The addition of a pet to a home is one of the biggest and best decisions a family can make.  Is your home ready for the task? Follow these tips for making your home pet-friendly. 

Outside 

• A safe environment is as important for a pet as it is for children.  The first step in keeping them safe is a fence.  Not only does it keep your pets in, it keeps others’ animals out. 
• Have an ID tag on your pet’s collar, with your name and contact information just in case they do get out.  Having them microchipped is an excellent option for identification purposes. 
• When house-training, encourage your pet to use a specific area of the yard for easy clean-up, keeping the smell away from the house.
• A pathway to the door of gravel, cement, or other materials that aren’t plant-based will help knock off any debris that catch on paws before they come in. 
• If your animals have to stay outside when you are away for a short time, make sure they have shelter, food and, most importantly, water. 
• A play area in your yard would be great for dogs, especially, but make sure you have paths they can walk and run on, and nothing hazardous to them if they get too excited in their play. 
• Incorporating a water feature that doubles as a pet-friendly cooling-off spot is perfect for Summer outdoor play for your pets. 
• Consider the plants in your landscaping, and make sure you have nothing that can make your pet ill if they ingest it.  A great list of poisonous-to-animals plant list: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants  
• Make sure window screens are secure when you open them, in case Kitty wants to enjoy a nap in the open area–you don’t want her falling out of the window. Investing in a “cat condo” would be ideal for indoor cats to enjoy the outdoors safely. 

Inside Your Home 

• When looking for safety hazards, you should have an animal’s eye view.  Have someone get onto the floor and look for wires, window treatment cords, and anything else that is hidden from a human’s view, but could be attractive and harmful for a pet. 
• It would be ideal to have a pet-washing area in the mudroom, but if that isn’t possible, think about shelving or a storage cabinet near the door for towels, leashes and outdoor toys. 
• A cat’s litter box should be in a quiet area away from food.  It would be optimal to have one more box than cats. 
• Keep garbage in a container with child-proof lid, as dogs and cats both can figure out how to get into the trash and make a mess, and maybe eat something harmful. 
• Area rugs should be machine-washable and inexpensive, in case you need to throw them away after multiple washing, or too much dirt. 
• Crate-training is best for dogs, but most animals need a space of their own.  Provide a comfy pet bed, toys and food and water in a quiet area of the house. 
• Keeping pets brushed, toenails trimmed, and bedding changed and washed regularly is essential in keeping you from doing a lot of extra cleaning and floor repairs.  A hard surface, scratch-resistant floor is perfect for homes with pets. 
• Smaller pets that require their own habitat have specialized needs: safety from larger pets, child-proof habitat covers, a room with certain temperature and humidity setting. 
• Check with your local municipality to see if you need permits for exotic pets. 

Having a pet of any kind is a big responsibility.  As they become part of the family, make sure you provide the best home, the same as you would for a relative.  When your pets are happy, it just adds to the sweetness that pets bring to life. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Photo credit: Pinterest

Tiny Houses are really super cute and a lot less expensive than traditional size homes but there are a few things you might want to take into consideration before you decide to purchase a tiny house.  There are pros and cons to owing a tiny house and those are listed for you below for your review.

1. Tiny houses  are typically no more than 100 to 500 square feet.  This may work perfect for you and your family if your family is rather small.  If however you have a large family a tiny house may not be the way to go.
2. You can have a tiny house built for $15,000 however if you want that tiny house to have all the bells and whistles you may end up spending in excess of $80 to $100,000. Basically it will be up to you if you want to purchase a tiny house and “bling it out” so to speak or if you would rather take your money and purchase a large home that already has everything you desire.
3. You may need to check with the zoning board in your area to see if a tiny house is allowed before you make a decision. If so, why not give a tiny house a go…if not, you can always put the tiny house on wheels and travel from state to state.
4. If personal space is important to you then you may not want to even consider purchasing a tiny house. If you do decide to purchase a tiny house your lifestyle will change for sure.  If you don’t mind being in close proximity to your family then a tiny house may be just the ticket!
5. A pro to living in a tiny home is that you won’t have very much space to clean.   If you don’t like spending a ton of time cleaning your house, a tiny home may be the place of your dreams!

