May 20, 2013

Landscaping In a Drought

Fields outside Benambra, Victoria, Australia s...

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If it’s flooding in one part of the country, it’s dry as a bone in others. When in a drought, water becomes a precious commodity, and local governments will start to restrict its use. Basically, you won’t be watering your yard every day, so it’s good to know how to landscape in a drought.

Native Plants Are Winners

You probably look at all of those scrubby plants on the side of the road and think they’re not so pretty. Think again. Your yard is dead and these hearty little roadside flora are still green. Most likely they’re native to the area, so learn to love them and seek out the ones you think are pretty at the local nursery. They don’t need special soil, and they certainly don’t need lots of water. What is pretty in Jamaica just won’t survive in a Texas yard.

Catch The Water When It Rains

You don’t need fancy rainwater catchment systems. All you need are few trashcans. You know where the water drains off your roof. In fact, you may even have a gutter drain you could run into a trashcan. When it does rain, let nature fill up those cans. Then put a lid on them. This will reduce evaporation and keep mice and frogs from hopping in and drowning. Remember that your plants aren’t the only living things that are thirsty.

Rainwater requires some toting to and from, but it’s well worth it if you want to be environmentally conscious. Besides, your plants will love the stuff. Let nature be your gardener. It definitely knows how to survive better than humans.

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Can Drought Affect the Price of a Lake Home?

Drought of 2002, High Rock Lake, Abbots Creek ...

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When people buy a lake home, they want access to a lake. If there’s a drought, and the water levels are low, it could be a bad time to put your lake house on the market.

Who Wants to Buy a Dry Lake?

You have no control over when it rains. Lakes are controlled more by nature than man, so they flood and they dry up. If you want to introduce your lake home to the real estate market, consider waiting until the water levels are high and the scene from your deck is beautiful.

Lake homes are often second homes, so the prospective buyer may need to be hit with a certain amount of a “wow” factor. If your access to the water is landscaped nicely, and your pier or lake deck is in good condition, that piece of real estate will go much faster.

When You Can’t Sell the Lake Home

If your lake home isn’t doing well due to drought or flooding, you may want to consider leasing it. Of course, vacationers want water, too, but it could be an option until the place sells. If this property is your second home, leasing or renting can be a good income for you. Make sure there are amenities that will appeal to lake vacationers, like paddle boats, fishing poles, canoes, and plenty of picnic tables and lawn chairs. If your lakefront isn’t safe for swimming, see what you can do to change that. It could just be brush or trash.

However you decide to do it, make your lake home enjoyable, no matter what, to help it sell.

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Make an Apartment Feel Like Home

The Ikea multistory car park at Ikea, Birstall... 

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You’re finally on your own. You have your college education, and you’re starting your new job. Your parents have kicked you off the dole. Now you’ve got to get your own place, and that will probably be an apartment. However, it doesn’t have to be a dreary place. Installing adt home security systems will make your apartment feel like a safe place to live.

Make a Small Space Bigger

Often, that new apartment will be pretty small. In order to feel like a home, you will need to do a little creative decorating. Avoid dark colors with your furniture. Choose smaller pieces such as a love seat instead of a large sofa. Pair it with a comfortable chair so that you don’t sacrifice comfort. Stores like IKEA and The Container Store offer many great ideas on how to make a small apartment feel comfortable. Invest in a few of their storage ideas to keep clutter to a minimum.

Make Your Space Your Own

Your mother will try to decorate your apartment, but gently discourage this. The best way to make a new place feel like home is to make the space your own. Certainly, Mom’s good taste can help direct you, but you need to make the final decision. If you know you’re not going to agree with her, read a few architecture magazines. They’re not about decorating, but they will inspire you.

If you make a heartfelt effort to create your first home, you may find you’ll keep that little apartment much longer than you ever thought you would. Then you’ll not only have a home, you’ll be saving money.

Two-Story Homes Can Be Energy Efficient

A unique energy-efficient home built in place ...

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There is a myth that two-story homes are less energy efficient. Many of these homes seem to be warmer upstairs than downstairs. However, a multi-level home can be energy efficient. In fact, some are better than one-story structures. Many factors play into how comfortable and affordable a house can be.

The Right Insulation

One of the most important factors in keeping a two-story home feeling comfortable, without cranking up the heat or air, is whether it’s been well insulated. If you’re building a new home, make sure you purchase the right R value. Most home improvement stores should be able to provide a chart that tells you which values are best for your region of the country. In the case of a two-story home, a well insulated attic can make a big difference in that energy bill. There will also be less of a noticeable temperature difference from floor to floor.

Construction Based on Location

Depending on where you live, you might want to build a two-story home that has part of the lower floor built into the ground. Not all geographical areas are good for this, but many places lend themselves to this very energy efficient way of building. Think of a cave. The temperature is constant. Very little heat manipulation would be needed, thus keeping costs stable.

The orientation of the house will help, too. Once again, depending on location, a house that is properly oriented East to West or North to South can save on energy bills. Don’t forgo a two-story home. Just make sure you plan the construction right.

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