FLORA, FAUNA + FRESH AIR

Fresh air, open space, trees, flora and fauna abound around Philly.  If you live in the city or suburbs your are not far from a number of spectacular Arboretums.  In the dictionary an arboretum is defined as  a place where trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes.  Thus visiting an arboretum is more than a stroll through a well manicured and maintained acreage, it is a lesson that you don’t even realize that you are learning.  It is a valuable experience for children of all ages.  Education, plants sales, inspirations, cultural events often are scheduled throughout the year allowing visitors to enrich their knowledge and experience in the natural world.  All Arboretums have memberships available to help fund these events, internships, and educational programs. The memberships are minimal compared to the benefits of the experience within.

 

Images via Instagram (Swarthmore College and Haverford College)

I have been privileged to live near one of Philadelphia’s premiere arboretums, The Morris Arboretum.  When my kids were little is was a wonderful world for them to explore and experience nature.  They chose special places in the arboretum where they would visit and claim year after year.  The garden Railway and the Fernery were always coveted attractions that my kids would spend endless hours exploring. New installations lure us back and we are never disappointed.  The beauty of this gem is that it is affiliated with University of Pennsylvania and offers extensive educational courses that further its’ value to the public.   It is a never ending wealth of knowledge and I guarantee the landscape will amaze you all year long.  The next event scheduled at The Morris Arboretum is the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival allowing visitors a Japanese inspired cultural experience complete with Taiko drumming, Tea demonstration and a Japanese elements tour throughout the grounds.

 

Images via Instagram of The Morris Arboretum

I encourage everyone to visit and join an Arboretum, through your membership you become a steward and a student.  Your blood pressure will lower, your senses will heighten, and you can only benefit from a healthy stroll around the property.  It’s no wonder that three of our local colleges have realized the physical and mental benefits of incorporating an arboretum within their campuses, Temple University (Ambler Campus), Swarthmore and Haverford Colleges all are open to visitors, check them out. One thing that I love most about arboretums is that they join people of all ages together, they strengthen communities with programming, and protect valuable green space for future generations.  And I would venture to say that the real estate values surrounding these properties is increased immensely.

Perfect for spring birthdays, anniversary presents, mother’s and father’s day outings – you guessed it, a membership to an Arboretum!  I have listed a couple more around town-get out there and enjpy!

Awbury Arboretum

Jenkins Arboretum

The Barnes Arboretum

Chanticleer

Tyler Arboretum

Go NATIVE-a healthy approach to landscaping this Spring

After the last of the snow has melted, and the fear of frosty mornings has subsided, a few fresh sprouts push up through the soil, spring beckons. Maybe a couple of your trees were damaged this winter or your shrubs have seen better days.  Right now, the weather and conditions are ideal for sprucing up your landscaping.  Before replacing them consider your neighbors, the surrounding wildlife.  Opt for indigenous plants and trees instead of the usual exotic varieties.  They not only beautify but provide important environmental benefits.  Too often landscaping companies have been all about “the show,” and avoided the nutrients essential in providing a healthy Eco system.  An environment that will thrive starts with the insect and caterpillar population, they are essential for birds, fish and wildlife.  Planting beautiful and beneficial trees that attract and house caterpillars and insects are your best bet. 

A couple native tree varieties - bountiful and beneficial!

Garden centers often highlight the exotic and showy trees, shrubs and plants.  They may create a burst of color here and there, but that is it.  Instead, wouldn’t it be better to plant a vibrant garden that will attract and feed brightly colored birds, butterflies and bees?  Yes, bees!  They are pollinators and are a vital part of about 1/3 of our crops.  If plants are not pollinated they will not produce fruit.  So we need bees in order to keep eating the delicious fruits and veggies that we love.   Bees = food!  Just one more incentive to go Native in your landscaping.  

Some pretty Native flowering plants to spruce up your garden and feed the Bees!

A little research and a visit to local garden centers that specialize in native plant species will provide you with an abundant amount of information.  Imagine your yard blooming with a kaleidoscope that creates a healthier environment for future generations of people, plants, insects, and wildlife, nothing could be more beautiful.  Happy and Healthy Spring!

Great local resources for Native Plants

http://www.redbudnativeplantnursery.com/

http://www.yellowspringsfarm.com/

http://www.gonativetrees.com/index.html

http://www.edgeofthewoodsnursery.com/

Design Trend - Open Concept

 Made popular by the many home improvement shows on HGTV, Open Concept Design is on trend and can help your home reach its' potential.

Today’s trend in home design is definitely the “Open Concept” floor plan.  Take down a couple walls and instantly your home has grown.  The square footage maybe the same but the illusion of more space has been accomplished.  No longer do the walls divide us.  Our way of entertaining and living has evolved throughout the years.  The protocols and formalities have shifted to a more casual vibe.  There is a need to connect with each other and the Open Concept facilitates that involvement.  Our conversations no longer are put on pause when transitioning from room to room.  We can now watch the entire game or program (beginning to end) while we are making chili and grabbing more beers in the kitchen for our guests.

Open yet Cozy!!!
http://photos.hgtv.com/rooms/viewer/living-space/great-room

The practical aspect of Open Concept living is enticing, you don’t have to decorate three/four rooms,  but rather one.  Utilizing unifying colors and styles can create and complete a total environment.  Not only does Open Concept provide more room to roam, but the light that will stream in from all sides will saturate the space.  

At all times of the day your home will be light filled - that should make you happy. 

Open and filled with light
http://photos.hgtv.com/rooms/viewer/living-space/great-room

When looking at new listings I find myself considering the possibilities for an Open Concept design.   My job is to realize and maximize the potential in any home. If the home provides the perfect location but seems a bit small, I say, "Open it up!"   If the house has great bones but the multiple rooms make you feel boxed in, my suggestion is always, “a little demo can go a long way.”  

