Author: eapcontent

There has been tremendous growth in the real estate sector in recent years. This has led to an increase in opportunities for home buyers with all kinds of budgets. More homes are becoming available in top-end locations. A large number of such homes are those that are in less-than-stellar condition and need some degree of work.

As the real estate market becomes more and more competitive, these homes are becoming a smart investment choice for savvy home buyers. One of the main advantages of such homes is that you can modify them according to your personal preferences and increase the value of your investment in the process. However, it is often recommended that as a home buyer, you take your time and actually live in your newly purchased home before conducting any renovations and costly house improvements.

It is okay and even advisable to make some minor changes such as plumbing and lighting repairs but major remodelling work should be saved for later dates. Below are several reasons why it is a good idea to keep sizable home improvements on hold until you have properly settled into your new home.

1. CHANGE OF MIND

Living in your newly purchased home before making permanent upgrades places you in a better position to make informed decisions on any changes. Even if you have internally visualised how you would want the home to be based on its state at the time of the purchase, you will never be able to conclusively tell if the new house will serve you well until you have experienced it first-hand.

Waiting provides you will vital information on certain aspects that will or will not work in your favour or according to your preferences. The daily experiences you have will greatly influence your eventual decision on updates you want to make.

2. BREAK FROM THE NUANCES OF HOME BUYING

For many people, purchasing a home is one of the most important investments they will ever make in their entire lives. So, it goes without saying that home buyers go through a stressful period when closing on homes. You will most likely have made some huge changes in your lifestyle in order to get the home of your dreams. As such, you need ample time to rest and recover from the financial impact associated with home buying. Home improvements are not exactly cheap or easy to complete.

It is a very important process that requires considerable investment in terms of energy, time and money- all of which you may have exhausted in the earlier home buying process. You do not want to put yourself through these stresses in a short period of time. Therefore, it is wise to wait for a while before undertaking any home modifications or improvements.

3. ROOM FOR PROPER PLANNING

For any home improvements to be successful, it requires proper planning and prior arrangements on your part. It does not matter how small it may be. Remodelling your home will take a lot of time as it will require consultation with several contractors, architects as well as interior and exterior designers.

These parties will offer you professional opinions on the many aspects involved in renovating a house. Enlisting the services of the best contractors will ensure that you are satisfied with the end results. This also may end up saving you some money in the long run.

There are very many listed contractors on the market nowadays. This means that getting the right one can be a daunting task in itself. You do not want to hire a contractor under time constraints.

One of the reasons many homeowners want to conduct renovations as soon as possible is to avoid feeling like their home is incomplete. They also state the inconvenience of paying for the improvements down the line, in addition to other expenses such as rent and mortgages.

At the moment this may make financial sense. However, in the long-term, it can cause certain problems. Therefore, it is very important to allocate some time to properly plan and arrange for the renovations.

No matter which home you buy, there is some degree of work that you will have to put in afterwards. While it all boils down to individual preferences and choices, it is recommended that you avoid trying to do all of these activities at once.

Retro home decor is making a comeback, and it’s doing it with style as many homeowners are now turning to the older days to give a new look to their house. When you think about retro decoration, what’s the first thing that crosses your mind? Is it the kitchen walls of avocado color? Or is it the classic shag carpets in front of the fireplace? Well, whatever your idea of retro may be, know that vintage pieces not only bring much-needed refreshment in your home but also don’t cost you a fortune.

So how do you add bits and pieces of retro without completely changing the theme of your home? Keep reading this guide to find out.

5 easy tips to infuse a look of retro in your home

1. Use saturated colors

Home decor in the 60’s and 70’s placed a lot of focus on color, which lent almost every house a distinct look of its own. You don’t need to redo your entire home, all you have to do is use punchy hues in certain areas of your house to give it a classic look from the bygone era. While bold colors that go slightly over the top may bring a look of retro to a room, remember that the same color won’t suit everywhere.

As a general rule of thumb, use pale colors in a small room and darker colors in rooms that are larger in size. If your room is small, paint the walls with a lighter color and complement the look by throwing in more saturated accessories.

2. Use vintage furniture and accessories

The best part about going retro is perhaps the fact that you don’t need to match everything to the last possible detail. To bring a feeling of nostalgia all you may have to do is introduce a retro style table, few classic chairs, or a 70’s inspired sofa set. As more people are experimenting with retro visuals, many companies have dedicated themselves to offering specialized services to reimagining and recreating all things retro.

