COZY PET NOOKS!

This time of year is the perfect time to get this little cozy pet nooks project underway. With cold weather and rainy days, we all want our pets to have a comfy cozy place to be. It is fairly simple to turn unused space in your house into a dream sanctuary for your furry friend(s).

Look around your house for small, underutilized spaces that can be transformed into a comfortable cozy nook for your pet to relax. Examples of this are:

• closet area under the stairs
• a built-in window seat
• or simply an empty corner of a room

For smaller animals, you can also consider upcycling a piece of furniture to create a snug haven for them to cuddle up. These ideas include:

• empty the bottom shelf of a bookcase
• remove the doors from an armoire

Once you decide on the perfect spot for your pets, add a comfy cushion and plush blanket, then fill the area with your pets’ favorite toys. You can even upgrade the space by adding a food and water station. If there’s enough room, cats will enjoy a small climbing tree. With a touch of creativity, you can craft a cozy, personalized retreat your pet will love. 

If this is a season in your life where it’s time to MOVE UP for you and your pets, ERA Town & Campus Realty is here to guide you on this journey!

Photo Via Pexels via Flickr

Info Via ERA publication, The Sign Post

Thank you @nelsonzide for the mailer

Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions in your life. Whether you’ve done it once, or multiple times, you know it is a whole process. A process that takes time, energy, and can be overwhelming. Buying a home requires negotiating skills, financial knowledge, and legal expertise. In this blog, we’re going to discuss how to start the home buying process. Some of these topics include: how to begin, tips, and the advantages of hiring a real estate professional.

One of the first things to consider is…How much home you can afford? You don’t want to sell yourself short by thinking about this on your own or internet searching in circles. Do yourself a favor and go have a conversation with the people in the know – Realtors and Mortgage loan officers. Simply speaking with a local professional about buying a home can put your mind at ease and get you started in the right direction.

Mortgage loan officers are available to help you determine your price range, the do’s and don’ts of things while you’re in this process, along with educating you on all the many types of financing options. Once you’ve determined your affordable price range, your Realtor can begin their work of narrowing down homes for you to view.

Finding the right professional to work with is very important. There are many Realtors out there, and you need to find the one that you are able to talk to comfortably, communicate your needs, and whose opinion and judgement you respect. The Realtor also needs to be able to trust and communicate with you comfortably as well because they are looking out for your best interest. A clear advantage of hiring a Realtor is so you don’t have to go through this alone. They have the background, experience, and skills to guide you through each step of this process. Another advantage is that they have extensive knowledge of market trends, neighborhoods, communities, and what’s already for sale (or going to be) throughout the area.

Once you decide on who you’d like to represent you, they will present you with a disclosure statement before any action is taken. This explains what a Buyer’s Agent is and does, the agreed length of time you will work together exclusively, how compensation works, and other topics. After all, you are entering into a relationship with this person and everyone needs to be open and on the same page.

Other things to consider are:

• The community you want to live in.
  • Do you want to be near amenities, on the outskirts, or your own oasis in the country?
  • Is it near your job, close to grocery or other stores, easy access to public transportation, or parks/play areas?
  • Are there good schools, churches/synagogues, childcare services?
  • Other aspects?

Buying tip #1: If commuting time is important to you, take a “test drive” by driving from work to the home you are considering. It’s also interesting to see if there are multiple ways to get to and from your destination.

• What are your home requirements?
  • Single family home, townhouse, other?
  • Older, newer?
  • One story, two story?
  • Number of bedrooms and bathrooms?
  • Any other special features?

Buying tip#2: Pay attention to the original listing date of the homes you look at. Sellers tend to be more flexible the longer the house is on the market.

If you are in the market to buy a home or land and need a Realtor, give one of our ERA agents a call. All of our real estate experts would be glad to help you with all of the things above and help your home buying experience be as seamless as possible.

The benefits of practicing gratitude in your daily life can have a significant impact on your well-being and mindset.

Even if there is nothing significant happening in your life today, it IS a new day. One that you can participate in what ever way you are able. Sometimes expressing gratitude simply for a new day is enough to change your attitude and perspective. Gratitude, however, is more than just saying “thank you.” Practicing gratitude is appreciating the goodness in your daily life no matter how big or small. There is always something to be thankful for even if some days you really must look for it. The benefits of practicing gratitude in your regular routine, can provide you with physical, mental, and emotional gains. It is a powerful tool for helping us balance out negative thought patterns and can strengthen relationships by recognizing and valuing the good in others.

“This is a wonderful day. I have never seen this one before.” -Maya Angelou

There are some exercises you can try to incorporate gratitude into your daily life. Try some of these and hopefully you’ll find one that works for you.

