May 9, 2008 - 11:43 am - Posted by Sherri R
We just recently received our latest heating and cooling bill and were amazed at just how much our bill was. We live in a brand new home and knew that all the insulation was great and there were no leaks. What we discovered is that our thermostat was in a room with no blinds in this room and this caused it to be in direct sunlight most of the day. So the thermostat was staying warmer and staying on longer even though the was staying cool. This was a lesson that we wanted to share and to look placing wood blinds in your windows and look at the placement of your thermostat and if your energy bills are sky high you may want to rethink where you have your controls.
Posted in Housing | No Comments »
May 6, 2008 - 9:55 pm - Posted by Sherri R
Spring has finally arrived in the Northwest and it is time to planting those flowers and bushes. We recently moved into a new home and the landscape in the flower beds was gong to be this years project, so did some research on the types of plants and bushes that would thrive in our area. My wife and I have no idea on what plants to add so we relied on a friend to help with the planning and design stage. One thing that we did agree upon was having a small garden in the back where we could grow some of our own fruits and vegetables. We are going to let our kids pick out their favorite vegetable and let them own a piece of the garden so that they can have some responsibility in what we grow. I remember having a small garden that I helped to plant and grow and can remember the thrill of picking my first watermelon and then serving it to the family. So we prepared the soil and got the seeds and the plant stakes to help start the process and then will hope for the best.
We were introduced to metalgardenmarkers.com where they have a great selection of metal garden marker that you can customize with the plants names or other messages of your choice. They really look to add a unique flair to your garden or planting area and are much better than those ugly wooden stakes. So whether your are looking for a plant label, or way to organize and label your flowers then you are sure to find what you are looking for. The site makes it easy to order and there are no special gadgets that you need to worry about. You will find the metal stakes in various sizes and shapes to help you create the custom look that will make your garden look like a professional did it. One of the best features is that these garden markers are made right here in the USA from materials purchased from US suppliers.
Posted in Housing | No Comments »
March 28, 2008 - 11:26 pm - Posted by Sherri R
While most of the bad news has been around the housing market it appears that commercial real estate is alive and well in our area. The expansion of businesses, hotels, and shopping centers continues to grow. In fact just about 20 minutes from where we live there is a new retail/living area going up. The concept is that build condos and apartments on the top 4 floors and the main floor are local shops and specialty stores. It is a great looking community and most of what anyone could need is right there within walking distance.
Posted in Housing | 1 Comment »
March 27, 2008 - 4:06 pm - Posted by Sherri R

We recently read a report that there are millions of homes each year that are endangered by various termites, insects, and pests. These little bugs can build up over time as they build their colonies and the path to your home becomes easier. Many people will try and treat on their with over the counter products that can be found at the local hardware store. This can be effective but if the insects are inside the wood or foundation you will need to consult with a professional like Pest Control Dallas experts at ARPT. They also provide Pest Control Fort Worth in Tarrant and Dallas county. When we lived in Texas we used to have battle carpenter ants. While ants typically do not sound that harmful, species like the carpenter ant can get into the woodwork and create major damage to your home and it’s structure.
They get their name because they prefer to create their colonies inside wood, old trees and buries lumber. They do not actually eat the wood , but chew off small pieces that can create a huge hole or cavity in the structure. You can see signs of carpenter ants because their debris often look like sawdust. As they build their colony which can take months they create channels and other large areas that expand in length. This is what weakens the structure of the home or your trees and make them unsafe. So if you are suspicious of carpenter ants you will want to consult Dallas Pest control experts like the ones at All-rid Pest and termite control to come out and assess the situation.
Posted in Housing | No Comments »
March 21, 2008 - 10:36 pm - Posted by Sherri R
Everyone dreams of owning a million dollar home where they have all the great things in life. Having marble tile throughout the home, the top of the line appliances, a pool to relax by and a great entertainment room are only some of the features you might expect. Finding your dream home has gotten much easier thanks to online sites that show you where yo live the culture, and restaurants that are available. You can find specific city locations and search for instance La Jolla restaurants which has some fabulous places to eat and be seen. where you find pictures and virtual tours of these amazing estates. It never hurts to dream and someday with the right dedication and focus you will own your own dream house.
