Summer Ready Outdoor Spaces

 Summer's here and it's time to get outdoors! Be sure your outdoor entertaining areas are ready for all the summer fun! Learn great tips for cleaning your deck, outdoor kitchen and patio placings. This article shares great tips on how to maintain your outdoor furnishings and maximize your backyard fun. Get great maintenance advice below.

When choosing outdoor furniture for a garden room, outdoor kitchen or multi-level deck, some consumers prefer quality tables, chairs and assorted pieces that become an investment to protect. Quality furniture in good condition with good bracing can be refurbished at a substantial savings over replacing it, while less-costly furniture may be refurbished to avoid adding to the growing waste stream. In either case, the best way to keep outdoor furniture looking its best is regular maintenance. Outdoor furniture comes in many materials, from exotic woods to metals to recycled high-density polyethylene to plastic, so check the guide that accompanied your purchase for how to care for your specific product. Most importantly, keep it clean and immediately wipe up spills or deposits.

— Bob Vila

Does Your Home's Value Affect Your Home Owner's Insurance?

 The re-emergence of the real estate market includes the rise of home values in many areas. In some places home values have doubled or tripled their former value. This circumstance leaves many homeowners wondering if the increased value of their home also requires an increase in insurance coverage. This article explains the process of home values and home owners insurance. In some cases one does affect the other. Learn why you should keep records of your home's value and pay close attention to your home owner's insurance.

Real estate prices focus on demand. The more demand there is for a house, the more a seller can ask to be paid. Demand depends on a number of factors and can change over time. An example: Location is one of the most important factors in real estate. If a home is in a trendy neighborhood, a great school district or near desirable shopping or entertainment venues, its market value could be greater than that of a house in another location. On the other hand, neighborhoods can fall off “popular” lists, school districts can be redrawn, and stores and theaters can close. That same house likely wouldn’t sell for nearly as much. Most recently, home values have increased in many parts of the country as the real estate market heated back up after the recession. As more buyers enter the market, sellers can demand higher prices.

— Home Values and Home Insurance

22 Seasonal Gardening Tips

Beautiful homes go hand in hand with beautiful landscaping. If you have a green thumb and a lot of DIY pumping through your veins this article is definitely for you. Check out these 22 super gardening tips which will carry you through every season of the year. Side note: If DIY green thumb tips just aren't your cup of tea pass these great ideas on to your landscaper. Trust us they'll be grateful you did.

Follow these 22 seasonal grass care tips to ensure your lawn looks healthy and green spring, summer, winter and fall.Spring Spring is the season when a lawn really needs some tender loving care as temperatures rise and the grass starts to grow, increasing its reliance on water and fertilizer. Early spring is a good time for laying turf because the risk of frost is lower, making the soil more workable. Spring is also the ideal time for sowing seed as the soil warms up and rainy days speed germination.

— 22 Seasonal Grass Care Tips