Curb Appeal = First Impressions of the House

I for one know how important curb appeal is. Myself being a landscape contractor during the spring/summer/fall months, many of my clients know the added value of an attractive curb appeal. There are SOOOOO many different ideas that you can incorporate into your front yard to entice buyers. Take a look at my website for some ideas that you could incorporate into your yard or drop an email and I could come by and do it for you. GREEN OPTS Landscaping.

So here is a list of some great ideas:

1. A Beautiful Yard
Well-landscaped lawns tend to increase the real estate values in the whole neighborhood. Getting rid of weeds. Rake and dispose of leaves, even if your lot is wooded and can result in a more rapid increase in the equity you have in your home!

2. Trees Improve Energy Efficiency
Mature trees add "curb appeal" to a property and can make a home more energy efficient. Planted at the edges of a building, a tree's broad canopy of leaves softens the hard lines of architecture and offers shade. Trees absorb light reflected from the roof and decrease the air temperature surrounding your home through evaporation of moisture.

The positioning of trees and shrubs around your home has a significant effect on how much you'll be paying to heat and cool your house each month. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, even one strategically placed tree can reduce your heating and cooling bill up to 25 percent. In general, deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides of the house keep the home cool during the summer and allow low-angle sun into the home during the winter. If you live on a windy hill or coastal bluff, planting evergreen trees or shrubs on the north and west sides of your structure will help protect your home from winter gusts and storms. Nothing will appreciate more in value than what this tree will look like 10 years from now.

3. Make sure the windows, siding and gutters are cleaned. Pressure washer works wonder. If you don't have one, get one. Sparkling windows provide instant curb appeal and shows your home is well cared for. To give your windows extra shine, polish them with a clean blackboard eraser or dry piece of newspaper.

4. Flowers can really add maximum curb appeal and they are extremely easy and cheap to install. Consider placing an attractive planting pot with an array of colorful flowers next to the steps leading up to the house or the front door.

This lends a welcoming appearance to the home. A few flower beds placed in front of the house, set with mixed flowers and trimmed with an attractive edging also does wonders to spruce up a property.

5. Add a fresh coat of paint to your home. You can either tackle this job yourself by purchasing a paint sprayer or hire a professional to do the job for you.

6. Add a stone walkway or path going to the house instead of grass or a wide berth of cement.

7. Make your entrance warm and inviting by trimming back trees and/or bushes that may be blocking the view. Trim tree limbs that are near or touching the home's roof. To update your entrance you can give your door a fresh coat of paint, add new hardware, and even change your house numbers.

8. Make sure the street is as presentable too and is free of litter or debris. Get the sweeping brush out!

9. Replace a worn-out garage door with a new, decorative model. This will have a big impact especially if you have a front-facing garage. Manufacturers offer many designs and decorative accessories so it's easy to find a door that will complement the architecture of your home.

10. Add outdoor lighting along your driveway, sidewalks, and near your landscaping to enhance your home’s appearance.


Everything said about your house starts at CURB APPEAL, so don't disappoint.

Suspected Terrorist or Completly Innocent

Don't we all love the frustrations that comes with us when we travel by air. Here are 10 tips that will help you smoothly get to your final destination without being accused of being a suspected terrorist.

1. Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required.

2. Put all of your gels, lotions, shampoos, etc., in a small plastic bag with a Ziploc top. Security is cracking down on the plastic bags now.

3. Flamnables and Explosives: It goes without saying that flamnables and explosives are prohibited as both carry-ons and checked luggage. However, lighters are permitted if you check them. I usually bring a lighter so if I'm meeting with a client who smokes, I can offer them a light.

3. To avoid being suspected, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards.

4. Don't wear a coat, jacket, suit jacket or blazer going through the scanners
Coats, jackets, suit jackets and blazers must be placed in bins and go through the X-ray machine. Save time and don't wear those items. If you must wear one of those items, save time and remove it before you get to the front of the line.

5. If you are packing several books inside a single bag, spread them around inside the bag. Stacked books are very dense and will probably cause the bomb-detection machines to flag the bag for hand-searching. (It is best to distribute your books among all your checked and carry-on bags.)

6. Do not pack any food or beverages in checked luggage. Food items such as cheese, fruitcake and chocolate are dense enough that they can sometimes be mistaken for explosives by bomb-detection machines and set off an alarm.

7. Avoid overpacking so that your articles don't spill out if your bag is opened for inspection.

8. Wait to wrap your gifts. Be aware that wrapped gifts may need to be opened for inspection. This applies to both carry-on and checked baggage.

9. Scanning equipment reads a total of the metal on you. Metal buttons, zippers, hair accessories, shoe fittings and shanks may add up to wanding and pat down searches. Pare down by packing metal items in a checked bag or placing in your carry-on at security.

10. It's always a good idea to look presentable when you fly. You'll feel much better when you arrive at your destination and, if you feel brave enough to ask for an upgrade, you're more likely to get one if you're dressed smartly.

ENJOY YOUR FLIGHT!