How To Decorate Your Home With Plants

 

Using plants as décor is a great way to add a little color and a natural, bright feel to any room. There are endless types of plants to choose from and various ways to display each one, but here are a few of our favorite combinations.

Geometric pots. Find geometric pots or planters of various sizes and plant small succulents of different styles and colors in each one. Then group a few pots together on a window sill or shelf or use them individually to adorn a side table or center of the dining room table.

Long, hanging plants. Purchase a larger, draping plant-like eucalyptus, fern, or ivy and hang it from the ceiling using a macramé plant hanger or place it on a high shelf or ladder. These plants are perfect for the corner of your living room or room with a large, plain wall that is in need of a little pop of color.

Plant corner. Have a large corner in the dining or living room and need ideas on how to fill it? Consider turning it into a small plant sanctuary. Select plants of all different sizes, heights, colors, and styles and purchase either matching pots or a mix of designs. Consider the use of a stool or small table to create additional levels and strategically place each one in the corner.

Air plants. Air plants are universal and can be included in DIY wall art, hung from the ceiling or on the wall inside geometric metal prisms, or placed inside beautiful glass terrariums alongside other plants and colorful rocks or sand.

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Have an Evacuation Plan For Your Pets

 

An evacuation plan is a necessity for every home, especially if you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters are a possibility. Many homeowners create evacuation plans for their homes and practice them with their kids, but far fewer have considered one for their pets. Take these steps to add your pets to your evacuation plan.

Assign pet evacuation to an adult. Everyone should know how to act during an evacuation, and that includes assigning one parent or adult to the pets. This allows the other parent and the children to focus on their part of the evacuation plan, so there’s no confusion during a high-stress moment when time is of the essence.

Keep evacuation maps and pet carriers readily accessible. If you need to evacuate, you should know exactly where every important item is. If you pets require carriers, keep them in a place that you can access easily.

Practice your plan. Include your pets in your home evacuation drills. It’ll help you see how they will respond and make changes to your plan if necessary. Getting your dog out of a window may not be as simple as you think!

Be prepared in case you get separated from your pets. No matter how much you drill your evacuation plan, it’s possible that a dog or cat will run off while you’re focusing on keeping your family safe. A microchip or a GPS-compatible tag can help you find your pets once it’s safe to return to the area.

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4816 Integrity Street North Las Vegas, NV 89031

Property Site: https://tour.corelistingmachine.com/home/BJZRNW/4816-Integrity-Street-North-Las-Vegas-NV-2242012

Beautiful two Story Home in Gated Community with community pool across the street. Two car attached garage/three bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs/upstairs laundry/one half bath downstairs/large living room/open kitchen. This home is located between the 15 and 95 off of W Lone Mountain Rd. Near parks, restaurants, and shopping!

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 3

Square feet: 1,273

Price: $216,880

For more information about this property, please contact Yoko Schlueter at or yokorealestate@gmail.com. You can also text 6540503 to 67299 (Message and Data Rates May Apply, see terms and privacy policy).

See more listings at: https://yoko-schlueter.lvmillennium.com

MLS ID: 2242012

When To Refinance

 

When To Refinance

Refinancing your mortgage is something most homeowners consider at least once throughout the lifespan of their home loan especially when the interest rate is all time low like right now. It allows you to pay off your previous loan by applying for a new one that has better financial advantages. While there are many good reasons to refinance, here are five common ones.

- Scoring a lower interest rate. The number one reason homeowners decide to refinance is to secure a lower interest rate on their mortgage. Not only does this save you money in the long run and decrease your monthly payment, but you can start building equity in your home sooner.

- Using an improved credit score. Even if interest rates have not dropped in the market, if you’ve improved your credit score over the last few years, you may be able to reduce your mortgage rate.

- Shortening the loan’s term. If interest rates are decreasing, there is a chance you may be able to get a shorter loan term with little to no change in your monthly payment, allowing you to pay off your loan sooner.

