Early SpringLike so many maintenance jobs, everything goes smoother -- and you’ll get better results -- with proper preparation. Early spring is the time to get ready for lawn-growing and mowing season.Sharpen mower blades to ensure clean cuts. A dull blade tears the grass, leaving jagged edges that discolor the lawn and invite pathogens.Sharpen mower blades once each month during grass-cutting season. Have a backup blade (about $20) so that a sharp one is always on hand.Tune up your mower with a new sparkplug ($3 to $5) and air filter ($5 to $10). Your mower might not need a new sparkplug every season, but changing it is a simple job, and doing it every year ensures you won’t forget the last time you replaced your sparkplug.Buy fresh gas. Gas that’s been left to sit over the winter can... 04/20/2015

  Here are five ways to get your house ready to sell.   Many buyers today want move-in-ready homes and will quickly eliminate an otherwise great home by focusing on a few visible flaws. Unless your home shines, you may endure showing after showing and open house after open house — and end up with a lower sales price. Before the first prospect walks through your door, consider some smart options for casting your home in its best light.   1.  Have a Home Inspection Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. For $250 to $400, an inspector will warn you about troubles that could make potential buyers balk. Make repairs before putting your home on the market. In some states, you may have to disclose what the inspection turns up.   2.  Get Replacement Estimates If your home in... 04/19/2015

Dogs chase kids, pans drop, chairs scrape, and soon you must repair wood floors and erase scratches that make a mess of your red oak or Brazilian cherry. A professional floor refinisher will charge $1 to $4 per square foot to apply a new coat of finish. No worries. We’ve got inexpensive ways to remove wood scratches and repair deep gouges in a few easy steps.  Camouflage Scratches Take some artistic license to hide minor scratches in wood floors by rubbing on stain-matching crayons and Sharpie pens. Wax sticks, such as Minwax Stain Markers, are great scratch busters because they include stain and urethane, which protects the floor’s finish. Don’t be afraid to mix a couple of colors together to get a good match. And don’t sweat if the color is a little off. Real hardwoods mix several hue... 04/15/2015

Most of the cost of these DIY weekend projects is in the materials. The labor — that’s you — is free. All you need now are the hours. But, hey, you’ve got two full days — plenty of time to be a superhero weekend warrior and grab some R&R.  Project #1: Add a Garden Arbor EntryThe setup: Install an eye-catching portal to your garden with a freestanding arbor. It’ll look great at the end of a garden path or framing a grassy area between planting beds.Specs and cost: Garden arbors can be priced up to thousands of dollars, but you can find nice-looking kits in redwood, cedar, and vinyl at your local home improvement or garden center for $200 to $300. Typical sizes are about 7 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide. You’ll have to assemble the kit yourself.Tools: Screwdriver; cordless drill/driver; h... 04/15/2015

Hot tubs and spas come in an array of shapes and sizes, and can be equipped with scores of accessories. Accordingly, they have a wide range of prices. Choosing the right spa depends on its intended use, how big your deck is, and what structural alterations will be required for your deck. In addition, you’ll need to know the cost of installation, day-to-day expenses, and how much you can expect to recoup on your investment should you sell your home.Different types of spas and their costsIt started with that icon of laid-back living, the redwood hot tub. Before long, fiberglass versions with circulating jets appeared called “spas.” Today the terms “hot tub” and “spa” are used interchangeably, but because most units are jetted, spa is the term more commonly used. Spas range in size from tw... 04/14/2015

Repair kitchen counters that show a history of wine spills, dropped pans, and unidentified sharp objects, and you’ll maintain the value of your kitchen and home. You can easily hide some counter mishaps, while only professional contractors can solve other surface problems. Here’s a look at counter cures and lost causes. Granite Even granite counters suffer kitchen wear and tear. But you can make them shine with a little time and know-how. After you fix them, don’t forget to reseal them.Cracks, chips, scratches: Fill nicks in granite by building up layers of epoxy resin colored to match the stone. Clean the area first with acetone, which breaks down grease. Be sure to open a window for ventilation. Stains: The type of stain -- wine or ink, oil or bleach -- determines the type of poultice... 04/13/2015

The first step to getting buyers to make an offer on your home is to impress them with its appearance so they begin to envision themselves living there. Here are seven tips for making your home look bigger, brighter, and more desirable. 1.  Start with a Clean SlateBefore you can worry about where to place furniture and which wall hanging should go where, each room in your home must be spotless. Do a thorough cleaning right down to the nitpicky details like wiping down light switch covers. Deep clean and deodorize carpets and window coverings. 2.  Stow Away Your ClutterIt’s harder for buyers to picture themselves in your home when they’re looking at your family photos, collectibles, and knickknacks. Pack up all your personal decorations. However, don’t make spaces like mantles and coffee... 04/12/2015

