Buying A Home

Attract Beautiful Birds to Your Backyard

If you’re a bird lover, it takes just a few steps to turn your backyard into a haven filled with brilliant colors and cheerful songs. Here’s how to attract birds to your backyard....

Birds want the basics

Much like humans, birds want food, water, shelter and a place to nest. The more of those you provide, the more varieties of birds you’ll find visiting your yard. To attract birds, do the following....

Food

Put out several feeders of different types throughout your yard and keep them full. Use a variety of foods, including typical bird seed, mixtures designed to attract specific birds, and fatty food such as suet, bits of fruit, and nectar in an appropriate feeder. Place the feeders at different heights.
Fill your yard with native trees, shrubs, grasses, perennials and annuals to attract birds. These plants, which can be food sources, are what local wildlife prefer. Even if birds don’t directly dine on them, native plants provide food for insects that birds like. The dense growth of native plants can also provide shelter and a place for nesting.
Insects are a primary food source for many birds, so avoid using pesticides in your yard. Also, avoid chemical fertilizers and herbicides.
Reduce the amount of lawn in your yard. Replacing turf with native plants increases the number of food sources.

Water

All birds need water year-round for drinking and bathing, so add birdbaths to your yard. You can buy birdbaths or make your own with plant saucers or shallow ceramic bowls. Just ensure the bath water is less than three inches deep so that small birds can take advantage of it. Clean the baths regularly in summer, changing the water every two to three days. In winter, use a special heater to keep the water warm.
Birds like moving water, so fountains or birdbaths with a dripper will attract more of them.
Place birdbaths where cats and other predators can’t reach them. The same goes for feeders.

Shelter

Birds avoid yards that don’t offer shelter, so fill empty spots in your yard with trees, dense shrubs and other plantings that provide it. Be sure to include evergreens for winter shelter.
Start a brush pile in a corner of your yard, using a discarded Christmas tree or fallen branches and limbs.
Roosting boxes, which are similar to birdhouses but aren’t for nesting, provide a place for birds to stay warm and dry.

Birds Nesting Places

Provide birdhouses for nesting.
Fill an old feeder or a suet cage with nesting materials. Birds can use cut grass, dried leaves and weeds, lint, hair, string and even pet fur to build nests.

Related – Birdhouses Attract Beautiful Birds...

Ownership, Shopping Guides,

Got Buyer’s Remorse? You’re Not Alone.

We’ve all succumbed to impulse purchases at some point, so if you’ve got buyer’s remorse about any of the following household items, there’s no shame. If you haven’t made these purchases yet, be forewarned:...

Home exercise equipment. It could be a door-mounted chin-up bar, a treadmill, or a stair-stepper. You bought it in a flash of inspiration to get sleek abs and python arms. Now, you only use it to hang up your laundry to dry.
Uncomfortable or ugly furniture. That unique chair that begged you to take it home from the store is either uncomfortable, unsightly, or both. Guests sit briefly, squirm, and then move to the couch. You should have sat down in the chair for more than a few minutes on the showroom floor or considered how its color would complement your prevailing tones at home.
One-and-done kitchen appliances. Unless it’s a small appliance you’ll use daily, think twice about a shaved-ice snow-cone maker or a soda dispenser. Single-use devices take up counter, drawer, or cabinet space. A coffee maker is used daily, but a popcorn popper is used occasionally. Avoid adding clutter—and having buyer’s remorse.
Specialty kitchen gadgets. Ignore TV ads for those gimmicky hand gadgets for opening jar lids, making swirly cut French fries, slicing bagels, or chopping vegetables. Most of the time, these gadgets get snagged when you open and close the drawer where you store them, and they just annoy you.
Subscriptions. Most people have several subscriptions they signed up for on impulse, cumulatively adding an average of $273 per month to Americans’ budgets. That wine-of-the-month club, meal-in-a-box delivery program, or entertainment subscription is exciting for the first six months, forgotten thereafter. But you’re still paying.

One way to prevent buyer’s remorse is to practice the three-day rule. Hold off on impulse purchasing for three days, especially if you’re stressed out. Instead, put the item on your wishlist, then put a pause on buying it for 72 hours. After the three days are up, if you still want to make the purchase—and you can afford it—go ahead and get it. When you’ve put enough thought into an item, you’re more likely to actually use it. The best advice is to curb your impulses and think hard before you pull out that credit card....

Buying, Buying a Home,

Homesteading: It’s Not Strange to Want a Home on the Range

Homesteading is rapidly becoming popular in the US as people seek independence from traditional conveniences like grocery stores. Why is it growing in popularity, and what does it take to get started?...

