New Home Source Blog

If you have the right tools, you’ll be able to tackle projects large and small.

By Patricia L. Garcia

When you move into your newly built home, you’re likely to get all sorts of gifts from family and friends: cook- and bakeware, decorative items like lamps or picture frames or even gift cards to your favorite home goods store.

But, what’s often left out is tools. You’re certainly not going to need your tools for any home improvement projects any time soon (that’s why you bought new!), but you’ll still need some basic tools for putting new furniture together, cleaning appliances or even changing a lightbulb. If you don’t already have a proper toolbox together, here are the top 10 tools every homeowner needs in their toolbox:

1. Screwdrivers

You’ll need both a flathead screwdriver and a Phillips head (the “star one”) for just about every home project you do, from painting (flatheads are good for opening the can) to putting furniture together (Phillips to the rescue!).

“You will come across a variety of screws in your home on various parts of your equipment that will require one or the other type of screwdriver,” says Elizabeth Dodson, co-founder of HomeZada, a home inventory software company in El Dorado Hills, Calif. “Screwdrivers will help fix things around the home quickly, from everything like switchplates to cleaning out a hot water heater.”

2. Tape Measure

You’re moving into your new home, so chances are you’re buying new furniture. Make sure everything fits perfectly with a tape measure, says Jerry Saliba and Craig VanDecar, owners of C&J Custom Builders, Inc., in Albany, N.Y. Or, perhaps you need to make sure which size of window curtains or shower curtain to buy or how much paint will be necessary for a job — a tape measure will be your best friend in these cases.

Tape measures come in a variety of sizes, so you can find the right one for all jobs. (There are even very tiny ones that you can carry in your car or purse.)

3. Hammer

Have you ever tried to hang photos without a hammer? There’s a reason why a hammer exists and that’s because shoes with big heels are not an appropriate way to nail something into the wall (once a heavy-heeled shoe was all I had!).

“A hammer is handy for a lot of things around the home: to quickly hang small pictures, to assemble small pieces of furniture that might require a hammer, to remove cracked tiles and to pull down items using the claw portion of the hammer,” Dodson says.

4. Power Drill

A power drill is a lifesaver when it comes to all sorts of projects, particularly when it comes to projects that require long screws. “A cordless drill can be used to quickly assemble any pieces of furniture that you buy or to hang heavy frames and artwork on the wall,” says Dodson. “A cordless drill can speed up your time to correctly tackle certain projects.”

5. Plunger

Do not get caught without one. That’s all you need to know.

6. Level

Hands down the best tool you can use to ensure that pictures or wall art are hanging straight. There’s nothing worse than hanging a picture slightly askew and having to stare at it like that, says Saliba and VanDecar.

A level is also useful for making sure you’re hanging your curtain rods straight too. Really anything that needs to be straight, a level will help.

7. Putty Knife

Saliba and VanDecar suggest a putty knife for “any of those unforeseen holes or ‘dings’ to be able to spackle” in any spots. A putty knife will help keep any fixes neat and easy.

8. Wrench

A wrench is similar to a screwdriver in that it will come in handy in many situations. Use it to remove tight bolts, to secure nuts on furniture or to adjust or unscrew hoses on your clothes washer.

9. Pliers

You can’t go wrong with pliers, which can be used to hold things firmly while you continue to work on an area or item in your home to fix it, says Dodson. You can also use pliers to easily bend wire and other similar items, she says.

Personally, I find pliers useful in holding nails in place while hammering them in — no more hitting your fingers!

10. Extension Cord

All new homeowners should have an extension cord somewhere in the house, says Saliba and VanDecar. “An extension cord is not only useful for powering something inside the home, but for any landscaping work that requires tools outside as well.”

The Great Outdoors

Don’t forget your yard when it comes to filling your toolbox. Though not all outdoor items will fit in your toolbox, you should have a hose, sprinkler, spade, shovel and wheel barrow, suggests Jerry Grodesky, managing broker in Farm and Lake House Real Estate, based in Buckley, Ill.

Nobody likes to have to run into the hardware store mid-project in their gardening or exercise clothes. Having the proper tools before getting started will make it easy to handle gardening and landscaping jobs, no matter how large or small.

Patricia L. Garcia is content manager for NewHomeSource, where you can search for and get information on new homes and new construction communities. You can find her on Google+.

Have kids at home this summer? There are plenty of things in your new home to keep them busy, including baking time in your new kitchen.

