Blog - - Month: April 2020
Month: April 2020
Four Early Spring Landscaping Tips for New Homeowners in Northeast Ohio
So, you just got your first house with a yard, congrats! Now comes the fun part — Spring is here in Northeast Ohio, and it’s time to start taking care of your front and back lawn or garden. Maybe you grew up mowing the grass or helped a parent with weeding, but there’s a lot more to think about when it comes to landscaping as an adult than just doing your chores. If you’re new to planning your own landscaping, we’ve answered a few common questions for first time homeowners. When’s the Right Time to Mulch? It’s quite simple — May is for Mulching. The weather in the greater Cleveland area can be a bit finicky, so it’s important to wait until after there’s no more snow but well before Summertime. May is usually when we start seeing temperatures consistently above 60 degrees. What’s the Best Kind of Fertilizer? From weed killers to Miracle Grow, there are many types of fertilizer to consider as you walk through your garden center. But, for early spring, you should apply two kinds of fertilizer. First, put down a pre-emergent weed killer. This will keep out dandelions and crabgrass from sprouting in the summer. Then, consider laying a slow-release fertilizer. This will ensure your grass is well-nourished for summer treatments. Do I Need Special Soil for Gardening? Usually, yes. The type of soil that you use depends on the type of plants you’re trying to grow. For exam
These Four Quick Fixes Could Be Stopping Your Home from Selling
Every home has its quirks — maybe a floorboard that creaks too much or a discolored brick under the patio. Quirks can be a charming feature of your house or maybe just a little imperfection that went unnoticed as you’ve lived there. However, some things that could be charming or gone unnoticed to you may be preventing your home from selling. Don’t panic, though. Many of your home’s quirks are still quite loveable, but there are a few things that you should always consider fixing before the next time you have a showing or virtual home tour. Sticking Front Door Talk about bad first impressions! You may be used to putting in a little extra push whenever you need to get inside, but to a home shopper, that sticky door will make the home feel uninviting and maybe even unsafe. This is a quick and inexpensive fix for a local carpenter, and it can make a huge difference for selling your home. Mixed-Up Waterspouts Ever encounter a sink or bathtub and wonder which knob turns on the hot water? Well, there’s a universal rule for this you probably never thought of — hot is on the left and cold is on the right. Now, do your taps follow this rule? If not, you may want to consider making an adjustment. Most people subconsciously know the left/right default and touring a home to discover that the hot/cold settings are on the wrong side is a quick way to make them feel uncomfortable — whether they know about the rule o
Home Improvement Projects Under $1,000
Do you have your COVID money yet? In the midst of the Coronavirus crisis, almost every adult in the United States will be receiving $1,200 from the federal government. For many, this money is a lifeline to be used for bills as millions of Americans are facing unemployment. However, for those that are still employed with robust finances, it’s recommended that U.S. residents spend this money to stimulate the economy. While everyone is at home, this may be the perfect time to start on a home renovation project. Below are four projects that are priced under $1,000. Update Your Lighting Efficient lighting upgrades are a quick and easy way to improve the interior design of any space, plus you can save on energy costs! Whether you’re looking for a new chandelier or just want to replace some lamps, there are many attractive options you can get shipped to your home, and it’s not hard to upgrade your whole house for under $1,000. So, start online shopping! Hire a Professional Cleaner Spring cleaning has taken on new meaning during this outbreak as homeowners seek to disinfect every inch of their quarantine hideouts. Thorough cleaning is hard work though, and while you should limit contact with others, sometimes a true deep-clean requires more than what a single household can manage. For this reason, professional cleaning services are in high-demand in the Cleveland area right now, and a “disinfecting pro” knows how to make sure harm