Return to America’s roots

Bare grocery store shelves during COVID-19, paired with rising prices, prompted new interest in homesteading in recent years. Barely a century ago, growing vegetables and gathering eggs from backyard chickens were the norm, and grocery stores were just beginning to catch on. Homesteading is a return to our original traditions....

In addition to independence, homesteading rewards you with fresher vegetables, eggs, and fruit grown and harvested on your land....

How can homesteading meet your needs?

Homesteading teaches skills for supplying food, water, energy, cleaning products, and other necessities. Here are the essential areas of a homestead....

A vegetable garden is the nucleus of homesteading self-sufficiency. Learning to plan the layout, cultivate the soil, compost, grow starter plants, water, fertilize, and harvest are essential to the lifestyle. Food sustainability is the heart of homesteading.
Fruit trees can supply apples, oranges, peaches, lemons, and limes.
Water security is also essential to homesteading. Having a well is fundamental on small-acreage properties, as is harvesting rainwater into large storage tanks to irrigate gardens and filter it for drinking water.
Power generation from solar panels to emergency generators reduces dependence on the utility grid and keeps homes operating in power blackouts caused by severe weather.
Chickens, goats, and even dairy cows are other food sources on small- and large-acreage properties.
Beekeeping provides you with your own locally grown honey.

How big does your property need to be?

You don’t have to own a large land parcel to start a small homestead. You can grow vegetables in a planter on a condo balcony. Homeowners in a subdivision can grow fruit trees and tend a raised-bed vegetable-and-herb garden. Small-acreage properties can expand to chickens and maybe even goats....

Check neighborhood rules

Depending on the size and location of your property, you may have to check local zoning and HOA rules....

Homes inside city limits, especially in single-family residential subdivisions, will have zoning laws to consult regarding livestock. HOAs will almost certainly forbid chickens, goats, sheep, hogs, and possibly bees. ...

Livestock ownership is usually allowed once outside city limits and in more rural areas. ...

Resources for getting started with homesteading

There is a treasure trove of books, websites, and YouTube videos on homesteading. Each area, from gardens to fruit trees to chickens to beekeeping, is a deep-dive study in its own right. ...

Some books that can help you get started include Small Scale Homesteading, The Backyard Homestead, and anything by Joel Salatin....

Home Energy, Ownership,

Need a New Appliance? Let the Energy Star Label Be Your Guide

Shoppers are used to seeing a yellow-and-black label attached to an appliance with the Energy Star logo and information about the machine’s energy usage. When you’re in the market for a new appliance, you should take a minute to look at the Energy Star label and compare a machine’s features with those of other models....

What is an Energy Star label?

The Energy Star program was launched in 1980, requiring manufacturers of computers and peripheral equipment to comply with controlled energy usage. The program later expanded to include many household appliances, which is how most consumers know the term today. ...

Newly manufactured appliances must report estimated annual energy usage per machine. The information must be posted on the machine’s Energy Star label so that shoppers can compare it with others....

Energy Star has been so successful that governments of other nations have adopted nearly identical standards. ...

What information is on the Energy Star label?

The label provides the expected annual energy usage measured by an average weekly usage established by consumer surveys. Using washing machines as an example, energy usage is based on the tub’s capacity for six wash loads per week, which is considered an average family’s usage....

Continuing with the washing machine example, the Energy Star label shows:...

The type of machine
The manufacturer
The model number
The size capacity of the machine
The estimated yearly energy cost in dollars
The cost range for similar machines and where this particular machine falls in the range
The estimated number of kilowatt hours for use for one year
The estimated yearly energy cost if the water is heated by natural gas versus electricity

Comparing apples to apples

For an accurate comparison, you should examine machines with similar specifications. Again, with washers, you should compare compact with compact and standard with standard unless you’re considering a change in size from what you currently have. ...

You could also compare the cost differences between a front-loading machine and a top-loading version that otherwise has the same capacity. ...

When two machines of identical specifications differ in estimated energy cost, it is sometimes because they have different run times in one or more periods of their operating cycles....

Home Improvements, Ownership,

Disinfecting Your Home After Illness

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened the public’s awareness of the importance of sanitizing surfaces at home and at work. Coronaviruses primarily spread through the air, but other pathogens are spread when you touch contaminated surfaces, then they reach your mouth and nose. Here are guidelines for disinfecting your home....

The difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting your home

It can be easy to confuse these terms....

