Ah, yard work; one of the many chores that come with home ownership. As the long cold winter finally loosens its grip, now is the time to get the yard cleaned up and ready to grow. Doing a few special maintenance chores at the start of the season can set up the yard for the whole year, giving you the most “bang” for the effort. Early-spring yard work can provide an appreciable and lasting improvement in the health and appearance of your yard and make regular yard maintenance easier.

The Grass is Greener
Getting that picture-perfect green lawn can be frustrating for late starters. Spring is the time to seed, feed, and develop the healthy grass that will flourish through the summer. One huge tip is to customize your grass seed to your yard. Certain grasses do better in different agricultural zones, soil types, and moisture levels, and in different levels of sun and shade. Do a little research and pick the best type of grass for your yard. Many seeding attempts fail due to inappropriate seed choices. Picking the right grass for your yard conditions gives it the best chance of growing.

Once you seed, consider applying a fertilizer or weed killer. In some parts of the country, a pest control method may also be needed (like for fire ants!). As your grass grows, be sure to mow it regularly. Young lawns need frequent mowing at a high setting. The longer grass allows the chlorophyll-filled green blades to produce food for the plant, but frequent mowing encourages root development. By mowing it at a high level, you can foster healthier, stronger plants that will last longer and endure the harsher late-summer conditions better.

Landscape for Life
The key to landscaping is planning. By working out the moisture and sun levels for the areas of your yard, and selecting plants that thrive in your zone, you can create a beautiful and long-lasting yard. Low-maintenance yards are all about perennials. An annual plant grows for one year and then dies. While some Annuals are self-seeding, meaning if you let the plant wither in its natural cycle it will drop seeds that will grow in the same place next year, the most reliable decorative plants are the ones that stay alive. Plant annuals only with the understanding that they will have to be replaced somewhere down the line. Some go-to annuals are roots and bulbs, like daylilies, tulips, and daffodils, that die back in the summer and pop back up again each year. Other constant yard staples are the greenery: trees, bushes, and flowering shrubs. Most persistent greenery needs only a little trim-work during the dormant winter period or just after the flowers fade. You can get great information from local arboretums, nurseries, and landscape professionals to select the best mix of plants to suit your yard conditions and maintenance preferences, and set your yard up for year-long attractiveness.

Problem Solving
Spring is the best time to tackle yard problems. One common yard issue is when plants and grass keep dying off around the base of a tree means the tree isn’t getting enough water and is leaching it off of the surface. Try surrounding it with a thick circle of well-watered mulch to trap moisture and replenish the nutrients in the soil. Loosen compacted soil with aerators, apply lime (limestone) to acidic soil, till compost into poor soil, fill and level holes and ruts… the list goes on. Tackling problems in small projects early not only makes the work easier (when it’s cool and the soil is moist and workable), it gives the growing things time to take advantage of the improvements before the stress of summer heat can deter them.

Want to find out if you have what it takes to be a Real Estate Agent or Broker?

About David Goldstein — David Goldstein is an Owner and Founding Partner of Express Schools, LLC. which operates online education providers Real Estate Express, Insurance License Express and License Tutor. Follow him on Twitter.

With warmer weather approaching, it is the perfect time to take advantage of those home improvements colder weather prevented. These money saving upgrades help maintain a home’s value as well as help improve the environment. Agents, have your clients prepare for the upcoming summer season with these home enhancement techniques to give a competitive edge in today’s market.

Replacing windows and doors
Not only will replacing windows and doors cut down on the heating and cooling expenses, it is a great opportunity to save on your taxes. Individuals who install energy star qualified windows and doors can acquire a tax credit anywhere from $200 to $500. For those who do make these improvements be sure to ask your accountant or whomever does your taxes to file a “5695 form” during the next tax season.

Increase curb appeal
Warmer weather allows people to enjoy the outdoors, especially during the summertime months. Making the exterior of your home more attractive can be as simple as maintaining your landscape to adding colored flowers or plants to your walkways. Give your home a refreshing makeover and add more appeal by painting or replacing worn siding. Accomplish that “brand new” look by repaving your driveway or refinishing your deck. Glossing your wood deck protects it from natures ever changing weather conditions.

Install solar panels
For those who live in a region where they endure mostly sunny days, installing solar panels can be highly beneficial. Take advantage of the sun by incorporating a solar power generation system that converts sunshine into usable household energy.

Fresh air ventilation systems
People now have the capabilities to improve the quality of air inside their homes with air ventilation systems. A modern air ventilation system filters air in and disposes of harmful toxins such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. For example, newer air ventilation systems can even prevent the buildup of chemicals from dry-cleaned clothes.

Controlled sprinkler systems
In many parts of the U.S. like Nevada or Missouri, people experience droughts during the summer months where regions can go weeks without rain. As 55places.com states, there is a new WeatherTRAK watering resource management system that allows homeowners to conserve water while effectively watering their lawn. This new management system uses satellites to stay in touch with local weather conditions and will only turn on sprinklers as needed.

