Tag: homeowner

Summer Home Maintenance Checklist for New Homeowners

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Home Improvement.

Summer is nearing and if you are a new homeowner, then you may not be used to this time of year when it becomes necessary to do a little home maintenance.

You have made an investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars for your new home and it only makes sense to take care of this investment. By doing regular maintenance each quarter, you can help to save yourself money in the long run.

Here are some of the most common areas to take care of now that the weather is getting warmer:

  1. Cooling Systems—Before the summer kicks in and you really need your air conditioning system, now is the time to get it checked out. Have your HVAC system serviced so that your unit doesn’t die on you when you need it most. This is also the best time to consider putting in new ceiling fans in rooms that don’t already have them and to clean the existing fans.

 

  1. Check Your Roof—Now that the winter and spring storms are done, it’s a good idea to check your roof to see if you have any loose or missing shingles. If you can, get up on the roof with a ladder. Or, if you prefer going high-tech, you can use a drone to fly over and take pictures so you can see if there are any problems.

 

  1. Outdoor Entertaining—If you have a pool, outdoor patio or deck, or grill, now is the time to get them ready for summer entertaining. Have your pool’s chemicals checked. Also, go through your deck and look for loose boards or any cracks that show that the boards need to be replaced. This is also a good time to pressure wash your deck and see if you need to add sealant to your deck. Finally, check the gas lines for your gas grill. If you use propane tanks, be sure to get a fresh one before you start grilling.

 

  1. Check Your Alarms—Every quarter of the year is the proper time to check your home’s alarms and detectors. Change the batteries out in the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to help keep you and your family safe.

Now that weather is getting warmer and drier, it’s time to do some maintenance checks on your home. If you do this now and keep up with it regularly, then your house will take care of you for years to come.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

How to Find the Best Walkable Neighborhood

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner.

Many of us are now realizing how sedentary our lifestyles are. Because of the problems of urban sprawl, we literally live miles away from almost everything and have to drive somewhere in order to get the things that we need on a daily basis.

But, what if you could find a neighborhood where you could park the car and forget about it for days at a time as you walk around to do your shopping and dining? That’s the mentality behind the recent move to smaller, more self-contained neighborhoods.

Here are some ways to find the best walkable neighborhoods in your area:

Main Components—First, there are a few main components that you need to look for when it comes to a walkable neighborhood. You want to find a place that has a centralized location that everything else is built around, such as a town square or a main thoroughfare or street. You should also look for a neighborhood with a relatively dense population. Businesses and restaurants will not be able to survive without a lot of traffic, so you will need people who live in the immediate area. Besides businesses, you should also look for other types of active spaces such as parks and public space which will attract people to gather.

Look at the Layout—Another thing that makes a neighborhood more walkable is going to be the geographic layout of the neighborhood. It should, first, be relatively compact. If you are talking about ten to twenty miles of walking, then this isn’t going to be practical. Also, it should be relatively flat. A few hills are fine, but if you have to climb three miles uphill both ways then it gets to be a bit much. The area should also be laid out with walking paths and sidewalks. But it should also have benches and other amenities that will help when you need to take a break from your travels. And, most importantly, these features should be well maintained.

Businesses—The third component is the idea that you can get what you need in the neighborhood. Is there, for instance, a grocery store or specialty food shops like a bakery or butcher shop? You will probably be buying groceries every couple of days instead of stocking up all at once like you are used to. Are there restaurants nearby that you want to frequent? What about other things like clothing boutiques, bookstores, and the like? All of these will help add to the walkability of your neighborhood and if it is going to be a good fit for you.

Ultimately, the best way to find a walkable neighborhood in your area is to simply get out and explore. By doing this, you can take the neighborhood for a “test walk” and see if it might be an area that you could consider relocating to.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Where to Start for New Gardeners This Spring

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner.

One of the most relaxing and fulfilling hobbies that anyone can take up is the time-honored tradition of gardening. It’s also one of the most therapeutic hobbies you can have as it helps you center yourself physically and mentally.

Every year, I hear friends and family members say that they’re interested in gardening, but they don’t know how to get started. Well, never fear.

Here are handy tips on where to begin this spring with starting your own garden:

  1. Flowers vs. Vegetables — One of the first things you want to do is figure out what type of garden you will have as this will make huge differences early on. If you are looking to create your own food that you can use to cook, then certainly go for the vegetable garden. However, if you just want a garden that is beautiful to look at as well as fragrant, then flowers are your best option.

