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

When many people think about their fireplace during the holiday season, they visualize stockings hung from the mantle. This is a charming and classic holiday scene, but it’s also incredibly dangerous if you’re planning on lighting a fire. What hazards should you think twice about before decorating your fireplace and mantle during the holidays and beyond?

Take Décor Down When a Fire Is Lit

If you really want your stockings or other décor hung on the fireplace, you should remove them before lighting a fire. Anything that dangles in front of the fire, like ribbons or greenery, could ignite and cause a dangerous fire...

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

As a real estate agent, your clients trust you and your guidance throughout the buying and selling processes. When things are competitive and devolve into a bidding war, it can be easy to let some things go by the wayside. What’s one thing that should never be skipped? The chimney inspection. Here are five reasons your buyers should insist on a chimney inspection.

Protect Their Investment

Chimney and fireplace problems are not just a small nuisance—they can be deadly. A chimney inspection is one way to make sure that the home your buyers are purchasing is safe for them to occupy and use. Many seemingly small chimney issues can be indicative of bigger structural or moisture issues...

Thanks to the University of Maryland/Maryland Grows this informative article on composting and climate change.

Composting is probably seen by most people as good for gardens and the environment. After all, compost helps make our soils and plants healthier and keeps green waste from our yards and kitchens out of landfills.

But is composting good in the context of our climate crisis? Doesn’t the composting process generate lots of carbon dioxide (CO₂), the principal greenhouse gas (GHG) that traps heat in Earth’s atmosphere? Can composting also mitigate climate change and make our yards and landscapes more climate-resilient? The answer to both questions is YES...

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

Life Lessons from Jimmy Buffett

Our family was deeply saddened by the news of Jimmy Buffett’s passing on September 1st.  Jimmy’s life and music had a tremendous impact on many. This is evidenced by the outpouring of messages and support from celebrities and fans worldwide. Lyle and his family have been self-professed “parrotheads” for over 40 years.  In this article, Lyle shares a few of his favorite song lyrics and some of the many life lessons that Jimmy shared through his music.

Memento Mori

Jimmy’s death was another reminder that nobody is immortal and one day we will all die. It is summarized in the ancient Latin phrase “Memento Mori...

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

There are countless things that your clients need to worry about as they get ready to list their homes on the market. From making small repairs to painting the walls a neutral color, things need to be done. In the hustle and bustle of taking care of things that are immediately obvious, it’s easy to forget some of the things that are lurking beneath the walls, including the ducts. What are some of the benefits of encouraging your clients to clean the ducts before placing their homes on the market?

Get Rid of Lingering Dust and Odors

The duct system of a house is responsible for distributing all heated and cooled air coming from your HVAC system...

Thanks to L. K. Benson for sharing this blog about the big numbers.

The Washington Redskins Commanders To Be Determined recently sold for over $6 billion. Every time a sports franchise sells, the numbers get bigger, and people can’t believe the huge payout for the owner. Reviled owner Dan Snyder purchased the team back in 1999 for $800 million, which was a record at the time. Yes, $6,000,000,000 is much more than $800,000,000, but how good of an investment was it? Many unknown factors would impact the return calculation on this type of investment, like the ongoing profits of the business, the loans taken out to buy the team, etc. However, if we take that out of the equation, to grow $800 million to $6 billion over 24 years, you’d need to achieve a return of about 9% annually. 

This ...

Thanks to the University of Maryland/Maryland Grows this informative article on what to know before applying pesticides in your garden. Featured image: Oregon Department of Agriculture, CC.

You have a pest problem in your garden – maybe it is hungry insects feeding on your vegetables, or stubborn weeds taking over your flower patch, or fungal diseases killing your lawn. You might consider using pesticides (which include insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides), especially if the problem seems widespread or severe. How do you choose the right pesticides and apply them correctly to support a healthy and thriving garden? How do you ensure your food plants remain safe for consumption and adverse impacts on beneficial species and soil health remain minimal?

Choosing the right pestic...

Thanks to Clean Sweep for this episode of Tips from the Pros asking the question, “Do I need a new fireplace?”

Your fireplace adds beautiful warmth and ambiance to your home, but only if it is properly maintained and not a hazard to you. Whether you moved into a new home and you are concerned about how old the fireplace is or you’ve been living in the same place for decades and finally want to upgrade your current fireplace, there are some signs that you might be due for a fireplace replacement.

Strange Smells

Do you notice a burning smell any time that your fireplace is in use? Is there a lingering smell of sulfur when you are operating the fireplace? This is common in gas fireplaces that are leaking or malfunctioning. Contacting us as soon as possible is critical...

Thanks to L. K. Benson for sharing this blog about the 2023 Q2 Market.

The second quarter of 2023 continued the strong stock market performance that began in the fourth quarter of 2022. After a 20% decline from January-September of 2022, the S&P 500 has now posted positive quarterly returns of 7.6%, 7.5%, and 8.7% over the past three quarters. The tech-heavy NASDAQ 100 index bounced back from a 32% decline in 2022 to post the strongest first half on record, with a 39% return in the first six months of 2023.

Small-cap US stocks and developed market international stocks lagged US large-caps but still posted returns of 5% and 3%, respectively. Real Estate and Emerging Market stocks were up about 1% in the quarter...

Thanks to the University of Maryland/Maryland Grows this informative article on how to select ground covers.

Ground cover

Plants that are used as ground cover can provide great services throughout the landscape as they can fill in areas that might otherwise be left bare or covered in mulch. Ground covers can be used to help reduce maintenance chores by preserving moisture and preventing weeds. 

If you are looking for a ground cover plant, consider adding a native ground cover. Non-native ground covers and vines can be the plants of nightmares, as the characteristics that we like about them (aggressive, can take over weeds, need little care once established, etc.) are often the characteristics that make them terrible offenders when they escape into natural areas...