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(BPT) - Longer days and bountiful sunshine mean the outdoor season has arrived. As excited as you may be to enjoy the fresh air out on your lawn, there are several spring lawn care tasks to complete first. It’s no secret that homeowners love a lush green lawn, with 36% of American homeowners revealing that their lawns are a top investment in both time and money, according to TruGreen’s new survey*. However, it can be easy to make common lawn care mistakes that can jeopardize both the look and health of your lawn. “While homeowners may want a quick fix for getting their lawn ready, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to maintenance, which can often result in mistakes and an unhealthy lawn," said Brian Feldman, director of technical operations at TruGreen. "This season, take a step back and ensure you’re not falling victim to some common lawn care mistakes our expert team has witnessed.” The professionals at TruGreen , the nation’s leading lawn care provider, are helping … [Read more...] about Are you making these 5 common spring lawn care mistakes?

(BPT) - Americans are eager to travel, but also feel nervous about leaving their homes unattended. As the spring and summer travel season heats up, many people are planning trips, but that doesn’t mean leaving home for an extended time is easy. According to a 2023 trend repor t from SimpliSaf e , a fourth of respondents are very or extremely concerned about home break-ins while traveling and that number increases to 41% when looking at Gen Z specifically. These concerns have led more people to seek solutions that secure their homes before traveling to gain peace of mind and in turn, better enjoy their vacations. In fact, 83% of respondents listed peace of mind as a primary reason for buying a home security system and 49% of respondents explained that they use their home security system to check on their investments — such as expensive appliances, sentimental heirlooms and important documents — while away from home. In addition to home security, travel nerves can be … [Read more...] about 5 ways to increase peace of mind about your home when you travel

(BPT) - Fluctuating interest rates and an ever-changing housing market have inspired many homeowners to reimagine their space, favoring renovation over relocation. Upgrades not only make a home more attractive — they also often bring innovative, low-maintenance solutions, making your most familiar surroundings feel beautiful and comfortable. With an endless supply of home improvement shows and picturesque inspiration on social media, it can be tricky knowing where to start. That’s why we’ve come up with four simple ways to make your home design dreams come true — while adding lasting value to your property. 1. Look for beautiful, durable surfaces We all know kitchens and bathrooms can make or break the first impression. These spaces are the heart of the home, where we gather, work and play every day. So, these rooms need surfaces that are beautiful and strong. Let’s be honest — it’s more inspiring to cook when you don’t have to worry about stains and scratches. That’s why … [Read more...] about 4 foolproof ways to add value to your home

(BPT) - Springtime’s melting snow or heavy rain can cause sump pump problems and sewer backups for homes with basements or crawl spaces. Damage from either can be costly, because sewer backup and sump overflow are excluded from standard homeowners insurance policies. Fortunately, most home insurers do make this coverage available by endorsement. “Independent insurance agents sell this coverage to about 85% of all homes written with Acuity,” said Bob Hertel, director of personal lines product development at Acuity Insurance . "Many homes written with other insurers do not include an endorsement to cover losses caused by sewer backup or sump overflow.” Many municipal sewer systems are outdated, and flooded streets can quickly cause severe water damage to basement walls, flooring, furniture and other personal property. Sump pump maintenance is often ignored until water overflows into the basement. Standing water isn’t just difficult to handle, it can be costly too. Over the past … [Read more...] about 6 tips to keep your home’s basement protected from water damage this spring

(BPT) - More and more homeowners are taking on the challenge of renovating their homes. According to Statista , homeowners have spent more time and money on home improvement projects over the last two years than ever before. While you can hire someone else to renovate your home, you can do many DIY projects without any advanced home improvement skills and knowledge. Check out these four simple DIY home renovation projects that can quickly spruce up your home's interior. 1. Update fixtures Small but purposeful changes can make a big impact on your home's decor. An easy and cost-effective DIY project you can do to refresh your spaces is to replace the knobs, handles and pulls on your cabinets, drawers and doors. This design change can be as simple as picking fixtures with different metals or finishes, such as switching out silver kitchen cabinet hardware for brass or gold hues or opting for more colorful and interesting knobs and handles. If your rooms have standard white … [Read more...] about 4 DIY project ideas to bring new life to your home

Sorry, but your browser does not support the video tag. (BPT) - No matter where you live or how green your thumb, you can enjoy the beauty and bounty of gardening at home. Now is the ideal time to plan a spring garden that will be the envy of the neighborhood. The experts at Ball Horticultural Company share their recommended plants, top topics and tips to set up every type of gardener for success this year. Plants for your pocketbook Creating a stunning garden doesn’t have to break the bank. To get even more bang for the buck, select hardy plants known to thrive through adversity or fast-spreading flowers that fill in quickly. New Hula ™ Spreading Begonia is a great example of a budget-friendly plant that quickly fills in garden beds with a blanket of high-impact color, covering the soil and discouraging weeds in minimal time. They’re bursting with eye-catching blooms, very forgiving for novice gardeners, and are also great for outdoor hanging baskets and … [Read more...] about Garden expert approved: New trends and plants for 2023