5 Ways to Spoil Your Dog

Feel like pampering your beloved family pet? These are my five favorite ways.

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Just how much would you say you love your dog? Enough to spoil them? If so, it's your lucky day because I want to share with you a list of five easy low-cost ways to spoil your dog.

1. Walk a new route: It's vital to walk your dog regularly even if you have a yard. It's not just a way to pass the time for dogs, it's an important exercise for mental stimulation. Try changing routes every few days to keep your dog excited and alert. It will also help teach them about the neighborhood in case they get lost.
2. Make them a personalized meal: It sounds extravagant, but it's easier than you think and you can find recipes online. Be sure to avoid harmful food like onions, raisins, and chocolate. 
3. Go for a ride: Dogs absolutely love car rides, and unlike people, the destination rarely matters to them. Talk to them as you ride, too.


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Social trips to the vet will make the necessary trips down the road less stressful.

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4. Full-service scratching: It doesn't cost a thing to pamper your dog with one of their favorite things—scratches! Dedicate five or 10 minutes to it, and for that time, your dog will feel like the top dog.
5. A social vet visit: It may sound torturous, but many people don't realize that you can take your dog to the vet for a social visit. They'll not only enjoy the visit with other animals, it will help them associate the vet's office with good times. This will make future visits less stressful.

If we can be your community resource in any way, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to helping you!

What to Know Before Investing in an Airbnb Property

You’ve probably heard of Airbnb. Have you heard that people are buying investment properties for the sole purpose of renting them out on the site?

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You’ve probably heard of Airbnb and you may have even stayed in one before. It’s a great way for homeowners and investors to make some extra money, and a lot more buyers have been purchasing properties lately to use for this sole purpose. Before you decide to go all in on Airbnb, here are a few things you should know about first:

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This is becoming an increasingly popular strategy.

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1. Have you picked a good location? The first rule of real estate is location, location, location and it’s no different in this case. In order to be successful, the demand for lodging in the area must exist. It wouldn’t make sense to have an Airbnb property in a place that has little tourism. You want to be close to attractions and transportation. A good view certainly helps as well.

2. How much time and energy are you willing to invest? Airbnb properties don’t rent themselves, just like hotels don’t run themselves. You are expected to provide a clean space and guests will expect certain things like clean towels, tourist info, and a way for them to reach you if they have any problems. Hosting can be difficult, so you can hire a service to remove some of the burden for you if you’d like. It’s not cheap, however.

3. Are you hosting your Airbnb by the book? In places like New York and San Diego, they are cracking down on Airbnb properties because they are greatly affecting the hospitality industry. Laws and local regulations are always changing, so you need to make sure you are following all the rules and paying all the taxes you must in your area.

Renting out your place to Airbnb may not be a full-time business endeavor, but make no mistake, it requires effort and attention to detail. Consider that before buying a property for this sole purpose. If you have any questions for us about Airbnb properties or want to take a look at some promising ones on the market right now, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

7 Tips to Save Time on Home Maintenance

If you're like me, you don't have much spare time, and you certainly don't want to spend those precious few hours on a long to-do list for your home. Here's how to save time on regular home maintenance.

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Maintaining your home shouldn't have to take up all of your free time. If you're like me, you don't have much free time, and the free time you do have should be spent with the people you love and doing the things you enjoy, not working through a long to-do list.

How can you avoid wasting all of your free time keeping your home maintained? Just be mindful of what your home needs. Ditch that to-do list and train yourself to detect any warning signs that could indicate a problem, like these:

1. Your dryer seems hotter than usual. If your clothes come out really hot or take longer than they should to dry, you could have a clogged lint vent, which can cause a house fire. 
2. You smell something musty. If your home smells like mold or mildew, odds are your home has an issue you need to check out. 
3. You can see mold or mildew. This means unwanted water is getting into your home, so find the source and call for help.


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Any unwanted water in your home can cause a lot of expensive damage.

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4. You spot a water stain. Even a faint stain should worry you, so you want to find the source and call for help in this case, too. 
5. Your drain is very slow. This could be a sign of a sewer backup or just a simple clog. Play it safe and call a professional to check it out.
6. You hear something alive in the attic. Evict those unwanted visitors fast because they can do lots of damage quickly. Once they're out, make sure they can't get back in. 
7. Your gutters are making waterfalls. Keep your gutters clean and clear to keep unwanted water out of your home. Clear out gutter clogs as soon as you spot a waterfall.

If you have any other questions about how to save time with home maintenance or you have any questions relating to real estate, give me a call or send me an email. I'd be glad to help!