Each year, Americans generate millions of tons of trash. But each of us can make a difference by reducing waste in our homes. By reducing, reusing, and recycling materials at home and throughout our communities—and encouraging our neighbors to do the same we can make a difference! Recycling one ton (about 2,000 pounds) of paper saves 17 trees, 2 barrels of oil (enough to run the average car for 1,260 miles), 4,100 kilowatts of energy (enough power for the average home for six months), 3.2 cubic yards of landfill space, and 60 pounds of pollution. Below are some tips to help you get started in your home.

Contact your home trash collection service’s recycling program. Most cities offer a free curbside service that makes it convenient to recycle!

Place recycling bins next to your garbage can. This will make it easier to recycle if you have all waste containers in the same area.

Give preference to products made from recycled content. Whenever possible, use products made from recycled plastic. Look for those labeled “made with recycled content” and “made with post-consumer recycled content,” which are made with materials that have actually been used, rather than with manufacturing waste that never reached consumers.

Know what you can and can’t recycle. Read up on the recycling rules for your area and make sure you don’t send anything in that can’t be processed. Always check with your local municipality or waste hauler to see what kind of recycling services are available in your area. Click here to find a recycling center near you.

Keep in mind there are far more things that can be recycled other than paper and plastic. Many everyday items from cell phones to motor oil can be recycled, click here to read more.

Recycling does not have to be a hassle for your family. There are a variety of ways to make home recycling easy, and all it takes is changing a few small habits and attitudes, and home recycling can become easy for your family too.

Before the final closing on your home you will have the opportunity to inspect the property again, also known as a final walk through. This final step is extremely important; it is to ensure that the property is in the condition you agreed to buy and that any agreed upon repairs have been made. At this point, the property would have already been reviewed by a home inspector; this inspection typically happens right after the sales price has been agreed to.

Assuming those inspections go well, the final walk through will be a home buyer’s last opportunity to walk through the property before closing. It is good idea to schedule the walk-through as close to the actual closing as possible and make sure the sellers have already moved out.

Below are some things you should look for in a pre-closing inspection, it is also a good idea to bring along a checklist so that there is nothing overlooked.

• Make sure all debris is removed from the home
• Did the movers bang up the walls, rip the rugs or scratch the wooden or vinyl flooring?
• Did the moldings around the doors get damaged when they moved an appliance from a room?
• Does the heating and air conditioning system still work?
• Are all of the appliances still working?
• Have all the items that the seller agreed to remove from the home out of the home?
• Did the seller leave “junk” behind in the basement, attic, yard or garage?
• Are all of the items that the seller agreed to leave in the home still there?
• If you have requested that any repairs be made – make sure they are completed. Be sure to get copies of paid invoices and any related warranties.
• Make sure all things included in the contract…such as lighting fixtures, draperies, appliances, etc. are still there.
• Are screens and/or storm doors/windows in place?
• Are appliances in good operating condition?
• Check the doorbell, intercom, and alarm.
• What about the hot water heater? Is it working?
• Major Item – Is the HVAC system in good working order?
• Have any plants, trees or shrubs been removed from the yard?
• What about the garage door opener? Is it working? Are the remotes available? Are the instruction books and warranties for any appliances or fixtures available?

These are just a few of the things to look for. Even though you have done your home inspection…things can become damaged from the time of inspection to the time of closing. The main purpose of the final walk-through is to protect yourself and to ensure that the seller has lived up to his or her agreements in the sales contract. If you find during your final home inspection that the seller has not lived up to their part of the agreement, then a solution needs to be agreed upon before any money changes hands.

Spring is almost here! The official first day of spring is March 21st and now is the time to get outside and start spring-cleaning your landscape. It won’t be long and the dreary days of winter will be replaced by the vibrant colors and smells of spring. Here are a few tips to get you started on your outdoor “to do” list.

The Lawn

Start by removing all the thatch (dried dead grass and weeds) with a rake. If the thatch is left in the yard it can prevent water and nutrients from reaching the roots of your lawn. If you will be planting grass seeds, this will help them to root in the soil better.

Before mowing the yard for the first time of the season, make sure you have sharpened the blades and set them at the highest setting so you can just trim off the top.

Try to go green when looking for solutions for lawn and soil problems. There are many organic non chemical based products available from fertilizers to weed control.

Planting

Depending on your area you may be able to plant some types of perennials, start now to get your plan together. Research gardening books, magazines as well as online for ideas and information on certain plants and the amount of care required. Depending on your area you should also be able to plant roses, berries, fruit trees and most deciduous plants now!

Pruning

Now is the perfect time to prune ornamental trees and shrubs, the best time to do so is before growth starts. This is also a great time to prune roses, by doing so you will see a much fuller and robust plant when they begin to bloom.
Proper pruning enhances the beauty of almost any landscape tree and shrub, while improper pruning can ruin or greatly reduce its landscape potential, so be sure to research the correct methods!

Over the next several weeks, temperatures will gradually warm and you can finally start to spend more time outside. Spring lawn care is important, as early season care has a big impact on lawns. With a little extra care and prevention now can make for a beautiful landscape to be enjoyed all summer long. Take advantage of the cooler temperatures to get your yard and garden ready now!

It is everywhere, the media insists on reporting doomsday articles and segments on how the housing market is in bad shape. Finally, a positive article that can explain the buying and selling of real estate. Click here to read a recent article from Time magazine that gives solid reason for buying now!

When buying or selling a home, real estate issues may come up that can range from simple to very complex. Many homeowners choose to hire a real estate attorney to represent them during this process. With the help of an experienced real estate lawyer, complex matters can often be simplified and be resolved in an efficient manner.

Why you need to use an attorney?

There are many reasons to hire a real estate attorney for your real estate needs. A qualified real estate attorney can protect you from costly mistakes, errors in the documents, errors in the figures and other problems that could lead to litigation or other expensive legal action. While each attorney offers different services, below are some of the standard services offered by real estate attorneys.

• Buy / sell agreements
• Purchase and sales
• Financing
• Refinancing
• Contract review
• Closings
• Property and land development
• Exchanges of property

It is important to remember that a real estate lawyer is dedicated to looking out for your interests at each stage. While you don’t legally need to hire an attorney, it is a good idea to consider using one as they could save you time, money and headaches when you consider how they can help from negotiating the best deal or walking away from a bad one.

Where to locate an attorney in your area?

Finding a good real estate attorney is not as difficult as you may think; ask for referrals from your local bar association, your real estate agent or your mortgage broker. Also, ask friends, colleagues and family whom they’ve had a good experience working with. The internet is a valuable tool you can use to locate an attorney in your area.

What will an attorney cost?

The actual cost for an attorney varies by state and by amount of work required. Fee structures also vary (some lawyers charge by the hour, others by flat fee, some by both depending on the task.) but the typical range is $350-$1500. While it is important to do your research and shop around for the attorney that best fits your budget, don’t let the price factor determine your decision. You may find the worst attorney that is the most expensive or you may find an excellent attorney that offer decent services at a fair price. Keep in mind that your personal attorney’s fee is not part of your closing costs and must be paid for separately.

Real estate attorneys can make the buying and selling process easier and save time and money. They can negotiate the real estate on our behalf finding the best deal whether the house happens to have flaws that will be costly to fix or negotiating to secure a house is wanted by several potential buyers. They represent your interests at heart and act as a team partner with you every step of the way.