SUMMER 2022 ARLINGTON EDITION
Backyard Ideas The right lighting Lighting in your backyard can truly set the mood for some fun outThe lighting in may yourwant backyard canatruly doorright evenings. You to have combination of lighting styles set the mood for some fun outdoor evenings. throughout your yard, and there’s an assortment of options for you to You mayfrom. want to have a combination of lighting choose styles throughout your yard, and there’s an assortment of options for you to choose from. SECURITY LIGHTING Security lighting will probably be the brightest source of light in your backyard. It’s meant to illuminate the entire area, keeping your home safer at night. It is typically placed in raised areas, like on the top of a garage. LANDSCAPE LIGHTING Landscape lighting beams a narrow light upward, varying from low to high intensity, and can be used to illuminate and showcase beautiful plants or lawn ornaments. If you’re illuminating something tall like a tree, it’s best to use bullet-shaped lights that have an adjustable head.
PATH LIGHTING Path lighting that will safely illuminate the walkways in your backyard, path lighting is the way to go. You can install it along stepping stones, both sides of any walkway or even along the curves of flower beds and gardens.
LANTERNS Lanterns offer soft, low-level lighting and can be a beautiful addition to the architecture and decor of your home. If you don’t want to attach a lantern to your home’s exterior, you can find battery-powered tabletop options. SOLAR LIGHTS Solar lights are great green solution for lighting your backyard space. They come in a wide array of sizes and varying lumen levels. STRING LIGHTING Great for entertaining, string lights will provide warm, low-level accent lighting. You’ll want to opt for a waterproof option that’s rechargeable or battery-operated to avoid the need for unsightly extension cords. They can be hung from just about anywhere.
7 TIPS FOR AN ORGANIZED MOVE Even if you choose to make your next move with professional movers, there will still be plenty to do on moving day while the professionals do the heavy lifting. Here are a few tips to make your moving day go more smoothly. 1. Start by letting the movers know where to park on moving day. Make it clear as to what you want moved and where in your new home you would like it placed. 2. Make sure the movers have unlocked access throughout the day to every area they will be packing and clearing out. 3. When the move begins, stay out of the movers' way. This would include having a plan for your kids and pets to be occupied somewhere other than where the moving is taking place.
4. Fragile and valuable items should remain with you. Consider transporting all treasures in your car. 5. Have cleaning supplies ready for a final clean of each room as it is emptied. If you don't have the time, have a professional cleaning company come in for the cleaning once the move is complete. 6. While it is important to stay out of the way of your movers, you still want to be sure that someone is always around to answer any of their questions. 7. Thoroughly check every nook and cranny of your home to be sure no personal item is left behind.
PLAN FOR THESE UNEXPECTED COSTS WHEN BUYING A HOME
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Coming up with a down payment to buy a home is the primary cost that buyers account for. Closing on a home purchase doesn't end with the down payment, so you want to be prepared and save for these additional costs that you may not have anticipated. There will be closing costs that are associated with your loan. Plan on paying 2%-3% of your loan amount for loan application fees, attorney fees, escrow deposits, appraisal fees, homeowners' insurance and other assorted costs. The $575 to $900 cost of a home inspection should also be factored in. Without a professional home inspection, you will not know what defects the home may have nor be able to negotiate with the seller on repairs. If the house you are considering is in need of new landscaping, check with a landscaper for the cost to bring it up to your standards. Ask for an estimate for monthly yard maintenance if you don't plan to do it yourself. Budget for at least $400 per month. Exterior and interior cosmetic updates will likely be on your to-do list. Decide on one renovation at a time. Painting the entire exterior or interior of a home all at once can put a big dent in your finances. Adding small décor items to your new home can quickly absorb funds from your budget. Bigger-ticket items like appliance repair or having to buy new replacement appliances is your responsibility and can also increase your cost of home ownership. You can never have too much cash on hand or equity to comfortably close on your new house to make it the home you want it to be. Give me a call so I can guide you through the home-buying process without any surprises.
30 AFFIRMATIONS (FREE PHONE WALLPAPERS) Morgan Harper Nichols Musician, writer and multidisciplinary artist Morgan Harper Nichols has released a series of free downloadable wallpapers for smartphones that feature a selection of daily affirmations that help her to find peace in her everyday life. Set with beautiful brushstroke artwork in bright and eye -catching colors, these short and sweet phrases will brighten up your day at every glance. VISIT tinyurl.com/worth-0722a
BUYING A HOME WITH CHILDREN When house hunting, you probably have an extensive list of things that you want to consider while you search. Your list gets even longer when children are involved. You’d like to satisfy your wants and needs, but also those of your children. The goal is to find a home that every member of the family can feel comfortable and flourish in. Here are three key considerations when buying a house with children in mind. The size and layout — Some of the most important areas of a home are the kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms. You’ll want to find somewhere that has enough space for all the members of your household to be comfortable. Is this a home that you plan to raise your family in? You may want a home that has some extra space that allows room for your family to grow. Nearby recreational amenities — Where is the nearest playground, baseball field, pool or basketball court? You may want to find a house that has backyard space that allows for you to facilitate these amenities at home if other options are too far away. Local school system — Research schools and districts before you even begin your search. This may determine which areas you want to strongly consider and which areas are an immediate no-go.
CHROME MUSIC LAB: SONG MAKER Chrome Experiments Ever fancied yourself as a budding music producer but never had access to music software or drum machines? Chrome Music Lab: Song Maker may be the perfect place for you to practice your music programming skills. Created by Google's Chrome Experiments, it's a grid in which you can input notes on different instruments, set a tempo and hear your song in real time, all within your browser. VISIT tinyurl.com/worth-0722c
ASK THE AGENT WHAT IS A PROOF OF FUNDS LETTER?
HOW TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS AS AN ADULT Let's face it: children are much better than adults at making new friends. As we age, we develop insecurities, routines, commitments and a heightened self-awareness, all things that make it naturally more difficult to throw ourselves into forming new friendships with strangers. We have to therefore make a conscious effort if we want to find new friends. Here are four tips on how to develop new friendships as an adult.
with others who share your passion. Working as a team to evoke change in any environment will bring you into contact with people you share common ground with.
Use your current friend network. If you already get on well with someone, it's pretty likely that you'll get along with other people in their circle. Ask a friend for recommendations for new people you can hang out with. Be specific: for Find interest-based meetups. example, ask if they know anyone you Whatever your hobbies or interests, if could play tennis with. you live in a city, you can bet that Join classes. If dancing is your thing, there'll be a public meetup group find a local dance class. If you're a where like-minded folk can mingle. fitness fanatic, join a spin class. If you Whether it's birdwatching, fantasy feel your culinary skills are rusty, find movies or train spotting, it's almost a cookery class. Think about things guaranteed that you'll find others you've always wanted to try but following the same pursuits. never had the chance to; most adult Volunteer for causes you're classes will usually have some kind of passionate about. If you believe social element. strongly in a cause, volunteering in that field will bring you into contact
In addition to providing a seller a loan preapproval letter, a buyer may also need to provide a proof of funds (POF) letter proving that the buyer has the cash needed to close the sale. This is especially the case for an all-cash transaction. Once you are preapproved for a loan, obtain your POF letter as soon as possible. Presenting a POF usually occurs early in contract negotiations so it can provide additional strength to your purchase offer. Proof of funds can be evidenced with a simple letter from your bank, bank statements or proof of an open line of credit. A letter from your bank needs to have the name and address of the bank and a signature from an authorized employee. A POF letter is often required when the buyer intends to flip a house or is a short -term investor who is using hard money funds to close the deal.
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