Get your winter gardening on!

It may be colder and cloudier outside, but winter can still be a productive time in your garden. Need some tips for making the most of the slow season?

CHIC (Pearl)

Believe it or not, winter is the perfect time for planting. Visit your local nursery to pick up whatever varieties of bulbs they have in stock, grab a guide on Google, and get your Spring plants in the ground now. While you’re digging around, be sure to clear out all the dead plant material in your garden to make room for the healthy plants and keep pests at bay. And that compost you’ve been collecting? Now’s your chance to mix it in with the topsoil to give your bulbs an extra boost of nutrition.

GEEK (Kevin)

Need a break from planting? Try your hand at pruning deciduous plants (the ones that lose their leaves in winter) like fruit trees, vines, roses, maples, and more. Start by getting rid of all the dead weight, then focus on aesthetics like thinning out crossed or rubbing branches. Just remember not to trim more than 30% of the plant if you don’t know what you’re doing. You may end up inadvertently harming the plant. Don’t know what kind of plant you’re pruning? Take a picture to your nursery and ask a pro.

What's your social network?

We’re not on Twitter. But the recent kerfuffle got us thinking about our social media presence. With so many options out there, what’s your platform of choice?

CHIC (Pearl)

My favorite social network is Instagram. You can share photos, videos, stories, comments, and emojis all at once! And there are so many image filters to choose from that it’s sometimes really hard to choose. Okay, a lot of the time. Anyway, because Insta is such a visual medium, it’s even more important for your content to stand out if you’re trying to get noticed — or sell a home!

GEEK (Kevin)

I can’t say I spend a lot of time worrying about my social media presence. I tend to let Pearl manage our business accounts. Sometimes I take a look at Facebook, just to remind myself why I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about my social media presence. I have to say, it’s useful for keeping up with friends and family who you wouldn’t see otherwise, but that’s about my limit.

Chic vs. Geek: Buying Brand New

When you purchase a newly constructed single family home, there are a few important details that you need to navigate, including these contract specifications…

CHIC (Pearl)

Everything from the fit and finish of cabinets and mirrors to flooring, interior and exterior walls, countertops, paint finishes and trim can fall under a seller warranty against defective materials and/or workmanship, provided the seller receives notice within one year of the date of occupancy. The buyer can always waive this coverage for anything they’ve already had inspected.

GEEK (Kevin)

To make sure the seller follows through, there’s also a seller completion obligation, under which the seller agrees to provide all labor and materials to make necessary improvements and file all the applicable paperwork with local authorities. But supply shortages, labor disputes, buyer inaction, and other unforeseeable circumstances can cause delays.

Chic vs. Geek: Ready for rain?

You may have noticed some strange water droplets falling from the sky this week. It’s called rain, and we haven’t had enough of it lately. Is your house prepared? Here’s what you can do!

CHIC (Pearl)

Make sure to check the house for leaks after every rain, especially in those nooks and crannies you rarely visit. You never know when a minor issue could turn into a massive headache, and you don’t want to be caught bailing out a closet when the next heavy storm comes calling.

GEEK (Kevin)

It’s not glamorous, but clearing your gutters now before the real rainy season hits will save you a major pain digging through the muck of wet leaves and debris. And definitely don’t trust those fancy filters you see on TV. If a solution seems too easy, that’s because it probably is. Do it yourself!

Chic vs. Geek: Trick or Treat?

CHIC (Pearl)

I am 100% on Team Treat. Halloween is the only night all year when it’s socially acceptable to dress, eat, and do (just about) whatever you want. And it’s not too scary to end up with half a bowl of candy left over after the kids get their fill of the door-to-door routine. But don't eat too many sweets or you'll get sick!

GEEK (KEVIN)

I’m all for Halloween, but it’s not about the fun and games for me. It’s about scaring the living heck out of people! Every year, I try to convince Pearl to let me turn our home into a giant haunted house. I even promise to clean up all the fake blood before Thanksgiving. She hasn’t said “yes” yet, but hey, a boy can dream.