Cleaning means washing a surface of dirt, grease, and impurities. Cleaning will remove some germs through physical action, but a dirty surface makes germ-fighting more challenging....

Sanitizing kills and removes some pathogens with a mild germ-killing solution, such as a light mix of bleach and water....

Disinfecting goes further, using an agent that kills virtually all pathogens. Look specifically for products that offer that level of effectiveness. ...

Eliminating tough-as-nails pathogens

Some bacteria and viruses are tougher than others. Stomach viruses like norovirus are very hardy and primarily spread by touching contaminated surfaces. These bugs can live on surfaces for up to 10 days and resist sanitizing. More rigorously disinfecting your home is necessary....

Wear latex or plastic gloves when cleaning up after viral or bacterial sickness in your home or work. Assemble a bucket with paper towels, a plastic trash bag, a cleaner for dirt and grease, and a follow-up disinfecting product—and keep it ready.
After cleaning, wipe with a disinfectant. When shopping, read the label. Look for products that kill germs with 99% effectiveness.
It is essential to know how long you should leave the disinfectant wet on surfaces to kill pathogens; this is known as dwell time. Many viruses do not die immediately on surfaces and must remain in contact with the disinfectant for a determined time.
These methods are mainly used in bathrooms during sickness, focusing on the toilet, sink, shower, and door handles.
Disinfect high-touchpoints throughout the house, including light switches, doorknobs, cabinet and drawer pulls, thermostat controls, children’s toys, TV remotes, the tops and armrests of dining table chairs, and refrigerator door handles.
Wash dishes and utensils on the hot setting of the dishwasher. Throw out any contaminated food.
Throw all paper towels and other refuse from cleaning into a plastic garbage bag and promptly take it to the outside trash bin.

Disinfecting fabrics

Wearing gloves, strip contaminated clothes, sheets, pillowcases, comforters, mattress covers, and towels. Wash separately from other laundry, and do not shake before washing. Use additives like Lysol Laundry Sanitizer along with regular detergent. Wash and dry on the hottest, longest setting your fabrics can withstand. Wash and sanitize the inside of laundry hampers that may have held contaminated clothing and linens. ...

After testing in a discreet area for color fastness, wipe upholstery with disinfecting wipes. Otherwise, steam cleaning can sanitize it. ...

If you must clean up bodily waste

In the unfortunate circumstance of having to clean up a mess that didn’t make it to the toilet:...

Wear gloves, mop up the mess with paper towels, and dispose of these in a trash bag.
Wash the affected surfaces thoroughly with paper towels drenched in hot, soapy water.
After the yuck is cleaned up, use a disinfecting cleaner and wet the area thoroughly for the prescribed dwell time.
Dispose of the trash bag outside immediately.

Final word: Wash your hands more frequently than usual, lathering and rinsing for 20 seconds in case you missed some pathogens on a surface....

Home Improvements, Ownership,

Ready to Master Home Repairs Yourself? These YouTube Channels Are Here to Help!

YouTube has a vast collection of DIY videos on fixing just about anything. Likely, someone has posted a tutorial video addressing any repair job you may encounter with your house or car or other big purchases. Let’s review some of the best YouTube channels for home projects....

How to search and choose YouTube videos

When seeking a video for a specific repair around the house, use search terms that are as accurate as possible. With appliances, some models are prone to a particular type of failure. Name the brand model and describe the problem and an error code if one flashes. Like magic, you’ll find four or five videos on that specific washer and problem....

Several helpful sites are available for building and installation projects. Look for ones where the presenting hosts provide their experience and qualifications. Some sites cover a variety of projects, and specialty hosts offer presentations in their areas of expertise. ...

Great home DIY fix-it channels on YouTube

The Sparky Channel is your one-stop place for learning electrical skills around the house. Scroll through a library of instructions on installing or repairing switches, running a wire conduit, and troubleshooting plugs that stop working. Note: A licensed electrician must be hired to complete many projects, so recognize your limits. ...

FIX IT Home Improvement Channel can hardly be matched for its versatility of systems, appliances, fixtures, and devices around the home that you can learn to repair. Plumbing, electrical, carpentry, landscaping, lawn care—you name it, and FIX IT has the answer. ...

DIY Hip Chicks promotes girl power to accomplish every imaginable project, such as installing flooring, setting tile, spraying paint, working on HVAC projects, and more. ...

Steve Ramsey Woodworking for Mere Mortals has over 1 million subscribers, and it’s easy to see why. Steve coaches you on everything related to building with wood, including tools, fasteners, types of wood, how to measure and cut, and everything else. ...

