Home and Garden
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Are lower tax rates linked to higher home appreciation?Apr 20, 2018 6:00 am - WASHINGTON - Nobody likes getting tax bills, especially homeowners who are burdened with ever-escalating local property taxes. Last year, property taxes collected by loc...
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When buyers decline to hire a home inspectorApr 20, 2018 6:00 am - Q. I've been a Realtor for nearly 11 years, and I regard defect disclosure as an essential service to my clients. That's why I encourage every buyer to hire a home inspe...
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Accessories put the finishing touches on your decorApr 15, 2018 7:01 am - Accessories are the accents that help personalize your home. Think of accessories like the jewelry one wears when dressing up. Accessories are decorative pillows, throws...
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Grow onions for garden-fresh cookingApr 15, 2018 7:00 am - Growing onions is easy. A cool-season crop, they can be planted by direct seeding, sets or transplants early in spring. Plant them in a sunny spot with well-drained soil...
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Warm-weather growth will soon be seenApr 15, 2018 6:00 am - The cold weather has delayed work in the garden this year. Finish cutting back perennials and cleaning up garden debris as weather permits. It is best to cut back peren...
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Be careful not to overwork the soil in your gardenApr 15, 2018 6:00 am - Q. I want to go out and till my soil, is it too early? A. Never till or work the soil when it is too wet. We've all tried this and regret it later. If wet soil is tilled...
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Squeeze the most out of small outdoor spacesApr 15, 2018 6:00 am - As herb and vegetable gardens, composting and other aspects of green living become more popular, many people with limited outdoor space are looking for ways to squeeze t...
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Discounted commissions are not a usual agreementApr 14, 2018 6:00 am - Q. I am going to take your advice and interview some agents about selling my house. How likely is it that they will negotiate how much they will charge in commission? Ar...
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Equity-affluent Americans have options for tapping into fundsApr 13, 2018 6:00 am - WASHINGTON - Americans are awash in record amounts of equity in their homes, posing the question for millions: So what do we do with it? Leave it for a rainy day or reti...
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Inspector says remove padlock from electrical panelApr 13, 2018 6:00 am - Q. The people who are buying our house hired a home inspector. His report advised removing the padlock from our electrical panel. This seems like a pointless recommendat...