Lawn Care

Did you close on a new house that needs a new lawn?

Whether you recently received keys to a new house, or simply discovered you have a green thumb, the following tips will revive any yard and will be ready for bare feet and BBQ's in no time!

Test your soil. A soil test takes the guesswork out of lawn care. I lets you know the pH as well as the availability and precise quantities of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus. You can contact your state cooperative extension office, which will do the test for around $20, by going here.

Fertilize. There's no formula for springtime, and it all depends on your soil and grass type. A soil test will offer clues as to what you should add, and a gardening center can assist you interpret. Opt for a slow-release organic fertilizer.

Watch you calcium! Up to 90 percent of lawn weeds are linked to a lack of calcium in soil. The ideal calcium-to-magnesium ratio is 7 to 1. If yours falls short of that goal, spread high-calcium time over your lawn to increase its ability to absorb nitrogen and synthesize proteins, robbing weeds of food!

Add organic matter... Early-season grass benefits from compost. Apply a half-inch layer over your lawn, and rake it into the surface. Finished compost should smell earthy and slightly sweet; avoid using compost that is still steaming, which indicates it is not yet fully decomposed! One yard will cover 600 square feet.

Time to fix your mower! Dull mower blades tear grass rather than cut it clean, leaving ragged tips that invite illnesses to flourish. Holding the blade in a vise, sharpen it with long, smooth strokes using a Dremel blade sharpener or a 10-inch mill bastard file, following the manufacturer's instructions for the proper angle. Sharpen the blade after every 10 hours of use.

Let the grass grow ..a litte! Keep it at three to three and a half inches tall all season so that the grass blades shade out weed seeds and the soil reducing evaporation. Come fall, crop it tight! 

Remember...

Happy landscaping! =)

Paint Like a Pro

What you should know before you pop the lid... 

It is AMAZING how painting a wall or room in a dull space completely revamps it in a very inexpensive successful way.

In this post we will give you the tips you need to know if you're contemplating painting your walls. We'll also discuss how color creates a mood, and help you choose what is best for you.

First, you will need to pick your paint type. Water-soluble latex is very DIY-friendly because it cleans up with soap and water--and dries fairly quickly. Oil paint generally dries slowly and requires mineral spirits for cleanup, but it hardens into a very durable finish.

Second, you'll need to pick your sheen. Flat and low-luster paints five a rougher surface that hides flaws, whereas glossier finishes highlight imperfections while forming a smoother, more wear-resistant surface that can stand up to high traffic and moisture (IE: kitchen or bathroom).

Third, you'll want to start with good tools. Look for brushes with bristles that are tapered, split, and arranged in multiple lengths to form a slim tip. A mix of nylon and polyester will hold and release latex paint particularly well, while natural bristles work best with oil-based paints. With rollers, match the nap to the surface texture : 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch nap for most drywall.

Fourth, you should invest in quality. Cheaper paints and primers swap more pigment for costlier resin, so they cover walls well when wet, but show bare spots as they dry. Quality primers will adhere to glossy painted or stained surfaces without sanding, ultimately saving you time and money.

Fifth, is all about prepping. To make your project(s) easier, take the time to clear out the room and cover floors, fixtures, and furniture with drop cloths. Spackle any visible damages in your drywall, scuff-sand the surfaces to be painted, and vacuum up all the dust. Wipe down the ceilings, walls, and trip with a damp sponge, and then prime the entire surface.

Sixth, cut in using 2 1/2-inch angled brush to paint the border of the area you're working on. Framing in your field this way buffers the roller from mussing adjacent surfaces (This brings back memories!).

Seventh, learn to lay off... After you have rolled a section, make a series of long vertical strokes up the full length of the wall, moving in one direction (left or right). This last step, called laying off, will distribute wet paint in a nice, even layer.

And finally, our Eighth tip is to score carefully. If you've masked off the baseboards with painter's tape, pull it off the same day you paint--but first run a putty-knife blade held at a 45-degree angle along the edge so you don't accidentally pull away any paint (This also brings back memories!).

Thanks guys--All that is great, but what about a color?! 

Colors in your home are personal--but every hue sends universal signals.

What are your walls saying?   



Red: Intense and high energy, red represents PASSION, with a touch of danger, and even aggression. Red is known to stimulate both appetite and conversation, which is why it is a dining room favorite.

Yellow: Sunny, vibrantly bright. Yellow stimulates creativity and makes people happy, increasing attentiveness. A very natural choice for kitchens, and makes for great pops of color.

Blue: Tranquil, calming, and refreshing; the cool feeling of Blue sets a relaxing tone and is ideal for bedrooms and bathrooms. Pale, soft gray-blues are easiest to use on walls, while brighter or even deeper blues work well as accents. You want to be careful with blue, especially in small spaces, so definitely test out numerous colors or utilize those color swatches!!

Green: This soothing hue represents nature and renewal. The balance of warm (yellow) and cool (blue) makes the versatility of Green easy to live with.

Play with the different hues of green, as the pale soft greens are just as beautiful as the brighter or deeper hues. Play with you space and have fun deciding on your colors.

One last tip: Paint ingredients contain volatile organic compounds that off-gas, creating that familiar paint small and a potential health hazard. Look for low or zero-VOC paints! 