Roger Wakefield Plumbing Education teaches you the basics of plumbing and how to fix almost every problem you might encounter. ...

The DIY HVAC Guy helps you keep cool when you have heating and air-conditioning problems. Note: Like electrical issues, some HVAC issues must be handled by a professional, so don’t get in over your head. ...

This Old House has been a lifelong friend of home repair and building projects. An offshoot of the long-running PBS television series, it is the granddaddy of all DIY tutorial resources....

Finally, big-box stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot have solid DIY tutorial channels....

Related – Your New DIY Resource: YouTube!...

Home Energy, Ownership,

A DIY Checkup of Your Electrical System

Specific home maintenance checkups should be done annually to troubleshoot potential issues before they become problems. One important area to check is your home’s electrical system. Catching hazards early will not only save you money but also, potentially, your house and life. Once or twice a year, inspect the following. ...

Open and close the panel door to your breaker box to ensure it latches properly. The outside panel should be adequately weatherproofed, with the door slotting under a waterproofing drip edge. Switches should be clean and snap off and on crisply. No vegetation or crawling ants should live inside the panel.
All outlets near a water source (bathroom, kitchen, outdoors) should be ground fault circuits, interrupt circuits, or GFCI types. Push the “Test” button and then the “Reset” button. These should work crisply, and the test light should turn green upon reset.
Inspect wiring in the attic and basement, especially to and from the HVAC, water heater, and other systems. Look for signs of rodent gnawing. Do not store flammable items near such systems.
Exterior plugs should be in weatherproof boxes with flip-open lids. The lids should be slotted to admit a plug but still close. The plug itself should be a GFCI type.
Any wall plug at a level accessible to a child should have a childproof design. If not, have these plugs upgraded. Plugs should sit snugly and securely and not be jiggly.
Use your senses: Switches should not pop when operated, and outlets should not pop when a plug is inserted or pulled. Outlets should also not be hot to the touch or emit a hot smell.

Useful tools for checking your electrical system

Have these inexpensive sensors on hand for your electrical system inspections:...

A receptacle voltage tester is plugged into the hot (smaller slot) side to determine whether it is hot (electrified).
A non-contact tester can detect current without contacting the copper wire. Hold it next to the wire’s outside insulation, which will light up if current is present.

It is essential to use these tools to check if a line is “hot” if you aren’t sure after turning off the breaker switch to the circuit. Important safety note: Always consult a licensed professional if you detect a problem or are unsure about handling electrical wires and circuits....

Buying, Financing a Home, Insurance, Money,

Current Real Estate Fraud Schemes: A Consumer Overview

Real estate fraud is growing in the United States. There are two main types of fraud: title theft, where criminals impersonate property owners and transfer titles to themselves or third-party accomplices, and wire fraud, in which criminals steal funds during real estate transactions. Be on the lookout for the following....

Faces of cyber criminals

Cybercrime involves stealing money through stealth tactics, and the perpetrator is usually overseas. Because the stolen money is sent to foreign bank accounts, prosecution is beyond the reach of US law enforcement. Thus, cyber thieves operate with virtual impunity....

Common types of real estate fraud

The most common types of fraud occur in these situations:...

Fraudulent title transfers steal ownership from legitimate owners. In the most common scheme, a criminal researches public records of property owners, generates a fake ID, steals an owner’s identity, and executes a quitclaim deed, transferring the title to himself or an accomplice. The thief may then contact an agent to sell the property, take out a loan, or lease the property and collect the payments. Vacant, fully paid-for, and unattended properties are prime targets.
Fraudulent money transfers dupe consumers or vendors in a real estate transaction into wiring funds to the criminal’s bank account instead of the legitimate recipient. A perpetrator misrepresents himself as the title company to steal down payment and closing cost funds from the buyer, or he impersonates the seller to the title company, causing settlement funds to be sent to the thief’s bank.
Property owners or rental managers are targeted in schemes to divert monthly rental payments to a criminal.

Vectors of attack

There are four vectors for stealing personal identification and financial information:...

Spoofing is when thieves research the Internet, looking for pending sales or targeting the email servers of real estate brokers, title companies, and mortgage lenders to intercept emails and spoof vendors and consumers.
Phishing emails mimic legitimate vendors to the targeted victim. Thieves can impersonate the real estate agent, the title company, or the mortgage lender. Their emails request bank information or direct funds to a bank owned by the criminals. Phishing emails are sometimes AI-generated.
Vishing is when a thief calls the consumer, posing as a representative from a real estate broker, title company, or mortgage lender.
Smishing occurs when a criminal sends fraudulent text messages to a consumer, posing as one of the vendors involved in a transaction.

