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Tuesday, November 26, 2019
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Displaying blog entries 11-20 of 25
Trick-or-Treat Home Safety Tips!
Monday, October 21, 2019
It won’t be long before the streets of your neighborhood are filled with children, and some parents, who will be costumed and carrying bags and buckets for Halloween treats! Since many homeowners don’t regularly use the front entrance to their home, they may not think about all the little feet that will be tramping up the path to your door. Make sure everyone has a safe trip for their candy by following these tips before October 31!
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- Do your own walk-up to your front door, and examine everything, including the driveway and front steps. Make sure there are no loose pieces or large cracks that can cause anyone to take a tumble. Porch railings should be secure.
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- Yard decor should be fixed securely so the wind can’t blow it over, or curious little hands cannot pull it down.
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- Battery-operated LED tea lights are inexpensive and much safer to use in place of lighted candles. Many options are available for LED’s, including a flickering light that is perfect for your jack o’ lantern.
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- Speaking of lights, make sure that not only is your porch light switched on, but that the path you’ve created is well-lit.
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- Decor that hangs from the trees is scary and fun, so make certain they are hanging at least ten feet from the walkway, making certain they don’t obstruct anyone’s view.
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- Take an afternoon close to Halloween to be sure any shrubbery, trees or edging isn’t in the way of where trick-or-treaters must walk. Inspect for loose branches in nearby trees and remove them.
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- If you have room in the garage, consider parking the car there. The folks that are coming and going would likely appreciate the extra room to pass others.
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- A constantly-ringing doorbell or persistent knocking can cause your pets some distress and a lot of barking. Confine them to a room, or even better, to their crate. Check out these other great tips about your pets and Halloween from the ASPCA.
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Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.
Photo credit: asecurelife.com
10 Tips for a Successful Yard Sale
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Spring cleaning, decluttering, moving--these are all great reasons to make some extra cash by holding a yard sale! It will take a little extra work for organizing and set up, but make it worth your effort with these tips:
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- If your home isn’t in a convenient location, consider asking a family member or friend if you can hold the sale at their house, or look for a spot that is in a high-traffic area in your community, and get permission before you set up.
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- Talk to your neighbors! A neighborhood sale is a big draw for those seeking good deals.
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Make certain any packaging doesn’t have old receipts or anything with personal information on it. If you still have manual for an item, keep it handy for the new owner.
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- Check everything for cleanliness, stains, or cracks. Most people don’t care to pay for dirty, or items that aren’t in good condition.
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- If you do want to get rid of things that aren’t in the best state, have a separate table for them with a “FREE” sign. Some people pick them up for parts or art projects.
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- When you start pricing, set them low to move things quickly and avoid bargaining! Not pricing your items will take up your time at the sale and may turn some people away.
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- Advertise! DIY or have someone make some attention-grabbing signs, using either large permanent markers or a computer design.
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- When there’s not enough room in the driveway, your sale will need to be on your lawn, so make sure the grass is trimmed, any holes are filled, and any pet issues are taken care of. For yard art that isn’t for sale, make certain you have a “Not for Sale” sign in place.
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- High-interest or large items should be placed closest to the street to drawn in shoppers.
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- Place your “cash register” next to the sidewalk or end of the driveway so people can pay on their way out. Get plenty of small change at the bank the day before. Keep your money in a fanny pack for safety; never leave it unattended.
On the day of your yard sale, be sure to have everything ready to go at your advertised time, play some upbeat music for background noise, and make it a pleasant experience for everyone. When the day is over, be ready to haul some things to a thrift store, or schedule pick up by a non-profit that will take your things away for free. Find more yard sale tips at wholefully.com!
Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.
Photo credit: Can Stock Photo
Ideas for Shading Your Outdoor Living Spaces
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
You love your outdoor space, but is the afternoon sun stopping you from using if for more than weekend mornings with a cup of coffee? Closing in the space may not be in the budget, but there are many ways you can shade the area without putting a hole in your wallet!
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Sail Shades For less than $100, purchase a sail shade, a piece of polyethylene fabric, normally cut into rectangles or triangles and grommeted. Most come with a good length of rope to anchor it to your roof or attach it to a pole. It’s practically instant shade, and weather-resistant, so it can be left up all Summer.
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Cabana A breezy cabana can be made from a simple wooden structure, or even piping! Check out these ideas from Home Decoration Magazine.
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Vining Shade Build a vertical trellis wall, making sure it’s facing the direction the sun is shining. Plant fast-growing perennial or evergreen vines and train the plants to grow up the trellis. The trellis itself will shield your space from the sun, and the plants will help as they grow.
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Slatted Shade Pergolas are beautiful open structures on their own or covered with trailing plants. The price tag can be big, depending on how it’s done, but wooden pergola kits are available, as well as metal pergola kits for even less. These instructions from The Created Home show you how to build a simple attached pergola for about $200.
