Renting your First Home

June 17, 2011 Leave a Comment
The interior of a loft condominium at 400 Sout...

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You want to find a home that will work for your desires and pocketbook. What should you consider? What should you avoid?

  • Decide on an apartment, condo or family home. Renting an apartment may include more amenities like a weight room and a swimming pool, but will you use the facilities? A condo usually has more space than an apartment, but may be more costly to rent. A home may be your cup of tea, but what floor will you be renting? If it’s the basement, are there sufficient windows for light?
  • Check out the neighborhood. Yes, you’re renting, but the upkeep of yards will tell you a lot about the caliber of folks living in the area.
  • Make sure everything works. Check out the stove, the refrigerator, the shower, etc. If something isn’t working, or isn’t working properly, make sure the landlord knows about it before you move in.
  • Clean carpets, clean walls and a clean and a mowed and weeded yard will also tell you a lot about the rental. Don’t settle for anything you can’t truly live in.
  • Make sure you can afford a first and last month payment and a security deposit. If you have a pet make sure you have extra money for that. Go over your monthly expenses so that you know you can afford everything.

Renting your first home, whether it be apartment, condo or family home, can be a lot of fun. But getting what works for you takes digging. Make sure you have asked the questions and feel good about your decision before signing on the dotted line.

 

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Bring the Outside in?How to Give your Home that Natural Look

June 14, 2011 Leave a Comment
Pink tulips are popular in public gardens such...

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You love the outdoors, the trees, the garden, and the birds. How do you bring the outside-in? What creative ideas are out there that are easy to apply?

Here are some ideas:

  • Try some artwork. Some curtains. Easy and beautiful ideas including bedding and floral wallpaper can be found here.
  • How about some plants? If you have a green thumb, buy some matching pots and get going! If your green thumb is not green, try silk. Most visitors will not know the difference.
  • Consider a “green” home. Get all the “green” you want starting from the ground up, or discover here how to make your current home “greener.”
  • Put in a French door or open up your current sliding door to a new patio. It’s amazing what can be brought into your home without nature actually being “in it.” Let the light in with windows barely covered, or blinds that can be moved up during the day and let down at night.
  • Frame up pictures from old calendars with floral or outdoor settings, or enlarge pictures you have taken of the outdoors that you can frame and hang in your home.
  • Use artificial vines or flower wreaths inside your home. Hang the vine over the frame of a picture; hang the wreath over a favorite photo with your loved one’s face peeking through.

Bringing the outside—in is about as easy as your creativity. If you feel you are lacking, check out various blogs and websites for additional ideas to keep you in “the green.”

 

 

 

 

 

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Rent or Own a Home?

June 11, 2011 Leave a Comment

If you’ve been renting from a landlord for the past several years, you’re likely appreciative of having a stable living location but still dream of someday purchasing a home. Owning a house is a dream many people have and that many work hard to attain. However, before you take the leap into home ownership, it’s important to consider if this is really the best choice. Here are factors to consider with both options as you make this important decision.

Benefits of Home Ownership

The largest benefit of home ownership is the feeling of freedom it can provide. As a property owner, you can renovate the interior and complete landscaping around the house’s foundation. Home ownership is also viewed as being a great way to build your asset list.

If you truly know that home ownership is the best choice but don’t currently have your finances in order, there are still options. When the time arrives to furnish the property but you’re short on cash, you can take out a payday cash advance to cover the difference between the money you have and the amount you need.

Benefits of Renting

As a renter, you’ll likely have fewer expenses since any property maintenance will be the landlord’s responsibility. Additionally, such things as snow removal and lawn upkeep are typically handled by the property owner rather than the renter. If you don’t think you’re quite at the maturity level to handle the responsibilities of property ownership such as maintenance and repairs, then renting a home will likely be the choice for you.

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Indoor Plants you can?t kill

June 6, 2011 Leave a Comment
planting time!

Image by bunchofpants via Flickr

You want to purchase some indoor plants for your home but are unsure of which plants will take the easiest upkeep. You don’t really don’t know if you have a “green thumb”, never having tried in-door plants before. What plants should you choose?

Aloe’s are native to Africa and very popular in America. They need light and water and sunlight. Plump and squishy leaves as well as wilting of the plant will tell you that your aloe is not getting enough sunlight.

Hawthoria from South Africa is a breed of cactus that spouts long, tentacle like fingers from the main core. Little water is required. Hawthoria likes dry soil and bright light. They love windows!

Sago Palm’s almost need to be dug up to kill them. They look like miniature palm trees (although they’re not a palm tree) and are beautiful to behold. Be aware the Hawthoria is poisonous to pets. Bright light is preferred. Dry soil is best; though expect to water at least every couple of weeks. A daily misting brings the Sago Palm back to life.

Pothos love light and you will know when they’re not getting enough of it when their leaves and stems shrink in size. Older leaves turn yellow and the leaves themselves will begin to wilt.

Whatever plants you purchase for indoors make sure you don’t overdo it. It’s better to start out with one plant or two and then add to the number once you feel happy about how your first plants are doing. Before you know it you will be a “green-thumb” to write home about.

 

 

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