Posts with tag 'Homeowner'

The refrigerator is one of the most neglected kitchen appliances. Food items just seem to find their way in the back and turn into horrific science experiments overtime. Who hasn't found spoiled yogurt, sour milk, or moldy jars of soups left there from weeks ago? National Clean Out Your Fridge Day Nov. 15 was a good reminder to take matters into your hands and check the status of items inside your refrigerator.

Of course, we'd all clean out our fridges more often in a year, but making it an annual occasion provides an opportunity to rectify the situation with your long-forgotten leftovers and make room for your Thanksgiving or Christmas meals. So, fill that bucket with warm water, don your rubber gloves, collect your cleaning supplies, and take a day to scrub your fridge clean.

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Thanksgiving is practically synonymous with pie. Pumpkin, apple, or pecan pie, it may be traditional to have a slice after Thanksgiving dinner. But pie isn't the only way to end your meal. Sometimes change is good and our REALTORS® encourage you to think outside the pie pan and try something new. We've rounded up six Thanksgiving desserts that are well worth saving some extra room for.

• Pumpkin Layer Cake
  A fluffy Pumpkin Layer Cake would make a great addition to your Thanksgiving spread. The pumpkin flavor comes from pureed pumpkin and a blend of beautiful spices: ground ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Adding lots of eggs to the batter gives it the custardy flavor and texture of pumpkin pie. It's classic to pair this layer cake with tangy cream cheese buttercream frosting. Making this soft, moist, and delicious pumpkin layer cake is relatively straightforward and takes about 1 hour to bake and frost.

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As you've spent most of the summer at home, have you been looking for extra projects to keep the family busy? Maybe you've listed your house among Mansfield homes for sale and have been getting your home shipshape for potential buyers, but you've still got time on your hands. Has the urge to feed your backyard birds flitted across your mind? Helping them out — especially as the weather gets colder — is a fine thing to do.

But it's not enough to toss out pieces of dried bread. Bread has no nutritional value for birds and can be harmful by filling them up so they don't eat the foods they need. If you're going to feed the birds, invest in good quality seed.

Here are some additional tips for helping your local feathered friends get the nutritional boost they need.

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Spending more time at home gives everyone a bit of a home improvement bug, and that's never a bad thing. But if you've been watching home makeover shows, your vision of the process may not match reality. Many small and mostly cosmetic projects are DIY-friendly. But there are times when you'll need to call in the professionals for safety and legal reasons. Our REALTORS® want your remodeling project to go off without a hitch, so we'll help you sort out which projects you can tackle on your own and which need to be done by the pros. 

• Make A Splash 
  Plumbing-related repairs and updates should be approached with caution, but several are DIY-friendly. It may be the first time you locate the shut-off valves in your home, and this can be crucial information in case of a leak or break in your pipes. Changing plumbing fixtures, including installing a toilet, can be done by a careful homeowner and can take years off the look of a room. 
  
  If you're looking to add a freestanding bidet or an outdoor sink, however, you should leave that to a professional plumber. Re-routing existing pipes or installing new ones can get tricky fast. Any project involving shutting off water to the entire house should also be left to a plumber, as the necessary equipment may require a plumber's license.

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Changing from summer to fall means crisper air, cooler temperatures, and, of course, an abundance of leaves, pumpkins, and seasonal colors. Fall is also the time to make your home feel warm and inviting. Get in the spirit of fall by playing up the natural scenery outside and giving your front porch a seasonal refresh with carefully chosen fall decorations. And it's easy, enjoyable, and affordable to put together a festive look and elevate your outdoor space. Our REALTORS® have got a few ideas for how you can achieve a beautiful front porch for fall.

1. Go Traditional with Pumpkins and Mums
   It doesn't feel like fall without pumpkins. They come in different colors, shapes, and sizes so you can take advantage of the variety to add visual interest and create an inviting statement. You can place the pumpkins on the ground, put them in a lantern or another decorative container, or place them on a hay bale for a fresh fall look. Also, mums and pumpkins are a natural pair when it comes to outdoor fall decorations. The vibrant tones of the flowers flawlessly complement the soft pastel colors of the pumpkins. Create an eye-catching display by placing small pumpkins and mums on opposite sides of the entryway.

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