Accessories like a rotary phone, lava lamp, a stacked record of albums placed in a corner, or a few retro posters can significantly boost the overall appeal without burning a hole in your pocket. If you can manage to find old retro posters of your favorite band or films, just frame and hang them on the wall to create a fabulous centerpiece.

3. Make the best use of lighting

Similar to furniture, lighting has a tremendous impact on how your room looks and feels. To fully capture the essence of a bygone era, you may use industrial pendants of vintage style to imbue a rustic kitchen -like feel or bring in few circular mod chandeliers for a quick retro fix. If you are yet not ready to invest in getting permanent fixtures, try out Edison light bulbs that come in a broad range of shapes and sizes. Do not ignore the aspect of lighting if you want to complete the retro look of your house.

4. Change up the beadboard and paneling

Try out some designs of the Victorian era with beadboard or paneling that should be readily available in any of your neighborhood hardware stores. This can be an excellent way to accentuate the retro look of any home as it adds the required character and texture to reflect fully on the older days. Concentrate on overlooked spaces like laundry rooms, hallways, entryways, and other small areas to add an immediate spark to the visual aesthetics.

5. Make the most of the flea market items

There’s always one thing in every home that defines its character. When you’re going for a retro look, the best way you can find a one-of-a-kind piece without burning through the dollars is by checking the flea market or a reputed online auction site. You can bring in an antique steamer trunk and use as a coffee table or use old fabric ladders to hang linens or for stacking potted plants. Whatever you do, be prepared to see a look of astonishment on the faces of your guests.

Bringing a look of retro into your home is easy if you know how to change a few things here and there and are willing to spend some time researching and experimenting. We hope these tips help you get the retro home of your dreams.

Are you ready to put your property on the market? You might want to double check this list first!

When you decide you’re ready to sell your home, you will have to dedicate some time and effort to ensure that the carpets are clean, the garden is well kept, and that your home is optimized to make the best possible impression on potential buyers. But you should save some time to take care of this crucial yet easily forgotten, task: contact your local government to ensure that it has the correct information about your property.

Whether your home is a three story suburban mansion or a one bedroom apartment, local government records will have additional details and documents on it. Problems with municipality records on your home can stall the progress of a sale going through, or even derail a deal completely. So make sure everything is accurate and up to date before you decide to list your home on the market.

The building department

Your local town or borough retains records on every building permit that has been issued as well as details of every building that has been constructed within its municipality. The lead building inspector is tasked with ensuring that any modifications that are made to a property meet the current building codes and that any work undertaken is completed by licensed contractors.

The building department is primarily interested in ensuring your property meets health and safety regulations. Whenever somebody makes an application for a permit, the building department will send out an inspector to physically inspect the work that has been completed and signed it off.

How does this affect home sellers?

Once an offer has been made and a deal has been agreed upon by the buyer and seller, the buyer will contact the building department to complete their due diligence. If they discover any issues, such as an open permit that was applied for by a contractor but was never inspected and officially signed off by an inspector, they could possibly abandon the proposed deal with the seller.

It is quite common for sellers to discover that at some point during their property’s lifetime a mistake has been made, permits can certainly fly under the radar with relative ease. The mistake could belong to the contractor that completed the work, the previous owner of the property, or even an administrative error made by the building department itself.

Issues like these can cause a big headache for owners wanting to sell their home. Once a property is sold, the new owner is responsible for any illegal construction or unregulated work, something that is very off-putting to potential buyers.

Assessor records

The town assessor observes the local real estate market and, for the purpose of property tax, can identify if your property’s assessed value is in line with the market.

If the market slows down, the assessor will not automatically lower the estimated value of your property and lower your property taxes. However, they will regularly go through recent permits issued by the building department and increase the assessed value of your home if any recent improvements or renovations have been completed that could increase the market value of your property. This would mean higher property taxes.

Your property could be either over or under assessed. If it’s over, you should make a grievance to your assessor with any records or information that would support your case for decreased market value. Every local government has a system in place to deal with assessment grievances.

Stay one step ahead

Before listing the home, check the available government records on your property. Some issues, such as an open permit, can be easily fixed. If it’s a more serious issue, you should delay listing your property until it is resolved. Solving any of type of problems with government records ahead of time saves prevents any surprises from coming up later that could derail a sale.

There has actually been an increase in older renters over the last 10 years. Those over the age of 55 actually contribute to about 42% of the rental market now. This percentage is projected to increase as Baby Boomers presumably follow the same path.

