Posts in category 'Homeownership'

As you search through Mansfield and Ashland homes for sale, you may notice they're the perfect place to start a family— and that includes a furry family, too! If you've been thinking of heading down to a local shelter and giving a puppy its "forever home," you'll need to prepare your property for its arrival. In honor of National Puppy Day on March 23rd, our REALTORS® have put together some quick tips to get it ready.

• Secure the Trash
  As everyone knows, dogs have an amazing sense of smell. Add to that a puppy's curiosity, and it's a recipe for disaster—or the very least, a recipe for a big mess for you to clean up. Not only that, but a puppy may eat something toxic or a discarded item that can get lodged in its throat or cause internal damage. Always be sure that your trash cans are properly sealed and secured.

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A butterfly garden is a perfect investment if you dream of a colorful and lively yard as you browse through Mansfield and Ashland homes for sale. Beyond adding color to your garden, butterflies are active pollinators and will enhance the health of your plants. A little planning is necessary to grow a successful butterfly garden, and you can start with the tips below.

1. Research the Common Species in Your Area
   You'll find it easier to create the ideal butterfly habitat if you know what attracts the common species in your location. Researchers have recorded over 130 species in Ohio, although the state has no official butterfly.

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What better time to have fun with your kids than a St. Patrick's Day celebration at home. Our REALTORS® share five family-friendly activities to help you observe St Patrick's Day with family.

1. Wear, Drink, and Eat Green
   Since the holiday theme is green, you can do everything green for the day with your family. As opposed to the green beer, you can get a little creative and choose green ginger ale since it's kid-friendly. You can have the entire family dress in green and add green food coloring to the day's meals to add to the festive mix. Alternatively, you can bake a green cake. Some sweet treats you can make include green cake pops, sweet green popcorn, and mint chocolate bark.

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Remember when Valentine's Day meant a class party with lots of homemade cookies and a carton of milk? Times have changed and most schools don't allow such activities anymore, but that doesn't mean kids of today need to miss out. Our own kitchens are great party venues. Our REALTORS® would like to share a few tips with you to help bring those parties home! For easier clean-up after the fact, line the counters with waxed paper before you begin. 

• Classic Sugar Cookies
  Hands down the most popular valentine's cookie of all time, sugar cookies are simple to make, inexpensive, and versatile enough for the youngest children to participate in the process.  Traditionally decorated with a buttercream frosting tinted pink, you don't need to feel tied to that.  There are plenty of options for toppings or add-ins. Toddlers are delighted to spread colored sugar sprinkles on top to bring them to life. Bonus: to let children decorate cookies without making them from scratch, you can always purchase pre-made dough and count on perfect results every time. Add a can of pre-made frosting and some writing icing in a tube and inexperienced bakers can look like pros.

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Our community has been blessed with many exquisite mature trees, some of which have gracefully shaded our towns for more than a hundred years. Many of the most beautiful Mansfield and Ashland homes for sale boast the majestic beauty of giant white ash trees or red oaks. As you seek to add value to your property, investing in trees is a wise option. But before you buy, there are some important options to consider, from what you plant to where you plant it. This handy guide may help you begin:

• Northern Red Oak
  These magnificent beauties will grow at least 2 feet each year for at least 10 years. At their full maturity, they will reach a height of at least 60 feet offering a canopy of shade about 45 feet in diameter. It should reach a height of about 20 feet in 10 years. It loves direct sunlight and tolerates drought, although it thrives in moist, well-drained soil. Since its roots will readily tolerate compacted earth, it is often the choice for newly constructed homes. Blue jays and squirrels may put up a fight over the tastiest acorns.

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