Home Tips & Ideas

Homeowners may unknowingly be haunted by a “zombie tree” hiding in their yard. These trees may appear to be alive and even still green and full of foliage, but are dying inside in a way that could threaten nearby homes or the safety of those around them, a recent article at realtor.com® warns. How can you spot one? “Homeowners should be on the lookout for dying limbs, holes in the trunks, or...

Garage sales can be a great way to get rid of clutter and earn a little extra cash before you move. But make sure you plan ahead; they can take on a life of their own. Don’t wait until the last minute. Depending on how long you’ve lived in your home and how much stuff you want to sell, planning a garage sale can take a lot of time and energy. And that’s on top of the effort of putting your home...

If you’re struggling to find space in your house, luckily, many options exist to organize and save room in the storage spaces you do have.   Vacuum-sealed bags: These bags compress clothes, pillows, blankets and other soft items to help them fit into tighter spaces. You can stack and store them away in closets or under beds, and you have the added bonus of knowing your items will be...

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Even discussions about emotional support animals get emotional, but one thing remains true: No-pet rules don’t matter for legitimate emotional-support animal claims. But Fla. owners now have more ways to deal with people who stretch the truth about a pet’s emotional-support status. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Other than political debate, perhaps nothing else evokes more of an “emotional” response...

Are you considering selling your home For Sale By Owner? Not knowing what papers you need to sell your property can cost you dearly. There are lots of documents and many disclosures that need to be signed and submitted for filing throughout the home sales process. A seller needs to consider scheduling appraisers, arranging necessary inspections, and meeting a whole host of other conditions. Failing...

Text Version: Whether you're prepping before a sale or renovating the home you just bought, these tips can ensure you come out the other side sane and happy with the result. 1. Don't over-improve. Ask a local Realtor for listings on comparable homes so you can determine if it make sense to invest as much as you plan. This is especially important if you expect to sell in the near future. 2. Set a...

Need some more free space? One technique is to pack away everything you’re not using during a particular time of year. For instance, winter jackets, snow boots, sleds, and snow blowers have no use taking up room in your closet or garage during the summer months. Move these items to more permanent storage when they’re not being actively used. These are the best places to store items you’re not...

More often than you would believe, scammers forge and file deed documents to fraudulently take ownership of homes to extort, mortgage, sell or rent the property. Crazy, isn't it? To protect your property against scams or fraud, the Broward County Property Appraiser has launched a FREE program that notifies homeowners immediately of any title changes to their property. It's called Owner Alert and it's a...

Plan ahead. Develop a master to-do list so you won’t forget something critical heading into moving day. This will also help you create an estimate of moving time and costs. Discard items you no longer want or need. Ask yourself how frequently you use an item and how you’d feel if you no longer had it. Sort unwanted items into “garage sale,” “donate,” and “recycle” piles. Pack similar...