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.

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.

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.

The holidays are arguably the most festive time of the year. And for many people, part of that festiveness is plenty of festive, holiday-themed decorations. But if you’re selling your home, going too over-the-top with your decorations can put off potential buyers.

So, the question is, can you decorate your home for the holidays without hurting your home sale?

An article from realtor.com outlined the rules you need to follow if you want to get into the holiday spirit with your decorations without derailing your home sale, including:

• Avoid personalized decorations. If you want to sell your home, potential buyers need to be able to picture themselves in the space. But if your home is plastered with personalized holiday decorations, it’s going to be nearly impossible to do that—so while you might love your personalized Christmas stockings or your array of holiday cards from friends and family, keep them packed away until your home is sold.
• Go classic. Classic, elegant holiday decorations are always going to have a wider appeal to buyers than more kitschy, over-the-top decor.
• Look to your neighbors. Your buyers are looking at your neighborhood just as much as they’re looking at your home—so when it comes to holiday decor, look to your neighbors for inspiration. If every home on your block is decked out for the holidays, you don’t want to skip decorating altogether—and, on the flip side, if your neighbors all opted out of holiday decorations, your don’t want to deck your home in bright lights and an avalanche of “Happy Holidays”-inspired decor.

Bottom line? It is possible to sell your home and decorate it for the holidays—as long as you decorate with potential buyers (and your home sale) in mind.

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.

There are several measures everyone can take to protect their credit.

• Sign up for the free credit monitoring Equifax offers, but don’t let that make you unaware of your credit reports. Check them as often as possible, and dispute errors.
• Setting up a fraud alert with Equifax, as well as TransUnion and Experian, is another important step.
• If you feel compelled, freeze credit reports at all three agencies. A fee is involved, and varies by state. Find more information here: http://consumersunion.org/research/consumers-unions-guide-to-security-freeze-protection-2/
• Married couples need to make sure both spouses have taken steps to protect their information.
• If you have family members that haven’t checked their reports, especially the elderly, offer to help them.

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.

Below is a list of a few rainy day things you can do inside your home so that you and your family don’t get bored being stuck inside.  If you have small children you know all too well how easily they can get bored when they are stuck inside due to bad weather.  Get them and read this list together to get started on some fun!

1. One fun indoor activity you can do with your small children is to have an indoor scavenger hunt. Write down some clues to where you have hidden items in your house and set your children out on an indoor hunt to find them!  This can be fun for you as well as you watch your kids trying their best to find what you have hidden.
2. Another fun rainy day thing to-do inside your home with your family is to go camping inside!  Get your tent out and set it up right in the middle of your family room.  You and your family can sleep in the tent together all night long!  If everyone doesn’t fit you can use sleeping bags to make it a full fledge family event.  A super fun way to make your indoor camping event even more real is to make smores in the microwave!
3. Yet another fun rainy day thing to do inside is to gather all of your board games and get the entire family involved in playing them together! If you don’t have any board games you can likely find some type of game for all to play online.
4. If you don’t want to have to create something fun to do with your family, why not bake some cookies together! It is always fun to get your little ones together in the kitchen to bake.  Have each child create their own cookie with the ingredients you have available, then let the rest of the family be judges to give the best cookie award!

These are a few fun rainy day things you can do inside your home that is sure to make everyone have an enjoyable time even if they can’t go outside!

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 new home has gleaming hardwood floors and a gorgeous kitchen countertop. How you maintain those surfaces protect the investment in your home, because proper cleaning keeps them looking good as new.  Some of these materials require special care to stay looking their best. 

Flooring 

• Whether you have old hardwood floors that have been brought back to life with sanding and new sealing, or brand-new flooring, take care of it when you clean. Sweep often and use a vacuum on bare floor setting once a week. Don’t use chemical products for mopping; a mop dampened with warm water and mild soap are best, going over it after mopping with clean warm water afterwards to rinse any residue. 
• Tile is such a practical material, it’s a popular flooring choice.  Cleaning them is much like hardwood, using a damp mop (no sponge mops!), and mild soap and water.  Buff with a microfiber cloth as it’s drying for a beautiful shine.  The grout is best cleaned with baking soda and water and soft brush.  Sealing the grout will help keep it from having to be deep cleaned so often. 
• Concrete is a new trend for indoor flooring, because it is polished, stained or painted, and sealed, and looks fantastic. Castile soap mixed in warm water is perfect for getting the floor clean, going back over them with clean water to rinse. Chemicals can damage the sealant, causing them to become stained. Concrete may need resealing every few years to keep them stain-resistant. 
• Vinyl is a common flooring choice, and is easy to clean, especially the most recent types, as they are sealed.  A half cup of vinegar in a gallon of warm water will clean vinyl just as well as commercial cleaners.  (The odor will vanish after it dries, or you can add some lemon essential oil to combat the smell.) Stubborn scuff marks can be removed by rubbing the streak with a tennis ball, melamine sponge (“magic” eraser), or a clean pencil eraser. 
• For less common types of floors, Real Simple has great tips for cleaning bamboo, cork and natural stone flooring. 

Stainless Surfaces 

• Regular wiping with plain warm water is your first defense in cleaning any stainless surface, followed by a microfiber cloth or paper towel drying. 
• Glass cleaner or a mixture of dish soap, water and a bit of household ammonia will wash away fingerprints and grease spots. 
• For scratches and scrapes, a clean cloth with a few drops of mineral oil–or even olive oil–will do the trick.  Wipe in the direction of the grain, and minor scratches will disappear.   