• Gratitude Countdown
  • Rapidly list 10 things you are grateful for. This is also something you can do with a partner or solo.
• 24  hour reflection
  • take time to scan your thoughts and say three things out loud that happened in the last day that your are thankful for.
• Gratitude Journal
  • In a notebook, jot down something you are thankful for each day
• Gratitude Letter
  • Sent a letter, email, text, or call someone that has significantly impacted your life and express that to them in words.
• Walk
  • Take a walk and intentionally notice and appreciate the world around you by using your senses.
• Meditation
  • Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Then begin to shift your thinking to things you are grateful for and feel the warmth and joy that brings to you.
• Gratitude Jar
  • Write things you are grateful for down on a slip of paper and drop into a jar. Whenever your feeling low or need a pick-me-up, read one of your entries and rediscover that wonderful feeing.

Give some of these practices a try and notice the shift in your mind and attitude. If you practice something daily, it then becomes a habit. This is a healthy and beneficial habit that will pay you back over and over.

Outdoor Design Trends

These outdoor design trends are creative, inventive, and natrual ways to update your outdoor space. The current outdoor design trends are leaning toward more useful, tranquil, and functional. Impletmenting some of these ideas into your space can help make your outdoor space a true extension of your home.

Layers of lighting

Using lights on different levels adds depth and interest to your outdoor design. Try adding lights as accents, using different intensities, or even a layered effect. Implementing a few different layers can make your yard and garden a true extension of your home.

Chill Vibes

Tranquility is where it’s at. Leaning toward a mellow feel with a relaxed, playful setting versus a high-contrast vibe with edgy landscape. You can achieve this with hanging chairs, water features, wind chimes, and strings of lights draped casually through the trees.

Encourage outdoor time for kids

There are many mental and physical benefits of being outdoors. Try expanding your outdoor space to be more kid-centric by making pathways specifically for them to run through, adding ropes to climb, a playhouse, or even creating a dry river bed with river rocks and plants explore.

Nurturing and Natural Landscaping

Try garden designs with healthy edibles and herbs and plants that have healing properties. Also try incorporating, low-water landscapes incorporating native plants, and pollinators. Planting native plants also coincides with developing a conscious use of water. 

A few other ideas to try are:

• Create a meandering pathway
• Use curvy outdoor furniture
• Incorporate shapeable plants
• Plant easy care evergreens
• Have an outdoor nooks
• Use vacation inspired decor
• Accent with organic textures.

With all that being said, one of the most important things to remember is just to simply create and outdoor space that is designed by incorporating personality infused details. Get inspiration from things you’ve gathered along the way. Look at the color schemes, patterns, and textures. Use these outdoor design trends as inspiration for your own personal spin to truely make your own. Building this space for your family’s enjoyment ultimately makes it a peaceful and enjoyable extension of your home that you can use and enjoy for many years to come.

If you are rocking a wonderful outdoor space, tag our social media, we’d love to see it and get inspired!

Preparing your home for summer is a great habit to get in to doing each year. Keeping up with maintenance tasks around your home is the perfect way to ensure that your investment stays in tip-top shape! Also, there is some fun things to prepare for too…such as prepping your garden and stocking up on summer essentials!

Getting your home ready for summer involves both practical and enjoyable tasks. Here’s a checklist to ensure you’re prepared:

1. Air Conditioning Maintenance: Have your air conditioning system serviced to ensure it’s working efficiently during the hot months.
2. Check for Drafts: Seal any gaps or cracks around windows and doors to keep cool air in and hot air out.
3. Clean or Replace Filters: Clean or replace air filters in your HVAC system to improve air quality and efficiency.
4. Test Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Ensure these devices are in working order to keep your home safe.
5. Inspect and Clean Gutters: Remove debris to prevent water damage and ensure proper drainage during summer storms.
6. Check Outdoor Faucets and Hoses: Inspect for leaks and make any necessary repairs before watering your lawn and garden.
7. Inspect and Clean Outdoor Furniture: Clean outdoor furniture and check for any damage that needs repair or replacement.
8. Prepare Your Garden: Start planting summer flowers and vegetables, and ensure your garden is properly mulched and watered.
9. Pest Control: Take preventive measures to keep insects and pests at bay, such as sealing cracks and using natural repellents.
10. Outdoor Lighting: Check outdoor lighting fixtures and replace any bulbs that are burnt out. Consider adding solar-powered lights for energy efficiency.
11. Inspect Your Roof: Check for any loose or damaged shingles and make repairs to prevent leaks during summer rains.
12. Clean Windows and Screens: Clean windows and screens to let in more natural light and fresh air.
13. Stock Up on Summer Essentials: Ensure you have sunscreen, insect repellent, and any other summer necessities on hand.
14. Prepare Outdoor Entertainment Areas: Clean and arrange outdoor entertainment areas such as patios, decks, and BBQ grills for summer gatherings.
15. Plan Energy-Saving Strategies: Consider using ceiling fans, installing window coverings to block out heat, and using programmable thermostats to save on energy costs.

By completing these tasks and preparing your home for summer, you’ll be ready to enjoy a comfortable and enjoyable summer at home. If you need any suggestions for maintenance or technicians, or if you are ready to prep your home to sell this summer, let us know, we’d be glad to help.