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3 Financial Resolutions To Make If You Want To Buy A Home In The New Year

The new year is right around the corner, and many people are starting to think seriously about their New Year's Resolutions. And while the most popular resolutions aren't going anywhere (eat healthy, work out, spend less time in front of a screen), if you're looking to buy a home next year, at least a few of your resolutions should be of the financial variety.

Starting the new year off on the right financial foot by making financial resolutions can set you up for success and help you get closer to your goal of buying a home. Here are four financial resolutions you should consider making if you want to buy a home in the new year:

1. Track your spending

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It's impossible to get a handle on your financial situation if you don't know what this situation actually is. Which is why your first financial resolution needs to be to track your spending.

Tracking your spending will give you a clear picture of how much money you're spending, where you're spending it, and where the opportunities to cut back are.

The key to successfully tracking your spending is to track every single cent you spend. You can create a spreadsheet and manually input every purchase or you can use a money monitoring app like Mint; Mint connects to your debit and credit cards and then tracks and categorizes your purchases throughout the month.

Once you've tracked your spending for a month, it's time to dive into the numbers. How much of your income are you spending on necessities (like living expenses and utilities)? How much is going towards paying down debt? How much are you saving?

It's only when you have a clear idea of your financial situation that you can determine if you're ready to buy a home - and, if so, just how much home you can afford without putting yourself in a financially challenging situation.

2. Cut out unnecessary expenses

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A great side effect of tracking your spending is that it allows you to see opportunities to cut back. Which leads into resolution #2: cut out any unnecessary expenses.

If you're serious about buying a home, you need to rein in unnecessary spending and pad your savings account as much as possible. Are you spending a significant amount of money every month eating out at restaurants? Commit to eating out one or two times a month and making meals at home the rest of the time to save some cash. Is your coffee habit costing you $5 a day? Brew a cup in your kitchen before you leave for work. Are you spending a fortune on a gym membership you barely use? Cancel and use free workout videos on YouTube to get your exercise. Do you pay for premium cable when you'd be fine with basic? Downgrade and lower your bill.

Now, keep in mind - even though you'll want to go into savings mode before you buy a home, that doesn't mean you shouldn't spend any money on yourself. If you don't spend any money on fun and entertainment, it can actually make it harder to stick to your budget. Allot a certain amount of money per month you can use as you please; that “fun money” will make it easier to stick to your budget the rest of the time.

The more unnecessary expenses you cut out of your budget, the more you'll have to put in your savings account - and the faster you'll be able to make your dream of owning a home a reality.

3. Clean up your credit

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Another financial resolution to make if you want to buy a home? Clean up your credit.

Your credit score plays a huge part in determining if you get a mortgage and, if so, how competitive your interest rates. A good credit score can save you thousands (even tens of thousands) of dollars over the course of your loan, which is why it's important to get it as high as possible before you purchase a home.

First, you'll want to get a copy of your credit report and check for any errors. Errors are more common than you'd think, and even a small mistake can drag down your score. If you find an error on your report, you'll need to contact the credit bureaus to have it removed.

Once your report is error free, it's time to do everything you can to boost your credit score. Paying down debt, paying all your bills on time, and keeping the percentage of credit used low can all help to increase your score - which will help you get a better deal on your mortgage when you apply.

There are plenty of resolutions you can make in order to hit your goals in the new year. But if your goal is to buy a house, these financial resolutions are the key to getting there.

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The post 3 Financial Resolutions To Make If You Want To Buy A Home In The New Year appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

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Secrets to Selling Your Luxury Home in a Softer Market

With rising inventory and mortgage rates, realtor.com forecasts a slowing market for luxury home sellers in 2019.  Thinking of selling your home this year?  Make your property stand out by opting for high-value updates and avoiding the obvious pitfalls.

If you are planning on selling in a few years:

Kitchens sell homes: Clean, open, not fussy. If you plan to sell in the next five years, do a great kitchen update, enjoy it, and so will the next buyer.

This custom, luxury kitchen has two center islands, butler's pantry, granite counters, travertine floors, and an eat-in area with views.

Update the master bathroom: Stylish, functional, and of high value to buyers

Light and bright, this marble master bath with double sinks, separate shower and bathtub is both stylish and functional.

