Halloween can be one of the most exciting nights of the year—especially for kids. But in the excitement, it’s easy to lose sight of practical safety measures that we may think of every other day of the year.
Adhere to some of these trick or’ treating safety measures to ensure your Halloween night is fun and worry-free!
Watch where you walk.
Make sure to stay on sidewalks and in low-traffic areas.
Don’t let them go it alone.
It’s best to accompany children under 12 while trick-or-treating.
Practice proper costume safety.
Avoid anything completely black or hooded, and consider putting reflective or glow-in-the-dark paint on bags and costumes. You can also incorporate glow sticks into the costume, or hold them for extra visibility.
Dress comfortably.
Comfortable shoes and trip-proof costumes are a must.
Avoid harmful paints and materials.
Face paint is a better option than a mask, which can impede your child’s vision, but if the paint is loaded with harmful chemicals, it’s best to leave it at the store.
Drive carefully.
Peak trick-or-treating hours are from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Drive slowly through residential areas, and be cautious during those times.
Candy check.
This tip is a no-brainer, but be sure to check your child’s candy before he or she eats it and discard anything without a wrapper or that may have been tampered with.
“Stranger danger” rules still apply.
Even if you’re only trick-or-treating through your neighborhood, explain to your child that the same stranger rules still apply and to never step inside a person’s home, even if invited.
The annual approach of winter makes autumn an ideal time to bring in fun decor elements like fluffy throws and pillows, candles, and warm autumnal colors. Follow these tips to make your home the coziest it can be.
ADD LAYERS AND TEXTURES
We put on extra clothing when autumn temperatures drop, and it’s a good idea to dress your home with additional elements of warmth too. A thick fabric welcome mat by your front door will provide something soft to sink your feet into, while long curtain panels in cotton or velvet will help insulate your home from the cold. Soft throws on your sofa and chairs will warm up the look of your room and provide a cozy spot for reading, napping, or watching TV. A fuzzy shag rug will warm up a floor. You can make your bedroom more comfortable by swapping out lightweight summer sheets and blankets for heat-trapping flannel sheets and winter-weight comforters. Drape a fleece throw across the foot of your bed for luxurious comfort on cold nights.
ACCENTUATE YOUR FIREPLACE
Nothing says warm and cozy like a crackling fire. If you love the look of a wood fire but not the cleanup afterward, fill your fireplace with thick pillar candles and light those instead. Dress your fireplace mantel with natural elements like autumn-hued gourds and leaves, succulents, or pine cones. Lanterns, potted mums, or a basket filled with a comfy blanket can add extra texture and color to your hearth when it’s not in use. If you don’t have a fireplace, you can use these same decorating ideas to add fall flair to any spot in your home. Or you could make yourself a faux decorative fireplace by hanging a floating wood shelf above a vertical wood-fence panel that’s attached to the wall.
TOSS SOME PILLOWS
Once you get your fireplace roaring or your candles burning, you’ll want to settle into a comfortable place nearby to enjoy the warm glow. A few pillows on your sofa and chairs or some oversized floor pillows and poufs can provide just the spot for comfortable lounging. Pillows can add beauty, warmth, and texture to a space—look for pillows in knobby knits, autumn hues, or fun fall prints. When you have people over, you can put a few extra pillows on the floor to provide additional seating.
DIM THE LIGHTS
Give long fall nights a cozy ambience by filling your space with soft, flickering candles and carefully chosen lighting. Place candles around the room, or add smart light bulbs to your light fixtures. Some smart bulbs have their own apps that will allow you to dim or change the color of the lighting, while others can be paired with Google Assistant, Apple’s Siri, or Amazon Alexa to operate. String lights strewn across a wall or stuffed into Mason jars or lanterns can create a comfy or romantic atmosphere.
BRING THE OUTSIDE IN
Even if you aren’t the outdoorsy type, you might find it calming to have natural fall elements in your home. Appealing fall items you could use include autumn leaves, seasonal flowers like mums and sunflowers, sea glass and driftwood from the beach, or apples, decorative squashes, and corn husks from a local farm. Use houseplants, such as a large, leafy fern or a collection of easy-care succulents, to freshen and soften your interior’s look and feel.
INFUSE THE AIR
Fall is filled with many pleasant scents you can use to make your home cozier, such as pumpkin spice, apple pie, and cider. Try simmering slices of apples and oranges with cinnamon in a pot on the stove, burning fall-scented candles, or decorating your home with bowls of potpourri made with cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and dehydrated oranges.