These are just a few of the pros and cons associated with tiny house living.  In the end, it is your decision whether or not you want to purchase a tiny house and join the many others you have already done so.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

If you currently have your house on the market, you may want to look over a few of the curb appeal mistakes that you might possibly be making listed below.   You may or may not have issues with any of the mistakes that are listed but if you do, we will tell you how to fix them so that you will be more likely to get folks interested in looking at your house.   Curb appeal can many times be the number one reason why a person decides to look at your house in the first place.  Be sure to do your part to make your home’s curb appeal work for you and you might find that you have an offer quicker than you were planning on.

1. If your home is totally gorgeous inside but lacks curb appeal outside, no one may ever know just how beautiful your home actually is because they simply won’t want to come inside.  You need to make sure that the outside of your home matches the quality of the inside.  If your home looks fresh and new inside, make sure that you have fresh paint and landscaping outside.
2. Even though you may have a trash pick-up service, many times when days get busy the trash may be overflowing. Do your best to keep your trash cans out of sight from those who may come to tour your home and also keep them empty if at all possible or at the least not overflowing with garbage.
3. If you have recently starting doing a bit of renovations to the outside of your house, be sure to get those finished before you put your home on the market. You need to think about prospective buyers that may be driving by your house to get a glimpse of what it looks like and realize that no one wants to see a house renovation half completed.
4. If you have a big sense of style that can sometimes get a bit crazy, now is the time to neutral that down a bit. If your front door is painted bright pink for example, you may want to cover it with some white or beige or even black paint before you put it on the market.  Just because you love hot pink doesn’t mean everyone does!
5. If you don’t have a green thumb and therefore you haven’t done any landscaping to the outside of your home, it is time to at least plant a few bushes. Homes with no landscaping tend to be looked over when up against homes with a bit of landscaping.

These are just a few ideas to get you thinking of perhaps some curb appeal mistakes you may have currently at your home and how to correct the issues to help snag a sale.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Below is a list of a few rainy day things you can do inside your home so that you and your family don’t get bored being stuck inside.  If you have small children you know all too well how easily they can get bored when they are stuck inside due to bad weather.  Get them and read this list together to get started on some fun!

1. One fun indoor activity you can do with your small children is to have an indoor scavenger hunt. Write down some clues to where you have hidden items in your house and set your children out on an indoor hunt to find them!  This can be fun for you as well as you watch your kids trying their best to find what you have hidden.
2. Another fun rainy day thing to-do inside your home with your family is to go camping inside!  Get your tent out and set it up right in the middle of your family room.  You and your family can sleep in the tent together all night long!  If everyone doesn’t fit you can use sleeping bags to make it a full fledge family event.  A super fun way to make your indoor camping event even more real is to make smores in the microwave!
3. Yet another fun rainy day thing to do inside is to gather all of your board games and get the entire family involved in playing them together! If you don’t have any board games you can likely find some type of game for all to play online.
4. If you don’t want to have to create something fun to do with your family, why not bake some cookies together! It is always fun to get your little ones together in the kitchen to bake.  Have each child create their own cookie with the ingredients you have available, then let the rest of the family be judges to give the best cookie award!

These are a few fun rainy day things you can do inside your home that is sure to make everyone have an enjoyable time even if they can’t go outside!

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Just because your home doesn’t have any major issues such as a leaky basement or a floor that is about to cave in doesn’t mean you don’t have a lot of little ways you are losing cash each month.  Below are a few small tips to help you save money at home that may eventually add up big.

1.  If you have yet to change your lights over to energy efficient ones you should do that right away.   This is an easy way to save a little bit each month that doesn’t take long at all to accomplish.  LED lights are going to cost you a bit more than regular light bulbs but in the long run they will be a big help to your budget.
2. Big ticket items such as air conditioning systems can cost you and your family a lot each year if you don’t do your part to make sure they work to the best of their ability.  Make sure to change your air filters on a regular basis and clean all the vents as well.  This type of maintenance should be done before the heat of the summer begins so that all will work correctly when it is needed most.
3. Another small way to save money at home  is to make sure you eat what you put in your refrigerator.  Wasting food is a big money pit that affects many Americans today.   If you buy a lot of produce and other perishables you need to be sure to put them at eye level so that they don’t get lost in your fridge only to have to be thrown out later.  If you have a small family you might want to purchase smaller amounts of foods that don’t have a long shelf live to avoid wasting each week.
4. If you haven’t already done so, get rid of your landline phone.  Most everyone these days has a cell phone and the need for a landline phone has almost become obsolete.  Save that $40 per month and put it towards something of better use.  You may be surprised at just how quickly $40 each month can add up.
5. Before you decide to bring a furry family member into your home, realize that they are quite expensive.   If you are trying your best to save money perhaps buying a pet might need to go on the back burner for a while.