Make the outbuildings fun: A clean, power-washed party barn or a great firepit or “go-to” place on the property add interest without major expense

This 2-story boat house is definitely a fun outbuilding for the outdoor or boating enthusiast.

If you are planning to sell soon:

Paint and floors: The highest value improvements you can make are fresh paint and refinishing floors. We think of them as 10-1 payoffs.

Go neutral. The home's color palette is an important backdrop. Neutral is well beyond white and beige. Browns, greys, blues and green are contemporary neutrals. We can help bring in a color consultant to bring out the best in your home.

With neutral colors and texture, this 18th century farmhouse in Hamilton, MA feels open and inviting.

Take down dated window treatments. Buyers like light and clean.

Highlight the property's extras: Is there potential for an extra building lot or a rental apartment in the barn that might add to the property's investment value? LandVest can help you understand your property's potential and add to your bottom line!

Avoid common pitfalls:

Repaint the ceiling after making roof repairs: We can't tell you how many houses we go into that have stained ceilings (particularly in attic spaces) after the roof has been fixed. Completely unnecessary red flags for buyers.

Fix the small stuff: Dripping faucets, rotten trim, remove things that don't work, anything that looks broken or tired.

For additional information on selling or buying a home on Massachusett's North Shore,  please contact us at ssoman@landvest.com or lrobb@landvest.com.

Want more upgrade tips? Check out Amy Gamerman's article in the Wall Street Journal, “The Top 10 Upgrades to Sell Your Home for Top Dollar“.

See our banner image,  33 Proctor Street, for a home that perfectly followed all these secrets.

The post Secrets to Selling Your Luxury Home in a Softer Market appeared first on LandVest Blog.

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Alternate Groundcovers To Pachysandra, A Boxwood Blight Carrier

The groundcover Pachysandra terminalis might be the most common groundcover planted around boxwood. It is attractive, hardy, and tolerant to many of the most challenging landscape conditions: shade, drought, pest, and even deer.

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Three Approaches to Lead Generation for 2019

Amy Chorew, the VP of Learning at Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, interviewed three top brokers to gain insights on their best practices for lead generation. John Jackson from John Jackson Neighborhood Real Estate, Lane Hornung from 8z Real Estate, and Heather Bush from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Capital Area were excited to share their expertise.

John Jackson,

John Jackson Neighborhood Real Estate: Racing for Approachable

John takes a friendly approach to lead generation. By being both approachable and desirable, his brokerage finds much success in being able to convert leads. To make their presence known, the traditional avenues of open houses and Facebook ads are used. However, their major investment lies in nurturing client relationships rather than cold leads.

As an avid runner, John heavily supports athletic events that are not necessarily client-focused. By sponsoring local races and having the company name on running bibs, the brokerage is able to present itself to the local public in a community-oriented way. John believes that inspiration and a bit of runner's high, first- or second-hand, will inspire the public.

While it is always a challenge to define measurable market presence, being approachable, knowledgeable and desirable makes prospective clients want to engage. Sixty percent of leads are company-driven and agents drive the other 40 percent in a high-support setup. John makes it part of his responsibility to be the inside sales person. He nurtures leads and matures them before handing them off to a team member. A shared Google doc tracks hot, warm and cold statuses as well as every communication sent to all leads, regardless of how they were shaped. Agents can count on these leads, but are also incentivized to nurture their own.

Lane Hornung,

8z Real Estate: Get visual

Lane believes in the power of a visual to explain his approach to lead generation, which is driven by numbers. He imagines the process as a triangle – internet, sphere and hyperlocal. The first side of the triangle is dedicated to new lead generation sourced from the internet using SEO, organic and paid traffic, Facebook campaigns for market listing ads and name recognition ads. Ads are hyperlocal, within a half-mile radius of the brokerage in most cases. The sphere, which is the foundation, is next, where sweat equity ensures measurable leads. Finally, the high-support brokerage uses SEO, Facebook market listings and a digital farming strategy in which each agent is assigned a neighborhood.

Leads are given to the client care team to improve the prospective client's chance of closing to 10 percent or better.

Heather Bush,

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Capital Area: Relocation, relocation, relocation

Heather harnesses the power of technology and outsourcing for lead generation. Her brokerage's unique system focuses on relocation as a primary source of business. Military personnel must buy and sell houses quickly for deployment or new assignments. Additionally, members of the corporate world also need a reliable agent to help with their specific housing needs. This niche has proven quite lucrative for the brokerage.

