Do you open your closets with dread, knowing it’s going to take several minutes to find that certain pair of shoes, or for fear that something will fall off the top shelf onto your head? As dreaded as it can be, now is a great time to get said closets cleaned out and better organized! The longer you dread it, the more it will be piled up, so let’s get to work now! 

Clothes First 

• Have an empty box or laundry basket handy and take everything on the handing rod off so that you must look at everything as you’re cleaning. 
• If it hasn’t been worn in six months, doesn’t fit, or you simply don’t like it anymore, get rid of it.  

• Try on anything that you’re not sure about. If you still love it, and it fits, keep it. Otherwise, send it to the declutter box. 
• Business attire can be donated to charities that assist those on limited incomes with their wardrobe for job-hunting.  Women’s clothing can be donated through dressforsuccess.org, and men’s clothing is accepted through careergear.org. Be sure to check with any organizations for their policies for donations. 
• Once you’ve gone through everything, re-hang your items by color or season so you won’t be spending a lot of time hunting them down. 

Shoes, Accessories, etc. 

• Same as with clothing, get rid of any shoes or accessories you haven’t worn in a long time, no matter the reason.  
• Organizing shoes can be a pain with or without their original boxes. Purchase clear plastic shoe boxes in bulk at a discount store and use them to store lesser-worn shoes. 
• Place hangers on the back of the closet door or other little-used space, and hang hats, ties, scarves or even jewelry.  Keep your most-used items at eye-level. 
• Storing sweaters on a hanger isn’t the best thing for the sweater–they’ll end up misshapen. Fold them and place them in a plastic storage container lined with fabric softener sheets or sachets. A hanging shoe organizer would be another great way to keep them in shape–just roll them up and put them in the pockets. 

General Closet Organization 

• Add a second rod to your hanging space, which can be a DIY for one day, or purchase a kit that makes this one a cinch to add more storage. 
• For closets with limited space, use wall-mount towel rods and shower curtain hangers to hang handbags or other odds and ends. 
• Use laundry baskets for storing odd items on the top shelf. 

Don’t forget to wipe the closet down when you remove everything for sorting. Wipe down the walls and shelving with a mild cleanser and warm water. Once everything is clean and organized, set aside an hour at every season’s change to keep it that way. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Turning a corner of your yard into a wild area is a wonderful way to support local wildlife and promote biodiversity. There is virtually no effort involved! Just a few thoughtful choices can turn your space into a mini nature sanctuary. Here are some simple tips:

• Let It Grow Naturally Stop mowing a section of your lawn and allow grasses and native plants to grow freely. This creates shelter and food for insects, birds, and small animals.
  
• Plant Native Species Choose native flowers, shrubs, and trees that support local pollinators and birds. Native plants require less water and care while offering the best food and habitat for wildlife.
  
  
• Add a Brush or Log Pile Stacking fallen branches or logs in a corner creates shelter for insects, frogs, birds, and small mammals. It mimics the natural environment and encourages biodiversity.
  
• Create a Water Source Even a shallow dish of water or a small pond can attract birds, butterflies, and amphibians. Keep the water clean and change it regularly to prevent mosquito breeding.
  
• Avoid Chemicals Skip pesticides and herbicides in your wild area. These can harm the very creatures you are trying to support.
  
• Leave the Leaves Allow leaves to stay on the ground in fall. They provide shelter for insects and overwintering sites for pollinators like butterflies and bees.
  
• Add Nesting Spaces Install birdhouses, bee hotels, or even leave standing dead trees if it is safe; these provide essential nesting sites.

Check with your local municipality or property association to ensure you are adhering to regulations before you begin. If your wild spot qualifies, you can even earn a Certified Wildlife Habitat® distinction from the National Wildlife Federation so that others understand your intentions. It will be exciting to watch the menagerie of wild creatures that come for a visit to your yard, and it is especially fun for children. A wild patch not only helps wildlife thrive but adds natural beauty and a peaceful corner to your yard.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Utilize your backyard, take a break from technology or inside chores and enjoy the sun and warm temps. Make your family want to get out there with these ideas: 

• Spruce up your patio furniture with new pillows or make some no-sew covers with what you have on hand! 
• Adding lights is an inexpensive way to make the time last longer: add strings of LED’s to ground cover, wrap tree trunks with string lights, and no outdoor structure, no problem with this DIY on creating easy lamp posts to define a seating area! 
• Pools are great and make the backyard irresistible for the whole family! Affordable options like easy set up pool kits can get you swimming in just a day!  