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Temporary Shade Lifehacker has a tutorial for a simple canopy that’s easy to put up, and easy to take down.
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Living Screen Visit a reputable nursery where you can get advice from a grower about good shade trees to plant as a screen around the perimeter of your patio. Purchasing 6’-10’ trees may be a bit more expensive, but with the right planting and care, the trees will grow and thrive, providing lush, living shade.
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Container Shade Bamboo is a hardy plant, and easy to grow in containers. Using several containers together will provide lush greenery for shade or a privacy screen. Find the best bamboo for screening, as well as what containers are best here.
If building or planting your outdoor canopy isn’t your thing, then an extra-large outdoor umbrella will do the trick. Many models are available, and have extending possibilities, and can rotate to follow the sun’s path. No matter what you decide to use, take advantage of your own shady spot to unwind after a busy week, move family meals outside, or just soak in the outdoors.
Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.
Photo credit: amazon.com
Breaking the Rules of Home Decorating
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Decorating is the most personal way to express yourself in your home, and sometimes, when you want to try something different--something that doesn’t seem to fit anywhere on the list of design rules--it may be tempting to go with the flow, despite what you want to do. Get design-rebellious with these tips:
Color
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- Small room? It doesn’t have to be a neutral color! Go bold but create balance with open shelving or smaller furnishings.
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- We’re told not to stick with one color in a room, but going monochrome creates a bold, dramatic statement.
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- Your ceilings can be considered another wall when it comes to color. Just remember to keep the walls a neutral color and get samples to paint on the ceiling before you commit to it.
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- Trim doesn’t have to be white! Use high-gloss black for drama, stain that complements wood flooring, or neutrals for a modern twist on a traditional look.
Finishes
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- If the metal finish on your kitchen light fixture doesn’t match the drawer pulls, it’s fine! Mixing metals is perfectly acceptable, and check out this article from the Invaluable blog for inspiration!
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- Wood finishes don’t have to be the same throughout the house; create dimension with different stain colors, adding depth to a room or the whole house.
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- Who said tile is only for kitchens and bathrooms? Create an accent wall with tile in any room. Be inspired by using the HGTV photo library search for whatever room you have in mind and add “wile tall” to the search term.
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- Speaking of kitchen tile, why not use wallpaper for your backsplash? Protect it from splashes and oils with mounted plexiglass or a sealant made especially for sealing wallpaper.
Furnishings and Accessories
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- Furniture stores have us fooled into thinking that our furniture sets must match, and this logic applies to even pieces like dining chairs. Mixing styles adds interest.
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- Mixing more than two patterns can be scary, so start small with accessories in bold patterns that are easily changed. Staying in the same color family with your patterns will made this decision less daunting.
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- If you’d like to add some natural pieces to your space but don’t have a green thumb, then don’t be ashamed to use artificial plants!
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- It’s tempting to just scoot furniture to the wall and leave it because you want to follow symmetry. Go diagonal! Check out the difference a rearrangement can make by placing the sofa at a slant and give it a try in your living room!
Not all rules of design should be broken, and there are likely rules that tell us why going against the norm with our personal decorating has a great result. If you want to do something different, try it--you may like it!
Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.
Photo credit: apartmenttherapy.com
Attracting Wildlife To Your Landscape
Friday, June 7, 2019
Most homeowners landscape their property for aesthetic reasons, and there’s not a thing wrong with wanting your home’s outdoor areas to look beautiful. Not only can your gardening be pleasing to the eye, you can attract beneficial insects and small mammals to your plantings. Follow these tips if you’d like to create a mini-habitat oasis in your yard.
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- If you’re not sure where to begin, contact your local USDA Extension office, and they offer a wealth of information to educate you and get your started on your way to attracting wildlife.
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- Using native plants is the first step in attracting birds and butterflies, and most of these are perennials that have a short blooming season. Don’t be afraid of losing color; you can intersperse the native plantings with colorful annuals.
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- Purchase or build housing to attract birds, making sure dimensions are correct for certain types of birds, and be sure birdhouse placement is where it will be most attractive to the birds.
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- Other man-made shelters can be made or bought to attract wild things: houses for bats, butterflies, carpenter bees and ladybugs will not only add charm to the landscape, you will be bringing insects that will help you fight the bad bugs.
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- To invite frogs to take up residence, take any old clay pot, use ceramic tile cutters to make a doorway around the top edge, and turn the pot upside down on the ground for a frog house.
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- Besides placing feeders in different areas, clean water is essential for wildlife, and having small shallow dishes with clean water scattered about (under cover of plantings) will keep little animals coming back to your yard again and again.
