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4 Landscaping Tips to Increase Your Home’s Curb Appeal

If you’re looking to increase your home’s value without breaking the bank, pay attention to its curb appeal—or the way your home looks from the street. Not sure where to start? Here are four landscaping tips from Martin John Company that will go a long way toward helping your home stand out among the competition.
   
1. Go for a Deck or Patio Refresh. Decks and patios that are in poor shape can scare away prospective buyers who can’t see past the time and energy they’ll need to devote to fixing up these areas. Make sure your deck or patio is in tip-top shape by bringing in a professional to replace any rotten planks. And take the time to re-stain or paint the surface for a fresh appearance.

2. Keep the Lawn Well Groomed. A well-maintained lawn will do wonders when it comes to making a good first impression, making it critical that you keep the lawn appropriately trimmed and watered.  

3. Incorporate Pops of Color. Add life and beauty to your home’s exterior by incorporating seasonal colors throughout the area. Whether it’s potted plants or flowers, a splash of color will create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

4. Clean Up Your Landscaping. Don’t let an overgrown landscape overshadow your home. Clean up your exterior by pruning and trimming large bushes and trees. Not only will this crate a tidy appearance, it’ll also help showcase your home’s architectural details more clearly.  https://www.risingstarrealty.com/preparing-home-sell/

Source: Martin John Company

How to Choose a Great Gift for New Homeowners

Thinking of getting a gift for a new homeowner in your life but not sure where to start? You’re not alone: Gift-giving can be seriously challenging. Even people who think they’re great at gift-giving often wind up just picking something they’dlike rather than really considering the recipient’s wants and needs.

Rising Star Realty has a pretty good sense of what kinds of homeowners are out there, and what kinds of gifts may suit them. If your friends fit into one of the categories below, we’ve got some ideas for the perfect present.

The Design-Obsessed

For some people, purchasing a home marks a chance to unleash their inner interior designer. This homeowner couldn’t be more excited about putting up decor and planning gallery walls. There’s also a good chance they feel lukewarm about some of their existing furniture – and that’s where you come in.

If your friend has a chair or couch with a great shape but lackluster cover, offer to pay for reupholstering. This is a perfect gift for antiquers and thrifters, as well as people who have inherited heirloom furniture from family members. It can also be a great way to coordinate mismatched pieces to create an eclectic but unified aesthetic. Costs vary substantially – between $350-$1000 on average – and depends on the furniture’s size, type, and condition, among other factors. 

The Happy Hosts

If you got an invite for a housewarming the minute your friends closed, they’re probably the hosting type. These are the friends who are always throwing a last-minute bash or planning a 30-guest Friendsgiving event. For these friends, you want to get a gift that will help them host with ease.

For example, you could look into getting them decorative display plates for dinner parties, or an under-counter drink refrigerator. If you go with this appliance or similar, get some info from them before you buy. You’ll want to take how much space they have into consideration, as well as voltage requirements and noise level. The last thing you want is to get an appliance they can’t (or won’t) use.

The Homebodies

The most introverted among us often view buying a home as securing a sanctuary away from it all. The new home homebodies will go out occasionally, and they’ll have people over, too – but usually, no more than five or six at a time and that may be pushing it. Above all, their home is a space where they can unwind, be themselves, and dedicate time to the things that matter to them most.

For homebodies, we recommend thinking about what kind of hobbies and passions your friends have, and gifting based on that. For example, if they’re into making ceramics, you could gift them a set of sculpting tools or you could go big and get them a pottery wheel. A friend who loves to knit might appreciate a crafting cabinet they can use to organize sticks and yarn. Lean into what brings them joy, and you’ll bring them joy, too.

The Utterly Practical

Finally, you might be shopping for the kind of no-nonsense person that the above gifts just won’t feel right for. For these folks, ask if they need a ladder, lawnmower, or other housework tools they might not have picked up yet. Also, you can never miss with a gift card.

These might seem a little dry, but their sheer practicality will appeal to the homeowner who just likes to get stuff done. Remember, you can always make your gift more personal with a card or note if you feel like it’s missing that sense of connection. However, you might be surprised how seen your gift makes them feel.

A housewarming present is a wonderful way to show a new homeowner how much you care, and congratulate them for entering this stage of their life. We hope this has helped you find a great gift – or at least, provided a jumping-off point. Whatever gift you choose, the recipient is sure to feel the love.

Looking to buy or sell a home yourself? Contact Rising Star Realty at (855) 864-STAR for guidance you can trust.

Photo Credit: Pexels

Can We Get a Pet? I Promise I’ll Take Care of It!