 

  1. Map Out Your Yard — A garden will need lots of sunlight, usually at least six hours a day. So, over the course of a few days, observe how the sun falls in your yard. Are there spots that are too covered by shade from trees or other houses? If so, then these aren’t good spots for your garden. Pick something that is in direct sunlight for most of the day, if possible.

 

  1. Get the soil ready — Next, you will want to prepare the ground for gardening. The first thing to do is to dig up the sod and replace it with about 2 to 3 inches of compost (old lawn clippings, leaves, and manure). This will let the earthworms do their thing and begin moving those nutrients into the soil to make for a fertile garden. You will also need to work the soil yourself. If you are just starting out, you can do this by digging the 10 inches of dirt or so and mixing in the compost. If you can get your hands on a rototiller, then this process will go a lot quicker and easier.

 

  1. Plant your garden — Now is the time to plant your seeds or small plants. Be sure to check for things that grow well in your climate and with your amount of sunlight. Sunflowers and lettuce are two easy options.

 

  1. Keep them maintained — Now that you’ve done the hard work, it’s time to maintain the garden. Water your plants regularly so that they can thrive. Don’t water them during the hottest part of the day as the sun is liable to “burn off” the water. Early morning or right as the sun is setting is best. Also, go through your garden at regular intervals to weed it and check for insects that may be damaging your plants.

 

Starting a garden is something that is so easy that almost anyone can do it. But it can still be intimidating for first-timers. By taking these simple steps, you can make sure that your garden gets off to a good start.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

How to Build a Community in Your Neighborhood

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner.

For many of us, the idea of a neighborhood means a group of people who are all nice to each other, socializing and looking out for others when they need help. Unfortunately, too many of us have gotten so cut off from the outside world that we barely even know or acknowledge our neighbors.

Too often, we refer to them by descriptors because we haven’t learned their names—phrases like “the young couple down the street with two kids” or “the retired man with the dog that barks all night.” Many of us want that sense of community that comes with being in a close-knit neighborhood, but we don’t know how to do this.

Well, here’s how you can build a community in your neighborhood:

  1. Sit in your front yard — We often try to seclude ourselves by either staying inside or sitting in our fenced-in backyards. This doesn’t allow us to meet our neighbors naturally. One way to fix this is to simply move the chairs around front. When your kids are playing, take a relaxing chair out to the front yard and watch them. Or, when the sun is about to set, grab a chair and a cold beverage and enjoy the twilight. If you do this, others will start to join in and you can begin to communicate more openly with them.

 

  1. Organize a block party — If you plan a block party or cookout, you can get everyone together and socializing so that you can meet all of your neighbors. When you invite them, be sure to go up to each one personally instead of just posting fliers or mailers. This shows you legitimately want to get to know them. But it also allows you a chance to learn their names and talk to them even if they can’t make the party.

 

  1. Create a community library or garden — Activities such as reading and gardening are great ways to bond with others. Put a wooden lending library box in your yard by the curb along with a sign encouraging others to take one and return it when finished. You can also encourage others to add their own books to the bin. Also, talk with your neighbors to see if they would like to help put together a community garden of flowers or vegetables to liven up the area.

 

  1. Create a social media group — Even if you can’t all meet after work or on the weekends, you can still create a sense of community with social media. Start a Facebook group for your neighborhood that can share announcements and neighborhood news. Encourage people with concerns to express these through private messages instead of blasting the entire board. But keep the avenues of communication as open as possible.

There is a big difference between being part of a neighborhood and part of a community. If you hearken back to the days when people were nice to their neighbors and took pride in their community, then these are some ways you can foster these feelings on your block.

 

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

A Spring Cleaning Checklist that Doesn’t Overwhelm

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner.

It’s confession time: Every year when it comes to spring cleaning, I go into a bit of brain lock. I see all the items that are stretched out in front of me that need to be done, and I just want to curl up inside the house with a cup of coffee and a Netflix marathon.

Sometimes, that cleaning checklist is just too overwhelming, and I don’t even know where to start. Here’s a solution to that.

This spring cleaning checklist breaks down the essentials so that you don’t run cowering into your house from fear of having too much to do:

  1. Organize Your Supplies — Each room has a different set of supplies based on your needs. (For instance, the bathroom has different needs than your bedroom.) I suggest creating a cleaning tote for each room. Keep all your tub and toilet cleaners in a small box for use in the bathroom and carpet freshener and a duster for the den and bedroom. By getting your supplies organized upfront, you will know what you need to buy before you start. (And trust me, there’s nothing worse than getting into a cleaning groove and finding out you are missing something essential.)