It’s important to understand the pros and cons however of choosing between renting and homeownership. Let’s break each one down so you can better decide theater or not you should spring for that home after retirement.

Pro: Bye Bye Mortgage

If a really big focus for you is the fact that you’re still having to chip away at that mortgage then clearly you’ll be happy to rent. One less thing to worry about when you finally retire. You might even find a place to rent that has a lower monthly cost than your mortgage did. So you do have the potential to be saving money here.

Con: Bye Bye Tax Breaks

Homeowners receive substantial tax breaks. There are deductions on the property tax as well as the interest on the mortgage. Saving on these taxes can add up significantly especially if your property taxes are significantly high.

Pro: Flexibility

If you’re really focusing on traveling after you retire then renting will be ideal for you. Renting gives you the flexibility to bounce around either on a month to month basis or 6-month basis. However, if you’re looking to stay in one city/place for a longer period of time, maybe near your family. Consider owning a home.

Con: Bye Bye Home Owner Status

Most people have a sense of pride from being a homeowner. If you’ve lived in your home for a while you’re probably emotionally attached to it. So it’ll be important to prepare yourself emotionally if you’re planning on selling your home.

Pro: Maintenance

Obviously one of the most challenging things of home ownership is keeping up with the home maintenance. If you’re choosing to rent this isn’t an issue for you anymore. If you decide to sell your home these worries can fall onto your landlord’s shoulders.

Con: Renting can be expensive

This one really varies depending on where you live. Typically however, it is cheaper to own a home than rent one. Also when you consider the low mortgage rates today it’s one of the best times to own a home. The mortgage rates have recently hit an all-time low of approximately 3.25%

Pro: Amenities

One of the big pro’s surrounding apartment complexes is that most of them offer you a wide range of amenities. Everything from a nice gym to a pool and even game rooms and office centers. You can even have a concierge on staff and if you’re retiring that can make your life a little easier when it comes to the little things.

Con: The Landlord

You may not be accustomed to dealing with a landlord or property management company. It can be a little bit of a difficult task , I would recommend doing some in-depth research on the situation before you actually sign a lease. By that meaning speak to the previous tenants if at all possible and find out how quickly previous issues were resolved. There is also the potential for your lease to be raised at a moments notice so be prepared for that potential increase in your monthly expenses

Pro: Insurance Is Cheaper

Renters insurance averages around $180 and $360 a year, while your potential homeowners insurance cost is significantly higher.

Not sure which is the right decision for you? Reach out or leave me your contact info and I’d love to answer any questions you might have. Choosing to rent or own a home really comes down to your individual circumstances and it’s very important to consider all the pro’s and con’s very carefully. If you’re looking for more info feel free to comb through my blog for tips and tricks that save you time and money during your real estate buying or selling process.       

If you’re considering retiring in the next 8-10 years then you might want to start considering your retirement home! If you buy it early there can be significant financial benefits. This is especially true if you’re planning on getting a mortgage.

By doing so early you’ll be taking advantage of the current low-interest rates as well! 30 year fixed mortgages have dropped to approximately 3.4% currently. Not only are there appealing saving options but there’s considerable financial benefit to putting money towards your retirement home while you’re still employed. So let’s jump right into some of the most important reasons you should consider buying your retirement home so far in advance.

Getting approved for a mortgage

When your loan application is being evaluated your debt-income ratio will be a very important aspect of that evaluation. This ratio will obviously be in a better position while you’re employed. Which means, you’ll have an easier time applying for your mortgage while you still have a reliable income.

If you waited to apply for the mortgage until you retired, it’s possible that you’ll minimize the size of the loan you could potentially apply for. Also, you can start chipping away at that mortgage ahead of time and take less of your allotted retirement income out of your pockets. Essentially, you’re getting well ahead of the overall financial impact a mortgage can have.

Renovations

Odd’s are when you finally pick your retirement home you’ll be looking to make some improvements. If you’re purchasing a newly built home or building your home from the ground up however, you can ignore this section.

It’s definitely recommended that you set yourself a budget for the renovations you might have in mind. Referring back to the first point made about securing your mortgage early. It’s also very beneficial to have a steady income from working full time during the renovation process as well. It’s always possible to uncover a random setback and this steady income can help you deal with it accordingly.

