What’s Best for Warmth?

November 26th, 2019

Sweater weather will soon turn to the season of snow and ice – and that means we’ll all be looking for extra warmth. A wood stove can make a real difference in keeping your home warm and cozy.  Which wood stove is best? There are many styles, but your first consideration should be what kind of fuel you will want to use Read More...

Two-Tone Before and After

September 25th, 2019

We love before and after remodeling photos – almost as much as we love the trending two-tone look for interiors. Many of our new home buyers opt for a two-tone color palette, similar to what’s highlighted in these photos from houzz.  They show how an older kitchen and dining area were given a clean, contemporary look with the simple choice of color in two slightly different shades, or in different, but compatible hues Read More...

The Dreaded SLFs!

September 19th, 2019

The Spotted Lantern Flies are back for another season of terrorizing our local area. Although beautiful in some ways, they are a destructive, invasive pest that threaten many crops and plants, especially fruit trees, grapevines, hops, hardwoods and ornamentals.  These pests can also cause a foul odor, which develops as the SLFs feed on trees and excrete a sugary substance, sometimes called honeydew Read More...

How to Save on Cooling Costs

August 14th, 2019

The scorching heat wave we all experienced in early July had home air conditioning costs soaring right along with the temperatures.  While you can’t control the weather conditions outside, there are steps you can take to reduce your AC bill and power usage inside.  Planting trees around your home, and dressing your windows with solar screens or films are just two of the 9 Ways to Cool Down Air Conditioning Costs offered by Bankrate Read More...

Easy Ways to Make Your Home Eco-Friendly

June 18th, 2019

Going green at home doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of green.  There are little things you can do everyday that can make a big difference.  We’re talking LED lightbulbs, using a toaster oven instead of the big oven, composting your food scraps, fixing leaky faucets, line-drying laundry, and reusing shopping bags for starters Read More...

7 Tax Benefits of Owning a Home

April 24th, 2019

A lot has changed when it comes to taxes and the related benefits of owning a home.  New provisions in the federal tax laws can impact both current homeowners, as well as those considering taking the leap from renter to owner.  Realtor.com offers an excellent guide to the items that may, or may not, be deductible Read More...

Cool Features Every Kid’s Room Should Have

April 10th, 2019

Kids of all ages love having their own space.  When you design their rooms with today’s trendiest features, you can gain major points for being the coolest parent on the planet. What’s in?  Bunk beds, of course.  But today’s trend is to not have a desk underneath.  Better to have an extra sleeping space for when the BFF sleeps over Read More...

Snowed In?

March 13th, 2019

School-closing snow days are here.  Are you ready to keep your kids busy while keeping your sanity intact?  If the weather is too frightful for them to play outside, make it a fun, stress-free day inside with some boredom-busting ideas from Mommy Poppins and Accuweather.  With a little wax paper and a carpet, you can create an indoor ice-skating pond Read More...

Why Do I Need Title Insurance

March 6th, 2019

When you purchase a home, you will most likely be required to have title insurance.  Why?  Because the chain of ownership of the property you’re buying could have resulted in problems that will cost you money if they are not detected.  Some of the most common include liens that could transfer to you as the new owner, omitted heirs who could claim ownership of the property, fraud in past transactions, or errors in the public record Read More...

Show Your Home Some Love!

February 14th, 2019

Love your home?  Winter in general – is a great time to give your home, sweet, home a little extra pampering!  Bring it flowers or give extra attention to something that needs fixing.  Consider buying your home a little “jewelry” to adorn spaces.  Art, lighting, or accessories that add beauty or eclectic charm are sure to please Read More...