 

  1. Go Room by Room — Too often, we try to do everything all at once. The reality, then, is that we spread ourselves too thin and don’t get most of what we want completed. Instead of doing this, create a separate checklist of things to do for each room. Start with just one room and do everything on the checklist. Don’t move on until it’s all done, even if this takes more than one day. It took you all year to get the house where it is since the last spring cleaning. Don’t try to fix it all in one day.

 

  1. Create Piles — As you are going through your rooms, take everything out of drawers, off shelves, etc. and use this opportunity to clean and dust these areas. As you empty things out, move them into three separate piles. The first will be your “keep” pile. As soon as you are finished sorting and dusting, put these back where you got them—they are the clothes and other items you are keeping. The next pile should be for donations. These are the products in a good state of repair that you can donate to charity (or possibly sell at a yard sale). The last will be your trash pile for anything broken, chipped, torn, or just so outdated or worn that no one would want it. Throw these out immediately. Now is the time to be ruthless. If you haven’t used it in a year, then chances are you don’t need to keep it.

 

  1. Set Up Regular Checklists — Don’t wait until spring rolls around to get your big cleaning done. If you create checklists for each month (or at least each quarter), then you can spread out the work over all twelve months and not just a couple of weekends when you don’t feel like cleaning.

 

By following these easy steps, you can break down your big cleaning jobs into smaller chunks which are always helpful. So, pop in your earbuds, fire up some music or a good audiobook, and get to cleaning.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Spring Cleaning: Best Tricks for Deep Cleaning Your Home

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner.

Spring is in the air and, even though many of us are ready to dig out of the snows of this winter, that still leaves one dreaded task looming on the horizon—Spring Cleaning!

This is the time when you go beyond that little cursory cleaning you do each week and really get down into the nooks and crannies of your home. But it doesn’t have to be that scary.

Here are handy tips and tricks we’ve compiled that can help you do a really deep cleaning on your home this spring:

  1. Be Meticulous and Merciless — The first thing we suggest is that you be very meticulous and go room-by-room through the house. In each room, create three separate stacks—one to keep, one to donate or sell at a yard sale, and one to toss. Be merciless. If you haven’t seen an item or used it in a year, do you really need to keep it? Toss whatever you don’t need. A decluttered house is much easier to clean.

 

  1. Bathrooms — This is a good place to start with the actual deep cleaning. Spray the surfaces of your tub, toilet, shower, and sink with multi-purpose cleaners that may need to sit awhile to break up the accumulated soap scum. (You can also use diluted white vinegar for an all-natural clean.) Make sure that you scrub these surfaces thoroughly. If you have a glass shower door, you can use a damp dryer sheet to clean it off. If you have a shower curtain, toss it and start fresh with a new curtain and a new look for your room.

 

  1. Kitchen — Now let’s get this one under control. With a spring cleaning, you want to get all of the yearly things taken care of. One of these is cleaning the oven. If you don’t have a self-cleaning oven, put together a mixture of baking soda and vinegar with a couple of drops of dish soap. Let this sit on the tough spots and then scrub it clean. If you have a gas stovetop, you can also coat the stovetop itself with car wax. This way, your regular clean-ups of spills will be much easier. The microwave should also be cleaned, but this one is really easy. Get a cup of water and add a tablespoon of white vinegar. Place this in the microwave and turn it on for five minutes. The steam from this will clean out your microwave so you can just wipe it out.

 

  1. Dusting — Dusting may not be a room unto itself, but it is certainly one of the chores that feels like it. It usually winds up on the top three list of most hated household chores. To help this spring, use these ideas. First, on surfaces that aren’t easily seen, such as the tops of cabinets or tall bookshelves, place a square piece of newspaper down after you dust. This will cover the surface and catch any other accumulations so you just have to change out the sheet of paper every few months and save yourself the dusting for those spots. We also recommend investing in a telescoping arm duster so you don’t have to strain your back.

Finally, when it comes to dusting the ceiling fans, we suggest using a pillowcase. Take the case and put it around the blades of the fan and then simply wipe across. The dust will be trapped inside of the case and you don’t have to worry about raining dust down on your room. And, you can just toss the pillowcase in the washer to clean it off.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be the pain that everyone thinks it is. If you follow a few basic tips, you can save yourself some sweat and tears and make this year’s cleaning go smoother.