Chipping away at that mortgage

Like I said earlier, beginning to pay off your mortgage early will put you well ahead of the game. The ideal goal is to obviously be debt free during retirement. For that very reason, some may choose to rent when they retire. However, if you’re choosing to become a homeowner, the sooner you can start paying off that mortgage the better!

Not only are you getting ahead of the game initially but you could make additional payments as well. Getting ahead 8-10 years on that mortgage is one thing but being able to possibly afford additional payments while you’re employed? You could cut your mortgage to a 15-year mortgage by the time you’re ready to move in.

Long term plans

Budgeting your living expenses for retirement can be rather unpredictable. However, if you already have your retirement home set aside you can get a very good idea of what it will cost on a monthly basis to live there. So owning your home in advance gives you years of planning in terms of financial allocation.

Your portfolio

Finances willing, if you can carry two mortgages at once you have the opportunity to rent out the house those 8-10 years before you actually want to move in. Essentially allowing tenants to cover the cost of the mortgage while you’re waiting to retire. Or you could allow yourself to retire early by utilizing the additional income from your potential tenants.

Additionally, you should look into the potential tax benefits of making it a rental property. There are a number of benefits to renting out your additional property before you actually decide to move in.

If you have any more questions regarding your future retirement home don’t hesitate to ask! Your retirement should be treated with careful planning. Living in comfort financially should be a very manageable task for you to accomplish.

The required amount of your deposit varies depending on the local real estate market and the state itself. Usually, it’ll be anywhere from a few thousand dollars up to three percent of the agreed price of the property; some areas may even require up to 10 percent.

The down payment shows the seller that you are serious about purchasing the property. Once the funds are deposited, they cannot be withdrawn or touched without the agreed written consent of both the buyer and the seller. Once the escrow is closed the funds are put towards the balance of the down payment.

Just like the terms and price of the property, the amount required for the deposit is negotiable. However, it will not be popular with the seller if you put down much less than what is customary in the local market.

You can get your deposit back but you can also lose it if you are not careful. Below are three top tips to protect your deposit.

Know the property

Every house, whether a new build or a period home, should have an inspection before being sold. You should also include a contingency in your contract to ensure that you are covered in the event of any unpleasant or costly discoveries.

An inspector will examine everything from the roof to the foundation. Specialist inspectors can be called in to look for any pests, such as termites, or to go over the heating and ventilation systems. Even brand new homes should be thoroughly inspected.

If the inspections reveal any issues, you will need to decide whether to pull out of the deal or proceed. Inspection contingencies are often quite vague and allow the buyer some room to withdraw from the deal and have the full amount of their deposit returned.

Written loan approval and appraisal contingency

You will need written proof of your loan approval, and you will want to make sure the property is not appraised for less than the price you agreed with the seller.

You should include a contingency clause that allows you, the buyer, to receive written confirmation of loan approval before progressing with the deal. If for some reason, your loan is denied you can walk away from the deal with your deposit returned to you in full.

Make sure you keep this contingency in place, even if you are struggling to get written loan approval from your lender. Loan providers can, and have, withdrawn funding at the last minute. Make sure you keep in close contact with your loan provider, and if necessary request an extension from the seller. If you sign off that you have been approved a loan and are later denied funding, you risk losing your deposit.

You should also include an appraisal contingency. If the property is appraised for less than the agreed price with the seller you should keep the right to walk away from the deal with you deposit intact, or at the very least renegotiate the agreed purchase price with the seller.

Go over the property disclosures

Most real estate markets require the seller to compile a list of disclosures that show the seller’s knowledge and experience of owning the property. They are required by law to reveal any defects, faults, or location issues that have or could have a negative impact on the property.

You should also have an opportunity to review any public records and reports, such as the building permit history or environmental hazard maps.

After your offer is accepted, you should be sent the list of disclosures. If you don’t like anything revealed by these disclosures, this is your opportunity to pass on the property and withdraw from the deal.

You will need to sign off on these reports and disclosures, so make sure that you thoroughly go over the information and proceed with caution. Your deposit will be at risk once you sign off, so make sure you ask questions, request additional documentation or reports, and carefully investigate anything that concerns you about the property.

Your hard earned cash is on the line

Depending on the price of the property, the buyer’s required deposit can be a considerable sum. If a property cost $400,000, a three percent deposit would amount to the significant sum of $12,000. So make sure that you proceed with caution and protect your deposit as you progress towards closing on a property.