PERSONALIZE WITH PHOTOS
Framed photos of friends and family members will make you smile and are a simple way to bring personality and joy to your home. You could feature these photos on a gallery wall in your living room or display them on a coffee or console table. Your friends and family will feel welcome in your home when they see these memories on display.
SET OUT BOOKS AND BOARD GAMES
When you have folks over to visit this fall, you will want them to stay awhile. Put out a board game or two and perhaps some coffee-table books to encourage conversation and hours of entertainment. By adding just a few decorative and fun elements to your interior spaces, you may find yourself getting more enjoyment out of the cozy moments you spend at home this season.
From chargrilled food to backyard games—barbecues are the epitome of summer living. Regardless of your party hosting style, throwing a barbecue doesn’t have to be challenging. In fact, you should have as much fun planning one as you would attending one!
Use these tips to help you host a barbecue that will be the talk of the summer for both your friends and family.
Do a potluck-style menu
Chances are that your friends and family will ask you what they can bring. Instead of brushing them off and trying to tackle everything yourself, see if they can bring a side. This way you’ll only have to worry about cooking the main course and dessert. Besides, your guests will love having various yummy side dishes to try.
Set the mood with summer jams
Certain songs just scream, “summer!” and will help to keep your guests in a good mood all afternoon. In fact, there are playlists that are designed specifically for summer barbecues. Just try to be mindful of your guests, and keep it appropriate. As long as the songs makes your guests smile and dance, you can rest assured that you’re playing the right type of music.
Break out yard games
As fun as eating is, your party will have to include other activities. Yard games are perfect for all age groups. Backyard activities like horseshoes, corn hole, and Jumbo Jenga® will be a hit for both adults and kids. Not only will fun games entice your guests to stay longer, they’re a great way to get people to mingle.
Keep the decorations simple
It’s not necessary to overdo it with the decorations at a barbecue. Keep it simple with colorful tablecloths and coordinating place settings. If you want to take it a step further, consider stringing a few sets of lights around the trees and setting out Mason jars with tea lights and fresh flowers.
Incorporate a delicious dessert
Regardless of the menu, dessert is always a crowd-pleaser. However, it doesn’t have to be fancy. Since you’ll already have the grill out, consider using it to make dessert, too. Various fruits like peaches, cantaloupe, and watermelon can be grilled to create a delicious treat. Top the fruit with honey, cinnamon, and a dollop of ice cream.
This summer, get creative and throw a laid-back barbecue that is sure to impress your guests.
What words would you use to describe your home? If you said peaceful, clean, inviting, or organized, congratulations—it sounds like you’ve cracked the declutter code. If you said chaotic, overwhelming, or messy, let’s chat. Of course, it’s perfectly natural for your home to alternate through phases of clean and cluttered; we’re human, after all. Here are some strategies for streamlining your space.
ENTRYWAY: Establish a landing area for your keys, wallet, purse, and shoes. A console table with a small bowl can hold keys, or a tiny hook in the wall will suffice if the space is small. If you don’t have a coat closet, install coat hooks along one wall and slide a shoe rack underneath it.
KITCHEN: Let the decanting begin! Choose some jars of various sizes to hold grains, nuts, seeds, pasta, and flour. To store smaller amounts, you can save money by soaking off the labels of pasta sauce or pickle jars. This will not only make your pantry look more cohesive but also make it much easier to know what you need at the grocery store to replenish your supplies.
LIVING ROOM: One word: curate. Pretend you are staging your living room as if it were an Airbnb. How do you want guests to feel in the space? What could you get rid of to make the room more livable and inviting? If you’re holding onto knickknacks solely out of guilt, give yourself permission to toss them.
BEDROOM: Are you overwhelmed by the amount of clothing in your closet? Consider a capsule wardrobe of thirty coordinated pieces that will make getting ready for the day much simpler. Try designating a “maybe” bin if you have trouble being decisive. If you don’t miss the items of clothing in the bin after a few days, you know it’s time to donate them.
BATHROOM: Change your habitat instead of your habits. If your dirty clothes always find their way onto the bathroom floor, move your laundry hamper into the bathroom. Do you have half-full bottles of shampoo that you used and didn’t like or face masks gifted to you by well-meaning friends? To paraphrase Elsa from Frozen, “Let them go!”
Think of decluttering as a journey and not a destination. It’s a constant process of assessing your habits and establishing systems, like taking out the trash every Tuesday or hanging up three shirts before going to bed. Instagram is a great resource if you are someone who likes to follow a plan. Search #declutterchallenge for weeklong, monthlong, or even yearlong strategies. Or commit to a “no-buy month” (other than essentials) and get to the root of your motivation to accumulate. Go forth and declutter!