• Speaking of water, did you know that backyard splash pads are catching on? If your municipality allows them, DIY or have a permanent play area installed! Inflatable or portable splash pads can be bought at most discount stores or online. 
• Who says swings are just for porches? Hang a porch swing from a sturdy tree branch or add a platform swing (store-bought or DIY).  
• Everyone loves a treehouse! It can be as simple as a deck/platform built in the branches or a full-out house with walls and a roof. The Family Handyman has some great ideas and tips for building a tree structure. 
• Make an outdoor exercise spot or place to practice your yoga!  
• Get outside with the dogs, especially if you create a playground for your dogs. Playing with them outside is good for both of you. When they want to be on their own, Cesar’s Way has a few suggestions for making your backyard more fun for your furry friends. 

Lastly, do not just grill outside! Take those delicious meals and eat al fresco, and make it a relaxing affair, just hanging out after eating, or playing a fun game after dinner is over. Your backyard has plenty of potential for outdoor fun or de-stressing, you just have to help it along!  

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

These days it seems everyone is all about going green.  Have you ever given any thought on taking part in going green?  If so you have come to the right place.  Below are a few tips on how you and your family can go green this spring!   Why not add going green to your spring cleaning list!

•  One way that you and your family can go green this spring is to simply take your shoes off before you enter your house!  You read that right; you can go green by simply taking off your shoes. 40% of all indoor contaminants actually come from the bottom of our shoes so do your part to keep this from happening to you and your family by taking those shoes off!
  
  
• Learn what ingredients are considered to be green so that when you go to the store to purchase all of your new green cleaners you can be confident that you are actually doing some good for the environment.  Some companies that claim to be green actually have some ingredients that are not green once they are mixed together.   Just read up on what ingredients are green and what ingredients are not and are typically passed off as green and you should be heading in the right direction on what to buy and what not to buy.
  
  
• Don’t forget the outside of your home when you are going green.  Many grasses are able to grow and thrive without the help of any type of pesticides and /or fertilizers.  The best way to start going green with the outside of your home is to replace the grass you currently have with native grasses to your particular area.  One perk of this switch is that you may find that you have a lot less upkeep of your lawn once you do this!  Who wouldn’t enjoy having more time with their family and less time doing yard work on a weekly basis!

These are just a few ways in which you can help to make your home a bit more green this spring.  Once you get started going green it is likely that you will find more and more ways in which to do so.  It can become addicting once you make the decision to go green in and around your home!

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Your home is your sanctuary, but without proper security measures in place, it can be vulnerable to intruders and threats. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to enhance the safety and security of your home. Whether you’re looking to deter burglars, safeguard your family, or simply enjoy greater peace of mind, consider implementing these ten essential security improvements:

1. Install a Smart Security System

A smart security system allows you to monitor your home remotely and receive instant alerts in the event of suspicious activity. Look for systems that include features such as motion detectors, door and window sensors, and video surveillance cameras.

2. Upgrade Door and Window Locks

Strengthen the security of your home by upgrading to high-quality deadbolt locks on exterior doors and secure locking mechanisms on windows. Consider installing smart locks that allow you to control access to your home remotely.

3. Illuminate Outdoor Spaces

Keep would-be intruders at bay by illuminating the exterior of your home with motion-activated lights. Install lights near entry points, walkways, and dark corners to deter trespassers and increase visibility around your property.

4. Secure Garage Doors

Don’t overlook the security of your garage, as it can provide easy access for burglars. Install a garage door opener with rolling code technology and consider adding a lock or security bar for extra protection.

5. Reinforce Entry Points

Strengthen the security of your home’s entry points by installing reinforced doors, doorjambs, and strike plates. Consider adding a peephole or video doorbell to screen visitors before opening the door.

6. Trim Overgrown Foliage

Keep shrubs, trees, and bushes trimmed to eliminate hiding spots for potential intruders. Clear away any overgrown vegetation that could provide cover for burglars attempting to gain entry to your home.

7. Upgrade to Smart Home Automation

Take advantage of smart home automation technology to control lights, thermostats, and security systems from your smartphone or tablet. Program lights to turn on and off at random intervals to create the illusion of occupancy when you’re away from home.

8. Install a Home Safe

Protect your valuables and important documents by installing a home safe in a secure location. Choose a fireproof and waterproof safe with a secure locking mechanism to keep your belongings safe from theft and damage.