- Switching from an adjustable rate to a fixed rate. If you chose an adjustable-rate mortgage with great introductory rates when you initially financed your home, that rate may increase significantly over the years. By switching to a fixed rate while interest rates are low, you can protect yourself from future increases.

- Cashing out home equity. If there is a big purchase or payment on the horizon, such as funding a wedding or going back to school, your best option may be to use the equity you’ve built in your home to borrow money at a lower cost.

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How to Prepare Your Pets For The Move

How to Prepare Your Pets For The Move

Your moving day is set and it’s time to start preparing. As you’re making your lists and checking them twice, don’t forget to factor in your furry friends. Here are some tips for making sure the process goes smoothly.

Medical records When moving to a different city or state, one of the main things you need to take into consideration is finding a new veterinarian that is the right fit for you and your pet. If you have family or friends in the area ask for recommendations or do your own research by reading reviews and news articles. Once you find one, contact your current vet to initiate a transfer of medical records. Then schedule a “get to know you” appointment shortly after your move.

Transportation Whether it’s a short drive or a long plane ride, you pet will likely need to be put into a carrier. For most pets, this is a foreign concept and they require time to get comfortable with it. Start acclimating your pet as early as possible and use comfort items like treats and favorite toys and blankets to make the experience a positive one for your pet. Poor my Milo, the cat, we adopted him from the local humane society when he was 8 years old. Since then he moved from South of Washington states to North near Seattle and a plane ride to Las Vegas. He hated to be in his carrier, but was very quiet on the plane. Of course he sniffed around for a day and settled in after that. 

Acclimation  Pad your moving schedule with ample time to get your dog or cat acclimated to their new home. While the movers are still hard at work, keep them safely away from foot traffic to reduce stress. Once they’ve left, make sure to clear anything that could be dangerous and block off areas as necessary then let them free to get a lay of the land on their own.

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How to Hire a Moving Company

 

How to Hire a Moving Company

Moving can be very exciting, but also very stressful. If you can hire a moving company that you can trust, that could make your moving less stressful.

Here are some questions to ask:

- Are you certified by the ICC?

- Do you charge by the pound or by the hour?

- How much insurance do you carry?

- Are there any items you charge extra to move, such as china, pianos, pool tables and the like?

- Are you bonded?

- Can I call to find out the location of my things during the move?

Once you’ve hired a mover, there’s still more work to be done.

- Make yourself a checklist of things to do every week for eight weeks prior to the move. Stay as organized as possible.

- Ask your moving company to assign three movers to you—two to load and unload and one to guard the truck to prevent theft.

- Talk to your insurance agent about liability. Does your current homeowner’s policy cover your possessions during a move? Moving companies’ basic insurance coverage usually allows a set amount per pound per item, and it’s usually not enough, so find out how much the company carries and then buy extra insurance if necessary. Remember that most companies don’t accept liability for breakage of any items you pack yourself.

- Confirm the arrangements with the moving company a couple of days before your move.

Happy Moving!

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Should You Borrow From Your 401k?

 

Should You Borrow From Your 401k?

Are you a little short on cash to buy your home? Do you need a little more cash to buy furniture or fix your house? There are Pros & Cons to borrow money from your 401K. 

Pros:

A 401(k) loan does not appear on your credit report.

The interest on these loans is some of the lowest out there—right now, 3-4 percent.

You’re paying yourself the interest, not some bank.

You’ll get your money more quickly than a home equity loan.

Since it’s a loan, you will not be charged the 10 percent early withdrawal penalties plus income taxes you would have to pay if you withdrew the money.

You don’t have to qualify for the loan because in effect, you are the lender.

No assets or collateral are needed to secure the loan.

Cons:

You are forfeiting the accrued interest you would earn if your money stayed in the 401(k).

The interest is not tax deductible.

Some plans do not allow contributions to the 401(k) for the period of the loan.

If you lose or quit your job, the loan is often due in full in 30-60 days (although some plans are open to renegotiating the terms of the loan. Find out before you sign the papers.)

If you default on the loan, it is considered a withdrawal and you will owe a 10 percent penalty plus a hefty tax payment.

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