Take a tour of a your dream home by location: a city with exceptional living value and, of course, incomparable dream homes. Your dream home can be found with outstanding properties, artistic landscapes, a vibrant cultural life, as well as great cafes, restaurants, and other meeting places. From San Diego to La Jolla to Hawaii and Greece, learn about these most livable areas of the world.
Posted in Housing | No Comments »
March 19, 2008 - 6:38 pm - Posted by Sherri R
We have recently moved into our new home and one of our first goals was to find some new furnishings for our two youngest kids. It was time to upgrade the crib bedding to a more grown up bed for our youngest. We were looking for a bed that she could grow into and provided functionality so that if she had friends sleep over they would have some where to sleep. We were able to find this white bunk bed that provided a big girls bed with a place where her friends could have a sleep over. We got her new kids bedding that featured Disneys newest hit Hannah Montana. We got her some of the matching accessories and hew new room is a place that she loves to spend time in and bring her friends over to play and just giggle. With our new home it gave us more space and larger rooms so that the kids could actually play and have a place to hang out with their friends aside from the family room. It is nice to know that they can entertain their friends and the kids love to come over.
For our son it was more simple. He needed a room where he could play his Xbox and bring his friends over to think of ways to irritate the girls. Although he does get along with his younger sister they always want to play tricks on each others friends and this does create some interesting moments in our home. Like the time that our son and one of his friends hid under our daughters bed and then when her friend came over they waited a few minutes and then came out and you would have thought they chopped their arm off. The screaming and panic to get downstairs was quite the ordeal. This is why we have now allowed them to put locks on their doors to help keep some of their privacy. I can recommend that when you are looking for kids furniture and kids gifts you can find a great selection.
Posted in Housing | No Comments »
March 19, 2008 - 6:16 pm - Posted by Sherri R

Americans today have built up a staggering amount of debt. Part of the reason is that banks and lending companies have been more lenient in their lending practices and have helped people to extend their debt past their limits. This was magnified by the subprime lending market for new home owners and those with low credit who refinanced their homes. The industry got over their heads offering low adjustable rate mortgages to higher risk clients, and when those rates started to adjust the consumer was unable to keep up with their payments. Now many banks and lenders who played in this market are feeling the financial pressures from the public and the government. Now today you see more ads for debt relief than in the past offering debt consolidation services of some sort. As the market continues to soften you must make sure that whether you are buying or selling you explore all your options.
With the latest fed rates cuts buying a new home should get a little easier as mortgage rates will eventually follow. Buying a new home will require good timing and research. There are a few costs that you must be ready to account such as closing costs, moving costs and purchasing home insurance to protect your new purchase. If you are looking for home insurance quotes then try insurelog.com where you can research several providers in a matter of minutes and get free quotes from the comfort of your home. Plus the site offers some great articles for those that are looking to buy a new home and whether this is your first home or fifth home they have some great insight to help anyone.
Posted in Housing | No Comments »
November 2, 2007 - 3:02 pm - Posted by Sherri R
For many single young Americans buying a home may not be in the plans right when you get out of school. My wife got our first apartment right out of college and it allowed us to save up enough money to eventually purchase our first home. Many of us have looked through the want ads but one of the best resources to find apartments for rent is the Apartment Finder. A nationally recognized resource with an amazing website helped my sister-in-law and her husband find a great two bedroom apartment with all the amenities that they were looking for. You can see pictures and read about the location all in one location.
You can search by address, college, or other location that is more suitable to your immediate needs. This tools would have been great had we been able to use it when I was in college. We had to rely on a newspaper ad or drive around to different locations in order to find a suitable place. I even remember having to camp out overnight to get into the apartment that we lived in during our senior year. With apartmentfinder.com all those countless hours of searching can now be done in minutes. So whether you are looking for a place to rent for college or a newly married couple looking to start out your life you will find your next apartment at Apartment Finder online.
The flooring is the most important part of your business or home regardless of your life style. Flooring should be comfortable no matter it is garage flooring or room flooring. Most of the people love to go for vinyl flooring because it is bit easy to install it.
Posted in Housing | No Comments »