Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

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  • Landscaping Secrets From the Pros

    Proper landscaping has the ability to enhance put your property in the neighborhood’s limelight. Despite what many believe, you don’t have to break the bank, have a green thumb, or even have an interest in gardening to make a big impression with your landscape. All you need is a little elbow grease and these six landscaping secrets from the pros:

    Landscaping Secrets From the Pros - bhgrelife.com1. Bring attention to points of interest with a walkway

    You may have a stunning sitting area, garden, or fire pit in your yard, but if the only way to get to it is to trample on the lawn, you’re doing your layout a disservice. Deter the makeshift path of dead grass, and bring attention to all these points of interest on your property with an attractive walkway. Whether it’s made of stepping stones, crushed stone or mulch, this landscaping tip will connect the entire setup of your property fabulously, for greater appeal.

  • Top 5 Fixes to Sell Your Home

    No one wants to spend money on a home they aren’t going to be living in, so when it comes time to prep your house for the market, you may wonder what kind of fixes will bring the most value to your home without breaking the bank. Consider making these five fixes to help your property sell.

    Top 5 Fixes to Sell Your Home - bhgrelife.com1. Paint the walls

    A bucket of paint doesn’t have to break the bank, and can make a world of difference. Tone down any vibrant wall colors and spruce up the other walls with a fresh coat of neutral paint. Avoid any tones that are intense and dark to ensure that your home appeals to the widest range of people.

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Starting an English Cottage Garden

    Garden season is here and we can’t wait to fill our backyards with flowers, sculptures, and so much more! Hope A. in South Carolina is a garden-lover and wants to style her yard after an English cottage garden. We loved the idea so we sent her question to Dream Team member and outdoor design expert Carson Arthur for his best advice, because the more you know, the more you grow!

    Ask a Pro Q&A: Starting an English Cottage Garden - bhgrelife.com

    Q: I would love to have a cottage garden in front of my home here in South Carolina! Unfortunately, my house is built on a slab and the garden area is mostly in the shade. Right now I’m growing dwarf gardenias, hosta, calla lilies, astilbe, Japanese painted ferns princess lily, and colocasia. The current plants are dispersed throughout the space and look sparse even though the space is small. What can I do to bring my garden together and create an English-inspired look? Thanks!

    -Hope A.

    A: Everyone always assumes that an English cottage garden is all about the cute plants. The truth is, this style of garden started in part because of the terrible rocky soil that they were grown on. It sounds like you have lots of plants, but now it’s time to start adding the rocks! You can create extra depth in the garden using large and small stones. Consider building tiers using the stones as well. Just make sure to go with moss-covered rocks or rocks that are clearly aged. There are two crucial things to remember when adding rocks to the landscaping. First, the bottoms of the rocks should be under the level of the soil so that they look like they have always been there. Next, plant in the pockets of the stones… just like you would see in nature! Happy gardening!

    -Carson A.

  • 10 Tips to Improve Your Landscaping in the Spring

    The curb appeal of your home is incredibly important when trying to sell. A beautiful landscape instantly welcomes potential buyers and emits a comforting appeal that people desire when looking to purchase a home. With spring finally here, you can now get to work in your yard. Here are 10 tips to create beautiful landscaping that will enhance your home’s curb appeal.

    10 Tips to Improve Your Landscaping in the Spring - bhgrelife.com1. Understand the climate of your region and yard

    Your geographic location plays a vital part in the landscaping options for your home, so choose plants accordingly. The climate of your yard is also crucial, as some plants need more sun than shade and vice versa. So monitor the areas on your property, and find the perfect location for each individual plant you choose.

  • Decorating Tips for Couples Moving in Together

    Congratulations! You and your special someone have decided to move into a place to call your own. It’s an exciting time, but one of the biggest challenges can be deciding whose style will prevail for the interior design of your new home. If you both have drastically different tastes in interiors, there’s no need to panic. There should always be an elegant combination of style and textures within every interior. It’s just a matter of pairing them eloquently—and with these decorating tips, you can blend both of your lives perfectly into one.

    Decorating Tips for Couples Moving in Together - bhgrelife.com1. Establish an in-between style

    Before you move in together, it’s important to take a look at each other’s belongings and determine what you plan on utilizing in your soon-to-be home. Since drawing a line down the center of each room to separate his style from hers is highly unlikely, you’ll need to establish an in-between style with which you’re both comfortable. Find a happy medium and run with it.

