Advice on how to navigate the fund and the serious of homeownership.

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how to boost your home's energy efficiency this spring

Increasing the energy efficiency of your home not only reduces your carbon footprint, but also helps to save money on energy costs. Below are some tips to help make your home more sustainable this spring.

1. clean your refrigerator's coils.

Doing this simple task will allow your fridge to draw less power when cleaned from dust and grime.  As a result, your fridge will run more efficiently and last longer.

2. insulate wall, ceilings, and windows.

Insulation is crucial in keeping your home warm during the colder months and cool during the warmer months. Insulating your home helps to keep the heat in and saves you energy costs. Consider using eco-friendly insulation materials, such…

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vintage home trends that are now cool again

Did you know that some of today's home trends were actually totally cool a long time ago too? Here's a list of trend you may not have realized date way back:

1. woven furniture is back in style.

About 50 years later, rattan chairs, bed frames, and consoles are appearing in homes and adding extra textured accents.

2. light wood is in.

Everyone is ready to change their floors to a lighter wood again, as opposed to dark cherry tones that were the latest hit. Lighter wood tends to add a bigger + brighter feel to the space.

3. mid-century modern can be found everywhere.

The minimalist style of mid-century modern furniture with legs adds a simple + airy look. It allows you to draw attention to…

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3 mistakes first time homebuyers make 

It costs an average of $25k more to buy a home today than at this time last year!  First time buyers, don’t make these costly mistakes:

1. forgetting about closing costs

Don’t forget to budget for extra closing costs that come on top of your down payment. Get an estimate from your lender and make sure you know what to expect before you set your home price range.

2. lowball offers

Low ball offers are not a good negotiation tactic. Even if you think the home is overpriced, a crazy low offer could offend the seller and hurt your position. In today’s market, where over-asking bids are the norm, this would mean not skimping when bidding on a home you love — if you do, chances are you’ll get outbid and…

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man holding sign that says - you ar loved and a dog is in front of him holding a sign in his mouth that says 'little helper

So you're moving! How do you move to a new home efficiently? Moving is not an easy task - especially when you have years of items stored up in your living space. However, there are ways to make the load lighter on you. A couple simple changes to your moving routine and you can save time, energy, and let's be honest - stress.

Here are 10 tips to make your next move a breeze:

1. do a closet purge

Don't go through the hassle of moving all your clothes to your new home. Try refreshing your closet - it's the perfect time to get rid of all those items you no longer use. This one task alone will make your moving load a lot lighter.

2. start scheduling donation pick-up arrangements

Once your closet purge is done - sort through the rest of your…

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Home gardens are growing! As home-based, outdoor events have become a staple in today's world, homeowners are extending their homes into the outdoors and and getting creative with their open-air spaces.

Here are a few ways to upscale your outdoor garden:

1. incorporate sustainability

Sustainability is becoming one of the biggest trends as we become more educated about the earth and the environment. One way experts say to incorporate sustainability in your garden is to use native plants and include a lot of diversity that "mimics" the nature of the area you live in. Using native plants helps attract pollinators, helpful insects, birds, and butterflies - all creating a healthy ecosystem. Since these plants are already adapted to the soil and…

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If your home stands out (in a good way), it attracts more buyers, gets more traffic, and that typically results in more interest, more offers and a higher end sale. It's important to make sure your home is truly ready for a home sale, to make the most of its market debut and get more buyers to fall in love with it. And while we generally don't recommend any major projects (exceptions abide - ask an arhome agent for the most profitable approach), the good news is there's a lot that you can control when it comes to making your home above-average. 

Here are some uncommon ways that actually make a big difference in your home sale.

#1. avoid "fake staging"

We don't mean to avoid staging in general - staging is an amazing, powerful tool if used…

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holiday decorating tips photo with cozy white bed and blankets next to a frosted christmas tree

Festive season has arrived to Chicagoland! If you're looking to spruce up your little corner of the world, here are 5 tips for how to actually enjoy yourself and the decor, all in one.

#1. don't do it all at once.

We know - it's so tempting to make decorating a quick one-and-done marathon. But it's a lot of pressure to do it all in one day and honestly, it can get overwhelming. So take a breath and space it out. Remember it's a time to have fun -- give yourself a couple weeks and just see how much more enjoyable it is to see each space come to life one at a time!

#2. pick warm days for the outdoors.

If you're doing any outdoor decorating, don't always just plan to "get it done over the weekend." It could just end up being the coldest day…

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