Native Plants: Plants that thrive in the Southeast are the best choices that will attract the widest range of buyers when your property is listed. Keep the plant variety to a minimum. Many non-native plants can thrive in the Southeast as long as you know the plant’s hardiness zone. 


Bee balm:  This is a flowering perennial that is resistant to deer and rabbits. It attracts hummingbirds and is a popular herb for teas. 


Woodland Phlox: This perennial is disease resistant, can grow in the shade, and has blue, purple, and white flowers in the spring.  


Flowering Dogwood: This tree adds beautiful eye-catching foliage. White flowers begin in the spring, followed by red fruit clusters and leaves in the fall. 


Clay Soil: In this area, rocky clay soil is common. Building raised garden beds for perennials that need loamy more aerated soil can be costly and time-consuming. If you want to plant it and leave it, consider plant choices that thrive i; ...

While renovation shows have gained popularity, think twice before you decide to do any major structural changes or invest in high-end upgrades. There are several ways to improve your return on investment. Surprisingly, it is often the simple updates that pay off when you list your home, while larger and more expensive projects run the risk of you not recouping your expenses.  

Upgrades that Add More Space: It is important to check local zoning laws and building codes when you are adding extra space. Another factor to consider is your neighborhood and the average home size in your area. This can throw off market value and hurt the resale value if you add too much square footage.

Finishing the basement: This improvement adds more square footage that is climate controlled and can move your house into the next price bracket, and you can recoup up to 70% of the total cost. The cost varies widely depending on your home’s existing square footage.  Popular options are add? ...

      There is no such thing as a mandatory fix after a home inspection, and most repairs are negotiable. Cosmetic issues usually don’t need to be fixed. However, most buyers will request fixes on common inspection flags. The most common inspection issues are structural issues in the attic and crawlspace, roof issues, plumbing issues, water damage, electrical issues (particularly in older homes), HVAC issues, & termites.

FHA and VA inspections:

FHA inspections do not require repairing cosmetic or minor defects. However, common flags to FHA inspectors are similar to other inspection issues listed above. They include missing handrails, cracked exterior doors or window glass, peeling paint in homes due to lead hazards, minor plumbing leaks, flooring in poor condition, termite evidence, damaged drywall, trip hazards, driveway issues, and ventilation issues in crawl spaces and attics.

 

·      Electrical boxes with an. ...

1.     Clean Gutters: clogged gutters and downspouts and rot any wood trim, so it is very important to clean them after the last cold front.

2.     Clean HVAC filters: this really needs to be done more than once a year. Dirty filters make your system work harder, which rewards you with a higher energy bill.

3.     Check the washing machine fill hose: Inspect for any cracks that can turn into leaks that can result in costly water damage.

4.     Clean and repair screens: clean with warm soapy water and patch any small holes

5.     Fix cracks in your walkways and driveway: These can be trip hazards and you will avoid issues with repair negotiations once your home is under contract.

6.     Vacuum your fridge coils: you can find these on the bottom or back of the fridge that conducts the hot air from inside the unit. If they a. ...

Despite the many hidden costs associated with homeownership, there are many tax benefits to offset these expenses. If you are still paying your mortgage, there are several deductions available for you. The IRS has 1098 tax forms to report payments or other contributions that may be deductible from your taxable income. Form 1098 is the mortgage interest statement, which is provided by the company that services your loan. This form will tell you how much interest and prepaid points charged for loan origination in the previous year. This form also tells you the amount of mortgage insurance and property taxes paid by the lender. You are also able to write off energy-saving or medical-related improvements to the home, some taxes, and other expenses. Here are the most common deductions used by homeowners. 

1.     Retirement funds as a down payment: You can withdraw up to 10,000 from a traditional IRA account without paying a 10% early withdrawal penalty. This. ...