Category Guest Blogs

Thanks to Clean Sweep for this episode of Tips from the Pros about chimney and fireplace safety.

Many homeowners are delighted to have a fireplace and chimney to enjoy a warm fire on cold nights. However, maintaining a safe and efficient fireplace requires more than simply lighting a match. Neglected chimneys and fireplaces can pose serious risks, including house fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, and structural damage. How can you maintain your chimney and fireplace this winter?

Schedule Regular Chimney Inspections

A professional chimney inspection is the cornerstone of fireplace and chimney safety. Professionals recommend scheduling an inspection at least once a year, ideally before winter begins...

Thanks to the University of Maryland/Maryland Grows for this article about why you should leave the leaves.

With the fall season, we are starting to see a lot of articles talking about the massive ecological and soil quality benefits of leaving leaves, stems, and sticks in our green spaces. As a biologist, I understand why doing so is indeed the right thing to do. However, I often face pushback on this topic from people I mention this to through my Extension work or just in my neighborhood. There are of course many barriers to adopting such practices that I have heard people mention. One that comes up often is the one that involves social or peer pressure...

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

Leaves are falling, nights are getting cooler, and your calendar is filling up. Between pumpkin carving and preparing for Thanksgiving, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the exciting parts of fall. However, it’s also the time to start thinking about home maintenance, especially when it comes to your gutters. While cleaning gutters might seem like a task that can be tackled with a ladder and some elbow grease, there are many benefits to hiring professionals instead.

Prevent Water Damage and Protect Your Foundation

One of the primary purposes of gutters is to direct water away from your home’s foundation...

Thanks to the University of Maryland/Maryland Grows for this informative article about disease-resistant vegetables.

I mentioned in my post last month that many of the pepper plants I grew from seed this year were infected by bacterial leaf spot. I did my best to remove diseased material from the garden. However, undoubtedly some of it still lingers in the soil and might survive to infect plants next year, so I will plan to grow varieties that are resistant to this disease.

And no, I don’t just have a list of these varieties in my head. I’ll have to do some research. Maybe you’ve faced this problem too...

Thanks to L.K. Benson for sharing with us.

We often say that owning a diversified portfolio means always owning something you aren’t happy with. So far in 2024, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything in your portfolio like that. Every major asset class has posted positive returns this year, with many in double digits. In the third quarter, US Large-Cap stocks were up almost 6%, while US Small-Cap stocks were up over 9%. International developed stocks were up about 8%, and emerging market stocks were up close to 9%. After two straight quarters of negative returns, REITs bounced back in a huge way with a return of around 17%.

Compared to these stock market returns, you might think bonds would be the part of your portfolio you hate...

Thanks to Clean Sweep for this episode of Tips from the Pros about how clean gutters are a part of enhancing curb appeal.

The Impact of Clean Chimneys and Gutters on Home Sales

First impressions are important, and nobody knows that more than real estate agents. Staging the interior and ensuring the landscaping is tidy are great steps in preparing a property for sale. Many overlook the importance of clean chimneys and gutters in enhancing curb appeal. After all, if someone hasn’t taken care of the gutters and fireplace, why would they be taking good care of other parts of the home? Here’s why paying attention to chimneys and gutters can make a significant difference in home sales.

Curb Appeal Matters

A whopping 97% of National Association of REALTORS members think that cur...

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 for 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 w...

Thanks to Clean Sweep for this episode of Tips from the Pros about 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...