Gardening in Small Spaces

The only thing better than summer vegetables is knowing that you’ve grown them yourself. You don’t have to miss out just because you have a small space. There are plenty of plants you can grow on your windowsill or on your patio. If you follow these tips, you’ll have enough success to share with friends. 

Grow up, not out – Potted plants can take up a lot of space, and that’s not ideal when you’re working in a small area. Thankfully, clever gardeners around the world have come up with a practical solution – vertical gardening. Utilize the wall rather than the ground space, and you’ll double or triple your garden’s space. 

Choose smaller varieties of plants – You know that corn stalks wouldn’t grow in a tiny vase, and you should apply this line of thinking to choosing the varieties of foods that you grow in containers. From peas to peppers and tomatoes to cucumbers, some dwarf and bush varieties were created especially to grow in small spaces. 

Think outside of the container – Having a productive patio garden doesn’t have to be expensive. With any quick look around your home, you should be able to find a suitable container without spending a penny. Things like old buckets and laundry baskets are perfect for plants such as potatoes and strawberries.

Use the right soil – Since your container plants won’t be able to source nutrients from the ground, choosing the right soil is vital to your garden’s success. Experts recommend a mix of quality potting soil and peat, but creating your own compost is even more fun. 

Too much sun can be detrimental – Even if you are growing sun-loving plants like tomatoes, container plants come with a different set of rules. Because of the reduced surface area, the roots of a container plant can overheat easily. Given that certain containers absorb more heat than others, it’s a good idea to make sure your plants are getting just the right amount of light. Too much light can be harmful.  

Monitor water levels carefully – Just as easily as your plants can dry out from too much heat, they can also suffer from too much moisture. Overwatering your plants – or planting them in containers with poor drainage – can cause the root system to rot. Keep a careful eye on your plant’s specific needs, and make sure they have adequate drainage holes. 

Fertilize according to plant needs – As a general rule of thumb, container gardens should be fertilized once every couple of weeks. However, certain plants require more frequent feeding while they are in the fruiting stage. Do a little research about your plants and tailor their fertilization schedule as they need it. 

Just because you have a small space doesn’t mean that you can’t have a decent-sized harvest. With a little thought, a little inventiveness, and a little dedication, you’ll be making summer dishes with your own homegrown food.

Buying a home involves a lot of decisions, such as making sure it is the right one before you sign on the dotted line. If you only view the property once, you might miss something that’s important. Many real estate agents suggest viewing a home at least twice before making an offer.

During the first visit, you may not see any of the negative aspects of the property, especially if they aren’t readily apparent. You are also likely to overlook less-than-perfect circumstances if the previous home you viewed has a lot of areas needing repairs or upgrades. When you arrange for a second visit, you have the opportunity to check out some of the finer details. For example, you may want to check:

• If your washer and dryer will fit 
• If the rooms are spacious enough for your furniture 
• If there are enough closets 
• If the garage is large enough for your existing vehicles 

Not only should you make the effort to visit the house twice, but you should check out the surrounding neighborhood several times before you make a formal offer. Doing so gives you a chance to discover the positive and negative aspects of the property before you finalize the deal.

Visit During Different Times of the Day

No matter where the property is located, it is a good idea to view the home at different times of the day. Doing so allows you to see each of the following aspects of living there:

• How noisy is the area in the morning, afternoon, and night? If you visit during the middle of the day, children may be at school and parents might be working outside of the home. You won’t be able to gauge how quiet the area is. Additionally, if the neighborhood is noisy, you may be faced with a daily challenge. If you work from home, you may need several hours of solitude. On the other hand, you might just appreciate the presence of small children in the neighborhood, particularly if you have a few of your own.
• How much sun and shade does the property experience at different hours of the day? Where the sun shines may affect your landscaping plans, making it impossible to have a vegetable garden or plant the flowers you like best. Not enough or too much sun can also impact your heating and cooling expenses.
• How well lit is your street? Is the home shrouded in darkness, creating a dangerous situation? While a darkened facade might be a reason for concern, it isn’t enough of a reason to knock this home off your list. After all, outside lighting can easily solve the problem.
• How heavy is traffic throughout the day? Does rush hour make traveling to and from work less than ideal? Your street may not be filled with cars during rush hour. However, the local highways near you might just be congested. It’s a good idea to find this out before you relocate.