9. Invest in Security Cameras

Install security cameras in strategic locations around your property to monitor activity and deter would-be intruders. Choose cameras with high-definition resolution, night vision capabilities, and motion detection alerts for maximum effectiveness.

10. Join a Neighborhood Watch Program

Work together with your neighbors to keep your community safe by joining a neighborhood watch program. Stay informed about local crime trends, share information with your neighbors, and work together to identify and report suspicious activity.

By implementing these essential security improvements, you can enhance the safety and security of your home and protect your loved ones and belongings from harm. Whether you choose to invest in a comprehensive security system or make simple upgrades to reinforce entry points and increase visibility around your property, taking proactive steps to improve home security can provide invaluable peace of mind.

Ready to get started? Assess your home’s security needs, create a plan of action, and take steps to implement the necessary improvements. With a proactive approach to home security, you can enjoy greater peace of mind knowing that your home and family are protected around the clock.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

By and photo credit: Homekeepr Blog, Brian Friemel

Spring brings with it exciting times for gardeners who anticipate floral beauty and healthy plants for the grounds of their Orlando real estate. To fulfill your gardening hopes, however, you need to prioritize your time in order to tend to all the tasks necessary for blooms and blossoms.

• Prune

For early blooming shrubs such as forsythia and viburnum, prune them as soon as blooms have passed. Early spring is also an ideal time to prune your roses.

• Deadhead

Remove spent flowers from bulbs, but leave the rest of the plant as is for the time being.

• Weed

Pull weeds from your beds and borders before they have a chance to take hold and spread.

• Compost

Tend to your compost if it has been neglected over the winter. If you do not have a compost bin, spring is a great time to start one.

• Prepare tools

Spring is a good time to prepare your tools for the oncoming gardening season and to make any necessary repairs or new purchases. You will be happy you have done so when summer sets in.

• Plant

Spring is a great time to add new plants to your garden. Be sure, however, that all threat of frost has past. Plant such things as trees, shrubs, hardy annuals, and summer blooming bulbs.

• Fertilize & Mulch

Fertilize and mulch beds and borders. Spring is also a good time to fertilize fruit trees. If you applied heavy winter mulch for protection from the cold, you will need to clear it away.

• Stake

Stake plants that may be prone to wind damage during the unpredictable spring weather.

One type of gardening which appeals to many environmentalists is organic gardening, the incorporation of the entire landscape design and environment to improve the soil and maximize plant production without using synthetic materials.

Another gardening philosophy which is gaining in popularity is “no till” planting. Proponents of this system insist that not tilling the soil of your Orlando real estate improves the quality of the dirt by not disturbing it and thus not bringing buried weeds, bacteria, and carbon to the surface. Layers of mulch and other organic materials not only “feed” the soil, but also control weed growth.

Whatever method you select, may your gardening days be happy and your blooms rewarding!

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

 

Spring has officially sprung and that means most of us are starting to get the itch to clean our homes.   Below are a few spring cleaning tips for those of you who might be interested in doing it the natural way!  These items are such that you likely already have them in your house so there will be no need to go out and purchase anything.

The number one item you likely already have in your house and that is perfect for spring cleaning  is baking soda!  Yes you read that right, baking soda!  It has many uses such as the following:

• Clean the toilet using a bit of baking soda and a scrub brush
• Clean the inside of your oven using some baking soda mixed with vinegar and a rag
• To brighten up your laundry use half a cup of baking soda mixed with each load
• 1 cup baking soda with 1 cup vinegar will help to unclog a clogged up drain in your sinks
• Sprinkle some baking soda on your rugs and carpets, wait 15 min, then vacuum to freshen them

Another item that you likely already have on hand at home that can help make spring cleaning  easy is vinegar.  There are many uses for cleaning with vinegar such as the following:

• Mix vinegar with salt to get those pesky coffee stains out of your coffee mugs
• Spray vinegar in your bathroom for a good sanitization of each surface
• Believe it or not, let your socks soak in vinegar to freshen them.  This is done by adding 1 cup vinegar to a pot of water and letting them soak overnight
• Use a bit of distilled white vinegar on our toothbrush to make your smile brighter.
• If you want your windows to shine and you don’t want to use regular window cleaner, use white vinegar mixed with water in a spray bottle then wipe clean with a paper towel.