Opt City is a referral source that does away with upfront costs and requires payment only upon closing for brokerages. Inquiries are filtered and nurtured until the lead is warm enough to be handed off to an agent. Clients are introduced with a live, warm phone transfer. Agents start with lower quality leads until their performance score indicates that they're ready to receive a higher volume and improved leads.

Another tool, Cartus, is a leader in global/logistical relocation services for military personnel and corporations. As a Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate in-house resource, ZAP provides lead generation strategic insights. With the website and app, the client begins the homebuying process by selecting their preferences. Online activity is meticulously tracked and algorithms indicate when a transaction is imminent. Agents receive metrics and insights to boost daily and long-term projections.

Heather believes that while resources aid in lead generation, ultimately, what makes a transaction is the relationship. By getting to know clients and addressing their specific needs and lifestyle, a lifelong connection can be formed that will result in referrals upon referrals. Follow-up is essential with market news, design advice and other relevant information.

Visit our AllThingsRE Facebook Page to view the full panel live, or click here.

No matter your approach, consider leveraging these insights to help shape and improve your business in 2019.

The post Three Approaches to Lead Generation for 2019 appeared first on Clean Slate.

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Special Feature: Home Style Saturdays

Happy Saturday everyone. I am so happy that you are here. I normally don't post on Saturdays, but today I have a special treat for you. I am joining the 5 talented bloggers of Home Style Saturdays as a guest blogger. If you are not familiar with the series, it is a weekly feature where each... 

Continue Reading...

If you enjoyed this post you may also enjoy the easy to follow DIY Decorating Tutorials and Creative Ideas on my blog, In My Own Style.com Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of Copyright law @2009-2015, all rights reserved

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7 tips to planning a bathroom renovation

When planning a bathroom renovation, you need to choose a design option that meets your existing and future needs. This may be a simple renovation to replace fixtures or a complex project to change the layout and enlarge the bathroom.

Our guide to planning a bathroom renovation will give you plenty of food for thought so you can decide how to proceed.

1. Bathroom layout

Think about your current bathroom layout. Is it flexible enough to meet your existing or future needs for space and storage? Is there anything about the layout that bothers you, e.g. perhaps it's noticeably cold or drafty while taking a bath or feels cramped and poky?

Get a bathroom designer in to assess the structure carefully so you know the limits of your bathroom. The proposed renovation must either fit the existing structure or the required structural changes must be possible. They can also draw you up a basic draft of the best layout for the space.

2. Fixtures

When it comes to fixtures, it's a good idea to create a wish list of everything you want in your bathroom reno. After all, modern bathrooms are all about pampering, as well as functionality.

Even if you have to cut your list back at a later date due to budget or size constraints, at least it'll be a conscious decision, and not because you didn't realise you could have it.

Fixtures you might want to consider for a new layout include:

His & hers sinks Free standing bath Whirlpool tub Shower or bath niche Twin showers New toilet Underfloor heating Heated towel rail Adding windows or skylights New ventilation fan.

3. Lighting

The right lighting can make a huge difference to the final look and functionality of your bathroom. So this should be an important consideration and not just an afterthought.

Think about the existing lighting. Is it visually pleasing or is it outdated? Does it use energy efficiently? Does it give out adequate light or do you need more overall light or task lighting?

Ideally, a bathroom should have a few layers of lighting including:

Ambient – such as recessed fixtures or wall sconces

Task – to illuminate the vanity mirror

Decorative – for adding interest to the space

In a bathroom reno, a lighting update may be as simple as replacing the existing fixtures with new ones or as complex as a complete redesign. If you're adding a lot of new features, then you may need new wiring and outlets for increased loads (e.g. whirlpool tubs or underfloor heating).

4. Colour ideas

Choosing a colour scheme is one of the most important factors of a bathroom reno. The right colours will make you want to spend time in your new bathroom, not avoid it.

You may have set ideas on the colours you want to use, or you may need more time to research ideas on interior decorating sites.

If you're not sure where to start or don't want to get it wrong, here are some ideas to help you out:

Use colour cues from materials you've already chosen, e.g. tile tones, marble veins.

Carry a colour palette through from another room in the house, e.g. the kitchen for cohesion and flow.