 

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Making Your Home More Sustainable

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner.

One of the goals of just about any parent is to help make the world a better place for our children. This can be done in a variety of ways. Now, I’m not saying that you can change the world just for your family. But you can make your own corner of that world a bit better than you found it. Part of this is by helping to make your home more sustainable and environmentally conscious.

Here are easy ways you can reduce your carbon footprint by “going green” and making your home more sustainable:

Use Less Energy

One of the first things you can do to be more sustainable will also save you money in the long run. (So, count that as a win-win!) Let’s talk about ways to cut your energy consumption (which in turn will reduce your monthly power bill).

  • Change your regular light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent bulbs. These use less energy and actually last longer, meaning you won’t be adding lots of dead bulbs to the trash heap.
  • When you buy a new appliance, such as a washer or dryer, look for those that are Energy Star Qualified. These can cut energy use between 10 and 50% off a regular appliance. And, in some cases, your purchase may qualify you for a tax credit.
  • Insulate your home to cut down on heating costs and power. This means insulating your attic/basement as well as the walls. Additionally, if you have wooden floors, simply putting down a thick rug can cut down on this as well.
  • Install double-glazed windows with thermal backed curtains. This will help you keep the cold air out in the winter while trapping in the heat. (Conversely, during the summer, it traps the air-conditioned cold air inside while keeping out the heat.)

Use Less Water

Another big area of waste in our homes is water consumption. There are little things you can do around the house to cut down on this, such as:

  • Install low-flow showerheads and low-flush toilets. The showerheads will not only cut down on water usage, but energy use as well since your water heater will not have to work as hard. A typical toilet flush will use six gallons while a low-flush toilet uses less than two.
  • Fix leaky faucets and “running” toilets immediately. This can waste gallons of water each and every day just from a toilet that is not working properly.

Other Tips

There are other areas you can cut back as well. One of the biggest is your use of chemical products to clean your home. Use natural cleansers that do not use these chemicals or you can even make your own cleansers with a few things from the pantry. By doing this, you will not be supporting companies that use chemicals in their products.

Taking care of our environment is everyone’s responsibility. It may not be possible for one person to save the world, but by making some changes to your home, you can do your best to make your corner of the world a little more sustainable.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Showing Gratitude for Your Living Space

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that means millions of people will be sitting around dinner tables to share what they are thankful for this past year. Many will speak of friends, family, and co-workers who have positively impacted their lives in 2019.

But one area you should also be grateful for is your living space—be it a home, apartment, or wherever you hang your metaphorical hat. This Thanksgiving, take the time to show your gratitude for your home by treating it a little nicer. This will not only improve the feelings in your home but also help you feel more at rest and peaceful when you walk into it.

  1. Choose one big project to complete — “Big” project in this case can be a relative term. Just choose one thing that you can do a deep cleaning of to help make your home feel like a better place. This can be something small like cleaning out the refrigerator and freezer or even just a shelf or two in the pantry. Or it can be a complete deep clean of the entire kitchen or bathroom. You can go out and do something that feels truly massive—like cleaning out the garage or attic storage or finally finishing that deck you’ve been wanting for years. Or it can be something as small as sweeping out the entryway, clearing away the cobwebs, and adding a new welcome mat.

 

  1. Liven up the house — Another thing that you can do is appeal to two huge senses—that of sight and smell. Bring fresh flowers into your home to not only beautify the house visually, but also add some wonderful aromas to your living space. You can also add new air fresheners in each of your main rooms to help give the air a cleaner, fresher smell.

 

  1. Add an accessory — Another way to liven up your house and show your gratitude towards it is to add one new accessory to your home. This can be a small piece of furniture like an end table—antique stores would be a great place to look for these. Or it can also be as simple as a new throw rug or runner in your entryway, a new lamp for the den, or even just a new tablecloth for the dining room table.

 

  1. Rearrange and redecorate — Liven things up in your home by choosing one room to rearrange. This could be a small thing, like rearranging the layout of your den or bedroom by moving a few pieces of furniture. Or it can be a total redecoration with new paint and pictures to grace your walls. Whichever you choose, you will see an improvement in your home and your feelings toward it.

