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Natural Gardening Tips for Beginners

Wednesday, April 27, 2022
by Tucker Robbins

It is becoming common knowledge that the fewer chemicals we use in our lawns and gardens, the better it is for everyone. One roadblock of using fewer manufactured products on our plants is time–it is time-consuming to go even halfway organic. The following tips will get you started on a more natural approach to a healthy garden. 

 

  • While shopping for plants, pay attention to the plant information tags in the cell packs. Following those details are essential for good growth. 
     

  • Enriching the soil with compost is the first step to using nature to fertilize your plants, and one way to do that is with grass clippings! According to Mother Earth News, a mulch of 1”-2” of cut grass can feed your garden for the season.  
     

  • Earthworms are the source for many good things for plants and your soil. They can be purchased or save money and attract them naturally by adding plenty of organic matter to your garden soil. 
     

  • When and how you water your garden plays an important part in keeping diseases and pests at bay. A morning shower with a water hose can rid your plants of nasty aphids. Watering in the evenings can cause fungi and mildew to grow, and neither is easy to get rid of once they set in. 
     

  • Learn the difference between beneficial and unwelcome insects. For example, they may frighten us, but many stinging insects are taking care of the bad ones that are eating up our plants. The Sod God offers some excellent information as well as infographics to help you distinguish between the good and the bad. 
     

  • Row covers are a great and chemical-free way to keep not only insects away, but veggie-loving birds as well. If they cover your plants completely as they grow, they will provide a barrier between your plants and the bad guys. 
     

  • There are many natural products available to kill and repel insects: diatomaceous earth, insecticidal soap, horticultural oils, and capsaicin to name a few. As with chemical pesticides, follow package directions exactly to keep plants safe, as well as wildlife and pets. 

 

Going organic takes knowledge and a little extra work. Growing a Greener World is an excellent television source for natural gardening, and there are many books and magazines on the subject. Look for sources that have been certified as an organic entity or are written or produced by someone who has plenty of organic gardening experience. Reap the rewards of not only a great vegetable harvest or beautiful landscaping, but of keeping chemicals out of the environment. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

 

Photo credit: Camille Styles

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Mortgage Shopping: Avoid These Mistakes

Wednesday, April 20, 2022
by Tucker Robbins


Searching for the right mortgage for your new home is likely the most important step when buying a new home. Having that preapproval lets you know how much house you can afford as well as getting your wallet ready for budgeting. There are some things you can do that can make lenders second guess your application, and you want to avoid doing anything that can sabotage the purchase of a new house: 

 

  • Not knowing what is on your credit report can set you up for a surprise when a potential lender pulls it for inspection. Obtain a free report through your bank or credit union so you can correct or dispute errors before you fill out a loan application. 
     

  • Sending late payments on credit cards and other monthly bills during the approval process will show on your credit report. 
     

  • Opening a new line of credit for large purchases will raise your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Except in emergencies, avoid buying anything on credit until after closing on your new home. 
     

  • In the same manner, closing credit accounts can negatively affect your credit score. If you have paid off credit card balances, leave them active, as this shows lenders that you have credit options available. 
     

  • Trying to help a family member get a loan by co-signing with them will raise your DTI and can discourage lenders. 
     

  • Unless it is completely unavoidable, changing jobs can hurt your loan chances. Lenders like to see a steady income from employment with the same company or same field. 
     

  • If you are using gifted funds to assist with the down payment, do not deposit the money into your bank account without documentation from the giver. Learn more about the procedures for down payment gifts from the balance. 
     

  • Do not let poor credit and lack of a 20% down payment keep you from buying a house. FHA, USDA, and the VA all have programs to help make the dream of homeownership a reality. Check each website for eligibility requirements. 

 

Lastly, buying a home without a REALTORⓇ can be a costly mistake. No, there is no money coming directly from your pocket to pay the buyer agent–their pay comes from the home sale. Find a reputable agent who knows how to find the right house for your budget as well as your wants and needs, plus knows all about negotiating a home sale price. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

 

Photo credit: Forbes

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Quick Home Improvements

Wednesday, April 13, 2022
by Tucker Robbins

home improvements

 

Home improvements can many times take a lot of time and can easily overwhelm you.  The home improvements listed in list article are some that won’t take you a lot of time.  Likely you will be able to get these home improvements done in just a matter of a day or so.   Whether you want to do these home improvements for your own enjoyment or you plan to sell your house, these will get you started in the right direction and won’t take up a lot of your time.   

 

  1. First on the list of quick home improvements is to simply change your front door hardware.  This is a simple and easy fix that won’t take you long at all and it is one that won’t cost you a lot either.   

  1. Painting the front door a bright color is another quick home improvement that can really make a big difference in the way your house looks.  Red is a popular color that can make a statement to those who pass by your home.  Another great color to use on your front door is a bright teal color.  Both of these colors are very popular these days so if you want to be part of what is in, you should use one of these colors.   

  1. Another quick home improvement that can make a huge impact on how your home looks is to upgrade your house numbers.  You can buy fancy glass or ceramic tiles with your house number on them to match your newly painted door.   

  1. Painting outdated or old furniture in your home is another quick home improvement that can make your house look awesome.   

  1. Updating your kitchen and bathroom fixtures is a quick home improvement that is easy to do and will make your house look the best it can look.   

  1. If you have an old fireplace that is no longer able to be used, why not put some candles in it to spruce it up a bit.  This is a nice cozy improvement to make especially during the upcoming colder months.   

 

Again, home improvements don’t have to take a ton of time to make a huge difference on how your house looks.   

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

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A Few Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Condo

Wednesday, April 6, 2022
by Tucker Robbins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



If owning your own home isn’t on your agenda and you would rather purchase a condo or townhome to make things a bit easier on yourself, you are not alone.  There are several things however that you should consider and think about before purchasing a condo and a few of those things are listed below. 

  1. One thing to consider when purchasing a condo   is who the manager is.  If you have a manager that is easy to deal with then you shouldn’t have any issues, but if you have a manager that doesn’t see eye to eye with you on things you may find yourself wishing you never would have purchased a condo. 
  2. There are fees associated with owning a condo.  You should definitely check into the fees associated with your particular condo before purchasing it.  These fees can range anywhere from $200 to $400 per month or year depending on how upscale the condo is you want to purchase. 
  3. Looking at the condo financial statements is a great way to see if you really want to purchase a condo or not.  For example if the condos financial statements do not include paying for repairs on a broken street light, you may end up seeing the repair costs tagged on to your bill.  Taking these types of things into consideration could sway your decision one way or the other regarding purchasing.  If you find that repairs on such things are not included in a particular condos financial statements you may want to search for a condo that does cover them. 
  4. Knowing the rules of condo living can make or break your decision of purchasing as well.  Some condos don’t allow holiday decorations while others just tell you where to park.  It’s up to you to decide what is most important to you and what rules simply do not matter that much, however knowing the rules is imperative. 
  5. Checking out the condos liability insurance to make sure there are no pending lawsuits against it is also a good idea. 

These things to consider before purchasing a condo are just the tip of the ice berg.  Do your due diligence, ask questions and find out all there is to know about condo living  before sinking your money into a one you are not happy with. If you do all of this and you are satisfied, you will likely enjoy condo living and all it has to offer.  

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

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Tucker Robbins
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
3838 Kennett Pike
Wilmington DE 19807
(302) 777-7744 (direct)
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