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- Attracting wildlife can be wonderful and educational, but having deer devour your landscaping isn’t wonderful at all. Keep them at a distance by using this list of plants that don’t appeal to deer from Old Farmer’s Almanac.
One of the first things you need to commit yourself to if you’d like all sorts of beneficial animals to visit and even live in your landscaping is going non-chemical for bad insects and weed control. Education is the key, so do a lot of reading and learning before you begin this venture. Landscaping that incorporates plants and animals is landscaping that benefits everyone.
Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.
Photo credit: notjustcute.com
Collections and Home Decor
Thursday, May 9, 2019
A collection of antique furniture is easily incorporated into your home’s decor. But what if you collect memorabilia from a favorite movie, vintage kitchenware, or clown figurines? No need to cram everything into one room on shelves along one wall (though that can make an impact for some collectibles). Let’s look at some ways you can show off your prized possessions:
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- Consider displaying a few pieces at the time in a prominent place in your home: mantel, a buffet or sideboard, or coffee table. Keep the others stored safely away and switch them out every few months.
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- Vintage or antique glass items should be displayed near natural light so they will sparkle. Open shelves on a wall opposite a sunny window will show off these treasures in a dramatic way.
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- An art collection doesn’t have to be displayed as a gallery wall; negative space is very appealing, and the St. Mawes Gallery shares some tips on how to make your pieces stand out.
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- Make a collection of items on built-in shelves stand out by painting the insides of the shelves a complementary or contrasting color, especially if the items are the same color, or in the same color family.
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- Small items can be tucked away on a corner shelf, adding interest in a smaller room where there isn’t a lot of space.
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- Plate collectors don’t always display them in cabinets with glass doors; purchase plate hangers that will hold them securely to a wall and create an artful display on a dining room wall or over the soffits in the kitchen.
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- Collecting quilts or other textiles can create a dilemma, because just leaving them folded on a shelf doesn’t always do them justice. Displaying them on a wall can be done with a little work, and they can be changed out to avoid any damage from the sun. Check out these quilt-hanging ideas from Suzy Quilts.
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- Shadow boxes are inexpensive ways to display several small things at once, especially vintage toys! If the items are made of plastic, you can place them all in the frame in a jumble, making it a fun conversation piece, sending people on a toy hunt.
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- Can’t get rid of those vinyl LP’s from high school? Don’t keep them in a box--album frames are available from most craft stores and online, and you can take your favorites and display them as the art that only album covers can be!
A collection doesn’t have to look like a hoard or be piled up in a jumble--treat them like treasures and decor items. Learn some designer tips from Veranda magazine for displaying your prized possessions, and turn your treasures into a photo-worthy display!
Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.
Photo credit: pinterest
Keeping Your Packages Safe
Thursday, December 13, 2018
With online shopping having become so popular, this time of year brings stories on the news about package thieves, as well as new gadgets to help deter someone from walking away with packages delivered while someone isn’t home. There are several options we have that can help keep our deliveries secure, as well as help from online retailers.
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- Talk to neighbors that may be home during the days you’re expecting a package, and ask them to be on the lookout for a delivery to your home so they can hold it for you or stash it somewhere out of sight.
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- There are simple ways to hide an unattended package: have a large plant to hide boxes behind, or use a lockbox at your doorstep, with key instructions for the carrier in your delivery details.
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- Most large retailers will give you a “ship to store” option, and all you have to do is pick it up at the Customer Service desk.
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- If your package is coming via USPS, there are several ways to divert package delivery, as well as ask a carrier to leave it somewhere out of sight.
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- When you place your order, if you know you’re going to be at work, make sure your boss doesn’t mind if you have your items delivered to your workplace, and use that address for shipping.
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- Your local pack-and-ship store will receive deliveries for you for a fee.
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- Installing a visible security camera at your front door can deter some thieves, and some cameras come with motion-sensor options to set off a siren or other alert if someone gets too close to your front door.
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- Amazon is offering several delivery options: Amazon Locker, Key Smart Lock Kit, Key In-Car Delivery, and Hub by Amazon.
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- UPS offers My Choice to customize your deliveries. For FedEx deliveries, go to their Delivery Manager, create and account, and manage your deliveries.
The best way to prevent “package Grinches” from stealing your deliveries is to be proactive. Use text message and email alerts, as well as specific delivery company smartphone apps to notify you when a package is left at your door.
Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.
Photo credit: huffingtonpost
Creating a Restful Bedroom
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Ah, rest--it is probably one thing that many people will say that they don’t get enough of. Something we may not realize that’s vital to a good night’s sleep is a calm atmosphere in the bedroom. Let’s look at what we can do to create a restful bedroom.
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- Keep the room free of clutter: use storage containers under the bed for clothes you may not have room for, keep jewelry neatly hanging or in a jewelry box, have a hamper tucked away for clothing that needs to be washed, and shoes should be tucked away.
