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This inviting second-level condo with elevator access, located at 5258 Glenthorne Ct. in Rosedale, features a spacious ope...

Thanks to Cindy Bernstein of Aim4Order for this episode of Tips from the Pros to help find valuable items in your home.

One of the highlights of working with clients over these past 20+ years is the delightful discovery of valuable items, long forgotten.

In an effort to motivate you to do some decluttering on your own, here’s a list of some of the items we have found while digging through papers, piles, closets, floors and other nooks and crannies of your homes!

• $60,000 in savings bonds (6 – $10,000 bonds that were in a file from a home that was sold many years prior).
• $4,000 in saving bonds (found in a shoe box in the basement with other old papers)
• $60,000 in cash (found in a shoe box at the bottom of a closet filled with shoes and clothes.
• Wedding band (found un...

Thanks to the University of Maryland/Maryland Grows this informative article on comparing termites and carpenter ants.

Wood-damaging insect pests are a concern for anyone who lives in a structure made of wood. So it’s not surprising that we get several samples of insects for identification at our county offices.

Pests can damage wood by eating, excavating, or using it for their homes or galleries. Damage to foundational components can be especially alarming and expensive to fix.

Q. What are some physical differences between a carpenter ant and a termite that can be seen with the naked eye? 

• Antennae – straight or elbowed?
  • Ants have elbowed antennae
  • Termites have straight antennae
    
• Wing length – same length or is the front set longer?
  • Winged termites have wings...

Have you ever thought, “I love this house but it’s time for something smaller (or bigger)?”

This month, I’m sharing some signs that might indicate a different-sized home would be a better fit for your lifestyle.

• Your Family is Growing or Shrinking: If your kids have left the nest, if grandma has moved in, or you got married, your home might need major adjustments to make it work. When this happens, it might be time to relocate to a home that is more suited to your current needs.
• Financial Considerations: Downsizing can help you save money. There is less to take care of and you can spend more time doing what you want to do.
• Maintenance is Overwhelming: Taking care of a home is a huge responsibility. Moving into a condo or townhome community with an HOA can take aw...

Thanks to Clean Sweep for this episode of Tips from the Pros about the how clean gutters can prevent problems in your home.

Maryland has had plenty of rain this year, which means that your gutters have been working overtime. Gutters are designed to direct rainwater away from your home. When they become clogged with leaves, debris, or anything else stopping the flow of water, they can no longer do their job. This can lead to a broad range of problems, including basement flooding and serious foundation issues. How can clean gutters prevent flooding in your home?

How Gutters Work to Protect Your Basement and House

Gutters serve as your home’s first line of defense against water damage. When working properly, they move rainwater off the roof and away from the house...

Thanks to the University of Maryland/Maryland Grows this informative article on how to protect pollinators this fall.

Landscaping for pollinators

Did you know that how and when you cut back your perennials and tidy your landscape matters to pollinators?  

I just read a fact sheet from the Xerces Society that opened my eyes to more ways to help pollinators year-round, especially in the fall.   

I already make sure I have something blooming from April to frost, so pollen and nectar are always available. And I emphasize native plants that coevolved with pollinators to support them best.

But beyond flowers, there are many things we can do to provide shelter for nesting and overwintering pollinators. And we can start some of them in the fall. 

Pollinators need places to stay...

Thanks to Cindy Bernstein of Aim4Order for this episode of Tips from the Pros to help you figure out whether or not garage sales are worthwhile.

I am a long-time member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO). Recently, there was an active discussion on Garage Sales. I am regularly asked about Garage Sales and I’m not a big fan. Having attended my fair share and participated in Flea Markets dating back to the 1980s, I see that most items go for very little. However, I recall fondly the time we participated in the Flea Market on Route 40. We earned enough money to pay for our wedding bands (when the price of gold was waaaaay less). But I digress (again)…

Putting my own biases aside, I thought it might be helpful to share the tips that organizer...

Thanks to Clean Sweep for this episode of Tips from the Pros about the benefits of professional chimney cleaning.

Keeping your chimney safe is an essential part of maintaining your home that often goes overlooked until you go to light a fire in the fall. Many homeowners underestimate the importance of regular chimney cleaning, as they wrongly assume that occasional use means only minimal maintenance is required. However, professional chimney cleaning has plenty of benefits to offer.

Keep Your Home Safe

One of the primary reasons to invest in professional chimney cleaning is to ensure the safety of your home and family. Over time, chimneys accumulate creosote, a highly flammable substance that builds up after burning wood...

Thanks to Cindy Bernstein of Aim4Order for this episode of Tips from the Pros to help you find out, “Where do I begin?”

Getting started is probably the biggest obstacle to organizing. Most people have to be in the pits of despair and in total angst to take action. Once you’re ready to take action, sometimes overwhelm causes numbness and immobility. You end up even more distraught and discouraged than before. What’s a person with clutter supposed to do??

Let’s Get Started

Here’s what I suggest:

Before you quit, think about who may be that calming, supportive person for you. If you come up empty, give us a call. We can help.

Deep breath – and another deep breath.

Engage in self-talk to get yourself straightened out...

Thanks to the University of Maryland/Maryland Grows this informative article on heat waves.

Having grown up in the plains of Argentina, surrounded by large rivers, swamps, hot summers and humidity, I can attest that I am pretty “heat tolerant.” While others complain of the heat, I just enjoy the “embrace” that a hot day gives me. The heat in the last few weeks, however, was even too hot for me! And while I was trying to cool down, I was also worrying about what I was seeing outside.

The plants, the insects, the soil… were all suffering like me. And, because I happen to work on some of these topics, I also knew that it wasn’t just that some plants were drying out. This heat wave (and drought) is also affecting the whole network of interactions that happen around us...