By Ashley Steel

Summer — that time of year we all go a little bit crazy, whether it’s from the heat, a case of young love or the kids being home from school. While we can’t help the first two, we do have some tricks on the latter.

For parents — particularly stay-at-home parents — in the summertime, duty calls 24/7 and keeping up with regular household responsibilities can be stressful. Never fear — NewHomeSource is here! Now that you’re in your newly built home, there are plenty of great ways to utilize each room and your outdoor spaces. Here are the top 10 ways to keep kids occupied in your new home this summer:

1. Make a Plan

“Summer … offers a great opportunity to help kids learn planning skills,” says Elaine Taylor-Klaus, parenting educator and coach with ImpactADHD, an organization designed to help struggling parents more effectively raise kids and reduce stress. “Let [kids] identify what they want to do … and then use that motivation to work through all the logistics to make it happen.” Whether you child is planning a quick trip to the mall, or a long-term project such as growing a vegetable garden, planning often involves practicing other important life skills like budgeting, self-reliance and making a commitment.

2. Take Time to Play Outdoors

Take advantage of the fact that your kids aren’t cooped up in a classroom all day. Summer is a special time for exploration of the natural world. Because of its universal appeal, many outdoor activities can be done with toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children, says Marian Fritzemeier, education and child development specialist with the Fritzemeier Foundation and who has a doctorate in education. Give backyard camping a try or dig in the dirt with your shoes off.

Sadly, as Fritzemeier points out, running through “sprinklers (is) a forgotten play activity” due to automatic timers and watering restrictions. This summer, try bringing back an old-fashioned classic and manually set off sprinklers during your child’s playtime. Additionally, a nature scavenger hunt is another great way to keep kids occupied, Fritzemeier says. “Children can collect or draw what they find … or take photos.”

3. Make Work Look Like Play

“A good summer for kids can include both work and play,” says Don MacMannis, psychologist and co-author of How’s Your Family Really Doing? 10 Keys to a Happy Loving Family. “Unless you teach a child that work is bad and play is good, they will be curious about exploring any activity.”

Take the practical things that need doing, like washing the car, weeding the garden or mopping the kitchen, and turn them into a fun family affair.

4. Indulge a Little

Sharon Hepburn, a 44-year-old mother of two and author of Mothering … Your Inner Connection, believes in the power of indulgence. Whether you’re raising a house full of girls or boys or both, it’s important to entertain some of their more frivolous aspirations. Hepburn recommends a salon day where girls can get together to do each other’s nails and hair, a perfect way to indulge in your new home’s master suite.

But the possibilities don’t stop there! Your new home’s media room is the perfect place for a summer movie fest or video game day and if you opted for a pool, then it’s time for a pool party or luau. Hepburn also suggests baking as an indulgent summer activity and your new kitchen is optimized for large groups of “cooks.” Hepburn notes that “tweens love to bake and little ones can cook using cold ingredients.” Try taking advantage of seasonal fruits to add variety to your kitchen creations and to create nostalgic summer memories.

5. Don’t Forget to Educate

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean your kid’s brain should operate on autopilot; kids need educational stimulation to expand their world. “When kids are asked why they don’t read, they say it’s because they can’t find books they like,” says MacMannis. His solution? The library! Free and open to the public, libraries are an excellent place to let kids explore and pick their own books that they can then bring home and enjoy in their own rooms or a study. “Freedom of choice is the ticket to getting them motivated and excited,” he says.

6. Make Music

In addition to being one of life’s greatest joys, music provides a well-rounded and educational outlet for your child. Jay Maurice, owner of Lessons in Your Home, a music school based in Atlanta, Ga. “Not only are general music lessons a great way to keep children occupied at home, but kids have fun learning and playing music,” he says.

But beyond a learned skill that kids can add to their tool belt, learning music opens doors to countless other activities. “It’s not just practicing,” says Maurice. “Kids should be encouraged to write songs, record their music and make music videos for YouTube.”

7. Be Creative

Though many schools offer art classes, according to MacMannis, kids often complain about a lack of creative time during the school year. Summer is a great time to explore new artistic mediums, techniques and styles. “Dedicate a room … that can stay messy, so that creative ideas can be worked on whenever the mood is right (or the weather is bad),” says MacMannis.

Keep supplies like sidewalk chalk, craft paper, markers, scissors, paints and glue on hand. While younger kids may love these simple craft projects, older kids may feel left out, but Hepburn maintains there are creative outlets for older kids too. “Why don’t you let him/her paint their room? They will … get into picking out the colors, taping and spending two to three days actually painting.”