Repair walls filled with dents, dings, and scuffs, and you’ll make rooms look young and fresh and maintain the value of your home. Fortunately, repairing walls is a good weekend warrior project. Here’s how to fix your home’s face in a hurry.Patch Drywall to Smooth WallsA putty knife, spackle, or joint compound can repair wall damage that ages a room. Dents and dings: A quart of spackle ($11) and a putty knife can fill dozens of small wall indentations. Spackle adheres to painted walls better than joint compound, though it takes a bit longer to dry. Cut wall repair time by thoroughly wiping away excess spackle. Fist-sized holes: Joint compound is your best bet when covering the mesh or drywall patches that cover big holes. You’ll need at least two thin coats of compound and fine grit san... 04/09/2015

With so many patio stones on the market, it can be hard to choose. So we’ve done the research to help you make the right choice for your home. BrickBrick pavers are classic. They’ve got lots of character, and you can explore your creative chops by setting them in intricate patterns. Thinner than typical “builder bricks” used on home siding, they’re made to hold up under heavy foot traffic. Brick pavers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and finishes, and can look old or new. Because they’re smaller than other pavers, they take a while to put in place, and installation costs can be higher.You can do the job yourself for $3 to $5 per square foot. You’ll need to rent a brick saw -- a heavy table-mounted saw that makes cutting masonry a snap. Cost: $60 to $95 per day. Don’t forget:... 04/08/2015

If you’re looking for ways to unplug your children and get them some fresh air, try these engaging outdoor projects. You’ll introduce them to a little pride of home ownership while adding some finishing touches that’ll ramp up your home’s curb appeal.When making stuff with kids, remember the Keep-It rules:Keep it safe. Use gloves and safety glasses when necessary.Keep it simple. They’ll come away with a sense of accomplishment if it’s a project they can handle easily.Keep it under an hour. Kids’ attention spans are short.1. Making stepping stonesThis classic kids’ project never gets old — it’s gooey, messy, and arty. You’ll make the stones using ready-mix concrete or mortar; a 40-lb. bag makes 3-5 stones. Make your own forms with wood, or use old pans, aluminum cake pans, or anything th... 04/07/2015

Finding a buyer for your home is just the first step on the homeselling path. Tread carefully in the weeks ahead because if you make one of these common seller mistakes, your deal may not close.Mistake #1: Ignore ContingenciesIf your contract requires you to do something before the sale, do it. If the buyers make the sale contingent on certain repairs, don’t do cheap patch-jobs and expect the buyers not to notice the fixes weren’t done properly.Mistake #2: Don’t Bother to Fix Things That BreakThe last thing any seller needs is for the buyers to notice on the pre-closing walk-through that the home isn’t in the same condition as when they made their offer. When things fall apart in a home about to be purchased, sellers must make the repairs. If the furnace fails, get a professional to fix... 04/06/2015

Painting instructions often warn: Remove stains from walls before painting. But they never say how. Any cleaning rookie can wipe off dust and cobwebs. But it takes a cleaning pro to scour grease stains, watermarks, and kids’ crayon and ink wall art. Dirt and GrimeDirt and grime are part of everyday life. The oil from your hands gets onto walls, cabinets, doors, and door frames. A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser ($3 for 4 pads) easily cuts through these stains. Wet the sponge and rub gently to avoid taking bits of paint off with the stain.Or try this: Mix 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup white distilled or apple cider vinegar, and 1/4 cup baking soda with one gallon of warm water. Wipe the solution over walls with a sponge or cloth, and rinse with clear water. The solution won’t dull the painted finish or ... 04/05/2015

If you’ve never experienced bathroom mold, perhaps you aren’t looking deep enough into the corners of your bathroom.It’s one of the most common problems in any house; it’s also one of the easiest to prevent and cure -- as long as you haven’t let it get out of hand. “Bathroom mold occurs primarily because mold loves damp, dark, isolated spaces,” says Larry Vetter of Vetter Environmental Services in Smithtown, N.Y. “Typically, a bathtub, shower, or entire bathroom remains damp enough for mold growth just from showering or bathing.”Common Causes of Bathroom MoldLingering moisture caused by lack of ventilationLeaky toilets, sinks, and plumbing pipesDamp cellulose materials such as rugs, paper products, wood, wallpaper, grout, drywall, and fabricSo how do you know if you have a mold problem?... 04/01/2015

