Real Estate Information Archive

Fifty years ago, the newspaper was the only way to get reliable news. These days, we’ve almost all switched to digital versions. (Plus Twitter. And Facebook.) But just because we consume news differently than Grandpa did doesn’t mean classic newspapers aren’t worth picking up next time you’re at Starbucks or stop to pump gas!

Try out these 19 uses for newspapers:

1. Deodorize Musty Items

If you’ve ever wandered into an old bookstore (or a grandparent’s closet), you know the musty smell we’re talking about. To get rid of it, grab a newspaper. Crumple up the newspaper and place the papers in the bottom of a paper bag. Then, place the musty-smelling item (book, clothing item, etc.) into the bag. Let it sit for about a week, and then open the bag. The newspaper will have absorbed the musty smell just like a Dementor munching on an escaped Askaban convict’s soul.

2. Keep Produce Drawers Dry

Prevent rotting peppers and foul-smelling produce drawers in the fridge by lining the drawers with newspaper. The paper will absorb any excess moisture. One a week, toss the old paper and line the drawer with a fresh sports section.

3. Pack Fragile Items

Moving pretty much always sucks, but it’s ten times worse if you break something fragile in transit. Bubble wrap is the gold standard, but that stuff isn’t cheap! Protect breakable items on a budget by wrapping them in newspaper before the move. We recommend several sheets per items.

4. Wash Mirrors and Windows

To remove streaks from mirrors and windows, use newspaper instead of cloth to wipe awayWindex. Not only will the newspaper remove streaks, it won’t leave any residue behind.

5. Wrap Presents

If you’re out of fancy wrapping paper, use newspaper instead! Personalize the gift by choosing a section of the paper that fits the receiver’s personality. If they love baseball, opt for the sports section. Funny guy? Go for the comics. And for foodies, choose the food and drink page. It’s the little things that really come off as thoughtful!

6. Dry Wet Shoes

Rain happens. And after it happens, it makes your shoes smell terrible if you let them stay all soggy. To dry shoes quickly and prevent odor, stuff wet shoes with newspaper immediately. The newspaper will soak up the moisture and protect your kicks.

7. Protect Your Car

We love our pups, but four-legged friends are not exactly car-friendly, and sometimes your stuck without a blanket or mat to protect your seats. If you get caught in such a scenario, you can always grab some newspaper and cover your seats before taking a drive with your pet.

8. Create Backup Protection for Your Floors

Doormats do all kinds of good in terms of protecting your home. But when serious rainstorms (snowstorms) strike, your mat is about as useful as nipples on a breastplate. When the weather gets super nasty, don’t be afraid to spread out a few newspaper rolls over the floor around your door. It’ll protect your hardwood or carpet from rain, mud, sleet or snow, and create a convenient spot for guests to leave their shoes without causing a huge mess.

9. Make Animal Bedding

Instead of purchasing expensive over-the-counter animal bedding for your hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits or mice, just cut up newspaper. It’s safe and nontoxic, plus it’s inexpensive.Note: To keep your pet safe and clean, change your paper bedding regularly.

10. Kill Weeds

When weeds take over your yard, kill them quickly with newspaper. Lay several layers of the paper on top of the weeds, and then cover it with mulch to hold it place. The paper will smother the weeds, and prevent them from getting sunlight and oxygen. Over time, the newspaper will decompose with the mulch and add nutrients to the soil. Note: Don’t try this trick around flowers, because it will smother the flowers, too!

11. Enhance Compost

Worms love newspaper, and worms will add something special to your compost (catch our drift?). To enhance your compost, toss in a few crumpled pieces of newspaper.

12. Ripen Green Tomatoes

If you’re the gardening type, don’t toss green tomatoes. Instead, use newspaper to ripen them. Pick the green tomatoes off of the vine, and then wrap them individually in newspaper. Layer the tomatoes in a box no more than two layers deep. Keep the box in a dark, dry area (like a garage or pantry) and check it weekly for progress. It typically takes 3-4 weeks for the green tomatoes to ripen. Note: When you check the tomatoes, be sure to remove any that are rotting instead of ripening.