For many, summer is the perfect time to upgrade and enhance the functionality of their homes. These tips provide a minimal insight of the endless possibilities a homeowner can choose from to improve their home. For more beneficial real estate knowledge and tips please visit RealEstateExpress.com’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

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About Geoff Thompson — Geoff Thompson is an Owner and Founding Partner of Express Schools, LLC. which operates online education providers Real Estate Express, Insurance License Express and License Tutor. Follow him on Twitter.

Buying a home is one of the largest purchases many of us will make in our lifetime. It is easy to get caught up in some of the more superficial aspects to buying a home, especially if it is your first home, but you will have to keep a level head if you want to avoid some of the biggest mistakes that homebuyers make.

Deciding that you want to buy a home is one thing, knowing exactly what you want and need from your new home is an entirely different thought process. Having a written list of what features are important for you to find in a house can keep you from making one of the top home buying mistakes, buying the wrong house.

If you allow yourself to be swept away in the excitement of buying a home, it is easy to lose focus of what is truly important to you in a living space. Buyers that buy the wrong house can find themselves stuck in a home that does not meet there needs, or worse paying more than they can comfortably afford for more house than they need. A simple as it sounds, having a written list of the things that you determined you needed before you started shopping for a home can help keep you grounded while you look.

Not speaking up to the professionals you are working with about issues or concerns that you may have is another top mistake home buyers will make. Whether it is because they do not want to appear ignorant or just do not want to bother anyone, not speaking up about concerns that you have before you sign can be a very costly mistake. Remember that the real estate agent that you sign an agreement with is obligated to act in your best interest. Open and honest communication with the real estate professionals that are working on your behalf is the best way to secure a positive outcome.

One of the biggest home buying mistakes that people can make is to make unapproved financial changes before they have closed on a mortgage. An unfortunate number of home buyers each year shop for and find the perfect home, go through all of the motions for a mortgage approval, and then just weeks before the closing they will go and open up a credit line and buy new furniture or purchase a second car for commuting. Then the lender runs another credit report before closing and the buyer no longer qualifies for a mortgage. Once you have received a mortgage pre-approval, any purchases that will have an effect on your credit rating should be postponed until after you have closed on the mortgage.

Buying your first home should be a great experience. By following some common-sense tips, you can avoid some of the top home buying mistakes that first-time homebuyers make.

Want to find out if you have what it takes to be a Real Estate Agent or Broker?

About David Goldstein — David Goldstein is an Owner and Founding Partner of Express Schools, LLC. which operates online education providers Real Estate Express, Insurance License Express and License Tutor. Follow him on Twitter.

Just because the market is ripe for buyers right now, does not mean that sellers have to get nothing for their property. There are things that sellers can do that will help them get more for their home. These are some tips to help sellers negotiate effectively:

Whatever your deadlines or pressures to sell may be, you should keep them private. Having potential buyers aware that your job is transferring you out of the state at the end of next month or that you cannot make your mortgage payment after this month does nothing to strengthen your negotiating position so it should be kept to yourself.

If you are under the gun because you cannot afford your mortgage, you might find the lender willing to give you some more time if they know you are trying to sell the home. Contact the loss mitigation department of your mortgage holder and try to get some additional time to sell the home by possibly lowering your mortgage payment while your home is on the market. It is much easier to negotiate effectively when you have a little room to breathe.

Be careful of loaded questions like “why are you selling” when in negotiations with a buyer or their agent. Details about your private life or financial situation should be your business alone. Safe answers like climate or to be close to family are the best way to answer those types of questions.

Do not try so hard to “sell” everything that you feel is valuable about your home. Let the value of the home speak for itself and you stay quiet. The most effective way to do this is not to be around when buyers are looking at your home. Having the sellers in the home when a buyer is trying to connect with a property can be a distraction. Instead of picturing themselves in the home, they are watching the seller’s reactions for any tell they might have about the property or the need to sell it. It becomes more about negotiation than about finding a home and that it not a good negotiating position for a seller.

Incentivizing your agent to sell the home is one way to get results. By offering a financial incentive if they sell your home for a certain price point or in a short period of time, you can be sure that your listing agent will give your property the time and energy that you expect.

The most important tip to negotiating effectively is to take as much of the pressure off as possible. When you are a distressed seller, the way to do this is to have a contingency plan. You have to have an alternate plan of what to do in the event that you cannot sell the home for what you need. You could arrange to rent the property or lease it for a specific period of time before you attempt to sell it again. What is important to your ability to negotiate effectively is that you have a Plan B.

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About Tom Davidson — Tom Davidson is Vice President of Express Schools, LLC. which operates online education providers Real Estate Express, Insurance License Express and License Tutor. Follow him on Twitter.