Create a mood board of tile, paint and fabric samples, so you can see how it all looks together.

Use neutrals, such as grey and white, as your base and add colours with accessories like towels, a pot plant, or fancy hand wash.

5. Storage requirements

Not enough bathroom storage is a common complaint for many homeowners. So make sure your new bathroom takes care of all your storage needs.

Think about how many people will use the bathroom on a regular basis. If it's an ensuite for a master bedroom, for example, then you won't need as much storage as a family bathroom does.

What items do you want to store in the bathroom for ease of access: towels, toilet paper, extra shampoo, toothpaste?

What kind of storage do you want, inbuilt or freestanding? Even if you have a small bathroom you can get creative by adding inset shelving to a wall, a corner or above the doorway.

6. Tiling height

Choosing the right tiling height is important when renovating because it will affect the overall look and feel of the bathroom. As well as the cost.

You can tile to a certain level, for example, to the top of the window or door architrave. You can also have different tiling levels in the one bathroom or you can tile to the ceiling. All will have a different effect on how the bathroom will look.

Speak to a bathroom designer about tiling to get professional advice on what will work in your space.

7. What to budget?

A complete bathroom renovation, in general, cost you between $20,000 and $30,000, a luxury bathroom renovation over $50,000.

At the end of the day, the overall cost estimate of the bathroom renovation will be affected by how labour intensive it is, (e.g. tilers, plumbers, builders) and the how many luxury features you add.

To keep within your budget, prioritise your wishlist and avoid a bathroom renovation blowout by:

Making a plan and sticking to it

Keeping to the layout you have rather than restructuring

Shopping around for the best price on fixtures

Using reputable tradespeople who stick to budgets

Not overspending on designer fixtures.

If you'd like to find out what's possible in terms of a bathroom renovation in your space, get in touch with the team at Bubbles Bathrooms today – we look forward to hearing from you!

The post 7 tips to planning a bathroom renovation appeared first on Bubbles Bathrooms.

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Book review: The Power of Less

Editor's note: Although this post was originally published in 2009, we felt that information in The Power of Less is still relevant today.

Leo Babauta, who writes the inspiring blog ZenHabits, took his productivity and efficiency advice to the printed page in his book The Power of Less. Published in 2009, it is a 170-page guide to shedding the non-essential elements from your life and work so that you can do and achieve more.

His advice is based on six principles, two of which are initially discussed on pages 5 and 6 of his book:

Principle 1: By setting limitations, we must choose the essential. So in everything you do, learn to set limitations.

Principle 2: By choosing the essential, we create great impact with minimal resources. Always choose the essential to maximize your time and energy.

He uses the analogy of the haiku to illustrate these principles:

The haiku, as you may know, is usually a nature-related poem of just seventeen syllables, written in three lines (five syllables, then seven, then five). A poet writing a haiku must work with those limitations, must express an entire idea or image in only that number of syllables … He can quickly whip out seventeen syllables and have a completed haiku in a short amount of time; or he can carefully choose only the essential words and images needed to convey his idea. And this second choice is what creates some of the most powerful poetry in such a limited form - choosing only the essential.

He has four other principles, but these first two are really the heart of his system. In my opinion, he accurately explains that if you are going to be productive and efficient in all that you do, you have to make choices. You cannot do everything that comes your way, and you have to make difficult decisions about what filters into your life and what doesn't.

On page 23 he aptly summarizes why you would want to adopt his system:

Simplifying isn't meant to leave your life empty - it's meant to leave space in your life for what you really want to do.

I completely agree with his message, and I think it will resonate well with most Unclutterer readers. If you are looking for sound advice on how to improve your productivity, The Power of Less will help you to be more efficient in all your dealings.

You can also check out Leo's guest post on Unclutterer “Creating a minimalist workspace.”

  Post written by Erin Doland

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Friday Flash: Dude…

“We are proud of the work we have done with Upstream to help them gain their footing and reach this next phase of their launch, and we are pleased that a new plan is being implemented that will propel them forward and help them become the tool we've always envisioned they would be for our members,” said NAR CEO Bob Goldberg.

“This project has been an amazing opportunity to drive innovation and conversation among our brokerage community and gain their input into building the tools they use every day in their business. As I've said since the beginning of my tenure as CEO, we are not in the business of inventing at NAR; we've supported Upstream to the extent that makes sense for both our strategic missions and now it is time for them to step out on their own.”

