Ruthie's Corner

Fall Family FUN! With fall upon us, I wanted to share some fun family ideas you can start planning now. I’d love to hear what you’re going to be doing!  Here are 4 quick ideas to help you plan your fall family FUN! Decorate inside & out. When I was a kid, I always looked forward to helping Mom decorate for holidays. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas… it was always fun pulling out the treasures and helping Mom put them out. Start a tradition in your home. Family FUN day. Choose a day each month that is designated Family FUN day and plan several hours out of the home bonding together. It could be going to the local pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins, taste apple cider, and a hayride or visiting an outdoor park and having a picnic or going to an amusement park before it gets too cold. Or why not have a fun family game of touch football? Think about what your family enjoys, plan it & do it! Toast marshmallows. Who doesn’t like a toasted marshmallow? Head out back on...

September Homeowner Checklist: 5 To Dos It’s that time again… time to prep your home for the cooler weather that’s on its way.  Get these completed so that you can take a much- needed break by taking a nap on the couch or curling up with a good book.  Change décor & bedding.   It will soon be chilly and that means the lighter sheets currently on your bed, need to be changed out with layers of warm comfort like maybe wool or fake fur.  Also, with the change in season, comes Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas so now is the time to swap out summer pillows and décor for the cozy cooler weather décor and accessories, such as a cozy throw and thicker window curtain panels, etc. Check smoke detectors & carbon monoxide detectors.   & replace batteries.  Also, now is the best time to check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher too.  Lastly, did you know that if your smoke detectors are yellow, it means they need t...

3 Sure Fire Ways to Lose When Buying Your Next Home! Thinking about making a move?  GREAT! What an exciting time for you. Before you begin your homebuying journey, be sure to avoid these 3 sure fire ways homebuyers lose – big time – when buying a new home. You may ask:  “lose”? How can I lose? Great question. Too many buyers rush into the homebuying process before they’re ready.  And doing so not only wastes their time but, in some instances, it costs them thousands of dollars. Keep reading to learn what these top 3 mistakes are . . . so you make sure to avoid them!   Not getting prequalified BEFORE beginning your search Many buyers make this mistake, thinking they know what they can afford. What you may not consider, however, are other costs associated with home ownership – or a host of other issues that bear on the issue of your credit. I’ve worked with some buyers who were pleasantly surprised that they could actually qualify for MORE than...

4 Home Improvements With the Best ROI Whether your plan is to remain in your home for years or sell in a year or two, here are 5 home improvements that, according to a recent report issued by ‘Remodeling’ magazine, deliver the best return on investment. Replacing your garage door This one may have come as a surprise. But when you think about, having a newer, updated garage door can freshen up the look of the entire home. Be sure to choose a door that complements your style of home. (For example, if your home is a classic colonial, a contemporary door would ‘fight’ with the home’s style and look out of place.) A new front door I know, I know. You’re probably thinking: ‘enough with the doors already.’ But the statistics show that these issues are important to homebuyers. And let’s face it: a pretty entry door says “Welcome Home”!   Add a deck Everybody loves more space, even outdoors! If your home doesn’t have a patio or deck, adding a deck is a great investment. Whi...