Being a parent means hearing the inevitable question, “Can we get a [insert pet here]?” Of course, this means you will have to take some responsibility no matter how many times your child promises to take care of the new family member. If you decide to take the plunge, here’s a list of the greatest first pets that will thrill your child and ease some parental concerns.

• Hermit Crabs: Hermit crabs are a very low maintenance pet, but will also teach your child responsibility, as they need to make sure there are big enough shells in the tank for the crab to grow into, as well as water and food.

• Small Lizards: These reptiles are good starter pets due to their docile nature, low-maintenance lifestyle and small size. Though delicate in their infancy, once they reach adulthood, they’re resilient and hardy creatures.

• Small Birds: For the older, calmer child, small birds are great pets. They are relatively low maintenance and don’t require a lot of attention, especially if you get two that can socialize together, like society finches. Be sure to get them a cage big enough for a little bit of flying and a couple of toys for amusement.

• Gerbil, Hamster, or Mouse: These animals are usually good tempered and low maintenance. They also don’t require great lengths of attention. Just make sure the cage is up-kept and that these creatures don’t break free, as they are excellent escape artists.

• Guinea Pigs: These animals are very friendly and may squeak with excitement when they see their owner. They love to play and rarely bite. When you and your child are ready for a bigger commitment, Guinea pigs are great practice if a dog or cat is in the future, as they require daily grooming. Consider a pair of females since these are very social animals. A pair of males will fight, and a male/female pair will result in lots of tiny Guinea pigs.

• Rats: Unlike their dumpster-diving cousins, domesticated rats (or “fancy rats” as they’re also named) are just as friendly as guinea pigs and also rarely bite. They do require attention and outside play time, but they are low maintenance and even clean themselves. Who knew?

• Betta Fish: These gorgeous fish make great pets because they do not require all the heavy duty filters most fish tanks need. They are happy in a small bowl. The only upkeep is keeping the tank clean and making sure the fish is well fed. Fish are also very enjoyable to watch.

• An Older Cat or Dog: Adopting an older animal will teach your child responsibility without the hassle of training a younger animal. These animals are usually already well trained and will adjust to people more easily. However, they are still harder to take care of than most pets.

• Ants: The time-honored ant farms in the same style as the 1950s are still around, plus today you can also find 3-D ones or other interesting styles. Ant farms can offer hours of entertainment that kids will love. Taking care of them, however, may call for parental supervision. Cleaning the farm and feeding the ants requires adult supervision and/or management.

• Smaller Snakes: Snakes can actually be really cool for a child’s first pet. As long as they are non-venomous, snakes can become a kid’s best friend. The only problem that deters most people is that they are carnivores, so as long as you and your kid are ok with that, then snakes can make an interesting and fun first pet. 

Taking care of a pet is a great way to teach a child about responsibility and can also provide a great nature show and education.

Insider Tips From Cleaning Pros

Here are some Insider Tips from cleaning Pros for a clean that’s a cut above!  Who doesn’t like a squeaky clean house? Yet, no matter how hard we try, no amount of elbow grease seems to measure up to the job done by professional cleaners. 

Add a drop of olive oil. Have you meticulously cleaned your stainless steel appliances only to step back and still find fingerprints? Place a small amount of olive oil on a clean rag or paper towel and buff with the grain to banish stubborn smudges. Remove any remaining residue with a clean paper towel and you’ll be left with a gleaming appliance.

Hone your vacuuming technique. Like to speed through the house with your vacuum? According to the experts, it’s time to slow it down. While it’s natural to focus on the pushing motion when vacuuming, dirt is actually removed when you pull it back, so be sure to do so slowly to suck up as much as possible.

Clean with steam. The pros say that for a really deep clean, put chemicals aside in favor of steam. As opposed to cleaning solutions, which can leave behind a sticky residue, steam cleaners remove dirt using heat. They can also be used in a variety of places and on many different surfaces, including, tile, grout, carpet, upholstery, showers, sinks, ovens, stove tops, mattresses and more.

Enlist some cornstarch. For the clearest windows ever, forget cleaning sprays. Instead, mix up a cup of white vinegar and a cup of water, then add a teaspoon of cornstarch. The fine abrasive texture of the cornstarch will help remove dirt and grime from glass. 

Stick it in the freezer. Is there some melted candle wax stuck to your table linens? How about gum on a piece of clothing? Put your item in a large plastic bag and let it sit in the freezer for a while. This should make scraping it off a breeze.

Let these tips from the pros help make your cleaning easier and more effective.

Source: Real Simple

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