These are just a few ways in which your pocketbook can get a bit of rest  on a regular basis.  Use the ideas you like and see what a difference they can make.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

When you have pets and you are trying to sell your home there are a few ways that you can avoid your pets ruining your home sale.   Many times folks love animals but that doesn’t mean they want to see evidence of your pets in your home when they are trying to envision themselves living there.  Below are a few ideas on how to not let your pets ruin your home sale.

1. Vacuuming your home is a great idea before you have someone tour your home for a showing but it is essential if you have pets.  Pet hair and tufts of fur can find their way into your guest’s noses and faces if you aren’t careful and that is not going to be good for your potential sale.  If you have someone who happens to sit on your furniture during their home tour you don’t want pet hair to get all over them.  A good way to insure that this doesn’t happen is to run a damp sponge over the furniture before they arrive.
2. As you already know pets are bad about leaving little surprises for you on your floors especially if you are gone during the day. Pet stains are not a welcomed sight to anyone that might be interested in buying your home.  Think about it, would you want to see someone else’s pet mess when touring a home?   I think not.  Do your best to remove any types of these stains before your potential buyers come to tour your home even if you have to spend some money to get things cleaned and stains removed by professionals.
3. Pet odor is another thing that can ruin a potential home sale.   You are likely use to the way your pet smells and may not even be aware that they have an odor but they do.  Those folks who may come to tour your home will likely be able to smell it as soon as they enter the house.  Spraying odor neutralizing sprays can help with pet odor as well as perhaps having just baked some cookies for your guest to enjoy.  Whatever you have to do to get rid of the odor is what you need to do.
4. If your pet has a bed in your home it is best to stick it in the closet or to remove it from the home before your home tour begins.

These are just a few ideas on how to not let your pet or pets ruin your potential home sale.  Hopefully they will get you thinking in the right direction so that you may be more able to walk away with an offer.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

If you have recently purchased a new house and you would like to fill it up with new furniture you have likely found that it can be quite the overwhelming task and an expensive one as well.  There are a few money saving ideas for furniture shopping that can help you out quite a bit in your search for new furniture and those have been listed below.

1.  One good thing you can do to help you save a bit of money when furniture shopping is to call a few of the stores you are going to be visiting ahead of time.  This way you can find out if they have prices you can afford and also if they have brand names that you are interested in.  This can save you a little bit of time and money so that you don’t waste it traveling long distances.
2.  Another money saving idea for furniture shopping  is to make sure to look at every piece of furniture that the store has by walking the entire shop.  Many times there are clearance items or items that perhaps are slightly damaged in the store but they are not out for all to see.  Do your due diligence and walk the entire space so you don’t lose out on any good deals.
3. Yet another good way to save money when furniture shopping is to purchase consignment furniture.  You can find lots of really nice pieces by shopping consignment.
4. If you find a piece of furniture that you have your heart set on do your best to bargain with the seller.  You never know unless you ask.
5. Shopping estate sales is another way to get good prices on furniture.  Many times you can get pieces at estate sales that are worth much more than you pay for them so you can make your home look very nice.
6. Lastly if you want to save a good amount of money on furniture  why not refinish what you already have!  Old furniture can become new again if you are able to successfully refinish it.

Hopefully this list of money saving ideas on furniture buying has gotten you thinking in the right direction before you begin making your purchases.   Now get out there and save some money and furnish your home with beautiful new furniture.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

If you are like the rest of us then just a few days ago you made a list of New Year resolutions.   Many of us however do not stick to our plan when it comes to these promises we make ourselves.  If you plan to purchase a home sometime in this New Year you need to make a few related resolutions that will likely help you to attain your goal and dream of home ownership.  Below these resolutions are listed for you.

1. Stop opening credit cards.  It is easy these days especially when you are shopping, to open one credit card after the other.  If buying a home is on your to do list this year however, you need to steer clear of opening new credit cards.
2. Start paying your student loans on time every time. Many times when folks get student loans they tend to think they can pay them as they can but that can mess up your credit in no time.  If someone who has good credit and shows they are good at paying bills on time every time puts a bid in on a house you have your eye on and you put a bid on that house as well, it’s likely due to their history that they will win the bid and not you.
3. Start paying your credit cards every month and on time. Even if you can’t afford to pay more than just the minimum payment you need to make sure you pay your credit card each and every month.   This type of diligence will serve you well when you go to make an offer on a house.
4. Make sure you have a little bit of a cash reserve in your bank account at all times. It won’t look good to a mortgage lender when you ask for a loan if you have a zero balance in your bank account.
5. Stick with the same job for as long as you can. Jumping from one job to another during a year is a sure fire way to lose your chance at the home of your dreams.  Lenders want to see stability and staying with the same job for a few years will show them that.

