The Real Estate Avenue: 2017

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Great House Plants For The Novice..

Like many of you I have done my share of laying to rest a vast number of house plants. You buy a bunch of seeds or potted plants with the best of intentions and within a month or two that vibrant green color has been replaced with yellow & brown. The problem may not be that your green thumb challenged you might need to start small.

I know what your thinking "Why should I care about learning to take care of plants when I can buy artificial ones that don't wilt?" Plants not only add beauty to a room they also provide clean air, boost your mood, improve sleep & lower the risk of illness. All of these are great reasons to invest in a few house plants.

The Peace Lily-(Spathyphyllium) native to tropical regions of the Americas and southeastern Asia does not need a lot of water or sunlight to survive. Your are able to water this plant once a week. You don't need to over water the soil dampening it should be adequate. The best sunlight for this plant is indirect sunlight. You may also need to re-pot the Peace Lily every 1-2 years.

   The Spider plant (Chlorophytum Comosum) also called Airplane plants are native to Tropical Southern Africa. They thrive in bright indirect light & a good amount of water. Avoid making the plant to soggy. The spider plant can begin sprouting flowers in spring. This may not always be the case depending on the care of your plant. Watch for sticky & yellow leaves as this can be a sign your plant may be unhealthy.

Aloe Vera Plant grows wild in tropical climates & is used for medicinal & agricultural purposes. It requires well drained soil & bright and sunny conditions. However to much sun can burn the plant. Unlike the Peace Lily which is beautiful to look at but can cause a nauseous feeling & difficulty swallowing if ingested the aloe plant is hailed for its therapeutic uses by many.

A few other honorable mentions for great indoor plants are Golden Pothos, Snake Plant, Rubber Tree, English Ivy & Philodendron. As always do your research before buying any of these plants to make sure there safe for you & your family.

Morrishia Dooley-The Dwelling Specialist

A.S.R REALTOR- Associate Broker

Solid Source Realty

O-770-475-1130 ext-3815

Direct-678-886-8353

email-thedwellingspecialist@gmail.com

website -www.galleryofdwellings.com

Blog-therealestateavenue.blogspot.com
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If your in the market to sell, buy or lease purchase a home give me a call

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

The Inground Pool -Pricey or Priceless?

I have wonderful memories as a child living in Orlando Florida playing in the pool until I was a wrinkled prune and loving it. Since the climate was so accommodating many longs days were spent horse-playing at home in the pool. Our parents knew where we were and they didn't have to drive my sisters and I to Daytona or Cocoa Beach every weekend. However, some days it was inevitable because the home pool didn't come with the benefits of making sand castles.

When we relocated to the Peach State I noticed many of the homes in my neighborhood didn't have pools. However a lot of money was spent on functional outdoor patios, decks & gardens spaces. One factor in deciding if a pool is a good investment is location & surroundings. If your living where a pool can truly give relief to certain climate conditions and can be used throughout the majority of the year it could be a great investment. If you purchase a home in a community where many of the homeowners have pools than not having one may put you at a disadvantage when selling your home.
Make sure your pool doesn't take the entire yard. How much backyard greenery will be usable once the pool is in place. Barbecues, parties & holiday gatherings are usually celebrated in the backyard. Many home buyers prefer a large fenced backyard instead of a pool. It's versatile and gives way to there imagination of the perfect oasis. Gazebos, extended decks, garden areas or a small fish pond could be a better way to see a bigger return when selling.

                   The average cost to get your 600 square foot pool installed & up and running can come with a price tag of $30,000 according to NAR. Don't forget about maintenance cost, and pool supplies to keep your pool in working order.

    You should also consider the safety guidelines for your state concerning fences and pool covers. How high does the fence need to be in order to be in compliance with local and state laws? Does the area accessing the pool have to be completely enclosed? A few other factors to consider before installing a pool is the added cost of insurance. If you plan to sell the home eventually what will the lender guidelines be before approving a loan on a property with a pool?

As you can see there are a few points to ponder when thinking about buying a home with a pool or adding a pool. I believe the answer lies with the individuals preference. As always you should do your research before you make a decision on anything that can impact your bottom line or impose a big commitment.

I will always cherish playing in the pool on hot days with my sisters. Arguing over who gets what float toy & pushing each other in the deep end of the pool when our parents weren't looking. The laughter, nostalgic feelings of love & our family gatherings spent around that pool are unforgettable. Although it must have come with a pricey tag for my hard working parents the memories shared there will always be priceless.