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The time has come. It is about that time for your children to take the next step in their life. It wasn’t easy getting here, but it can be an easy transition into the next chapter of their life, and yours. By planning, you can really make sure your child will not be too stressed out on their own. These can be things such as talking about credit, helping them find a place, hire a moving company, and many more. Here are a few things to touch on to help make this transition easier on everyone.

Help them manage their savings

One of the biggest problems for kids coming to age is not knowing how to spend or save their money correctly. Young adults can be quite eager. Therefore, you should help set them right by managing their savings account. There are different ways to go about this than the traditional methods. For example, having them pay savings rent can boost their confidence in getting their own place while keeping money. Every month, have them pay you however much they might be spending when they move out on rent. This money can go directly into a savings account for them, but it will teach them to be wise with their funds. It will be interesting to see what kind of methods you put into place if they are late on their payment.

Make sure they have a good job

A good job is the backbone to being able to live on your own. This is very important for property owners or banks to view before they allow a young adult in their property. This can also give them great confidence in themselves, actually, it is crucial. Without the confidence, moving may be very hard.

Have them handle their own chores

When living on their own, the young adult will need to know how to clean up after themselves. It might seem like an easy thing to know, but you would be surprised how many late teens do not know how to use a washer or a dryer correctly. Have them complete a checklist every day. Having the habit of staying on top of their work will prove to be very rewarding on their self-esteem. This will keep them from calling you repeatedly for advice on how to use Windex.  

It is crucial to know about credit

There are a few golden talks you should have with your child. One of them being the talk about credit. They should understand the importance of credit and how it can affect their ability to move into a house that they love versus being able to move into a house at all. Try getting them a credit card in their name for just gas or necessities. Then they can pay it off at the end of the month. This is a great habit for building credit. Just make sure to monitor it at first. Having all that money to spend can be very tempting for a young adult.

Following these steps should make it easier to not only move out of the house, but to become an independent adult. Good luck on the transition!

First impressions are everything. From meeting someone new, to having an interview, your initial feeling is crucial. The same goes with buying a new home or even maintaining the home you already have. The inside of a home is important as well, of course, but people often forget about the exterior and what huge impact it can make on others. Especially with Spring just around the corner, it is time to roll up those sleeves and get to work. We compiled a list of 4 ways to increase your curb appeal by maintaining the exterior of your home.

Gutter Cleaning

If you live in an area with lots of trees, this one should be first on the list. Cleaning the gutter at least once a year will dramatically increase the look of your home. Even if you live in a dry area with no trees, the gutters can still collect dust and debris. The best way to go about cleaning your gutters is to start with a long sleeve t-shirt. Chances are, there will be lots of gunk in the gutters as well, so it is best to be fully covered. For the gunk, use a little plastic shovel to help remove it. Before taking out the leaves, place a tarp on the ground that way you do not have to just toss everything on your lawn. Doing that will only create more work for you. After everything is removed, spray the gutters down with a hose. This will help spot any holes in the gutter as well. If you don’t feel comfortable getting on a ladder and cleaning your gutters yourself, hire a gutter cleaning service to tackle the job for you.

Power Washing

Although this is basically a list of chores, this one will probably be the most fun and satisfying to accomplish. You will of course need a pressure washer to do this. It is imperative that you know how to use it before you do anything. Not using a pressure washer properly can result in damage to your home as well as possibly cause a serious injury to yourself – so please be safe! Just like gutter cleaning, it is recommended to wear a long sleeve shirt as well as protective eye wear and boots. Again, if you aren’t the DIY-type, you’ll be safer hiring someone to do the job for you. But if you are, make sure to test the washer on a small part of your home before going at it to make sure it doesn’t take off any paint if you have any. Seeing all the dirt melt off your walls will be satisfying enough to want to do your neighbor’s house.

Windows

Clean and sparkly windows are like a cherry on top when it comes to exterior home maintenance. It really makes all the difference. Ditch the Windex and paper towels, and go for a much more easy and environmentally friendly route. Fill a bucket with hot water and a dash of your favorite detergent solution, and if you don’t already have one, invest in a squeegee and sponge. First, wipe your window down with the detergent-soaked sponge, and use the squeegee to wipe it all away with no streaks. Have a clean, lint-free rag ready to wipe off the excess soap water from the squeegee, and repeat wiping until all the soap is gone. If there are any streaks or water spots, just take a rag to wipe it dry.