Many home buyers are very diligent when it comes to studying up before they make their purchase. However, far too often 6 very important things go overlooked. These common oversights can result in you losing money, wasting time, and cause unnecessary regret. Now, let’s make sure you know about these common oversights, so you can make sure they don’t happen to you!

1. Resale Value

In today’s housing market, people aren’t staying in their homes the full 30 years like most of the previous generation did before us. Things are changing fast and people are moving around and valuing flexibility more and more. People change jobs, people want to be closer to kids, basically, life changes things. This is why it’s important for home buyers to immediately consider the re-sale value of the property they’re considering.

Try and land something with a wider range of appeal, rather than a unique home that might only pique our personal interest. You might even want to discuss patterns that your real estate agent has seen in the surrounding area. Buying a home should feel right but it should also be a practical investment. Let your heart influence your decision but allow practicality a place in the decision-making process.

2. Focusing on the wrong expenses

Buyers often focus so intently on the mortgage payment and closing costs that they forget to look down the line at additional expenses that are sure to come up. Of course, the closing costs and mortgage payments are important but make sure when looking at your budget you’ve taken into account the possible landscaping costs or other additional fees that will inevitably be built into owning this particular home. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask the seller for an expense list just so you can plan accordingly.

3. Restrictions

More often than you might think buyers finalize their purchase before they’ve actually researched the type of restrictions they’ll have to work with. Sometimes you might find that you can’t do that add on because of zoning laws, or maybe you didn’t realize you’d have to park down the street! “Restrictions” can often be completely overlooked and they can really put a damper on the vision you had for your new home. Be sure to discuss any type of restrictions in terms of remodeling or just all around life with the home with your agent.

4. Previous work was up to par

Buyers can so often get wrapped up in the excitement of the “perfect home” that they neglect to look into the previous construction or renovations that took place. This is only an issue if the work wasn’t up to the proper standards. While everything might look fine now, you could find yourself forking up excessive amounts of money to potentially repair a problem you never saw coming. So make sure you look into every bit of work that went into your home and that it was properly inspected and passed said inspection.

5. The HOA

This really just comes down to proper due diligence. Never ever…ever close on your home without doing proper due diligence. Typically HOA’s making your living conditions much easier but occasionally you’ll run into some unexpected drama and chaos. There have even been instances of potential fines being put forth by the HOA.

6. Have you studied the neighborhood? 

Make sure you look at the crime rates, schools in the area, commute times, etc. These might sound pretty straightforward to you but again, you’d be surprised by the type of information that gets overlooked because of excitement over the home itself. Discuss these things with your agent as well as any other type of info you should be looking for to make the best possible decision you can. This home is a very important investment and you need to make sure you’re making a well-informed decision.

Glaring and ugly choice of paint? Exercise equipment cluttering up the kitchen? Weird and unsightly family photos located all over the house? Don’t let it bother you or affect how you see a property.

Ask your real estate agent and they will have plenty of stories about houses with a number of flaws. Filthy stained carpets, bathrooms that have cracks running down the walls, and appliances that have not been updated in decades.

The seller is not required to make sure that their home is in a presentable condition before putting it on the market and showing it to potential buyers. But a lazy seller can be an upside for the right home buyer.

Below are three unsightly things that may be off-putting, but should not stop you from considering making an offer on the property. Especially if the location, layout, or building is still right for you.

Ugly wallpaper and tired old dirty carpets

Turn key properties that are ready to move in are popular with today’s potential buyers. Most people lead busy lives and don’t have the time to take on a large renovation project when buying a home, this is certainly true of the always connected younger generation of home buyers.

However, replacing old carpets with new carpet or flooring and painting the interior of a property doesn’t have to be too time-consuming and expensive, and can easily be completed before moving in.

If a seller is unwilling to replace their tired and worn old carpets or give the interior of their home a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color, they are damaging the chances of finding a buyer and a good price for their home.

A fresh paint job and new flooring won’t cost a fortune and shouldn’t take much longer than a week, and can change the whole feel of a property.

Rooms that are being used for odd purposes

It is surprisingly common to see rooms in the home being used for a purpose that they were not designed for. Many people use a spare room as a home office. Some people even use the dining room as a gym and the bathroom as a walk in wardrobe.

However, just because the current occupier uses a space for a certain purpose, it doesn’t mean you have to do the same. Try to look beyond the odd use of rooms and try to forget that the seller lives in the property.