These New Year resolutions, if you do your best to keep them, will do their part towards helping you to purchase the home you have always dreamed about.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

According to research done by Scentiments, 80% of Americans use home fragrances.  The choices can be overwhelming, and visitors and family members can be allergic to mass-produced products, as they likely contain chemical compounds.  Many people, however, have what they need for their home fragrances right in their pantries or available on grocery shelves! 

Fragrance Combinations 

• orange or lemon peels and whole or ground cloves 
• fresh rosemary stems and leaves, lemon peel, and a few drops of vanilla extract 

• lemon or lime peel and basil leaves, fresh or dry 
• sliced cucumber (or just the peel), basil leaves and a teaspoon of ground ginger 
• dried lavender, lemon peel and peppermint oil 
• grapefruit peel and lavender blossoms or rosemary stems with leaves 

— Mix one of the above combinations with a few cups of water, and simmer on your stove. Be sure to add more water as it evaporates, and the fragrance usually lasts about sixteen hours of simmer time.  If you have any scent left in the mixture but won’t be home to enjoy it, let the mixture cool, and store it in the refrigerator for up to a few days. The mixture can also be used in a small electric simmering pot. 

— All you need is a spray bottle, distilled water, and one of the Fragrance Combinations, and you’ve got custom room spray!  Add your favorite ingredients to the bottle, fill with distilled water, and allow to sit for a few hours.  Keeping the spray refrigerated will keep it fresh for a week.  If you want to keep it longer, a few drops of rubbing alcohol or witch hazel astringent will help with preserving it. 

— Utilizing dried citrus/fruit peels and herbs, you can make simple sachets to place around your home and in dresser drawers.  Lay a square fabric scrap flat, wrong side up, and place a few spoonfuls of your dried scent combo in the center.  Bring the corners together, twist, and tie with a ribbon, jute twine or twist tie. 

— Air freshener beads can be made with polymer absorbent crystals normally used for potting soil!  Mixing the same ingredients as the room spray, add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to keep the mixture from spoiling.  In a bowl, mix one teaspoon of the crystals and one cup of your scented water. For a stronger scent, add a few drops of essential oil or extracts leftover from baking.  Once the polymer has absorbed all of the water, divide them into two pint-sized jars.  Use a scrap of lace to cover the top, and add the screw lid.  

— Because essential oils are another natural alternative, here is an easy DIY reed diffuser idea.  All you need is your favorite essential oil, a glass bottle and bamboo skewers! 

Remember that these natural scents will not be as strong as commercially-produced fragrances.  The good thing about using what comes from nature can be used more frequently without the worry of using added chemicals in your home.  It will take a bit of getting used to, but a naturally sweet-smelling home will be a reward in many ways. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently. You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Photo credit: hellofresh

If you’re celebrating the holidays away from home, you may be wrestling with how to get gifts to your loved ones. With careful planning and packing, however, you can get your gifts safely to their destination. Read up on our favorite tips for flying with gifts.

Flying with Wrapped Gifts

Wrapped gifts are allowed in both carry-ons and checked luggage. However, airport security may need to open gifts as part of their inspections, but it is rare. To decrease the likelihood of your gifts being unwrapped, pack them in your checked luggage rather than your carry-on.

Flying with Edible Gifts

Be sure to factor where your baggage is stored during flight, especially edible gifts as they may be prone to spoiling or melting. Bag and cushion perishable gifts with clothing to avoid a mess in your suitcase. Keep in mind, any liquids or sauces that exceed 3.4 oz. will need to go into your checked luggage.

Flying with Valuable or Irreplaceable Gifts

Carry valuables onto the plane in a small carry-on bag and place it beneath the seat in front of you. The only way to ensure your items are not damaged, stolen, or lost is to carry them yourself. An alternative is to ship valuables via a shipping service that includes insurance and tracking.

Flying Home with Gifts You Receive

Pack a sturdy duffel bag to use as an additional piece of luggage on your return flight. Use it for clothing, laundry, shoes, non-breakable items, and transport fragile gifts home in the more protective suitcase.

By using these tips as a guideline, you can better organize and prepare for your trip.

By: Surge365

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.