  • 5 Decorating Tips for Your Backyard

    Your backyard is a very important part of your home and deserves to have the same elegance as the interior. It can be the ultimate place to entertain, dine, and lounge under the sun or stars. With these five decorating tips for your backyard, the outdoors is about to be just as beautiful as the inside of your home.

    5 Decorating Tips for Your Backyard - bhgrelife.com1. Create a gathering area

    The best way to get use of your backyard is to create a spot to gather. Whether it’s around a fire pit, fountain, garden, or shady tree, arrange some attractive seating options to create a welcoming hangout spot for friends and family to come together.

  • Tips to Reinvent Your Kitchen on a Budget

    The kitchen is one of the biggest selling points in a home, often the biggest, and an outdated one has the power to turn off potential buyers. Everyone can agree that a newly renovated room is a great selling factor – and that’s even truer when that room is the kitchen. While kitchen renovations are often associated with a high price tag, with these tips, you can reinvent your kitchen on any budget, no matter how tight it may be.

    Tips to Reinvent Your Kitchen on a Budget - bhgrelife.com1. Find the perfect flooring

    Floors are the largest surface in a home, and as such, have the power to make a massive impression on everyone who enters. If your kitchen floors look old, torn and worn, it’s time to do something about them, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Replace old vinyl tiles with newer ones and re-stain worn-out wood floors. You may also want to consider cheaper alternatives to your favorite flooring options, such as brick flooring, which is fairly affordable and emits a sense of warmth that comes from the rich red and brown hues.

  • 10 Tips for First-time Home Buyers

    After months – maybe years – of preparation, you’ve decided to finally go for it and purchase your first home. Congratulations! This is a very exciting time for you, but it is important to never let the anticipation of being a first-time home buyer get in the way of making crucial decisions in the buying process. Although purchasing your first home is an amazing experience, it can also come with some challenges. With some tips and first-time buyer knowledge, the task can be less daunting and all the more exciting.

    10 Tips for First-time Home Buyers - bhgrelife.com

    1. Determine your budget

    The very first thing every first-time home buyer needs to determine is what he or she can afford. That will make your search significantly more effective. When calculating your budget, include all additional costs, such as insurance premiums, homeowners insurance, property taxes, HOA fees (if applicable), etc. Once you have determined your budget, you will know which homes are within your reach.

    2. Determine where you stand with lenders

    To make the buying process easier, know where you stand with lenders. If you have a credit score of 720 or above, you can shop around for a loan with the lowest interest rate. However, if you have a lower credit score, you may be restricted to higher rates. There are still many promising options available, but this could certainly increase your budget.

    3. Consider cost-saving moves

    As a first-time buyer, you want to get as much bang for your buck. There are several potentially cost-saving moves you may be interested in. Look for properties that are in foreclosure, or shop in neighborhoods with a high number of properties for sale to get the highest value for your dollar.

  • Professional vs. DIY: How to Choose

    When it comes to repairs and projects within your home, Pinterest boards make it look easy. However, there are some things that you should hire a professional for and others that you can handle on your own, which leads to the inevitable debate: Professional vs. DIY? If you aren’t very handy, crafty, or creative, this dilemma can often be solved with one answer – hire a professional. However, even natural do-it-yourself kinds of people find themselves wondering which route is the best. Here are some things to consider that can help you find the perfect option for all of your projects.

    Professional vs. DIY: How to Choose - bhgrelife.com1. Evaluate Your Skills

    Before starting any home improvements or repairs, the first thing you need to consider is your skills. You may have all the willpower in the world, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that a job will be done properly. You also want to ask yourself if you have the energy and time to take on the project. If not, hiring a professional can get the job done well and in a timely manner. However, if you have the skills required, will enjoy the task, and have time to do it, then some do-it-yourself action may be the better option.

  • The Emoji Guide to Buying a Home

    Tips for Buying a Home Emoji

    When it comes to buying a home, there’s a lot to keep in mind. Did you correctly guess these top emoji tips? Feel free to let us know in the comments, and share how many you guessed correctly! For more tips on buying and selling, visit us here.

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