What's always made me mad about RPR isn't that it never should have existed in the first place.

It's the arrogance that gets me.

The quotes above, from this week's announcement that RPR is no longer Upstream's development partner, mark a multi-year, $13 million-dollar failure that's just the spoiled garnish on a plate of disaster.

RPR loses millions in member dues money and falls down on a commitment to brokers and NAR's CEO is “proud”?

This was an “amazing opportunity to drive innovation and conversation”?

Dude…

This is an affront to every hump-busting Realtor out there; every broker who bought into the vision of Upstream; everyone who believes, as I do, that there's more at stake here than face-saving.

More broadly, it's this type of stuff that makes one think that NAR is wholly unprepared to reckon with not just the future, but its own present.

And that's a problem you can't smooth over with a press release.

…

Of course, the question on everyone's mind is who is Upstream's new mystery partner? I don't know, but my guess is Moxiworks. They're broker-owned, free from significant MLS industry conflicts and know the space well.

…

If you want to see Apple-quality stagecraft in real estate, watch this video of a recent Compass event. Whether you love or loathe this company, it's a master class in knowing your audience. The pacing, sequence and modulation of emotion is tuned perfectly.

…

Homebot won the Realogy FWD startup pitch event a few weeks ago. I like this company a lot. They produce very detailed, very smart property analyses that real estate agents and loan officers send to homeowners. This includes what you might expect (a value estimate, estimated equity, etc.) but also much more (refi scenarios, a mortgage prepayment analysis – even estimated Airbnb rental earnings). It's all done very smoothly. Lots of data is tied together under the surface. And it's well designed.

Products like this have existed for a long time (CoreLogic's ePropertyWatch is the most widely used) but Homebot has surpassed them.

I have always said that whoever masters loyalty in real estate wins. This is a good tool to use if you agree with me.

…

I am starting to think that ibuyers are a hack to the real estate industry's peculiar structure, not a replacement. Because the incumbent business model is so durable, so diffuse and embedded, these new companies have needed to create a structure that doesn't eliminate it, but sits slightly above it like an elevated freeway spans a chaotic, congested cityscape.

People on the streets below flow on and off this new structure (agents help sell ibuyer listings, or refer out sellers to ibuyers) and user experience is generally improved (people get to where they want to go faster with less wear and tear).

Opendoor's recent adjustment to include agents in their listing process illustrates this.

This isn't without consequence for agents and brokers, of course. They stand, in some cases, like main street merchants, to make less money because of the freeway's existence. But I am not seeing this as a zero-sum sort of story.

This picture should get much clearer in the coming year.

Enjoy the weekend.

The post Friday Flash: Dude… appeared first on 1000watt.

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How Garden Furniture Can Extend Your Living Space

Turn your garden into a living space with garden furniture. Here's how!

Photos By: Living Etc.

There's no doubt that Garden Furniture allows you to make the most of any outside space. This may be a lawn, patio, decking or just a balcony, and by adding furniture you will fully realize its potential to become a valuable extension of your home.

Traditional or contemporary in design, you have a wide choice of materials, with different types of timber, rattan, stainless steel and all-weather fabrics all proving popular when creating a particular ambiance or complementing the existing landscape.

Today's garden furniture is very much similar quality to the equivalent sofas and chairs you'll find in any lounge and, because it has to deal with adverse weather conditions, it's probably more robust and made from highly durable materials.

The sheer range of garden furniture is impressive to say the least, with online garden furniture suppliers offering table and chair sets for dining and entertaining, benches and loungers for relaxation along with an incredibly diverse range of other items.

Garden Sofas and Ottomans

Nothing illustrates the beneficial impact that high quality furniture can have on your garden than all-weather sofas and day beds. There's no better way to relax and enjoy the company of friends, than on these luxurious pieces that can be left outside throughout the summer months.

Corrosion resistant metal frames are used for strength and these are upholstered with artificial wicker, rattan or easy to clean fabric. Individual items can be used on their own while other piece are joined to form attractive and very useful corner sets. Accessories include deep cushions, stools, dining and side tables in a similar style.

Dining Sets

Eating and entertaining in your outdoor garden is so much better when the chair you're sitting in is stylishly designed from teak or another hardwood, shining corrosion free metal, wicker, rattan, or even decorative moulded resin, and the matching table is similarly eye-catching perhaps with a glass or ceramic top.