13. Kindle a Fire

There are tons of ways to start a fire, but newspaper is a great, easy option if you do it properly. Roll newspaper diagonally like tiny logs, and then fasten 5-10 tiny logs together with rubber bands. Place the “paper log” in the fireplace below your larger pieces of wood and light one end. It’ll work like a charm.

14. Make a Quick Funnel for Small Objects

If small items, like screws or pushpins, get loose, a paper will make the cleanup easier. Simply roll the paper into a makeshift funnel and use it to put the pieces back in their original jar.

15. Store Boots

Keep your boots in shape during the offseason by sticking rolled up newspapers into the leg of the boot. This will keep their shape and protect them from damage. Plus, they’ll be easier to store.

16. Protect Your Table

Crab restaurants cover their tables with newspaper for a reason - it’s easy to clean up and protects your table from the mess. If you’re hosting a dinner party where things may get messy (i.e. shrimp, crab, crawfish), cover the table with a few layers of newspaper just to be safe.

17. Prevent Ice on Windshields

If you’re expecting a big snow or freezing temperatures, cover your windshield with a layer of newspaper to prevent ice.

18. Make DIY Newspaper Roses

For a quick and inexpensive decoration, make newspaper roses. All you need is paper, gauge wire, a glue gun, scissors and wire cutter! Cut out your petals to their desired size and then glue them into place. For step-by-step instructions, visit: 100 Layer Cake. Once the glue has fully dried, feel free to paint your roses.

19. Wipe Up Spills

Newspaper is generally just as absorbent as your average paper towel, so store a few rolls in the kitchen to wipe up spills.

Information provided by BrightNest.com.
 

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

Not only does a paperless system kill clutter and clear up storage space, it can also keep you organized, reduce stress and save time when searching for long-lost documents. Sounds great, right? Well, when you’re staring at a decade’s worth of paper, going paperless can seem daunting and not worth it.

Relax! Say goodbye to paper with this process:

Part One: Deal With Your Current Paper Problem

1. Invest in the Correct Tools

Before you think about incoming mail, deal with the paper you’ve already accumulated. You’ll need two tools: a scanner and Evernote. While the scanner is an investment, Evernote’s Premium will cost you less than a fancy Starbucks latte ($5 / month). And Premium is worth it. With that $5 a month, you’ll be able to scan all of your documents at once for keywords, so you’ll never dig through recipes for that one chicken salad with the pecans again. (But more on that later.)

2. Organize Your Paper Into Three Piles

Take all of your paper, and create three piles: 1) Toss, 2) Scan and 3) Keep.

The "toss" pile will consist of things like the assignments you did in high school, those old pieces of scratch paper and the love letter from your ex. Basically, the trash you hold onto for no good reason.

In the "scan" pile, you’ll put everything you want to hold onto, like bank statements, tax information and favorite recipes. This will be the largest pile.

Finally, in "keep" pile, you’ll place birth certificates, marriage license(s) and passports. This is the pile for the uber-important stuff that you actually need in hard-copy form.

3. Get Scanning

Toss or shred pile number one. Set pile number three aside. Now it’s number two’s turn. Time to get scanning! We recommend scanning everything in the "scan" pile directly into Evernote. This will save you the headache of trying to keep up with a folder organization system on your hard drive. Plus, (like I mentioned before) Premium will scan everything for keywords, so you won’t have to rely on memory to know your organization system. Boom!

It gets even better. Once everything is scanned into Evernote, you can access your documents from your smartphone, tablet or Evernote.com. So, next time you’re pulled over, you’ll know for sure that you have your proof of insurance handy.

4. Ditch the Filing Cabinet

Now, give the "keep" pile some love. This pile should be relatively small, so a big ‘ole clunky filing cabinet is unnecessary. Instead, store your important docs in a firebox or in a bank deposit box.