Countertops/Sinks 

• Laminate countertops are best cleaned with a cloth dampened with warm soapy water.  Bleach can discolor the laminate, so for stains, make a paste from baking soda and vinegar, and apply to the stain.  Allow it to sit for a few minutes, and wipe away with a scratch less sponge. 
• Many choose granite for its antibacterial qualities, thanks to its seal. Warm water and mild soap is great for general cleaning, as well as keeping germs at bay. Don’t use bleach, ammonia or even acidic vinegar.  Rubbing alcohol mixed with water in a spray bottle is a good solution if you need to disinfect. Having it resealed on a yearly basis helps protect it, as well as maintaining the germ barrier. 
• Quartz is becoming increasingly popular for kitchen and bath, and although it’s a tough surface, treat it gently.  Wiping warm soapy water is best, and since it’s a manufactured product, using anything to scour away an errant stain will scratch the surface.  This Old House offers a ton of information about quartz, so see if it’s the right surface for your needs. 
• Stone is a softer hard surface, so don’t use anything abrasive while cleaning soapstone, slate, or even concrete.  A mild bleach solution is safe to use for disinfecting after a swipe with soapy water. Use a soft bristled brush with the bleach solution for stubborn stains. 
• Cutting boards and countertop areas made with butcher block are best kept sanitized with hot soapy water, and even a water-vinegar mixture.  If a scrubbing is necessary, sprinkle the surface with salt, and use a half lemon as a scrubbing pad.  The acid in the lemon combined with the abrasiveness of the salt will keep your wood surface clean. 

We are bombarded by advertising with messages that we need a certain product to keep our homes cleaned and sanitized.  Natural cleaners, and mild detergents clean just as well, if not better, all while protecting the surface.  If you have a big mess that you can’t take care of, call a pro for advice or to do the job. You chose your appliances, countertops or floors for a reason, and keeping them in top condition will help them hold their value. 

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.

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Photo credit: Merry Maids

A friend or family member has bought their first home, and they realize that there are a few items that would really come in handy for projects, homekeeping, maintenance or yardwork. There may even be a few things they don’t necessarily need, but would be fun to have.  Here are some gifts ideas that go from practical to over-the-top: 

Practical Gifts 

• Well-stocked tool kit or tool box 
• Fire extinguisher 
• Long-lasting LED lightbulbs 
• Home maintenance diary 
• Portable generator 
• Drywall repair kit 
• Lawnmower 
• Garden tools 
• Rain barrel 
• Picture hanging kit 
• Address numbers or display plaque 

Smart Home Gadgets 

• Video peephole viewer 
• Voice controlled home assistant (Amazon echo, Google Home) 
• Smart locks 
• Learning/smart thermostat 
• Climate Manager 
• TV streaming stick and video subscription 
• Robot vacuum cleaner 
• Amazon Prime for a year 

Something More Personal 

• Meal plan subscription: Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, Home Chef 
• Home magazine subscription 
• Pet adoption gift certificate 
• Trees to plant 
• Personalized welcome mat 
• New mailbox 
• Personalized keychain 

A Little Extravagant 

• Digital canvas 
• Pest control for a year 
• Hands-free paper towel dispenser 
• Robot lawn mower 
• Voice activated grocery list maker 
• Home warranty for a year 
• Local interior design consultation 
• Drawing, painting or edited photo of new home 

Owning a home for the first time can be a bit overwhelming with all of the new costs. The perfect time to give a new homebuyer something they can use, something they want, or something completely unnecessary is now! 

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.

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Whether you are planning on selling your home or just want to spruce it up a bit, the kitchen is the main attraction and heart of your home.  You don’t have to do an expensive remodel to improve the space! Here are a few tips to get your kitchen looking great and up-to-date. 

• Cabinets are on prominent display in your kitchen, and should look great.  Clean them up and give them a coat of primer and paint.  White, as well as neutrals like grey or taupe, gives a clean look and brightens up the space, and all work well with pops of color around the kitchen. Darker colors work best in large kitchens, and bright colors can be the star against neutral wall colors and decor. Click here for more cabinet painting tips from HGTV. 
• Refurbish with new cabinet doors.  This can be a little more expensive, but not as costly as replacing all of the cabinetry. You can even ditch the doors and use open shelving for a modern, clean feel. 
• Change out the hardware on drawers and cabinets.  Have an idea of what you want before you go to a home store to purchase the pieces, because there are so many choices available.  Classic styles are best if you plan on putting your home on the market. 
• Not only would it protect walls from liquids and grease, but adding a tile backsplash gives a whole new look to your kitchen. Thanks to advances made in peel-and-stick technology, double adhesive mats are strong enough for tile, and you can do this yourself with very little tile installation knowledge. This video from Ask This Old House shows step-by-step how to use this improved material and save time and money while updating your kitchen. 
• Give your sink a makeover simply by replacing the faucet and the handles. 
• Countertops dated and unattractive? Replacing them doesn’t have to be a big expense; some laminates look like the real thing and cost much less.  Styles include look-alike marble and faux granite.   
• Add a dash of style to cabinets with glass doors by papering the inside of the cabinet. Con-Tact© paper or any self-adhesive shelf liner is perfect for this small project.  Amazon carries many designs to choose from.  
• Installing a new light fixture can make a big difference in your kitchen, and doesn’t have to break the bank.  Look in thrift stores, consignment shops, or yard sales, and give an old fixture a facelift with some spray paint! If you’re unsure about installation, call an electrician or handy person to change the old to the new. 

If you decide to make just one change, or several, make a budget, stick to it, and stretch the makeover out over a few months so you don’t overspend.  For potential buyers to come in and see a clean, new-looking kitchen, or simply having your family and friends spend more time in the refurbished space, a simple update can make a big impact. 

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.

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Photo credit: bankrate.com