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Natural Options for a Chemical-Free Garden

Thursday, July 29, 2021

by Scott Darling

When you make the decision that you would like to use more organic products for your garden and landscaping, it can be difficult to know where to begin. There are so many mass-manufactured chemical products that are inexpensive and easy to help keep weeds and insects at bay! The fewer chemicals we use in our lawns and gardens, the better it is for everyone, and these tips will help you get started on a more natural approach to a healthy garden, even halfway through the growing season!

Grass clippings from your lawn can be used to mulch and enrich the soil. According to Mother Earth News, a mulch of 1”-2” of cut grass can feed your garden for the season.
Natural fertilizer can be found in worm castings, and vermicomposting is one project the whole family can get involved in! Learn how to create worm beds from gardeningknowhow.com.
Proper mulching is the best natural defense against weeds. Some plants are persistent, so the gardener needs to be persistent about keeping them in check! Pull the plant by hand, (complete with roots), or use a hoe to get them out of the ground.

While water is probably the most important ingredient for a productive garden, timing is important for keeping diseases and pests at bay. Watering your plants in the evenings can cause fungi and mildew to grow, and neither is easy to get rid of once they set in.
Learn how to identify beneficial and detrimental insects. While they may strike fear when we see them, many stinging insects are taking care of the bad ones that are eating up our vegetables. The Sod God offers some excellent information as well as infographics to help you distinguish between the good and the bad.
Fragrant plants attract beneficial insects; plants like marigold, sweet alyssum, cilantro, yarrow, and fennel are just a few you can companion grow near your veggies to bring the good bugs to your garden.
Row covers are a great and chemical-free way to keep not only insects away, but veggie-loving birds as well. If they cover your plants completely as they grow, they will provide a barrier between your plants and the bad guys.
If your plants are being taken over by soft-bodied insects like aphids and whiteflies, make your own insecticidal soap--just follow these easy instructions from Horticulture magazine.

Using fewer chemicals in your landscape and garden takes knowledge and a little extra work. Contact your local extension agent for help and look for sources that have been certified as an organic entity or are written or produced by someone who has been gardening the natural way and has lots of experience. Reap the rewards of not only a great vegetable harvest, but the rewards of keeping chemicals out of the ground and water sources.

Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.

Photo Credit: Mamavation

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Chester County PA Real Estate Market Trends for June 2021

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

by Scott Darling

Chester County PA Real Estate Market Trends for June 2021

Chester County PA single-family homes saw pending sales decrease by -13.8% in June 2021 when compared to June 2020. 910 homes sold in June with a median sales price of $450,222. The average days on the market fell by 25 days.

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Is Renting-to-Own Right For You?

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

by Scott Darling

When someone decides to purchase a home, one of the first things they must comb through is their credit report and credit score. If their credit is less than stellar, and they cannot qualify for a conventional home mortgage, renting-to-own or a lease with the option to purchase sounds like a great way to begin their home buying process. There are positives and negatives to this type of transaction; let this guide help make whether the decision is worth it.

Rent-to-own agreements can also be called lease-to-own, lease-with-option-to-purchase, or simply a lease option. Lease-purchase agreements require the tenant to buy the property, and this can cause major financial issues if the tenant cannot follow through on the purchase, no matter the reason.
Decide on a final purchase price at the end of the option period, or agree upon an appraisal contingency. Depending on the fluctuation of the housing market, however, this could benefit the buyer if market value goes down, but could benefit the seller if values increase.
It may be a good idea to have a home inspection performed before getting into this situation. In the case that the inspection raises concerns, repair costs can be worked out between the tenant and the owner.

A portion of the above-market rent will go towards the purchase of the house, most commonly in the form of a down payment.
Some tenants agree to pay HOA fees (if applicable), property taxes, insurance and take care of the cost of necessary repairs.
In most situations, the tenant can purchase the property at any time during the option period, but once that time is up, the option expires and the owner can sell the property to someone else.
One very important thing to remember is that there is still a lease involved. If you fall behind on the payments, the landlord can have you evicted. Besides eviction, the option fee and extra rent paid will be lost.
Sometimes a seller offers to finance the purchase altogether, and that situation will require a completely different set of agreements. Again, owner-financed sale contracts should be handled with a real estate attorney.

While it may be a relief for someone who cannot get financing for a traditional home loan, a lease-with-option agreement is not something to enter into lightly. If you feel you will not be able to purchase the home at the end of the option, go into a standard lease agreement, and put away as much money as you possibly can towards a traditional down payment while working on improving your credit score.

Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.

Photo credit: IndyStar

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Homebuyers and Bidding Wars

Friday, July 9, 2021

by Scott Darling

When you see a home and know beyond a doubt that it is your meant-to-be and put in an offer, you find out that someone else feels the same way and has made an offer at the same time. Sometimes it is more than one buyer, and either way, a bidding war can begin. Let these tips guide you through the process:

When you start your house hunt, be certain you are pre-approved for a mortgage. This will show any seller that you can buy their property. A pre-qualification is not enough.
Before you even put in your offer, make sure there is some wiggle room in the amount. Offering the maximum that you are approved for can take you out of the contest during the first round.
If you can offer cash for the purchase or a better-than-average earnest money deposit, sellers are more likely to add you to their “possibilities” list. Cash talks, no matter the amount of your purchase offer.

Some potential buyers ask an agent to add an escalation clause to the contract. The downside to this is leaving your negotiations on a purchase price laid bare for the seller to see. It may be best to make sure your Realtor® is ready with counteroffers in case your original is rejected.
Being competitive means laying aside some contingencies. For instance, a well-maintained home may have fewer issues in the inspection, so waiving the home inspection contingency could be enticing to the seller. This can be risky, however, if the house has not been updated in a long time, so make this decision wisely.
If you absolutely love the home, talk to your agent about allowing your offer to be a back-up. Keep an eye on the sale just in case it does not go through. Remember that most sales do go through, but there is always hope!
Finally, it may simply be best to take the loss and walk away. In a sellers’ market, it may be best to let go of some of the items on your “want” list, as well as look at houses that are under budget.

Your Realtor® should be knowledgeable on how to handle a property with multiple offers, and when they are, you can be sure that they are fighting as hard as you are for the house you love. Your confidence in your agent will give you peace in the bidding war, whether you win or move on.

Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.

Photo credit: DS News

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Displaying blog entries 1-4 of 4