Part Two: Make a Plan for Paper That’ll Arrive Later

1. Switch to Electronic Bills and Bank Statements

Most companies that send you recurring bills or receipts, such as banks or insurance companies, also offer the option to receive statements online. Take them up on it! Making the switch usually only takes a few minutes. Tip: Drink something with a huge amount of caffeine in it, and do all your accounts at once.

2. Change Your Magazine and Newspaper Subscriptions

What happens after you read your monthly Vogue? What about the Sunday NYT? If the answer is typically “trash,” switch your subscription to online only. You’ll be able to enjoy the same great photos, content and crossword puzzles from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

3. Create a Workflow You’ll Stick With

Mail happens. So do bills. And clipped recipes, and birthday cards, and "save the date" invitations. All of a sudden, your paper situation is bad again. To prevent this from happening, make a plan now! Use a three-tiered paper shelf to stay organized. Remember those piles you made earlier? Assign one to each level of shelf. Then, once a week, take ten minutes to either toss, scan or keep.

4. Ask for Digital Receipts

If you’re a receipt tosser (you know who you are), then don’t even bother - it will save you paper to just decline a receipt. But, if you keep receipts for tax purposes, always ask for a digital receipt before the cashier rings up your items. Create an email account just for digital receipts that’s quick and easy to say. Not only will you never lose a receipt, you’ll have them all in one place when it’s tax time.

5. Download an App for Notes and To-Do Lists

Paper clutter isn’t just about papers. Sometimes, to-do lists and scratch paper get in the mix and makes things really messy. Plan ahead and download a to-do list app like Any.Do or TeuxDeux before you jot down thoughts or activities. With a digital to do list, you’ll be able to search your lists for keywords quickly and reorder your list based on changing priorities.

6. Visit the Library

Calling all bookworms: Sometimes your favorite tomes create clutter. Instead of buying new paperbacks every time you’re itching for a read, visit the library. You’ll save precious shelf space and money.

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

WHY DO THIS? 

Modern life is high-tech, fast-paced and stressful. It’s a jungle out there! Turning your home into a sanctuary from the always on, always-connected world we live in is not only good for your mind, it’s good for your health! Make your home a relaxation zone with these design fixes.

1. Let in light. Sunlight is nature’s stress-buster, because it positively impacts both physical and mental health. Lift the blinds and lift your mood. If you’re lacking in the natural light department, mirrors can be used to brighten up a room, instead.

2. Dim down at night. While light boosts energy levels, darkness can soothe the soul, so balancing the two is key. In the evening, keep certain spaces (such as your bedroom) low-key by reducing overhead lighting and using a candle or two. The low light will help transition your system to a relaxed state and prepare you for sleep.

3. Frame your loved ones. Remember that fun vacation with those amazing people? You should. Every day. Reliving happy memories breeds an upbeat outlook and framed photos will do the trick. Surround yourself with snapshots of friends, family, places and pets for a daily jolt of positivity.

4. Simplify. Clutter is the enemy of calm. Pick one especially disorderly space in your home (the kitchen, closet or living room are three good options) and spend ten minutes sorting your clutter into three piles: keep, discard and relocate. Eliminate the “discard” pile and move the “relocate” items to their proper places in the house.

5. Add nature. Plants are a great way to make any room feel tranquil and peaceful. Whether you make a statement with a single staghorn fern or scatter jars of wildflowers throughout your home, you can’t go wrong. In addition to the high-traffic display spots, we recommend placing plants in obscure places (like the kitchen, home office or your bathrooms) to keep the natural vibe alive through and through.

6. Power down. The electronics in our lives can drain more than electricity. Surrounding ourselves with screens – computers, TVs, tablets – can take a toll on our sleep habits, too. Hide them if you can, at least an hour or so before bed. The blue light emitted from most electronics actually affects your REM cycle, so you don’t sleep as well. And nothing knocks your stress levels up a notch like a poor night’s sleep!​​​

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.