
Since the COVID lockdowns began last year, almost half of U.S. employees shifted to remote work. The dining table was fine for some time. But as weeks turned into months and months into a year, we started looking for working spaces out on the patio, in the kitchen nook, or behind closed bedroom doors. Now more than ever before, people are saying goodbye to open floor spaces and seeking to find designated home office spaces from which they can be as efficient and productive as possible. And so the "cloffice" trend re-emerged. According to the 2021 Pinterest trend report, there has been a two-fold increase in the volume of searches for "cloffice ideas" on the platform over the past year.
If you're unfamiliar, a cloffice is a closet that has been converted into a functioning office space. It offers a functional yet design-savvy way to create a feasible workspace at home when square footage is tight. Here are tips for creating a stylish, affordable cloffice as recommended by our REALTORS®.

Choosing the perfect paint color for your home can make a huge difference. After all, the color of your walls provides a backdrop for all your interior. If you just bought a new home, painting is a great way to put your personal stamp on the home and begin the next phase of your life. Conversely, if you're putting your property on the market but it's looking a little too "well-loved," a crisp coat of paint can help create a better first impression and potentially increase your home's value.
But with the vast array of color choices available today, choosing the right color can be a painstaking process, especially if you get things wrong and have to start all over again. So skip the do-overs and find the perfect paint color by doing your homework and evaluating your options before you don your overalls or lay down the drop cloth. No matter what aesthetic or shade you're looking for, these foolproof tips by our REALTORS® will help you select the perfect paint color every single time.

The march toward summer is well underway, and it's time to turn your attention to the deck outside your home. As the weather warms up, our REALTORS® know the deck is one of the first things prospective buyers of Mansfield and Ashland homes for sale will look at as their thoughts turn to summer BBQs and time with family and friends. If your deck needs an overhaul, you'll want to act quickly before local contractors run out of time to do the work for you.
Start with a Wash
Dirt, dust, and grime can obscure the true condition of your deck. Watch the weather for a sunny, wind-free period to give your deck a good scrub and a deep clean with soap and a powerwasher. Make sure to follow instructions and keep the powerwasher at a safe distance from the wood to avoid scoring and damaging it. If you come across any stubborn stains or debris stuck in crevices, a stiff brush and a putty knife can usually remove it.

Your home is more than a place to live; it's an asset you want to protect. Whether you're remodeling a room, building an addition, or simply changing an appliance out, our REALTORS® strongly advise all of our clients to vet and question any potential contractor thoroughly. Asking the following five questions will help ensure that the contractor you hire will get the job done efficiently and to the highest quality standards.

At Haring Realty, our REALTORS® know that some aspects of the home-buying process can be confusing.
Even buyers who have been through it all before don't know everything. And it can be even more worrisome for first-time buyers, who wonder about all the things they aren't familiar with yet. That can put a damper on the fun of looking at Mansfield or Ashland homes for sale.
One subject comes up again and again: Financing. Where to find a mortgage and how to get the best deal.
Choosing the best mortgage for you can save you thousands of dollars across the life of your mortgage. But buyers often go into the process knowing little about one of the most important factors that can influence your mortgage terms: your FICO score.