Two chairs and a modest table make a lovely bistro set, benches and seats are able to accommodate more guests while individual chairs around a circular, square or long rectangular table create a comfortable and elegant ambiance which adds to your enjoyment of the food, drink and fellow diners.

Picnic Tables

The simplest of these very popular practical pieces of outdoor furniture represent a dining set at its most utilitarian, a central rectangular table and two facing benches offering a place to enjoy simple refreshment.

But even the humble picnic table can have a makeover and there are now versions with substantial railway type sleeper benches or four quarter circle seats with perhaps a slatted back rest surrounding a round table. Children's picnic tables are also available with one showing its versatility doubling as a sandpit.

Garden Chairs and Benches

Weeding and mowing are hard work, and single Chairs and Benches provide useful resting places around the garden, while Companion Seats with a compact middle table, where refreshments or books can be placed, are perfect to share the time of day with someone else.

Again there is a huge range of sizes and styles, timber blends ideally with the landscape and metal will develop an attractive patina. Granite and colourful sandstone will also make an impression, and there are resin examples that boast storage space. If you enjoy sitting in the shade of a tree why not try a circular bench that will enclose the trunk of your favourite apple or oak.

Parasols

To complete your outdoor dining experience, a parasol might be required if the sun proves too intense, and the familiar circular umbrella designs that sit in the middle of the table have received contemporary remodelling in terms of both design and materials.

Cantilever parasols in a range of colours can now stand away from the table, reaching over to provide shade under a canopy that can be as much as 4 mtrs square. There are also 'sail' type canvas sheets that cover a wide area between two aluminium poles, and a curtain can be fitted to prevent any cool breeze from spoiling your enjoyment of the summer.

Hammocks

Finally, Hammocks or swing seats might represent the most comfortable way of relaxing in the garden. With shading from the sun you can swing back and forth on a seat supported by chains or tangle free rods. These aren't children's swings, they are high quality and distinctively designed for adults who want to unwind in the most satisfying way possible.

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Protect your family from the dangers of radon gas

For many, buying a home is a dream come true. However, if you've been through the process, you know it's not an easy task. You must figure out how much you can afford, get pre-approved, make an offer, and get a home inspection.

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5 Ways to Organize Your Cabinet Doors

Here at Infarrantly Creative, I've shown you how I utilized the space on the inside of cabinet doors to better organize my own kitchen.  As it turns out, that empty space on the inside of my doors had amazing hidden potential!  When you stop to consider the square footage of level, usable space on the {...Read More...}

The post 5 Ways to Organize Your Cabinet Doors appeared first on Infarrantly Creative.

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The Cost of Living in Minneapolis, MN

If you're longing for wild expanses of forests and lakes, cold winters with lots of snow, and some of the friendliest folks you'll ever meet, Minneapolis, Minnesota, has all that and more. Now home to many Fortune 500 companies and growing in recognition for its medical and tech research, Minneapolis has become an increasingly popular […]

The post The Cost of Living in Minneapolis, MN appeared first on Unpakt Blog.

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Custom Cabinets For Master Bathroom

When it comes to deciding what kind of cabinets you want to put in your kitchen or bathroom, we always tell our customers that the options are endless! 

Where To Find Your Inspiration

You can look around on the internet at Houzz, Pinterest, or any picture from anywhere, and we can make it happen! 

Recently we had a homeowner who found a particular cabinet she loved on Houzz. This particular cabinet had drawers with lots of space on the bottom while still having large enough cabinets to use for plumbing and storage. We were able to build these for her. We made the doors with a soft close option, and the whole thing looks fantastic. 

Custom Cabinets Vs. Prefab

This was a custom build, so we actually built the entire cabinet to fit the exact size of her bathroom wall. You don't get that kind of fit with a prefab cabinet. The problem with a prefab cabinet is that you have to adjust it to the size of the space you have available. You often have to add fitters on the sides and in the middle of the cabinets, to fill in the space. But what we can do is build you cabinets that are a perfect custom fit for your specific bathroom.

If you are interested in getting some custom work done for your bathroom or kitchen, give us a call! We can give you a free estimate, and we will be more than happy to make your dream happen for you!

