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By Julia West An ideal summer typically has something to do with a dazzling swimming pool. But, with this luxury comes responsibility. Keeping your pool crystal clear doesn’t have to be as burdensome as you might think. While all pools are different, basic pool maintenance needs are the same. …

Pool Maintenance TipsRead More

By Patricia L. Garcia When you buy a new home, you’ll become very familiar with homeowners insurance and other types of coverage. But, one type of coverage that you may still be confused about is flood insurance. Here’s what you need to know about flood insurance and if it’s the right type of …

What to Know About Flood InsuranceRead More

By Patricia L. Garcia Moving into a newly built home means you can breathe easy knowing maintenance will be minimal. Regardless if your home is new or a resale, you must stay vigilant to ensure that pests are not welcome in your house. Because spring has sprung — and so have baby pests …

Keeping Pests Out of Your New HomeRead More

By Patricia Garcia Recently I moved into a home with lots of space — a roomy kitchen opens onto the dining area and living room, while a sitting room in the front of the house gives me a nice place to entertain guests (aside from the great room). My last home was about 800 square feet — total — …

How to Host the Most Epic Super Bowl Party in Your New HomeRead More

By Jennifer Segelke Jeffers If you’ve never heard of a builder punch list, you’ll become very familiar with the concept should you choose to purchase a new construction home. Much like a to-do list, the builder punch list is an inventory of things that must still be completed or repaired …

What If My Builder Punch List is Incomplete When I Move In?Read More

By Judy L. Marchman Moving into a newly built home is such an exciting time for any home buyer. You’ve put your stamp on it with all of the design choices and you’ve followed the building progress from day one. But the weeks leading up to your actual move-in date can turn stressful as you face …

Tips for Moving Into Newly Built HomeRead More

By Jennifer Segelke Jeffers Now that you’ve purchased a new home and are preparing to move, it’s time to get your old one ready to sell. And, we’ve all heard it before: You have to spend money to make money. Though not a hard and fast rule, it often holds true when selling your home. In order to …

Six Strategies to Staging Your Home for a Faster SellRead More

By Patricia Garcia Ever look around your home and worry that you'll be featured on a hoarding reality show? Do you have unopened boxes that are refugees from the move into your new home? Have you ever asked yourself: “When will I find the time to organize this?”, “What will people think of me?” …

Conquer the Clutter — And Stay Sane Doing ItRead More

By Patricia Garcia According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 1 trillion gallons of water are wasted each year due to minor water leaks in the home. That’s why the agency would like to remind you to check your indoor and outdoor plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems …

It’s Fix a Leak Week — Save Water and MoneyRead More

By Patricia Garcia With spring on its way, you may have some grand ideas for your lawn or garden. Maybe you want to add some flowers for color or plant a tree for some shade. Before you do, make sure that the plants you choose are right for you and your home. Plants are living things and …

What NOT to Plant Around Your HouseRead More