Posts from June 2023

Moving into a new home is an exciting time and comes with so many things you need to learn.  Whether you are a new homeowner or it's not your first rodeo, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the many systems that make this house function.

Here are 15 essential basics you should know about your new home.  Consider #1, #2, and #3 your first priorities!

1. Water shut-off valve. Whether you need to replace a leaky faucet or prevent a burst pipe from flooding your home, it's important to know how to quickly turn off the water supply. To do this, you'll need to locate the shut-off valve connected to the main water line entering your home. If your home has a basement, check for the shut-off along one of the outside walls. If your home does not have a basement, check for the water shut-off at ground level near your hot water tank. After you find it, make sure everyone in your home knows where the shut-off is locate...

Click Here to Read More...

Not everyone loves yard work, but a beautiful, well-kept yard is a great way to enhance the curb appeal of any home.

No matter where you live, there are certain plants that will add color and life to your lawn in an easy way — it's a fun and sustainable form of home improvement. Let's look at some of the best plants that are truly easy to care for:

• Ribbon Grass
  Ribbon grass thrives in a wide range of temperatures. No matter whether you have shade or full sun, it can still flourish. It even adapts to wet or dry soil. It spreads fast when given even terrain and grows to a uniform height of about one foot.
• Forsythia
  These early bloomers will let you get the first glimpse of spring right in your front yard. They are renowned for their distinctive yellow flowers. They strongly prefer full sun...

Click Here to Read More...

Whether you're a first-time buyer or an experienced homeowner, at some point you'll need to make home repairs. And those repairs will cost money. It's something first-time buyers often don't think about ahead of time and experienced owners may have learned the hard way. So budgeting at least some money in advance for these expenses is a must. Here's how to figure it all out.

Common Budgeting Approaches

The first step is deciding how much to save for home repairs. Here are a few different ways you can approach budgeting.

• Save 1 to 3 percent of the price of your home per year. That means if your home was $200,000 you should devote $2,000 to $6,000 per year to your home repair budget. This rule is based on a per-year average over a longer period of time. Some years you'll spend less a...

Click Here to Read More...