8. Community Service

Not often emphasized in school, community service is a great way for kids to learn empathy and selflessness. Summer is the perfect time to explore the ways in which your community needs help and having your kid research these needs can be an eye opening experience, says MacMannis. This tip will take you away from your new home (I know, but you have to leave eventually!).

Let your kid choose a cause they believe in and spend some time volunteering at a local library, summer camp, trash clean-up, community garden or animal shelter.

9. Leverage the Help of Friends

“Every family in the neighborhood is probably hearing the same complaints you are — ‘I’m so bored,’ ” says MacMannis, so working together with other parents can provide a lot of relief. Arrange for playdates with other kids on the block and trade off babysitting for other families in the area. Another option is to arrange for regular picnics or potlucks with other families so that the kids can play together while the adults get a few hours relief. There’s an added benefit to this: you’ll meet folks in your new neighborhood — and it will even allow you to show off your new home a bit.

10. Let Boredom Be a Teacher

“Boredom is an inevitable part of life,” says MacMannis, “and it’s not your job to keep your child from ever experiencing [it].” At some point, all kids need to learn the art of self-sufficiency and how to entertain themselves. This will give them the opportunity to further explore their new home and its surroundings.

“Just as you let them put themselves to sleep when they were babies, let them figure out how to find something interesting to occupy their thoughts and attention,” says parenting educator Elaine Taylor-Klaus. “When they complain, have some compassion … but don’t try to fix it for them.”

Without being spoon-fed ideas, children will start to follow their unique passions and aspirations while they learn to think for themselves; a valuable skill that will stick with them all of their life.

Ashley Steel is staff writer/editor for NewHomeSource, where you can search for and get information on new homes and new construction communities. You can find her on Google+.

With the kids out of school for the summer, it's time to create a game room that they'll love to play in. Photo Courtesy of Homeideas.

By Dan Chapman

School’s out for the summer and that means kids having plenty of free time on their hands. When they’re not playing outdoors, the game room is where they’ll go to relax with friends, play their favorite game or (maybe even) open up a book.

If you’re thinking of building a new home soon, why not give kids a space where they’ll want to spend their time? Here are some design ideas, as well as safety advice and pro tips for your future game room:

Intelligent Design

To get started, Nicole Sassaman, author of 100 Sassy Tips, suggests addressing all of your safety concerns and doing a quick “analysis” of your kids’ personalities. “What safety concerns do you have depending on the ages and personalities of our kids and what style do they like?”

Once you figure out these things, choosing wall colors, furniture and design accessories will be smooth sailing.

Choosing wall colors depends on the atmosphere you want for your kids and how you want them to use the room. “If you want your kids bouncing off of the walls with energy, keep the colors bright in any of the primary colors, plus hot pinks and bright purples,” says Sassaman. “If you want it to be a place for them to chill out, use more calming colors like jade green, grays, light blues and pinks and you can always add a fun chalkboard wall to add some fun.”

Shopping for furniture and room accessories can be a blast, so get out there and see what you can find at your local furniture or discount store. If your game room is on the smaller side, choose skinnier furniture that will give your kids maximum space to move around in. For accessories, you can find posters or wall art that reflects their interests, such as their favorite movies, sports teams or a favorite animal.

Only You Can Prevent Game Room Injuries

You want your kids to enjoy their new game room, but you also want them to be as safe as possible. It seems a lot of folks had a coffee table injury when they were a child, but you can reverse this scream-inducing phenomenon by buying soft-edged furniture and circular tables. Your kids will thank you one day.

With small children, cover electrical outlets and keep breakable items to a minimum. Sassaman suggests making sure that “tall bookshelves are attached to the wall.” This is important, as tall shelves are not only heavy, but can become unbalanced as books are shifted around.

If you are building a custom home, another great idea is to have the game room open to other parts of the house with a wide entryway. If it’s a two-story house, have the staircase lead straight up to the game room. The more open the game room is to the rest of the house, the more you can hear and see what your kids are doing at all times.

Fun Times and Easy Clean Up

If your household plays board games, don’t store them under the couch — show them off. Displaying games prominently on a shelf or wall will encourage kids and adults to, well, look at them.

Via Houzz

Game nights can become spontaneous events once someone picks up a random multi-colored box just to see what it is. Kids will surely see a game on your shelf that catches their eye, making it more likely they’ll play the game with friends.

