Jolynna McCune, Affiliate Broker

When you first move into your new home it is a good idea to take care of a few small things that can make a big difference when it counts.

1. Change the locks on all your exterior doors. Unless your house is brand new you never know how many strangers may have a key to your front door.

2. Replace the batteries in all the smoke detectors in the house. Record the date in your calendar so you will remember to do the same thing next year!

3. Unless your heating/air units are new, have the vents and filters cleaned or replaced.

4. Create a fire-hazard plan with your family and conduct a practice drill with the children.

5. Replace or clean the exhaust hood filter above the range.

6. Check all your electric outlets for loose-fitting plugs, as these can pose a fire hazard. These outlets are inexpensive and fairly easy to replace.

7. Have the fireplace chimney cleaned. While you are at it go ahead and install a rain cap and a screen to keep the birds out of your chimney.

This past weekend my husband and I spent an afternoon with our sons working in the yard, planting spring flowers. I didn't expect my sons to want to participate, but was happily surprised when they all pitched in and actually seemed to enjoy it! The best part was that I got to work alongside them and talk to them while we planted. It was really nice to have that quality time with them, working on a new project together. As adults, we often assume that gardening is designed exclusively for us. But children also love to garden and you can make it into a wonderful family-oriented activity. If you are interested in making gardening a family affair, consider the following ideas to help make your goal a successful one.

Why Children Love to Garden

Children love to create and there's no better way to do so than by sharing in the fun of planting a garden. Because they also love color, they are naturally drawn to the landscape of a garden. In addition to that, they also can enjoy the pleasure of watching something grow that they had a hand in preparing.

What to Plant

If you want to enjoy gardening as a family affair, try planting something that the entire family will enjoy. Everyone loves pretty and colorful flowers. Plant some bright annuals to liven up your yard. Then there is always fruit and vegetables. Children and grown-uos alike love strawberries; they are pretty and they taste great on a hot summer day. Planting strawberries is a terrific way to get your children to join in on the fun of gardening. In addition, watermelon, apples, pears, oranges and other colorful foods will entice your family into the project. Don't forget to plant pumpkins for Halloween! Not only will your children love to watch them grow, but they will also enjoy carving them for decoration.

How Your Child Can Benefit From Gardening

Gardening is a fun way to enjoy an activity with family, but it also teaches your child responsibility. If he/she is responsible for planting something, it will provide a lesson in patience as the seed turns into a mature plant. As they water the garden, they will also learn responsibility in that taking care of something is necessary for its health and survival.

Make Gardening Fun for Everyone

If you want to make any family activity fun, everyone in the family must have a specific interest in the project. In other words, just because you want to plant roses doesn't mean that your child will share in your enthusiasm. As a family, go out to the store and choose something specific for each individual to plant. By allowing everyone the freedom of choosing their own project, they will be more likely to enjoy watching it grow and be proud of their achievement.

The Importance of Sharing a Family Activity

One of the greatest things that a family can do together is to spend quality time enjoying a common interest. Instead of getting lost in a television program or a video game, your family can benefit from gardening by learning one of life's most important lessons - sowing seeds is required to reap a bountiful harvest.

I'm in Your Neighborhood

When it comes to buying a home, the ability and willingness to negotiate is a must for both the buyer and seller. In general, sellers ask for more than they are actually willing to accept and buyers offer less than they are willing to pay. The trick is to find the perfect balance so that you, as a buyer, feel good about the purchase price without leaving the seller feeling insulted.

Know Your Market

Real estate is a business that either favors the buyer or seller, hence the terms buyer's market and seller's market. When negotiating a purchase price, it's important to know which of the two you are in. As the buyer, you will have the best chance at a successful negotiation if you research the price of other comparable homes in the area before making an offer.

Make it Personal

When you make an offer, the seller will see nothing more than a piece of paper with some numbers on it that represent the price you are willing to pay. If you really want the seller to take your offer to heart, let them know why you want to buy the home. You can do this by preparing a handwritten letter expressing your interest and the reasons you fell in love with their house. If you have a family, tell them about everyone who will be living in the home. Let them get to know you and allow them to picture the happiness that you can bring to their house. Believe it or not, some sellers actually look at the process like finding a good home for a lost puppy. They want quality people to buy their home, so do your best to show them that you are sincere.

Nobody Likes Rejection

Not every offer is accepted, so don't be disheartened if your first offer isn't a winner. In some cases, the seller will make a counteroffer for your consideration. Have you ever heard the old saying, "never take the first offer?" The same is true in real estate, and almost every seller knows it. Your first offer is likely to be less than you are actually willing to pay, which leaves you some bargaining room.

Why Your Offer May Not be Accepted

There are a number of reasons why a seller may choose to reject an offer, including a feeling that the offer was just too low, the house is newly listed on the market or another offer may be higher than the one you created. In some cases, sellers may also reject an offer that includes owner financing or other requests that are impossible to meet. One example may be an offer that requires the house be available within a certain amount of time. Most contracts require that the seller move out within 30 days, but anything less would require negotiation.

Read the Fine Print

Before you sign anything relating to a real estate transaction, make sure that you read over every detail of the agreement. If you have any questions, ask your REALTOR®. After all, real estate is their business and they are there to help you through every step.

I'm in Your Neighborhood

Congratulations on your decision to start a new garden. Regardless of whether you are a novice or seasoned expert, you can enjoy the benefits of a garden with nothing more than a little knowledge, some seeds and the proper tools.

Before you start a new garden, the first and most obvious step is to choose your plants. Some things to consider when making your selection include your geographical region, climate, soil condition and the size of your space.

Different climates demand different plants, which means you must choose wisely in order to get the most out of your garden. Your soil condition is important because most gardeners find it best to have a flat planting surface with a soil that has the nutrients necessary for a healthy garden. You can always add fertilizer, which can help to make up for any lacking nutrients in your own soil. The size of your space is important because seeds should not be planted too close together or too close to a wall.

Whether you are planting seeds or transplanting a garden, it's important to loosen your soil to allow for the proper marriage of your plants and the earth's nutrients necessary for survival. Some gardeners prefer to till their soil, while others simply dig and leave the surface loosened for planting.

Once your seeds are planted, it's time to have patience. There's nothing quite like the hurry up and wait feeling that every gardener experiences when they have made all of the necessary preparations for their new garden and then the waiting game begins. The proper watering can help your hard work to materialize in a healthy way. Most experts recommend watering a garden in the early morning hours when the air is still cool. Instead of applying the water directly to the plants themselves, try adding it to the soil instead.

It's important to keep all clutter away from your plants and/or garden area. Toys, yard tools and even gardening supplies can cause damage if left lying about. Always remove items from the area once you are done using them and make sure that the area is free of any items that don't belong.

As a successful gardener, you will need to know at what point your plants will reach maturity. This is especially true if you are planting fruits or vegetables, which you can collect when ready.