I don't know about you, but every spring I find renewed energy and interest in working outside. This gives me the opportunity to check on the condition of my siding and trim and if necessary think about painting. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, taking care of problem paint and siding areas as they occur can help you prolong the life of your paint job another.
If you are wondering if it's time to paint, you will find an overview of things to look in this article: How to Know When It's Time to Paint your House. If you think you can put off painting another year, spruce up your house by pressure washing and touching up any trim paint that looks worn or dull. Put a fresh coat of paint on your front door, paint your wrought iron railings and pressure wash and treat your decks. If most of the paint is in good condition, you'll be amazed at what a little touch up here and there will do to freshen things up. You'll be enjoying the beautiful spring weather in the process!
If the organizing bug didn’t bite you hard enough at the first of the year to get you moving, it’s sure to do so as longer days turn into the warmth of spring and abundant sunshine makes the dust more visible on your furniture. Spring is always my final reminder that hibernation time is over and it’s time to get things under control!
One of the biggest challenges I face when it comes to getting organized is my home office and the myriad of papers, notes, photos, coupons, business cards that just seem to pile up everywhere. I am a very visual person and I have discovered how incredibly helpful bulletin boards can be in keeping me focused and on task.
I, like most people, have used a variety of cork bulletin boards over the years.For a long time I just tacked things up on it when I didn’t know where else to put them but wasn’t ready to throw them away. But once a friend and business coach suggested that I place the bulletin board in front of me, instead of to my side, I discovered a whole new world of organization. I began putting reminder notes and important bits of information there because I could see them.
The wonderful thing about bulletin boards these days is that we’re not just stuck with the cork board variety anymore, although I still like using one in my work shop. You have other, more visually attractive options that actually add to the overall look of a room. Prior to beginning my office organization project I put a fresh coat of paint on the walls and replaced my old bulletin board with one from a selection of fabric bulletin boards I found on line. It instantly warmed up the look of the room but still does the job of keeping me organized.
I don’t know about you, but I have always thought that living in Hawaii would be my nirvana. How can you beat the weather, the scenery, the beauty of the place? I have spent a good part of my life in New York and I dare say that life in Hawaii would not only be thousands of miles away from a practical standpoint but from a personal one as well. The problem is, how do you choose?
The longer I live, the more I have come to believe that finding a home and a place to live is a very personal thing. To some extent we must rely on what “feels” right when we choose where we live. This, of course, should only be relied on as a compass because being humans, emotions are a bit fickle. It should not, however, be ignored, particularly when something comes up again and again. For example, if you wanted to live in Hawaii then years ago, and you still want to live in Hawaii, take the next step. Do some research and put some facts behind the growing fantasy of your imagination.
Whether you are choosing a location to call home, a house to buy or a couch for your living room, the decision you make should always be based on a little bit of imagination and a lot of hard facts. In the end it will feel like a bit of a risk if you’re following your heart. Playing it safe probably will not get you your dream home, or décor that you will love forever. That requires a little bit of inspiration.
Perhaps you are not quite ready to pick up and move to Hawaii, you can still consider what it is about Hawaii that sparks your imagination. What is your heart telling you that may be missing in your current location? Do you long for more sun? or a body of water outside your front door? Does your absolute comfort requirement need a room in your home where you can find deeper relaxation? See if you can figure out what your yearnings are telling you about your living environment and make some changes where you are.
If you still long for Hawaii, by all means, take the leap!
Feeding wild birds is one of my favorite hobbies. It is also a hobby that, when indulged, can add warmth and interest to a home, both inside and out. By carefully placing a bird feeder, birdhouse, and/or birdbath on your property, you will not only draw the wildlife within viewing distance of a window, but you will add interest to your landscape design and exterior décor.
If you are new to bird feeding, I would suggest you start by purchasing a “tube” birdfeeder. You can use this type of feeder all year long and it feeds a variety of birds. You may want to consider a squirrel proof feeder if you have the happy little creatures in your yard or you can try what I’ve done for years and fill it strictly with Safflower seeds. This doesn’t work for everyone, in every part of the country, but it works like a charm for me. The squirrels won’t go near the stuff.
During the winter months, the birds enjoy a suet feeder. Suet offers an excellent source of the high protein the birds need to keep their energy up during the cold weather season. In the summer be sure and add a hummingbird feeder. You will be delighted the first time one of these tiny, little creatures comes to visit. Place all of these bird feeders on a mounting pole on your deck or near a window and they will not only bring the birds where they will be easy to see, it will make the feeders easier to fill.
As you become more involved in this wonderful hobby you will want to add a platform feeder, a thistle seed feeder and a bird bath. Birds need water even in the winter so if you may want to purchase a heating element to keep the bird bath water from freezing. Lastly, add a birdhouse and you will be off and running.
This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to attracting wild birds to your home and gardens. Next time I will give you a few suggestions for incorporating bird feeders, etc. into your landscape design. In the meantime, you might want to begin shopping for the basics. You will be delighted to discover that there is a plethora of products available both online and off. In these days of budget constraints, I prefer to buy my feeders and birdhouses online. I have discovered that the small, local bird supply stores, should you be lucky enough to have one near you, carry top quality merchandise, but at premium prices. The other alternative is likely a home improvement big box store that offers a lower priced selection, but also lower quality. For me, shopping online is the perfect alternative.
In these difficult economic times, many homeowners are reluctant to spend money on their homes and property. As they see home values drop in their neighborhood or nearby neighborhoods they wonder if it is worth the extra expense. It is a legitimate concern. Professional landscaping can be costly. Is it worth it? The answer to this question is: It depends.
There are many factors involved in determining whether or not professional landscaping will add value to your home. Some of the important elements include the current condition of your home and landscaping, the value of your home relative to the value of the homes in your neighborhood and how much you plan to spend on the landscaping itself.
HOME VALUES
One of the most important things to consider when deciding on a home improvement project and how much to spend on it, is to have a very good idea of the value of your home relative to the other homes in the immediate vicinity. You do not want to improve or enhance your property beyond that of your neighbors but you do want to bring it up to equal value if it is not.
In other words, if you were to put your home on the market at the same time as someone else in your neighborhood for approximately the same price, would a buyer be more interested in yours or theirs? Would your home be as attractive, or more attractive, than your neighbors?
CURRENT CONDITION OF HOME
If your home and property are in need of repair, spending money on professional landscaping can be very cost effective. A home who’s landscaping is overgrown or non-existent has no curb appeal and the value of the home actually falls. A reasonable amount of money spent on adding attractive plants and cleaning up existing gardens can change the entire look of a home.
When a home is in a neighborhood that can handle a landscaping project that includes the addition of outdoor living areas, attractive walkways and the like, these have a very strong appeal to today’s home buyer. Easy to maintain gardens and landscaping is also very popular and best done by a professional landscaper.
DOLLAR VALUE OF LANDSCAPING
It is important to be reasonable in the amount of money you spend on a landscaping project if you want it to add value to your home. That means not spending $20,000 on landscaping on a home that only warrants a $5,000 landscaping project. It is also important to spend enough to get the job done well and completely when possible.
Professional landscaping when done within the parameters described can actually add anywhere from 10% to 40% to the value of your home. When this is the case, it is most certainly worth the investment. Make sure you secure three estimates for any home improvement project. Check references and make sure you are dealing with an established, reputable company. It is worth the time and effort and will help guarantee positive results.