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- Some smaller homes don’t have a designated room for an office, and it’s important to keep the two separate, even in the same room. Face the work area away from the bed and use a screen if you like. Keep the desk tidy, so you’re not looking at work that needs to be done while you’re preparing to go to bed. Turn off any electronics that can disturb the quiet of the room when you’re not using them.
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- Low lighting is important, so use a low-wattage bulb in the bedside lamp and add a timer for it to come one just before bedtime so you won’t have to turn on the bright ceiling light when it’s time to get ready for sleep.
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- Sleep experts will tell you that the bedroom is no place for a television! If sleep is an issue for you, keep the tv in the family room, as the light and noise will keep you from truly resting.
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- On that note, if you need some sort of noise to help you sleep, there are many white noise machines and smartphone apps, as well as playlists on many music streaming services that have a variety of relaxing background noise. Ditch the tv and use white or “pink” noise to help you drift off.
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- Room-darkening shades can be very helpful in blocking city lights and help those who must work at night sleep during the day.
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- Pets are like family for most of us but allowing them to sleep in bed with you may not be such a good idea. Have a special bed or crate for Spot to sleep in, so their nighttime movements won’t disturb your deep sleep cycles.
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- Room temperature is very important to rest. If it’s in the budget, have a separate heating and cooling system for the bedroom, and keep it between 60° and 67°, and if that’s not possible, use a fan to keep you cool.
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- Choosing the color for decorating is important, as colors influence us when it comes to different activities. Most of us know that blues, greens and grays are relaxing colors, but if you like to make a bold statement, light colors won’t work. Royal blue, shades of teal, and browns can still make a room feel calm and add bright style to the room.
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- Obviously, your bedding is one of the most vital parts of getting a good night’s rest. Have a comfortable mattress with good pillows and bedding appropriate for keeping you comfortable.
Sleeping well is so important to many aspects of life, not to mention your health, and if your bedroom isn’t helping you get a good night’s sleep, it’s time to make some changes. The Better Sleep Foundation has some other tips and information on how your bedroom can help you get the rest you need.
Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.
Photo credit: ballarddesigns.com
Carve, Drill or Sculpt a Pumpkin!
Monday, October 29, 2018
Gone are the days of using Mom’s best kitchen knife to carve a simple jack o’ lantern with triangle-shaped eyes and a toothy grin. Pumpkin carving is an art for many, but even those who aren’t so talented in that department can create original and fun lanterns to light our front steps for Halloween!
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- Cleaning out the pumpkin is messy, and best done on a paper-covered table or done outside. Once the inside is clean of seeds and pulp, use a spray bleach cleaner such as Clorox Clean Up to spray the inside of the pumpkin to help stop it from molding quickly.
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- Pumpkin carving kits can be bought for just a few dollars, and they usually contain a utility saw, hand “drill,” and scraper. Some kits offer templates to choose from.
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- The amount of free printable templates are almost overwhelming, and you’ll probably end up with more than one jack o’ lantern if you go through this list of available templates from The Spruce Crafts!
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- Find a template that compliments your skills, or find an easy one that children can help with, and print. Tape it to your cleaned-out pumpkin, and use a pointy object to trace around the line drawing, poking through the paper and into the pumpkin. Cut the pattern using a small saw, and spray the newly cut areas with the bleach cleaner, and your piece of art should last for several days!
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- Metal cookie cutters can also be used for a different look for your pumpkins: using a mallet, gently tap the cookie cutter through the carved pumpkin shell. Go around the pumpkin using this method, or place the cutter in random places for a less-structured look.
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- A power drill can make creating a pumpkin lantern a breeze! Use different bit sizes to make your pumpkin sparkle, like these from onelittleproject.com.
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- For the more advanced pumpkin artist, grab a linoleum cutter at your local home center, and follow these directions from FromChinaVillage.com for a different approach to “carving.”
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- Battery-operated tea lights are perfect for lighting your jack o’ lantern, and last for several hours, as well as being safer than a traditional candle. Once you purchase an inexpensive pack, replace the batteries when the old ones die, as the LED bulbs inside last much longer than any wax tealight candle.
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- For more festive and different approaches to decorating your porch with other members of the squash and vegetable family, check out these ideas from The Garden Glove.
Keep the pumpkin-carving safe: supervise younger children, and even help them when they want to use tools to cut the pumpkin’s new face. Most children love cleaning out the “guts” of the pumpkin, so have them pick out some seeds for cleaning and roasting later for a healthy treat. Most of all, have fun, and make memories!
Courtesy of Chester County PA Realtor Scott Darling.
Photo credit: dailynewsdig.com
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Displaying blog entries 11-20 of 25