Liquid dish soap is another great help in spring cleaning and my guess is you already have some of this too!  Here are a few uses for liquid dish soap:

• Mop your floors with it!  Mix a couple drops with a gallon of water
• Clean your granite countertops with some liquid dish soap mixed with warm water then dry with a towel.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

While preparing to move to a new home, the thought of packing your belongings can be overwhelming. The first step is to purge anything you no longer want or use, including clothing, decor, and kitchen items. Once you have gotten rid of unwanted items, it is time to start packing! Here are eight hacks to make this more convenient, before and after the move:

• Your local grocery’s produce department is a great place to get free boxes, especially fruit cartons. The packaging is heavy-duty and includes covers.
• Use luggage to pack practically anything, and wheeled pieces are perfect for transporting heavy items.
• Cover hanging clothes with trash bags for easy packing. Another way to move clothing is to spread a flat sheet on the bed, lay the clothes on it, and tie the sheet hems around the hanger tops.
• Pack an “open first” box with necessities such as toiletries, sleepwear, and a clean outfit for the next day.
• Instead of buying bubble wrap or other protective wrap, use linens to wrap fragile items.
• While unassembling anything, place hardware or cords in clear storage bags, label them, and attach them to their appropriate item with sturdy tape.
• Protect fragile items using stuffed animals or throw blankets to keep them from shifting in their boxes.
• Label packed boxes on their sides for easy viewing.

A most important tip: keep the weight of items in mind while packing. Place heavier items–books, for instance–in small boxes, and lightweight items in large boxes. Moving is difficult enough, and the easier you make it on your back and your energy, the better!

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Working from home can be an amazing thing if you get the chance to do it.  Working from home can open up an entirely new world to someone who has always had to work outside of them home.  It can be extremely comfortable to work from home for many reasons; one being you can stay in your pajamas all day if you choose to do so.  If you are someone who doesn’t mind spending the day alone away from other colleges then working from home might just be for you!  Take a look at these few tips for working from home so that you will know more about whether or not you want to give it a try.

1. The best way to work from home is to make space in your home that is specifically for working.  If you let work spill over into other parts of your home you are more likely to lose paperwork and turn your home sanctuary into a stress filled place that no one wants to spend time in.  Your home (even if you work in it) should be a place of rest and relaxation where you go to get away from it all.  Keep it that way by using this first tip.
   
2. Another tip for working from home is to set time boundaries for your work. If you work from a computer and you have a family that needs taking care of, it is best that you set your work schedule around your family time.  This way you won’t end up losing out on quality family time by spending that time on your computer away from those you love.  If it is possible spend only a certain designated time of the day working on your job.   If you need to turn off work email notifications in order to accomplish this, so be it.
   
3. Use technology to stay in touch with those you work with. When you work in an office and you have a question about your job or something that needs to be discussed, all you have to do is pop in to another office and talk about it.  Working from home  can sometimes cause communication gaps between you and those you are working for or with.   Keeping those lines of communication open through email and or video chat is most beneficial and many times can be crucial to your job.

Again, working from home can be the best thing since sliced bread, just do your part to make sure it doesn’t overtake your everyday life.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Many seniors plan to live at home for as long as it is physically possible. Unless a major transformation needs to be made, most changes are simple. The following seven modifications are easy DIY jobs everyone in the family can take care of over a weekend:

• Replace all doorknobs with lever-style handles so that those with arthritis or other motor skill problems can open doors easily.
• Install anti-skid treads to ramps and steps to minimize slipping.
• To reduce the danger of falls, area rugs can be secured with non-slip rug padding or double-sided carpet tape.
• If a total bathroom remodel is not affordable, installing grab-bars to the shower, bath, and toilet area walls will offer security for moving around in a slippery bathroom.
• Change faucets in the kitchen and bath to single lever handles or install motion-sensor or touch-activated units for ease of use.
• Outdoor lighting is essential for everyone’s safety, and there are many options for adding low-voltage and solar-powered lights to posts along ramps and atop porch rails, as well as pathway lighting.
• Electrical issues to consider – light switches that can be pressed for turning off and on, electrical outlets placed higher than the standard height and adding more interior lighting.

This handy publication from AARP contains great ideas to assist with setting your loved one up for independent living. Hopefully you and your much-loved senior will look at this stage of life not as a challenge, but rather as a way to keep a distant–but watchful–eye over them while they maintain their sense of independence and quality of life.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.