thorough pressure-washing and paint the shutters and front door. Brightening the landscaping with fresh mulch and seasonal annuals in containers are other dollar-saving ways to give the outside an update. 

Fake Social Security Claims:  This scam can begin with an official-looking letter in the mail or a phone call. The caller informs the recipient that there is a problem with their Social Security benefits or suspicious use of their SSN and could stop receiving their monthly deposits if the requested information is not provided immediately. Remind your older adult that the Social Security Administration will never call asking for more information unless they have applied for benefits. They should simply hang up and call their local SSA office or file a report through the SSA Inspector General Office website. 
 

“Family Member” in Trouble:  Someone posing as a family member, most commonly a grandchild, will contact the elderly person and claim to be in serious trouble. The caller says that they need money immediately and will als0 stress not to contact their parents to avoid getting in trouble with them. In spite of their urgency, the senior adult should hang up or disengage and contact another member of the family, or call the person claiming to be in trouble to make sure everything is okay. 
 

Homeowner Scams:  Older homeowners are targeted because they normally live in a home without a mortgage and a higher value than the purchase price.  Property tax scammers will offer to send someone to re-assess the value of the property to lower the taxes, but for a fee. No matter how official the correspondence may seem, the homeowner should always contact their local tax office to make sure they are not being had. 
 

Deceased Spouse’s Fake Debt:  Fraudsters have no shame, and will go through obituaries, then contact surviving family members to claim that the deceased has an outstanding debt.  The best defense against this is to not give out any financial information, and most certainly do not pay anything. The estate handles any outstanding accounts, not surviving spouses. 
 

Medicare Scams: Phone calls come daily–to those who are not even over 65–claiming to be a Medicare representative.  The most common claims the caller will make are asking to verify information, saying the account has a refund flagged, or offering free medical supplies.  Simply hang up without engaging in conversation.   

Once those treats are done, give your dog something to think about and create a treat game for them to play.  This bottle-spinning puzzle requires few materials and basic building skills. 
 

Using a purchased dog bed or making one yourself, you can create a special spot for the dogs to get their rest. Find the perfect dog bed project here from HGTV. 
 

Traveling with Fido can create a real hairy mess on car interiors, but a hammock may be the answer! Sewing basics will come in handy for this fairly simple DIY hammock project. 
 

Upgrade that cagey dog crate by creating this cover with a removable top. The cave-like atmosphere it creates is comforting for the dog and gives you space to use as a table! 
 

An active dog is a happy dog when they have plenty to do outside! If you have the space, why not create a tire tunnel, tug toy, or PVC agility course? 

Any cat owner knows that cats love to have a place to hide, sleep, observe. Make a fun hideaway with a t-shirt and a few other materials! 
 

Keeping an indoor cat entertained can be a challenge, and toys can be expensive. Create a simple feather toy or cat-treat puzzle to keep them busy. 
 

Bring the outside indoors: grow an indoor garden just for Kitty.  She will think she is the queen of the jungle! 
 

Will these inexpensive shelf steps keep your cat off the counters?  
 

While it is virtually impossible to make your cat stay in the yard, making a “catio” gives them a place to be outside while keeping them safe, as well as local wildlife. Install a cat door or open a window and have a structure like one of these waiting on the other side, or build this catio as part of your home’s design. 
 

In some cases, going green for decor can be expensive, but it does not have to be! Thrift stores, consignment shops, and tag sales are all perfectly green alternatives to buying new! 
 

Paint and other wall/wood treatments can be full of harmful chemicals.  Look for labels that say “non-toxic,” and paints that are low- or zero-VOC.  Learn more about “green” paint from the spruce. 
 

When shopping for new items, look for wood that is harvested responsibly, made from repurposed pieces, or even repurposed wood. 
 

You will pay more for carpeting made of natural fibers or recycled materials and organic dyes, but a clear conscience for the green living you are trying to achieve will outweigh the cost. Create custom designs with Flor carpet tiles, or go with 100% biodegradable Earth Weave carpet. 
 

Other eco-friendly flooring options are reclaimed wood, bamboo, and cork flooring. 
 

Use natural fabrics for bedding and draperies, or even upholstery:  cotton, linen, hemp, or wool are all more sustainable than synthetic textiles. 
 

Look for locally made artisan furniture, art, or decorative pieces.  You will likely find these crafters use locally found, sustainable materials. 

The larger the container, the better, when it comes to growing veggies. Purchasing pots is always an option but save money and use large buckets! Drain holes are easy to add with a drill and large bit, just make sure you have plenty of drainage. 
 

Grow bags are becoming quite popular and are great for growing veggie plants, and even berry shrubs! They offer many benefits over plastic and even clay containers but will cost more initially. Some even have “windows” for watching root vegetables grow, something that will be fun for the kids to watch! 
 

For soil, plain container mix is best; added fertilizers are not necessary, especially if you plan on using organic matter. Find a garden center that sells soil in bulk, purchased by the cubic yard, which will save money. Vegetables need at least six hours of full sun, and containers will be easier to move to a sunnier spot if they are not getting the needed amount. 
 

If you have the right sized container, you can grow practically any vegetable. Check out this list from Farmer’s Almanac for a list of what will grow best in different sized containers. 

Flowering annuals and bulbs have different needs when it comes to sunlight. This means that you can have pots of flowers practically anywhere you want them! 
 

Because flowering plants are solely for decoration, think outside the box when it comes to what to use. All you need are holes for drainage and almost anything can be a flowerpot. 
 

Planting a mix of different plants in one pot makes for a lot of interest, just be sure you are not mixing flowers that require different amounts of light or moisture. 
 

Think vertical as well--plant bags can be filled with flowers, and once the roots have taken hold, they can be hung from a nail or hook on any flat vertical surface. 
 

Hanging baskets are another common container, but do not just keep them on the porch! Hang them from sturdy tree branches, pergolas, or from wall-mounted plant hangers are just a few ideas. 

Grease collects on the outside and even the insides of some cabinets. Cut the grease with hot water and dishwashing liquid, rinsing afterward. For tough spots, make a paste of baking soda and water, rub onto the spot, then scrub off with a damp cloth. You’ll need to rinse this solution more than once, but baking soda makes it easy to remove, so the rinsing will be worth it. 
 

For both cabinets and pantry, remove everything from shelves, and toss anything that’s out of date.  
 

When it comes to what’s on your spice rack, McCormickⓇ reports that whole spices last 3-4 years, 2-3 years for ground spices, and herbs have a shorter life of 1-3 years.  Check the freshness date on the container, and if it’s within that time frame, keep it.  If not, throw it away and restock. 
 

On to the shelves containing dishes, storage containers, and cookware:  remove items, and if there’s something you can part with, get rid of it. Keep in mind local daycares or domestic violence shelters that can use kitchen items. 
 

Wipe down all the shelving, preferably with a disinfecting cleaner, and once that’s done, place down non-skid liners where your dishes and glassware will go. 
 

Heavier dishes should be on the bottom shelf. Cookware and bakeware that is used most often should be placed in the front part of the cabinet so they’re easy to get to. 
 

For pantry storage, reshelf everything in categories:  baking supplies, spices, sauces, breakfast items, pastas, and canned food items will be grab-and-go when you need them.
 

Don’t neglect the drawers! Clean them, purge anything you don’t need, and use trays or utensil organizers to keep everything where it’s convenient.