After the seller has moved out, the exercise equipment in the dining room will be gone and the walk in wardrobe can easily be turned back into a bathroom.

An overpoweringly strong presence of the current home owner

When a property is adorned with personal photos, diplomas, and possessions that belong to the seller, it can difficult for the potential buyer to picture themselves living in the property. The homes that are most appealing to buyers are neutral and don’t have an overpowering sense of the current owner.

Worse than just the possessions of the current occupier is when the seller is actually present while the property is shown to potential buyers. It creates an uncomfortable feeling for all involved. The buyer feels that they have to be on their best behavior and that interferes with them exploring the home properly. They feel restricted in voicing their opinions on the home and see themselves as a guest in the home, rather than a potential owner.

A property that is too personalized or where the seller is regularly present for viewings can stay on the market for a long time, and often gain a bad reputation as more time passes. However, a potential buyer can use this to their advantage to acquire the property below the seller’s asking price.

The sellers that unknowingly sabotage the sale of their home often offer an opportunity to buyers to hit a price point under budget when making an offer. Most of the buyers in today’s market have a hard time looking beyond the seller’s clutter, over personalized design and style, or customized changes to the property.

Try to look beyond the seller’s changes and if a home is in a good location with a nice floor plan you should consider whether you can transform the property and make the home the one you’re looking for.

You may see your new yard as a blank canvas, but make sure you consider your options before you start digging. So, you’ve finally had your bid accepted and you’re looking forward to getting to work on the vision you have for your new yard! Well, the bad news is that the green lawn covers dreadful soil and unsightly pipes and wiring that have been covered for years.

While the good news is that there’s still plenty of time to salvage this. The weeds haven’t overrun your yard yet and there’s still plenty of green life left in that grass. Here we will cover five guidelines to help you improve your yard and create an outdoor space you can enjoy for years to come.

Get your beds in order

Whether you have new top soil or old dirt that has been used to fill patches, your ground will need some work to become fertile soil.

It would be nice to have an endless supply of free compost, however, it does take some time to naturally build up organic compost from the grass trimmings alone. The alternative is to buy bags of compost, with packaged cow manure (a popular choice).

Another option is mushroom compost. However, this can be harmful to young seedlings and any plants and flowers that are sensitive to salts, such as camellias and azaleas.

Work out the lay of the land

You may want to start planting the vegetable garden you always wanted as soon as you move in, but you must make sure you know where is suitable. Does the spot you have in mind receive enough sunlight and does it have suitable drainage to keep it safe from puddles?

First, I would suggest that you sketch out a diagram of your yard. This will help you to visualize what you want and identify potential problem areas. Make sure you highlight the areas that get plenty of sunlight and the areas that are mostly in the shade.

Don’t worry if your diagram looks a bit messy. As long as it helps you to successfully plan the layout of your garden and you can understand what you have drawn.

Get rid of any unwanted builder plantings

The builder plantings that are in your new yard may look harmless enough, but they may very well grow into monsters that cause you a hassle later on.

Make sure that you properly identify all of your existing plants, and judge whether they are suitable for you. A tree that drops messy leaves on your lawn, or fruit that requires harvesting can be a lot of work. If you leave them to their own devices, they can block drains and even stain your paving slabs or driveway.

Trees with weak wood may snap at a later date and damage your home. While an invasive species of plant may take over your whole garden. Some species of plant are fine when they are in the right location. However, if you think that it may grow too big or is located too close to your home it is best to have it removed.

Plan for the future

What is your biggest priority in your yard? Maybe it’s having friends and family come over to enjoy the evening?

Try to picture yourself, your kids, partner, and your family or friends, 10 years in the future. What will the priority in your yard used for then?

It might be very tempting to go the extra mile and completely revamp the whole area with a hot tub and quality landscaping/additions but don’t break the bank if you don’t have to. Think about whether or not these additions will be suitable for you and your family in the future? You can have the garden that you have always wanted, but will you want the same things when your life situation changes in the future?

Make a start with groundcovers and some mulch

Weeds are unavoidable in the garden. But poorly maintained lawn and garden beds that need attention are the perfect breeding ground.

Mulch is great for keeping the soil moist, so start with a two-inch layer of mulch. Make sure that you gradually phase out using mulch eventually, as it can be expensive and even take nutrients away from your soil.

Introduce creeping phlox or another groundcover species like mondo grass around the edges of your borders when you plant a new bed. Groundcovers suppress weeds and can save you lots of money and effort as time goes by.