The Power of Yellow

The Power of Red

The Power of Blue

The Power of Green

Happy Painting!

   

The Importance of Curb Appeal

Want to earn some bragging rights regarding your wonderful humble abode? Let's talk about curb appeal.

Whether you just bought your house or you've been living in it for years, it obviously has a solid foundation and good bones--or you wouldn't have bought it, right?

While pride of ownership is always important, so is appealing details such as nicely finished shutters, or that white picket fence you've been dreaming of since you were who knows how young.

Let's discuss some of the things that may need immediate attention or even those things years and years away from--it's worth keeping track of the first impression check-list.

• Highlight with paint. Channel your inner architectural-self and set off those details and textures your home has with different colored paint. Lose the mundane and monotone palette by bringing definition, and choosing neighborhood approriate colors and tastefully enhance your homes character. 

• Spruce up the siding.  Tend to clapboards, shingles, or masonry sheathing to ensure they are in top condition. They add color, texture, and polish your home's exterior. 

• Perk up windows. You can easily trim windows in a contrasting color to the siding, or add window boxes and/or shutters to highlight them and accentuate a homey-look. Breaking up the facade in creative way generates interest. 

• Liven up the landscaping! Plant layers of greenery and bright blooms--along the walk, in hanging pots, in window boxes, etc. There is nothing more beautiful than being greeted by a cheery landscaped home. 
• VIP; Red Carpet. Roll out the red carpet by creating a welcoming walk to your front door with brick or stone pavers flanked by plantings, and the steps your guests take to get to your entrance will be a beautiful event. 

• Play up the porch... Replace any metals, bars, or poles with neighborhood appropriate columns or posts, repaint railings, and lay wood over a concrete slab to warm up a porch or portico. If you don't have one, simply collect ideas and add to it over the course of time until you can afford it. 

• Tend to the roof! Keep close tabs on the condition of your wood shakes, asphalt, shingles, or tiles to ensure they're in good repair. Not only does the roof protect all the other architectural details, it is very visible!

Whether you are preparing to sell your home or merely want to enjoy it to its full potential, remember curb appeal is always important as it reflects your homes first impression. 

We hope this post was helpful, please visit us anytime at PedersonProperties.com

Here are a few more Curb Appeal Photos for your viewing:

Your New Home...

Congratulations! 

You finally found a place that is or will soon become your dream home! 

Hmm.. what's the number for the locksmith?! 

That question among many other questions are probably running through your mind and while that is of course the first order of business on move-in day, Pederson Properties is here to help out with the rest.

Have a look at our First-day Check List, which will hopefully be of additional help to you in this exciting yet overwhelming time in your life.After completing everything in the list, you will be well on your way to bigger and better improvements to make your dream a reality. From up-dating fixtures, to painting walls like a pro, we can help you make smart decisions and show you how to do it yourself--the right way.

• Change dead bolts on exterior doors. You can watch a how-to video on installing one: here.

• Locate the water shutoff valve. You'll be happy to know where it is in an emergency!

• Test circuit breakers. To avoid overloading circuits, plug in lamps or radios and switch off one circuit at a time so that you know which outlets are connected to the same circuit. Label each breaker-box switch accordingly if it hasn't been done already. 

• Install new (or test existing) smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. For tips or to learn more about how to choose or where to place these detectors click here. 

• If you hired professional movers, unpack TVs, computers, and other electronics to make sure everything is 1) still there and 2) damage-free. You may have a limited time to file an insurance claim and will want to protect your belongings.

• Plug in night-lights around the stairs and in bathrooms to avoid stumbles, trips, falls, and undesired bruises! Your new home is an unfamiliar space in the dark for the time being--ease into, don't bang into it! 

 

Nationwide Open Houses June 4th - 5th

Nearly half of all home buyers visit open houses during their home search. This weekend, those numbers may swell as buyers across the nation take advantage of the Realtor® Nationwide Open House, June 4-5.

“Realtors® bring value to home buyers and sellers, and this weekend, Realtors® are bringing them together through the Realtor® Nationwide Open House,” said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “The event will give consumers the chance to find out more about home ownership, allow buyers to pursue their dream of owning a home, and give Realtors® an opportunity to connect with consumers about the housing issues that matter most in their area.”

During the weekend of June 4-5, Realtors® will hold open houses in local neighborhoods throughout the country, as well as across the globe. Over 300 Realtor® associations are participating in the event, along with NAR global partners in Canada, Denmark, France, Israel, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. During the weekend Realtors® will be on hand to provide guidance and insights into the social and financial benefits of home ownership.

According to a recent nationwide Pew Research Center survey, eight in 10 adults agree that buying a home is the best long-term investment a person can make. In addition, a strong majority of renters – 81 percent – said they would prefer to one day buy a home, demonstrating the value Americans continue to place on home ownership.

“There’s a reason owning a home is called the American Dream,” said Phipps. “Home ownership benefits individuals and families, strengthens our communities, and is integral to our nation’s economy. We hope that everyone who aspires to become a home owner will come out this weekend, not only to learn about the homes for sale in their local market, but also to find out more about how current and future public policies may affect their ability to achieve and sustain home ownership, now and in the future.”

To find open houses in your area, visit www.Realtor.com and search for open houses in the Realtor® Nationwide Open House Weekend box on the home page. The special search function will be available beginning today; June 3.