My First Job Responsibility is to show and help the seller Enhance the Buyer Appeal & the Value of their property before it goes on the market … How to “PACKAGE” it for Profit so it sells for more money!
As the days get longer and summer makes its debut, it’s time to turn your attention to your outdoor spaces. Whether you are updating your home for a quick sale or just want to choose a project that will contribute to increased equity down the road, it’s important to choose wisely and with an eye on the projects that sell in your local market.
Doors, Siding, and Roofing
They’re not as hot as other outdoor projects, but these elements are among the most value-added improvements you can make to your home’s exterior. Year after year, new exterior doors, garage doors, siding, and roofing lead the pack in return on investment (ROI). Remember, these improvements don’t have to be strictly utilitarian— they can contribute to updating and upgrading your home’s curb appeal as well. Go for a different color, different material, and a different look, and enhance these updates with new exterior lighting and hardware for maximum impact.
Landscaping Updates
One of the most cost-effective ways to add value, no matter what your plans are for selling your home, are trees. Offering a host of benefits, including improving your ecological footprint, savings on heating and cooling costs, and appreciation year after year, mature trees add beauty and value to your home and to your neighborhood.
In addition, consistently well-maintained landscaping can make a big difference in the way your home looks, without breaking the bank or requiring weekend warrior DIY credentials. Consider a lawn service or the installation of an irrigation system to help your lawn reach its full potential.
Patios and Decks
Patios and decks are always a popular upgrade, and they generally recoup much of their cost. Take a look at what your local market will bear before deciding on an over-the-top, elaborate patio or deck. In the South, where such spaces are used practically year-round, multiple levels, pergolas, and other bells and whistles may be a major selling point. In the North, they will probably seem like overkill and lose much of their ROI due to increased maintenance costs.
Pools
Geography is a major factor in determining the return on investment for a pool. In some markets, and in many luxury properties, a pool may be considered a must-have. In others, it is a liability and an unnecessary expense. In addition, positive ROI on a pool installation is difficult to create, since it’s an expensive upgrade with high ongoing expenses for maintenance and upkeep. A general rule of thumb is not to install a pool unless it’s something you and your family will enjoy, and is something that will enhance your quality of life during the years you are living in your home.
Outdoor Kitchen and Dining Room
Also called a summer kitchen in some markets, an outdoor kitchen can provide a beautiful setting for outdoor lunches, dinners, and entertaining opportunities. The key to enhancing your ROI with an outdoor kitchen? Scale. While a luxury property might require extreme upgrades, for most homes, an inset grill, stainless steel ice chest and drawers, and sufficient counter space are all that’s required for a functional outdoor kitchen. Add an amply-sized table and chairs with a roof or pergola and you’re ready to party.
Firepits and Seating
Though summer is warm for the majority of the country, the evenings can sometimes turn cooler in some places, especially at the beginning and end of the season. A large firepit or fire bowl with seating makes a perfect place to cozy up for a long evening of marshmallow roasting and storytelling with family and friends. As a bonus, fire features can range from elaborate gas-powered setups to simple, cost-effective DIY projects—meaning they’re a value-added update you can afford no matter your budget.
Pet Projects
For many buyers, pets are a major consideration, so projects that appeal to pet parents are particularly popular selling features. These can include:
Pet-friendly fencing options or dog runs
Animal pools or bathing stations
Climate controlled doghouse
Dog potty areas
Pet-friendly landscaping
Splash fountain water feature
Since 67 percent of US households own a pet, a marketing plan that includes pets may make your home the top choice for even more buyers in your area.
Projects with Rental Potential
Especially in a time of economic uncertainty, projects that offer additional financial stability are, perhaps, the best investments of all. If your property includes a carriage house, guest house, pool house, or garage, you may be able to create a desirable rental unit. For convertible spaces in your main home, like an attic or basement, a separate entrance, porch, and outdoor space may create even more impact and marketability. If you don’t want to rent the space out yourself, use it for guests or as an in-law suite now, then market its rental potential when you decide to sell.
Don’t forget to include additional features like outdoor lighting and audio to enhance your updated space. For upgraded landscaping, ensure that you have a plan in place to keep it healthy and optimally maintained, no matter the season.
Your real estate professional has the insights you need to help you determine which outdoor improvement will have the most impact at the closing table. This will depend on a variety of factors, including buyer demand, comparable properties, and market conditions in your area. In addition, your real estate agent or broker will know the best professionals in your area for helping you plan and install your upgraded outdoor spaces.
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Don’t let them go it alone.
Dress comfortably.
Candy check.