How much can you sell your home for? Probably about as much as the neighbors got, as long as the neighbors sold their house in recent memory and their home was just like your home.Knowing how much homes similar to yours, called comparable sales (or in real estate lingo, comps), sold for gives you the best idea of the current estimated value of your home. The trick is finding sales that closely match yours.What makes a good comparable sale?Your best comparable sale is the same model as your house in the same subdivision—and it closed escrow last week. If you can’t find that, here are other factors that count:Location: The closer to your house the better, but don’t just use any comparable sale within a mile radius. A good comparable sale is a house in your neighborhood, your subdivision, ... 03/31/2015

Clumsy, neglected, and hodgepodge landscaping not only hurts your home’s curb appeal, it can cut the value of your property and make it harder to sell.Real estate appraisers say bad landscaping is a buyer turnoff that can increase the number of days a property languishes on the market, which also hurts prices.“I’ve been with clients who won’t even go into a house because of the bad landscaping outside,” says Mack Strickland, a Chester, Va., REALTOR® and appraiser.Even more important, bad landscaping is a downer that hurts the way you see and enjoy your home.Don’t let bad landscaping happen to you.  Here are the seven landscaping mistakes that bust, rather than boost, your home’s curb appeal. 1.  Planting Without a PlanSome landscaping choices, such as a line of begonias, will last a sea... 03/30/2015

Although the real estate crisis might have broken some homeowners’ hearts, many folks are ready to start dating again, according to two Gallup polls.   One poll shows Americans again believe real estate is the best long-term investment, better even than gold, stocks, bonds, and savings accounts.   High-income consumers are the biggest believers in homeownership as an investment — 38% of people who make $75,000 or more think real estate is the best long-term investment.   Lower-income consumers, those households earning less than $30,000 per year, believe gold is a better investment than homeownership.       It’s a Good Time to Buy   A second Gallup poll found that nearly three in four Americans say now’s the time to buy, an attitude that could increase homebuying activity and home value... 03/29/2015

If you're thinking of converting your bathtub to a shower, you're in good company. The American Institute of Architects says that the tub-less bathroom is growing in popularity.Its annual Home Design Trends Survey found that more than 60% of homeowners preferred a stall shower without a tub in 2013. Compare that to 49% in 2012, the first year they specifically surveyed about tub-less bathrooms.However, there's a caveat: Even if you only use your tub to wash the mini-blinds, most real estate agents are adamant about having at least one bathtub in your house to preserve marketability.A recent Houzz poll agrees, with 58% of respondents claiming, "you'll never sell that house without a tub."The conclusion? Go ahead and convert your old tub or tub/shower combo into a cool, walk-in shower, as... 03/26/2015

You want to get projects done around the house, but you lack the skills, desire, or the time to DIY. The other side of the coin -- hiring it all out -- is an expensive option you'd like to avoid. What to do?BIY, that's what.BIY -- buy-it-yourself -- is a smart middle ground for those who want to upgrade their homes, be actively involved in the process, and keep a lid on the budget. A BIYer can save up to 20% on home improvements by shopping for bargains and eliminating contractor markups on materials and finishes. It’s a growing trend that industry experts and big-box home improvement centers are watching closely, defining BIY as its own genre. Fred Miller, managing director of the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI), identifies BIY as a distinct subset of DIY."We've found that a... 03/25/2015

OPEN HOUSE, March 29, Sunday 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM 2355 SE 4 Place, Homestead, FL Get Directions Click Here Description Photos Maps & Local Schools Virtual Tour $ Click for current price 4 BEDROOMS 3 BATHROOMS (3 full) 2484 Square Feet Superb home, updated & move-in ready in sought-after North Gate in Keys Gate. 4 Bed/ 3 bath model rarely available. Functional floorplan fully lends a 1/1 to in-law or older child. Pavers, accordion shutters, 2-car garage, 2 screened patios, water softener, 1-switch wired for your generator. HOA covers exceptional security, cable & internet, alarm monitoring, lawn & landscaping, pool, clubhouse, gym & more. Easy & quick access to Turnpike, close to hospitals, recreation, restaurants & world class shopping. Search All Homes For Sale What's YOUR Home Worth? Ho... 03/24/2015

We might love the idea of maintaining our lawns with non-toxic pantry products -- soda, vinegar, and dish detergent -- that help keep pesticides and other chemicals out of the environment while saving us a little money. But do these home remedies really work as organic alternatives to traditional pesticides? And if so, do they really save money?Not so much, say turf professors and pros.“I wouldn’t waste my time,” says John Boyd, a University of Arkansas professor of weed science. “You can kill a weed with vinegar -- in the better neighborhoods they use balsamic. But it’s not all that effective or cost-efficient.”Also, home remedies -- especially bug-killing concoctions -- don’t have the same precision and accountability of store-bought lawn care products. “They’re not labeled as pestici... 03/24/2015