How important is landscaping in buying or selling a house?

Good landscaping can increase your home’s resale value by 14 percent, according to the Associated Landscape Contractors of America. Better curb appeal may speed up the sale by as much as six weeks. Professionals recommend that you invest 10 percent of your home’s value in landscaping. More than just plantings, this includes structural features such as lighting, outdoor rooms, fences and pools. Here are some helpful tips: • Determine what you need. Are you landscaping to sell your home or to enjoy the property yourself for the longer term. • Get professional guidance. Depending on the scope of your project and budget, consider hiring an arborist, a landscape designer or a certified landscape architect. Ask friends for recommendations or search web sites such as the one for The American Society of Landscape Architects. • Develop a plan. Set your priorities ─ what needs to be done (have you solved that drainage problem?) versus what you’d like to do (put in an outdoor entertainment area). If you take a piecemeal approach, the result will look disorganized and cost you more money in the long run. If you have any questions, or need capable and trustworthy representation, please call me at 206-226-0565.

Using Less Paper, More Plastic...

Americans are using less paper and more plastic (credit and debit cards) when they shop and buy services. In 2010, consumers used plastic to pay for $2.9 billion in goods and services. More people are using debit and credit cards to pay for everything from groceries, clothing, taxes, cab rides, fuel, to donations and other retail goods and services.

Got Burn-Out? Take These Steps

Are you bummed by job burn-out? If quitting your job isn’t an option, take these five steps to improve your situation. • Identify stress factors and learn how to manage them. Be proactive rather than passive about workplace issues. Know the difference between the “shoulds” and the “musts.” If you have too much work and too little time, talk to your supervisor. • Reconnect with your core work. Maybe you’ve strayed from what you were originally hired to do. Focus on the work you enjoy doing. • Take care of yourself. Take time off to recharge your batteries. • Build new relationships. Make friends with people who might have fresh ideas and perspectives. Do something different – open a Twitter account. • Plan your next move. Outline what you’d have to do to change careers and start taking action.

Strategies To Shop Smarter For Groceries

You can read plenty of articles on the internet about how to save money on groceries, but do you really have a grocery shopping strategy? Here are some supermarket tips and secrets that will make you a savvy shopper.  Approach grocery shopping like a job. You need to have a plan (take a list) and a budget to make the best use of your time and money.  Stick to a time schedule. Shop for what you need and get out. It is said that if you’re in the store more than 30 minutes, you’ll spend an extra 50 cents to $1 per minute as you walk the aisles.  Shop alone. Real Simple Magazine says parents will spend 10-40 percent more if they take their kids along. It might be worth it to hire a babysitter!  Only buy “food” at a grocery store. Generally, you’re better off buying toiletries, cleaning supplies and pet food at a big-box discount store.  Know the floor plan. Shop the perimeter first for fresh fruits and vegetables, protein and milk. You’ll find some good buys in the center aisles, but you’ll also be tempted by items like frozen convenience foods.  Don’t assume everything on sale is a bargain. Stores often display “sale” items at the end of the aisles. Manufacturers pay to have their products put there so they aren’t necessarily a good deal.  Check “price per unit.” Sometimes it’s cheaper per unit to buy two smaller items than it is to buy one supersize package.  Look high and low. Stores often place higher-priced items at eye level (brands pay for the space). Check prices on the top and bottom shelves.  Pay attention at checkout. Shoppers lose up to $3 billion a year on scanner mistakes (current sale prices not reflected).

Start A Family Blog

Stay Connected: You don’t have time to send e-mails, much less cards, letters and photos to keep your family in the loop. You can use Facebook, but why not create your own blog? It’s easy, fun and you can do it as an individual or a group. To get started, check out some of the free blogging hosts, such as www.wordpress.com, www.livejournal.com or www.blogger.com. Each one has templates, instructions and features like custom privacy settings and ability to post from your mobile phone. You can upgrade to a paid account later, if you need advanced features. Here are some keys to success from experienced bloggers:  Keep posts short and to the point (300 words or less).  Include lots of photos (make sure to size them correctly).  Don’t use it to vent (unless it’s entertaining).  Set a date in your calendar so it’s updated monthly (or weekly). Another plus: You can even publish your blog as a book once a year!

Can A Hybrid Save You Money?

Almost every automaker now has a hybrid option, but is a hybrid (a car with a gas engine and an electric motor) right for you? The main factors to consider are how many miles you drive and how long you plan to keep the car. You’ll have to calculate the annual gas savings and compare it to the extra price you’ll pay to get a hybrid car. On average, hybrid cars can cost $2,000 to $6,000 more than the non-hybrid car of the same make and model, and they average 40 mpg compared to an average of 25 mpg for non-hybrid vehicles. With this in mind, see which of these scenarios matches your driving pattern: Scenario 1: You drive about 20 miles per day (7,500 per year). If you use your vehicle primarily to go between home and work, you may not drive enough to make back your extra investment with a hybrid. With this amount of driving, it will take you about 8 years to “break-even” where gas savings offset the higher purchase price. Scenario 2: You drive about 40 miles per day (15,000 per year). If you use your vehicle to take several more trips during the week than simply to and from work, you may want to consider a hybrid car. With this amount of driving, it will take you about 4 years to break-even. Scenario 3: You drive about 80 miles per day (30,000 per year). If you use your vehicle to frequently drive long distances, a hybrid vehicle may be a great option for you because it will take you about 2 years to break-even. Keep in mind, these scenarios are based on current gas prices and hybrid technology. If gas prices continue to rise and new innovations create vehicles with even higher fuel efficiency, it may take less time to break-even. Beyond the gas savings, you can factor in potentially lower insurance rates, possible tax credits, lower maintenance due to less wear and tear on the engine and brakes. You can do more research by specific make and model at: www.fueleconomy.gov.

Sneaky Restaurant Menu Tricks

The next time you go to a restaurant, see if you can spot how many times the menu uses these tricks to get you to spend more: No dollar signs. More restaurants are removing them entirely so you don’t see a column of $$$. Flowery descriptions. The dish sounds so elaborate that you don’t focus on the fact that it’s really chicken with a sauce for $25. Clever placement. Some restaurants will list an expensive item (a $40 steak) after a more expensive item (a $70 lobster tail dinner) so the steak doesn’t seem so expensive by comparison. Bundling. Some restaurants may offer a prix-fixe (fixed price) meal. It may be a good buy, but the cost of individual items is hidden and you’re also likely to get food you wouldn’t normally order.