Open Concept design – bring your family and friends together and live without boundaries.

For more information and new listings please visit my website:
http://www.kw.com/kw/agent/sharonlaudenbach

GET READY, GET SET, SELL!!

5 most important things that you can do to help sell your home this Spring!

1.   Improve your CURB APPEAL and grab your potential buyers interest the minute they pull up to your house. If you don’t they may drive to the next listing.  Declutter your front lawn, landings and porches.  Remove all statues, wind chimes, gazing balls, lawn ornaments etc… these items might be your style but don’t assume your buyer will like them.  Ornamentation will only distract from the expanse of your yard. Simple but bountiful containers with fresh plantings flanking your front door will welcome the buyers to investigate more.  The lawn should be tidy, mowed, mulched, and all debris and leaves picked up.  Touch up all peeling or chipping paint; it wouldn’t hurt to apply a fresh coat to the front door either.  This is the premiere of your home, make it an awesome one! 

2.   Create a NEUTRAL PALATE. I get it, you took years to find the best shades and hues to make your home a cozy haven for your family.  But let’s think about your buyers taste, you have no idea what it is, so go neutral let them decide. Don’t deter them from choosing your home because they have to immediately repaint the entire thing.  Give them a break, let them settle in and then they can take years to establish their look and feel.

3.   While you are neutralizing the walls, DECLUTTER everything (even the closets!)  Don’t make the mistake of jamming your closets full of all that you decided to purge while staging your home.  Donate items that you haven’t used in years, box up the rest and, if need be, rent a storage space for the time being.  Present your closets ½ full and they will appear larger.  Clear all cabinets in the bathrooms and under the kitchen sink and leave only the essentials.  Remove all personal photos and memorabilia, remember you are leaving this home and you want it to be someone else’s.  It is important for your potential buyers to envision themselves in your home, not focus on your family history.

4.   FIX IT! You have put up with lighting fixtures that don’t work correctly, slow dripping faucets, cracked tile, sticky doors, stained grout, you know what I am talking about.  You have accepted your house and all its’ flaws, you love it just the way it is.  Well, maybe you love it the way it is but potential buyers just see a headache and more money out the window.  It is time to make the list and hire a professional to fix all those little quirks and nuisances.  I say hire a professional because if you haven’t done the repairs for years you probably won’t get to them now.  You will reap the benefits with your attention to the little details, it is worth the effort and the little cash spent.

5.   CLEAN IT, top to bottom!  Again I would suggest hiring a professional team to really scrub, scour, and freshen up the place!  Don't forget about the bed and bathroom linens, they need to be free of stains, clean and crisp.  Better yet, you can buy new and neutral ones and pack up the old. Nothing is more welcoming then an immaculate house.  It tells your potential buyers that you took great care of your home.  

Tidbit: During your Open House, clean the dishes, grab the kids, pets and dirty laundry, light a fresh candle, and head out, knowing that your home is ready to sell!

Soak Up The SUN!

While the Mid-Atlantic States were under a blizzard warning and getting pounded with the most snowfall they have seen in years-I was dreaming of Solar Energy!  It has been a fantasy of mine to have my home heated/cooled and to run my electronics from the energy harvested from a bunch of solar panels soaking up the sun’s rays.  While the sun provides, I can just sit back and bask in the savings.  The threat of the thermostat dipping and power outages no longer scare me, I remain calm and cozy in my self reliant home, right?  Well maybe, but perhaps what is visible on the surface may differ down below, I decided it was time to answer a few questions.   With all the free time I had during this epic storm I started my research. I would unearth the hidden facts about solar energy costs vs. the benefits. With a couple clicks I dove head first into a sea of information from a multitude of sources. 

Forbes, Places & Spaces, May 2014

The first and most important bit of information collected was that this could be the last chance to receive a huge federal investment tax credit worth 30% of the cost of buying and installing a solar panel system for your home. Unless there is an extension, the 30% refund will expire after December 31, 2016.  This incentive has been the direct cause for the boom in the solar/passive energy industry with major increases in job availability thus lowering the cost of materials.  Home owners have taken advantage of these tax refunds and acquired sizable returns on their investments. Leading me to conclude that my fantasy is not only good for the environment but good for the purse.  Home owners often think of the valuable investment returns associated with a remodeled kitchen and/or bath. But installing a solar energy system in your home could reap the most when it is time to sell.  Don’t plan to sell your home in the next five years?  That's fine, your investment will, on average, pay for itself between 5-9 years insuring that your output was worth it.  If you sell or stay put, you win!

Solar Roof Tiles-www.architectureanddesign.com

After searching for important info. from the government and from leaders in the industry, my suggestion would be to do your homework, there is quite a bit of information out there.  Talk with someone who has gone through the research, purchase, and filing for government refunds, their trials could lead you to a smoother transition and easier transactions.  Now that we are almost a month into 2016, if you have had that “alternative energy” itch, it could be the perfect time to scratch it.  As with any deadlines there will be a surge at the end of the year to complete projects to make them eligible for any and all reimbursements, so don’t delay.  I have compiled a few interesting and informative articles to aid in your initial research, and who knows maybe this will be the year that we Soak Up The SUN!

Forbes, Places & Spaces, May 2014

RESOURCES:

http://time.com/3933638/solar-panels-house/

http://solarenergy.net/energy-saving/home-improvement-returns-solar-power-savings/

http://fortune.com/2014/01/10/the-homeowners-guide-to-solar-power/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/houzz/2014/05/17/everything-you-need-to-know-about-adding-solar-panels-at-home/- 13c4bf9d1862

http://solaroutreach.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ResidentialITC_Factsheet_Final.pdf

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/stories/how-much-does-solar-cost-infographic