The post Custom Cabinets For Master Bathroom appeared first on Nielsen's Painting & Remodeling.

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Meet the Fountains-A Blended Family Makes Their Homeownership Dreams Come True

The Fountain family was living in barely 1,000 sq. ft. of apartment space in Asheville, North Carolina with their four kids and two precious pups. Josh, who works as a home center manager for Clayton, knew he wanted to go the prefabricated home route when it came time for his family to pursue homeownership.

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Winter Weather – Does It Impact NJ and NYC Rats?

Rats and New Jersey Winter Weather

The winter weather likely has your business hunkering down in your office – and also having more than a few uninvited guests. We're not talking about your in-laws here. During the winter, its common for your business properties in to be overrun needing a NJ rat control service to deal with rodents infestations.

Why these Furry Fiends are a Winter Worry

Like you, rodents like to be warm and have easy access to food and water, which is scarce in wintertime. This makes your office like the Taj Mahal to unwelcome rats and mice: Your faucets, sinks and tubs an oasis; pantry and crumb-laden break room floors an all-you-can eat buffet; and old boxes, insulation, and more are prime fodder for nesting materials.

How You Can Fight the Invasion

To evict these tiny, unwelcome guests can require gargantuan effort. Even seemingly insignificant cracks offer easy access to rodents, whose nimble bones can squeeze down to nearly nothing.

Gaps around doors and windows, holes where cable, phone, and electrical lines are run, split screens, attic and crawlspace holes and cracks that offer access to interior walls and ventilation can turn youroffice into 'public domain' for these trespassing masterminds. Professional assistance ferreting out these popular access points is key to addressing the root causes of infiltration.

Ready for rodents to hit the road? Schedule a office inspection with the NJ rat control service experts at Stern Environmental and evict unwanted rodent guests today.

The post Winter Weather – Does It Impact NJ and NYC Rats? appeared first on Sterns Chatter.

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My Darling Lemon Thyme top 10 posts of 2018

As the year draws to an end I thought I'd carry on the tradition I started last year of sharing the 10 most popular posts of the year. Last year (as it was the first time I'd shared a pot of it's kind) I shared the top 10 posts of the year, from newly posted recipes, to classics posted years ago. This year however I thought it would be great to see which of the posts I've shared DURING 2018 spoke to you the most. It's always super interesting for me to see which posts were well received, sometimes I have an idea when a post will do great (if something has chocolate, especially if it's a 'healthy' sweet treat, it's usually ok to assume it will be well received!), but a few of them have surprised me, in a good way! I'm stoked to see there are so many of you interested in sprouting and the kinds of recipes you can then make with them. Very cool. Looking at the top posts of this past year, from all the recipes on my site, a few of the all-time favourites showed up again this year... Ginger-roasted pumpkin + quinoa salad […]

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Indoor Plants & Greenery for the Holidays

This time of year, it's wonderful to bring holiday lights and greenery into the house to remind us of our gardens and add sparkle and cheer to our homes.

Green is the color of renewal and regeneration, and for centuries evergreen trees and greenery have been used in winter celebrations as a symbol of everlasting life. From swags of evergreen to miniature table-top gardens, here are some ideas we love for decorating your home with live plants and fresh-cut greens and flowers.

  Forcing bulbs is one of the easiest ways to brighten up the darkest weeks of the year. Image: Pistils Nursery.

  Honor winter with a garland, anywhere in your home. This mix of fir, pine and arborvitae branches is accented with dried citrus, but you could decorate with anything that cheers your soul, from ribbons to seashells to toy animals. Image: One Kings Lane.

  Fiddle-leaf figs are wildly popular for many reasons, including the fact that they bring a huge, bright pop of green indoors. Apartment Therapy has some good tips for keeping your fiddle-leaf fig happy and healthy. Image: Making It Lovely.

  Norfolk Island Pines are wonderful evergreen houseplants-an excellent low-maintenance, small-footprint substitute for a Christmas tree. Image: White Flower Farm.

  Decorate a centerpiece or add adorable details to a gift presentation with rosemary and holly berries. Image: Monrovia.

  Make the most of winter sunlight by moving your houseplants to your brightest windows, and add even more beauty with pots of forced bulbs. Image: A Garden for the House | Delicious Living.

  The post Indoor Plants & Greenery for the Holidays appeared first on Home Outside.