Landscape

After getting the gutters, power washing the walls of your house, and making your windows look squeaky clean, the last thing on our list will pull it all together is the landscape. If you have property with grass, it’s important to maintain it. Mow the lawn regularly and trim all your bushes. This will make your property look pretty, refreshing, and most importantly looked-after. If you don’t live in an area with a grassy lawn, chances are you have some type of wildlife to maintain. Pick up any pieces of garbage around your home, and take care of any unsightly weeds. If you have a garden, it is recommended that you check on it at least once a week, and water it accordingly based on what type of flowers or plants that are in it.

Whether you are trying to sell your home or just want to be a good homeowner by taking care of any home exterior needs, these 4 things on our list will definitely get you started in the right direction. The importance of property maintenance outside can often be overlooked, but working for a day or two can completely change the entire look of your home.

Be safe and happy cleaning!

The interior of the home certainly gets the most love, but people often forget the importance of making the front porch look fresh and updated as well. Just a few changes here and there can really make all the difference. Whether it is a pop of color or some newly updated accessories, you can liven up your home and give it a completely different vibe. So, we came up with a list of the essential things to focus on when updating your front porch. Time to roll up those sleeves and get in touch with your creative side.

Power washing

Before doing any decorating, it is important to start with a clean, fresh space to work with. Since many often neglect the outdoor areas like the front and back porch, it is time to wipe those cobwebs away and give everything a good power washing. This will bring life back into your porch by washing away any dust, debris, and dried up mud that may have accumulated over the years. Don’t be surprised if you end up with a completely different color on your floors when you’re finished. If you have a table and chairs out on your porch, give them a quick wash as well. Just be sure to use a hose and a damp rag instead of the pressure washer for the furniture that is not heavy duty.

Paint

A great way to start updating the porch area is to give it a refreshing new paint job. Just like power washing the floors, some fresh paint will make a dramatic change to the entire look of the area.  The most important thing to paint, or repaint, would be the columns or railings that frame the porch. Most people paint them white, however, a warm cream color or a cool grey can set you apart from everyone else and make it look professional. Giving the front door a splash of color is also a great way to spice things up, and it’s much easier than painting the entire outside of your home. A tip for picking out a good color is to follow the color scheme of the entire space. If you are focusing more on cool colors, a navy blue or pastel green would be a nice touch. If you have more warm colors going on, a soft orange or even a vibrant red can transform the porch area entirely. If choosing a color is starting to seem like a difficult decision, stop by to a local hardware store for some advice and inspiration.

Outdoor furniture and decor

Now comes the most fun part – the decorating! Start with updating the outdoor furniture. If you’ve always had chairs on your porch, try putting out a nice couch instead. This will give more opportunities for décor because couches can be accessorized with patterned pillows and plush throw blankets – a perfect addition no matter the time of year. It is best to follow your color scheme, but a good rule for outdoor decorating is to keep things bright and exciting with shades of yellow, red, and green. The ultimate decision, although, is completely up to you and what you prefer. Don’t be afraid to incorporate some cute outdoor accessories to make things more visually appealing. Things like candles, doormats, little statues, and table art add dimension and style.

Plants

Plants are such a great way to add more life and color to any space, indoor or outdoor. Setting up some potted flowers along the edge of the porch is fairly easy and will make your home feel warm and welcoming. The best part about adding plants and flowers to any area is that it’s hard to go wrong. No matter where you put them, they will flourish. As an added tip, try getting a variety of flowers that bloom at different times so that there are always some flowers out. If you really want to go the extra mile, you can even decorate the pots!

Here are the few tips you can follow to make sure that updating your front porch will turn out a success. Just remember, it doesn’t happen overnight. Updating a patio can be a pretty big project, so don’t forget to have patience and to enjoy the work in progress. In the end, you will have a beautiful porch that both you and your neighbors won’t stop admiring. Have fun and good luck!