Technology surrounds us in every aspect of our lives, including this blog; it is always with us especially since it became handheld. Emails are sent and received, topics are searched for, books are written, video conferences are done, and listed homes are viewed online. Our kids aren’t just seeing us constantly be digital but they are becoming more tech-savvy at a younger age themselves, out of necessity in part. Even schools require students as young as lower elementary school to do projects involving computers. As parents we of course want nothing but the best for our children and always wa ..read more

Obviously, the first thing a prospective buyer sees when they drive up to your house is the front outdoor space and exterior.  First impressions can make or break a sale! Bring your curb appeal to life with a few easy and easy-on-the-budget ideas.    - Use a long-handled soft brush and mild soap and water to wash the front of your home’s exterior.    - If you don’t own a pressure washer, rent one from your local home store and give the driveways and walkways a good cleaning, paying special attention to stains from fallen leaves.  - Store away any ..read more

  Warmer days are on the way, and when the weather cooperates, home owners are outside preparing their yards, gardens and pools for the coming Summer. But is your patio looking a little sad?  Do you want to utilize your front porch more this season?  Your outdoor spaces only need a little TLC and elbow grease!    - Sweep patios to remove loose debris.  Use a pressure washer on concrete, or a long-handled stiff brush and warm water mixed with bleach--a 10:1 mixture is strong enough to clean the area well.      - For porches, sweep the ..read more

Many of us select plants for the garden at our New Castle County DE home based on their visual effect—color, height, size of blooms, etc. And so we should, as the sight of our plantings should be pleasing to our sense of sight. As we plan our garden, however, we should also be aware of the other four senses—and include plants which appeal to each of them. SMELL: Aromatherapy is a powerful practice. With nothing more than a simple scent, the brain can be triggered to remember long forgotten memories, emotions, and feelings. With that being said, it is important to carefully select the flowers ..read more

  Spring is here and that means that summer is right around the corner!  Summertime brings with it many things but one of the awesome things about summer is that it means many meal prep times will move from inside of the kitchen to outside on the grill!  Yum!  You will have to do your part to get your grill ready for all the outdoor cooking that is about to begin!  Below are a few ideas on how best to clean your grill for the upcoming season!     The first place to start when beginning to clean your grill is t ..read more

Allergies are usually associated with springtime and being outdoors, but our homes host allergens year-round. We can cut back on our suffering, and while it may take some work, it can certainly reduce our suffering.    According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, keeping humidity as low as possible inside the homes is important for decreasing mold growth and dust mites, the two most common indoor allergens.    A HEPA filter for the HVAC system works better than normal filters to keep allergens from re-circulating whenever the system is running.  ..read more

If you are planning on doing some homework with your refund, here are a few suggestions on how best to spend that money!    $1,000 or Less  Add or improve your front walkway.  Whether you plan on putting your home on the market soon or not, a new walkway will improve the curb appeal.   Replacing the front door is an expensive job, but you can create a whole new look for the front exterior of your home just by having a new front entranceway.  Install new light fixtures, especially if you’re tired of the builders-grade fixtures. If ..read more

There is plenty to do to prepare for buying your new home, and once you’re actively touring homes or stopping into an open house, you can draw a blank when it comes time to ask specifics.  Have some questions ready to prepare yourself so you won’t forget!    Open House and Walkthrough  - How long has the house been on the market, and are there any current offers? The length of time it’s been for sale can mean savings for you, or you may not want to bother if there are already multiple offers.    - Why is the current owner selling?  This may se ..read more

Mold is a subject that strikes fear in many people.  Though the toxic form of black mold is rare, there are plenty of other types that invade our bathrooms, basements and other places in our homes. Let’s look at the best ways to get control over any mold problem anywhere we find it.  The bathroom is the most common place for mold, because it has all the right conditions for mold growth:  moisture, a place to grow, and food.  - Use the exhaust fan every time you shower, and if your bathroom isn’t equipped with one, crack the window to allow the steam to escape.&n ..read more

Winter is a great time to binge-watch our favorite streaming series, read books we haven’t had time to read, gather with friends for dinner and game night, but it’s also a great time for letting our health regimen go by the wayside.  This opens the door for illness, and no one has time for that.  Keep yourself feeling and doing your best with this guideline!  You and Your Home  - If you didn’t get exercise equipment or a gym membership over the holidays, it doesn’t give you an excuse not to exercise.  Walking is really an easy yet important way to burn ..read more