Be sure to have plenty of open storage space for toys, books and extra games, making cleanup easy and quick. Store items in the corner of the room to open up floor space.

Armed with design ideas, safety know-how and a couple of useful tips, you’re ready to transform the kids’ game room into a space they’ll never want to leave. Don’t forget to ask them what they want the room to be like too so they’ll be proud of the awesome game room they helped design for all of their indoor fun.

Dan Chapman is a content intern for NewHomeSource. You can find him on Google+

Gardening is simple with handy gadgets, like these Aqua Globes that keep plants watered for two weeks.

By Patricia L. Garcia

When it comes to gardening, I like to throw caution to the wind. I laugh in the face of climate zones, soil testing and any other reasonable gardening advice. That’s probably why my garden is not as prolific as it could be.

Part of the reason why I don’t take the time to properly test my soil is because it’s just too stinking hot outside. The summer heat makes it difficult to do all of the tasks necessary to keep a blooming garden a-blooming. While I may never change my gardening ways, I can certainly take advantage of a few gadgets that will make garden maintenance easier. Check out these garden gadgets that will help save your garden — and your sanity — this summer:

Aqua Globes, Amazon.com, $17.99

Every summer, I fight with the heat and sun. Should I really have to water my garden morning and night? To help keep plants hydrated during the summer (and other seasons too), try Aqua Globes. As pretty as they are practical, these hand-blown glass globes keep houseplants, patio plants and hanging plants watered for up to two weeks. Just fill the globes with water, stick them into your plant’s soil and voila. The best part about these cool little contraptions is that if you’re a DIY enthusiast, you can make your own version out of wine bottles.

Parrot Flower Power Plant Sensor, Apple Store, $59.95

Do you ever wonder what your plants are feeling? No, really: Is that spot on the patio sunny enough? Are you a little too heavy handed with the watering? Do your plants really appreciate the music you play for it? OK, Parrot’s Flower Power Plant Sensor doesn’t really tell you what your plant is thinking (looks like my plants will continue to get a healthy dose of Fleetwood Mac, even if they don’t like it), but it will monitor your plant’s health and send you a notification on your iPhone, iPad or iPod when something’s needed.

The plant sensor monitors soil moisture, fertilizer level, ambient temperature and light intensity, so you can develop just the right watering and feeding schedule, as well as determine if your plant is in the right spot. And, despite its name, you can totally use this on plants other than flowers, like trees, shrubs and veggies.

Husqvarna Automower 305, Amazon.com, $2,374

Does your lawn need a buzzcut? This summer heat can really make mowing a brutal chore. While I really enjoy this outdoors task, most folks dread it. The Husqvarna Automower comes to save the day – all by being green and awesome. This electric-solar hybrid mower does the mowing for you, while you lounge on your back patio sipping lemonade. What’s better? It’s quiet, so you can get your lawn mowed later in the evening, without disturbing neighbors. Huzzah!

Burpee Easybloom Plant Sensor, Burpee.com, $14.99

Again, I like to throw caution to the wind when it comes to gardening, which means I have never tested soil in my short gardening “career.” But, anyone who’s even slightly serious about gardening knows that the foundation to any garden is good soil – if you don’t have healthy soil, you’re wasting your time. However, certain plants do better in harsh conditions than others.

Burpee’s Easybloom Plant Sensor takes the guesswork out of gardening. Simply stick this sensor into the ground and let it do its magic: the sensor analyzes the soil to determine how much sunlight the spot gets, as well as temperature, humidity, soil moisture and drainage. Then plug it into your computer to get recommendations on which plants will thrive in the spot you tested. Genius!

Hose Bollards, GarrettWade.com, $59.99 for a set of two

The simplest “gadget” of the bunch, these wood bollards help protect flower and garden beds from hoses. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve trampled my garden plants with a hose while not paying attention during a watering session.

Just set up a bollard at each corner of your garden bed so that hoses are “caught” before they roll over fragile plants. Your plants will thank you by growing big and strong.

Lusterleaf Prop-Ups Plant Support, Wayfair.com, $74.99 for set of 24

Presumably, once you start using all of these gadgets, your garden will be overflowing with produce. In some cases, that could be a problem, like when your tomato plants are falling over everything else in your raised bed.

It’s easy to get them under control with plant supports, like these from Lusterleaf. The discreet metal supports are angled for easy functionality and don’t distract from colorful blooms.

Patricia L. Garcia is content manager for NewHomeSource, where you can search for and get information on new homes and new construction communities. You can find her on Google+.