Visit during Good and Bad Weather

Most likely, you won’t be able to view the home during different seasons of the year. However, getting a look at the property during good and bad weather is a good investment of your time. You shouldn’t expect any surprises on pleasant days, but you might discover a few during stormy weather. For example, surface drainage can be an issue that leads to unpleasant circumstances.

It’s always a good idea to see how attractive the property looks on a rainy, gloomy day. While this aspect might not impact your decision, at least you won’t have any unpleasant surprises if you do make the purchase.

Visit During The Weekday and the Weekend

Neighborhood activity typically increases on the weekend when many families are off from school and work. If you value peace and quiet, you may want to include weekend activity in your decision-making process.

On the other hand, you might be looking to meet the neighbors and make a friend or two. If you have children, you might want to consider visiting the neighborhood during bus pickup or drop-off. Doing so gives you a good idea as to the number of playmates your children can have.

Keep in mind that it is easier to let a home go before you make an offer. Many home buyers view the home for the second time after making a bid on it. As a result, they may be more willing to overlook dirty carpeting and scuff marks on the wall simply because these issues have easy fixes. Why settle for a home that you know needs fixing up if your dream home is still out there somewhere? View homes that you are interested in buying more than once so you can make the best decision possible for your needs.

There’s nothing like building your own home to realize your dreams of finding the perfect living space. It might take longer than buying a resale, but many people find it is worth the wait. Here are some discussion points to review with contractors in your area.

Avoid the bidding war

This is a wild time to be a home buyer. Across the country, resale houses are getting many, many offers with prices climbing far above appraised values. You can eliminate that stress by purchasing a new home. New construction houses are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The price is set instead of multiple buyers bidding against you. There’s no appraisal gap, meaning you don’t have to come up with more money when your lender will only fund you for the appraised value of the home. You also don’t have to waive inspections or other contingencies to get into a new build like you might with a preowned home. 

You can choose a home that fits your needs

New construction means you can personalize the house to suit your needs rather than remodeling an older home. Tall ceilings, big windows, and wide open floor plans make a house look bright and welcoming. Many developers have flexible floor plans that allow you to make changes such as enlarging closets, adding a home office, and redesigning the kitchen and bathrooms. You might want to include a private suite to make multi-generational living possible. Design your home the way you want it. 

Create your own style as you decorate

You have a clean slate going into a brand new house. Older homes may have plenty of charm, but that might also include dark, worn cabinets, shag carpeting, and outdated floral wallpaper. You can start fresh to bring in the colors and finishes that suit you. Get the gourmet kitchen of your dreams, the perfect bedroom, and a luxurious spa bathroom. Choosing everything from door knobs to backsplash tiles not only makes the home personal, it can also be fun to do!

Choose a community with great amenities

New builds are frequently in new neighborhoods with excellent amenities. You could have a swimming pool, a clubhouse suitable for parties, tennis courts, playgrounds, walking trails, or water features like a fishing lake or fountains. If you have a growing family and choose an area with good schools, you will likely find many of your neighbors are in the same stage of life. There will be plenty of playmates for your kids and new friends for you. Likewise, if you are retirees looking for an active lifestyle, there are new neighborhoods that will give you exactly what you want.

Get energy efficiency and less maintenance

A new home nearly always requires less maintenance than a resale. You can choose building materials for your new house that can reduce future problems, long-term and short-term. You also can make the new house energy efficient from the beginning. Ask your developer for the energy rating of their homes. Choose energy efficient appliances, upgrade the insulation, and more. Plan on a greener, cleaner home with lower monthly utility bills. 

You always benefit from an agent’s expertise

Many real estate agents have years of experience working with new construction homes. They can act as your advocate with the builder if something goes wrong, such as incorrect placement of a kitchen island or closet doors that aren’t the ones you originally chose. A new home purchase has many of the same requirements as an existing one. There will be the inspection, appraisal, walk-throughs, and a closing date. Your agent will help you negotiate each step, bringing value to the whole process.

There is a pride of ownership with a newly built home that is different from any other feeling. You created this special place where no one else has lived before you. It has all been customized especially for you. It just may be the choice you want to make.