Protect yourself from real estate fraud

To protect your property title from theft, contact your county clerk’s office to see if a program can alert you by email of any activity regarding your property title. It also pays to have an owner’s title policy to cover costs associated with defending your title from thieves.

When you’re involved in a real estate transaction—as the buyer or the seller—only email your agent, title company, and other vendors at their secure company email accounts. Do not respond to inquiries from online accounts such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail. Even with emails that appear to be from legitimate vendor email accounts, study the email address and watch for one character being different or a suffix (after the dot) that is different.
Connect with a specific person as your “go-to” contact at your real estate agency and the title company. If you receive unusual messages, especially those stating a last-minute bank change, confirm requests for sensitive information directly with the contact person.
You can check any suspicious cell phone numbers at phonevalidator.com and email them at whatsmyipaddress.com. You can also verify passports at emvlab.org.mrz/.
Report wire fraud to reportafraud.org and complaintic3.gov.

Marketing The Home, Selling,

How to Hire the Right Listing Agent

While more than half of home sellers interview only one real estate agent before hiring someone, it’s wise to meet with at least three before making a decision. Here’s a checklist to help you through the process of choosing the right listing agent....

Start with referrals. Ask trusted family members and friends for referrals. Assemble three or more names, set appointments and interview each of them.
Experience counts. An agent with at least two to three years experience should be able to handle any problems that surface in marketing and selling a home. Although don’t count out newly licensed agents that are motivated to deliver top-notch customer service to grow their client base.
Digital marketing savvy? This is huge. More than 80 percent of home shoppers start their searches online. Find the agent’s own business website. It should be attractive and offer professional photos and virtual tours of listed homes. The agent should be comfortable using Facebook and other social media platforms.
Selling numbers? Has the agent sold any homes in your neighborhood? If so, how many? Ask about other listing stats, such as days on market, average sales price, sales price as a percentage of the list price, but remember to put these numbers in the proper context, particularly if in the midst of a slow market.
Preparations. Did the agent come prepared with comparables, sales trends in your area and other insightful data to enhance your sales strategy?
Copy of an agency agreement. The listing agent should clearly spell out what services would be included in the agreement and what would be the financial responsibilities of the seller.
Buyer feedback? This is an important tool that your agent should offer. Online sites such as ShowingSuite.com make it easy for buyers and showing agents to leave comments and ratings.
Extra training and certification? A good listing agent adds certifications and takes special courses to benefit clients.

...

Buying, Buying a Home,

Yours, Mine and Ours: Combining Furnishings With Your Partner

You’ve found your soulmate, and the two of you are moving in together. There’s just one problem: You and your new spouse or partner get along famously, but your belongings don’t. How can you combine your households to create a place that feels like home to both of you? Here are some tips for combining furnishings with your partner....

Good practice in compromising

It’s important to approach the process of combining households with your partner as an exercise in compromise. Treat your partner and his or her furnishings with respect, and the process of merging your homes can strengthen your relationship....

Combining households may be easier if you move to an entirely new space. That way, neither person will feel like they’re moving into someone else’s home....

Where to begin combining furnishings

The first step in combining furnishings with your partner is for each of you to reduce the number of pieces you are bringing to the space. Unless your combined home is a mansion, you won’t have room for everything. Give away, sell or toss as much as you can. Each person should strive to give away roughly equal amounts, so neither partner feels they’ve made more of a sacrifice....

Next, make a list of the furnishings you need. Then “shop” your belongings to find pieces that meet those needs. Remember that not everything has to match. Pull from each person’s style to create an eclectic space where both of you feel at home....

Your new space won’t have room for all of your accessories, artwork and the like, so let each person choose their favorites. You can put the others in storage if you’re not ready to part with them....

Smoothing rough spots

Here are some tips for keeping everyone happy when combining furnishings with your partner....

Buy some new items you like to make your place feel like you jointly designed it.
If you care little about some aspect of your home’s design, such as artwork, but it matters a lot to your partner, let him or her make all the decisions in that area.
Make sure to keep a few favorites of each person. Remember, you can upholster or paint pieces to help them blend better in the new space.
Give each person a space they can design exactly how they want.
Don’t make a focal point out of items that one person loves but the other isn’t crazy about.

Newer Posts

Older Posts

Read more articles in Buying, Selling, Ownership, or Money.