This Thanksgiving you should really take just a little bit of time to show your love and gratitude for your living space. By doing so, you can improve your feelings of happiness and joy each and every day.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

The Power of a Good Decluttering Session

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner.

We’re all enjoying Fall but that doesn’t mean you can’t do a little spring cleaning right now. In fact, we encourage people to do this as the holiday season approaches.

Whether you need the room for new toys for the little ones or are feeling cramped just ahead of visiting relatives for the holidays, it’s always a good idea to run a decluttering session in your home. And the benefits go beyond just feeling less packed in. There are actual health benefits to decluttering your home.

The Benefits – We already know the obvious one here: less clutter means less stuff to have to clean and dust plus less stuff to trip over and step around.

But did you ever consider the psychological benefits of a decluttered home? Mentally, having less clutter keeps you less anxious. By looking all the time at the stuff in your home, you may be thinking that you have to clean it or move it or pick it up. With less things to clutter the home, you have less worries.

Also, when you are decluttering your house, we encourage you to donate all the unneeded items. The act of donation shows gratitude and a sense of wanting to help others, not trying to foist your unwanted junk on someone else. So, donating these items can help you with your overall personal outlook on life.

How to Declutter — The best way to do this is on a room-by-room approach. Go into each room with the mindset of getting rid of things you no longer need or want, are broken, or not being used.

The best way to do this is to set up three different piles for your “stuff.” The first pile will be things that you plan to keep. These should be your essentials as well as those personal items that you could never bring yourself to part with. The second pile should be for things that you wish to donate. If you haven’t used it or looked at something in over a year, chances are you don’t need it. Unless it has serious sentimental value (like a family heirloom), then put it in the donation bin.

Reserve the third pile for trash and make sure that this one is your smallest pile. Even if you think it is trash, someone might be able to find use or value in it with a donation. Only toss things in here if they are broken beyond repair or something that no one could possibly want.

Maintaining a Clutter-Free Zone — Once you have your house de-cluttered, try to maintain it as best as possible. A good rule of thumb (especially for kids and toys) is that for every new item you purchase, one old item needs to be donated. This will keep the clutter down to a minimum and help keep your peace of mind.

An uncluttered home is often the sign of a happy soul as it means that you are not letting your personal possessions take over and rule your life and home. By spending some time decluttering your house, you can ensure some peace and calm in your own life.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Impress Your House Guests on a Budget

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner, Motherhood.

Benjamin Franklin famously said that “fish and visitors smell after three days.” While Mr. Franklin may have been alluding to the idea of guests overstaying their welcome, many of us love the idea of playing host and welcoming in houseguests for either dinner parties or overnight visits.

But one of the problems with these types of visits is the need to overdo things and try to do “too much” to impress our guests. Here are some tips you can use to impress your guests if you are working on a budget:

 

  1. Keep everyone entertained — It’s great to think that all your guests will be able to sit around and mingle with lively conversation. But as a host of a gathering, you still need to provide some entertainment for your guests. This doesn’t have to be really expensive. In fact, one entertainment item is making a huge comeback—board games. Whether it’s old favorites like Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit or newer adult-oriented games like Cards Against Humanity, these activities can get people mingling, talking, and laughing in no time with a very small investment on your part.

 

  1. Spruce up the bathroom — This is where you can really shine with your guests. Add nice fluffy hand towels in the guest bathroom and throw in a scented candle for ambiance and decoration. Hand soaps and lotions are another good choice, just be sure to include a scented and non-scented option for those with allergies.

 

  1. Keep them eating — The key to a person’s heart is through the stomach and you want to make sure your guests have plenty to munch on. Ask them ahead of time if they have any allergies so you can avoid these foods. Then set out food spots around the house. If you have guests for overnight, be sure to keep plenty of fresh water, juice, and soda on hand as well as snack items in the pantry and fridge. Good options here would be granola bars and cheese sticks. If you are working on a budget, stock up at your local warehouse store and buy in bulk. You can always chow down on the leftovers after your guests leave.

 

  1. Get personal — If you’re having overnight house guests, a simple and inexpensive thing to impress them is with a personalized note. Simply get a small card or piece of stationery and write a personal note welcoming them to your home. If you really want to make it feel like an upscale hotel, have this on the guest bed which has been turned down with a piece of chocolate on the pillows.

Entertaining house guests doesn’t mean that you have to break your bank. Whether they are coming over for dinner or staying for a weekend, there are plenty of ways that you can welcome them to your home and impress them while still staying firmly on a budget.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.